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UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
13 Dec 24. The British Army has taken an early Christmas delivery of 20 Rheinmetall MAN support trucks bought under a rapid procurement process. The Field Army has taken an early Christmas delivery of 20 support trucks bought under a rapid procurement process. They are the first of 500 multipurpose Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicle trucks, bought under a £282m contract, which will allow troops to transport essentials such as ammunition, food, water, and support materiel, to operational locations. The newly delivered vehicles are from the HX family, which are a range of purpose-designed military trucks equipped with a multitude of protection capabilities, keeping our most important asset safe – our people. (Source: joint-forces.com)
EUROPE
LAND
17 Dec 24. Frequentis has been selected by Avinor AS, the state-owned operator of Norway’s airports and air navigation services, to modernise air traffic management at Oslo Airport, Norway’s largest, as well as up to 14 regional airports. The New Tower System Oslo (NeTSO) project will introduce state-of-the-art technology to enhance safety and efficiency, while preparing for future growth and ensuring European Common Project One compliance. Starting at the end of 2024, the programme establishes the foundation for a long-term cooperation on all Norwegian tower installations. With a focus on scalability and efficiency, the solution enables Oslo Airport to prepare for future traffic scenarios and allows airports across Norway to handle future traffic volumes, ensuring cost-effectiveness and sustainability. It will replace the legacy Advanced Surface Moving Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) and Electronic Flight Strips (EFS) systems by providing air traffic controllers with an integrated solution that combines flight data, air and ground surveillance with a routing function, departure management (DMAN) and safety tools into a seamless, user-friendly, integrated controller working position. Future programme phases will also include remote tower capabilities, ensuring operations continue smoothly during contingency situations, and a potential additional remote third runway control.
16 Dec 24. Hanwha Aerospace to supply artillery propellant charges for Swedish Army’s Archer howitzers. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has signed an agreement with South Korean defence solutions provider Hanwha Aerospace. The contract ensures the delivery of propellant charges for Sweden’s Archer artillery system, addressing an immediate need for the Swedish Armed Forces. Propellant charges are a critical component of artillery ammunition, containing the explosive material required to launch shells from the Archer system. Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, such charges have been in short supply on the global market for artillery ammunition. (Source: Google/https://defence-industry.eu/)
17 Dec 24. Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with 20 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles. In December 2024, the Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall received an order to supply Ukraine with a further 20 Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2025. The order is worth a mid-range double-digit million euro amount. The delivery will be financed by Germany. All in all, Rheinmetall has already supplied the Ukrainian armed forces with hundreds of Marder infantry fighting vehicles. In the 1A3 version, the Marder is equipped with an additional laser rangefinder for efficient and precise target engagement. The first 20 combat vehicles of this type were delivered by the Rheinmetall Group on behalf of the German government in March 2023. Further Marder deliveries followed, each time in double figures. Rheinmetall began overhauling Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles from its company stocks at its own expense in spring 2022. Since then, the combat vehicles have been continuously repaired and delivered for their immediate deployment. The work is being carried out at the Group’s sites in Unterlüß and Kassel.
17 Dec 24. Saab wins USD48m order for Giraffe 4A radars for USAFE. Saab received the order for multiple radars from BAE Systems Technical Solutions & Services Inc, which is the prime contractor for this award, according to Saab’s press release. Deliveries are expected to start in 2027. Saab’s Giraffe 4A radar includes electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCMs) capabilities, Daniel Forsberg, head of Marketing & Sales business unit, Surface Sensor Solutions at Saab, told Janes on 13 December while not disclosing more on the contract. The Giraffe 4A is not affected by weather conditions, with the system designed to operate in different climatic conditions including the Arctic Circle, Forsberg said. The Giraffe 4A radar’s software provides a signalling process, which can identify and track a very large number of targets while also removing the “superfluous information to provide the operator with a clear air picture”, Forsberg said. The radar system is capable of operating in all domains simultaneously by locating, tracking, and identifying aerial targets, while also being able to carry out a “counter-rocket, mortar, and artillery role in identifying incoming fires”. The counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) capability includes tracking projectiles and calculating [the] point of origin and impact to serve as input for counter-battery fire, adjustment of own fire, or warning of incoming fire. (Source: Janes)
SEA
18 Dec 24. France’s SHOM selects Exail’s DriX H-8 USV. France’s Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine: SHOM) has confirmed the acquisition of one DriX H-8 unmanned surface vessel (USV) from French robotics and maritime technologies company Exail. Announcing the milestone on 16 December, Exail said the acquisition marks a strategic milestone in the modernisation of SHOM’s capabilities and will help address the growing demand for reliable and certified marine data for civilian and military purposes. An Exail spokesperson told Janes that the company expects to deliver the USV to SHOM around mid-2025. In service, the DriX H-8 will be deployed for a wide range of hydrographic tasks, including seabed topography, wreck detection, and seabed composition analysis. It will also play a significant role in preliminary studies for offshore wind farm development. In addition to enhancing understanding of the marine environment the collected data will also expand France’s intervention capabilities over increasingly extensive areas, including deep-sea regions, Exail said. DriX H-8 is a medium-range USV with a length of 7.71 m and weighs 1,600 kg. It has an endurance of up to 10 days, a range of 1,000 n miles, a fuel capacity of 550 litres, and a maximum speed of 14 kt. The USV is equipped with a dedicated launch and recovery system (LARS) for the deployment of remotely operated towed vehicles. It can conduct both remote-controlled and supervised autonomous operations and is transportable in a 40 ft High Cube container. (Source: Janes)
13 Dec 24. Freire Shipyard to build diver support ship for Spanish Navy. The ship, expected to be delivered by Q2 2026, will feature an AV, side-scan sonar, and ROV. Spanish Navy’s Logistics Support Command has awarded a contract to Spanish shipyard C.N.P. FREIRE, (Freire Shipyard) to construct a new diver support vessel. This agreement follows a competitive bidding process that saw participation from other major shipyards within the country. This ship is part of the Spanish Navy’s initiative to modernise and replace its auxiliary fleet to enhance its underwater operational capabilities. The vessel will be utilised by the Military Diving School, supporting the Navy’s commitment to maintaining its stature as a leader in diving expertise on both national and international stages. (Source: naval-technology.com)
18 Dec 24. Germany’s budget committee has approved the purchase of four submarines manufactured by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKAG.DE) in a deal worth 4.7bn euros ($4.92bn), the defence ministry said on Wednesday. The purchase is among 38 so-called “25m euro proposals” for defence and equipment projects approved by the committee on Wednesday, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said. It has now approved 97 such proposals this year, he added. (Source: Reuters)
AIR
17 Dec 24. Airbus Defence and Space has been awarded a contract by Eutelsat to build the extension of its OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation. Under the contract signed between the two companies, Airbus will build the first batches of the extension, totalling 100 satellites, with delivery targeted from the end of 2026, ensuring continuity and enhancement of service for current and future customers.
16 Dec 24. Brazil planemaker Embraer signed a contract to sell 12 A-29N Super Tucano aircrafts to the Portuguese government, the company said in a statement on Monday. The A-29N Super Tucano is a training and light attack aircraft. The version purchased by the Portuguese government is a new version of the A-29 Super Tucano, which incorporates NATO’s specific communications systems. The Portuguese National Defense will be the first to use the new aircraft model, according to Embraer. (Source: Google/Reuters)
18 Dec 24. DoD/DSCA Notifies Congress of Possible FMS of M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kits Fuses to Norway. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress that the Government of Norway has requested to buy eight thousand one (8,001) M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) multi-option fuzes that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $2.79m, included PGK cutaway models; fuze wrenches; enhanced portable inductive artillery fuze setters; GPS antennae and cables; improved Platform Integration Kits; PGK-associated hardware for testing; labor support; training aids; technical data and reports; U.S. Government technical assistance; incidental travel; transportation; PGK spare parts; equipment training; and related elements of logistics and program support. This notification is for eight thousand one (8,001) M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuzes. The following non-MDE items will also be included: PGK cutaway models; fuze wrenches; enhanced portable inductive artillery fuze setters; GPS antennae and cables; improved Platform Integration Kits; PGK-associated hardware for testing; labor support; training aids; technical data and reports; U.S. Government technical assistance; incidental travel; transportation; PGK spare parts; equipment training; and related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total program cost is $130m. The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, located in Dulles, VA. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale. (Source: glstrade.com)
USA
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16 Dec 24. KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced it has been awarded an estimated $445m cost-plus-fixed-fee contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. These DoD IAC MAC task orders are awarded by the U.S. Air Force’s 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the DTIC repository and the R&D and S&T community. This recompete for the Joint Mission Environment Test Capability (JMETC) program supports the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Test Resource Management Center (TRMC). The work will be performed over a period of five years across multiple DoD locations. The JMETC environment provides a test infrastructure consisting of the components necessary to conduct joint distributed test events by cost-effectively integrating live, virtual, and constructive test resources that are configured to support the users’ needs. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will research, assess and address unique test and experimentation requirements to enhance JMETC’s capabilities and integrate work into additional locations. KBR will support the TRMC in expanding test and experimentation connectivity and develop enhanced capabilities for test and experimentation environments through research, data analysis, system development, evaluations, strategic planning, and assessments.
17 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $59,167,500 modification (P00010) to contract W31P4Q-23-C-0052 for the Precision Strike Missile. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2027. Fiscal 2023 and 2024 missile procurement, Army funds in the amount of $59,167,500 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
SEA
13 Dec 24. Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $395,510,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-24-C-2115 for naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by September 2034. Fiscal 2025 National Sea-Based Deterrence funds in the amount of $395,510,000 will be obligated at time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
18 Dec 24. General Dynamics NASSCO, Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $62,596,477 modification to exercise options on a previously awarded contract (N00024-25-C-4427) for USS Porter (DDG-78) Fiscal 2025 Extended Dry-dock Selected Restricted Availability. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by May 2026. Fiscal 2025 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $62,596,477 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
18 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $196,100,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide system design and development activities for common software builds and security and supportability builds in support of the management and maintenance of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System software product baseline and the required system and software documentation to support individual Foreign Military Sales customers capability requirements. Work will be performed in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed in January 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001925D0009).
13 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $73,102,951 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-23-C-5325 to exercise options for MK 41 Vertical Launching System modules and ancillary equipment. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (31%); Indianapolis, Indiana (27%); Saginaw, Michigan (7%); Farmingdale, New York (6%); St. Peters, Missouri (3%); San Jose, California (2%); Radford, Virginia (1%); and various other locations (23%), and is expected to be completed by December 2026. Fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $64,918,773 (88%); fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,180,779 (11%); and fiscal 2024 defense-wide procurement funds in the amount of $3,399 (1%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
13 Dec 24. Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems Inc., Braintree, Massachusetts, is awarded a $83,779,202 firm-fixed-price contract for production of AN/SPS-73(V) Next Generation Surface Search Radar systems. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $420,508,738. Work will be performed in Braintree, Massachusetts (73%); Wake Forest, North Carolina (17%); and Chantilly, Virginia (10%), and is expected to be completed by August 2027. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2031. Fiscal 2024 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $57,778,760 (69%); fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,444,690 (17%); fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,666,814 (10%); and fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,888,938 (4%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(5) (a statute expressly authorizes or requires that the procurement be made through a specified source). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-25-C-4127).
AIR
17 Dec 24. The Boeing Corp., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $54,221,649 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus fixed fee contract modification (P00055) to a previously awarded contract (FA8634-21-C-2702) for the F-15 Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $906,455,846. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas; and St. Louis, Missouri; and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. Fiscal 2023 procurement funds in the amount of $12,665,239; fiscal 2024 procurement funds in the amount of $3,437,629; and fiscal 2025 procurement funds in the amount of $38,118,781, are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
17 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $41,500,000 modification (P00005) to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive (firm-target), cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0001922D0004). This modification increases the contract ceiling to provide material for the ongoing effort for the production of the F-35 logistics information system, which encompasses both the Autonomic Logistics Information System and Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN), as well as Mission Planning Environment (MPE) hardware and associated administrative support to include contract management, planning and readiness reviews and associated non-recurring introduction to service activities in support of fielding the F-35 ODIN, MPE, and components of any future ODIN and MPE retrofits for the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C aircraft in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers, and F-35 Cooperative Program Partners. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (95%); and Fort Worth, Texas (5%), and is expected to be completed in August 2027. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
17 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $78,732,665 modification (P00006) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, level of effort, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0001920D0007). This modification increases the ceiling to provide for the ongoing development, installation, integration, testing, training, and delivery of the F-35 Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) and Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN), to include new capability development and current software modifications. Additionally, this modification continues support for the ALIS-to-ODIN re-architecture endeavor to modernize ALIS in accordance with information technology and software development best practices for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers, and F-35 Cooperative Program Partners. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (95%); and Fort Worth, Texas (5%), and is expected to be completed in December 2026. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
13 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a not-to-exceed $107,043,651 undefinitized, cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N0001925F0120) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001924G0010). This order provides for research and development efforts for trade studies and alternative assessment of all potential power and thermal management solutions, as well as required engine core upgrade block four integration efforts in support of F135 engines upgrades for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sale customers, and F-35 Cooperative Program Partners. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (47%); Torrance, California (13%); El Segundo, California (6%); Blackburn, Great Britain (6%); Cheltenham, Great Britain (6%); Windsor Locks, Connecticut (4%); Haltom City, Texas (4%); South Bend, Indiana (4%); West Hartford, Connecticut (4%); Rockford, Illinois (4%); and Orlando, Florida (2%), and is expected to be completed in December 2026. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $14,371,979; fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,371,978; and F-35 cooperative program partner funds in the amount of $6,401,843, will be obligated at the time of award, $28,743,957 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
18 Dec 24. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $3,459,276,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the engineering and manufacturing development of the E-130J, formerly known as E-XX, Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Weapon System in support of the TACAMO Recapitalization Program for the Navy. This contract provides for the design, development, and integration of mature subsystems, to include Collins Aerospace’s Very Low Frequency into the government-furnished C-130J-30 air vehicle. Additionally, this contract develops and procures integration laboratories, training courseware and devices, product support and initial spares, and test and delivery of three engineering development model aircraft. Finally, the contract directs Collins Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Corp., respectively, to be designated subcontractors to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. to support integration and airworthiness. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (35%); Marietta, Georgia (23%); Richardson, Texas (15%); Largo, Florida (8%); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (6%); Orlando, Florida (2%); Indianapolis, Indiana (2%); Phoenix, Arizonia (1%); Torrance, California (1%); Clearwater, Florida (1%); Fort Wayne, Indiana (1%); San Antonio, Texas (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (4%), and is expected to be completed in December 2034. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $27,000,000; and fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,300,000, will be obligated at the time of award; $9,300,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competed, and two offers were received. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001925C0130).
17 Dec 24. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, is being awarded $175,740,819 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00383-25-F-X90U), under previously awarded contract N00383-20-G-X901, for the procurement of 22 main modules in support of the CH-53K aircraft. This contract contains no options. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and work is expected to be completed by November 2034. Annual working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $86,113,001 will be obligated at the time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.
17 Dec 24. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, is being awarded $132,983,516 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00383-25-F-X90V), under previously awarded contract N00383-20-G-X901, for the procurement of 128 main rotor blade assemblies in support of the CH-53K aircraft. This contract contains no options. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut and work is expected to be completed by October 2032. Annual working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $58,034,838; and Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $7,127,085 will be obligated at the time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.
17 Dec 24. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, is being awarded $111,636,011 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00383-25-F-X90S), under previously awarded contract N00383-20-G-X901, for the procurement of eight helicopter rotor hub assemblies in support of the CH-53K aircraft. This contract contains no options. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and work is expected to be completed by August 2032. Annual working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $54,701,645 will be obligated at the time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.
TECHNOLOGY
17 Dec 24. Charles River Analytics won a $2m Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II contract to integrate innovative human‑AI teaming approaches into Navy operations. Joint User-centered Planning Artificial Intelligence Tools for Effective Mission Reasoning (JUPITER), funded by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), is an AI-based mission planning framework focused on the effective use of AI across Navy workflows and operational contexts.
18 Dec 24. Firestorm Labs, San Diego, California, has been awarded a $100,000,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III decentralized indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for small unmanned aerial systems, support services, and research and development. This contract provides for Firestorm integration into AFWERX Prime Proving Ground; research and development efforts to support Adaptive Air Enterprise, Babbage Flock, and Hale Cluster projects; and to support robotic and autonomy platform for interoperable devices. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 16, 2031. This contract was a sole source acquisition under the SBIR Phase III program. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-25-D-B001).
17 Dec 24. KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been awarded an estimated $88m task order contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. These DoD IAC MAC task orders are awarded by the U.S. Air Force’s 774 Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) repository and the research and development and science and technology community. The work, primarily located at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, will take place over a period of five years. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will promote rapid prototyping of new technologies into unmanned aviation platforms and systems, demonstrating these new technologies in representative and realistic environments, and integrating new technologies into existing platforms. KBR will mature designs into producible and sustainable products.
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
16 Dec 24. The Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D) at the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) announces today (Monday) the completion of a series of cumulative deals with Elbit Systems for the supply of advanced communication systems to the IDF, totaling approximately $130m (about half a bn shekels). The contracts include the supply of thousands of advanced communication systems from the software-defined radio (SDR) family, satellite communication systems, data-links for autonomous platforms, and the expansion of regional maintenance centers operating 24/7 in support of combat forces. Additionally, over the past year, the IMOD’s DDR&D, in collaboration with Elbit Systems and the IDF, has developed innovative solutions for secure and encrypted communication adapted to the evolving needs of IDF units. These contracts are part of a broader strategic initiative led by the Director General of the IMOD, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir, encompassing a series of key procurements designed to strengthen manufacturing independence in Israeli industries and expand local production lines to support the IDF’s current and future operational needs.
11 Dec 24. Indra will continue to expand its operations in the Asian defence market after being awarded a project to supply the Thai Air Force with a long-range Lanza radar, having competed with some of the leading companies in the sector. This radar excels in that it’s extremely reliable; it’s a system that must remain operational at all times to guarantee the surveillance of the airspace entrusted to it. It’s also a system that’s capable of detecting fifth-generation aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones and it’s particularly suited to detecting targets in rainy areas such as Thailand, where other radars may be hindered. The system incorporates the latest algorithms to withstand the adversary’s attempts to interfere with its functioning, as well as the ability to mitigate the effects of wind turbines and solar plants, which cause reflections that can also affect detection. This will be the second radar delivered to the Thai Air Force by Indra. The company has already put a long-range radar of similar characteristics into service, accompanied by an advanced system known as Airdef to monitor the status of the airspace and conduct air missions. (Source: joint-forces.com)
18 Dec 24. Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with propelling charges for 155mm artillery. Rheinmetall has been contracted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence to supply 155mm artillery propellant charge modules. The order, booked in Q4 2024, is worth around €9m. It envisages the delivery of several tens of thousands of 155mm propellant charge modules of various types. They are to be delivered in January 2025. Rheinmetall is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of large-calibre ammunition and propellant systems. In modern artillery, projectiles and propelling charges are loaded separately in order to achieve different ranges. With extensive deliveries and support services for Ukraine, Rheinmetall is now the country’s most important defence industry partner in its defensive struggle against Russian aggression. During the ‘Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024’ in Berlin, the company and Ukraine signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their strategic cooperation. The agreement aims to identify and develop further areas for deeper cooperation between the Ukrainian defence industry and the Düsseldorf-based technology group. Concrete projects in the planning stage include the production of artillery ammunition as well as the delivery and production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. In addition to possible direct deliveries by Rheinmetall, the (re-) industrialisation of national manufacturing know-how is intended to make a significant contribution to Ukraine’s sustainable defence capability.
09 Dec 24. THEON INTERNATIONAL Plc (THEON) today announces a further increase of its order intake in Q4 with the receipt of two additional orders amounting to a total of €47m. The new orders relate to the provision of THEON’s monocular Argus, its binocular NYX and its thermal imaging clip-on system IRIS-C, the latter being continuously receiving praise from end users who started using them in the field. (Source: joint-forces.com)
AIR
17 Dec 24. The ELO2 consortium has beaten AROSE to be tasked with building Australia’s upcoming lunar rover. The group were widely tipped to win after being the first to unveil its prototype late last year and have subsequently created four working versions, one of which was showcased at this year’s Australian Space Summit. The Australian Space Agency granted ELO2 and AROSE $4m last year to design an initial prototype for a rover – later named Roo-ver – that will be developed to explore the Moon’s surface. The winning design will collect lunar regolith, or Moon soil, that will eventually be turned into oxygen to support a permanent NASA base. Regolith can both become oxygen that humans could breathe or aid the production of rocket fuel necessary to support the launch of a rocket from the Moon to Mars and beyond. (Source: Space Connect)
13 Dec 24. The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have formalised an agreement for the acquisition of 12 Su-30MKI aircraft with related systems. The contract has an estimated value of Rs135bn ($1.56bn) inclusive of taxes and duties. The order marks a significant step towards self-reliance in defence under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, with the jets incorporating 62.6% indigenous components, a figure that reflects the increased localization of numerous parts now produced by the Indian defence sector. As part of the contract, HAL’s Nasik division will be responsible for manufacturing these Su-30MKI aircraft and its associated equipment. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
09 Dec 24. Leonardo’s platform protection system has been chosen to protect an Airbus A330 designated for VIP transport by a government customer. The system will be installed by Jet Aviation during VIP completion of the aircraft at its MRO and completion facility. The combination of Miysis DIRCM and MAIR enables the detection, tracking and defeat of multiple incoming missile threats simultaneously. This provides an aircraft with a greater freedom of operation and, with Miysis DIRCM seeing a 100% success rate against all targets in live trials, the peace of mind that it can defend against both modern and legacy infrared missiles. (Source: forces.net)
16 Dec 24. SpearUAV, a leading developer of artificial intelligence (AI) based autonomous aerial weapon systems that are “folded” and launched from a capsule, announced a significant contract award from an un-disclosed customer in the value of $20m. The contract is for the company’s flagship system, VIPER 300, which integrates reconnaissance, target acquisition, and loitering munition capabilities for use by infantry, tanks and other combat platforms. The company is expected to deliver the systems as early as 2025. The VIPER 300 is a groundbreaking system that delivers unprecedented operational flexibility for battalion-level forces. Its revolutionary design allows the airborne system to be easily “folded” into a compact capsule, enabling instant deployment in any combat scenario. Soldiers can launch the system either on foot or from within a combat platform, using advanced AI tools that provide immediate target acquisition capabilities, for precision attack. Operators can activate the system after just a few days of training, requiring no prior experience with unmanned aerial systems.
TECHNOLOGY
18 Dec 24. ELT Group and the Qatar Armed Forces have signed a contract for the delivery of a Unified Electronic Warfare (EW) Centre which will provide the Qatar Armed Forces with state-of-the-art capabilities for EW operations, further enhancing the modernity, maturity and capability of Qatar Armed Force. This contract corresponds to the initial step of a wider project that will be achieved in different phases. ELT Group has been present in Qatar since 2017 with the opening of its commercial office, providing support within many national programs thanks to its portfolio of capabilities in the EMSO domain.
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