March 18, 2023

The Defence Post Newsletter 3/18/2023

Welcome! Stay ahead of the curve with our newsletter covering the latest developments in the US and global defense industries, ongoing conflicts, and emerging trends.

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US Industry News

US Army to Spend $331M on 18,000 Next-Gen Squad Weapons, Ammo

The US Army plans to invest up to $331 million in next-generation squad weapons, ammunition, and associated equipment.

The figure is part of its $185.5 billion proposed fiscal 2024 defense budget to support military modernization and keep weapons development programs on track.

USS ARLEIGH BURKE: The US Navy has approved a five-year life extension program for its lead Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.
JLTV SALE: The US State Department has approved the possible sale of 95 Heavy Gun Carrier Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and equipment to Romania.
AMPVs: The US Army has begun fielding its new Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles to support various combat operations.
FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: CMC Electronics will supply several Sikorsky helicopters with tactical flight management systems.
SNAKE-LIKE ROBOT: NASA’s snake-like robot designed to scout extreme terrain unreachable by tracked or wheeled platforms could be used to support tunnel warfare.

Global Industry News

British Army to Receive Swedish Archers as Interim Artillery Replacement: Report

The British Army is set to receive up to eight Archer 155mm artillery systems from Sweden to plug the gap caused by donating its AS90 guns to Ukraine.

The BAE Systems Bofors self-propelled guns will be drawn from the Swedish Army’s stock of 48 Archers based on the Volvo 6×6 all-terrain chassis.

MALI: Mali’s military rulers took delivery on Thursday of more aircraft from Russia, now its main military and political ally, as well as drones from Turkey.
FRANCE: The French Air Force has bought a full flight simulator for its E-3F airborne warning and control system aircraft.
ROMANIA: Elbit Systems has received multiple contracts to modernize the Romanian Armed Forces’ aerial capabilities.
ITALY: Leonardo will develop next-generation immersive aircraft training solutions leveraging Varjo headsets.
GERMANY & ISRAEL: Germany is reportedly moving ahead with its planned acquisition of the Israeli-made Arrow-3 anti-ballistic missile defense system/
SWEDEN: Sweden has demonstrated a new battle management system with improved stabilization, radio speech quality, and range operability.
RUSSIA, CHINA & IRAN: Russia said Wednesday it had started naval exercises with China and Iran in the Arabian Sea.
ELBIT SYSTEMS: Elbit Systems has received a contract to deliver electronic warfare self-protection suites for a NATO member in Europe.
INDIA: The Indian Navy will reportedly acquire more than 200 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles in a $2.5-billion deal.
UK: The UK has announced a $8.5 million investment to construct an electromagnetic environment hub for the British military.
SOUTH KOREA: The South Korean government has approved a plan to purchase F-35A fighter jets from the US for $2.85 billion.
FINLAND: Sweden’s PM said the likelihood that Finland would join NATO before Sweden had “increased.”
LITHUANIA: Lithuania has ordered 3,000 Minimi MK3 light machine guns from Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal.
AUSTRALIA: Thales Australia has teamed with Orbis Sibro to enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s maritime sustainment operations.

Conflict News

Niger Says It Killed ‘30 Boko Haram Jihadists,’ Arrests 960

Jihadist-hit Niger last week killed about 30 members of the Boko Haram group and detained 960 followers, most of them women and children, who had fled neighboring Nigeria, official sources said.

POLAND & UKRAINE: Poland’s president on Thursday said the EU member would deliver an initial batch of four Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine soon.
DRONE COLLISION VIDEO: The US on Thursday released a video it said shows an “unsafe” and “unprofessional” intercept by Russian military jets when one struck an American drone, damaging its propeller.
TAIWAN: Taiwan has been urged to study and adopt Finland’s concept of military reserves to bolster its readiness for a potential Chinese invasion.
CHINA: China plans to build a supersized sand dredging vessel to boost its island-building capability.
NORTH KOREA: North Korea fired a “long-range ballistic missile” Thursday, Seoul said.summit to boost ties in the face of Pyongyang’s growing aggression.
RUSSIA: Russia said its forces shot down three missiles over the southern border region of Belgorod, the latest spillover of fighting from Ukraine.
MOROCCO: Moroccan police on Wednesday arrested three suspected IS members over the killing of an officer whose charred body was found this month.
RUSSIA: Moscow said Wednesday it would try to retrieve the wreckage of a US military drone that crashed over the Black Sea.
POLAND: The Polish military has deployed anti-tank barriers on its borders with Russia and Belarus to prepare for a potential escalation of the war in Ukraine.

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Latest Pentagon Contracts

Valiant Global Defense Services was awarded $14,647,488 for personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform Korea Battle Simulation Center Operation Center operations services.
QinetiQ was awarded $92,658,048 for analysis, development, demonstration, testing, acquisition, transition, integration, initial deployment, sustainment and training of Digital Night Vision Technology and related equipment and systems.
Northrop Grumman was awarded $7,839,595 for the repair of 33 items for the main landing gear door and leading edge extension spoiler in support of Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support Integrated Weapon Support Team’s F/A-18 aircrafts.
Walashek Industrial & Marine was awarded $9,427,929 for the Landing Craft, Air Cushion Extended Service Life Extension Program.
Lockheed Martin was awarded $143,086,636 for Navy equipment and spares.
General Dynamics was awarded $8,997,563 for the USS Arlington (LPD 24) fiscal 2023 docking selected restricted availability.
Teledyne Brown Engineering was awarded $9,104,053 to procure MK11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles rotatable frames and enclosures.
HDD was awarded $13,168,000 for renovation of an Army Reserve area maintenance support activity/vehicle maintenance shop.
Raytheon was awarded a $31,389,031 for Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense Plug & Fight A-Kit.