Defense Industry

Australia has confirmed a 2.12 billion-dollar Australian investment – about $1.39 billion U.S. – to secure the newest AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, reinforcing both its air-defense shield and its long-range strike reach. Defense officials say the order covers the AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 variants, sourced through Washington’s Foreign Military Sales channel, with deliveries starting next year. 

The Defense Department moved on 3 July toward faster U.S. warship deliveries. It awarded the $5 billion Maritime Acquisition Advancement Contract through the Defense Logistics Agency’s Maritime office in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The decision, announced less than forty-eight hours ago, supports an urgent plan to close production gaps that have slowed the fleet.

According to industry sources, the U.S. Navy has added up to $1.85 billion to its multiyear Virginia-class attack-submarine contract with General Dynamics Electric Boat. The money covers early construction work and the purchase of long-lead components for the forthcoming Block VI boats. Defense officials confirm that $1.68 billion is obligated immediately from fiscal-year 2025 shipbuilding funds, while the balance becomes available once specific technical milestones close.

L-3 Communications, Platform Integration Division, Waco, Texas, received a not-to-exceed $41.5 million undefinitized contract action to supply four intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, spares, and crew training to support counter-terrorism operations in Yemen. The contract number is FA8620-14-C-3020. Big Safari—officially the 645th Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio—serves as contracting authority. Completion is set for September 30, 2015, under 100 percent Foreign Military Sales funding for Yemen.

MADRID  –  France, Germany, and Spain signed a trilateral contract on December 15 that launches Phase 1B of the New-Generation Weapon System/Future Combat Air System (NGWS/FCAS). The deal names Dassault Aviation, Airbus Defence and Space (Germany and Spain), Indra Sistemas, and Eumet (the Safran Aircraft Engines–MTU Aero Engines joint venture) as prime contractors. Valued at about €8 billion for the full demonstration campaign, it allocates more than €3 billion for the first 36-month work package that starts this month.