August 21, 2023 | International, Aerospace
Poland gets green light to buy Apache helicopters
Poland is cleared to buy Apache helicopters to go with its new Abrams tanks, the U.S. State Department announced.
January 4, 2019 | International, Aerospace
Boeing completes NATO AWACS upgrades
In December, Boeing delivered the final Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft modernized with avionics and a digital cockpit to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Manching, Germany.
This delivery is the final of 14 and ensures NATO AWACS compliance with current and future air traffic control and navigation requirements.
Upgrades include five full-colour digital displays in each aircraft, replacing 1970's-era dials, and provides crew members with customizable engine, navigation and radar data. These digital capabilities also allow NATO to consolidate crew responsibilities.
“The Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) modernization project enables the NATO E-3A fleet to meet current and foreseen European air traffic management requirements,” said BrigGen Mike Hain, general manager, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Programme Management Agency.
The first modernized NATO AWACS plane was modified at Boeing facilities in Seattle and delivered to NATO in November 2016. The remaining 13 aircraft underwent modernization work in Manching, Germany.
“We are delighted to deliver this final upgraded AWACS to NATO and honored by their continued partnership,” said Scott Johnson, Boeing's CNS/ATM manager. “The modernized AWACS equipment provides real cost savings and efficiency so NATO can execute their vital mission for years to come.”
NATO's AWACS fleet is the alliance's first integrated, multinational flying unit, providing rapid deployment, airborne surveillance and command and control for NATO operations.
https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/boeing-completes-nato-awacs-upgrades
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September 21, 2020 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
General Atomics nets $7.4B MQ-9 Reaper contract with U.S. Air Force
Ed Adamczyk Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A $7.4 billion contract between the U.S. Air Force and General Atomics, announced this week, will field MQ-9 Reaper drones faster, the Air Force said. The five-year Agile Reaper Enterprise Solution contract for the unmanned surveillance, intelligence, reconnaissance and strike-capability aircraft was awarded on Thursday. It calls for delivery of up to 36 aircraft per year from the San Diego-based company. With a $7.4 billion ceiling, it is expected to reduce the time to deliver operational MQ-9s to operational units by 35%. The Air Force regards it as one of its most in-demand weapons, an Air Force Life Cycle Management Center statement said on Thursday. The ARES contract has a pre-negotiated $3.3 billion price-quantity-curve, allowing the Air Force and foreign military sales partners to order between from four to 36 aircraft in a single year. Foreign Military Sales partners will be allowed to purchase the Dash 21 variant, which is the NATO-exportable version of the MQ-9A. "ARES is a big deal because it answers the 'mail' as far as how do we deal with hard-to-predict demand signals from our international partners and enable increased responsiveness to U.S. budget dynamics," said Alicia Morales, aircraft production manager with the Medium Altitude Unmanned Aerial System Program Office. "So, the team came together and figured out the best and most innovative approach to deal with unplanned requirements, so no matter what comes, we are prepared and able to handle it," said Morales, who mapped out much of ARES . The MQ-9, whose predecessors have been in use since 2001, is the first unmanned aerial vehicle designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance. The Air Force has deployed the UAVs around the world, which were in use in August during a joint Army-Navy training exercise over the Black Sea. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/09/18/General-Atomics-nets-74B-MQ-9-Reaper-contract-with-US-Air-Force/7611600455794/
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August 3, 2021 | International, C4ISR
American firm to take over Britain’s Meggitt in $8.8 billion deal
This is the second time in recent weeks a major British defense company has been targeted by an American rival in a merger bid.