Defense Industry

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.

The Dutch government has ordered nine more Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters, lifting the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) plan from 37 to 46 aircraft. State Secretary Barbara Visser told Parliament the purchase slots into the Joint Program Office (JPO) production queue and keeps deliveries on track for 2022-2024.