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Americas
Performance Drone Works (PDW) has received more than $15.3 million in contracts to deliver its proprietary C100 small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) to the US Army. The drones will support the force’s posture across high-profile theaters, according to the Alabama-based company, with most to be distributed across the Indo-Pacific, European, and Central Command areas of responsibility. The “game-changing” capabilities are expected to provide medium-range reconnaissance and tactical air support.
Raytheon has been awarded a $401.2 million full-rate production contract by the US Navy for 131 Block V Tomahawk missiles. As part of the contract, 26 missiles will be delivered to the US Army, 16 to the US Marine Corps, 11 to Australia, and 78 to Japan. Work will be performed in various locations across the US, with expected completion by March 2028.
Middle East & Africa
Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar has purchased Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace, reflecting Baykar’s growing global ambitions while marking a timely rescue for the troubled Italian aircraft producer. The deal, which was announced on Friday by Italy’s industry ministry, follows six years of Italian state management at Piaggio after it went into receivership in 2018.
Europe
Austria is to purchase 12 Italian Leonardo M-346FA jets to serve in both a training and defense role, Austria’s defense minister has said. A contract for the buy is currently being negotiated on a government-to-government basis between Vienna and Rome, the Austrian defense ministry said in a statement, which added that funding was already budgeted for.
Asia-Pacific
The Japanese cabinet has approved the purchase of six V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicles as part of the defense budget proposal for fiscal 2025. An amount of $25 million has been allocated for the purchase to enhance the surveillance and intelligence gathering capabilities of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s surface vessels. The Shield AI vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones will be deployed on the service’s patrol vessels being planned for acquisition, according to The Diplomat.
