EUROPE
LAND
09 Jul 13. French MoD awards Protector system upgrade contract to Kongsberg. Kongsberg Gruppen has been awarded a framework contract for the modernisation of the French Army’s Protector remote weapon stations (RWS). Awarded by the French Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Nkr100m ($15.9m) contract covers repair and overhaul, as well as supply of logistic support for the Protector systems mounted onboard the army’s Vehicule de l’Avant Blinde (VAB) 4×4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs). The RWS systems have been supplied by the company as part of a separate Nkr500m ($79.9m) framework agreement signed with Renault Truck Defense for upgrade of the VAB front-line vehicle fleet in May 2008. (Source: army-technology.com)
SEA
08 Jul 13. Estonian Defence Forces sign new Thales naval support contract. Thales UK has signed a contract with the Estonian Defence Forces to provide an additional four years of technical support and maintenance to two former Royal Navy (RN) mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) now serving with the Estonian fleet. The contract provides a framework to achieve cost savings while accessing a wider range of support activities than previously provided. Thales offers a complete range of services and support packages to suit specific operational and maintenance requirements. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Jul 13. Zodiac MILPRO has won a blanket order to supply over 700 rigid and semi-rigid inflatable boats to all branches of the French armed forces in a deal worth up to €7.8m (US$ 10.25mi). The orders follow the acceptance of 10 out of 14 individual tenders submitted to the Central Directorate of Equipment and relate to the supply of boats ranging in size from four to 7.5 metres. The orders are for a variety of boats from the Zodiac MILPRO range that have each been chosen to meet a specific operational need in the French armed forces. These include some of Zodiac MILPRO’s newest models that will be assigned to tasks that include patrolling the Ile de Longue nuclear submarine base, for use by the French coastguard on operational patrols and vessel interception, training missions for French commandos, workboats for airborne delivery by the Air Force and others for supporting navy divers during mine clearance operations. A large number of inflatable boats will also be supplied to the Army for amphibious operations and will be added to the service’s existing stock of more than 500 craft. The contracts will include the purchase of two of Zodiac MILPRO’s newest and most innovative boats for use at the French commando training centre. The SRA 750 was launched in June and is unlike any other Zodiac MILPRO boat. It features an exceptionally strong aluminium hull enclosed by inflatable D-Shape collars that combine buoyancy with extra interior space. This design gives the boat outstanding sea-keeping in extreme conditions along with a spacious interior capable of carrying substantial loads or large numbers of passengers or a stretcher. This versatility is further enhanced by the innovation of deck tracks that enable the mounting of armament or the seating configuration to be changed quickly according to its mission. This versatility is also expected to make the new boat attractive to civilian users who will also benefit from its military-grade quality.
AIR
11 Jul 13. Eurocopter and the German Federal Ministry of Defense today signed a contract for 15 EC645 T2 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) to be used by Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK), Germany’s Special Forces Command. With this order, the Bundeswehr has now joined the customer list for the most powerful model in Eurocopter’s proven EC145 family. The contract, worth a total of 194m euros, includes not just the helicopters but also the related equipment packages to allow KSK to carry out its special operations missions. Deliveries of the 15 aircraft begin in late 2015 and will be completed by mid-2017.
USA
LAND
10 Jul 13. Data Link Solutions LLC,