The Defence industry briefing
The month in defence in news, views and numbers
In numbers
£177m
Value of the contract Lockheed Martin awarded BAE Systems to develop LRASM seekers
3,800
Approximate number of M-2 Bradley infantry vehicles the US Army’s OMFV programme will replace
750kg
Payload QinetiQ’s Titan uncrewed ground vehicle can carry
2023
Planned delivery date of Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton aircraft
20.9%
US Air Force’s female population
From our sites
BAE Systems wins Phase II contract for DARPA’s ACK programme
The Multi-domain Adaptive Request Service software was created under Phase I. Systems. BAE Systems has secured a contract from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to advance software development for semi-autonomous, multi-domain mission planning. The $6.5m Phase II contract has been awarded as part of the Adapting Cross-Domain Kill-Webs programme.
USAF B-52 bombers support Pacific Air Forces’ BTF deployment
The US Air Force (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress bombers have deployed to support Pacific Air Forces’ Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions in the Indo-Pacific region. The deployment includes a group of USAF 2nd and 307th Bomb Wings B-52 aircraft, 230 airmen and support equipment at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
US and Israeli naval vessels sail together in Gulf of Aqaba
The US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) has carried out a combined maritime security patrol with the Israeli Navy in the Red Sea. The milestone maritime patrol, which was conducted on 30-31 August, saw four Israeli and US Navy ships sailing together in the Gulf of Aqaba. US 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces NAVCENT commander vice-admiral Brad Cooper said: “Our navies are ushering in a new era of expanded cooperation and capacity building.
In quotes
// Credit: Twitter
Racial disparities in the military justice system have been a problem for far too long. We are committed to identifying solutions fitted to this problem with detailed attention and careful implementation. Our people deserve nothing less.
US Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr Kathleen Hicks addressing racial disparities in the US military justice system.
// Credit: Ilyas Tayfun Salci / Shutterstock
Credit: U.S. Air Force
In 14 days over 15,000 people have been airlifted on over 165 flights. We should be proud of our armed forces, welcoming to those coming for a better life, and sad for those left behind. Our obligation to them does not end with our leaving. There will be many lessons to learn but over the last 20 years there are also endless examples of amazing achievements, bravery and friendships formed.
Ben Wallace UK Secretary of State for Defence & MP for Wyre and Preston North as the last British Air Force Aircraft leaves Kabul, Afghanistan.
On TWitter
In Pictures
US Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli completes FCT. USS Tripoli underway in the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: US Navy photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries. Credit: Derek Fountain/ commons.wikimedia.org.
Kazakhstan orders two Airbus A400M military transport aircraft. It will be the ninth country to operate the aircraft alongside the UK, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Germany, Turkey, Belgium, and Malaysia. Credit: Airbus
The UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory demonstrated a range of uncrewed ground vehicles at the Combat Service Support Training and Development Unit (CSS TDU) in Aldershot on 12 August. Credit: Norbert Neumann
A US Army UH-60 Black Hawk of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Wings of Victory, flies over the Black Sea for maritime operations crew certification flights off the coast of Bulgaria on May 5, 2021, during Exercise Swift Response 21, part of DEFENDER-Europe 21. Credit: US Army
The British Army has sent almost 2,000 troops to Liverpool to help with the mass testing of residents for Covid-19. Image: Crown Copyright / MOD