USAF Will Not Purchase Hypersonic Missiles in FY2024

Americas General Dynamics was awarded a $9 million modification to allow them to exercise their options on the previously awarded contract N0002423-C-44413 for USS Arlington (LPD 24, fiscal 2023 docking restricted availability).

General Dynamics was awarded a modification for $9 million to exercise options on an earlier-awarded contract N0002423-C-44313 for the USS Arlington (LPD 24, fiscal 2023 docking restricted availability). The work will be done in Norfolk, Virginia and is expected to be completed by September 20,24.The contracting activity is Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Norfolk, Virginia. The USS Arlington is an amphibious transport dock of the San Antonio-class.

The United States Air Force (USAF), has confirmed that hypersonic weapons will not be purchased in fiscal 2024.Instead, the Air Force will continue research and development of its Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon ("ARRW"), which is a boost-glide hypersonic weapon. Budget requests for the next fiscal year include $150 million for ARRW R&D. The request includes $150 million for ARRW R&D. It also includes $380 millions for R&D on Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missiles (HACM), a scramjet-powered hypersonic weapon. Raytheon Technologies received a contract worth $985 million in December 2021 to continue developing its HACM.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MoU), with Australian's Daronmont Technologies. They will collaborate to bid on Australia’s Ministry of Defense Tender AIR-6502 for Medium Range Ground Based Air Defense System. IAI's broad Australian Industry Capability plan will implement Daronmont’s established integration manufacturing and development capabilities to supply BARAK–MX Air and Missile Defense system (AMD). This battle-tested defense system will provide an effective safeguard for the Australian Defense Forces and other national property. It will also provide initial combat capability.

According to reports, the British Ministry of Defense is looking into the supply of Royal Air Force (RAF), Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 fighter planes to European MiG-29 operator. These advanced Eurofighter aircraft will replace the Soviet-era MiG 29 fighters that were gifted to Ukraine by these operators. Parallel to this, Poland is looking at gifting its MiG-29 fighters made in Soviet Russia to Ukraine within the next four to 6 weeks. This would help to increase the firepower of Ukrainian forces. These planes are already in the hands of the country's air force and can immediately be used. Both the UK and Poland stated that this supply would be part a larger international alliance. Slovakia and other countries have also indicated their willingness to supply their MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine. NATO nations have encouraged others to do the same.

The Swedish Defense Materiel Administration has demonstrated a new battle management (BMS) system for the Swedish Armed Forces. The capability is called the BMS 3.1.2. It was developed from trials to develop a command-support system for combat vehicles of two Swedish Army training companies. FMV said that the initial system, called the LSS Mark 2.0, was not ready for deployment until 2021. However, it had technical problems.

Russia announced Wednesday that it had begun naval exercises in the Arabian Sea with Iran and China as part of its efforts to strengthen ties with Beijing. In a statement, the Russian defense ministry stated that the trilateral exercises, known as the "Marine Security Belt 2023", had been initiated in the vicinity of Chabahar, Iran. The naval portion of the drills will be held on Thursday and Friday.