Global wrap-up: Russia provides S-300 to Syria, Canada secures Aussie Hornets

Asia-Pacific: 

• The People's Republic of China has officially refused the USS Wasp (LHD 1) entry to Hong Kong as the diplomatic, strategic and economic row between China and the US continues to heat up. 
• The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has signed an order for four H225M multi-role utility helicopters with Airbus, which will bring the RTAF fleet to 12 H225M. 
• The US has announced a $330 million arms deal with Taiwan to provide stock replenishment supply of standard spare parts, and repair/replace of spare parts in support of the F-16, C-130, F-5, Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), all other aircraft systems and subsystems, and other related elements of logistics and program support. 
• Japan has secured an estimated $3.14 billion contract with Northrop Grumman to buy up to nine E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, 28 T56-A-427A engines (18 installed and 10 spares), 12 Multifunction Information Distribution System/Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS/JTRS) terminals (nine installed and three spares), 10 APY-9 Radars (nine installed and one spare), 11 AN/AYK-27 Integrated Navigation Control and Display Systems (INCDS) (nine installed and two spares), 30 LN-251 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGIs) with Embedded Airborne Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) Receiver (18 installed and 12 spares), and 12 AN/ALQ-217 Electronic Support Measures (nine installed and three spares).
• Korea has been on a spending spree, announcing a $2.1 billion deal to procure six P-8A Poseidon Patrol Aircraft with supporting systems, support services, logistics support services, training and equipment, and $501 million for 64 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, including two PAC-MSE Test Missiles, range and test programs, publications and technical documentations, training equipment, spare parts, personnel training, US government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

Middle East:

• Egypt has secured a $99 million deal with the United States to provide 46,000 M831A1 and M865 120mm rounds and 10,000 APFSDS-T rounds. Also included are 4,500 120mm Insensitive Munitions High Explosive with Tracer (IM HE-T) tank rounds, field implementation, testing inspections, spares and repair parts, support and test equipment, field support publications and technical data, US government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, personnel training and training equipment, quality assurance team support services, preparation of ammunition for shipment, ammunition delivery, component improvement program and repair, other associated equipment and support, and other related elements of logistical and program support.
• Following the shooting down of a Russian IL-20 aircraft, Russia is expected to deliver the S-300 anti-air missile defence system to Syria to counter what Russia calls increasing Israeli and Western provocation. 
• Saudi Arabia has taken delivery of the first of 10 MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters. The Saudi MH-60R weapons package is likely to include guided missiles AGM-114 Hellfire; 70-mm guided rockets APKWS II and anti-submarine torpedoes Raytheon Mk 54 Lightweight Hybrid Torpedoes (LHT) caliber 324 mm.
• Qatar is set to receive the first locally produced ARX assault rifles in 2019. The rifle is the product of a new joint venture, called Bindig, between Qatar’s Barzan Holdings and Italian gun-maker Beretta, which will supply the new, locally produced ARX series of rifles including the 5.56x45mm ARX160 and the 7.62x51mm ARX200.

Europe:

• The Netherlands has signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for the modernisation of the 28 Dutch AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopters valued at more than $1 billion, the deal includes training services for Dutch pilots. 
• The United Kingdom has secured a $75 million deal with the United States to secure 50 MK 15 Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) Block IB Baseline 2 upgrade kits. Also included are support equipment, test equipment, initial spare parts, technical documentation, training, and engineering technical assistance, and other related elements of logistics and program support. 
• The United Kingdom has also secured a foreign military sale for the delivery of three SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV) MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS) for an estimated cost of $90 million. Also included are spares; handling equipment; test equipment; operator manuals and technical documentation; US government and contractor engineering, training, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
• Russia has launched its second Project 677 Lada Class diesel electric attack submarine. Lada Class subs are capable of firing both torpedoes and cruise missiles from its six 533-millimetre torpedo tubes, including M-54 Kalibr (NATO designation: SS-N-27A “Sizzler”) cruise missiles.
• Russia and China held the Vostok 2018 Drills held in far-eastern Russia, which included 300,000 Russian soldiers, 36,000 military vehicles, 80 ships and 1,000 aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as 3,500 Chinese troops. 

North America: 

• The US Navy's next supercarrier, the future USS John F Kennedy (CVN 79), has recently achieved 50 per cent completion, with the ship scheduled to move from the dry dock to an outfitting berth in the fourth quarter of 2019, three months ahead of schedule. 
• The US Navy took delivery of the future USS South Dakota (SSN 790), the 17th Virginia Class fast nuclear attack submarine. South Dakota is the seventh Virginia Class Block III submarine. Block III submarines feature a redesigned bow with enhanced payload capabilities, replacing 12 individual vertical launch tubes with two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes, each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles.
• The US Air Force has awarded a $2.38 billion firm-fixed-price contract to Boeing for a UH-1N Huey replacement. The total program cost for the UH-1N Replacement Program reflects the exercise of all options and provides for the acquisition and sustainment of up to 84 MH-139 helicopters, training devices and associated support equipment to replace the legacy UH-1Ns. The new helicopter will be an important tool for airmen charged with securing and defending the nation's intercontinental ballistic missiles. 
• Canada has finalised a C$500 million deal to purchase 25 F/A-18A/B Hornets from Australia, following approval from the US as the aircraft were built in the US with US technology to fill a capability gap, while Canada decides on its next fighter aircraft. 

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.

Send me a message