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Americas
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $108 million contract for Canada MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft systems hardware. This contract provides the necessary Foreign Military Sales (FMS) hardware and components to support Canada’s MQ-9B Direct Commercial Sale program. This contract involves FMS to Canada. This contract was a sole source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $12,890,775 will be obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems has received a $68 million in contracts to manufacture 44 additional Beowulf Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicles (CATVs) for the US Army. The deal is part of a seven-year program assigned to the firm in 2022 to produce a modern ground-based fleet that can maneuver in the Arctic region and other environments with similar conditions. “The CATV provides a dynamic combination of mobility and flexibility to the US Army enabling rapid response in all terrains,” BAE Systems Sustainment & International VP Dean Medland stated.
Middle East & Africa
The American THAAD system, deployed in Israel last October, participated on Thursday in its first operational interception since entering service 18 years ago. The system intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) launched from Yemen by the Houthis toward Israel, marking its debut operational action in the defense of the State of Israel. According to a US government official, the system, operated by approximately 100 American soldiers stationed in Israel since October, launched the interceptor involved in neutralizing the missile. The battery is part of the permanent THAAD array of the U.S. Army, typically stationed in the United Arab Emirates. A video documenting the event captures a voice saying, “I’ve waited 18 years for this moment,” referring to the system’s long-awaited operational deployment.
Europe
Brazilian firm Embraer has opened its new subsidiary, Embraer Defense Europe, headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal. The facility will be the central hub for the company’s defense initiatives across Europe, serving European armed forces and NATO members.The office will be linked to the Portuguese subsidiary of the Brazilian firm and will assist in program management, support, and engineering. President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security Bosco da Costa Junior said the company has a long-term vision for Europe.
Asia-Pacific
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has achieved a major milestone with the delivery of the first two production LAH-1 ‘Mir-on’ light armed helicopters to the Republic of Korea Army. This event marks the culmination of a development program that began in June 2015, and the successful completion of the development phase in November 2022. The initial delivery is part of a broader plan to fully integrate the helicopters into the Army’s forces by 2031, replacing the ageing 500MD and AH-1S Cobra fleets. The LAH-1, now officially named ‘Miron,’ was conceived to not only replace older platforms but also to significantly enhance the Army’s aviation capabilities. The ‘Miron’ is equipped with an array of advanced weaponry, including the ‘Chun-gum’ air-to-ground missile, a gun, and 2.75 inch rockets. This formidable arsenal is coupled with a sophisticated 4-axis automatic flight control system (AFCS). This system enhances stability and precision by automatically compensating for air currents and recoil, thereby facilitating more stable and accurate firing.
