United States
The Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal has awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.23 billion modification to the existing contract for the production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS).
The work on this order will be carried out at various locations and will be completed by October 20, 2027.
Russia
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has announced that its subsidiary Sukhoi has delivered the third batch of Su-34M fighter bombers to the Russian Ministry of Defense for 2025.
The delivered batches do not seem particularly large, at least based on the images released by UAC with two or three specimens at a time.
According to statements released by Sukhoi, an increase in the production rate is expected, alongside the repair and maintenance of aircraft currently deployed in the conflict with Ukraine, in which substantial losses have been incurred.
Bahrain
In the United States, the State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Bahrain of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) and related equipment at an estimated cost of $500 million.
The Government of Bahrain has requested four M142 HIMARS with three International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems, training rockets M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket Pods; High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle Fire Direction Centers; M1084A3 HIMARS resupply vehicles; HIMARS Driver Vision Enhancer systems and AN/PSN-13 GPS receivers.
Philippines
In Manila, the Philippine Department of Defense has announced the delivery of another five S-70i Black Hawk multirole transport helicopters from Poland.
These five units make up the third batch of S-70i helicopters, out of a total of 32 ordered in 2022.
The S-70i are set up by Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o., based in Mielec (PZL Mielec), a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. Deliveries began in 2024 and will end in 2026; the contract also includes the provision of an initial package of spare parts, technical and logistical support, as well as initial training of the Filipino personnel assigned to operate with the new helicopters.
South Korea
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) have announced that development of the Block 2 version of the advanced KF-21 Boramae fighter has been accelerated and will be completed by 2027, one year ahead of schedule.
Recently, DAPA has ordered KAI to manufacture 80 KF-21 Block 2s that will be added to the 40 KF-21 Block 1s, the production of which has been initiated; Block 2s add multi-role capacity to the Boramae thanks to the development of software that expands their tasks to include strike and not just air defense. As part of the upgrade, the Block 1 fighters can be similarly upgraded.
