CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
03 Aug 09. Saab have been awarded a contract by the UK MoD to deliver
training systems in support of British Army training exercises in Kenya. The order value is in the region of MSEK 250 to 300 dependent upon options. Saab will provide a managed training service consisting of a Battle Group sized Deployable Tactical Engagement Simulation (DTES) system with full technical support and training for a period of three years (2009-2011) with options to extend. Saab has provided a Company level training support capability over the last two years to British Army training in Belize and Kenya.
SEA
Jul 09. Astute Class Submarines: Communications. The MoD announced (Desider, July 2009) that the first two Astute Class submarines are to use the Skynet 5 system for satellite communications. DE&S has signed a service order (value not stated) with Paradigm Secure Communications to supply secure, high data rate communications by the Skynet 5 satellite constellation.
Comment: The MoD continues to vacillate over in-service dates for the first four Astute Class SSN. The most recent Ministerial Answer (20 Jul 09) stated that the Astute programme is being “re-baselined” and that an announcement will be made “in due course”. (Goodness only knows what “re-baselined” means!) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/29, 03 Aug 09)
20 Jul 09. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA): Replacement Vessels. The Defence Equipment Minister said (20 Jul 09) that the requirements and procurement strategy for the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) programme are under review, but that he expected to announce “a way forward” later in 2009.
Comment: Current planning assumptions are for six new Fleet Tankers under the first phase of the MARS programme, to be followed by two Fleet Stores Ships and two Joint Sea Based Logistics Vessels. The previously arranged bidding competition for Fleet Tankers was suspended in December 2008 and formally cancelled in March 2009. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/29, 03 Aug 09)
AIR
03 Aug 09. Cobham has been awarded a contract worth some £18 million by Ascent Flight Training for the first phase of the United Kingdom Military Flying Training Service (UKMFTS). The contract is for the modification of four special mission Hawker-Beechcraft B350ER King Air aircraft at Cobham Aviation Services facilities at Bournemouth International Airport, and the provision of in-service support for an initial period of five years at RNAS Culdrose.
31 Jul 09. Eurofighter Typhoon: Tranche 3 Production Contract. NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency), Eurofighter and EUROJET Turbo signed(31 Jul 09) a production contract for an additional 112 aircraft, including 241 engines, on behalf of four partner nations. BAE Systems confirmed that the Tranche 3 aircraft will be divided between: Germany – 31; Italy – 21; Spain – 20 and the UK – 40 and that the overall value of the contract to the Company is in the region of £2,000m. Rolls-Royce announced that its share of the Tranche 3 order is worth over £300m.
Comment: As originally planned, Tranche 3 should have been for 236 aircraft (Germany – 68; Italy – 46; Spain – 34 and the UK – 88). In the event, the UK contracts for 40 aircraft include 24 replacements for aircraft diverted to Saudi Arabia. In due course it is anticipated that there will be five Squadrons of Typhoons in RAF Service, based at Coningsby in Lincolnshire and Leuchars in Fife. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/29, 03 Aug 09) (See: BATTLESPACE ALERT Vol.11 ISSUE 20, 31 July 2009, EUROFIGHTER NATIONS SIGN UP TO TRANCHE 3 – UP STILL TO COMMIT TO FULL NUMBERS)
USA
LAND
31 Jul 09. The US Army has awarded part of the $300m, five-year contract to Alion Science and Technology to deliver prototype ammunition and armament-related products. Under the contract, Alion will deliver processing, supply and fabrication of armament-related products