Global wrap-up: Belgium approved for SkyGuardian RPAS, Morocco orders new F-16s

Asia Pacific: 

• The People’s Liberation Army Navy and Russian Navy have announced they will conduct a series of naval exercises in late April and early May. Exercises will include naval artillery fire maneuvers against naval and air targets, search and rescue operations and will include Chinese naval aviation and submarines from both Navies. 
• The Japanese Ministry of Defense has announced plans to enhance the ASM-3 long-range cruise missile to include an extended range with supersonic speeds to counter the area access denial capabilities of the Chinese Navy and Air Force. 
• South Korea has committed to a major upgrade of Camp Humphreys, the major US base outside of Seoul, with Korea expected to foot almost the entire US$10.7 billion expansion of the facility.
• The Indonesian Navy’s newest Martadinata-class frigate, the KRI Gusti Ngurah Rai, has commenced patrols around Sulawesi. The Dutch-designed vessel is part of a planned six vessels built at the PT PAL shipyard in Indonesia. 
• The Indian Navy has inaugurated the service’s new Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Training Facility at the INS Shivaji naval base. The facility will provide realistic training to naval personnel in detection, protection against, and decontamination of nuclear, biological and chemical agents.
• The Indian Air Force officially accept the first four Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters with the remaining 11 Chinooks to be delivered progressively by March 2020. The Chinooks will be deployed in the northern and eastern regions of the country, with a focus on supporting military operations in remote locations.     

Middle East: 

• The Royal Moroccan Air Force has been approved a series of foreign military sales (FMS) by the US Department of State including a US$985.2 million deal to upgrade the existing 23 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft to the F-16V Viper variant. This deal was supported by the approval of a US$3.8 billion to secure an additional 25 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 72 aircraft. 
• The Israeli Army has signed a US$127 million deal with Elbit Systems to develop next-generation artillery cannons over the next 12 years with a focus on improved effectiveness and efficiency, requiring fewer soldiers to operate and costs significantly less to maintain than the current cannons.
• The UAE Army has signed a US$661 million deal with Turkish company Otokar Land Systems UAE for the purchase of ARMA 8x8 armoured vehicles. 

Europe: 

• Belgium has secured a US$600 million FMS from the US to acquire four MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft. The package includes an Initial Spares Package and Readiness Spares Package to support a five-year period of performance; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; US government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. 
• The Royal Air Force has signed a US$1.89 billion deal to acquire a fleet of five Boeing E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control capability to replace the ageing E-3 Sentry fleet. 
• The Royal Navy has committed to establishing the Naval Combat Management Centre to support the £1.2 billion Type 31e frigate program in partnership with Thales.
• Northrop Grumman secured a US$713 million deal to provide Poland with an Integrated Air and Missile Defence  Battle Command System for the first phase of Poland’s WISŁA air and missile defence program.
• The German Bundeswehr has issued a tender notice to replace the 70 incumbent Sikorsky CH-53G/GS/GA/GEs with the Boeing CH-47E and Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion “appearing to be appropriate”.
• Airbus has released a new Mission Support System into service to support the Luftwaffe’s fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
• The Russian Navy is expected to have over 180 warships by 2027 with 15 major warships and 20 logistics support vessels to be delivered in 2019. 
• The Russian S-300 and S-400 air and missile defence systems have successfully destroyed eight targets simulating a notional enemy’s cruise and tactical missiles and aircraft at the Ashuluk practice range in the Astrakhan Region in south Russia.

North America: 

• QinetiQ North America secured a seven-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, valued up to $164,487,260, for the delivery of small ground robots. It includes a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase worth approximately US$20 million over one to two years, followed by a series of annual production releases. QNA has been awarded a US$4,051,837 initial order as part of the LRIP phase.
• Boeing has been awarded a US$250 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Long Range Stand-Off Cruise Missile weapon system integration. This contract provides for aircraft and missile carriage equipment development and modification, engineering, testing, software development, training, facilities and support necessary to fully integrate the Long Range Stand-Off Cruise Missile on the B-52H bomber platform.
• General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems was awarded a US$58,911,077 modification to procure 120mm M1002 new production cartridges and 120mm M865 recap cartridges for 120mm tank training ammunition.
• Lockheed Martin has been awarded a US$$264,655,025 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for additional operation and technical services in support of the government of Korea’s F-35 Lightning II program.
• Northrop Grumman secured a US$322.5 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to provide for the engineering and manufacturing development of the AGM-88G, Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range.  

Australia: 

• Raytheon Australia announced the development of a A$50 million production facility in South Australia and the selection of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System has been selected for the Australian government’s Short Range Ground Based Air Defence program, known as LAND 19 Phase 7B.
• Australia has announced its commitment to the acquisition of its second Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft as part of the AIR 7000 program. 
• Defence Minister Christopher Pyne and Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds announced that the completion of a major capability upgrade to the Hobart Class Destroyers will allow NUSHIP Sydney to enter into operation one year ahead of schedule.
• Lockheed Martin Australia will be supported by NEC Australia and Calytrix Technologies to provide more simulation-supported training events on a broader scale and ensure that simulation-enabled collective training is conducted in secure and realistic environments as part of JP9711.
• Lendlease secured a A$286 million program of works to deliver a series of infrastructure upgrades at Fleet Base East, Garden Island. 
• In a first for Australia’s defence industry, CHAMP Private Equity will take a majority stake in Victorian-based Marand Precision Engineering, alongside the defence SME’s founding Ellul family. 
• The Royal Australian Navy’s Arafura class offshore patrol vessels reached a major milestone with the first keel successfully constructed on time and on budget at ASC’s Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. 

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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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