04 Jun 03. Lockheed Martin UK Ltd has been selected by the Ministry of Defence for a two-year programme to assess possible upgrades to the Royal Navy’s Merlin HM Mk1 weapon system. Westland Helicopters Ltd will be a strategic partner in a powerful teaming for the assessment phase of the Merlin Capability Sustainment Plus Programme (Merlin CSP), worth approximately £18m, which will evaluate obsolescence issues and weapon system upgrades. The precise scope of any future upgrades will be assessed during the study programme, however all aspects of the Merlin weapon system will be examined such as the helicopter, ground support and control systems as well as the support structure including the sophisticated Merlin University at RNAS Culdrose.

4 Jun 03. Cubic Defense Applications, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $525,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide for the development and production of the P5 combat training system (P5CTS). P5CTS is a rangeless air-to-air and air-to-ground training system that will support real-time air combat training for the Air Force and Navy. This system consists of airborne and ground subsystems, interconnected by multi-access data receivers, that enable pilots to perform tactical maneuvers and then receive debriefings on their performance. The initial acquisition will be four first article airborne pod subsystems. This will be followed by additional development and production of further subsystems. The contract will extend for a period of up to 10 years. Over the life of the contract, the Air Force can issue delivery orders totalling up to the maximum amount indicated above, though actual requirements may necessitate less than this amount. The locations of performance are Cubic Defense Applications, San Diego, Calif. (30%), and Metric Systems, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (70%). Funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued. This work will be complete June 2014. Solicitation
began December 2002, and negotiations were completed March 2003.

3 Jun 03. Lockheed Martin has been selected as one of two contractors to develop a follow-on weapon system to the Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) for the U.S. Marine Corps. The contract is for the System Integration Phase (SIP) of the Follow-On to SMAW (FOTS) program. It calls for Lockheed Martin and team member Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) to develop a new shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon that can be fired from enclosures or other battlefield close quarters to neutralize bunkers, urban structures and light armor. Additionally, FOTS will create access corridors in urban structures such as triple brick and reinforced concrete.

4 Jun 03. Zel Technologies, Limited Liability Co., Hampton, Va., is being awarded a $24,900,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to develop and enhance the automated assumption with intelligence preparation of the battle space (A2IPB) baseline to interface and interoperate with target development systems, intelligence surveillance reconnaissance management an employment systems, fusion systems, intelligence and command and control databases and effects-based operations systems. A2IPB will be fielded to all U.S. Air Force air operations centers. Installations planned are nearing 50 in number. Further, A2IPB is being readied for use by the intelligence community in DODIIS environment. The Air Force can issue delivery orders totalling up to the maximum amount indicated above, though actual requirements may necessitate less than this amount. At this time, $225,000 of the funds has been obligated. Further funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued.
This work will be complete June 2008. Solicitations began March 2003. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (F30602-03-D-0100).

14 May 03. Thales Optics, based in St Asaph North Wales, has been awarded a contract to