27 Apr 04. HQ ACE Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) has received its new DLOS (Direct Line of Sight) system – ahead of schedule. The UK division of global military communications systems provider, Marconi-Selenia Communications, a Finmeccanica company, delivered the CTL304 Long-Range Radio Relay System and support services within just five months of the contract award. The contract was awarded to Marconi-Selenia Communications by the UK MOD DPA on behalf of the ARRC on 21 October 2003. Although production lead times are normally seven months, Marconi-Selenia Communications implemented advance action to ensure the ARRC received its new system on time, successfully delivering the system by 31 March 2004. Close involvement with the DPA project team and HQ ARRC throughout the process, including 1 (UK) Signal Brigade’s supply of key installation frames and vehicles, ensured that the necessary design and testing could be phased and completed on schedule.
30 Apr 04. Independent systems and engineering technology provider Frazer-Nash Consultancy has been appointed the Independent Safety Auditor (ISA) to the Merlin Capability Sustainment Plus (MCSP) programme. MCSP will primarily address the significant obsolescence challenges on the Merlin Mk1 helicopter to ensure it is sustained through to its out-of-service date. Additionally it will deliver, through the use of modern technology, a system that will more readily incorporate possible future capability enhancements. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded the contract to Frazer-Nash following a competitive tender process involving several of the UK’s leading safety consultancies.
22 Apr 04. An open-architecture real-time operating system by BAE Systems has been selected for use on the boom control on the Boeing Company’s new 767 Tanker Transport. Smiths Aerospace has selected the BAE Systems CsLEOS(tm) real-time operating system to underpin the actuator control electronics on the aerial refuelling aircraft. CsLEOS, an ARINC-653-compliant, fault-tolerant, hard-real-time operating system, was chosen because of its heritage in safety- and mission-critical applications. The system is certifiable to DO-178B Level A, the aviation industry’s highest safety standard, and accommodates a mixture of criticality levels among functions, saving the time and expense associated with certifying the entire system to Level A.
28 Apr 04. AT&T Government Solutions has been awarded two multi-year contracts managed by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation to develop live battlefield training systems, launching the company into the forefront of warfare training technology. The combined value of the 42-month contracts could reach $134m. Under the Army’s One Tactical Engagement Simulation System (OneTESS) contract, AT&T Government Solutions and its team of companies will develop the next generation “force-on-force” and “force-on-target” war game system in support of the Army’s on-going transformation of live training. OneTESS will replace the current laser-based systems and enables the Army to train soldiers more efficiently, cost-effectively and realistically in a simulated battlefield environment. The contract is worth $74.1m.
06 April 2004. Tenix Defence Pty Ltd has been chosen as the preferred tenderer to provide the Royal New Zealand Navy’s next generation of ships through Project Protector. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Salteri, said today that it was a great privilege for the company to be selected in an international competition as preferred tenderer to build all three ship classes required in Project Protector.
28 Apr 04. Belgium’s Barco (Brussels:BARBt.BR – News) has won a $30m contract from Lockheed Martin to provide displays for 20 U.S. air traffic control centers.
24 Apr 04. Saab Training Systems AB of Huskvarna, Sweden was awarded a firm fixed price contract for $14m to deliver six instrumentation syste