EUROPE
LAND
07 Aug 12. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DoD/DSCA) has notified the Congress of the following possible Foreign Military Sale: The Government of Belgium has requested a possible purchase of 240 Block I Javelin Missiles, 60 Command Launch Units (CLU) Missile Simulation Rounds (MSR), Battery Coolant Units (BCU), support equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related logistics support. The estimated cost is $88m. The principal contractors will be Joint Javelin Venture (JJV), a consortium of Raytheon, in Tucson, Arizona and Lockheed Martin, in Orlando, Florida. (Source: glstrade.com)
SEA
10 Aug 12. Cassidian will equip the new Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Finnish Border Guard with its proven TRS-3D naval radar. The STX Shipyard in Rauma/Finland has awarded Cassidian a contract to deliver the radar by mid-2013 for integration into the new ship. The radar is intended to provide a reliable and comprehensive situation picture as well as safe helicopter guidance and Search-and-Rescue (SAR) missions under the extreme environmental conditions of the Finnish littoral waters. TRS-3D is a 3-dimensional multimode naval radar for air and sea surveillance. It includes the ability to correlate plots and tracks of targets with Cassidian’s MSSR 2000 I identification system for automatic identification of vessels and aircraft. TRS-3D is in service with the “Squadron 2000” patrol vessels and the “Hämeenma”-class ships of the Finnish Navy. With more than 60 radars operated by navies and coast guards worldwide, TRS-3D is the market leader in its class. Among the ships equipped are the K130 corvettes of the German Navy, the US Coast Guard National Security Cutters, the US Navy Littoral Combat Ships and the Norwegian Coast Guard vessels of the “Nordkapp” and “Svalbard” class.
TECHNOLOGY
08 Aug 12. BMT Defence Services Ltd announced its latest contract which will see the organisation partner with IT specialists IPL to support, further develop and enhance the UK’s MoD Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Business Management Information Systems (MIS). Enabling the provision of business tools and their associated in-service support, the Defence Information Services Team – Business Solutions (DIST-BS) team within the MoD’s DE&S provides application services that operate in support of current operations, business management, administration information solutions and delivery of enhanced future capability. BMT and IPL will come together to address known technical update requirements, resolve legacy issues and further improve usability for all users across DE&S, providing an essential precursor to future DE&S Management Information development.
USA
LAND
08 Aug 12. Arotech Corporation’s Battery and Power Systems Division has received a new order for over 1,100 units of its award-winning SWIPES System. The $2.3m order will service Program Executive Officer (PEO) Soldier’s Project Manager (PM) Soldier Warrior, Product Director, Soldier Power, which encompasses expeditionary power solutions intended for the most austere (Tier 1) operating environments. The Soldier Wearable Integrated Power Equipment System, or SWIPES, utilizes the MOLLE vest and integrates force protection electronics and communications equipment with an advanced battery. The system utilizes a modular power distribution system that is powered by BA-8180/U, BA-8140/U Zinc-air batteries or the LI-145, BB2590 rechargeable batteries for direct power of equipment, allowing for extended mission times without the burden of power source swaps or charging due to their high energy density, and reducing battery weight soldiers carry by up to 30%. The batteries continuously charge the secondary batteries inside various devices, such as two way radios, GPS units and shot detection systems. The SWIPES pr