EUROPE
LAND
06 Mar 07. iRobot Corp. received an order of more than $2.8m for 22 additional iRobot PackBot(r) EOD robots and spare parts from the German Bundeswehr (Federal Defense Force). This is the second order from the German Federal Defense Force, which last year purchased 18 iRobot robots and has now exercised an option for 22 additional robots. These bomb-disposal robots will be used by German forces to identify and dispose of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as part of the country’s efforts to combat terrorism. iRobot expects to deliver the robots in Q2 2007. The German Federal Defense Force first ordered PackBot EOD robots after conducting a competitive market search followed by an intensive 18-month test. During user training, participating soldiers reported they were impressed by PackBot’s lightweight design, ease of use, speed, sensitivity and maneuverability. The successful training was one of the reasons for exercising this follow-on order. (Source: ASD Network)
02 Mar 07. QinetiQ receives £7m contract extension from Defence Fuels Group. QinetiQ has secured a two-year contract extension worth £7m to continue the provision of technical support to the MOD’s Defence Fuels Group (DFG) for fuels and lubricants. The core of the contract is to provide, through a team of industry recognised experts, consultancy and support to the MOD on all matters relating to fuels, lubricants and their use, including laboratory analysis of samples to ensure the military’s fuel is fit for use. A dedicated 24/7 call-out service is also part of the service provision, to instigate defect investigations and provide immediate operational support. In addition to providing support for current in-service fuels and lubricants, the QinetiQ team will assist the MOD in developing policy for the sustainable use of fuel and undertake research into the future use of fuels within the military, including bio-fuels, synthetic fuels and fuels for special applications
06 Mar 07. Within the scope of the Armament Program 06, armasuisse has assigned Thales Suisse, as prime contractor with Amper Programas as subcontractor for the software part, the delivery of the command, control & information system of the Swiss Land Forces, FIS HE. After the successful completion of the FIS HE Testbeds in the years 2004 to 2006, the series procurement is the next step to the introduction of this system in the Swiss Army, that will take place in the years 2009 to 2011. The mission scope of the army demands that the Land Forces must cover all kinds of missions, also beyond their own core capabilities, from the support of the civil authorities to the defence of the country. The ability of network enabled operations is a must in order to be able to fulfil the whole scope of assignments. Network enabled operations are based on a solid information- and communication structure with the objective to achieve command superiority and fast actions by means of a common recognized picture. As part of the network enabled operations the command, control & information system of the Land Forces, together with other already introduced systems, manages on all levels the necessary prerequisite in order to more efficiently support the decision process. Due to the fact that an area-wide introduction with a complex system as the FIS HE is not practical, a permanent build-up of know-how can take place further on. As prime contractor Thales Suisse bears the system responsibility for the FIS HE, which foresees in a first step the equipment of parts of the task force until brigade level. Further upgrading steps are planned with future armament programs.
SEA
02 Mar 07. EADS Defence & Security Systems (DS) will equip German naval vessels off the Lebanon’s coast with identification systems, which will help to avoid confrontations with unknown aircraft. The so-called IFF systems (IFF = Identification Friend or Foe) work on the basis of state-of-the-art digital and encryption technol