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EUROPE
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14 May 24. France orders first tranche of Arquus transport trucks. In a deal with Arquus worth €120m, the DGA ordered a new generation of tank trucks to replace its legacy fleet. France’s defence procurement arm, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), has placed a €120m ($129.6m) order for its first tranche of new generation tank transportation vehicles with Arquus, a trilateral venture between Renault Trucks Defense, Acmat and Panhard. These vehicles will carry numerous container tanks; this should not be mistaken for the platform. Initially the French Army, Air and Space Forces will induct 70 8×8 all-terrain carriers – the first tranche of 376 vehicles to be delivered in total between 2024 and 2030. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
10 May 24. Estonia, Moldova to receive new L3Harris radios. L3Harris Technologies has been contracted by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) to supply its radios to the Estonian and Moldovan defence forces. The EUR30m (USD32.3m) deal involves the procurement of radios, supplies, and training for the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) as well as maintenance and support for existing equipment along with the acquisition of communication equipment for Moldova, a European Union (EU) tendering notice detailed. For Moldova, the ECDI is procuring “different types of handheld and vehicular radios along with accessories from the Falcon product family” as part of European Peace Facility (EPF) contracts EPF22 and EPF23, a spokesperson from the ECDI informed Janes on 9 May. Deliveries to Moldova will begin in the fourth quarter of 2024, they added. (Source: Janes)
AIR
13 May 24. Babcock France, the defence company and Airbus Helicopters have been awarded a new contract to support the EC145 fleet of the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Civile and the Gendarmerie Nationale. The 12-year contract, awarded by the French Ministry of Armed Forces Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé), covers the aircraft in service support (ISS) of a fleet of 48 Airbus EC145 helicopters across France mainland and overseas. The fleet is made up of 33 Sécurité Civile helicopters and 15 Gendarmerie Nationale helicopters currently in service for rescue operations, air medical transport and law enforcement. The package of work will see Babcock providing aircraft support and maintenance in its facilities in le Cannet-des-Maures. Babcock will also be responsible for central technical assistance, mission equipment and associated ground support resources. Babcock will manage the spare parts inventory at its facility in Nîmes Garons, as close to the customer as possible. The contract will create around 20 jobs in the Nîmes and Le Cannet-des-Maures regions to meet the customer’s needs. Babcock and Airbus Helicopters will be assisting with the retirement of the EC145 fleet of the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale, which will be gradually withdrawn and replaced by Airbus H145 helicopters. Since 2016, Babcock has been supporting the Airbus H135 fleet of the Gendarmerie Nationale and French Customs and over the last year, with its partner Airbus Helicopters, Babcock has been providing support for the four new H145 delivered to the Sécurité Civile.
13 May 24. Under a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA), Frontgrade Gaisler is designing a new RISC-V processor tailored to meet the requirements of microcontrollers for the space industry. As an open instruction set architecture (ISA), RISC-V’s inherent configurability and efficiency provide the ideal foundation to drive innovation forward in critical sectors of the space computing landscape. For this project, Frontgrade Gaisler is concentrating on deterministic operation and minimal latency so that the new RISC-V processor IP will execute tasks predictably and reliably and quickly respond to input stimuli. With these additional benefits, the processor can be integrated into radiation-hardened microcontrollers and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) that support space missions. This model will extend the RISC-V ecosystem and complement the NOEL-V RISC-V processor, which shares the focus on space applications with an emphasis on high-performance capabilities.(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
14 May 24. High Eye announced a significant milestone in our journey of innovation and growth: the selection of our Airboxer VTOL UAV by the Dutch Navy. After an extensive study of maritime VTOL UAV systems, the Dutch Navy recognized the Airboxer’s suitability for the challenging maritime domain. With over a decade of development, the Airboxer has evolved to its current level through dedication and craftsmanship. We are immensely proud that the Dutch Navy acknowledges the qualities of the Airboxer and the expertise of High Eye through this choice.
15 May 24. OCCAR contracts MBDA to launch HYDIS² concept phase. MBDA has signed with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR – Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en Matière d’Armement), a European Defence Fund grant agreement on behalf of the partners of the HYpersonic Defence Interceptor Study (HYDIS2) Consortium and a Linked Procurement Contract (member states co-funding), on 15 May, launching the HYDIS2 concept phase. The European Commission selected the HYDIS² project for funding in July 2023 and the governments of France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands decided to co-fund. The signature between MBDA and OCCAR marks the beginning of a three-year concept phase, a major milestone which objective is to select the most suitable and effective counter-hypersonic and anti-ballistic concept with the associated weapon architecture. Coordinated by MBDA, this new chapter will allow the partners to:
- collect and harmonize the definition of operational scenarios and weapon systems interface, taking into account the European and NATO roadmaps
- build a joint definition of each threat based on the knowledge and expertise of all the partners involved
- consolidate weapon system requirements and integration in the whole engagement chain
- select the most suitable counter-hypersonic and anti-ballistic concept of interceptor for European nations’ needs, with the associated weapon system architecture to prepare an Assessment Phase and aim at an in-service date at 2035 horizon
- mature the technologies that enable the implementation of the counter-hypersonic concept in the next programme phase
- create the industrial network to develop the future counter-hypersonic missile systems
MBDA coordinates the HYDIS² consortium, bringing together 19 partners and more than 20 subcontractors in 14 European countries. Along with MBDA in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, the partners are ArianeGroup, AVIO, Avio Aero, Bayern-Chemie, CIRA, DLR, GKN Fokker, LYNRED, OHB System AG, ONERA, ROXEL France, THALES LAS France, TDW, THALES Netherlands and TNO. HYDIS² is a central element of the contribution of European states to the mission of defending populations and armed forces, in particular against emerging hypersonic threats, which constitute a radical change with respect to ballistic ones.
USA
LAND
15 May 24. Airrow, Inc. announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase I contract in the amount of $74,616.00 focused on Airrow’s Autonomous Dronehub to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now, on May, 14, 2024, Airrow will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. (Source: PR Newswire)
17 May 24. AMD announced two significant contract extensions with its US Government customers. Its Radar mitigation project with the US Army continues under a new funding award whilst its novel laser blocking technology work, under contract with the Irregular Warfare Technology Support Directorate (IWTSD) is also extended. Both projects will continue throughout 2024. AMD continues to innovate and collaborate with its US & UK Government and industry partners, and it is always keen to talk to potential new projects and collaborations. Interested parties are invited to make contact for further information. AMD’s commitment to advancing technology, particularly in materials science, extends beyond defense applications, contributing to advancements in energy, consumer goods, and life sciences.
14 May 24. Georgia Tech Applied Research Tech Corp., Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Atlanta, Georgia, is being awarded a $339,000,000 extension to the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HQ0854-21-D-0002. The contract ceiling value will increase from $121,000,000 to $460,000,000. The ordering period end date is extended from September 28, 2026, to September 28, 2031. No task orders are being issued at this time and the work will continue to be performed in Atlanta, Georgia. This was previously awarded as a sole source contract to GTRI, a University Affiliated Research Center under the authority of Justification and Approval No: 21-0018. This extension will provide continuity in engineering and technical support in systems engineering, test and evaluation, advanced concepts and technologies, simulation, modeling and operations analyses, readiness assessments, and technical direction across a broad spectrum of ballistic missile defense system technologies in their areas of core competencies including sensors and sensor technology, space sciences, and technology development. The government is awarding this extension with only one source under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(3) as implemented in the Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii). The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting agency.
13 May 24. Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN) a leading provider of application-specific optical solutions and high-performance micro-displays for defense, enterprise, consumer and medical products, today announced it has received a contract from a new Defense customer to support the integration of Kopin’s organic light emitting diode (OLED) microdisplay with a power efficient low latency digital night vision sensor (PEDBNVIS) that approaches analog goggle performance, for use in next generation warfighter integrated visual acuity systems. For over 20 years analog binocular night vision goggles (NVGs) have supported the warfighter’s need to see at night. Advanced solutions such as the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular (ENVG-B) have proven very useful in their ability to bring mixed reality and valuable situational awareness using a digital microdisplay and optics that overlay augmented visual information on the analog night vision goggle scene. Kopin’s role in the new contract is to tightly integrate its high-resolution, high-speed OLED with power efficient digital night vision imaging sensors to eliminate the need for optical overlay and to reduce the size and forward projection of the night vision system. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
10 May 24. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $332,126,764 modification (P00006) to contract W31P4Q-23-D-0003 for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 20, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
SEA
15 May 24. Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) today announced it has been awarded contracts valued in excess of $130m to provide propulsion valves, pumps and advanced instrumentation and control systems for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine, Columbia-class submarine and Ford-class aircraft carrier programs. The awards were received from Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) to support ship construction, spare parts and submarine back-fit procurements. Curtiss-Wright is performing this work at its facilities in New York and Pennsylvania within the Company’s Defense Electronics and Naval & Power Segments. Engineering and manufacturing have commenced and will continue through 2029.
16 May 24. Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC, doing business as Metal Shark,* Jeanerette, Louisiana (N00024-24-D-2275); and ReconCraft LLC,* Clackamas, Oregon (N00024-24-D-2276), are awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for the procurement of up to seventy-three 40 Foot Patrol Boats for the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command. The maximum cumulative dollar value for both contracts combined is $290,000,000 over a seven-year period. Metal Shark will be awarded a $6,507,040 initial order at contract award. ReconCraft will be awarded a $7,737,536 initial order at contract award. Work will be performed by Metal Shark in Jeanerette, Louisiana; and ReconCraft in Clackamas, Oregon, and the first orders are expected to be completed by December 2025. Fiscal 2023 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,890,976 (91%); and fiscal 2024 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $616,064 (9%), will be obligated at time of award to Metal Shark and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Fiscal 2023 National Guard and Reserve Equipment Appropriations funds in the amount of $7,737,536 will be obligated at time of award to ReconCraft and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment with four offers received. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-24-D-2275 & N00024-24-D-2276).
AIR
07 May 24. Assured Space Access, Inc. has been selected by AFWERX for an SBIR Phase II $1.25m contract focused on sensor technologies to advance Space Domain Awareness and delivering solutions to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now as of the Feb 2024 contract award date, Assured Space has begun its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. (Source: Satnews)
10 May 24. Aurora Flight Sciences will continue designing an experimental heavy cargo seaplane for the U.S. military, which has now officially dropped General Atomics’ pitch for the Liberty Lifter aircraft program. The Pentagon announced Thursday that Aurora, a subsidiary of Boeing based in Manassas, Virginia, has received an $8.3m contract modification to keep working on its mobility seaplane design. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in February 2023 selected Aurora and General Atomics for the program, officially called the Liberty Lifter Seaplane Wing-in-Ground Effect. DARPA originally envisioned Liberty Lifter as having about the same size and capacity of a massive C-17 Globemaster mobility aircraft, but has since scaled back the demonstrator program to about the size of a C-130 Hercules. But DARPA’s budget documents for fiscal 2025 show that a future Liberty Lifter aircraft could be built to roughly a C-17′s scale once there’s proof the concept works. The Globemaster’s wingspan is more than 169 feet, its length 174 feet and its height about 55 feet. It can carry 170,900 pounds of cargo. In comparison, the Hercules’ wingspan is more than 132 feet. The longest of the variants is about 97 feet, and the tallest is about 38 feet. One variant can carry a payload of 44,500 pounds. Liberty Lifter is also intended to be able to take off and land in sea state 4, or weather conditions that produce waves of up to about 8 feet, and could sustain operations even in sea state 5, or rough waves of up to 13 feet. (Source: Defense News)
15 May 24. BAE Systems has been selected by the U.S. Navy to develop Dual Band Decoy (DBD), one of the most advanced radio frequency (RF) countermeasures in the world. DBD is a cutting-edge RF self-protection jammer that shields fighter jets from enemy attacks. Expanding the capabilities of BAE Systems’ combat-proven AN/ALE-55 Fiber-Optic Towed Decoy, DBD consists of a towed unit connected by fiber-optic cable to electronic warfare equipment onboard the aircraft. The decoy delivers the latest jamming technology to disrupt enemy radars and lure missiles away from the aircraft. DBD can be launched by the pilot or automatically in response to threats, offering critical protection in highly contested airspace.
13 May 24. Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) (“Terran Orbital” or the “Company”), a global leader in satellite-based solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, announced that it had been selected by Lockheed Martin to produce 18 satellite buses for their recent Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer contract. Lockheed Martin will provide the SDA with 16 wide field-of-view missile warning/missile tracking space vehicles with infrared sensors and two vehicles with missile defense infrared sensors that can generate fire control-quality tracks to provide preliminary missile defense mission capabilities. Each Lockheed Martin-built T2 Tracking Layer satellite will incorporate a Terran Orbital bus.
TECHNOLOGY
14 May 24. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded BAE Systems’ (LON: BA) FAST LabsTM research and development organization a $12m contract for the Technologies for Heat Removal in Electronics at the Device Scale (THREADS) program. DARPA has awarded BAE Systems’ FAST Labs research and development organization a $12 m contract for the Technologies for Heat Removal in Electronics at the Device Scale (THREADS) program. (Credit: BAE Systems) The DARPA THREADS program aims to overcome the temperature limits at the transistor scale inherent to power-amplifying functions. With new materials and approaches to diffusing the heat that degrades performance and mission life for monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), THREADS aims to resolve the thermal management challenges of today’s gallium nitride (GaN) devices. (Source: PR Newswire)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
10 May 24. Ukraine – High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The State Department has made a determination approving a possible emergency Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $30m. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Ukraine has requested to buy three (3) High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The estimated total cost is $30 m, which will be funded by the Government of Germany on behalf of Ukraine. The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Ukraine of the above defense articles and services in the national security interests of the United States, thereby waiving the congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and respond to continued Russian aggression. This will be a sale from U.S. Army inventory. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Ukraine. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
13 May 24. Leonardo and the Ministry of Defense of Malaysia have signed an Industrial Collaboration Programme Agreement (ICP Agreement) following the sale of two ATR P-72Ms (the maritime patrol version of the ATR regional transport aircraft) to Malaysia, with related logistics and training services, the Main Procurement Contract signed in May 2023. Under the ICP Agreement, which bolsters the partnership between Malaysia and Italy, Leonardo will collaborate on joint projects with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), academia and local industries. These initiatives will facilitate the transfer of technological knowledge and evaluate new opportunities of collaboration. Specifically, universities including MIAT (UniKL) will be involved in research and development activities in the aeronautical sector enabling the acquisition of new academic skills useful for the advanced training of young aeronautical engineers. Local companies will support Leonardo in the development activities of the aircraft destined for Malaysia, according to the specifications outlined in the contract. A fundamental element of the ICP Agreement will also be Leonardo’s support to the RMAF. This includes projects aimed at optimizing processes in the aeronautical sector to support the operation of the ATR P-72M fleet and the supply chain management. These initiatives will benefit from the expertise gained through the LEAP (Leonardo Empowering Advanced Partnerships) programme, implemented by Leonardo to enhance its supply chain. (Source: Google/ADPR)
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