The Defense Post bi-weekly newsletter 1/27/2023

The Defense Post bi-weekly newsletter covering the latest developments in the US and global defense industries, ongoing conflicts, and emerging trends.

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US Industry News

Lockheed’s DEIMOS Laser Weapon Achieves First Light

Lockheed Martin’s Directed Energy Interceptor for Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense System (DEIMOS) has achieved its first light in a recent laboratory demonstration.

The milestone verified the tactical laser weapon’s expected optical performance. Lockheed will expand the DEIMOS test program in 2023 and complete related integration tests by 2024.

US MARINE CORPS: The US Marine Corps has teamed with health tech company InBody to supply body composition assessment devices for its personnel.
US AIR FORCE: The US Air Force has awarded Polysentry a contract to develop an AI-powered information classification platform.
FUTURE COMBAT DRONE: The US Air Force Research Laboratory and Blue Force Technologies have conducted a ground engine test for their Fury unmanned combat aircraft.
ARTILLERY PRODUCTION: The US Department of Defense will increase production of artillery shells by 500 percent to replenish stockpiles sent to Ukraine.
US MARINE CORPS: A US Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion helicopter lifted an inoperable F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft in a recent trial.
US & ISRAEL: The Biden administration has asked Israel to transfer its discontinued Hawk anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine.
USS AMERICA: The US Navy’s lead America-class amphibious assault ship LHA 6 has conducted a live firing of its RIM-116 rolling airframe missile in the Philippine Sea.
US NAVY: The US Navy has awarded Fairbanks Morse Defense a contract to support its Freedom-class littoral combat ships.
PRECISION GUIDANCE KITS: Northrop Grumman has awarded CAES a $24-million contract for 8,000 M-Code GPS antennas to be integrated into Precision Guidance Kits currently in production for the US Army.
US AIR FORCE: The US Air Force has teamed with Howard University to conduct tactical autonomy research supporting US military systems.
LOCKHEED MARTIN: Lockheed Martin has announced the successful first flight of the advanced F-16 Block 70 at its Greenville, South Carolina site.
ABRAMS: The US announced Wednesday that it will provide 31 Abrams tanks to help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN: Northrop Grumman wrapped up live testing of an air-launched munition, moving closer to deployment.
US & ISRAEL: The US and Israel have begun “Exercise Juniper Oak 23.2,” featuring more than 140 aircraft including strategic bombers, fighter jets, and refueling aircraft.

Global Industry News

Finland Approves Military Sales to

Turkey Amid NATO Row

Finland’s defense ministry said Wednesday the country had issued the first commercial export license for military material to Turkey since 2019 — a key demand for Ankara to approve Helsinki’s NATO bid.

Riikka Pitkanen, special adviser at the ministry, said that the export license granted concerned steel that would be used for armor.

DENMARK & ISRAEL: Denmark is in talks with Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems for new mobile artillery to plug a “critical gap.”
FRANCE: France has awarded a $26-million contract to Saab for the delivery of AT4 anti-armor weapons.
LEONARDO: Leonardo has chosen French defense firm Safran to equip the Kopter AW09 multi-role helicopter with a new engine.
GERMANY: The German military has contracted Rheinmetall to modernize its soldier systems’ command and control equipment.
CANADA: Canada said Thursday it will join the US, Germany, and other countries in supplying heavy tanks to Ukraine with a shipment of four fully operational Leopards.
BELGIUM: Airbus will provide a satellite communications solution to the Belgian Armed Forces.
INDIA: India showcased its military might with tanks and flyovers by roaring fighter jets in the heart of New Delhi Thursday to mark its annual Republic Day.
ETHIOPIA & CHINA: Ethiopia has acquired dozens of Chinese-built 155 mm SH15 wheeled, self-propelled howitzers.
AUSTRALIA: Australia will soon buy “smart” sea mines to help deter potential Chinese aggression.
SPAIN: Spain said Wednesday it was ready to send some of its German-made Leopard tanks to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
INDONESIA: The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has signified its intention to procure smart aviation weapons from French defense firm Safran.
QATAR: Italian shipbuilding firm Fincantieri has launched the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces’ 469-feet landing platform dock.
NORWAY: Norway will send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine as part of Western aid, its defense minister announced Wednesday.
FRANCE: France continues to study the possibility of sending its heavy Leclerc tanks to Ukraine, PM Borne said on Wednesday.
INDIA: The Indian Ministry of Defence is seeking automated, domestically-developed transport systems for the army to replace animals.

Conflict News

Ukraine Shoots Down Three ‘Deadly’ Russian Choppers in 30 Minutes: Report

The Ukrainian military says it destroyed three of Russia’s “deadliest and most advanced” helicopters in 30 minutes on January 24.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the three Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters were performing missions in the vicinity of Yevhenivka in Donetsk Oblast. They were all destroyed by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles.

NIGERIA: The death toll from a bomb blast that struck a group of herders in central Nigeria has risen to 40 from 27, the local government said Thursday.
ISRAEL & GAZA: Israel launched air strikes on Gaza Friday in response to militant rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave.
US & SOMALIA: A US military raid in Somalia killed a key regional leader of the Islamic State group, Bilal al-Sudani, US officials said Thursday.
UKRAINE: A blistering wave of Russian strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure killed 11 people on Thursday.
WEST BANK: An Israeli raid on the occupied West Bank’s Jenin refugee camp Thursday killed nine Palestinians including an elderly woman, Palestinian officials said.
UKRAINE: Russia fired more than 30 missiles at targets across Ukraine early on Thursday, hours after air defences shot down two dozen Iran-made attack drones.
NIGERIA: A group of 27 herders were killed Wednesday and several others injured in what police called a bomb explosion in central Nigeria.
CLUSTER MUNITIONS: A European country has proposed sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, an official said Wednesday.
DR CONGO: At least 17 people were wounded Wednesday when a bomb exploded in a market in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Zelensky said on Wednesday that he wants the West to send long-range missiles and jets.
RWANDA & DR CONGO: The Rwandan government said a fighter jet from the Democratic Republic of Congo violated its airspace.

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Latest Pentagon Contracts

Philips Electronics was awarded $9,999,801 to transition the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure pilot program to an operational environment.
Rockwell Collins was awarded $23,353,019 to procure 68 airborne subsystem pods, six remote range units, two common ground systems, four portable support equipment subsystems, three site surveys, and one contract data requirements list in support of full rate production for the Tactical Combat Training System II program.
Hardwire LLC was awarded a maximum of $8,385,168 for enhanced small arms protective inserts for use in extra-small shorts and small shorts.
Olympus America was awarded $22,310,158 for aircraft engine borescope kits, spare insertion tube modules, and repairs.
CAE USA was awarded a maximum of $49,709,615 for the F-16 Block 70 Training Simulators program for the Taiwan Air Force.
Sikorsky was awarded $656,774,666 for UH-60M aircraft.
Peraton Labs was awarded $7,913,687 to exercise the Phase 2 option of the Wideband Secure and Protected Emitter and Receiver program.
BAE Systems was awarded $14,751,916 for the repairs of the APX-111 system in support of the F/18 aircraft.
Textron Aviation was awarded $113,107,250 for 10 Multi-Engine Training System aircraft, initial spares, peculiar support equipment, instructor pilot training, and maintenance personnel training to provide intermediate and advanced training for accession into P-8, EP-3, KC-130, E-6, E-2, CMV-22 and MV-22 aircraft.
Cyber Systems & Services Solutions was $8,307,341 for Defensive Cyber Realization, Integration, and Operational Support services.
Sallyport Global Holdings was awarded $235,608,052 for base operations support, base life support, and security services in support of the Iraq F-16 program.