EUROPE
LAND
06 Jul 12. Cassidian, the defence and security division of EADS, will supply the French Armed Forces with advanced identification systems used to prevent friendly fire. The French defence procurement agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement – DGA) recently awarded Cassidian a contract to supply 150 units of its newly developed MSR 1000 I interrogator (MSR = Monopulse Secondary Radar) for the short-range friend-or-foe identification (IFF). The first units will be delivered by mid-2014. They are destined for installation on the Army’s MISTRAL missile launchers and MARTHA air defence command and control stations as well as on the armoured launch vehicles of the Air Force’s CROTALE NG missile. The contract is a part of the IFF NG (New Generation) operation, which sets out to develop equipment compliant with NATO’s new Mode 5 interoperability standard. This will offer the French Armed Forces the option of upgrading their platforms. The MSR 1000 I is a suitable product for many platforms requiring Mode 5 such as Stinger, the German LeFlaSys or the British HVM. The MSR 1000 I will be able to quickly and safely identify aircraft by using highly sophisticated encryption techniques to avoid hostile signal manipulation, thus overcoming the limits of the present IFF systems and facilitating commanders’ decisions whether to engage aircraft or not. At the same time, a new civil mode S can thus be used by both civil and military authorities. Mode S actually helps to manage the growing volume of civil air traffic, improving the efficiency of flight control by addressing aircraft with their unique identity code.
02 Jul 12. The UK MoD has placed a £29m UOR order with Lockheed Martin to re-stock and support the UK’s supply of Hellfire II missiles. The missiles, a mix of variants, are a follow-on order from an existing order which is due to be completed in October this year. This latest contract calls for delivery throughout 2013. They will be cleared and certified for use on the Apache AH64D helicopter, while Lockheed Martin UK – Ampthill has also been awarded a supplementary contract to provide missile system support. The Hellfire II missile is a combat–proven tactical missile system that can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms. Offering multi–mission, multi-target capability and precision–strike lethality, it is the primary 100 lb class air–to–ground precision weapon for the British Army.
06 Jul 12. Rheinmetall Defence Electronics has received a contract from the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) to supply the first extended future infantrymen series systems (IdZ-ES) to Germany’s Armed Forces. The systems delivered under the terms of the unspecified contract will be used to ensure the establishing of a mission-oriented initial capability for the German troops currently serving in Afghanistan. An upgraded variant of the company’s previous future soldier system, the IdZ-ES is an advanced communications system designed to bring the army’s infantry, mechanised infantry units and vehicles into the network-enabled operational loop, comprising of reconnaissance, command and control components. An IdZ-BS system consists of a modular bullet-proof vest, C4I equipment, NaviPad for situational awareness and transmitting messages, target data and images, night vision device, tactical radio, laser range finder and thermal image sighting device. Featuring digital voice, data and video communication systems, the new system is capable of eliminating the shortcomings in the command and control capabilities and combat effectiveness, which have been identified in the earlier version.(Source: armytechnology.com)
SEA
05 Jul 12. Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected to supply the Platform Management System (PMS) for the Royal Navy’s fifth Astute-class submarine, Anson. Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit will supply the PMS for Astute Boat 5 under a performance pa