EUROPE
LAND
04 May 17. Latvia has signed an agreement with Austria for the purchase of type M109A5Oe self-propelled howitzers, the Latvian Ministry of Defence announced on 27 April.
The agreement includes 47 howitzers along with fire control centre and training platforms. Each unit will cost €60,000 to €140,000 depending on the configuration. The howitzers will further improve indirect fire support capabilities of the Latvian armed forces and improve their ability to fully engage in NATO operations and training activities. The howitzers were fully modernised between 2003 and 2007 and then mothballed. The M109A5Oe type A howitzer is an upgraded version of the legacy A2/A3 type howitzers, equipped with 39 calibre M185 barrel. Howitzers have a range of 22km when standard ammunition is used, and the upgraded version can reach 30km range. Latvian personnel are currently in Austria to undergo training on howitzer operation. The first artillery units will be delivered to Latvia this autumn. (Source: Shephard)
04 May 17. Czech manufacturer Ray Service has received a contract to supply parts for the Swedish Army’s vehicle-mounted mortar system, Mjölner. Awarded by BAE Systems, the contract requires Ray to develop and produce cabling assemblies for 40 mortar systems. In December, the Swedish Defence Material Administration awarded an SEK575m ($68m) contract to BAE for the installation of mortar systems on the army’s 40 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). The installation of mortar systems is anticipated to increase the vehicles’ lifespan in support of army capabilities. First deliveries of the mortar systems are expected to take place in the first quarter of 2019. (Source: army-technology.com)
SEA
28 Apr 17. General Dynamics (GD) Electric Boat has been awarded a $95.5m contract modification from the US Navy to continue development of the common missile compartment (CMC). The CMC is being developed for the use on-board both the US Navy’s new Columbia-class submarine and the UK Royal Navy’s Dreadnought-class ballistic-missile submarine. General Dynamics Electric Boat will be able to procure 17 missile tubes to support the CMC’s development under the newly modified deal. The US Navy’s Columbia-class programme was formerly known as Ohio replacement programme (ORP) and involves the development of 12 new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), which are intended to replace the current fleet of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs. The Columbia-class submarine programme achieved its Milestone B review in January this year. General Dynamics Electric Boat was awarded an initial five-year contract to carry out research and development work for the US Navy’s next-generation ballistic-missile submarine in December 2012 The company will begin construction of the submarine in 2021 under the $1.85bn contract, which has a potential value of approximately $2.5bn. (Source: naval-technology.com)
28 Apr 17. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is being awarded $32,882,330 for modification P00011 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-16-C-0005), for sustainment of the U.S. and United Kingdom (UK) SSBN Fire Control System, the U.S. SSGN Attack Weapon Control System, including training and support equipment, the missile fire control for the Columbia-class and UK Dreadnought-class Common Missile Compartment program development, through first unit United Kingdom production. Work will be performed in Pittsfield Massachusetts (90 percent); Bremerton, Washington, (3.8 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (2.8 percent); Dahlgren, Virginia (1.0 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (1.0 percent); Portsmouth, Virginia (1.0 percent); and the United Kingdom (0.4 percent), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. United Kingdom funding in the amount of $23,202,000; fiscal 2017 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,258,000; and fiscal 2017 operations and