Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Nov. 02

Apache

Japan contracted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) on Oct. 30 to commence development of the F-X fighter, making the company responsible for the complete aircraft, including propulsion. Credit: Japanese Ministry of Defense

A widely published story last week about two U.S. lawmakers seeking to export the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) to Israel seems to have a factual hole the size of a 30,000-lb. bomb crater. Even if Congress approves the transfer, Israel ostensibly lacks the means to deliver the MOP against defended targets. But it is clear that is exactly what a bipartisan duo—Rep. Brian Mast (Fla.), a Republican, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), a Democrat—intend to do with a new legislative proposal. Credit: U.S. Air Force

FA-50

The management of the UK’s nuclear weapons stockpile is to be brought back under government control from a Lockheed Martin-led private consortium. The UK Ministry of Defense will end the government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) arrangement at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at the end of June 2021. The organization will be transferred back into government ownership, an early termination of a contract with AWE Management Ltd, a consortium that is majority led by Lockheed Martin with 51%. Serco and Jacobs Engineering Group each have a 24.5% share. Credit: U.S. Navy