Raytheon wins CEC contract | US Marine Corps interested in Iron Dome | USA and Japan deepen Talks about F-2 Replacement

Americas

Raytheon won a $15.3 million contract in support of the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC). The deal includes design agent and engineering service efforts. According to Raytheon, the CEC program provides a sensor network with integrated fire control capability that significantly improves strike force air and missile defense capabilities by coordinating measurement data from strike force air search sensors on CEC-equipped units into a single, integrated real-time, composite track air picture. CEC improves battle force effectiveness by improving overall situational awareness and by enabling longer range, cooperative, multiple, or layered engagement strategies. CEC will be designed to help the military service coordinate measurement data from sensors during strike force air search missions and facilitate battle force situational awareness. Raytheon will perform work in Florida. The scheduled completion date is in September 2022.

The US Navy awarded L3 Technology a $14.1 million contract modification for MK 20 MOD 1 Electro-Optical Sensor Systems, which is a major component of the MK 34 Gun Weapon Systems employed by the DDG 51 class, CG 47 class and the Coast Guard’s offshore patrol centers. The MK 20 provides highly accurate, three-dimensional, time-tagged target position data in support of GWS operations, as well as day and night imagery to support visual detection and identification, navigation, surveillance and situational awareness. The modification also provides for radar cross section kits, shock ring kits, engineering support services, and spares for both the Navy and Coast Guard. The systems are to support the Gun Weapon Systems by performing safety check-sighting, look-point-shoot, target ranges, identification of air and surface targets in support of anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare. Work will take place in Massachusetts and is scheduled to be completed by August 2021.

L3 Technologies and Northrop Grumman each won contract modifications in support of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ LB) controller, receiver, exciter, and power generation subsystems. NGJ-LB is an external radar and communications jamming pod that is carried underneath an aircraft and is part of a larger series of weapon systems contracts that are planned to ultimately replace the aging ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System currently used on Boeing EA-18G Growlers. The Navy awarded both companies more then $13 million for the modifications, which also provide for NGJ LB technique development, incorporation of updated goals documents, and environmental testing of the transmitter group. In October, L3 and Northrop won two separate $36 million technology demonstration contracts for the NGJ LB. Work by both companies is scheduled to be completed in June next year.

Middle East & Africa

According to reports, the US Marine Corps is seeking new air defense systems as it faces advancing military capabilities from Russia and China and contends with the proliferation of drone technology among small terror groups. The Corps is eyeing Israel’s Iron Dome or SkyHunter. According to a Senate briefing, the Marine Corps sought limited funding in fiscal year 2019 to begin testing and integration of the SkyHunter system with the Corps’ Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR. The Iron Dome is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 kilometers away. It is effective day or night and in all weather conditions including low clouds, rain, dust storms and fog. It features a first-of-its-kind multi-mission launcher designed to fire a variety of interceptor missiles. The Marine Corps has reportedly considered mounting the launchers and Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptors on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, and Oshkosh’s Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement truck, or MTVR.

Europe

The UK Ministry of Defense gave Industry teams that have been bidding for the Royal Navy’s Type 31e frigate program additional financial headroom. The Ministry also loosened some commercial conditions in regard of design and build phase. The Type 31e program is for the acquisition of a class of five globally deployable general-purpose frigates geared towards forward-deployed maritime security, presence, and defense engagement operations. A few days ago it was reported that industry insiders warned of spiraling costs related to the project. The move by the Ministry of Defense means that the bidders will no longer be responsible for bearing the costs of government furnished equipment in their bids.

Asia-Pacific

The US government together with the Japanese Ministry of Defense are deepening their talks about Japan’s program to develop a platform in order to replace Japan’s Mitsubishi F-2 fighter, Jane’s reports. The F-2 support fighter aircraft is a multi role single engine fighter aircraft, which also resulted from a joint Japan and USA development program. But with the Air Self-Defense Force’s F-2 aircraft due to be retired in the mid-2030s, Japan has begun to examine potential replacement fighter jets. Costs may be reduced through joint development with other nations and industry giants from countries such as the US and the UK have proposed development plans based on existing aircraft. Discussions between the US and Japan are currently focused on the fighter aircraft technologies that the US would transfer to Japan to support the next-generation fighter program, which Japan wants to make a decision on in the near future.

The training ground for the Taiwanese F-16 pilots at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona will be relocated to Tucson International Airport within the next two years. The relocation will cost Taiwan approximately $8 million. Taiwan’s pilots have trained at Luke Air Force Base for more than 20 years since the country purchased the first batch of F-16 fighter jets from the US. The transfer of the 21st Fighter Squadron, where Taiwanese pilots are trained to fly F-16 jets, will begin in 2020, to provide space for new F-35 fighters.

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