Spain
The Spanish Ministry of Defense has signed an eight million dollar contract with Rheinmetall Expal Munitions for the supply of over 21,000 81mm high-explosive and smoke mortar bombs, mainly to be delivered to the Ejército de Tierra and partially to the Terçio de Armada for the Infanteria de Marina.
The bombs ordered will be used by the 81mm mortars in service in both conventional and light versions for the airborne, mountain and amphibious forces, and for the Eimos self-propelled systems on VAMTAC ST5 4×4 vehicles in service in both armed forces.
Israel
In the United States at Sikorsky, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, the production of the first CH-53K King Stallion helicopter for the Israeli Air Force is in an advanced stage.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense reported that the first helicopter is being prepared; like all aircraft entering service with the Israeli Air Force, the King Stallion, to be named Roo’ach (Wind), will receive certain configurations and equipment unique to the IDF.
Israel, within the framework of a foreign military sale (FMS) worth 2.4 billion dollars, has ordered twelve CH-53Ks with an option for another six examples to replace the CH-53D Yas’ur that have been in service since the early seventies of the last century.
Philippines
The Manila Department of Defense plans to acquire additional batteries of supersonic BrahMos missiles for coastal defense and precision attacks made in India.
The Philippines have already purchased and partially put into service three BrahMos system batteries armed by the Marine Riflemen and the Filipino Army.
The BrahMos is achieving increasing success on the export market; after the Philippines, a contract was finalized by Indonesia; interest in this powerful supersonic missile has also been shown in the Middle East and South America.
Australia
The Australian Department of Defense has announced contracts obtained by Kongsberg Defence Australia from European countries for the supply of launchers and the command and control console of the locally produced Naval Strike Missile.
These export agreements are made possible by the Australian supply contract for the Naval Strike Missile, which included an agreement for the production of components in Australia.
As a result, Kongsberg Defence’s South Australian companies are now contributing to the export of sophisticated defense equipment to Poland, Spain, and Denmark.
Through its parent company, Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace of Norway, the Australian company will provide Poland with the command and control consoles of the NSM coastal defense system under a contract worth 30 million dollars.
Elsewhere in Europe, Kongsberg Defence Australia has secured a contract worth 50 million dollars for Australian-built NSM launchers in the naval version, to be exported to Spain and Denmark.
