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Americas

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $34.8 million deal, which procures Air Vehicle and Ground Control Station spares in support of the successful operational capability of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned Aircraft System Expeditionary Medium Altitude Long Endurance MQ-9 Reaper air vehicles. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed in May 2028. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Bell Boeing won a $21.9 million deal, which provides for non-recurring efforts for the engineering, component production, supportability, and management necessary to facilitate the incorporation of tailored wiring and structural improvements on the nacelle via forced retrofit at the depot level of maintenance for previously delivered MV-22 Osprey aircraft for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (98.5%); and Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (1.5%), and is expected to be completed in May 2027. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Middle East & Africa

Iran has further stepped up its production of highly enriched uranium, according to a confidential UN nuclear watchdog report, as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that Tehran deems nuclear weapons “unacceptable.” According to the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seen by AFP, Iran has sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent, close to the roughly 90 percent level needed for atomic weapons. It said in its quarterly report that Iran has an estimated amount of 408.6 kilograms (901 pounds) enriched to up to 60 percent as of May 17, up by 133.8 kilograms (295 pounds) since the last report in February.

Europe

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he will “restore Britain’s war-fighting readiness” as his government warned of “growing” Russian aggression ahead of a major defense strategy review. “We will restore Britain’s war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our armed forces,” Starmer wrote in The Sun daily, including by ramping up weapons production capacity. His government’s Strategic Defense Review, due to be published Monday, will assess threats facing the UK, amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and pressure from US President Donald Trump for NATO allies to bolster their own defenses.

Asia-Pacific

Taiwan is ramping up drone development with a combat evaluation of its drone attack boat and a demonstration of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) from various industry specialists. The “Kuai Chi” drone attack boat, developed by the country’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), will have its combat capabilities tested next month against various surface targets. Meanwhile, several local and overseas manufacturers will showcase their USV capabilities, including surveillance operations and long-distance navigation tests, on June 17 and 18.

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