CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
09 Apr 08. On April 8, 2008, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom of 157 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $125m. The Government of the United Kingdom has requested a possible sale of 157 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category I 4X4 Cougar vehicles, tools and test equipment, maintenance support, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, support equipment, spare and repair parts, and other related elements of logistics support. The vehicle concerned is the Cougar from Force Protection Industries being procured under the Ridgback Requirement by the SUV IPT.
11 Apr 08. Marshal Specialist Vehicles (MSV) the Cambridge UK Specialist Vehicle and Shelter manufacturer has delivered a second mobile field hospital to the Norwegian Defence Logistic Organization (NDLO). The hospital, the second of three was delivered 5 months earlier than originally planned to meet the Norwegians urgent requirements. The total contract value for the three hospitals, through life capability management (TLCM) and customer support over three years is in excess of £22m. The hospital, which has been built to conform to full Norwegian and UK NHS standards, offers all the facilities expected in a fully fledged district hospital with full facility such as CAT scan, X-ray, pharmacy, medical gas provision. The basic core of the hospital has full operating theatre and casualty treatment facilities and comes with 16 acute care beds. Additional wards with additional beds for other sick and wounded can be added as required.
10 Mar 08. Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT): Support Contract. Lockheed Martin UK announced (10 Mar 08) contract signature with the MoD to operate and maintain the CATT. The £24.5m contract is for five years and covers training in both Germany and in the UK.
Comment: On 3 Jul 02, Lockheed Martin UK was able to announce that the CATT had been “delivered successfully to the British Army”. The £250m simulator is located in two purpose-built halls; one at Sennelager and the other at The School of Infantry, Warminster. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0814, 07 Apr 08)
10 Apr 08. Irish Defence Force buy DefenCell. J & S Franklin are pleased to announce that the Irish Defence Force have purchased DefenCell Force Protection Systems for operational deployment with their forces as part of the UN mandated, EU-led peacekeeping mission to Chad. DefenCell will be used to build 400m of 2.5m high blast mitigation wall protecting vital ammunition stores. DefenCell was chosen over other systems because of its low logistical footprint and as there is no danger from secondary shrapnel. It is the complete lack of a metallic content that negates the danger of shrapnel and means that the system is much lighter and more compact both in terms of size and weight, (one 40′ container will provide well over 1km of wall, 2m wide and 2m high, or 2.5 km of 1.25m wide, 1.50m high). This means it is up to 10 times lighter than other systems per m3 wall and takes up to five times less transport volume, a vital feature for operations in remote areas. DefenCell is air-droppable and man portable and the non-metallic structure means it can be pushed off the back of a lorry with no risk of damage it also means there is no RF or communications interference. The order was completed and delivered to Ireland within 10 days to meet urgent shipping requirements.
08 Apr 08. Thales wins major UK MoD IT contract. Ministry of Defence (MoD) movers will enjoy for the first time, real-time access and management of flight bookings across the Royal Air Force (RAF) fleet wherever they are in the world, due to a new IT application developed by Thales UK. The new ‘Swift2Move’ application meets the UK MoD’s Air M