EUROPE
LAND
06 Apr 17. General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited has been awarded a £330m contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to design and develop the next-generation tactical communication and information system as the initial phase of the MORPHEUS programme. The system will be used to plan, deploy, manage and monitor communications and information for the Army. It will allow users to integrate new radios, applications and other system components faster and with greater ease. General Dynamics will implement a new architectural approach, known as Evolve to Open (EvO), which will evolve the Bowman tactical communication (BCIP 5.6) capability into an open, modular system. The system will connect deployed tactical forces to their commanders, give improved access to powerful operational IT and simplify the user experience. The open system approach allows new technologies to be rapidly integrated to tackle emerging threats and enhance interoperability with allies. The contract creates 125 new jobs as well as sustaining the jobs of 125 highly-skilled engineers at General Dynamics UK’s headquarters in Oakdale, South Wales. The EvO contract is the first to be awarded for the MORPHEUS programme, which will give UK Armed Forces across all three services modernised command and control networks using the latest technology.
03 Apr 17. Saab has, under a joint procurement process with Denmark and Norway, signed framework agreements with the respective countries for the supply of static and mobile camouflage systems to their armed forces. The agreements allow the two countries to place orders for camouflage systems over a four year contract period. For years, the armed forces of Denmark and Norway have been using Saab’s Barracuda advanced camouflage systems, in both static and mobile versions. The framework contracts now signed with the two countries means that they can place orders for mobile and static camouflage systems in woodland, desert and winter configurations. The agreements also includes the possibility to place orders for support during the contract period.
SEA
04 Apr 17. Royal Navy’s first Tide-class tanker RFA Tidespring to undergo customisation. The first of the British Royal Navy’s four Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tidespring Tide-class replenishment tankers is set to undergo customisation work at A&P shipyard in Falmouth.
Customisation works on the newest replenishment vessel is expected to support approximately 300 jobs at A&P Falmouth shipyard in Cornwall, UK, while work under the wider Tide-class programme is worth nearly £150m and will help retain further jobs at 27 companies around the country. The 39,000t RFA Tidespring will join the RFA, which is a civilian-manned fleet that provides support for the Royal Navy warships. The new tanker has the capacity to carry up to 19,000 cubic metres of fuel and 1,300 cubic metres of fresh water. RFA Tidespring is expected to enter service before the end of the year, and will help provide major support to the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers alongside the wider fleet. (Source: naval-technology.com)
03 Apr 17. UK MoD Award Babcock £340m Navy Warship Deal. The MoD has awarded a prestigious £340m deal providing support services to Royal Navy warships to Babcock International. The engineering outsourcing firm will manage the technical configuration of systems for two classes of Royal Navy vessels, supply spares and provide in-service support, Babcock said. The Royal Navy’s Type 45 vessels, which have had a number of problems and are all due to have engine replacements, are included in the deal. The announcement comes a week after shares in Babcock drastically fell following the decision to end of its nuclear reactor clean-up contract early, and will recoup almost half of the £800m lost. It is expected that the Marine Systems Support Partner deal will be a huge boost to the British company and its partners. (Source: defence-aerospace.co