EUROPE
SEA
28 Oct 13. Royal Navy selects iXBlue’s MARINS units for Queen Elizabeth-class ships. The UK Royal Navy has selected iXBlue’s MARINS inertial navigation systems for the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers (QEC) programme. The MARINS units have already undergone testing to optimise their configuration to meet the specific operational requirements of the aircraft carriers. iXBlue’s general manager, David Cunningham, said the iXBlue-built MARINS features iXBlue’s fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) technology meets the growing needs of the navies for more accurate and robust inertial navigation systems. (Source: naval-technology.com)
30 Oct 13. SEA, a Cohort plc company, has been awarded a contract by Babcock Marine for the second phase of the Submarine Communications Buoy technology demonstrator. The value of the contract is approximately £5m, the bulk of which will be delivered over the next 24 months. SEA is a partner to Babcock Marine, the UK’s leading naval support business and a subsidiary of Babcock International Group plc, in this programme which aims to develop and prove a new generation communications buoy for use on UK submarines. The award follows successful simulation and testing of the technology in collaboration with Babcock during Phase One of the development process. SEA will now provide specialist modelling support and manage the trials programme as well as developing and supplying the inboard electronics units.
AIR
30 Oct 13. After a lengthy delay, the Turkish government signed a critical contract for the acquisition of an initial batch of 10 drones that Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) locally designed, developed and will manufacture. Turkey’s procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), announced Tuesday that the contract for the Anka, Turkey’s first indigenous UAV, calls for the deliveries of 10 aircraft and ground stations to start in 2016. SSM did not mention any contract price.SSM’s chief, Murad Bayar, told Defense News that Turkey would add satellite communications capabilities to the Anka. He said the Anka’s design would evolve over time in consultation with the Air Force about its needs. (Source: Defense News)
30 Oct 13. A major new Development Contract which will pave the way for continuous capability enhancements of the Eurofighter Typhoon has been signed by Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA). The package (known as Evolution Package 2) will be delivered by the end of 2015. The Contract signing was announced on Wednesday 30th October in South Korea at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2013. Evolution Package 2 consists of a number of improvements including enhancements to the major avionics sensor such as the Radar and the Defensive Aids Sub Systems (DASS) of the Eurofighter Typhoon. It also includes enhancements designed to cater for the latest operational requests of Customers and important enhancements to the Multifunction Information and Distribution System (MIDS). In addition, the package will include further improvements to the Flight Control System (FCS) and the Utility Control System (UCS) that will allow the Eurofighter Typhoon to be more compatible with evolving requirements within the Commercial Aviation air space environment.
29 Oct 13. Eurocopter to supply AS365 N3 Dauphin helicopters to Lithuanian Air Force. Eurocopter has secured a contract for the supply of its AS365 N3 Dauphin helicopters to the Lithuanian Air Force (LAF) for countrywide search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. Awarded by the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence, the contract covers delivery of three Dauphin helicopters with around-the-clock availability, and involves financing support from the European Union (EU).
25 Oct 13. The Austrian Ministry of Defence revealed the order for 6 Tracker mini unmanned air systems (18 aircraft). After evaluation of the mini-UAS operation in accord