Netherlands to acquire Finnish littoral assault craft in LCVP replacement programme
The Dutch navy had reportedly been considering BAE Systems’ Littoral Strike Craft to replace its ageing landing craft fleet.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has awarded a one-year contract worth $4.6 million to Leonardo to support its C-27J Spartan medium range surveillance aircraft, the USCG announced at the beginning of May.
If all three option years are exercised, the value of the contract could reach $16.1 million.
Under the contract, Leonardo will provide technical and logistics support to improve the C-27J's availability for operations. The HC-27J Asset Project Office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and Air Station Sacramento, California, will receive access to a field service representative and factory service representative who will provide on-site technical expertise.
The coast guard will also receive access to technical data and programme logistics support at the Leonardo logistics facility in Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy, to help with delivery of parts.
The Dutch navy had reportedly been considering BAE Systems’ Littoral Strike Craft to replace its ageing landing craft fleet.
Saab Kockums was initially awarded the contract to build two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy in 2015, but the programme has faced delays and escalating costs.
If the foreign military sale request is approved, Germany would be the first country outside the US to acquire the technology, which is currently used extensively by the US Navy.
Satellite navigation is increasingly critical for global maritime defence, and Low Earth Orbit satellites are rapidly overtaking the traditional and more widely used Medium Earth Orbit option as they are less susceptible to jamming or spoofing.
The initial sea trials for Virginia-class SSN 798 conducted by Newport News Shipbuilding division and the US Navy marked an “important step”, but the ongoing AUKUS review casts a shadow over what the progress means for the partner nations.
The US Navy is conducting market research to find AI software products for the Collaborative Integrated Air and Missile Defence Planning Programme.