CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
09 Apr 09. ‘Combat Buggies’: Order Placed. The MoD announced (9 Apr 09) that Enhanced Protection Systems (EPS) has been awarded a £7m contract to supply around 75 Springer all terrain vehicles. The Springer ‘dune buggy’ has a crew of two and the ability to carry a one tonne load. The vehicle is to be employed on moving combat supplies from helicopter landing sites in Afghanistan to forward operating bases. Deliveries are due to start during Summer 2009.
Comment: As a ‘combat buggy’ or ‘battlefield mule’, Springer is designed to lighten the loads of front line troops. It is understood that the vehicle is built in Arizona, where it is known as Tomcat, to an Israeli design. The basic vehicle is to be delivered to the UK, for modification by EPS. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/16, 20 Apr 09)
BATTLESPACE Comment: Concern has been expressed in some quarters that the MoD changed the Requirement from 1.5 tonne payload to 1 tonne payload after the Contract was advertised. This meant that other bidders were bidding against the wrong requirement with more expensive vehicles. Other sources suggest that TomCar is not being used by the Israeli Army anymore. The contract value of £7m suggests that the Springer solution is a great deal more expensive than that offered by rival bidders such as JCB.
20 Apr 09. The German Bundeswehr has awarded a major contract for artillery ammunition to the Dusseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group. Worth around EUR63m and set to run until 2014, the order encompasses 30,000 rounds of high explosive 155mm ammunition, type DM 121. The Federal Agency for Defence Technology and Equipment (BWB) in Koblenz announced the order on 20 March 2009, following approval by the Budget & Appropriations Committee of the German Parliament. (Source: ASD Network)
21 Apr 09. Supacat Ltd, the designer of the widely acclaimed ‘Jackal’ weapons-mounted 4×4 patrol vehicle and Babcock the leading engineering support specialists have formed an industry alliance to deliver around 110 Jackal 2 (the enhanced, latest iteration of the original Jackal design), and more than 70 of the new 6×6 ÔCoyoteÕ Tactical Support Vehicle (Light) (TSV(L)). Supacat as the vehicle designer has been awarded the prime contract supported by Babcock as the vehicle manufacturer for whom the contract is worth around £55m.
AIR
23 Apr 09. BAE Systems was awarded of a new £574m Harrier availability contract from the UK MoD. The contract, which will ensure increased availability of Harrier fighter aircraft to support frontline forces, is consistent with the Company’s strategic move to grow its readiness and sustainment capabilities and support its customers through partnering agreements. Under the contract known as HPAC; Harrier Platform Availability Contract, BAE Systems will take over responsibility for the depth maintenance of the UK’s fleet of Harrier aircraft that will support the aircraft until its out-of-service date (currently 2018). This maintenance will be carried out jointly with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy (RN) at RAF Cottesmore. The RAF and Royal Navy will continue to carry out day-to-day flightline maintenance.
20 Apr 09. The Czech government April 20 approved the purchase of four Casa C-295M military transport planes from the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), the CTK news agency said. The defense ministry has earmarked about 3.5bn koruna (130m euros, $168m) for the aircraft, due to be delivered in 2009-2011. The planes will replace four outdated Soviet-made Antonov An-26 aircraft. (Source: Defense News)
08 Apr 09. Puma and Gazelle Helicopters: Through-Life Support. Confirmation was given in the Defence Contracts Bulletin (8 Apr 09) that Eurocopter has been awarded a five-year contract, from 1 Jan 09, for the provision of spares and technical support services for Puma and Gazelle helicopters. The value of the contract was given as £7