CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
12 Aug 09. EADS Defence & Security (DS) is responsible for developing highly specialized electronic components for the new communications system of the German Armed Forces. The Federal Office for Information Management and Information Technology of the Bundeswehr (IT-AmtBw) has awarded Defence Electronics, an integrated activity of DS, a contract in the double-digit million euro range for the development of the broadband module of a new generation of radio terminals. This order forms part of the project for designing the Bundeswehr’s software-defined joint radio system “SVFuA” (Streitkräftegemeinsame Verbundfähige Funkgeräteausstattung), which is intended to optimise the German Armed Forces’ mobile voice and data communication in the coming decade.
14 Aug 09. A consortium of experts, including Cranfield University, has been gathered to create a device that reduces the heavy battery burden on dismounted soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. The seven universities have received over £1m from the MOD and EPSRC to design the device which aims to replace the batteries soldiers currently carry. Soldiers lug up to 75kg of equipment during an average foot patrol lasting six hours, 10kg of which can be battery packs needed to power equipment. Such large burdens can severely limit the mobility of soldiers. The two-year project is looking at mobile energy harvesting systems devices which store the energy generated by a person’s body movement.
04 Aug 09. Login Crete Ltd (Bury St. Edmunds, UK), in association with parent company Login Crete AB (Helsingborg, Sweden) has received a contract from General Dynamics UK Limited (South Wales, UK) for specialist hardware to aid the distribution of the latest increment of Bowman, BCIP5. Working to a tight delivery schedule, Login Crete Ltd used their rapid development system to provide hardware to General Dynamics UK Limited as part of the Deployable Flashing Facility, which will enable Bowman upgrades to be rolled out efficiently in deployed locations.
13 Aug 09. The Dutch Army has awarded a €17m contract to German heavy diesel engine maker Tognum to supply more than 200 MTU (Motoren und Turbinen-Union) engines for the Boxer armoured vehicle. According to the purchase order, most of the engines will be supplied for the Dutch Army’s Boxer vehicles while a smaller number will be for the Boxers used by the German Army. The Boxer is a heavily armoured, off-road, 8×8 AWD German-Dutch multirole armoured fighting vehicle used to perform multiple operations. The 33t vehicle will be powered by an MTU 8V 199 TE20 diesel engine with a power output of 530kW which accelerates the vehicle to a maximum speed of above 100km/h. The engine series 199 has been modified by MTU for military applications which include a power upgrade as well as dry-sump lubrication allowing the vehicle to operate at extreme inclines. The Dutch Army is expected to receive the first batch of vehicles in early 2011 while the first standard-production vehicle will be delivered to the German Army on 23 September 2009. (Source: army-technology.com)
03 Aug 09. Kenya: Training System. Saab announced (3 Aug 09) that the Company has been awarded an MoD contract to deliver training systems in support of Exercises in Kenya. Depending on options, the order value is between SKr250 (£21m) and SKr300 (£25m). Saab is to provide a Battle Group sized Deployable Tactical Engagement Simulation (DTES) system with full technical support for three years, with options to extend.
Comment: The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) is due to host seven Battle Groups on EX GRAND PRIX during 2009. EX GRAND PRIX is a six-week, live firing Exercise conducted in conditions which are similar to those in Afghanistan. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/30, 10 Aug 09)
SEA
09 Aug 09. A 10-year £370m contract to maintain and develop torpedoes for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force has been signed with