EUROPE
SEA
17 Sep 13. Babcock contracted to address obsolescence in external comms system on T-class subs. Babcock has been contracted by the UK Ministry of Defence to design and develop the first stage of an obsolescence update to the Communications Coherency for Submarines (CCSM) system on Trafalgar class submarines. CCSM, developed by Babcock, was first installed on T-class submarines in 2005, providing the submarines with increased capacity and capability to handle existing and future levels of message traffic and information, including the ability to use and share information efficiently as part of joint or coalition task force. The system consolidated previously independent autonomous systems into a single COTS-based system architecture, covering communications across the frequency spectrum from VLF to EHF. It also provided improved processes to enable rapid technology insertion for maximum efficiency and cost benefits, and to overcome inherent space constraints.
AIR
19 Sep 13. Astrium contract with OHB for the delivery of a reconnaissance satellite to the German Armed Forces. Astrium, Europe’s leading space company, and OHB System AG (Bremen, Germany) signed a contract in Friedrichshafen for the development, construction and launch of a high performance radar satellite for the ‘SARah’ satellite-based reconnaissance system, for a total value of 344m euros. The contract also covers the provision of all necessary components for the ground segment to ensure the image production process, from requesting images through to final delivery is fully operational from the end of 2019. (Source: ASD Network)
17 Sep 13. The Netherlands has selected the F-35 joint strike fighter as the official replacement for its fleet of F-16s, a major international sale for the fifth-generation fighter. The selection completes a 15-year long odyssey that has seen the Netherlands waver between strong support and serious concerns over whether the F-35 is the right choice for its military. The purchase will be for 37 of the F-35A conventional-take-off-and-landing variants, which will be the most widely produced model of the jet. The US Air Force intends to purchase more than 1,700 F-35As. The Dutch have budgeted €4.5bn (US $6bn) for the F-35. (Source: Defense News)
USA
LAND
18 Sep 13. Harris Corporation received $38m in orders for tactical radios that will expand deployment of wideband tactical communications across the U.S. Air Force. The orders were received during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. Harris will supply the Air Force with additional Falcon III® AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack and AN/PRC-152A multiband handheld tactical radio systems. The radios will accelerate the rollout of Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) wideband networking capabilities to para-rescue, combat communications and other Air Force personnel.
18 Sep 13. Lockheed Martin will continue supporting the air, space defense and missile warning missions for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Cheyenne Mountain Complex under a $20m contract modification to the Integrated Space Command and Control (ISC2) program. Under this option, awarded by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Lockheed Martin will continue to sustain these critical national defense missions at multiple locations worldwide. This is the second option exercised from the contract awarded in October 2012. ISC2 is the common, interoperable C2 enterprise that supports multiple missions for NORAD, U.S. Strategic Command and the U.S. Northern Command. By integrating these regional combatant commands under a single strategic command and control system, ISC2 enables different combatant commanders to easily interoperate with each other and other echelons of joint military leadership.
SEA
16 Sep 13. Hydroid Inc, Pocasset, Mass., is being awarded a $36,323,734 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of unmann