EUROPE

AIR

31 Aug 10. KONGSBERG has won a contract with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for the deliveries of components for the F-35 fighter aircraft. With a scope of MNOK 270, the contract applies to the delivery of composite and titanium components for the aircraft’s rudders. The contract is for deliveries to 62 aircrafts. (Source: ASD Network)

31 Aug 10. GKN Aerospace has delivered the 1000th nacelle for the Lockheed Martin C-130J military airlifter in a highly successful 17 year production activity – and with production rates set to increase from 18 aircraft sets a year in 2008 to near double that in 2011. To meet this significant production rate increase GKN Aerospace has moved manufacture to an entirely new, state of the art production line at the Company’s site on the Isle of Wight, UK.
01 Sep 10. Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Europe-based air traffic management systems subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, has been awarded contracts by NATS Services to provide surface movement radar and air traffic monitor systems for Heathrow airport’s virtual contingency facility (VCF) and instrument landing systems (ILS) for regional airports around the UK. The VCF has been developed and put into service by NATS Services and is the world’s first full safety certified remote airport contingency control room that can keep flights moving through Heathrow airport in the event of a serious problem at the airport’s main control tower. Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems is providing the NOVA 9000 advanced-surface movement guidance and control system (A-SMGCS) equipment and NOVA 9000 air traffic monitors. The VCF, housed in a facility away from the airfield, is a remote air traffic control tower located near London Heathrow airport and enables the airport to operate at 70% of its capacity in the event of an emergency involving the main control tower. The VCF is designed with exactly the same equipment and control positions as the main control tower. The two independent systems monitor and present the traffic situation to the Heathrow controllers within an area of 20 nautical miles and to and from the gates. Both systems have in-built automation and safety logic functions. Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems will also supply NATS Services with the NORMARC 7000B ILS CAT III for Newcastle, Luton and Leeds Bradford airports. These contracts follow on from previous contracts awarded for the supply of air traffic management systems on the Isle of Man and Jersey. The NORMARC 7000B is the world’s leading ILS system, using state-of-the-art technology to ensure safe and precise landings, even under the most difficult visibility conditions.

TECHNOLOGY

01 Sep 10. EU selects Sectra as supplier of secure telephony. Sectra’s encryption system Tiger XS, approved for communications up to EU Secret, has been selected for secure telephony within the EU. The recently signed framework contract between Sectra and the Council of the European Union in Brussels is valid for a total period of four years. An initial order has been placed scheduled for delivery during the autumn of 2010. Sectra develops its products in close cooperation with its customers. The company’s home markets are the Netherlands and Sweden, where government and defense customers have contributed to Tiger’s development.

USA

LAND

30 Aug 10. Arotech Corporation’s Battery and Power Systems Division has received new and follow on orders in excess of $2.1m for batteries and rechargeables from a number of international militaries. The batteries and rechargeables will be used for communications equipment, thermal imaging devices and aviation safety product. (Source: Yahoo!)

01 Sep 10. The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a $123m contract for continued production of thermal weapon sights that improve situational awareness and survivability for men and women in combat. The order — the most recent under a five-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract — in