The Royal Norwegian Air Force has received the first of four C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft upgraded with Block 8.1 software and hardware providing advanced navigation and defensive capabilities to the transport plane. According to Lockheed Martin, the aircraft’s manufacturer, the upgrade will boost Super Hercules’ interoperability across Europe. The RNoAF acquired the four Hercules tactical...
Category: Europe
Spire Global to Provide Data Support for EMSA’s Global Ship Tracking Mission
Spire Global has received two contracts from the European Maritime Safety Agency to provide satellite automatic identification system data services for ship tracking operations. Worth a total of $9.1 million, the agreements will run for four years and include the delivery of real-time and high-density backup SAT-AIS. According to John Lusk, general manager of maritime...
Inspector General Presses Pentagon on Sustainment Plan for US Weapons in Ukraine
The Office of Inspector General within the Department of Defense has urged the agency to implement a sustainment plan for each of the weapon and air defense systems it provided to Ukraine. In support of Ukraine’s fight against Russian attacks, the United States has supplied the European country with Bradley, Stryker and Abrams armored weapon...
Canada Acquires SkyRanger UAS Fleet From Teledyne FLIR to Support Ukraine Fight Against Russia
The government of Canada is set to donate SkyRanger R70 unmanned aerial systems to Ukraine. According to Teledyne FLIR Defense, Canada’s Department of National Defence will acquire 800 SkyRanger drones worth approximately $70 million to aid in the eastern European country’s fight against Russia. The R70 UAS is a multi-mission equipped with advanced thermal and daytime...
Leonardo Tests Aviation Solutions for Low-Emissions Aircraft Research Program
Leonardo has completed an in-flight technological demonstration in Italy for European Clean Sky 2, a European Union-supported research program to develop low-emissions aircraft. The company provided its C-27J Spartan aircraft as a test bed to validate aviation solutions designed to enhance aircraft performance and reduce fuel consumption. As the program’s innovation and sustainability coordinator, Leonardo...
Elbit Books $300M Armored Vehicle Systems Order From European Buyer
Elbit Systems has secured a $300 million contract to provide weapon, reconnaissance, driving, and situational awareness systems for about 230 armored vehicles of an unnamed European buyer. An Israel Defense report noted that Elbit Systems’ UT-30 turret for a 30 mm cannon is among the features of the Pandur 6×6 EVO armored vehicles Austria ordered from...
Austrian Army Makes Largest-Ever Order of Pandur Evolution Vehicles From General Dynamics
General Dynamics European Land Systems has received an additional order of 225 Pandur 6×6 EVO wheeled armored vehicles from Austria’s Federal Ministry of Defence valued at $1.9 billion. GDLES said 100 Pandur vehicles are already under contract, with the third batch now in production and scheduled for delivery. GDELS’ Steyr facility in Vienna manufactures the...
Airbus to Coordinate Four European Defence Fund R&D Projects
Airbus has been tasked to manage four research and development projects under the European Defense Fund’s 41 initiatives designed to contribute to the European Union’s strategic autonomy and strengthen the region’s defense technologies and industrial base. The European Commission finalized 37 EDF grant agreements in December and signed four strategic defense R&D contribution agreements with...
Italy Secures US Approval to Buy Missiles, Bombs From RTX
The Department of State has approved Italy’s request to purchase missiles and small diameter bombs. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Italian government separately proposed to buy 12 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and 125 units of small diameter bombs. The foreign military sale would cost Rome $69.3 million for the missile procurement...
Jacobs Named Turner & Townsend Partner for UK Defense Procurement Project
The U.K. Defence Equipment and Support, an independent unit of the British Ministry of Defense, has appointed Dallas, Texas-based consultancy firm Jacobs as a program partner in the project and operational delivery of equipment and support across the MoD defense network. Jacobs said the project is administered via DE&C’s Project Delivery Partner-Successor framework of its...