The US Army will seek to bridge production between its Block 1 and Block 2 Boeing CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter models with an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract in 2018, the army's project manager for cargo helicopters said during a 3 October press briefing.
Speaking during
AUSA 2016: US Army to 'bridge' Block 1, 2 Chinook deals with IDIQ contract
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AUSA 2016: US Army awards Lockheed Martin USD49 million for Apache sensor upgrade work
The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a USD49.3 million contract to upgrade the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) on the Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopter, the company announced on 3 October.
Lockheed Martin is responsible for producing 42
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AUSA 2016: SMDC, GDLS to test mobile laser defences in January
US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) are to trial a Mobile Expeditionary High Energy Laser (MEHEL 2.0) with a 5 kW beam director in January, GDLS officials told IHS Jane's .
MEHEL is in a second phase after trailing a 2 kW laser against unmanned
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AUSA 2016: New US armour brigade deploying to Europe in January
US Army Europe (USAREUR) is shifting from a deployment model whereby troops fall in on existing equipment, to rotating in a brigade with its own gear early next year.
The next heavy brigade to deploy in Europe is to be the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and it is scheduled
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AUSA 2016: GDLS unveils demonstrator for new army light tank
General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) on 3 October unveiled a medium-weight tracked vehicle demonstrator called the Griffin that meshes elements of the turret and 120 mm cannon from the company's M1A1/M1A2 Abrams main battle tank with its Ajax Scout Specialist Vehicle.
In fiscal year 2017 (FY 2017)
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AUSA 2016: First JLTVs accepted, new testing round to begin
The US Army has accepted its first seven Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) at the end of September and is soon shipping those to test sites, programme officials told reporters on 4 October.
Some JLTV testing was deferred during an engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase, as the
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AUSA 2016: First 'upgunned' Stryker systems to be delivered in December
The US Army is to receive its first prototypes for an 'upgunned' Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) in December under an urgent lethality upgrade project, according to contractor General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS).
GDLS was awarded a USD329 million contract modification in May to provide a 30
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AUSA 2016: Army chief expects 'fundamental change' in warfare
US Army leaders are considering how to modernise and structure the service to deal with potentially major shifts in the nature of ground combat, which could be considerably more dispersed and less dependent on current technology, according to the service's top officer.
"We're on the cusp of a
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Afghan Taliban briefly overrun parts of Kunduz city
The Taliban launched a co-ordinated assault on the Afghan provincial capital of Kunduz on 3 October, briefly overrunning central neighbourhoods of the city before being driven back by Afghan security forces.
The NATO-led 'Resolute Support' mission said on its Twitter account that government forces
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Japan promotes 'flexible' US-2 sale to India
Japan is ready to be flexible with the cost of ShinMaywa Industries' US-2i amphibious search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft in order to push through a deal to export the platform to India.
Talks between the governments of Japan and India about the sale of the aircraft have been continuing for several
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AUSA 2016: GM, US Army develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
General Motors (GM) and the US Army on 3 October unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle based on a Chevrolet Colorado truck.
The vehicle is being jointly developed by General Motors and US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and is to undergo army testing
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Thailand adds to EC725 orders
Thailand has ordered two more EC725 Caracal multirole helicopters to augment the six already procured, Airbus Helicopters announced on 4 October.
The order represents Phase III of the EC725 procurement plan for the Royal Thai Air Force (Kongtap Agard Thai - RTAF), with the first four medium-lift
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AUSA 2016: FMTV 'rebuy' programme to start soon
The US Army expects to issue a request for proposals (RfP) within the next week or two for another Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 'rebuy' programme.
Army officials plan to seek better ride quality and performance to accommodate heavier armour, and will look for better power generation
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UK Typhoons go independent over Iraq and Syria
UK Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s are flying self-contained missions over Syria and Iraq thanks to the availability of the P1Eb weapons integration software package, IHS Jane's has learned.
Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots who have recently flown combat missions over Syria and Iraq told IHS Jane's that the
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Triumph Group sells Newport News subsidiary
Triumph Group announced on 4 October that it had sold subsidiary business Triumph Aerospace Systems - Newport News to US industrial firm Calspan Holdings.
The deal was concluded on 30 September, and details were not disclosed.
The business - to be renamed Calspan Systems Corporation - has been
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Swiss Air Force cancels event appearances following accidents
The Swiss Air Force has pulled out of two major national aerospace events following a recent spate of accidents, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection, and Sport (VBS [previously DDPS]) announced in late September and early October.
The Axalp live-fire demonstration, set to run from
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South Korean anti-missile radar units dogged by faults
South Korea's two ballistic missile warning radar units, iterations of the Israeli-made Green Pine system, have suffered 21 malfunctions over the past three years, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported on 3 October.
Citing a document submitted by the military to a politician of the Saenuri Party,
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Russia suspends MOX nuclear disarmament deal
Russia announced on 3 October that it would suspend a major arms control agreement with the United States meant to de-weaponise at least 34 tonnes each of excess weapon-grade plutonium, about enough for 17,000 nuclear weapons, by converting it to mixed oxide fuel (MOX).
The Plutonium Management and
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Russia deploys S-300 to Syria
Russian has deployed an S-300 long-range air defence system to Syria in a move apparently designed to deter US-led intervention in the Middle East country.
"One battery of the S-300 air defence system has been delivered to Syria," the TASS news agency quoted Russian Ministry of Defence
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RAF Regiment takes on aircraft protection role
UK Royal Air Force (RAF) ground defence troops have taken on new global roles after a decade deployed in static missions protecting large air bases in Iraq and Afghanistan up to the end of 2014.
The six RAF Regiment field squadrons are now taking turns to provide armed Air Mobility Protection Teams
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