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12 Jun 06. Barco has been selected by Thales Optronics, Guyancourt, France, for the supply of 200 10-inch vetronics displays to be used inside the VBL (Véhicule Blindé Léger) armored vehicles of the French army. Operators of the VBL vehicle will use Barco’s displays for observation and reconnaissance purposes. The contract fits into the VBL SOURCE program (Véhicule Blindé Léger doté d’un Système Optronique Unique de Renseignement), which provides for a complete upgrade of the vehicle’s electro-optical observation and detection system.
12 Jun 06. The Swiss defence procurement agency (armassuisse) has awarded Thales a contract for procurement of a new-generation high-frequency (HF) tactical transit and access communication system. Based on the HF radio generation latest-technology developed for MELCHIOR* (TRC 3700), SE240 will incorporate updated protocols and waveforms compliant with NATO standards. The system will provide highly secure voice, high rate data and messaging services. Original “on the move” HF antenna system will allow reliable valley-to-valley transmission. This complete long-range communications system will complement efficiently the VHF PR4G combat net radio already in service in the Swiss Armed Forces.
12 Jun 06. Saab awarded initial $20.2m delivery order for Camouflage under a potential $1.8bn 10 year contract. Saab Barracuda LLC announced today the award of a $20.2 million delivery order by the U.S. Army to continue production of the company’s Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net System (ULCANS). This is the first award in a potential $1.8bn, 10-year program, for only to contenders of which Saab ambition is to receive more than half the share. The contract is managed by the Army’s Communications and Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth, N.J.
12 Jun 06. Two Polish and one Czech consortium are competing in a tender organised by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for 12 fuel bases. The total value of the tender is over ZL400m. The National Defence Ministry’s NATO Investment Office has already attempted to organised the tender once, but it was blocked by protests from German companies. At this point, the first tender concerning fuel bases in Malbork and Cybowo is underway, with Poland’s Hydrobudowa 6 and PBG Wysogotowo, as well as a Czech consortium, the main bidders. NATO has already approved investment plans for ZL2.3 billion for facilities that will be built in Poland. “NATO is wrapping up its large construction projects, not only in Poland. Now it is time to equip these installations with electronic installations,” says Lieutenant Colonel Tadeusz Lazur, Poland’s representative on the NATO Infrastructure Commission in Brussels. – Former PKN Orlen Managers Tied to Fraud. Two former management board members of PKN Orlen, as well as one supervisory board member, will be accused of acting to the detriment of the company and the State Treasury. The managers allowed Jerzy Krystaniak, accused of fraud, to use PKN Orlen subsidiary Ship Service as a base for operations. Krystaniak transferred money out of the firm without the consent of Orlen’s managers, who were supposed to oversee his actions. PKN Orlen controls Ship Service partly thanks to purchasing shares from Krystaniak and partly thanks to a ZL18m capital increase. It appears now that the original transaction was also illegal, as the shares sold by Krystaniak were under bailiff’s control, due to his debts to Marek Lis. Prosecutors believe the managers were aware of the fraud and allowed it to happen. At the moment, PKN Orlen is trying to sell its stake in the controversial firm. (Source: FT)
12 Jun 06. Ultra to upgrade Warrior. The Electrics business of Ultra Electronics (Stand N17/18) has announced that it has won a contract for the integrated Battery Monitoring System as part of an upgrade of the British Army’s Warrior infantry fighting vehicles. The initial contract is for 132 systems to satisfy an immediate requireme