EUROPE

LAND

25 Aug 10. General Service Pistol: Replacement. The Defence Contracts Bulletin (25 Aug 10) includes a ‘possible future purchase’ of a replacement for the 9mm General Service Pistol. The initial quantity of weapons for MoD use is estimated at between 19,000 and 26,000, for delivery between April 2012 and February 2014. An additional 70,000 weapons are anticipated as is a ‘supply agreement’ with other public sector bodies (such as Police Authorities and the Security Services).
Comment: In April 1999 the MoD stated that it had “started investigating possible contenders for the replacement of the venerable Browning 9mm automatic pistol….”. However, a Ministerial Answer in November 2006 said that a replacement was not planned “until the pistol reaches its out of service date in 2016”.(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/34, 06 Sep 10)

08 Sep 10. The French Army will equip its soldiers with Javelin anti-tank missiles and launchers to provide protection from insurgents in Afghanistan, an industry executive has said. Under the $70m foreign military sale deal, 260 US-built Javelin anti-tank missiles and 76 launchers will be shipped to France this month, according to Defence News. Training with the anti-tank equipment could start in October at the Canjuers army camp in southern France, allowing deployment to Afghanistan at the beginning of 2011. The purchase of the missiles was made with competition from MBDA Milan ER missile and Israel’s Rafael Spike missiles. (Source: armytechnology.com)

07 Sep 10. Navistar Defense, LLC today announced that it received a second delivery order valued at $56m from the U.K. Ministry of Defence for an additional 89 International® MXT™ Husky vehicles. The award follows the company’s April 2009 contract for 262 MXT Husky units for the U.K. The Husky is the medium variant for the TSV program and accommodates a four-person crew. The vehicle is equipped with a MaxxForce® D 6.0 L V8 engine, Allison five-speed automatic transmission and also incorporates Plasan Sasa’s armoring solution. Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of October 2010 and will be completed in early 2011.

06 Sep 10. The Luxembourg Army and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) have ordered complete defence vehicles from Scania.
According to the agreement signed with the Nato Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA), Scania will supply 31 all-wheel-drive trucks to the Luxembourg Army and 88 logistics trucks to FMV. The Luxembourg order includes 13 trucks with mine and ballistic protection, 28 fitted with hooklift bodywork and three with recovery body to be used largely on peacekeeping missions. (Source: armytechnology.com)

SEA

08 Sep 10. Northrop Grumman is upgrading the navigation radar systems for two Spanish Navy Santa Maria Class frigates. The ships are being fitted with Northrop Grumman’s new-generation Sperry Marine VisionMaster FT™ navalized radars, which are replacing the existing radar sets. The equipment is being supplied through Aeromarine, the sales and service representative for Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine products and systems in Spain. Aeromarine is responsible for the installations and technical support for integration with the ships’ MK-92 combat systems. Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine recently upgraded its line of navalized radars with new features, including dual-radar input, 600-knot target tracking capability, CCTV interface and stabilized sector transmission.

AIR

03 Sep 10. BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to provide a Link 16 network management system to the Finnish Air Force. Supporting the operation of Finland’s F-18 aircraft, the system will enable ground command and control operators to connect to, and maintain contact with, their fast jets across the entire country. BAE Systems will work in partnership with Rockwell Collins, the prime contractor and team leader for the Ground Station programme. Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide