CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
8 Jul 09. EADS Defence & Security (DS) will modernize the identification systems of the Slovakian armed forces in order to avoid friendly fire and to increase air traffic security. According to an announcement made by the company, Defence Electronics (DE), an integrated activity of DS, has been awarded a contract for the upgrade of existing MSSR 2000 I IFF systems to NATO Mode 4 standard.
Jul 09. 206 Iveco Trakkers for UK Ministry of Defence. Iveco’s defence arm has delivered the first of 206 specialist 6×6 off-road Trakkers to defence contractor ALC. The Amey and VT (originally Vosper Thornycroft) joint venture outfit that runs MoD’s ‘C’ vehicle fleet, construction vehicles, plant and civil engineering kit. Iveco says this is the single largest Trakker order ever placed in the UK. It will see the 6×6 heavy trucks fitted with a range of different bodywork to support the ‘C’ vehicle fleet. The first 33 vehicles are all Truck Mounted Loader models, each with a Mackworth flatbed body with a rear-mounted Terex-Atlas rear-mounted lifting arm and twist-locks to fix a 20ft ISO container. Other models to come include tippers, well drilling rigs and concrete mixers. All but one have the same length wheelbase, so that the Army can more easily re-body them if necessary. (Source: Transport News Brief)
USA
LAND
10 Jul 09. General Dynamics – Ordnance and Tactical Systems, St. Petersburg, Fla., is being awarded a $20,756,123 firm-fixed-price delivery order #0021 under previously awarded contract M67854-05-D-6014, for the procurement of 20 full rate production expeditionary fire support systems (EFSS) together with their corresponding basic issue item kits, additional authorization list hardware and mortar weapon spares. The EFSS provides all-weather, ground-based, close supporting, accurate, immediately responsive, and lethal indirect fires. The EFSS is defined as a launcher, mobility platform (prime mover), ammunition (not included in this order), ammunition supply vehicle, and technical fire direction equipment necessary for orienting the weapon on to an azimuth of fire and accurately computing firing data. Work will be performed in St. Aubin, France (29 percent); Robbins, N.C. (10 percent); and Forest, Va. (7 percent), and work is expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The basic contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-05-D-6014).
SEA
13 Jul 09. General Atomics is pleased to announce the award of a not-to-exceed $32,727,170 contract from the Department of the Navy, NAVSEA, partially funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to develop a proof-of-concept Hybrid Electric Drive (HED) system for a full-scale demonstration with an initial funding increment of $13,000,000. HED will improve the operating efficiency of the engineering plant on DDG 51 Class Ships and is intended to provide the capability for significant fuel savings, up to 12,000 barrels of fuel per year, per ship, by incorporating advanced electric machine technology. This research and development effort of a new technology supports the national defense imperative to reduce dependence on foreign non-renewable energy resources. The contract was competitively procured under a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). GA is developing the HED system in partnership with DRS Technologies. As GA’s major subcontractor, DRS will leverage their expertise in naval power distribution, machinery control, motor drive, and permanent magnet motor technology to provide advanced electric machinery for this program.
14 Jul 09. The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $10m firm-fixed-price contract to perform concept studies for the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), a scalable solid-state radar suite for future surface combatants. Comprised of an