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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
LAND
06 Jan 025. Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded a contract worth approximately $60m to supply its multi-layered Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) to a NATO European country. The contract will be performed over a period of 3 years. As part of the contract, Elbit Systems will deliver its ReDrone™ modular Counter-UAS solution. The ReDrone Solution comprises Elbit Systems’ advanced DAiR Radar, SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) sensors, EW (Electronic Warfare) counter measures and EO (Electro-Optical) day/night payload, which provide an enhanced integrated aerial picture along with high-end electronic attack capabilities. The ReDrone modular, multi-sensor, and multi-mission system is part of Elbit’s advanced EW, Radars, and SIGINT portfolio. It provides functionalities beyond common active and passive sensors, enabling the rapid detection and location of multiple drones simultaneously across various communication channels, within the protected area. The system can detect, identify, locate, track and neutralize hostile UAS, during day and night, in both urban and rural environments and under various weather conditions. The solution includes both stationary and mobile configurations, which can be installed on vehicular platforms to enhance operational flexibility. Additionally, it includes advanced C4I (Command and Control) capabilities for comprehensive mission management.
EUROPE
LAND
09 Jan 25. Sweden army to buy tanks for $2bn from KNDS. Sweden’s army will buy tanks from German-French defence equipment maker KNDS for 22bn Swedish crowns ($1.97bn), the Nordic country’s government said on Thursday. The order includes 44 Leopard 2 A8 tanks and upgrades of 66 existing tanks, the government said in a statement. Tank deliveries will begin in 2028 and continue until 2031, according to the government statement. ($1 = 11.1677 Swedish crowns) (Source: Reuters)
06 Jan 25. Raytheon Awarded $946m Contract to Provide Additional Patriot Air Defense Systems to Romania. Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, was awarded a $946 m contract to supply Romania with additional Patriot® air and missile defense systems. The contract includes fire units consisting of radars, control stations and missiles. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Jan 25. The Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver up to 120 rescue stations to the Bundeswehr. The order will be booked in January 2025 and values in a high double-digit million euro range. Delivery of the initial ten ballistic protected and six unprotected systems is scheduled between 2025 and 2027. The contract also includes an option for a further 104 armoured and unarmoured systems, as well as corresponding training for the appropriate personnel. The highly mobile aid-stations are used by the Bundeswehr medical service to provide surgical and internal emergency care for the armed forces. If need be, the systems can be set up and dismantled within the shortest possible time. Each system includes an air conditioning unit, a power generator and an emergency surgery container equipped with the latest medical instruments. The aid-stations are part of the Bundeswehr’s Modular Medical Facilities (MSE) system.
SEA
09 Jan 25. Cohort, the independent technology group’s German subsidiary ELAC has been awarded a contract amendment with a value of €16.4m following the activation of a contractual option. Under the amended contract, ELAC will deliver the sonar system for an additional unit of a new build submarine program for the Italian Navy. The amendment brings the total value of the contract, which was awarded in 2021, to over €100m and covers the supply of sonar systems for a total of four submarines.
AIR
06 Jan 25. Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has secured contract extensions to continue providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for eight Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) and Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) C-130J aircraft. This agreement prolongs Marshall’s longstanding relationships with these air forces, dating back to 1977 with Norway and 1986 with Denmark. Both air forces currently operate four C-130J aircraft, with support jointly negotiated since 2012 through a collaborative procurement process between the Danish and Norwegian defence logistics organisations. The new agreement extends the current contract by two years, with options for further extensions. The eight Hercules C-130J aircraft, operated by the RDAF and RNoAF, will undergo maintenance checks including C, C2 and D checks at Marshall’s Cambridge facility to ensure they remain operationally ready. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
09 Jan 25. Maxar Intelligence, a provider of secure, precise geospatial insights, today announced it was awarded a €13.6m ($14.4m) framework contract by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) for a four-year subscription to Maxar Geospatial Platform (MGP) Pro and associated geospatial products and solutions. Under the competitive framework agreement, Maxar will help the MoD’s Defence Geographic Agency (DGA) and its hundreds of users enrich the agency’s geospatial foundational data and derivative product portfolio in support of its mapping, intelligence and operational support missions. MGP Pro provides on-demand access to the world’s most recent high-accuracy, high-resolution satellite imagery and analytics in a single, powerful platform. In addition to Maxar’s 20-year, 125-petabyte imagery archive, customers receive daily collections—now including WorldView Legion imagery—as well as the ability to task satellites, access 3D data and apply AI and machine learning capabilities for object detection, change monitoring and more. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
TECHNOLOGY
10 Jan 25. HENSOLDT has been awarded a contract by the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative (DLR QCI) for the QUA-SAR research project. The research project aims to optimise complex radar remote sensing scenarios. In the research project, HENSOLDT is working together with the Microwaves and Radar Institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the high-tech start-up Tensor AI Solutions GmbH. The DLR Quantum Computing Initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. Radar remote sensing uses radio waves to collect data about objects or terrain from a distance. Since conditions on the battlefield change in ever shorter cycles, time is an important factor. Radar systems of the future will be multi-platform and multi-sensor networks that must be operational in highly dynamic environments. The best possible distribution of tasks among sensors and sensor networks is becoming a problem that cannot be solved in real time with conventional computers. Quantum computers promise to be able to solve this challenge in the future, which would provide a decisive advantage in the area of radar resource management. By participating in QUA-SAR, HENSOLDT is complementing its ‘Quantum Sensing and Technologies’ technology field, which has existed since the beginning of 2024 and is developing HENSOLDT’s technological orientation in the field of quantum technologies.
USA
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08 Jan 25. Allison Transmission today announced an award of an $80.6m contract supporting the Abrams Main Battle Tank Program for the 2025 program year. Under this new agreement, Allison will provide upgraded and new X1100 cross-drive transmissions, essential for the latest variants of the Abrams tanks used by U.S. Army and Foreign Military Sales customers. This award follows an announcement early last year regarding the 2024 program year. The contract supports transmission demand at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, Ohio, supporting manufacturer of new tanks. Additionally, kits purchased by the Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC) will support overhaul and repair activities at Anniston Army Depot.
06 Jan 25. Avon Technologies plc confirmed that Team Wendy Ceradyne has received a delivery order worth approximately $18m from the Defense Logistics Agency. This order is under the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Integrated Head Protection System (NG IHPS) helmet IDIQ framework contract, originally awarded in September 2021. (Source: ASD Network)
06 Jan 25. Kratos Receives $1.45bn MACH-TB 2.0 Contract Award. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in Defense, National Security and Global Markets, announced today that it has been awarded a five-year OTA contract for the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 under Task Area 1. The total value of this award, if all options are exercised over the five-year period, is $1.45bn. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)) Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) established MACH-TB to support OUSD’s National Hypersonic Initiative 2.0 by creating an affordable flight test bed to rapidly increase hypersonic flight test capacity. MACH-TB 2.0 will provide an affordable bridge between hypersonic ground tests and system level flight tests. This will reduce overall hypersonic development risks and time and provide rapid transition of innovative hypersonic technologies to the warfighter. (Source: ASD Network)
SEA
08 Jan 25. The Navy has awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract to 1,023 businesses in multiple locations across 43 of the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for future competition of support service requirements to be solicited by Department of the Navy activities under Rolling Admissions of the SeaPort Next Generation (SeaPort-NxG) multiple-award contract vehicle. All work under the contracts will fall under two categories (engineering support services and program management support services), which are further divided into 23 functional areas. The government estimates approximately $5,000,000,000 of services will be procured per year via orders issued under the SeaPort-NxG multiple award contracts. These contracts have a four-year period of performance and were competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps), with 1,106 offers received. No contract funds will be obligated on the basic awards. Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-24-R-7000). (Awarded Jan. 2, 2025)
08 Jan 25. General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, was awarded an $83,729,655 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-4312 for efforts related to completion of the USS Hartford (SSN 768) engineered overhaul. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by November 2027. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $81,325,569 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 19, 2024)
08 Jan 25. General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a not-to-exceed $188,000,000 undefinitized contract action modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-2100 for Construction Spares associated with the Virginia Class Block V submarines. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (36%); South Yorkshire, United Kingdom (7%); Westfield, Massachusetts (6%); Staffordshire, United Kingdom (4%); McKeesport, Pennsylvania (3%); Manchester, New Hampshire (3%); Tacoma, Washington (3%); Newport News, Virginia (2%); Warren, Massachusetts (2%); Farmingdale, New York (2%); El Cajon, California (2%); Tucson, Arizona (1%); Chesapeake, Virginia (1%); Tampa, Florida (1%), Portsmouth, New Hampshire (1%); and other locations less than 1% (26%), and is expected to be completed by September 2035. Fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $188,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The statutory authority for this sole source award is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)-only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
08 Jan 25. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, was awarded a $70,971,132 cost-plus-incentive-fee, and cost only modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-5218) to exercise options and provide funding for engineering labor, program management and engineering other direct costs, travel, and material, in support of continued AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship Undersea Warfare Combat System development, integration, manufacture, production, and testing. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (70%); Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania (15%); Syracuse, New York (13%); Clearwater, Florida (1%); and Owego, New York (1%), and is expected to be completed by March 2026. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (69%); and the governments of Japan (16%) and Australia (15%), under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,324,664 (49%); FMS (Japan) funds in the amount of $3,527,937 (16%); FMS (Australia) funds in the amount of $3,120,000 (15%); fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,765,402 (13%); fiscal 2022 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $601,427 (3%); fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $458,480 (2%); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $270,542 (1%); and fiscal 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $83,871 (1%), will be obligated at the time of award, of which $2,765,402 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
08 Jan 25. Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $333,281,489 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed fee contract for Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) full rate production requirements, spares, and round design agent. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $908,144,803. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (74%); Huntsville, Alabama (19%); Andover, Massachusetts (5%); and Dine, New Mexico (2%), and is expected to be completed by October 2027. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2030. Fiscal 2024 weapons procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $333,281,489 was 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)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-25-C-5409). (Awarded Dec. 20, 2024.)
AIR
07 Jan 25. Airbus U.S. Space & Defense Inc., Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $315,043,393 modification (P00171) to contract W58RGZ-22-C-0022 for UH-72 Lakota contractor logistics support and engineering services. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2025. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $85,621,324 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 30, 2024)
08 Jan 25. DoD Awards Anduril $14.3m to Expand Sources of Solid Rocket Motors. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has announced a $14.3m award to Anduril Industries, Inc. (Anduril) in Costa Mesa, California, via Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA). This funding builds on Anduril’s substantial $75m private capital investment and supports the 2024 National Defense Industrial Strategy’s objective to bolster supply chain resiliency and increase domestic production in strategic priority areas. This DPA Title III funding will support Anduril’s capabilities to modernize and expand its SRM production by modifying existing production facilities and improving the manufacturing processes by which it produces SRMs. Anduril’s energetics work, casting, curing, quality assurance, and final assembly activities will occur at the Geisler Building at the company’s facility in McHenry, Mississippi. This strategic initiative aims to enhance Anduril’s current ability to take on new development and qualification work, as well as deliver critical munitions at scale to the warfighter. This is one of five awards made by the DPA Purchases Office across multiple areas totaling $290.8m since the beginning of fiscal year 2025. The DPA Purchases Office is overseen by the MCEIP directorate. (Source: glstrade.com
08 Jan 25. BlueHalo has secured a contract by the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC) for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) electronic warfare (EW) sensor systems. This $49.9m contract, which involves a five-year commitment, mandates BlueHalo to supply the US Navy and the US Special Operations Command hardware, materials, and components, along with engineering services. It also encompasses the integration and operational support for Modular Payload compliant EW sensors used on various UAS. The contract outlines BlueHalo’s responsibilities to design, enhance, test, deliver, and assess complex sensor systems, ensuring their effective integration into different UAS platforms. (Source: naval-technology.com)
06 Jan 25. The Boeing Corp., St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded a ceiling $615,760,630 fixed-price incentive (firm-target), cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-reimbursable contract for the F-15 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System full rate production. This contract provides for procurement of Group A and Group B kits, system engineering program management, and interim contractor support lay-in material. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri; and Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2030. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2023 procurement funds in the amount of $17,693,983; fiscal 2024 procurement funds in the amount of $87,057,897; and fiscal 2025 procurement funds in the amount of $157,466,347, are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8634-25-C-B002).
09 Jan 25. The US Air Force has awarded Firestorm Labs a $100m contract for its small unmanned aerial systems. The project calls for the California-based company to deliver its flagship drones, associated support services, and research and development work for multiple applications. Firestorm currently offers the Tempest 50, a platform manufactured through the use of proprietary 3D printers called xCell, which could enable the rapid production of drone parts at a temporary location near a warzone. According to an update from the Pentagon, the deal will cover the integration of the drones into the US Air Force’s innovation arm AFWERX at Eglin AFB in Florida. It will also support the Adaptive Air Enterprise, Hale Cluster, and Babbage Flock initiatives, which are military and federal projects that utilize drone swarms. Additionally, the contract will be employed for activities related to “robotic and autonomy platforms for interoperable devices.” Firestorm will run associated works in San Diego, with an expected completion date of December 2031. (Source: UAS VISION)
07 Jan 25. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) has received a contract from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to design concepts for Phase 0 of the Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) program. The R-GPS program is a procurement of cost-effective small satellites that will augment the existing 31-satellite GPS constellation providing resilience to military and civil GPS users. Space Force plans to produce and launch up to eight satellites to address jamming, spoofing and more permanent disruptions. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Jan 25. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $678,442,004 modification (P00009) to a cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price order (N0001923F0002) against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N0001919G0008). This modification adds scope to procure various material modification kits, special test/tooling equipment, and associated seed assets to support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft retrofit and modification efforts for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) F-35 program partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2028. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $163,792,190; fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $163,078,071; fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $22,586,072; fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $20,809,905; non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $281,331,708; and FMS funds in the amount of $26,844,058, will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The order and contract being modified were not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
07 Jan 25. US Navy Awards $3.5bn Contract to NGC to Develop Successor to E-6B Mercury Aircraft. The U.S. Navy announced today that it has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $3.5 bn contract to conduct the mission-systems integration for the E-130J, which will be the successor to the E-6B Mercury for the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman of Melbourne, Florida, will serve as the prime contractor to integrate TACAMO mission systems, including the Collins Aerospace Very Low Frequency system, into government-furnished C-130J-30 air vehicles built by Lockheed Martin Corp. The contract is for three Engineering Development Models (EDMs) and options for up to three System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTAs) and up to six aircraft in the first lot of production. Collins Aerospace and Lockheed Martin are directed subcontractors to support the integration and airworthiness. (Source: ASD Network)
06 Jan 25. X-Bow to Receive Additional Funding for Expansion of DoD Contract for Hypersonic Solid Rocket Motor Development. The increase is an addition to the $64m awarded to X-Bow in 2023 to expand production capacity of the solid rocket motor industrial base. X-Bow Systems Inc. (X-Bow), a leading non-traditional producer of advanced solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, today announced the expansion of its contract to provide large solid rocket motors (SRM) to the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army. This increase reinforces X-Bow as a new supplier of SRMs and strengthens the Defense Department supply chain in a critical period for the United States. Following the increase, X-Bow hosted Ms. Adele Ratcliff, Director of the DoD’s Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office, at our expanding Texas campus on December 3, 2024. Ms. Ratcliff leads the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, crucial for fortifying the U.S. defense industry and fostering emerging sectors like advanced manufacturing to ensure rapid response to national security needs. (Source: ASD Network)
TECHNOLOGY
07 Jan 25. BAE Awarded $347m NERVE Contract from NGA to Modernize and Sustain GEOINT Library. Upgrade to cloud-based data services enables fast data dissemination for DOD and Intelligence Community. In 2024, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) awarded BAE Systems a five-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity $347 m contract for NERVE, the National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) Enterprise Repository and Virtual Environment program. NERVE will modernize the NSG Consolidated Library (NCL), which includes expanding it from a physical data center to cloud-based data services. The NCL is a centralized operational and systems framework that hosts geospatial intelligence (GEOINT). NERVE will take capabilities that have been on premise at physical locations and migrate them to a modern cloud-based software architecture. Regardless of location, this will enable NGA analysts to receive and make sense of vast amounts of information faster. NERVE will also provide new GEOINT capabilities and integrate sensors into the cloud-based content management system. (Source: ASD Network)
06 Jan 25. Commerce Dept. Awards Semiconductor Research Corporation Manufacturing Consortium Corporation $285m for New CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institute for Digital Twins, Headquartered in North Carolina. The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that CHIPS for America has awarded the Semiconductor Research Corporation Manufacturing Consortium Corporation (SRC) $285 m to establish and operate a CHIPS Manufacturing USA institute headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. This follows the previously announced intent to enter negotiations on November 19, 2024. With a combined total investment of over $1 bn, the new institute, known as SMART USA (Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA) will focus on efforts to more rapidly develop, validate, and use digital twins to improve domestic semiconductor design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, assembly, and test processes. Digital twins are virtual models that replicate physical objects, like chips or machinery. Engineers and researchers use these virtual models to design, develop, and test processes, or entire supply chains digitally before deploying them in real life. By developing new technologies virtually before physically building them, engineers and researchers can iterate on design changes faster and test them in a simulated environment. Digital twin-based research can also leverage emerging technology like artificial intelligence to optimize chip design, improve production efficiency, and lower costs by streamlining operations and reducing the need for costly adjustments. SMART USA and its planned members span more than 30 states, with more than 150 expected partner entities representing industry, academia, and the full spectrum of supply chain design and manufacturing. Collaborators also include ten national laboratories, five Manufacturing USA institutes, five economic development agencies, and four trade and union groups. The CHIPS Manufacturing USA institute will join an existing network of seventeen institutes designed to increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and promote a robust R&D infrastructure. (Source: glstrade.com)
06 Jan 25. QinetiQ US Awarded $31.5m Task Order to Support US Army PEO IEW&S with Sensor and System Interoperability with ISA. Task order continues QinetiQ US’ role in supporting the U.S. Army Integration Directorate at Program Executive Office (PEO) Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (IEW&S) for Army interoperability with the Integrated Sensor Architecture. QinetiQ US has been awarded a 5-year, $31.5m task order supporting the U.S. Army Program Executive Office (PEO) Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (IEW&S). This task order continues the design, development and integration activities for the Integrated Sensor Architecture (ISA) program, which aims to help support data sharing of sensors seamlessly across battlefield networks. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Jan 25. South 8 Technologies (South 8), the developer of LiGas®, a liquefied gas electrolyte for advanced lithium-ion batteries, announced today that the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center has awarded a $1.6m contract to a team of companies led by South 8 to demonstrate standardized lithium-ion battery packs for defense applications. South 8 is partnering with a battery cell manufacturer and a leading vendor of battery packs to deliver prototypes that will offer a broad operating temperature range and high performance in extreme cold environments to the U.S. Army. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
08 Jan 25. Verizon to enhance 5G and/or 4G LTE networks at 35 USAF bases. The upgrades are set to offer higher speeds, greater bandwidth, and reduced latency. The US Air Force (USAF) has chosen Verizon Business to implement 5G and 4G LTE network improvements across 35 installations within the nation. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
07 Jan 25. The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) announced today (Tuesday) the signing of two major defense capability agreements with Elbit System, totaling approximately NIS 1bn. The agreements were signed by IMOD Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir and Elbit Systems President & CEO Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis in a signing ceremony. These strategic agreements are crucial for enhancing the IDF’s operational endurance and force build-up capabilities. They represent a central lesson learned from the war and were implemented following thorough staff work under the direction of the IMOD’s Director General. Under the first agreement, led by IMOD’s Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD), Elbit Systems will supply the IMOD with thousands of heavy air munitions. The second agreement, led by IMOD’s Planning Department and Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), includes establishing a national raw materials plant to produce raw materials that were sourced mainly from abroad before the war. The new facility will feature advanced production lines for energetic materials that Israel’s defense industry uses. This project is expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing independence and reduce reliance on imported raw materials.
06 Jan 25. Rheinmetall delivers 35mm-ammunition for anti-aircraft gun Gepard to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver additional 35mm ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft gun. The new order comprises 180,000 rounds of HEI-T ammunition (High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer) and was booked in December of 2024. The order value is in the high double-digit m euro range and is being funded by Germany. Already in February of 2023, Rheinmetall received an order to supply 300,000 rounds of Gepard ammunition to Ukraine. The ordered ammunition can be used to effectively re-fight various airborne targets, such as drones. It will be produced at Rheinmetall’s site in Unterlüß. Due to the increased demand for 35mm ammunition, the production line at the site was rebuilt at great expense in a very short time in the spring of 2023. Until today, the Federal Republic of Germany has handed over a total of 55 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine, which had been decommissioned by the Bundeswehr. There, they have proven their value in air defense for more than two years. Rheinmetall has also supplied the attacked country with various state-of-the-art air defense systems such as Skynex, using the programmable AHEAD airburst ammunition. Internationally seen, the company is one of the leading manufacturers of complex air defence weapon systems. Rheinmetall is the world’s leading maker of cannon-based air defence systems, and the sole supplier of a full range of fire control systems, protected and integrated guided missile launchers. The portfolio is completed by air surveillance systems and radar technology with search and detection radars.
08 Jan 25. Thales – 40 new Bushmasters to secure 250 Aussie jobs. Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy has announced the government will build more than 40 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles as part of a $100m contract. Thales Australia will manufacture the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMV) in Bendigo, Victoria, continuing the city’s proud tradition of producing these iconic vehicles for over 20 years. Renowned for their robust design and battlefield effectiveness, Bushmasters have served in operations worldwide, providing life-saving protection for troops in diverse combat environments. The latest production contract, valued at over $100m, will not only bolster the Australian Army’s capabilities but also support hundreds of local jobs in Bendigo and stimulate economic activity across Victoria’s supply chain. (Source: Defence Connect)
SEA
04 Jan 25. RTX – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes. The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $78.5m. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy twenty (20) MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedo (LWT) all up rounds. The following non-MDE items will also be included: MK 54 MOD 0 LWT spare parts; MK 54 Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP); handling shapes and containers; training; publications; support and test equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total program cost is $78.5m. The principal contractor will be RTX Integrated Defense Systems, located in Portsmouth, RI. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this sale will require travel of up to two U.S. Government or up to two contractor representatives to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a temporary basis for program technical support and management oversight. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
08 Jan 25. Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc., Sacramento, California, was awarded a $59,338,010 modification (P00008) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N0001923C0021). This modification exercises options to procure full rate production Lot Six of the BQM-177A Subsonics Aerial Targets system to include 65 BQM-177A targets, 65 Rocket-Assisted Takeoff (RATO) attachment kits, three replacement in kind (RIK) BQM-177A targets, and three RIK RATO attachment kits for the Navy; and two BQM-177A targets and two RATO attachment kits for the Republic of Korea to support weapons system test and evaluation and fleet training. Work will be performed in Sacramento, California (50%); Dallas, Texas (20%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (5%); Blacksburg, Virginia (4%); Santa Ana, California (2%); Newton, Kansas (2%); Concord, California (2%); Milwaukie, Oregon (2%); Chatsworth, California (2%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (11%), and is expected to be completed in July 2027. Fiscal 2025 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $55,099,581; fiscal 2023 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,543,057; and Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $1,695,372, will be obligated at the time of award, of which $2,543,057 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract being modified was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
09 Jan 25. QinetiQ Target Systems (QTS) Canada has been awarded a follow-on sole-sourced contract to provide uncrewed aerial target (UAV-T) support services to the United States Government (USG) through Prime Contractor, Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC). This five-year contract, with a value of USD 13.3m, came into effect last month and will continue until late 2029, with a provision for a six-month extension. The contract, awarded in partnership with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), marks the sixth consecutive framework agreement awarded to QinetiQ’s Medicine Hat Facility for their Vindicator II Support Services. It stands as the largest provision of QinetiQ’s uncrewed aerial support services at USG Ranges in SNI, California, and Dam Neck, Virginia. The successful acquisition of this contract ensures that the United States Navy (USN) can continue to utilise QTS services, providing a reliable training platform and ongoing access to the Vindicator II as a pre-qualified target for use at US ranges. The Vindicator II has been in service for over six consecutive contract renewals, offering a cost-effective and high-quality option compared to others on the market, and has proven to be an effective platform for their training needs. Under this contract, personnel from Canada will be deployed, providing services similar to the Banshee operations offered globally but with modified equipment tailored to meet the USN’s specific operational requirements. This framework agreement highlights QinetiQ’s commitment to delivering high-quality training and support services tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clients. The collaborative nature of this agreement showcases QinetiQ’s innovative approach and emphasises its responsiveness to the evolving requirements of the industry. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Jan 25. The Japanese cabinet has approved the purchase of six V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicles as part of the defense budget proposal for fiscal 2025. An amount of 4bn yen ($25m) has been allocated for the purchase to enhance the surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s surface vessels. The Shield AI vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones will be deployed on the service’s patrol vessels planned for acquisition, according to The Diplomat. Meanwhile, Tokyo approved 8.7 trn yen ($55.1bn) in defense spending for the next fiscal year on Friday, a rise of 9.4 percent, or $4.8bn, compared to the current fiscal year. It marks record high defense spending for 11 years in a row as Tokyo continues its defense buildup against expanding Chinese military capability. (Source: UAS VISION/The Defense Post)
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