EUROPE
SEA
19 Oct 16. iXblue, a French industrial group recognized worldwide for its inertial navigation and positioning equipment, will supply Marins M3 and Netans N3 systems to the German Navy, for the upgrade of four F123 Brandenburg-class frigates, and two F122 Bremen-class frigates. Following the integration of Octans systems into the German Navy’s Seehund vessels in 2013, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnologie und Nutzung der Bundeswehr – BAAINBw) has chosen iXblue to replace obsolete inertial navigation systems on board its frigates. (Source: Yahoo!/PRNewswire)
AIR
18 Oct 16. RAF Renews its Emergency Arrestor Gear Support Contracts. The Royal Air Force is renewing its support contracts for fixed and deployable emergency arrestor gear on its military airfields around the world. Under the first of two 10 year contracts awarded to Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, the company will be continuing a 40 year history of providing maintenance for the fixed Rotary Hydraulic Arrestor Gear (RHAG) and Engineering Support for RHAG and the Portable Aircraft Arrestor Gear (PAAG). Additionally, the new contract’s scope includes the maintenance support for the PAAG systems. Under a separate competitively won contract, Marshall will be providing maintenance and engineering support for the Arrestor Barrier Net Systems. This equipment is a new addition to the Marshall arrestor gear systems support portfolio.
17 Oct 16. MASS awarded nine-year extension contract on Sentry Whole Life Support Programme. Cohort, the independent technology group, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary MASS has been awarded a nine-year extension to its managed IT service contract for the Sentry Whole Life Support Programme (WLSP) at RAF Waddington. Valued at around £12m, the scope of the support contract now includes replacement of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul software and adds an Enterprise Performance Management solution. The team is led by Northrop Grumman with MASS, AAR Corp and Cobham Aviation Services partnering together to support and maintain the availability of the UK’s fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Northrop Grumman commented that this nine-year extension recognises MASS’s agile response to ever-changing needs and the provision of a first-rate, value for money service.
USA
SEA
19 Oct 16. Rolls-Royce secures contract for US Navy’s new fleet replenishment ships. Rolls-Royce has been contracted to supply diesel generators, propellers and shaft lines for the US Navy’s new John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler ships. The US Navy is planning to build a total of 17 replenishment oilers, which are expected to increase the navy’s capability to ferry fuel to its surface ships. Each of the vessels will be fitted with Rolls Royce’s two Kamewa 150A Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) and two Bergen B32:40xL8A generator sets to cater for on-board energy requirements. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
18 Oct 16. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was recently awarded two contract modifications by the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, Ala., for production of the 2.75″/70mm Hydra-70 air-to-ground rocket system for U.S. military services and Foreign Military Sales customers. The option exercised is part of a supplies contract originally awarded to General Dynamics in 2014. General Dynamics has been in continuous production of the Hydra-70 rockets since 1996.
18 Oct 16. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has secured a $12.6m contract to explore the use of high-speed drones in either fully autonomous or semi-autonomous roles to support fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft. The contract was awarded by Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), in coordination with Stratcom and the Strategic