Canada Will Buy F-35 | Israel And Morocco Sign Aeronautics MOU | British Wildcats Arrived In Lithuania
Americas
Lockheed Martin won a $92.5 million contract modification for Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent efforts for the design, development, integration, test and delivery of Advanced Capability Build 20. The Aegis Combat System is an American integrated naval weapons system. It uses powerful computers, radar and digital signal processing algorithms to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets. Work will take place in New Jersey. Expected completion is by December 2022.
The Canadian government has decided that it will buy the Lockheed Martin F-35 to replace its CF-18s, in a joint announcement by Public Services and Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi and Defense Minister Anita Anand. Opposition Conservatives pour cold water on the announcement as the ruling Liberal government had pledged back in 2015 not to buy the F-35.
Middle East & Africa
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the aeronautics sector was inked during the meeting between the Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Ryad Mezzour, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Mr. Amir Peretz. This partnership is part of the implementation of the Joint Declaration between Morocco and Israel signed on December 22, 2020 in Rabat, in which the two countries expressed their willingness to promote dynamic and innovative bilateral economic cooperation in the fields of investment and technology.
Europe
According to the British Army, ‘Wildcat’ reconnaissance helicopters arrived at Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania earlier this month. The 1,500-mile journey from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset took the four Wildcat Mk1 helicopters over some notable landmarks including the airfield and camp in Gutersloh, where 1AAC had been stationed 1993-2016.
Asia-Pacific
The Indian Navy commissioned the Indian Naval Air Squadron 316 (INAS 316), the service’s second P-8I aircraft squadron. A ceremony was held at INS Hansa, Goa on 29 March 2022. INAS 316 has been christened ‘Condors’ which are one of the largest flying land birds with a massive wingspan. The insignia of the squadron depicts a ‘Condor’ searching over the vast blue expanse of the sea.
The Thai government is planning to relocate Royal Thai Air Force fighters and Singapore F-16s based at Udon Thani airbase to Nam Phong airbase in the south. Bangkok Post quoted Gp Capt Wisarut Chanthapradit as saying that the relocation of training to Nam Phong will take place in the next three to four years.
Today’s Video
WATCH: British Army Deploy Four Super-Wildcat in Lithuania