EUROPE

LAND

12 Jan 11. BMT Defence Services Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd has helped the UK MoD deliver a lightweight, portable bridging device to help soldiers cross physical obstacles whilst on operations. BMT and the MoD Manoeuvre Support Team worked together to search for an answer to the problem faced daily by British soldiers on foot patrol in Afghanistan, that of crossing a network of wadis, canals and ditches. The solution designed by Alpha Composites, a component supplier to a number of Formula 1 teams, was delivered to Afghanistan earlier this year. The system, made up of several composite modules, is carried by each soldier in the patrol. Soldiers can also use the system as a lightweight assault ladder, replacing the bulkier, heavier in-service equipment.

11 Jan 11. The French Defense Ministry has appointed the Communications & Systèmes (CS) company as supplier for a maritime surveillance system for the large naval base at Toulon, southern France, the company said in a Jan. 11 statement. The system is designed to allow automatic detection and tracking of suspect vessels, day and night, in the waters of Toulon harbor, a major base for the French Navy. The program was assigned by the department of infrastructure networks and information systems (DIRISI) of the Ministry of Defense, CS said. No financial details were available. (Source: Defense News)

11 Jan 11. Extreme Cases Limited has been selected by Serco GmbH as their partner on the major TinNwv project for the German Army. Over the next 18 months Extreme will be supplying a range of rugged aluminium cases and containers for the integration of deployable networks worth £1.2m. Extreme’s engineering team has worked closely with Serco to design a range of cases and containers with distinctive features that make integration, operation and maintenance more user friendly. Extreme is supplying Mil-Std-810F 19” rack-mounted cases (complete with air-conditioning), a lightweight ½ 19” rucksack, designed as an integral part of a small wireless network, and many of their new range of rugged containers.

SEA

Jan 11. Combat Management Systems (CMS): Support Contract. BAE Systems announced the award of a seven-year £47m MoD contract to provide support for the CMS on Type 23 frigates and RFA Argus. The CMS assists a ship’s command in detecting and countering threats to the ship and surrounding forces by managing all relevant information provided by the ship’s radars.
Comment: The above contract is part of a larger initiative known as the Joint Support Solution, which covers the Type 45 destroyers and future vessels. Following a role conversion refit, RFA Argus’ main role is now as a Primary Casualty Receiving Ship with a secondary role as an Aviation Training Ship. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 11/02, 10 Jan 11)

Dec 10. Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV): Propulsion System
Desider (December 2010) notes the award of a £15m contract to BAE Systems to replace the propulsion systems in the eight Hunt Class MCMV. The first new system is expected to be installed on HMS CHIDDINGFOLD in late 2011, with upgrades to the remaining seven taking place during planned docking periods up to 2016.
Comment: The Hunt Class MCMV form the 2nd Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM 2), based at Portsmouth. Two Hunt Class (currently HMS CHIDDINGFOLD & MIDDLETON) and two Sandown Class(HMS GRIMSBY & PEMBROKE) are forward deployed to Bahrain. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 11/02, 10 Jan 11)

TECHNOLOGY

11 Jan 11. Marshall Aerospace has selected the Epicor 9 next-generation enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution to underpin its business as part of a multi-phase change management project to transform the organisation’s core business processes. (Source: Google)

USA

LAND

05 Jan 11. FLIR Systems, Inc’s ICx Technologies subsidiary has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection