23 Feb 04. DRS Technologies, Inc. has received a $15.3m contract to provide Electronic Warfare Instrumented Training Range (EWITR) systems and support services for the Italian Air Force. The EWITR system, a derivative of the company’s Mobile Threat Radar Simulator (MTRS), will provide the Italian Air Force with the latest generation threat radar simulators and master control stations for aircrew training and tactics development through the use of modeling and simulation. These systems are vital to maintaining highly realistic training and test operations under simulated combat conditions. In addition to these systems, the company will provide spares, logistics support services, training, technical manuals and additional system components. The $15.3m award was received by DRS from Teledife, the contracting office of the Italian Ministry of Defense,
17 Feb 04. Goodrich Corporation has been selected by BAE Systems to provide the SmartProbe(TM) air data system for the BAE Systems Hawk Mk 128. The Goodrich SmartProbe system will provide air data information required by the avionics system to meet Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM) flight requirements.
24 Feb 04. BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to supply Advanced Airborne Reconnaissance Systems (AARS), ground processing capability, and integrated logistics support to the Royal Air Force of Oman. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract was issued by Aeronautical Systems Center of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. AARS is a system providing multiple fields-of-view in a single sensor package. The completely digital reconnaissance system will replace the wet film system currently used by the Royal Air Force of Oman.
The system’s output is compatible with U.S. and many NATO reconnaissance ground interpretation systems and will enhance coalition operations in the region. Delivery of the system will be integrated into Block 50 F-16 aircraft to be delivered by Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems personnel will provide in-country service and support for basic operation and maintenance of the reconnaissance system.
26 Feb 04. Rolls-Royce has received an order for five Model 250-C20W engines to power Schweizer Aircraft Corporation Model 333 helicopters for the Mexican Procuraduria General de la República (PGR), which is already a major operator of the Model 250-powered Bell 206L LongRanger, 24 of which were ordered in 1999. The five new Schweizer 333 light turbine helicopters will perform airborne law enforcement and surveillance missions including border patrol, drug enforcement and interdiction.
19 Feb 04. Alloy Surfaces, a US subsidiary of Chemring, the defensive countermeasures group, has won a $25m (£15m) contract from the US Department of Defense to supply special material infrared decoys to protect Army helicopters and Air Force transport aircraft. Alloy Surfaces also won a $5.3m order for decoys from the US Navy, bringing its order book to more than $50m. (Source: FT)
13 Feb 04. Australia is upgrading the missiles on its frigates, submarines and fighter jets to more effectively target ships close to shore or in busy waterways. The defence force would spend A$30 million ($23 million) fitting its Harpoon Block I missiles with Harpoon Block II technology to enhance their accuracy.
17 Feb 04. Bell Boeing Joint Program Office, Patuxent River, Md., is being awarded a $849,300,000 (estimated value) advanced acquisition contract for long lead materials needed to manufacture eight Lot 9 MV-22 and three CV-22 low rate initial production tilt rotor aircraft. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pa. (50 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); and Amarillo, Texas (15 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-04-C-0012).
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