EUROPE
LAND
23 Sep 13. The Austrian Federal Army (Bundesheer) is acquiring six new Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Dingo 2 mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles. All six vehicles will be delivered in an ambulance/medevac-configuration at a cost of EUR10.5m (USD14.2m). The Bundesheer already operates 35 Dingo 2s, first ordered in 2005, 20 patrol variants, 12 nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) detection variants, and 3 medevac variants. The medevac version features a crew of 2+2, accommodates two stretchers, and can be fitted with a shelter to handle contaminated personnel. Austria announced plans in 2005 to extend the fleet of Dingo 2s to up to 100 vehicles, although this has not materialised due to budgetary issues.(Source: Jane’s)
SEA
24 Sep 13. Babcock has been awarded a £4.8m contract by BAE Systems to supply actuators and positioning sensing arrays for the fifth, sixth and seventh Astute class submarines. The contract represents optimum value to the MoD by combining the requirements for all three submarines in a single contract, enabling cost reductions to be generated. Babcock will supply three sets of control surface hydraulic actuators (five per submarine); two for the aft hydroplane, one for the forward hydroplane and two for the rudder, plus five positioning sensing arrays per boat set. Under the two and a half year programme of works, Babcock will procure the components, and assemble and functionally test the units, which will then be delivered to BAE Systems in line with the submarine build programme. Babcock has also supplied this equipment for Astute submarines one to four, under previous contracts.
24 Sep 13. Thales has signed the first contract to provide through-life support for six MRR (Multi-Role Radar) systems aboard Royal Norwegian Navy Skjold-class corvettes. The five-year contract with the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) highlights the company’s excellent relations with its Norwegian customer. The Royal Norwegian Navy acquired six Thales MRR radars for a fleet of six Skjold-class corvettes delivered between 2010 and 2013. MRR radars provide long-range 3D air and surface surveillance combined with vessel self-defence and threat evaluation capabilities. This is Thales’s first support contract for this type of radar. The contract is tailored to the exact maintenance requirements of the customer and brings NDLO access to the full range of Thales skills and experience in naval defence and radar systems. It is based on a business model that ensures optimal system performance from service entry and throughout the equipment life cycle. For Thales, this partnership with NDLO sets up the first worldwide reference for this equipment.
AIR
17 Sep 13. FLIR Systems, Inc.’s Star SAFIRE 380-HD was selected by Bristow Helicopters for its fleet of AW189 and S-92 helicopters to be used in the United Kingdom’s Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter program, due to commence in 2015. This comes after the UK Department for Transport awarded the UK SAR contract to Bristow Helicopters Limited (Bristow Helicopters) in March of this year. The UK SAR services contract, which Bristow Helicopters will fulfill on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), has a phased-in transition period beginning in April 2015 and continuing to July 2017 with a contract length of approximately ten years.
24 Sep 13. Sagem (Safran) has signed a contract with French defense procurement agency DGA for the development and production of a new version of the MPME (Module de Préparation de Missions) mission planning system for helicopter crews, to be deployed by the French army’s air arm (ALAT). The new version of the MPME system is designed to support the service entry of the army’s Tiger HAD (support & destruction) and NH90 TTH Caïman tactical transport helicopters.
TECHNOLOGY
25 Sep 13. GEOCORE, led by Envitia, including Helyx SIS Ltd, University of Nottingham, University College London (UCL)