EUROPE
LAND
17 Dec 09. Rheinmetall wins contract for high-tech infantry system:
“Future Soldier – Expanded System” goes into preproduction. The German government has contracted with Rheinmetall Defence of Düsseldorf to manufacture a preproduction version of the company’s “Future Soldier – Expanded System”, or IdZ-ES. The order represents a major milestone on the path to equipping the Bundeswehr with this state-of-the-art infantry system. A contract covering the multi-million euro order has now been signed at the Federal Agency for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) in Koblenz. Rheinmetall’s Defence Electronic division has thus scored a significant new success in the process of creating IdZ-ES, the world’s most advanced infantry system. The “Expanded System” shares the same origins as the basic “Future Soldier” system that preceded it, which the Bundeswehr procured in 2005 as a first step in meeting an urgent operational requirement.
17 Dec 09. SELEX Galileo of Finmeccanica has been awarded new contracts worth approximately €16m for its Mini Colibrì and Lothar systems, strengthening the Company’s Electro-Optical business. The new contracts include the supply of 81 Mini Colibrì day and night vision systems for
installation on the new turrets of the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) Lince vehicle and the supply of 71 Lothar systems for the 2nd Batch of the Italian Army’s VBM Freccia vehicle. Both contracts were assigned by Oto Melara.
AIR
16 Dec 09. QinetiQ fits satellite comms system to Merlin Mk3 fleet. QinetiQ has successfully completed the integration of a beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) satellite communications system into each of the
RAF’s fleet of 22 Mk3 Merlin’s in preparation for their possible deployment to Afghanistan. The work, valued at just over £1 Million, covers manufacturing the modification kits, fleet embodiment and one year theatre support.
USA
LAND
15 Dec 09. BAE Systems has received a $41.9m U.S. Army contract for all-weather, lightweight, handheld laser target locator systems that allow soldiers to accurately identify target locations while on foot, in daylight or at night, and in fog and smoke. The company will produce its Laser Target Locator Modules, or LTLMs, under a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for PEO Soldier, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Weighing less than 5.5 pounds, the LTLM consists of a direct-view optic system, a night-vision camera derived from the thermal cameras used in BAE Systems’ advanced thermal weapon sights, a laser range finder, a digital compass, and a GPS receiver. The system will allow users to recognize targets in daylight and in total darkness. Work will be performed at BAE Systems’ facility in Nashua, New Hampshire. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2010. The company received a $72m contract for initial production of the LTLMs in June.
16 Dec 09. General Dynamics Information Technology was selected as the prime contractor and awarded a $322m contract by the U.S. Army for the initial outfitting and transition support of the newly renovated Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and the newly constructed Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia. General Dynamics will lead a team of companies that will provide the following services:
— Support hospital transition planning and all preparations to move
And activate operations in the new facilities.
— Plan, provision, and install a wide array of medical and non-medical equipment, information technology equipment and furniture.
— Relocate all current equipment that will move to the new facilities.
16 Dec 09. GM GDLS Defense Group, LLC, JV, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Dec. 14, 2009, a $134,348,933 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is to support performance specification changes to the Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle, which will result in the design, integration, production and procurement of necessary components