EUROPE
LAND
02 Feb 11. Cubic Defense Applications has received a contract to expand and upgrade the instrumentation for the British Army’s Salisbury Plain ground combat training range. The $40m contract will enhance troop readiness and provide pre-deployment, mission specific training to support ongoing operations in Afghanistan. The contract includes Cubic’s latest MILES individual weapon system (IWS) gear, as well as communications and after-action review upgrades and enhancements to its training systems. The Cubic training system, installed in 2002, employs lasers and sensors to simulate force-on-force combat exercises, including the effects of small arms fire, artillery, improvised explosive devices and air-delivered munitions. The system also uses data links to capture events for post-action reviews. (Source: armytechnology.com)
26 Jan 11. DRS Technologies, Inc. has been issued a $21m order for Heavy Weapon Thermal Sights (HWTS) from the UK MoD. The work will be carried out by the DRS Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Acquisition (RSTA) business group’s operations located in Melbourne, Florida and Dallas, Texas. Deliveries have already commenced and will continue through 2013.
12 Jan 11. Following a competitive procedure [OJEU ref 10/S162-249696/EN published 21.8.2010) for compbat protective eyewear, where no suitable tender was identified, and a VTN published 17.12.2010, the MOD is making an interim purchase of combat protective eyewear, under the negotiated procedure, to allow the time required to re-run the competition. Numbers purchased in this interim buy are for 6 months requirement [Jan 11 to Jun 11] for current operational and training needs; an option for a further 6 months is also provided should the re-run be delayed. Terms of the interim buy do not substantially alter from the original advert. MOD intends to advertise there-run for the framework agreement in due course. Revision Military received the order. Estimated total value: £3, 430,220.
AIR
27 Jan 11. Marshall Aerospace has been awarded a contract by the NATO Maintenance & Supply Agency (NAMSA) to support its C-130 Heavy Maintenance activities. NAMSA outsources Unscheduled and Periodic Depot Level Maintenance services in support of C-130 aircraft that are operated by its member countries. This contract was a renewal of an existing contract which Marshall Aerospace won through NAMSA’s international competitive bidding process. The contract encompasses a full range of C-130 maintenance activities (from ‘drop-in’ repairs to full PDMs, and including Isochronal checks) in support of the United States Air Force over the next three years. Under this contract, Marshall Aerospace is expecting to see up to 10 aircraft inputs a year, from C-130 fleets operated by any of the 28 NATO member states, and this will comprise B – H models, and its variant ‘K’ model for which MA is Sister Design Authority for the RAF fleet. The first aircraft is expected to arrive at Marshall’s UK facility in Cambridge during the 1st quarter of 2011.
TECHNOLOGY
27 Jan 11. FMV, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, has ordered more products for encrypted telephony from Sectra. The products will be used by the Swedish Defense Forces and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, where work to increase security and protect sensitive information against new threats will continue. The order value totals SEK 36m (€ 4m). The order comprises Tiger XS and Tiger XS Office, which are products for secure mobile telephony, fixed telephony and secure data communication. The new products will modernize existing equipment and more users will gain access to secure communication systems. Delivery of the products will commence during the second quarter of the 2011 calendar year. The order also comprises service and support agreements for the equipment.
USA
LAND
31 Jan 11. DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc., St, Louis, Mo., was awarded a $8,896,882.80 contract to provide