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.
Erapsco, a joint venture between Sparton and Ultra Electronics, has received contracts worth $64.6 million to manufacture sonobuoys for the US Navy, Sparton announced on 27 August.
Erapsco will provide production subcontracts in the amount of $30.3 million and $34.3 million to Ultra Electronics and Sparton DeLeon Springs, respectively.
The sonobuoys are tactical sonar systems used for detecting and identifying objects moving in the water as part of anti-submarine warfare operations.
Production will be completed by April 2020.
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.