CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
23 Oct 07. EADS Defence & Security (DS) is supplying hardware systems and components to the value of €75m for the computer-based command and control system of the German land forces. Defence Electronics (DE), an integrated Business Unit of EADS DS, will supply a total of 520 power supply and air-conditioning units by 2011 for the command and control information system FüInfoSysH (Führungsinformationssystem Heer) of the German Army, allowing the system, installed in a container for mobile application, to maintain operability at all times when being deployed worldwide. The mobile power supply and air-conditioning units are mounted on trailers. In addition, DE will supply 38 extendable containers, which will be operated as a mobile brigade battle management centre.
23 Oct 07. L-3 Communications has been awarded a contract for the Assessment Phase of Project LISTENER for the United Kingdom’s MoD. Project LISTENER integrates sensor products in order to provide actionable intelligence against selected targets and to achieve interoperability between U.K. ISTAR assets and U.S. and Coalition systems and networks. LISTENER leverages the experience of L-3’s Network Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT) program, which networks Command and Control (C(2)) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets to dramatically improve target location accuracy, timeliness and combat identification for the war fighter. The Assessment Phase is a $2m (£1mi), 10-month engineering effort focused on risk reduction and solution definition. L-3 was one of two preferred bidders for this phase of the program. Main Gate approval is expected in 2009 for follow-on demonstration and manufacturing through 2015. The LISTENER capability is expected to remain in service until approximately 2035. (Source: ASD Network)
24 Oct 07. QinetiQ has share of project LISTENER assessment phase contract. QinetiQ, as part of the KAIROS Consortium, which L-3 Communications leads and also includes LogicaCMG, has been awarded a share in a £1M, 10-month MOD contract for the Assessment Phase of Project LISTENER, for risk reduction and solution definition.
SEA
18 Oct 07. Nuclear Deterrent: Future Submarine Programme. The Defence Secretary confirmed (18 Oct 07) that the Future Submarine Programme is required to deliver a new submarine “in around 2024”, which is the forecast date for service entry of the First of Class. The two-year Concept Phase is due to end in 2009 with Initial Gate approval. A seven-year Design Phase is expected to be followed by a seven-year Build Phase and a period of sea trials.
Comment: The service lives of the existing SSBN have been extended so that HMS VANGUARD is due to be decommissioned in 2022, VICTORIOUS in 2024, VIGILANT in 2026 and VENGEANCE in 2029. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0741, 22 Oct 07)
24 Oct 07. U.S. House Panel Approves Frigate, Minehunter Transfers to Turkey. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill to grant to Turkey three decommissioned U.S. military ships and to sell a
fourth to the allied nation at a large discount. The panel passed the bill on a
voice vote. Under the arrangement, the U.S. should transfer to Turkey two Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates and an Osprey-class coastal minehunter. Another coastal minehunter was offered to Turkey at the sale price of nearly $28m. The two frigates, recently decommissioned by the U.S. Navy, are valued at about $125m each, and the Osprey-class minehunters are worth about $130m each, U.S. and Turkish military officials said. (Source: Defense News)
USA
LAND
23 Oct 07. BAE Systems has received a $15m contract to provide thermal imaging sights for the U.S. Army’s Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station II (CROWS) program. Under the five-year contract, which has a potential value of up to $200m, BAE Systems will manufacture and deliver up