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UNITED KINGDOM
AIR
11 Dec 24. The consortium behind the Eurofighter Typhoon has awarded BAE Systems a £133m contract to further develop its Striker® II Helmet Mounted-Display (HMD). Under the new contract, awarded by the four-nation Eurofighter consortium – Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, BAE Systems engineers will continue to mature the helmet’s capability alongside a programme of flight testing. The Striker II HMD is one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft helmets which uses the latest technologies to integrate its all-digital night vision system and daylight readable colour display. Data is displayed directly onto the pilot’s helmet visor, providing them with mission critical information right before their eyes. The contract is expected to secure more than 200 highly skilled jobs at the company’s combat air facility in Warton, Lancashire, and its Electronic Systems site in Rochester, Kent which specialises in developing helmet mounted displays.
06 Dec 24. Cuashub.com said today that Saab unveils military UAV Trainer, names UK Armed Forces as first customer. Saab has launched a new military UAV Trainer designed to prepare soldiers for modern battlefield challenges, including counter-UAS operations. The system, initially offered as a service, has been adopted by the British Armed Forces, with strong interest from other customers worldwide. The UK Armed Forces became the system’s first official user, employing it in live training scenarios to simulate both aerial threats and assets. Saab also revealed that several customer trials have been conducted and a number of prototype systems delivered to an undisclosed client. https://cuashub.com/en/content/saab-unveils-military-uav-trainer-names-uk-armed-forces-as-first-customer/(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
EUROPE
LAND
06 Dec 24. DRS Network & Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, was awarded a $24,813,001 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of battle management systems, vehicle intercom systems and driver view enhancers. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 20, 2029. Fiscal 2024 Foreign Military Sales (Romania) funds in the amount of $24,813,001 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-25-C-5009).
03 Dec 24. Indra to integrate EnforceAir 2 into CROW C-UAS for Spanish Air and Space Force. uSpain’s Directorate of Acquisitions of the Air and Space Force Logistics Support Command has awarded a contract to Indra to integrate D-Fend Solutions’ EnforceAir2 counter-uncrewed aerial systems technology into Indra’s CROW C-UAS. According to the notice published on the European Union tender service, the contract covers the “complete integration of the system C-UAS EnforceAir2 with CROW through the provision of a software development service”. The document states that the software includes “a hierarchical command and control (C2) between CROW systems”. The contract value is EUR630,000. Last month, Indra demonstrated CROW at the Anti-Drone Interoperability Exercises (TIE24), organised by NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCIA). Crow is designed to interoperate with other systems and adapt to each mission and type of attack, including drone swarms. The tests demonstrated its capacity to integrate with 27 sensors and effectors from different manufacturers in Europe. EnforceAir2 was selected by the Spanish Air and Space Force in December 2023 to provide broad security against drone incursions, particularly for large public events and governmental activities, according to Spanish media reports. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
11 Dec 24. Czech Republic orders more Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks – order worth €161m. The Czech Republic has commissioned Rheinmetall with the delivery of further 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks. A corresponding contract has been signed by Dr. Björn Bernhard, CEO of Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, and Lubor Koudelka, Director General of the Armaments and Acquisition Division of the Czech Ministry of Defence. The contract, which is financed by the Czech Republic, also includes an extensive ammunition and logistics package and is worth around €161 m net. It covers the delivery of 14 refurbished Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks by the end of 2026. These come primarily from former Swiss stocks and will be converted to a Czech-specific configuration as part of the project. The contract that has now been signed supplements the two existing ring swap agreements, under which the Czech armed forces have already received Leopard 2A4s and in return handed over older material to the Ukrainian armed forces. The recently commissioned ammunition and logistics package is designed to maintain the operational readiness of the fleet, which will then comprise a total of 42 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and two Büffel 3 armoured recovery vehicles, at a high level. With the procurement that has now been initiated, the Czech armed forces are completing the conversion of their 73rd armoured battalion from originally Soviet to German main battle tanks.
09 Dec 24. Saab has received an order from BAE Systems in support of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe for multiple Giraffe 4A radar systems. The contract value is approximately $48m (525MSEK). Deliveries will start in 2027. Giraffe 4A will provide long range surveillance and Air Base Air Defence in a highly mobile package for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Giraffe 4A is a digital multi-channel system featuring the latest Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology and will be delivered from Saab in the U.S. and Sweden. BAE Systems Technical Solutions & Services Inc. is the prime contractor for this award in support of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. (Source: PR Newswire)
11 Dec 24. Thales has been selected by Luchtverkeersleiding Nederland (LVNL), the Dutch Air Navigation Services Provider, to supply the RSM NG, a digital Secondary Surveillance Radar with increased performance and reliability for safer Air Traffic Management. With the capacity to follow-up to 2, 000 aircrafts simultaneously and output 64 simultaneous data streams to Air Traffic Control Centres, the radar integrates both ADS-B1 and Mode S Sensors2, resulting in faster track initialisation and detection. Thales will install the radar in less than a year at one of the busiest airports in Europe – Schiphol Amsterdam, with a seamless replacement plan ensuring no interruption to Air Traffic Control service.
09 Dec 24. Thales and Avinor have partnered to implement Norway’s next-generation nationwide Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system, enhancing airspace management for both unmanned and manned aircraft while ensuring full compliance with European regulatory standards. Thales’ Topsky – UAS, powered by AstraUTM, will provide a scalable, automated platform for real-time traffic management, compliance monitoring, and safe integration of unmanned aircraft, paving the way for efficient air mobility operations across Norway. The new UTM system supports Norway’s vision for unmanned aviation, enabling safe, scalable drone operations and laying the groundwork for future Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions alongside traditional aviation.
AIR
10 Dec 24. Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that it was awarded two contracts with an aggregate value of approximately $175m for the supply of EW (Electronic Warfare) and DIRCM (Directed Infrared Countermeasure) Self-Protection Suites to a NATO European country. The contracts will be performed over a period of five years. Under the contracts, Elbit Systems will deliver its Self-Protection Suites for installation on the country’s Embraer C-390 Millenium aircraft and Airbus H225M helicopters. Additionally, the C-390 contract includes an agreement with another European country, providing for the delivery of the Advanced EW suite for installation on its Embraer C-390 Millenium aircraft. The state-of-the-art EW and DIRCM Self-Protection Suite, to be installed on both platforms, provides enhanced defense capabilities by autonomously detecting, analyzing, and countering a wide range of threats. The suite includes Elbit Systems’ advanced Digital Radar Warning Receiver, IR Missile Warning System (MWS), Laser Warning System (LWS), Countermeasure Dispenser System (CMDS), and the MUSIC™ family DIRCM System. Additionally, as part of the C-390 contract, Elbit Systems will provide its SPEAR Advanced ECM (AECM) Pod, which can be easily installed and transferred between aircraft on the flight line.
10 Dec 24. Embraer – The Slovak Ministry of Defense today signed a Letter of Intent with the Brazilian Ministry of Defense, paving the way for a deeper industrial cooperation between the two countries. During this visit to Brazil, the Slovak Minister of Defense acknowledged that the Embraer C-390 is the option that better fits Slovakia’s future military transport requirements. It has also been mentioned the importance of the neighboring countries that have already acquired the C-390, enabling synergies in terms of training, logistics and cooperation in the future capabilities and growth of their fleets. The Slovak Ministry of Defense will start formal steps toward the purchase of three C-390s in January 2025.
12 Dec 24. General Atomics. Poland joins SkyGuardian programme. Poland has signed for the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The Polish Armaments Agencysigned for “several” systems on 12 December, the Ministry of National Defence (MND) said, adding that deliveries will be completed by the first quarter of 2027. making no reference to arming the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Once in service, the MQ-9Bs will replace the GA-ASI MQ-9A Reaper UASs that Poland has leased (also in an unarmed configuration) since February 2023. Known as SkyGuardian in its baseline overland configuration and as SeaGuardian in its maritime configuration, the MQ-9B is to shortly enter service with the UK as the Protector RG1, and has been ordered by Belgium, India, and Japan, with interest shown from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Australia cancelled its planned procurement of the system in 2022 for budgetary reasons. As noted by GA-ASI, the SkyGuardian has a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 ft (compared with 50,000 ft for the Reaper), a maximum endurance of more than 40 hours (compared with 27 hours for the Reaper), and a maximum air speed of 200 kt (compared with 240 kt for the Reaper). The SkyGuardian also has nine external stores/stations, compared with five for the Reaper. (Source: Janes)
11 Dec 24. L3Harris Technologies has been selected to deliver its WESCAM MX-15D electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems for German armed forces’ new H145M multi-role helicopter fleet. These systems, which will be supplied to Airbus Helicopters, will provide the helicopters with multi-spectral imaging, stabilisation and automatic video tracking capabilities to undertake a variety of missions. These missions include ground support, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition. (Source: army-technology.com)
09 Dec 24. Raytheon – The Netherlands – AIM-120D3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles. The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Netherlands of AIM-120D3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of up to $807m. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy up to two hundred twenty-six (226) AIM-120D3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); up to five (5) AIM-120D3 AMRAAM guidance sections, to include precise position provided by either Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module or M-Code; and one (1) AIM-120 AMRAAM Integrated Test Vehicle (ITV). The following non-MDE items will also be included: AMRAAM control sections, missile containers and support equipment; KGV-135A encryption devices; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapons system support and software; classified software delivery and support; classified publications and technical documentation; transportation support; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is up to $807m. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve the Netherland’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing advanced all-weather, beyond-visual-range, air-to-air defense to protect Dutch and Allied forces in transition or combat and significantly improve the Dutch contribution to NATO requirements. The Netherlands already has AMRAAM in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, AZ. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. (Source: ASD Network)
12 Dec 24. TEKEVER has announced that it has signed a multi-purpose contract valued at close to €5m with the Spanish Ministry of Interior on behalf of Spain’s National Police Air Unit, to be delivered between 2024 and 2025. The contract will enable the National Police Air Unit to acquire multiple TEKEVER AR3 systems, their accessories, cameras, and access to TEKEVER’s ATLAS platform. As part of the agreement, TEKEVER will also provide training for up to three years. The AR3 was selected for its superior performance capabilities, including its proven ability to navigate challenging climate conditions. Other technical features that make the AR3 ideal for the National Police Air Unit’s surveillance and maritime missions include its agile and flexible architecture, its ability to be operational in under 15 minutes, its low logistical footprint, and its capability to integrate some of the best payloads on the market. Under the terms of the contract, the AR3 systems will be equipped with high-definition day and night gimbals, a mobile ground control station, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology. This tool is critical for the identification of objects of interest under all weather conditions, both day and night. Additionally, the SAR’s extensive operational range, demonstrated by its ability to cover more than 20,000 square nautical miles per mission, makes it an optimal partner for surveillance and maritime missions. TEKEVER’s AI-powered analytical intelligence platform, ATLAS, was also a decisive factor in securing the contract. Its ability to enhance UAV operations with advanced functionalities such as FPV video streaming, increased situational awareness for UAV operators, and heatmap tracking for efficient flight zone review and monitoring underscores its role as a key asset. (Source: UAS VISION)
USA
LAND
09 Dec 24. US announces USD10m for transitioning emerging C-UAS technology into operational use. The United States Department of Defense has announced new funding for the counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) fused air picture programme. The project is one of five to each receive funding of USD10m, which will be awarded to “small, non-traditional defence contractors”. The funding awards are part of the department’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) pilot programme, which started in Fiscal Year 2022 and provides procurement funding for innovative projects that have completed development and are ready to transition into operational use. The announcement was made by Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday. Shyu did not disclose the companies that would be receiving the funding. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
11 Dec 24. BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $656,232,769 fixed-price-incentive contract to produce M2A4 and M7A4 vehicles. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W912CH-25-F-0096).
09 Dec 24. BrainChip Awarded Air Force Research Laboratory Radar Development Contract. BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN, OTCQX: BRCHF, ADR: BCHPY), the world’s first commercial producer of ultra-low power, fully digital, event-based, neuromorphic AI, today announced that it was awarded a development contract for $1.8m from Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) on neuromorphic radar signaling processing technologies. The AFRL contract award, under the topic number AF242-D015, is titled “Mapping Complex Sensor Signal Processing Algorithms onto Neuromorphic Chips”. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract is a development effort expansion after a successful demonstration of radar processing algorithms running on BrainChip’s Akida™ commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) neuromorphic hardware. The signal processing algorithms encompass the processing of RF signals to decode communication and radar waveforms from raw in-phase and quadrature data.(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
09 Dec 24. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR) today announced an expansion of its contract with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to deliver technology solutions in support of enterprise capabilities. The one-year delivery is valued at $36.8m and establishes Palantir as the lead software integrator for USSOCOM’s Mission Command System (MCS) while expanding the technology solutions supporting U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) globally. This contract award leverages Palantir’s multi-vendor development ecosystem and the Ontology Software Development Kit (OSDK) to expedite software deployment at the edge. The expanded partnership also enables pilot projects across the broader Command, inclusive of efforts dedicated to bringing Palantir’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to USSOCOM. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
SEA
09 Dec 24. Amentum (NYSE: AMTM) has been awarded a $105m contract to support Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane (NSWC Crane) Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Division (AEASD) to develop the next generation of Electronic Warfare (EW) and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission and survivability systems. Amentum will replace aging or obsolete components and systems and install state-of-the-art technology to enhance the capabilities of EW and ISR systems, delivering critical expertise in protecting U.S. national security. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
AIR
10 Dec 24. Aalyria selected by Defense Innovation Unit to enhance swarm connectivity for defense applications. Aalyria, a leader in aerospace network technology, has been selected by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) from among 130 proposals for the Opportunistic, Resilient & Innovative Expeditionary Network Topology (ORIENT) contract. Aalyria will play a key role in advancing resilient command and control (C2) for all domain attritable autonomous (ADA2) systems in support of the Replicator initiative. The software technology utilized under ORIENT will connect robust long-haul communications to local mesh networks, ensuring Replicator can continue to operate as a system of systems, even in disrupted, low-bandwidth environments. Aalyria’s Spacetime software platform is capable of maintaining robust, secure, and resilient connectivity across complex environments, enabling true resilient communications for DoD networks. Spacetime also ensures seamless network performance to, from, and within swarms of attritable unmanned systems operating across air, land, and sea domains. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
06 Dec 24. HII (NYSE: HII) was awarded a $6.7bn contract to provide electronic warfare engineering and technical services support for the U.S. Air Force. The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract is the largest ever awarded to HII’s Mission Technologies division. “We have a team of subject matter experts with deep expertise in all aspects of electromagnetic spectrum and electronic warfare, and we are committed to staying a step ahead of our adversaries alongside our customers as the complexity of warfare changes,” said Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division. This award was initially announced during HII’s third quarter earnings call on Oct. 31, 2024. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Dec 24. Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, McLean, Virginia, was awarded a ceiling $801,048,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for combat air forces distributed mission operations services. This contract provides for virtual, distributed training to Air Force trainers worldwide including daily team training to large scale exercises. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 11, 2034. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and three offers were received. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,526 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8621-25-D-B001).
06 Dec 24. Raytheon Awarded $590m Production Contract for Next Generation Jammer Mid-band. Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has been awarded a $590 m follow-on production contract from the U.S. Navy for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system. NGJ-MB is a cooperative development and production program with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The contract includes delivery of shipsets, support equipment, spares and non-recurring engineering support. The U.S. Navy and RAAF will employ NGJ-MB on the EA-18G GROWLER® to target advanced radar threats, communications, data links and non-traditional radio frequency threats. The system reduces adversary targeting ranges, disrupts adversary kill chains and supports kinetic weapons to target. NGJ-MB allows naval crews to operate effectively at extended ranges and attack multiple targets simultaneously with advanced techniques. Work under this contract will take place in McKinney, Texas; Forest, Mississippi; El Segundo, California; and Fort Wayne, Indiana through 2028. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Dec 24. SES’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SES Space & Defense, has been awarded a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) through Space Systems Command (SSC) with the help of the United States Space Force’s Commercial Satellite Communications Office (CSCO) with a ceiling value of USD 117 m in support of the United States European Command (USEUCOM) delivering multi-orbit, multi-band satellite capabilities. To meet enduring and emerging mission requirements in the USEUCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR), SES Space & Defense partnered with several industry-leading players to provide managed service using UHF, L, C, X, Ku and Mil-Ka bands in the USEUCOM Region. The company will also provide Risk Management Framework-accredited commercial teleport and terrestrial transport backhaul services to Government Entry Points (GEP). Under the BPA, SES Space & Defense will deliver program management support, bandwidth management, network monitoring, and the opportunity to procure ancillary equipment such as remote Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs). (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
10 Dec 24. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $375,937,755 modification (P00068) to contract W58RGZ-22-C-0010 to provide full funding for UH-60M and HH-60M aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2027. Fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $375,937,755 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
TECHNOLOGY
11 Dec 24. Department of Defense Awards Funding for Five Small, Non-Traditional Businesses to Speed Technologies Into Production. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) selected five small, non-traditional businesses to receive funding that allows them to move mature warfighting technologies into production. The awards are part of a pilot program called “Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies” (APFIT) and are the first selected for FY 2025.
The five initial FY 2025 projects include:
- Advanced Tactical Flotation Systems, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Athena – Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) Fused Air Picture, U.S. Air Force
- Coral Drift, U.S. Army
- Small Unmanned Aircraft Defense (SUADS), U.S. Air Force
- Software-defined Tactical Optical Modem for Performance and Ruggedization (STOMPeR), U.S. Marine Corps
Each selected project will receive at least $10m in funding.
APFIT is part of OUSD(R&E)’s multi-pronged approach to moving technology out of the development cycle faster to ensure warfighters have what they need to combat current and emerging threats.
As a pilot program first funded in FY 2022 with a $100m appropriation, APFIT prioritizes small and non-traditional businesses without adequate resources to bridge the gap between development and production. The following year in FY23, the program received $150m and in FY2024, funding doubled to $300m. As a competitive, merit-based program, APFIT targets production line maturation, low-rate initial productions, or augments existing program procurement funding to increase production quantities. The APFIT program has now helped 46 companies across the United States grow, creating jobs and increasing production capability for the future.
About USD(R&E)
The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering USD(R&E) is the Chief Technology Officer of the Department of Defense. The USD(R&E) champions research, science, technology, engineering, and innovation to maintain the United States military’s technological advantage. Learn more at www.cto.mil, follow us on Twitter @DoDCTO, or visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ousdre(Source: U.S. DoD)
09 Dec 24. The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded BAE Systems’ (LON: BA) FAST Labs™ research and development organization a $12 m contract as part of the High Operational Temperature Sensors (HOTS) program. Many critical defense and industrial systems such as hypersonic aircraft and missiles, automotive, jet engine turbine, and oil-and-gas systems operate in extreme temperature conditions. Current sensors have limited performance as they cannot operate in temperatures higher than 225°C. Their capability is limited by the materials that comprise the sensors themselves, the accompanying circuitry (e.g., silicon-based transistor technology) and packaging. The HOTS program will help develop microelectronic sensor technologies capable of high-bandwidth, high-dynamic-range sensing at extreme temperatures. (Source: PR Newswire)
11 Dec 24. Data Link Solutions receives up to $1bn IDIQ award for MIDS JTRS modernization efforts. The U.S. Navy has awarded Data Link Solutions (DLS), a joint venture between BAE Systems and Collins Aerospace, an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) award with a ceiling value up to $1bn for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS). The contract includes continued production, retrofits, development, and sustainment of MIDS JTRS terminals for future growth. MIDS JTRS provides situational awareness and enables Link 16 connectivity with jam-resistant, line-of-sight voice, video, and data communications for sea, ground, and air assets. The U.S. and its allies operate in network-centric, information-intensive environments where communications, navigation, and identification are mission‑essential capabilities. Warfighters must make well-informed, interoperable decisions swiftly, requiring large volumes of data to be exchanged in real-time. MIDS JTRS enables the interoperability across forces using Link 16.
10 Dec 24. Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, was awarded a $45,469,600, five-year cost-plus-fixed-fee contract that will be incrementally funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate for the design, development, and testing of prototype software and hardware for mission critical technologies. The contract will support the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate’s efforts to equip the joint warfighter with a spectrum of agile, effective, resilient, and affordable space mission capabilities. Redwire will research and develop novel and emerging spacecraft technologies to include large deployable structures, thermal management capabilities, payload accommodations, and improved analysis and testing methods for in-space and terrestrial national security applications. This contract builds on a previously awarded AFRL contract to mature space domain technologies from early functional proof of concept through demonstration of full system or architecture prototypes. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
11 Dec 24. US approves $300m armoured vehicle maintenance sale to Kuwait. Kuwait seeks to acquire services and equipment for the refurbishment of existing infrastructure. The US State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale to Kuwait, encompassing military vehicle maintenance repair sustainment capability and associated equipment, with an estimated cost of $300m (Kd93m). The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has formally notified Congress of this potential transaction. The principal contractors involved in this sale are BAE Systems, U.S. Ordnance, DRS Technologies, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, and RTX. The country’s acquisition budget is expected to increase from $819.4m in 2024 to $1.5bn in 2029, at a CAGR of 7%. Previously in 2022, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed Congress about a foreign military sale of M1A2K tank operational and training ammunition to Kuwait. (Source: army-technology.com)
10 Dec 24. Advanced Navigation, a global leader in assured positioning navigation and timing (APNT) technologies and autonomous systems, has finalised a multi-m deal with Rheinmetall Defence Australia to supply fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG) inertial navigation systems (INS), for integration into Rheinmetall’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV), currently in service with the Australian Army. This follows a previous deal which saw Advanced Navigation provide 200+ FOG INS to Rheinmetall in 2021 for the Boxer CRV. These vehicles were acquired by the Australian Army as part of the LAND 400 Phase 2 Program.
12 Dec 24. India’s BEML to supply high-mobility vehicles to Indian Army. India’s state-owned BEML, formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited, has signed contracts with the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver an unspecified number of 8×8 high-mobility vehicles (HMVs) and 50 tonne heavy-duty trailers to the Indian Army. In a filing to the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 11 December, BEML said the contract for 8×8 HMVs is valued at INR1.36bn (USD16m). One day earlier in a separate filing the company said the trailer deal is worth INR835.1 m. (Source: Janes)
AIR
12 Dec 24. Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with His Excellency, Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior of Bahrain, for the purchase of nine H145 helicopters. These aircraft will be operated by the Police Aviation Command for law enforcement missions and emergency medical services in the kingdom.
10 Dec 24. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded a $450,500,000 undefinitized contract action for the F-15 Japan Super Interceptor Program requirement to incorporate C2 production Lot One. This contract provides for the acquisition of radars, self-protection systems, and mission computer units. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by February 2030. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Japan. This contract was a sole source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $110,796,438 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8634-22-C-2705).
11 Dec 24. Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $987,000,000 firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursement, no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F-16 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) sustainment support. This contract provides repair and return, engineering and technical services, and analysis and resolution support for diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages. Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2034. This contract involves FMS to Taiwan. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and two offers were received. FMS funds in the amount of $1,599,225 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8232-25-D-B001).
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