UK’s $1 billion AUKUS support request signals strong ongoing US collaboration
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
ECA Group announced on 4 May that it has secured a new two-year contract worth €20 million ($21.7 million) to modernise the mine clearance capabilities of an undisclosed naval customer.
The company stated: ‘This new modernisation contract confirms ECA Group’s capacity to push forward existing underwater mine clearance systems and bring them closer to the performance of the most recent ones.’
It added that the customer has operated ‘ECA Group drones for several decades.'
In 2019, the Belgian and Dutch navies awarded contracts to the group which seek to modernise their mine countermeasure capabilities using drone systems, whilst in March 2020, the Lithuanian Navy received a delivery of K-STER ROVs (pictured) for mine clearance.
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
The USCG plans to award a contract this year for the construction of Homeland Security Cutters. The new vessels will replace the 60-plus-year-old fleet of Light Icebreaking Tugs.
The expansion of the Redstone facility in Alabama will enable Raytheon to increase production of Standard Missiles in the location by 50% and support Washington in refilling stockpiles after recent operations have depleted the Pentagon’s reserves.
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.