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22 Jan 18. Airbus has secured the Symphonie seven-year contract for the supply of the internet protocol (IP) telephony system to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. The contract was awarded by the French joint services directorate for defence infrastructure networks and information systems (DIRISI). Symphonie is a major part of the Descartes programme designed to upgrade the telecommunication networks of the armed forces. Under the terms of the contract, Airbus will provide the telephony service to 270,000 users across 1,500 sites in metropolitan France and overseas territories, including French Guiana, the Antilles, Réunion and Mayotte, and French Polynesia as well as abroad in Senegal, Gabon, United Arab Emirates, Chad and Lebanon. The scope of the project involves an overhaul and deployment of the latest advanced telephony solution for the various organisations at the ministry. In addition, the Symphonie contract includes the incorporation of new network management centres, cyber security management centres and operational support for seven years. As part of the project, Airbus intends to call on a network of about 20 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in France to carry out the works, deployment operations and local maintenance. At the beginning of last year, a group of companies set up by the project leader ENGIE Ineo and co-contractor Airbus secured the Descartes STCA contract to develop the high-availability communication network for control of air operations from the Ministry of the Armed Forces. (Source: army-technology.com)
23 Jan 18. More Harris radios for Latvia. The Latvian Ministry of Defence and the US government signed a new contract in December for the delivery of additional Harris tactical radios and accessories worth more than $17m. Latvia received more than $10m worth of Harris tactical radio equipment in 2017 under a government-government contract signed in 2016.
Both agreements cover radios and accessories for integration into the joint command communications system with different data protection levels. The radios are strengthening the command capability of the Latvian Army and are a part of the ongoing efforts to develop a sustainable and modern communications system compatible with other NATO allies. The first batch of radios under the latest contract will be delivered to Latvia in the beginning of 2019.
23 Jan 18. INVISIO has signed a framework agreement with the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), to supply communication systems to the Danish Army. The agreement is for five years with options for another two years. Collaboration with DALO and the Danish Army on a larger scale, began in 2012 when INVISIO’s communications system was integrated with the army’s new tactical radio to increase the safety and operational effectiveness of soldiers, and to reduce the risk of hearing damage. INVISIO’s communication system provides users with hearing protection with the ability to communicate and maintain a state of the art situational awareness in tough environments. The systems consist of headsets and control units connected to an external team radio or a vehicle’s intercom system. (Source: Defence Online)
24 Jan 18. Latvian National Armed Forces has entered a two-year agreement with Polaris Government and Defense for vehicles via the U.S. government’s foreign military sales program. The approximately US$500 thousand contract is for undisclosed quantities of the Polaris MRZR® 2 side-by-side vehicles, SPORTSMAN® 6×6 and MV850™ all-terrain vehicles. The contract also includes spare parts for the vehicles, as well as operator and maintenance training, which will be conducted in country by Polaris. Over the years, Latvia has strengthened security on the border due to increased regional disputes. The Polaris ultralight and all-terrain vehicles will be used primarily for border security. Polaris military vehicles provide off-road mobility for expedi