08 Feb 05. Embraer announced that an MoU has been signed with the Indian DRDO (Defense, Research and Development Organization) to support the Indian Air Force new AEW&C system development. The new asset will be based on the EMB 145 ISR platform, one of the world’s best selling ISR platforms. Embraer’s commitment to contribute its previous experience in platform development and complex systems integration was a key factor in the DRDO’s selection. Indian government analysts and Embraer company engineers are collecting necessary technical data on the aircraft for the study. At the request of the Indian government, an Embraer team recently visited Indian Defense Research and Development Organization and held in-depth discussions to support DRDO personnel in their task. The analysis is expected to result in an initial contract for three EMB 145 AEW&C aircraft and technical support during the development effort. An order for additional aircraft could materialize in the future, based on a successful first development phase.
08 Feb 05. Included in 06 Defense Budget. Restructuring of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program. Funds JTRS Cluster 1 for ground and rotary-wing aviation ($230.3m); Cluster 5 development for handheld, manpack and small form ($144.7m); and waveform development ($156.7m).
08 Feb 05. Northrop Grumman Defense Missions Systems, Inc., Reston, Va., is being awarded a $47,961,474 cost-plus-award-fee contract for continued development, integration, maintenance, and support of the Global Command and Control System-Maritime (GCCS-M). GCCS-M is a single, integrated, scaleable Command Control, Computer, and Intelligence (C3I) system that receives, displays, correlates, fuses and maintains geo-locational track information on friendly, hostile, and neutral land, sea and air forces and integrates it with available intelligence and environmental information. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (45 percent); West Conshohocken, Pa. (35 percent); McLean, Va. (15 percent); and Newport News, Va. (5 percent); and is expected to be completed in January 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. This contract combines support between the U.S. Navy and the Government of Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, and New Zealand under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-05-C-0013).
04 Feb 05. BAE Systems’ C4ISR Networked Systems & Solutions (NS&S) has been down-selected as the preferred contractor for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) Project SHAMAN. This £140m ISTAR programme will provide the Royal Navy with its next generation Communications Electronic Support Measures (CESM) capability. The programme encompasses the supply of the CESM systems, the installation on multiple platforms, training and through life support over a 20+ year period. The programme now moves into a 12 – 14 month Advanced Demonstration Phase ahead of the main production programme. Fleet Support Limited (FSL) has enhanced its position as a centre for advanced warship upgrade and support through its role as a key member of a BAE Systems led consortium selected as preferred contractor by the UK Ministry of Defence for a new communications upgrade on front-line RN ships.
05 Feb 05. UK Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft still waiting. Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of achieving closure of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project agreements by 31 December. [211463] Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is currently considering the progress made to date with AirTanker in single bidder discussions. We expect to make a decision shortly on whether AirTanker Ltd. should be accorded preferred bidder status for this complex and important PFI competition. We shall of course ensure th