Global wrap-up: US clamps down on Turkish F-35 order, Japan launches new destroyer

Asia-Pacific: 

• The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) officially commissioned the second Aegis-based Asahi Class guided missile destroyer, the JS Shiranui.
• The US State Department approved the foreign military sales (FMS) of two Aegis weapon systems to Japan in a deal worth an estimated US$2.15 billion. 
• India secured a US$190 million deal to purchase two 777 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Self-Protection Suites (SPS). The deal also includes initial spares, consumables, repair and return support, support equipment, SPS engineering design, integration, hardware integration, flight test and certification, selective availability anti-spoofing modules (SAASM), warranties, publications and technical documentation, training and training equipment, field service representatives; US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support.
• Lockheed Martin has offered an evolved variant of the F-16V 'Viper' as the F-21, which would be built in partnership with Tata in India as part of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) modernisation program to acquire approximately 114 tactical fighter aircraft.
• China's annual defence expenditure has risen by 7.5 per cent or US$177.6 billion for FY2019.
• Ukrspecexport, the Ukranian military import/export agency, has signed a joint venture with Myanmar to develop an armoured vehicle assembly plant to produce the BTR-4U 8x8 armoured personnel carrier and 2S1U self-propelled howitzer. Production at the new facility is expected in the second half of 2020. 
• Indonesia and South Korea are reportedly close to signing a follow-on order for three Type 209/1400 Chang Bogo Class diesel-electric attack submarines to be built by South Korean defence contractor Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). This deal follows a US$1.1 billion deal signed between the two countries in 2011. 
• Singapore has officially taken delivery of the first Invincible Class submarines, based on the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) Type 218SG Class submarine following a ceremony at Kiel in Germany. The vessel is the first of four new submarines, with all four vessels to be delivered from 2022.  

Middle East: 

• Israel has been tentatively approved for an FMS worth US$238 million for Namer Armoured Personnel Carrier power packs, less transmission and related equipment. Also included is an Integrated Logistics Support package that includes: special tools for C-Level maintenance; oil spray nozzle test bench; preservation and packaging; containers; configuration management; technical manuals, spare parts catalogs, other documentation and publications, and other related elements of logistics and program support.
• Lockheed Martin has been awarded a nine-figure down payment on a US$15 billion missile defence system for Saudi Arabia to deliver 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system long-lead items, testing and training, and initial system engineering and development. It's the first step in a larger deal struck in 2018 between the US and Saudi Arabia that will eventually see the kingdom receive THAAD launchers, missiles, and affiliated equipment.  
• Saudi Arabia has signed a joint venture with France's Naval Group to build warships for the middle east kingdom, with broader export opportunities in the Middle East. 
• The US is placing increased pressure to cancel Turkey's planned acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter over the country's plan to purchase the Russian designed S-400 air defence system, over concerns about the integrity of the fifth-generation fighter's secret capabilities.    

Europe: 

• Mark Lancaster, UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces, has clearly defined the role of the future Type 31e guided missile frigates to be built for the Royal Navy, saying that: "The Type 31e frigates will be tailored toward maritime security and defence engagement, including the fleet ready escort role at home, our commitments in the south Atlantic, the Caribbean and the Gulf, and to NATO."
• The Royal Air Force has finally retired the last eight Panavia Tornado strike aircraft following 40 years of active service, with the aircraft's role to be taken over by the Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
• Airbus, Naval Group and Rohde & Schwarz have received a contract with the French Navy worth about US$169.5 million to develop and deliver a secure data network for the French Navy.
• Naval Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique have signed a US$1.9 billion contract for the construction of four logistic support ships for the French Navy, with the first two vessels to be delivered by 2025. 
• European aerospace companies Airbus, Dassault, Safran and MTU Aero Engines have partnered to initiate a series of joint concept study (JCS) agreements to begin the development phase of the sixth-generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS). 
• The German Navy is looking to source a high-energy laser weapon system (HELWS) for integration into a future corvette in the 2020-21 time frame.  
• The Russian Air Force is expecting to take delivery of its first Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft in 2019 despite rumours that the aircraft would never officially enter service. 

North America: 

• Thales was awarded a US$37 million deal with the US Army to provide the new rapidly deployable security force assistance brigades (SFAB) with the AN/PRC-148C Improved Multiband Inter-Intra Team Radio (IMBITR), establishing it as the first dual-channel, certified networking radio to enhance communications at the tactical edge and providing joint and coalition forces interoperability.
• The US Navy's fleet of F-35C variant aircraft have reached initial operating capability (IOC), paving the way for increased deployment aboard the US Navy's fleet of super carriers. 
• The US Navy's Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine program is getting a new head and program office as the project gathers momentum.
• Huntington Ingalls Industries was awarded a US$118 million firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS Rushmore (LSD 47) fiscal 2019 drydock selected restricted availability. 
• Raytheon Missile Systems was awarded a US$91.8 million firm-fixed-price option for fiscal 2019 for Navy procurements of Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 guided missile round pack and spare replacement components.
• Lockheed Martin was awarded a US$14.1 million cost-plus-incentive-fee order for the development of the F-35 Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS).
• The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) officially took delivery of its first two RAAF classic F/A-18 Hornet aircraft as part of a US$500 million sale commitment signed between the governments of Australia and Canada. 
• The Canadian government has confirmed that BAE Systems has been awarded the contract to provide 15 Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) vessels based on the BAE Type 26 Global Combat Ship.

Australia: 

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.

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