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January 25, 2021 - Lieutenant General Theodoros Lagios, General Director for Defence Investments and Armaments of the Greek Ministry of Defence and Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, today signed a contract to provide the armaments for 18 Rafale combat aircraft intended for Greece's air force. A signing ceremony was held in Athens in the presence of the French Minister for Armed Forces, Florence Parly, and the Greek Minister for Defense, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos. The new aircraft's weapons will benefit from the strong commonality with those from the Mirage 2000s and Mirage 2000-5s currently in service in the Hellenic Air Force. Like these, the Rafales will be armed with SCALP cruise missiles, AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles and MICA multi-mission air-to-air missiles. Additionally, MBDA will also supply Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles. Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “The signing of this agreement turns a new page in our relationship with Greece, which we have had for more than half a century. The country was the very first customer of the Exocet missile in 1968, showing great confidence in it and in our predecessor companies. This confidence has been renewed over the years and is being renewed again today. It is our duty to do everything we can in order to continue delivering on this confidence into tomorrow. View source version on MBDA: https://www.mbda-systems.com/press-releases/mbda-to-arm-hellenic-air-forces-new-rafale-fighter-jets/

West Palm Beach, Fla., January 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company (NYSE: LMT), and Boeing (NYSE: BA) today released details of its advanced helicopter for the U.S. Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft competition, known as FLRAA. The aircraft, named DEFIANT X, will be the fastest, most maneuverable and most survivable assault helicopter in history. Combined with the team's unsurpassed experience in mission systems, training and sustainment, it will revolutionize the way the Army meets threats in 2035 and beyond. DEFIANT X is a complete weapon system that builds on the handling qualities and transformational capabilities proven by the team's technology demonstrator, SB>1 DEFIANT®. With unmatched range and survivability, DEFIANT X will change the way the Army fights – enabling crews to fly low and fast through complex terrain, land quickly, deliver Soldiers and equipment to the objective area (referred to as "the X") and get out. DEFIANT X flies twice as far and fast as the venerable Black Hawk® helicopter it is designed to replace. Currently undergoing testing in a digital combat environment, the aircraft continues to prove itself the most survivable platform for mission requirements. "We are ready to deliver unparalleled capabilities backed by proven technologies that will truly transform the Army's mission today, with room to grow and adapt to the missions of tomorrow," said Andy Adams, Sikorsky vice president of Future Vertical Lift. "DEFIANT X not only includes the transformational aircraft – a maneuverable, survivable, lethal weapon system – it also leverages Sikorsky's and Boeing's advanced manufacturing capabilities." With its rigid coaxial rotor system and pusher propeller, DEFIANT X incorporates Sikorsky X2 Technology™ to operate at high speeds while maintaining low-speed handling qualities. This critical capability provides Soldiers with increased maneuverability and survivability in high-threat air defense environments, allowing them to penetrate enemy defenses while reducing exposure to enemy fire. Compared to SB>1 DEFIANT, the DEFIANT X airframe has enhancements to improve aerodynamics and reduce the thermal signature. "DEFIANT X is purpose-built for a modernized Army that requires expanded reach, survivability and lethality," said Steve Parker, vice president and general manager of Boeing Vertical Lift. "This weapon system will give Soldiers unequaled technological advantage and connectivity over adversaries in a multi-domain battle space." DEFIANT X will revolutionize the Army's air assault capability with limited changes in tactics, techniques, procedures, training and infrastructure while maintaining the Black Hawk helicopter footprint and tight formation capability flown today. The Army is expected to release a request for proposal on FLRAA later this year, with a contract award expected in 2022. About Sikorsky and Boeing Together, Sikorsky and Boeing have built 90 percent of the U.S. Army's current military rotorcraft and have totaled more than 15 million flight hours. We're the team that has brought forward iconic military rotorcraft including: Black Hawk, Chinook and Apache. The iconic UH-60 Black Hawk has proven itself to be the premiere assault platform in the world and DEFIANT X will bring the next level of capability that the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft requires. Learn More: www.lockheedmartin.com/defiantx and www.boeing.com/defiantx View source version on Lockheed Martin: https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2021-01-25-Sikorsky-Boeing-Team-Reveals-Advanced-Assault-Helicopter-Designed-to-Revolutionize-U-S-Army-Capabilities

San Diego – January 26, 2021 – The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a $3.6 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract for continued Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) operations, sustainment and support. “We are honored to work with the Air Force to continue to bring the critical gateway communications capabilities of the BACN program to U.S. warfighters operating around the world,” said Ben Davies, vice president and general manager, networked information solutions division, Northrop Grumman. “This ID/IQ award demonstrates the commitment to the continued success of the BACN program.” This contract provides for research, development, test, and evaluation, integration and operations and sustainment for existing and future payloads contained in or connected to the BACN system. It also includes associated ground stations or controls, ancillary equipment, support equipment and system integration laboratories. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and overseas locations through Jan. 24, 2026, and $23.7 million was obligated with the initial task order at the time of award. Northrop Grumman's BACN system is a high-altitude, airborne communications gateway that translates and distributes imagery, voice and tactical data from disparate elements—enhancing situational awareness communications and coordination for joint warfighters operating across space, air, land and sea. Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services. Media Contact Jamie Clegg 619-200-1431 jamie.clegg@ngc.com View source version on Northrop Grumman: https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-awarded-3-6-billion-idiq-battlefield-airborne-communications-node-contract?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Image&utm_content=node&utm_campaign=node&Code=SNS-13493

NAVY BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems, Nashua, New Hampshire, is awarded an $81,348,624 firm-fixed-price modification (P00005) to previously awarded contract N00019-19-C-0001. This modification exercises an option to procure 1,512 radio frequency countermeasures for Lot 12 of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in support of non-U.S. Department of Defense participants, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers and for the Navy. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire (74%); Landenberg, Pennsylvania (7%); Topsfield, Massachusetts (2.5%); Industry, California (1.6%); Hamilton, New Jersey (1.5%); Carson, California (1.3%); Dover, New Hampshire (1.1%); Londonderry, New Hampshire (1%); Chartley, Massachusetts (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (9%), and is expected to be completed in March 2024. Fiscal 2021 procurement of ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $27,761,832; fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $26,040,168; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $15,925,392; and FMS funds in the amount of $11,621,232 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $64,121,341 modification (P00013) to firm-fixed-price order N00019-20-F-0571 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0008. This modification exercises options for the procurement of Digital Channelized Receiver/Techniques Generator and Tuner Insertion program technology to upgrade F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft with Digital Tuner Insertion Program electronic warfare racks and high efficiency low voltage power supply. These upgrades will enable for future upgrades to Lot 15 Block 4 configuration, including Technical Refresh Three for the Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in June 2025. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $57,865,601; and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $6,255,740 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $19,950,844 modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00039-16-C-0050 to produce, test and deliver fully integrated Navy Multiband Terminals (NMT). NMT is a multiband capable satellite communications terminal that provides protected and wideband communications. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $557,882,121. Work will be performed at Largo, Florida (54%); South Deerfield, Massachusetts (25%); Stow, Massachusetts (13%); and Marlborough, Massachusetts (8%), with an expected completion date of May 2022. Fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $19,950,844 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This sole-source contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Jacobs Government Services Co., Alexandria, Virginia, is awarded a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to exercise an option under previously awarded contract N40080-17-D-0018 for architectural/engineering design services within the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Washington, D.C., area of responsibility. Award of this option brings the total cumulative contract value to $90,000,000. Work will be performed at various administrative facilities located within, but not limited to, Maryland; Washington, District of Columbia; and Virginia, and is expected to be completed by December 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Task orders under this award will be primarily funded by fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps); and fiscal 2021 Navy working capital funds. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Laurel Technologies Partnership, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is awarded an $11,044,416 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N63394-20-C-0008 to exercise options for Programmable Power Supply MK 179 Mod 0 production units in support of the Vertical Launch System (VLS). This option exercise is for the manufacture, assembly, test and delivery of additional production units of the VLS Programmable Power Supply MK 179 Mod 0. The VLS provides area and self-defense, anti-air warfare capabilities, counter-air and land attack cruise missile defense and surface and subsurface warfare capabilities. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2021 defense-wide procurement funding in the amount of $11,044,416 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, has been awarded a $29,791,307 firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement-no-fee order modification (P00002) to contract FA8509-20-F-0014 for the MC-130J Airborne Mission Networking program low rate initial production. This order provides for the procurement of production kits, spares and weapon system trainer support. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado, and is expected to be completed Jan. 19, 2023. Fiscal 2021 U.S. Southern Command other procurement funds in the amount of $5,522,844; fiscal 2021 Air Force other procurement funds in the amount of $6,564,225; fiscal 2020 Air Force other procurement funds in the amount of $6,937,237; and fiscal 2019 other procurement funds in the amount of $10,767,001, are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded an estimated $27,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for KC-135 Aero-I satellite communications replacement. This contract provides to identify, develop, integrate and test a commercial off the shelf Iridium Satellite Communication system to replace the current C/KC-135 International Marine/Maritime Satellite system. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed July 31, 2026. This contract involves optional Foreign Military Sales to Turkey and France. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and seven offers received. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $3,800,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8105-21-D-0002). AAR Allen Service Inc., doing business as AAR Aircraft Component, Garden City, New York, has been awarded a $9,188,386 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F-16 accessory drive gearbox (ADG) and jet fuel starter (JFS) repairs. This contract provides for the repair of both ADG and JFS, which are utilized in the secondary power system of the F-16 C/D aircraft. Work will be performed in Garden City, New York, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 26, 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Defense working capital funds, a no year appropriation, in the amount of $1,498,440 are being obligated on the initial order. The Air Force Material Command, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8251-21-D-0005). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Genesis Vision,* doing business as Rochester Optical, Rochester, New York, has been awarded a maximum $29,700,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for optical lenses. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a three-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a Jan. 25, 2024, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-21-D-0015). ARMY Sikorsky Aircraft Cor., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $26,009,930 modification (P00165) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0009 to exercise an option for two Army Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Team UH-60M aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $26,009,930 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AITC-Five Domains JV LLC, Winter Springs, Florida, was awarded a $19,803,618 firm-fixed-price contract to provide train, advise, assist and mentor services for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales (Saudi Arabia) funds in the amount of $19,803,618 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-21-C-0009). Perspecta Enterprise Solutions LLC, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $15,304,502 firm-fixed-price contract for an eight-month bridge to continue support to integrate, sustain, modernize and protect the information technology (IT) architecture, infrastructure and associated IT services of Human Resource Command. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, with an estimated completion date of June 26, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $7,427,207 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J21C2001). Eastman Aggregate Enterprises LLC, Lake Worth, Florida, was awarded a $14,040,069 firm-fixed-price contract for the Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project beach renourishment. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 27, 2022. Fiscal 2018 civil construction funds in the amount of $14,040,069 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (W912EP-21-C-0006). Poseidon Barge Ltd., Berne, Indiana, was awarded an $8,379,000 modification (P00002) to contract W912BU-19-P-0051 for the purchase of and modification to the structure of pontoons. Work will be performed in Berne, Indiana, with an estimated completion date of May 26, 2022. Fiscal 2019 revolving funds in the amount of $8,379,000 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2483503/source/GovDelivery/

AIR FORCE Chugach Range and Facilities Services JV LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, has been awarded a $112,991,156 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-reimbursable contract for Ascension Island Mission Services. This contract provides for radar tracking, space surveillance tracking, telemetry, timing and sequencing, communications, airfield operations, operations, maintenance and engineering support for facilities, systems, equipment, utilities and base operating support responsibilities. Work will be performed on Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $104,367 are being obligated at the time of award. The 45th Contracting Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA2521-21-C-0015). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY FedMedical Inc.,* Summerville, South Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $30,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for pulse oximeters, exam/surgical lights and related accessories. This was a competitive acquisition with 137 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is South Carolina, with a Jan. 24, 2026, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1-21-D-0005). Lions Services Inc.,** Charlotte, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $10,480,000 modification (P00007) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-20-D-B082) with two one-year option periods for improved combat helmet chinstraps. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is North Carolina, with a Jan. 28, 2022, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NAVY Alabama Shipyard LLC, Mobile, Alabama, is awarded a $19,679,483 firm-fixed-price contract (N32205-21-C-4128) for a 76-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul/dry docking on USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1). The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $21,847,693. Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by May 24, 2021. Contract funds in the amount of $19,679,483 are obligated in fiscal 2021 using working capital funds (Navy). This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the beta.Sam.gov website and three offers were received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Progeny Systems Corp.,* Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $15,480,788 cost-plus-fixed fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-6204 to exercise options for engineering and technical services for Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. This option exercise is under Small Business Innovation Research Topic N05-051, for software build production, engineering and technical services and includes all material travel, subsistence and incidental material in support of the related production orders and services. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (30%); Groton, Connecticut (25%); Bremerton, Washington (15%); Las Vegas, Nevada (10%); Cleveland, Ohio (10%); Chesapeake, Virginia (4%); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (2%); San Diego, California (2%); and Kings Bay, Georgia (2%), and is expected to be completed by January 2022. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) $1,900,000 funding will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. General Electric Co., Niskayuna, New York, is awarded a $10,197,968 cost-type contract to develop a mobile automated manufacturing platform to provide just-in-time manufacturing of nucleic acid countermeasures to rapidly produce, formulate and package doses of nucleic acid therapeutics or prophylactics. This two-year contract includes three one-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to an estimated $41,219,762. Work will be performed at the contractor's facilities in Niskayuna, New York (52%); San Diego, California (24%); Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France (20%); and Seattle, Washington (4%). The period of performance of the base award is from Jan. 25, 2021, through Jan. 24, 2023. If all option periods are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Jan. 24, 2026. Funds in the amount of $1,973,062 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Fiscal 2021 funds will be obligated using research, development, test and evaluation funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This contract was competitively procured via a DARPA broad agency announcement solicitation (HR0011-20-S-0006) published on the beta.SAM.gov website. Ten proposals were received and two were selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-21-C-4014). *Small business **Mandatory source https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2482200/source/GovDelivery/

The UK's first fleet of uncrewed fighter aircraft is one step closer to reality following a £30-million contract to design and manufacture a prototype in a three-year deal supporting more than 100 jobs in Belfast. Published 25 January 2021 From: Ministry of Defence, Northern Ireland Office, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP, and Jeremy Quin MP The uncrewed combat aircraft will be designed to fly at high-speed alongside fighter jets, armed with missiles, surveillance and electronic warfare technology to provide a battle-winning advantage over hostile forces. Known as a ‘loyal wingman', these aircraft will be the UK's first uncrewed platforms able to target and shoot down enemy aircraft and survive against surface to air missiles. In a boost for Northern Ireland's defence industry, Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast, have been selected to lead Team MOSQUITO in the next phase of the Project. Utilising ground-breaking engineering techniques, the team will further develop the RAF's Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) concept, with a full-scale vehicle flight-test programme expected by the end of 2023. Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis said: This is fantastic news and underlines the distinct strengths in Northern Ireland's economy, through its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities. This ground-breaking project will involve significant investment which will not only support local employment, but also reinforce Northern Ireland's contribution to the security of our nation. Team MOSQUITO, which also includes Northrop Grumman UK, will mature the designs and manufacture a technology demonstrator to generate evidence for a follow-on LANCA programme. If successful, Project Mosquito's findings could lead to this revolutionary capability being deployed alongside the Typhoon and F-35 Lightning jets by the end of the decade. Defence Minister, Jeremy Quin said: This is a great win for the Northern Ireland defence industry and will showcase some of the most pioneering engineering work currently being undertaken in the UK. The £30 million project will accelerate the development of the UK's future air power by delivering cutting-edge uncrewed aircraft, maintaining our position as a world leader in emerging technologies. Working with innovative partners from across the UK, Project Mosquito is transforming traditional approaches to combat air to enable the rapid development of technology. By utilising the latest software development techniques and civilian aerospace engineering and manufacturing expertise, the project will deliver dramatic reductions in costs and development timelines, so their innovations can reach the front-line quicker than ever before. This game changing research and development project will ensure the final aircraft design will be capable of being easily and affordably updated with the latest technology so we remain one step ahead of our adversaries. The aircraft's flexibility will provide the optimum protection, survivability and information as it flies alongside Typhoon, F-35 Lightning, and later, Tempest as part of our future combat air system. Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff said: We're taking a revolutionary approach, looking at a game-changing mix of swarming drones and uncrewed fighter aircraft like Mosquito, alongside piloted fighters like Tempest, that will transform the combat battlespace in a way not seen since the advent of the jet age. Director Future Combat Air, Richard Berthon said: Project Mosquito is a vital element of our approach to Future Combat Air, rapidly bringing to life design, build and test skills for next generation combat air capabilities. Autonomous ‘loyal wingman' aircraft create the opportunity to expand, diversify and rapidly upgrade Combat Air Forces in a cost-effective way, now and in the future. As announced by the Prime Minister in November 2020, the UK's Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme is set to benefit from a portion of the extra £1.5 billion investment into military research and development, which will help ensure our Armed Forces are prepared to meet the threats of tomorrow. LANCA originated in 2015 in Dstl to understand innovative Combat Air technologies and concepts that offer radical reductions in cost and development time and is a RAF Rapid Capabilities Office led project under the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative (FCAS TI). The UK MOD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) provides the project management and is the MOD's technical authority for LANCA and Project Mosquito on behalf of the RCO. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/30m-injection-for-uks-first-uncrewed-fighter-aircraft

Nathan Strout WASHINGTON — The Missile Defense Agency selected two companies to build prototype sensors capable of tracking hypersonic weapons from space. L3Harris and Northrop Grumman will create the prototypes for the agency's Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor. L3Harris won a $122 million award Jan. 14, while Northrop Grumman received a $155 million award Jan. 22. In tandem with the Space Development Agency's tracking layer, the HBTSS constellation is the Pentagon's answer to hypersonic weapons, which are too dim to effectively track with current sensors in geostationary orbit and can potentially avoid terrestrial sensors. The constellation will be closer to the planet's surface in low Earth orbit, allowing sensors to more easily see the dimmer threat. However, being closer to the Earth's surface results in a far narrower field of view for each satellite. In order to get worldwide coverage, the Pentagon is pursuing a proliferated constellation made up of dozens of satellites. SDA's tracking layer satellites will initially pick up a threat, with each satellite tracking the weapon and then passing off custody to the next satellite as the weapon leaves its field of view. Ultimately, the threat will be passed on to the more sensitive HBTSS, which can provide targeting data. “The combination of high speed, maneuverability and relatively low altitude of some of the emerging advanced missile threats makes them challenging targets for our current missile defense systems,” the agency said in a statement. “HBTSS is needed, since we cannot populate the Earth and the oceans with terrestrial radars to meet this need. The ‘birth-to-death' tracking that HBTSS can provide when integrated with terrestrial sensors will make it possible to maintain custody of missile threats from launch through intercept regardless of location.” Four companies were in the running to build the new HBTSS prototypes, but MDA stated on Jan. 22 that L3Harris and Northrop Grumman will be the two moving forward into the on-orbit prototype demonstration. The other transaction authority contracts covers the prototypes through launch and early on-orbit testing. According to MDA, the prototypes should “demonstrate the sensitivity and fire-control quality of service necessary to support both the emerging hypersonic threat kill chain and dim upper-stage ballistic missiles.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/01/25/missile-defense-agency-picks-two-vendors-for-hypersonic-weapon-tracking-sensor-prototypes

By: Andrew Chuter LONDON — A British initiative to develop an unmanned air vehicle known as a “loyal wingman” has received a boost with the announcement by the Ministry of Defence that a Spirit AeroSystems-led consortium is to build a full-scale test vehicle. The Belfast, Northern Ireland-based arm of Spirit and partners, including Northrop Grumman UK, have been awarded a £30 million (U.S. $41 million) deal to lead a partnership, known as Team Mosquito, for building the demonstrator vehicle in time to start a test flight program by the end of 2023. Work maturing the Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft, or LANCA, will run for three years until the conclusion of the flight trials, an MoD official said. Following completion of the demonstration phase, the Royal Air Force will analyze the data and use it to inform capability decisions, said the official. The unmanned vehicle is part of the air force's push to produce a low-cost machine in a fraction of the time of normal combat jets. The Spirit Mosquito team, previously known as Blackdawn and led by Callen-Lenz , secured the deal beating out proposals from partnerships led by Boeing and Blue Bear Systems. Spirit acquired the Belfast-based aerostructures operations of Canadian commercial and business jet builder Bombardier last year. Designing and building the airframe is a small but significant win for the company, which centers on building structures for the Airbus A220 airliner and other civil sector work. Northrop Grumman UK, the key partner alongside Spirit in Team Mosquito, said in a statement it will be providing model-based systems engineering and agile engineering expertise. The company said it will also integrate its advanced mission management (AMM) and airborne communication node technologies to enable seamless human-machine collaboration and cooperative mission management across distributed manned and unmanned assets. The MoD said further companies in the new team will be announced later. Work on LANCA has been underway since 2015, with the MoD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory taking the lead pursing innovative combat air technologies and concepts that offer radical reductions in cost and development time. Defense Ministry officials previously said they want to produce a drone for 10 percent of the cost and in one-fifth of the time of a combat jet. “If successful, Project Mosquito's findings could lead to the capability being deployed alongside RAF Typhoon and F-35 Lightning jets by the end of the decade,” said the MoD. The drone is now a RAF Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO)-led project under the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative (FCAS TI). If the project is successful the Mosquito loyal wingman platform could eventually become the first unmanned platform in British service able to target and shoot down enemy aircraft. The Mosquito effort is one of several future air combat initiatives being pursued by the British, including development of swarming drones and the Tempest next-generation manned and unmanned combat jet. Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston said the British were “taking a revolutionary approach, looking at a game-changing mix of swarming drones and uncrewed fighter aircraft like Mosquito, alongside piloted fighters like Tempest, that will transform the combat battlespace in a way not seen since the advent of the jet age.” The loyal wingman concept is generating increasing interest with militaries across the world, with similar work underway in the United States, Australia and Europe. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/01/25/british-shell-out-seed-funding-for-loyal-wingman-combat-drone/

Lockheed Martin et Sikorsky-Boeing ont mis au point l'hélicoptère militaire de pointe Defiant X, en cours de développement dans le cadre du concours de l'armée américaine pour le futur avion d'assaut à long rayon d'action (Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, FLRAA) de l'armée américaine. L'appareil est conçu pour remplacer l'hélicoptère Black Hawk. Il dispose d'un rotor coaxial rigide et d'une hélice propulsive, largement similaire au démonstrateur technologique qui l'a précédé, le SB-1 Defiant. Des modifications ont été apportées au train d'atterrissage, ainsi qu'aux stabilisateurs verticaux, qui ont été redessinés. Le fuselage de l'appareil sera réalisé en matériaux composites et la cabine permettra de transporter douze soldats équipés. Air & Cosmos du 26 janvier