EUROPE
LAND
22 Feb 11. The French Directorate General of Armaments has awarded a contract to Panhard General for 100 weapon under armour for self protection (WASP) remote-controlled weapon stations. The contract was awarded under the operational emergency procurement procedure with Sagem being the principal subcontractor. The French Army will fit WASP weapon stations on its PVP small protected vehicles and VBL light armoured vehicles. The WASP is a lightweight remote-controlled turret operated from inside the vehicle and is equipped with a MAG 58 7.62mm machine gun coupled with an observation sight including day / night infrared sights. The system will provide improved protection to the soldiers with the capability to engage targets while remaining under armour. The lightweight and compact weapon is also well-suited for urban warfare and in mountainous regions.
18 Feb 11. German Army Chooses MineWolf Solutions for Countering IEDs in Afghanistan. The German Army has purchased the smallest machine in the MineWolf product range, the Mini MineWolf. This remote controlled vehicle allows clearance of the dangerous explosive devices from a safe distance. The six-tonne machine can selectively be equipped with different tools, such as the robotic arm, tiller and dozer shield. On-site maintenance of the equipment is facilitated by using self-contained workshop containers with training provided by qualified MineWolf personnel to ensure smooth deployment of the machines by the implementing troops.
22 Feb 11. OXLEY Developments has been selected to supply its innovative, dual-mode LED lighting to illuminate the crew quarters in Foxhound, the new British Armed Forces patrol vehicle. Foxhound is the British Army name for Ocelot, the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) designed and developed by survivability specialists Force Protection Europe. Force Protection Europe has won a contract to supply 200 of the British-designed vehicles to the Ministry of Defence LPPV Programme.
AIR
17 Feb 11. Italian aircraft set for MANPADS defences. Italian Air Force fixed-wing transport aircraft and new combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) helicopters are to receive a new defensive aids suite (DAS) to improve their protection against manportable air defence systems (MANPADS). Under a EUR25.4m (USD34.4m) contract awarded by the General Directorate of Air Armaments in late 2010, Elettronica will supply the ELT/572 DIRCM (directional infrared countermeasures) system. (Source: Jane’s, IDR)
20 Feb 11. French defense procurement agency DGA has awarded Sagem (Safran group) a contract for the modernization and expansion of the French army’s fleet of Sperwer tactical drones and associated equipment. The contract covers the following:
• Three Sperwer drones, to be equipped with Sagem’s new Euroflir 350+
optronic observation system.
• An option on five more Sperwer drones.
• Sagem’s Remote Video Terminals (RVT), along with the modernization of the RVTs already delivered under a previous contract signed in 2009.
Developed and produced by Sagem, the RVT comprises a touch screen and
portable transmitter-receiver, either a manpack version or installed in a vehicle. The RVT is used by forward observers or front-line troops. It provides a high-resolution, real-time display of geo-referenced images sent by the drone, against a digital map background. The RVT features a modular, open and scalable design, and can operate at different frequencies and with different waveforms. This latest contract will bring the number of Sperwer drones produced by Sagem’s Montluçon plant in France to 130.
TECHNOLOGY
20 Feb 11. NATO continues to entrust Thales with the operation of its communications network in Afghanistan. NATO has confirmed the role of Thales as operator of highly-secured Communication and Information Systems to the benefit of the nations of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) for two additional years. This success reflec