EUROPE

LAND

24 May 10. EADS Test Engineering Services has been awarded a £300,000 contract to supply innovative testing software equipment to support operations on the frontline to the MoD’s Defence Support Group (DSG). The SigBase and newWaveX software, the first of its kind in the world, was developed in the UK and US by experts at EADS Defence & Security to allow for the generation of test programs for a wide variety of equipment. The technology is unique in that it helps develop test programs independently from hardware, which enables maintenance crews to use the same software, even when the hardware becomes obsolete. It also reduces depot repair and maintenance costs. Now installed in a fleet of ten automatic testing equipments, the software will play a vital part in helping the DSG provide test and repair facilities for UK defence forces, ensuring that battle-winning equipment is kept fully operational.

May 10. The U.K. MoD has contracted with HET provide KBR (Fasttrax) for 20 agile Improved Mobility Trailers (IMT) trailers supplied by Broshuis at a cost of £3m. (Source: MoD desider)

May 10. MTL Group, one Europe’s largest suppliers of processed armour has been awarded a significant contract worth more than €4m to supply TL approved armour to a major German OEM for a large scale vehicle programme. The contract will use all of MTL Group’s processing equipment which includes large format laser cutting, waterjet cutting, large intricate pressing, automated welding, large CNC machining and painting. MTL Group’s ability to supply high quality parts from both armour and high strength materials at a commercially competitive price is now recognised worldwide and significant orders are being secured for this service.

24 May 10. Saab has signed a contract for components to the Carl-Gustaf man-portable weapon system. The total value of the order is MSEK 115.
“This is very positive and it further proves the capability of the Carl-Gustaf system which until now has been exported to more than 40 customers around the world,” says Tomas Samuelsson, business area manager for Dynamics within Saab.

25 May 10. WFEL secured a £2m contract to supply the MoD with a new 31m Medium Girder Bridge (MGB) and other support services. The MGB is part of WFEL’s suite of bridges, which are used by armed forces in conflict zones and areas struck by natural disasters. Since the first version was launched in 1971 more than systems have been sold to over 38 armed forces across the world. WFEL is a prime contractor to the MoD, which was the first ever customer of the MGB and takes the actual total sold to 533. The deal also represents another success for the firm’s expanding support services arm following a £1m repair contract that was secured with the MoD earlier this year. WFEL has recently opened its 600 sq m bridge refurbishment facility at its Heaton Chapel headquarters.

AIR

24 May 10. Lockheed Martin was awarded a four-year contract to supply the Finnish Air Force with an airborne surveillance system and associated ground systems. The value of this contract is approximately $100m. Under this contract, Lockheed Martin’s team will modify an EADS CASA C-295 turboprop aircraft to accommodate an advanced surveillance system. A key attribute of the system will be an open and modular architecture to allow future system upgrades to be easily added and readily reconfigured to support evolving mission needs. This approach ensures an up-to-date system throughout the life cycle using an innovative technology road mapping process. Lockheed Martin’s team will also provide ground stations, and communications terminals to support the airborne system.

25 May 10. Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to develop an avionics system for the Swedish Armed Forces’ Gripen aircraft. The order value amounts to MSEK 450, divided over 2 years. The order means that work will begin on a new avionics system,