EUROPE
LAND
21 Jun 06. BAE Systems Hägglunds has received an order from the Defence Materiel Administration for an additional 52 Bv206S armoured all terrain vehicles. The order, which includes an option to acquire additional vehicles, is valued at approximately Swedish Kronor 250m. Upon completion of the contract, the Swedish Armed Forces’ fleet will contain 93 Bv206S vehicles.
20 Jun 06. The MOD awarded ABSL Power Solutions Ltd (ABSL) and QinetiQ Ltd (QinetiQ) a contract to mature technology for the next generation of portable power systems. The contract, worth up to £5m was awarded for up to three years, follows an open competition under the UK MOD’s Technology in the Supplier Base (Output 6) research programme and will be managed within the Dismounted Close Combat Integrated Project Team (DCC IPT). The Portable Power Systems research, placed as a Prime contract with ABSL, will involve the ABSL/QinetiQ team in the evaluation of a broad range of candidate technology solutions. Following a structured down-selection, the project team will mature two portable power systems to a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL7). A further technology option for proof of concept at a lower Technology Readiness Level (TRL3) will also be investigated. The TRL7 technologies will inform two emerging equipment requirements. The first for a man-portable infantry power supply that should deliver dramatic improvements in energy density to support future modern soldier system requirements for the UK MOD. The second is for a large, high power system to meet the envisaged requirements for other equipment.
SEA
22 Jun 06. Portsmouth-based naval support company Fleet Support Limited (FSL) has started work on the latest Royal Navy Type 23 frigate to enter its facilities for maintenance. The docking of the Plymouth-based HMS Portland heralds a five-month programme to upgrade the 1999-built ship that will keep some 150 FSL personnel busy throughout the summer. The enhancement package includes a complete upgrade of the ship’s aviation facilities that will enable her to operate the Merlin helicopter, and the fitting of the Surface Ship Torpedo Defence suite, improving her employability around the world. This is coupled with extensive refurbishment work of both her hull and living accommodation, which should see her safely through to her first refit in 2011.
22 Jun 06. The Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC) has won a $140m USD (£75m) contract from AgustaWestland to supply the CTS800-4 turboshaft engine for the British Armed Forces’ Future Lynx helicopter.
AIR
22 Jun 06. AgustaWestland Awarded Future Lynx Contract. AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce the award of a contract by the UK MoD for 70 Future Lynx helicopters. The programme valued at just under £1bn will provide the British Army and Royal Navy with 40 and 30 Future Lynx helicopters respectively. An option has also been placed for a further 10 aircraft split equally between the Army and Royal Navy. The contract award was announced today by Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Procurement, and is the first contract to be awarded under the Strategic Partnering Arrangement between the MoD and AgustaWestland, which was also signed today.
USA
LAND
22 Jun 06. DRS Technologies, Inc. has received a $14m order to produce next-generation lightweight Thermal Weapon Sights (TWS II) for U.S. Army ground force applications. DRS received the new order from the U.S. Army’s Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, acting on behalf of Program Executive Office Soldier. For this award, DRS will produce Light Thermal Weapon Sights and Thermal Imaging Modules (TIMs), which will utilize the
company’s uncooled infrared technology. Work for this contract will be
accomplished by the company’s DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems – Optronics Division in Palm Bay and Melbourne, Florida, and Infrared Technologies Division in