The biggest defence contract awards in 2019

1. US DoD’s bomber support contract to Boeing – $14.3bn

The US Department of Defense (DOD) awarded a $14.3bn contract to Boeing in April 2019, for the support and upgrade of B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress aircraft in service with the US Air Force.

The flexible acquisition and sustainment contract is intended to enhance survivability and improve lethality, supportability and responsiveness of the B-1 and B-52 bombers. The programme includes radar modernisation, B-52 Software Block (BSB) upgrades for new weapon integration and communication systems upgrades.

The contractual work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US, until April 2029.

2. Future Pegasus upgrades contract won by Boeing – $5.7bn

Defence and Aerospace manufacturer Boeing secured a $5.7bn contract from the US DOD for Pegasus Combat Capability (PC2) upgrades.

The company will perform recurring and non-recurring post-production works as mandated by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for KC-46 aerial refuelling and strategic military transport aircraft.

Awarded in April 2019, the contractual work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, US, until April 2029.

3. Navantia’s contract for the construction of F110 frigates – $4.83bn

Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia has been awarded a €4.31bn ($4.83bn) contract by the Spanish Defence Ministry for the construction of five F-110 frigates for the Spanish Navy.

The new frigates will integrate advanced technology, including a Spanish combat management system (SCOMBA), in addition to sensors, equipment, and weapon systems offered by Indra Sistemas, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Navantia Sistemas.

The contractual work will be performed at the Ferrol Shipyard. Deliveries of the frigates will begin in 2026 and completed by 2031.

4. IDIQ contract for infrared countermeasures systems to Northrop Grumman – $3.6bn

The US Air Force awarded a $3.6bn contract to Northrop Grumman for the supply of a laser-based countermeasures system and a large aircraft infrared countermeasure (LAIRCM) system.

The contract includes the supply of LAIRCM system and associated logistics support services to the US Air Force. The LAIRCM crew protection system detects tracks and jams the incoming infrared (IR) threat autonomously.

Awarded in January 2019, the LAIRCM crew protection system contract will be effective until 2025.

5. US Army’s AFMD contract to DynCorp International – $2.44bn

DynCorp International received a $2.447bn contract from the US Army for carrying out maintenance activities for the Aviation field Maintenance Directorate (AFMD).

The scope of the contract includes field maintenance, aircraft modifications, sustainment level maintenance and ground support equipment maintenance.

Awarded in May 2019, the one-year contract has seven one-year optional extensions.

6. Mine-hunting vessels contract awarded to Belgium Naval & Robotics – $2.23bn

Belgium Naval & Robotics, a consortium of France’s Naval Group and ECA Group, has been awarded a €2bn ($2.23bn) contract for the design, construction and delivery of 12 mine countermeasure (MCM) ships for Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies.

The consortium will supply six 2,700t MCM motherships to both the navies. The new vessels will replace the Tripartite class minehunters of the navies of Belgium and the Netherlands. The new mother ships will support unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).

The ships are capable of carrying 100 drones and ten drone systems.

The ten-year contract will include a three-year design phase and deliver the first vessel in 2024.

7. Qatar’s award to Raytheon for additional integrated air and missile defence capability – $2.2bn

Raytheon has been awarded a $2.2bn contract by Qatar for the supply of integrated air missile systems and missile defence capability.

The company will provide the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Extended Range Missile (AMRAAM-ER) final certification and an undisclosed number of Patriot units.

Qatar is the first buyer of AMRAAM-ER and the 11th buyer of NASAMS. NASAMS is a medium-range air defence system developed by Raytheon and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

8. Global supply chain contract by US DoS to General Dynamics – $2bn

The US Department of State (DOS) awarded a $2bn renewal contract to General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) for continued management of technical security supply chain services.

The company will provide services such as technical security systems, engineering and solutions development, distribution management, hybrid supply chain solutions, logistics and transport.

The current contact is the upgrade of the contract awarded in June 2012. The new contract has a base period of five years and a five-year award term.

9. Egypt’s deal to buy Russian fighter jets – $2bn

Russia and Egypt entered a $2bn agreement for the Sukhoi SU-35 super-manoeuvrable multirole aircraft in March 2019.

According to the agreement, Russia will supply more than 20 Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets to Egypt. The contract also covers the supply of weapons to be mounted on the aircraft.

Designed by Sukhoi Design Bureau, the SU-35 fighter jets are manufactured by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant.

10. UK’s order for E-7 AEW&C aircraft from Boeing – $1.98bn

The UK Ministry of Defence awarded a $1.98bn contract to Boeing for the supply of five E-7 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The E-7 aircraft, also known as the E-737, will replace Boeing E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft in service with the RAF. The AEW&C aircraft is already in service with the Royal Australian Air Force, Turkish Air Force and the Republic of Korea Air Force.

Contractual work will be carried out at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group and deliveries will begin in the early 2020s.