November 4, 2022 | International, Aerospace
Bulgarian parliament votes to buy F-16s under $1.3 billion deal
The first eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jet previously ordered and set to arrive in 2025 are deemed insufficient for air policing missions.
September 21, 2020 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
General Atomics nets $7.4B MQ-9 Reaper contract with U.S. Air Force
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.
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July 14, 2024 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
General Atomics Awarded Contract for Second EWS Satellite and On-Orbit Services by USSFs Space Systems Command
As the prime contractor, GA-EMS is responsible for the spacecraft bus and EO/IR payload design development, build, AIT and has assembled a highly experienced, best-in-class team to deliver the EWS satellites.
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February 6, 2024 | International, Land
US Army hunts for explosives to meet increased munitions output goals
The U.S. is increasing domestic explosives production and buying from abroad to support Ukraine and replenish stockpiles of 155mm artillery shells.