ASAP NSN Parts Blog

Lithuania is shoring up their defense with the purchase of 84 M 1126 Strykers with ATK-made 30mm cannons, costing them an estimated $599 million. Lithuania, which is a NATO country, received approval from the United States government amid speculation that the Russians now had enough firepower to overpower their neighbors to the west.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration (DAPA) has recently announced a new project with Boeing that will see the addition of AH-64 Apache attack helicopter to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army. The ROK selected the AH-64E Apache equipped with the Longbow fire control radar as its new attack helicopter, increasing Korea’s ability to defend against land-based and littoral threats in the region. The new helicopters were unveiled in front of nearly 50 ROK officials during a ceremony in Arizona months ahead of their scheduled delivery. A total of 36 Apache Guardian helicopters will be delivered to the ROK Army, with initial deliveries slated for June 2016.

The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force has combined two of their helicopter units by pairing the Chinook and Puma fleets into one operational conversion unit. With this decision, Chinook helicopters will be moved to RAF Benson along with around 150 personnel. More Chinooks will follow to the South Oxfordshire base as the transition proceeds. The combined unit will operate under the mantle of the 28 Squadron.

The CH-53K King Stallion, the Marine Corps' next-generation heavy-lift helicopter, took its first flight Tuesday at Sikorsky's test facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. The historical milestone flight lasted 55 minutes without any major issues. After a year of delays since 2014 due to technical issues, mainly with the helicopter’s main gearbox. The complications have since been solved with the Marine Corps eagerly awaiting their new helicopter’s test flight phase. The CH-53K is set to replace the USMC’s aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet of heavy helicopter transports, offering significant improvements across its predecessor’s entire performance envelope.

Science Applications International (SAIC) has secured an aviation systems and computer resources support (ASCRS) contract from the US Army Contracting Command – Redstone which is valued at approximately $109m. The contract covers delivery of a variety of aviation systems, engineering, and software development services and are intended for the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Software Engineering Directorate.

The United States Army has awarded defense contractor Lockheed Martin a contract worth $85 million to supply them with more AN/TPQ-53s, a counter-fire target acquisition radar. The contract specifies that Lockheed Martin will supply the Army with seven additional units. This will add to the order they received in June of this year, calling for an upgrade to nineteen of the Q-53 radars.

Telecommunication Systems Inc. announced today that it has received an order from the US Army for sustainment of the AN/TSC-198A SNAP (Secret Internet Protocol Router (NIPR) Access Point, Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs). This new deal for sustainment of the SNAP deployable satellite systems was awarded under the US Army’s tactical advanced communication systems (GTACS) contract vehicle. The initial contract grants $18.5 million for the period from September 2015 through September 2018, but the ceiling value for the contract is $91 million if all options are exercised.

The Raven is the most widely used unmanned aircraft system in the world today. Developed for the US Armed Forces, the UAV performs intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations. It is also known as a man-portable UAV. AeroVironment was recently awarded a firm-fixed-price contract from the United States Army totaling $18,485,495 to supply initial RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft systems, spare parts and contractor logistics services to seven allied nations through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Raven is for low-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information. It has a wingspan of 4.5 feet, weighs 4.2 pounds, and a day/night operational range of about 6.2 miles.

AgustaWestland announced that it has delivered the first of seven upgraded AW101 Merlin HC Mk3 helicopters to the Royal Navy as part of Phase 1 of the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP). The first AW101 Merlin HC Mk3 aircraft has undergone a number of modifications, including the introduction of a folding main rotor head, naval lashing rings, revised twin wheel main undercarriage for ship operations, and fast roping capability. The upgraded aircraft completed its first flight in April of this year and completed flight trials at the end of August. Following formal Release to Service in September, the aircraft has now been delivered and will be followed by six further aircraft to provide an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in spring 2016, when the final Sea King HC Mk4 aircraft will be withdrawn from service.

BAE Systems started construction of the UK’s final Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), dubbed HMS Trent. This vessel is considered a highly versatile and dynamic ship that is designed to perform management roles. These management roles include the Economic Exclusion Zone that has the provision of maritime security to coast to coastal areas.

DuPont's chairwoman and chief executive Ellen Kullman has stepped down. Agriculture is DuPont's largest business, accounting for about a third of its $35 billion in sales last year. Kullman narrowly defeated Peltz's efforts to win board seats at DuPont in May, but the New York investor has retained his stake in the company and warned he could fight for further changes if things don't improve. DuPont, which has been in an ongoing battle with activist investor Nelson Peltz, said this week that its chief executive Ellen Kullman will retire Oct. 16 after nearly three decades with the Delaware-based company. DuPont’s series of massive earnings misses led to the “mutual decision” for Ms. Kullman to “retire” at age 59.

Honeywell Aerospace has secured a contract from the U.S. Army and was awarded $41 million to continue supplying its combat-proven radar altimeters for use across the Army's full fleet of helicopter platforms. Claimed to be one of smallest, lightest, and most proven altimeters in the market, the APN-209 provides the pilot and flight control computer with an indication of height above the nearest terrain point below the aircraft, such as a tower or building. This information ensures that the pilot and crew have the most accurate information about the landscape around their helicopter. Honeywell's lightweight, compact APN-209 radar altimeter is a critical piece of safety and awareness equipment designed to work well in a helicopter's operating environment, specifically in the hover phase and low-level flight.

The US Army has awarded a contract modification to BAE Systems to continue the production of lightweight torso and side body armor that protects soldiers while reducing their carrying load. Hard and soft body armor solutions have been a mainframe of BAE’s core business for close to 15 years.

Northrop Grumman has been selected by the United States Army to develop the Airborne Reconnaissance Low-Enhanced (ARL-E) Long-Range Radar. Details of the contract have not been determined yet - it is unknown when they will be delivered or what the quantity is. What has been determined is Northrop Grumman will also develop an SAR (synthetic aperture radar) and GMTI (ground moving target indicator) system for the ARL-E DHC-8. The deal also included options for both engineering and manufacturing development and low-rate initial production of the Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) program.

Saab has announced delivery of its Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Automatic Warning and Reporting (AWR) system with mobile detection and surveillance and stationary detection units to a customer in Kuwait. The system provides for the detection, identification, warning, monitoring and reporting of CBRN hazards, giving personnel on the battlefield early warning and enabling faster decision making.

Saab has begun construction of the Swedish Navy’s first A26 next-generation submarine after a September 4^th ceremony at their Kockums shipyard in Karlskrona, Sweden. This comes after Saab signed contracts worth the equivalent of $919 million with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to deliver two new Type A26 submarines. In addition, a $252.23 million contract was also placed to overhaul their existing Gotland-class subs.

Montreal-based flight simulator manufacturer CAE Inc. has signed a series of contracts worth more than C$130m ($97.9m) with airlines and aircraft manufacturers to supply full-flight simulators. The contracts with both airlines and aircraft manufacturers cover the entire career life cycle of professional pilots, from cadet to captain and crew sourcing.

Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio have signed a deal with the Italian Ministry of Defence's Teledife (General Directorate of IT and Advanced Technologies) to supply ground segment to the Polish Ministry of Defense. As a prime contractor for the program, Thales will build the satellites while Telespazio will develop the ground segment and manage logistics. In addition to development of the satellite and ground segment, the deal covers procurement of equipment for the second satellite. This second one will be launched by the first half of 2019. This latest contract will start Phase C4/D1 of the program, entailing the detailed system design, the manufacture of the space segment which comprises two high-performance satellites, as well as the ground infrastructure.

AeroVironment has received a number of contracts from the US Army for the RQ-11B Raven and RQ-20A Puma systems that total $47.1 million combined. These contracts include the seven orders awarded on July 23rd which totaled around $35 million.

The US Air Force has received the 150th KC-10 Extender aerial refueling tanker from Northrop Grumman’s maintenance depot. These depots are located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as well as Greensboro, North Carolina. Since 2009, Northrop Gunman has been the prime contractor on the KC-10 Extender. The company provides logistics support, depot maintenance, supply chain management, engine management, and overhaul services for aircrafts. They also work with MTU Maintenance, AAR, Chromalloy, AAR and TICO Life Care to deliver these services.