CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
16 Jun 08. FLIR Systems, Inc. has received an order from Saab Bofors Dynamics for more than 100 units of Bill Infra-Red Camera (BIRC), the company’s clip-on thermal sight. The systems delivered under this order will be integrated into BILL 2 anti-tank missile system. FLIR Systems assisted in the original design of the BILL anti-tank missile system and has since developed and delivered three generations of thermal imaging clip-on sights to Saab Bofors Dynamics, formerly Bofors. BIRC provides night vision capability, using a cooled quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) that operates in the long wave infrared band. In addition, the sight makes for quick and easy mounting and dismounting of the thermal imager on the day sight, without any adjustment. BIRC is ideal for operations in all climates and can be either troop or vehicle deployed.
18 Jun 08. Harris Corporation has been awarded a $15m contract to supply the Polish Ministry of National Defense with tactical communications equipment and
accessories. Harris will provide Falcon II(R) RF-5800H and RF-5800M manpack radios, vehicular installations, accessories and spare parts to the Combat Net Radio program of the Polish Armed Forces. The contract from the Ministry of National Defense was awarded through Military Communications Works (MCW) No 2 (Wojskowe Zaklady Lacznosci Nr 2), located in Czernica, Poland.
SEA
17 Jun 08. The Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth is to get a boost to her top speed in a £9m overhaul to be carried out by Babcock Marine at Rosyth in Scotland, Defence Minister, Baroness Taylor, announced. As well as essential routine maintenance work, the refit will furnish the ship with important new capabilities including an upgraded Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) system, and modifications to the gearbox systems to enable the ship to operate at increased power and speed. The crew will benefit from an overhaul of the living quarters and an updated air conditioning system, essential for operating in hotter climates. Enhanced safety. (Source: ASD Network)
12 Jun 08. Babcock Marine, the through-life defence support specialist, has begun work at Rosyth on the last of the three ex-Royal Navy Sandown class mine counter measures vessels (MCMV) for the Estonian Navy. Babcock Marine is undertaking a regeneration programme on the vessel (formerly HMS Bridport), which will be re-named ENS Ugandi, following the company’s successful regeneration of the first two of the three minehunters sold to Estonia under an agreement signed in September 2006. The first (formerly HMS Sandown) was handed over to the Estonian Navy in April 2007, and the second (formerly HMS Inverness) in January this year. The project includes a number of challenges associated with the re-activation of a vessel that has been out of active service for a number of years to enable her to return to sea. She will undergo sea trials before transit to the Gulf of Finland and what will be her home port of Tallinn next year
12 Jun 08. BMT Defence Services Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has completed a study of safety issues to determine feasible options for implementation during the planned 2008 refit of RFA ARGUS. The Aviation Training Ship, RFA ARGUS has a secondary role as the primary casualty receiving facility. The MOD’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service (RFAS) Integrated Project Team, now Afloat Support Directorate, commissioned the feasibility study, which was placed with cluster contractor A&P Falmouth. A&P Falmouth and BMT have worked together since January 2006, co-operating on A&P Falmouth’s refit of RFA ARGUS, and on various warship refit bids. Acting as A&P Falmouth’s design agent for the feasibility study, BMT investigated the ship’s structural safety, stability, casualty escape and evacuation, and fire safety.
06 Jun 08. EADS Defence & Security (DS) has delivered the last of four TRS-3D naval radars to the Royal Norwegian Coast Guard, th