Ukraine Admits Using US-supplied JDAM-ER Bombs
The Ukrainian Air Force has confirmed that it is now starting to use the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM-ER) bomb supplied by the United States.
USA News
Ammunition
Air
Logistics
U.S. Approves CAD/PAD sale of Kuwait’s F/A-18 and KC-130J
The State Department has approved a possible FMS to Kuwait of additional Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD) and support.
Air
Bilateral Relations
Bahrain to Refurbish 24 AH-1W Helicopters in $350M Deal
The State Department approved a possible FMS of equipment and services to refurbish Excess Defence Article (EDA) AH-1W multi-role helicopters to Bahrain.
Air
Bilateral Relations
Boeing to Build 185 AH-64E for US Army, Australia and Egypt
The United States Army announced that it had awarded Boeing to purchase up to 184 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for Australia and Egypt through the FMS.
Investment
Biden Summons Defence Production Act
Biden, who visited Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, introduced the Defence Production Act on Monday to spend $50 million.
Air
Navy / Maritime
The Winner Aircraft of INS Vikrant to be Announced
There are rumours that the Rafale M will be selected as the winner as the new fighter for India's most recent and indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
Ammunition
USAF Awards Raytheon $320m Contract for 1,500 StormBreaker
USAF has awarded Raytheon Technologies a $320 million contract to produce an additional 1,500 StormBreaker smart weapon systems.
Air
Unmanned Systems
U.S. Resumes Reaper Flights Over Black Sea
The U.S. had resumed surveillance drone flights over the Black Sea region following a Russian fighter jet intercept that resulted in the downing of a drone.
Navy / Maritime
Unmanned Systems
Japanese Navy to Acquire the MQ-9B SeaGuardian
GA-ASI revealed on March 15, 2023, that the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force/JMSDF would acquire its MQ-9B SeaGuardian MALE UAV.
Engine and Transmission
Pentagon Cancels New Engine Programme for F-35 Jets
Pentagon decided not to continue the programme to develop a new engine for the F-35 fighter jet as it was too expensive according to the fiscal 2024 budget.
Navy / Maritime
Greece to Acquire 76 AAVs
The State Department approved a possible FMS to Greece of Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) for an estimated cost of $268 million.
Navy / Maritime
Weapon / Missile
Australia Acquires 200 Tomahawk
The U.S. approved an FMS of Tomahawk Block V and Block IV All Up Rounds (AUR) cruise missiles to Australia, with a cost of $895 million.
Weapon / Missile
Poland to Equip AW149s with Hellfire
The State Department approved a possible FMS to Poland of AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $150 million.
Air
Bilateral Relations
Unmanned Systems
U.S. Claims Drone Recovery is Difficult
Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said the MQ-9 Reaper drone sank in an area of the Black Sea with depths up to 1,500 metres.
Global Defence Trend Brief
- 09:00 NATO allies launch joint Triton surveillance drone programme - Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway signed a letter of intent to procure up to five MQ-4C Triton hi...
- 09:00 NATO begins negotiations for up to 10 Saab GlobalEye aircraft - NATO has launched negotiations with Saab for up to 10 GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft to r...
- 09:00 Lockheed and Rheinmetall bring ATACMS production to Europe - Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall agreed to establish ATACMS missile production in Germany, marking th...
- 09:00 Canada confirms TKMS as preferred submarine supplier - Canada selected Germany's TKMS as the preferred supplier for up to 12 submarines, deepening defence...
- 09:00 Counter-drone procurement continues shifting toward layered defence - Military organisations are increasingly procuring integrated counter-UAS architectures combining rad...
- 09:00 Hypersonic threats sustain investment in persistent tracking - Defence agencies continue expanding integrated radar and space-based sensor architectures capable of...
- 09:00 Autonomous maritime systems broaden infrastructure protection role - Navies are increasing deployment of autonomous surface and underwater vehicles to monitor undersea c...
- 09:00 Distributed satellite constellations become the preferred military model - Armed forces are increasingly adopting proliferated constellations of smaller satellites to improve...
- 09:00 Collaborative combat aircraft move toward operational acquisition - Air forces are transitioning collaborative combat aircraft programmes from technology demonstrators...
- 09:00 Industrial production capacity becomes a strategic capability - Governments increasingly regard manufacturing scalability, secure supply chains and rapid production...
