CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
23 Jun 09. Russia is finalising a contract for the delivery of 1,000 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles to the Greek Army, according to local news service RIA Novosti. The BMP-3M features an upgraded self-contained weapons platform, turret with digital fire control system, additional armour protection and powerful engines. The purchase would be one of the largest arms deals between Russia and a Nato member state. (Source: army-technology.com)
26 Jun 09. The Finnish Army has awarded a $460m (NKr3bn) contract to Kongsberg to provide a NASAMS II air defence missile system to meet the country’s future medium-range air defence missile system (MRADMS) requirements. The Nato-compliant NASAMS II system, jointly developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon, will replace Finland’s existing Russian-made BUK missile systems purchased in 1996. (Source: army-technology.com)
23 Jun 09. KONGSBERG has booked an order valued at MNOK 152 from the US Army. The order is part of the NOK8bn Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations (CROWS) framework agreement signed in August 2007. CROWS is a joint acquisition programme for weapon stations for the US Army`s vehicle programmes. A common solution will result in substantial efficiency gains in respect of protection, training, support and further development.
26 Jun 09. British troops in Afghanistan are about to benefit from the introduction of new advanced body armour and helmets. Not only will the new armour provide better ballistic protection but it will also enhance soldier comfort. The UK MoD) has announced that over 10,000 sets of the enhanced mk7 helmet and the Osprey Assault body armour kit have been ordered under initial contracts worth around £16m. The new helmets have the same armour as the mk6A currently in use, but are fitted with a new harness to keep the helmet stable when night-vision equipment is being used. The helmet is also better integrated with new weapon sights, to allow soldiers to use weapons in a variety of fighting positions. (Source: army-technology.com)
22 Jun 09. Slovenia has received the first Patria AMV 8×8 armoured vehicle of 135 ordered by the country’s Ministry of Defence. Patria will deliver 12 more AMV 8×8 vehicles to the country by the end of June 2009. The European defence and aerospace company is manufacturing the AMV vehicles in Slovenia, as required by the contract. (Source: army-technology.com)
26 Jun 09. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has awarded a €240m contract to defence and aerospace technology provider Patria to provide Armoured Modular Vehicles (AMV) to Swedish Army. Under the contract, the company will provide 113 AMV 8x8s as part of the AWV 2014 project. The contractual agreement provides wheeled armoured personnel carriers in five different versions and also includes an option of additional 113 vehicle systems to the Army. The modular design of the military vehicle integrates weapons, sensors, or communications systems on the same carriage and has an advanced mine protection and can withstand explosions up to 10 kilograms. The company along with the subcontractors will manufacture the vehicles in Finland and Sweden between 2010 and 2014.
BATTLESPACE Comment: Sources had suggested that BAE Systems SEP was in the lead for this contract against NEXTER’s VBCI. This win is a blow for BAE’s prospects of gaining a launch customer for SEP.
22 Jun 09. Sectra has been commissioned by FMV, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, to further develop the Tiger system used by the Swedish Defense Forces for encrypted telephony. The solution being developed in cooperation with FMV will enable peacekeeping forces to communicate in a secure manner directly between headquarters and troops in the field. The order value amounts to SEK 13m. (Source: ASD Network)
24 Jun 09. TenCate receives Dutch army order for composite armour panels for Patria vehicles in Afghanistan. TenCate Advanced Armour