20 May 04. EDS Defence has been selected by the MoD as the prime contractor responsible for delivering the Military Flying Management Information System (MFMIS) programme. The MFMIS contract will replace the existing Messaging Automated Low Flying Flight Planning Enquiry and Notification System (M-ALFENS). EDS has teamed up with Avitech AG to provide an AFTN and ICAO-compliant messaging application for Air Traffic Management, as well as an extensive airfield status database. Both companies bring together unique and complementary skills to enable the successful completion of the programme. EDS and Avitech AG will provide applications for the storing and manipulation of Aeronautical information such as NOTAMS, Routes and Managed Airspace bookings. They will also facilitate the exchange of data between MFMIS and mission planning systems, ultimately assisting the MoD in moving towards its Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) policy, as well as providing a conflict notification application, and assisting in the rationalization of Air Support Systems.
12 May 04. General Dynamics Network Systems has received a $9.76m delivery order to provide an integrated, high-bandwidth network system for the Combat Information Transport System (CITS) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. General Dynamics Network Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics This is the third order in the past 12 months to be competitively awarded to General Dynamics to engineer, furnish, install and test network systems at Wright-Patterson. The orders have been executed under the U.S. Navy’s Voice, Video and Data (ViViD) contract, with a cumulative value of $21.3m.
19 May 04. Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin to supply an additional 86 Global Positioning
Inertial Navigation Systems (GINS), plus spares, for the U.S. Air
Force’s F/A-22 Raptor to fulfill the critical navigation functions of
this advanced fighter aircraft. GINS provides Raptor pilots
with aircraft attitude, heading, velocity and precise position. The
company’s Navigation Systems Division will produce the 86 GINS plus
spares.
20 May 04. Ultra announces that its Sonar & Communication Systems business has been awarded a $2.4m development contract for a KG-40AR Cryptographic System from the US Navy, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR SYSCOM). The KG-40AR is a “form, fit, function” replacement for the now obsolete KG-40A and is required for the ongoing sustainment of US Navy, US Army and NATO Link 11 tactical data link operations. The KG-40AR provides for encryption of messages shared between NATO and coalition forces’ for situational awareness. The KG-40AR design is based upon Ultra’s proven Multi-Link Processor (MLP). The MLP incorporates Ultra’s CESG and NATO approved BID/2200 Cryptographic Module, which has been in service with the UK Navy since 1999. This contract is the first Crypto to be procured by the US DoD from an offshore company. This is the culmination of Ultra’s design of a common solution that satisfies Link 11, Link 22, Link 16 and IDM / VMF tactical data links within a single small Line Replaceable Unit (LRU). The MLP is a result of a Ultra’s on-going product development strategy to offer tactical data link products to satisfy future NATO interoperability and Network Enabled Capability (NEC) requirements. This contract award is the first phase of a 5 year programme with a potential value, including production options, in excess of $22m.
20 May 04. Oshkosh told BATTLESPACE that its wheeled tanker programme for the UK was progressing well with the system achieving all milestones during testing at Millbrook. There is considerable interest in the system for the US Armed Forces for which the UK plant will receive some benefit.
15 May 04. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Greenville, Texas, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $48,000,000 value firm-fixed-price, time and materials contract with to conduct enhan