CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
12 Mar 08. Following Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic, Luxembourg is now the fifth user state to place its trust in DINGO 2 patrol and security vehicles from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann for the protection of its soldiers on missions abroad. The armed forces of Luxembourg, whose soldiers are deployed in the context of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, among other places, are acquiring 48 DINGO 2 through NAMSA (the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency) for their two reconnaisance companies. NAMSA is the logistics services organisation of all the NATO states. It ensures that all the weapons systems that are used by several member states can be purchased efficiently and cost-effectively. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann will be delivering the 48 vehicles to Luxembourg’s armed forces in 2009 und 2010.
10 Mar 08. Lockheed Martin has signed a five year, £24.5m partnering contract with the Ministry of Defence to operate and maintain the Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT). A team comprised of Lockheed Martin UK – Simulation, Training & Support (STS) and BAE Systems, will be responsible for CATT Training Services, managing the simulators and related facilities to ensure training is available for forces in both the UK and Sennelager, Germany. Lockheed Martin originally designed and built the simulator in 2002.
10 Mar 08. Thales selected as prime contractor for Luxembourg Army tactical reconnaissance capability. The Protected Recce Vehicle (PRV) contract calls for delivery of a tactical reconnaissance capability integrated with KMW Dingo 2 vehicles for the Luxembourg Army. The Luxembourg Ministry of Defence mandated the NATO Maintenance & Supply Agency (NAMSA) to conduct the competitive procurement procedure for this programme. Prime contractor responsibility was awarded to Thales. The company will deliver 48 vehicles by the end of 2010.
The PRV contract will provide the Luxembourg military with a tactical reconnaissance capability that is particularly well suited to allied operations. Key requirements include the interoperability of the solution under development, combined with mobility, protection and observation capabilities.
Thales drew on its high-level expertise in complex systems for land forces and key references in vehicle systems to propose an integrated and scalable solution that meets the stringent operational performance criteria of the Luxembourg Army. The company’s know-how in interoperability and proven ability to manage programmes to short deadlines were also decisive factors in the final selection.
SEA
Mar 08. Wireless Fibre Systems is developing technology which is set to revolutionise underwater wireless communications, with £560,000 funding from the Department of Trade and Industry-led Technology Programme. Wireless Fibre Systems, will lead a £1.1m, two-year research project to develop the wireless equipment which will be invaluable for oceanographic and environmental monitoring and increasing safety through improved communications for oil and gas industry workers. The ‘underwater radio’ works like a wireless modem and can be used to transmit data to and from unmanned machinery in deep sea and also help divers to ‘talk’ underwater, where previously only hand signals were possible.
AIR
10 Mar 08. CAE has been awarded contracts by Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)and the German procurement office Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung(BWB) with a combined contract value of more than C$66m. The contract with Singapore’s DSTA is for the design and manufacture of
S-70B Seahawk and AS332 Super Puma helicopter simulators for the Republic of
Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
USA
LAND
10 Mar 08. Curtiss-Wright Controls Inc. has received a contract from Northrop Grumman to provide subsystems for use in the US Marine Corps’ Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) Program. The initial phase of the contract is valued at $4.3m.