CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF

EUROPE

LAND

14 Jul 08. Viking All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV): Additional Order. At Farnborough International (14 Jul 08), BAE Systems announced the award of an MoD contract for six additional BvS10 Viking amphibious, armoured ATV. The contract follows a June 2008 order for 14 Viking, bringing the total number ordered by the MoD to 149.
Comment: 108 Viking were ordered for 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines in March 2000 and delivered in July 2003. An additional 21 vehicles were ordered in May 2007, in support of the Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle. The final 20 vehicles mentioned above are divided between nine repair & recovery variants, seven troop carriers and four command posts. The BvS10 Viking is playing “an important role in the UK’s ongoing Operations in Afghanistan….” (according to BAE Systems). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 08/30, 28 Jul 08)

28 Jul 08. ITT Corporation announced today that Defence & Security (DS) division of EADS selected ITT Communications Systems to provide its SpearNet radio system for the Full-Scale Engineering Development (FSED) phase of Spain’s Combatiente del Futuro (COMFUT), a comprehensive military modernization program. The SpearNet radio will provide the backbone for voice, data and video communications for the Spanish Army. ITT will provide its SpearNet radio and related products, as well as perform engineering services, to support EADS during the development phase of COMFUT with a potential follow-on contract for production in the future. The Spanish Army’s COMFUT program is a dismounted soldier modernization program that, in addition to radios, includes new armor protection, rifle with night vision sights, chemical/biological protection suits, helmets, body computer, and other modern infantry requirements.

01 Aug 08. Roush Technologies wins major ROPS order. Roush Technologies, the privately owned automotive and defence sector engineering specialist, has announced the first major order for its latest military ROPS (Roll-over Protection System) modular seating design. The contract, valued around £5million, is for the supply of over 1100 ESK (Enhanced Seating Kit) units and is scheduled for completion within a year.

24 Jul 08. Saft has been awarded two contracts by the U.K. Ministry of Defence to supply lithium-sulfur dioxide (Li-SO2) batteries: BA-5590 B/U and G30102B. Both contracts will support the military’s current operational requirements for portable radios used in the field. Delivery for both contracts, worth £2.75m (approx. €3.4m) began last month.

SEA

30 Jul 08. Bulgaria’s parliament approved on July 30 the purchase of two second-hand Belgian frigates and a minesweeper to help bring the country’s navy up to NATO standards, its press office said. The government had already agreed to buy the three ships but had to obtain parliament’s approval before signing the contract. The price of the deal is €54m ($85.8m), to be paid in instalments by 2015. In 2005, Sofia already bought one second-hand Belgian frigate, its first warship to comply with NATO standards. (Source: Defense News)

16 Jul 08. Seawolf Air Defence System: Support Contracts. During Farnborough International (16 Jul 08) BAE Systems and MBDA announced the award of MoD contracts to maintain the Seawolf air defence system on board Type 22 and Type 23 frigates. The value of the SWISS (Seawolf In Service Support) contracts is given as £14m for BAE Systems and £177m for MBDA. SWISS also provides support for the Seawolf Mid Life Update (SMLU) variant, the first of which has now been installed in HMS SUTHERLAND.
Comment: The SWISS contracts are due to sustain the Seawolf systems until late 2017, when the missile is expected to be phased out (having entered service in 1979). Team CW is designing a Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) to meet the requirement for a Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS) on board frigates, including the Future Surface Combatan