EUROPE
LAND
Apr 06. The UK MoD SUV IPT has signed a letter of intent to purchase approximately 70 Vector armoured Pinzgauer Patrol Vehicles for use in Afghanistan from AutomotiveTechnik Ltd a Stewart & Stevenson subsidiary. The vehicles will be armoured with ceramic armour from Paremali.
26 Apr 06. Medical Services: Contractors Sought. The Defence Contracts Bulletin states that the MoD “aims to enhance its medical capability in operational environments by utilising civilian medical expertise provided by contractors”. A four-year enabling contract is expected to start on 1 Apr 07. ‘Expressions of interest’ are required by 15 May 06. Comment: The notice in the Bulletin makes it clear that a wide range of medical skills is required and that “operational environments” is likely to mean Iraq. Given the chronic shortage of personnel in the Defence Medical Services, the above move has an air of desperation. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0617, 01 May 06)
Apr 06. DML has won a contact from the MoD for engineering work on the HMT 6x6x vehicle.
03 May 06. QinetiQ to lead €6.5m European microsystems initiative. INTEGRAMplus offers design, prototyping and manufacturing expertise in highly integrated Microsystems. A three year €6.5m programme funded by the European Commission and aimed at reducing the costs and risks associated with designing, prototyping and manufacturing integrated microsystems has been launched. Known as INTEGRAMplus, this new project will be co-ordinated by the UK’s QinetiQ and draw on the complementary expertise and facilities of ten partners from seven different European countries. The use of microsystems, devices with very small components, is growing in a number of emerging markets, such as communications, biomedical, healthcare, and environmental and security monitoring. These systems often require high levels of complexity, performing a combination of mechanical, electrical, optical, biological and fluidic functions. However, this complexity cannot be provided in a cost-effective way by current single material technologies (i.e. by systems using solely silicon, polymer or glass). INTEGRAMplus will therefore adopt a multi-technology approach, combining silicon with one or more other materials, to provide the required integrated functions.
INTEGRAMplus will initially focus on integrating silicon-based MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) components with polymer backplanes and platforms. Three proof-of-concept demonstrator components will be developed and will include a bio-diagnostics sensor based on customer requirements. These requirements will be determined through an extensive survey of end-users in the healthcare market.
SEA
26 Apr 06. DCN, the French military shipbuilder, is to put in its third tender this Friday to build six Barracuda nuclear attack submarines, one of the major defence contracts funded by the arms procurement agency (DGA). DCN has reduced the price of its tender at the request of the agency, and is now reportedly proposing an envelope of 6bn euros excluding tax. (Source: Abstracted from Les Echos/FT.com)
AIR
03 May 06. Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) confirmed that Rolls-Royce Defense North America will continue to supply the propulsion systems for the C-27J Spartan for the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) Program. The GMAS team consists of Finmeccanica’s Alenia North America, Inc., L-3 Integrated Systems, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. (Source: FT.com)
04 May 06. Thales has been awarded a contract with the Norwegian Defence Procurement Division to deliver and support a new tactical communications system for network based Command & Control (MIDS/Link 16) to the Norwegian Armed Forces. The contract worth more than 19M€ (160MNOK) will allow the Norwegian Armed Forces to perform integrated joint operations in real-time between military units.
04 May 06. As part of its Helicopter Electro Actuation Techn