EUROPE
LAND
03 Oct 13. DGA awards hybrid propulsion demonstrator contract to Renault Trucks Defense. The French defence procurement agency DGA awarded Renault Trucks Defense a design study contract (PEA) to develop a hybrid propulsion demonstrator in 2012. On completion of this study, in the last quarter of 2014, Renault Trucks Defense will present a VAB armoured personnel carrier equipped with this thermal and electric propulsion system – an electric machine linked to a combustion engine.
The applications for hybrid propulsion are very promising and involve several vehicle operating modes. In the field of mobility, hybrid propulsion can serve as a booster, providing around 100 hp of extra power. Hybrid propulsion also offers an energy reserve that will be very useful for command or observation vehicles which are often required to conduct long-endurance missions and to supply power to various on- and off-board systems (observation equipment, information and command system, etc.). Hybrid propulsion ensures that these functions can be performed without the need to maintain the combustion engine in operation.
SEA
03 Oct 13. Babcock awarded SSE design contract. Babcock has been contracted by BAE Systems to work on a new design for the Submerged Signal Ejector (SSE) for the UK’s future ballistic nuclear submarine (SSBN). Following the contract awarded to Babcock last autumn for the system definition of the future submarine’s tactical weapons handling and launch system (WHLS) and SSE, this latest contract (which follows a successful concept review) now covers the development of a new (Mk12) SSE design up to System Design Phase. The new Mk12 SSE will combine proven technologies with a number of innovative features, and is being designed to accommodate the platform-specific performance and technical requirements of the future submarine. The modular design of the SSE will also allow its manufacturing schedule to be decoupled from the submarine build schedule.
02 Oct 13. Kelvin Hughes announced that the Irish Naval Service has selected the SharpEye™ radar and the MantaDigital™ display for the incremental upgrade of its fleet. Ships of the Irish Naval Service operate in some of the harshest maritime conditions, including the North Atlantic, and the decision in favour of SharpEye™ was strongly influenced by the enhanced situational awareness that the radar system can provide, particularly in adverse conditions and high sea states. Under the terms of the contract, the upgrades will take place over a three year period as vessels become available for or require a refit.
AIR
30 Sep 13. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Poway, Calif., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $49,813,377 undefinitized contract action (DO 0112) under a previously existing cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (FA8620-10-G-3038) for France’s MQ-9 Reaper urgent request program. Work will be performed in Poway, Calif., and is expected to be completed by July 15, 2015. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This contract action is 100 percent foreign military sales for France. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WIIK, Medium Altitude Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity.
26 Sep 13. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products*, Williston, Vt., was awarded an $8,620,188 firm-fixed-price, option-eligible, non-multi-year contract modification (P00159) of contract (W31P4Q-10-C-0190) in exercise of its option for Hydra Rockets All Up Rounds. This is in support of foreign military sales to the Netherlands. Performance location will be Williston, Vt., and Camden, Ark. with funding from fiscal 2010 other authorization funds. This contract was a solicited via the Web with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command ? Redstone Arsenal (Missile), Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
30 Sep 13. Belgium requests AIM-9X-2 sidewinder missiles from US. Th