TRAINING

BAE Systems to provide 20 more CV90 mortar vehicles to Sweden

// With the new contract, the total number of CV90 mortar systems in the Swedish fleet will now reach 80 platforms. Credit: BAE Systems.

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract modification to deliver 20 additional combat vehicle (CV)90 Mjölner mortar systems for the Swedish Armed Forces.


Valued at approximately $30m, the contract has been awarded by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The new order will be executed by the company’s Swedish subsidiary joint venture HB Utveckling. It combines BAE Systems’ Bofors and Hägglunds manufacturing capabilities.


Work under this contract will be carried out at the company’s Hägglunds facility in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The newly ordered platforms are expected to enter in service by 2025.


The initial contract for the supply of a total of 40 CV90 Mjölner systems was awarded to BAE Systems in 2016 while the deliveries of mortar systems began in 2019. All 40 systems were delivered as per the agreed schedule by 2020.

maintenance

US Navy to temporarily suspend submarine docking at full capacity


The US Navy has announced its decision to temporarily suspend some submarine docking operations at its dry dock facilities in the Pacific Northwest.


The facilities include the dry dock at delta pier at Trident Refit Facility Bangor in North Wales as well as Dry Docks 4, 5, and 6 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility.


The latest decision to suspend dry dock operation follows the recently conducted seismic study and expert analysis.


The assessment was performed as part of the US Navy’s long-range Shipyard Infrastructure Optimisation Programme. It highlighted some of the potential problems related to the remote possibility of a large-scale earthquake that can occur simultaneously with a submarine maintenance availability.

FLIGHT TESTS

First F-16 Block 70 jet conducts maiden flight test


Lockheed Martin has successfully carried out the first flight demonstration of the F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft from its production site in Greenville, South Carolina, US.


Conducted on 24 January, the flight lasted for 50 minutes. The test was conducted with the first of 16 F-16 Block 70 jets to be delivered to Bahrain, as part of a $1.12bn foreign military sale deal, approved by the US in 2018.


Bahrain was the first country to sign the Block 70 aircraft deal with the US, with six other nations including Slovakia, Bulgaria and Jordan later selecting the type. Lockheed Martin has an official backlog of 128 F-16 jets to be built at its Greenville production line.

ARRIVALS

RFA’s second future MROS vessel arrives in Plymouth, UK


The UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary's (RFA) second future Multi-Role Oceanographic Survey (MROS) ship has arrived at His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport in Plymouth, England.


Following its arrival on 29 January, the ship will now undergo a modification period to receive minimal conversion that will prepare the vessel to support the installation of various military communication systems.


The ship, currently known as MV Island Crown, will then be renamed, before it officially enters RFA service . The 96.8m-long future HMNB Clyde-based specialist vessel will be deployed to support autonomous mine-hunting missions, among other maritime operations.

OPERATIONS

Mediterranean-based UK River-class patrol vessel HMS Trent currently unavailable for operations


The UK Royal Navy Batch 2 River-class OPV HMS Trent is currently pierside at HMNB Gibraltar and unable to undertake operations in the region, just a few months after having undergone a dry dock refit at the British Overseas Territory.


The Batch 2 River-class OPVs are lightly armed vessels, displacing some 2,000 tonnes and used for maritime security and presence missions by the Royal Navy. The five-ship class is forward-deployed to areas of interest for the UK, with two (HMS Spey and HMS Tamar) currently based in the Indo-Pacific region, HMS Forth assigned to the Falkland Islands and South Atlantic, and HMS Medway operating in the Caribbean.


HMS Trent has been deployed on operations in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and West Africa since August 2020.


When contacted, a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Global Defence Technology that the vessel “has been alongside in Gibraltar for investigation” to enable repairs to take place.

ACQUISITION

Australian Government confirms procurement of 40 UH-60M aircraft


The Australian Government has confirmed its plans to procure a total of 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).


Delivery of the new helicopters to the Australian Army is expected to commence later this year. Once delivered, the new UH-60M Black Hawk fleet will be based at Oakey, Queensland, and at Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia.


Apart from sustainment support, the selected Australian industry partners will also be required to provide associated warehousing services and logistic support, as well as other training development and engineering services.


The collaborative effort will further ensure the maximum participation of Australian contractors, paving the way for helicopter industry growth in the country.

UKRAINE WAR

Canada to donate 200 Senator APCs to Ukraine


The Canadian Ministry of National Defence has announced that it will provide a total of 200 Senator armoured personnel carriers (APC) to support the Ukrainian forces.


The announcement was made during Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand’s visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on 18 January, where she also met her Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.


Anand confirmed that, in response to a request made by Ukraine, Canada will place an order for 200 Senator platforms with the Mississauga, Ontario-based company Roshel for an approximate value of $66.66m (C$90m).


Recently, Canada also committed to purchasing a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System from the US to donate to Ukraine.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Oshkosh reports net sales of $8.28bn for fiscal year 2022


US manufacturer Oshkosh has registered $8.28bn in net sales for fiscal year 2022, compared with net sales of $7.95bn in the year prior. Net income for the full year was $173.9m, or $2.63 per diluted share, compared with $461.1m, or $6.68 per diluted share, in the previous year. The decrease in net income has been attributed to higher material and logistics costs, manufacturing costs, new product development spending, and other factors.

Northrop Grumman reports sales increase of 3% in 2022


Northrop Grumman has reported a 3% increase in its sales in 2022 to $36.6bn, compared with $35.7bn recorded the previous year. The increase has been attributed to a sales increase of $1.7bn, or 16% at Space Systems and Mission Systems, which was partly offset by $728m; or a 6% sales decrease at Aeronautics Systems, and $197m, or a 3% drop at Defence Systems.

General Dynamics reports full year net earnings of $3.4bn


General Dynamics has registered $3.4bn in net earnings for the full year 2022, a 4.1% increase compared to 2021, with the company’s diluted earnings per share (EPS) $12.19 in 2022, up 5.5% from 2021. Revenue for the full year rose 2.4% to $39.4bn against 2021, and the operating margin was 10.7%. In the fourth quarter, the company reported net earnings of $992m, a 4.2% increase from the same quarter a year ago.

Raytheon reports 4% increase in net sales in 2022


Raytheon Technologies has announced net sales of $67.07bn for the full year 2022, up 4% compared to $64.38bn in the year prior. Earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $3.51, up 36% versus the previous year. Adjusted EPS was $4.78, an increase of 12%. Net income for the year was $5.216bn, operating cash flow from continuing operations was $7.168bn, and free cash flow was $4.88bn.

Lockheed Martin registers 2022 sales of $66bn


Lockheed Martin has reported an increase in net sales to $19bn during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022, when compared to $17.7bn in Q4 2021. The company said that its net earnings for Q4, that ended on 31 December 2022, totalled $1.9bn, or $7.40 per share. In the same quarter in 2021, the net earnings were $2bn. Cash from operations for the reported quarter was $1.9bn, compared to $4.3bn for the same period in 2021.

ACQUISITION

Australian Government confirms procurement of 40 UH-60M aircraft


The Australian Government has confirmed its plans to procure a total of 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).


Delivery of the new helicopters to the Australian Army is expected to commence later this year. Once delivered, the new UH-60M Black Hawk fleet will be based at Oakey, Queensland, and at Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia.


Apart from sustainment support, the selected Australian industry partners will also be required to provide associated warehousing services and logistic support, as well as other training development and engineering services.


The collaborative effort will further ensure the maximum participation of Australian contractors, paving the way for helicopter industry growth in the country.

Projects

US Navy plans to use UAS for cargo transport

The US Navy is assessing the feasibility of using uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for cargo transport between vessels or from ship to shore. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division has acquired a logistics UAS prototype to demonstrate the transfer of cargo over long ranges. The vehicle will be tested and upgraded for military sealift requirements.

Naval Group delivers first Suffren-class submarine to French Navy 

French shipbuilder Naval Group has delivered the first of six Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines for the French Navy. This delivery marks an important milestone in the Barracuda programme, which upgrades the submarine component of France's nuclear deterrent.

Iran unveils domestic ballistic missile launcher

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has reportedly unveiled a domestically built ballistic missile launching system. Tasnim news agency reported that the air force manufactured thdine automated system, which is used for launching long-range ballistic missiles.

Exercises

Australian Navy tests robots for counter-disaster operation

The Royal Australian Navy has tested robots in a simulated counter-disaster operation. As part of exercise Autonomous Warrior Genesis, the navy tested uncrewed land, air and sea vehicles in response to a simulated humanitarian relief scenario.

US and Japan complete exercise Keen Sword 21 

US Indo-Pacific Command units and the Japan Self-Defense Force have completed exercise Keen Sword 21, a joint-bilateral field training exercise in Japan. It involved maritime and air operations, amphibious landings, missile defence exercises, resupply, cyber and space operations.

Royal Air Force concludes Exercise Crimson Warrior 

The Royal Air Force has concluded Exercise Crimson Warrior, a three-week training operation involving fast jets, helicopters and unmanned air systems with involvement from the British Army, US Air Force and US Marines. Exercise Crimson Warrior has been adapted from Cobra Warrior with missiodinns being added to support the F-35B and helicopters that form part of the Carrier Strike Group Air Wing.

In brief

Fabri-Kal launches Recycleware Containers to expand sustainability

Food packaging solutions provider Fabri-Kal has expanded its sustainable product offerings with the launch of its new Recycleware Containers. Manufactured in the US, the products contain a minimum of 20-50% post-consumer recycled PET material and are recyclable.

Burger King and TerraCycle’s Loop to pilot new reusable packaging 

Fast-food chain Burger King has partnered with TerraCycle’s circular packaging service, Loop, to pilot new reusable packaging. The partnership is part of the brand’s Restaurant Brands for Good framework to help reduce packaging waste.

Stora Enso launches take-away bowls for food service packaging 

Pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso has partnered with wholesale company Tingstad to market its new food service take-away bowls, PureFiber. The packaging is designed to replace plastic on-the-go food packaging. It is free from plastic and PFAS.

H&M presents new Looop garment-to-garment recycling system

Swedish clothing-retail company H&M is introducing a garment-to-garment recycling system that helps transform old textiles into new ones. Known as Looop, the container-sized machine promotes circularity in fashion and keeps unwanted garments from turning into waste.

UKRAINE WAR

Canada to donate 200 Senator APCs to Ukraine


The Canadian Ministry of National Defence has announced that it will provide a total of 200 Senator armoured personnel carriers (APC) to support the Ukrainian forces.


The announcement was made during Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand’s visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on 18 January, where she also met her Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.


Anand confirmed that, in response to a request made by Ukraine, Canada will place an order for 200 Senator platforms with the Mississauga, Ontario-based company Roshel for an approximate value of $66.66m (C$90m).


Recently, Canada also committed to purchasing a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System from the US to donate to Ukraine.