EUROPE
SEA
18 Mar 10. Thales UK has secured a six-ship, seven-year support contract for the Royal Navy’s Daring-class destroyers’ fully integrated communications system (FICS). The multi-million pounds contract requires Thales to guarantee the availability of the communications systems fitted to these new ships. The contract, awarded to Thales by BAE Systems Surface Ships, covers all internal and external communications systems and will run until 2016. In addition to providing support to the vessels themselves, Thales will also provide support for a single shore-based reference system. To be undertaken from Thales UK’s Crawley site, the contract will be delivered in two stages: mobilisation; and in-service support. Both of these elements have already begun, in support of first-of-class ship HMS Daring.
AIR
22 Mar 10. The British government agreed with the U.S. government to buy three Boeing Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft. “On 19 March we reached agreement with the U.S. government to purchase three Rivet Joint aircraft and associated ground systems,” British Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said in a written statement to parliament. He said the planes would deliver “vital capability for the Royal Air Force to replace the Nimrod R1 capability that will be retired from service in March 2011.” (Source: Reuters)
23 Mar 10. Romania will purchase 24 secondhand F-16 fighter jets in an effort to revamp its Air Force, the country’s Supreme Defense Council (CSAT) announced March 23. “Since Romania does not have the necessary resources to buy new multirole combat aircraft, the CSAT has approved the defense ministry’s proposal to purchase 24 secondhand F-16 jets,” the Council said in a news release at the end of a meeting headed by President Traian Basescu. “The decision will be submitted to Parliament for approval.” (Source: Defense News)
24 Mar 10. Thales has awarded RUAG Aviation a contract to produce a subassembly for the RBE2 radar for France’s Rafale fighter jet.
Under the contract, RUAG will produce the highly complex wired-back structures linking the individual modules together and connect the radar to the airframe. The Radar à Balayage Electronique 2 (RBE2), developed by Thales, has an antenna that performs active electronic scanning in two planes. The new technology will provide Rafale jets with a decisive advantage in terms of operating efficiency and reliability.
The Sfr5.5m ($5m) contract has been awarded to RUAG based on a cooperation agreement signed between the two companies in May 2009.
Delivery of the first radar is planned in the middle of 2011, following which, it will be integrated into the Rafale jet for the French market. (Source: airforcetechnology.com)
USA
LAND
23 Mar 10. The US Army in Afghanistan has received 25 additional Assault Force 70 fire-rescue rough terrain vehicles (FRRTV) from EJ Metals.
The FRRTVs are specifically designed to provide fire protection for soldiers and facilities at forward operating bases in the region using a hydraulically driven, high-pressure foam system. (Source: armytechnology.com)
24 Mar 10. Curtiss-Wright Corporation been awarded a $10.5m contract by Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide an upgraded Radar Signal Processing (RSP) solution for use in the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) program. The initial portion of the contract, for $5.1m, was awarded for the Joint STARS Prime Mission Equipment (PME) Diminishing Material Source (DMS). An additional $5.4 million was awarded to enhance the RSP solution so that it meets advanced radar processing capacity requirements necessary to support future radar performance needs.
22 Mar 10. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, St. Petersburg, Fla., is being awarded $19,961,049 for delivery order under previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M67854-05-D-6014) for the Production Lot 3 (PL3) procurement of 20 full rate production Expeditionary Fire Suppo