EUROPE
LAND
15 Nov 17. Spain orders 155 mm shells. The Spanish government has given the go-ahead for a EUR55.9m (USD66.2m) order for locally produced high-performance 155 mm howitzer shells. The cabinet decision came 18 years after the government set up an initial research and development programme to supply the ammunition. Madrid-based explosives manufacturer Expal, which took on the programme, said its shell will offer “more precision and greater range” after having been tested in the 155/52 SIAC howitzer operated by the Spanish Army. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
AIR
15 Nov 17. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contracted Leonardo to provide pre-flight simulation of radar threats to the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) new A400M transport aircraft. Leonardo’s threat simulation equipment uses special radio-frequency (RF) emitting ‘hoods’ to simulate radar threats while the aircraft is still on the ground. The A400M’s defensive aids suite includes built-in test equipment (BITE), which signals to the pilot that the equipment is working as designed.
The threat simulation equipment is claimed to de-risk and reduce the cost of the aircraft’s flight trials, prior to entering service with the RAF.
It will also provide capability assurance throughout the operational life of the A400M. The UK-designed and built capability assurance solution is already in service with the British Typhoon, Tornado, C130J, Wildcat, Merlin, and Chinook fleets, Leonardo stated. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
15 Nov 17. DoD/DSCA Notifies Congress of Possible FMS of AIM-120 C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Norway. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the Congress that the Government of Norway has requested a possible sale of sixty (60) AIM-120 C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four (4) AMRAAM guidance section spares. Also included are missile containers, weapon system support, support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training, training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, logistics, technical and support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total case value is $170m. The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. (Source: glstrade.com)
USA
LAND
13 Nov 17. WEW Container Systems, a THIELMANN company, has received a contract to deliver additional Camel low-profile water tank modules for the US Army. WEW will deliver 167 tanks to prime contractor Choctaw Defense for integration into the Camel II Unit Water Pod System. This system includes the 800 US gal Camel tank integrated into a frame and mounted onto the M1095 trailer. The trailers will either be newly manufactured or refurbished by Choctaw. Delivery to Choctaw Defense began in August 2017, with peak rate production of up to six units per week thereafter.
SEA
14 Nov 17. BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Virginia, is being awarded a $139,818,901 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS Tortuga (LSD 46) fiscal 2018 modernization period Chief of Naval Operations availability. This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of USS Tortuga. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $183,794,039. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by May 2019. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $139,818,901 will be obligated at time of award; and funds in the amount of $112,553,445 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via Federal Business Opportunities with tw