UNITED KINGDOM
TECHNOLOGY
13 Nov 18. Cohort plc, the independent technology group, today announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, MASS Consultants Ltd (“MASS”) has been awarded a £3.2m 18-month contract to provide business analysis support for the UK Ministry of Defence (“MOD”).
EUROPE
LAND
12 Nov 18. Turkey signs Altay MBT serial production contract with BMC. Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) announced on 9 November that it had signed the first serial production contract with BMC for 250 Altay main battle tanks (MBTs). The contract covers life-cycle logistics support for the tanks as well as the establishment and operation of a Tank Systems Technology Center (TSTM), the SSB tweeted on 9 November. The first Altay MBT is expected to be delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) within 18 months, he said. Four Altay prototypes produced earlier by Turkey’s Otokar were fitted with German MTU engines. The MBT contract may eventually lead to the procurement of a total of 1,000 MBTs in four tranches of 250 each. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
13 Nov 18. After 20 years, the majority of the G-Model off-road vehicles used by the Dutch military are to be replaced. In their place will come proven Mercedes-Benz G-Class 300 CDI vehicles which are, however, much more technologically advanced. Following a successful tendering process, Mercedes-Benz Cars Netherlands B.V. (MBCNL) will supply around 515 vehicles to the Dutch military between 2021 and 2023. Known as the “12kN AASLT”, the vehicles (1200 kg payload air assault vehicles) can be transported with precision to their place of deployment by Chinook helicopters as either internal or external cargo. In a second tranche, a further 550 vehicles could be purchased through to the year 2030. Other vehicle variants are a logistics body and an ambulance body.
AIR
14 Nov 18. Sweden signs for MQM-178 Firejet aerial target drone. The Unmanned Systems Division of US-based Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has agreed a three-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) under which the company will supply its MQM-178 Firejet aerial target and associated spares and support. A first contract award under the IDIQ arrangement is expected no later than mid-January 2019. As the smallest member of the Kratos family of aerial targets, the MQM-178 Firejet has been designed to meet needs for a flexible, cost-effective aerial target to fulfil a variety of end-to-end weapons-release training roles including anti-aircraft weapons, surface-to-air/surface, and air-to-air missile (AAM) testing. Pneumatically-launched – therefore eliminating the need for expensive rocket-assisted take-off equipment and facilities – the Firejet can carry a number of internal and external payloads, including smoke oil, scoring, passive and active radar augmentation, infrared (IR) wing-tip flares, hot nose, IR and radar tow targets, and dispensable chaff/flares. Kratos anticipates annual buys from FMV for MQM-178 drones including associated products and services. The current three-year contract arrangement includes two additional three-year options, potentially extending the period of performance to nine years. The sales agreement with FMV, which owns and operates the Vidsel test range in northern Sweden, is the second international multi-year Firejet contract received by Kratos recently. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Nov 18. Leonardo announced today the signing of a contract with Italy’s Guardia di Finanza for 22 new generation AW169M twin engine helicopters. The contract, valued at 280m euro, includes a comprehensive support and training package which could be further extended with optional services valued at an additional 100m euro. Deliveries are expected to start in summer 2019 and to be completed by 2024. The aircraft will be used to perform a range of roles including patrol and reconnaissance, law enforcement, rescue and homeland security, complementing a fleet of 14 AW139 intermediate twins, six of which are already in service and the following eight are due to be delivered in 2019. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Leonardo)
08 Nov 18. MBDA to develop the Next Generation of the MICA missile. The French Defence Procurement Agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has awarded MBDA the contract for the MICA NG (Missile d’Interception et de Combat Aérien Nouvelle Génération) programme to develop the next generation of the MICA missile. With deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026, MICA NG will be available to arm the current and future versions of the Rafale combat aircraft. MICA NG is intended as the replacement for the MICA missiles currently in operational service with the French armed forces and exported to 14 countries worldwide. The NG programme includes an extensive redesign of the current MICA family while keeping the same aerodynamics, mass and centre of gravity. This is done to minimise the amount of adaptation required to operate the new system with existing platforms and launchers. The unique concept that has ensured the ongoing success of MICA for two decades remains: the option of two different seekers (infrared and radio frequency) and two launch modes (rail and ejection) in a single missile casing.
USA
SEA
13 Nov 18. Kongsberg Maritime has received three orders from hydrographic and geophysical survey company Ocean Infinity to deliver a total of five new Hugin AUVs, the company announced on 7 November. The orders will increase Ocean Infinity’s Hugin inventory to 15. The AUVs will be supplied with Kongsberg Maritime’s HISAS 1032 synthetic aperture sonar, giving Ocean Infinity a total of six Hugins with the ability to deliver high resolution imaging in its fleet. HISAS generates high resolution range independent imagery and full swath bathymetry. Coupled with the other sensors on board, the Hugin AUVs produce a data set including HISAS imagery and bathymetry, EM2040 bathymetry, sub-bottom profiler data and colour photographs. (Source: Shephard)
AIR
06 Nov 18. Dynetics to Develop Smallsats for the U.S. Army Valued at $8.3m. Dynetics has been selected to develop small satellites for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT) Technical Center program named Gunsmoke-L. Through the Design, Development, Demonstration and Integration (D3I), Domain 1 task order, the Gunsmoke-L contract is for two years, plus one option year valued at $8.3m, to develop, test, integrate and demonstrate two tactical space support vehicles (TSSVs) which will be used to enhance all phases of joint force operations. The smallsat-based platforms will host the next generation of tactical space support payloads designed to operate in LEO for a minimum of two years. Dynetics will conduct hardware-in-the-loop testing and simulation in conjunction with the command’s Payload Development Laboratory (PDL) facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, to optimize TSSV performance and reliability. The TSSV will be developed and integrated at Dynetics’ facilities in Huntsville, which include payload development labs, clean rooms and environmental test capabilities. At completion of the two-year base period, the two TSSVs will be qualified and ready for launch. During the 12 month option period, Dynetics will support on orbit demonstrations using the Technical Center’s smallsat ground control system located at Redstone Arsenal to provide command, control, and communication with the TSSV. Dynetics will work with the Technical Center’s Space and Strategic Systems Directorate, which serves as the developmental spearhead for the command’s advanced Army space support efforts, which include research, development and demonstration of the next generation of tactical space support payloads. (Source: Satnews)
12 Nov 18. GKN Aerospace signs $66m Contract with Pratt & Whitney for F135 engine components. GKN Aerospace Norway today announced that it has signed an eight-year agreement with Pratt & Whitney for the production of diffuser cases, low pressure turbine cases and shafts for the F135 engine, which powers the fifth generation F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. The agreement also includes an extension for the supply of several shafts for Pratt & Whitney’s F100, JT8D and FT8 engines. This contract expands GKN Aerospace’s involvement in the F135 program and reinforces the company’s role as a long-term supplier of engine components for Pratt & Whitney.
14 Nov 18. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $22,712,874,822 not-to-exceed undefinitized contract modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price advanced acquisition contract (N00019-17-C-0001) for 255 aircraft. This modification provides for the production and delivery of 106 F-35 aircraft for the U.S. services (64 F-35As Air Force; 26 F-35Bs Marine Corps; 16 F-35Cs Navy); 89 F-35s for non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants (71 F-35As, 18 F-35 Bs); and 60 F-35s for Foreign Military Sales customers (60 F-35As). The U.S. aircraft quantities are for the Lot 12 program of record plus fiscal 2018/fiscal 2019 aircraft quantity congressional adds. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (57 percent); El Segundo, California (14 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (9 percent); Cameri, Italy (4 percent); Orlando, Florida (4 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (3 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (3 percent); San Diego, California (2 percent); Nagoya, Japan (2 percent); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement funds (Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy) in the amount of $3,505,522,468 (59 percent); non-DoD participant funds in the amount of $1,578,531,164 (26 percent); and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $916,667,000 (15 percent) for a total of $6,000,720,632 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
14 Nov 18. Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is awarded a $382,000,000 not-to-exceed, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, undefinitized contract that provides for the production and delivery of eight MH-60R aircraft as well as associated systems engineering and program management support. Work will be performed in Owego, New York (52 percent); Stratford, Connecticut (40 percent); and Troy, Alabama (8 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2020. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $147,000,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0013).
09 Nov 18. The US Army has awarded a contract to Rockwell Collins to support operational readiness of the service’s CH-47F Chinook helicopter avionics. Under the deal, the company will deliver current component modifications and additional repair capabilities for the common avionics architecture systems (CAAS) on board the aircraft fleet. The five-year contract has been awarded by the US Army Aviation and Missile Command Logistics Center. Developed by Rockwell Collins, the CAAS solution is adopted by the US Army as the standard for CH-47F cockpit avionics. The avionics system integrates multiple communications, navigation and mission subsystems through its flexible Flight2 open systems architecture design. Currently installed on more than 500 aircraft across the globe, CAAS provide flight crew members with enhanced combat-proven situational awareness during missions. (Source: army-technology.com)
12 Nov 18. US Air Force awards Rockwell Collins contract for anti-jam GPS receiver. The US Air Force recently awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to provide its latest Digital Global Positioning System (GPS) Anti-Jam Receiver (DIGAR), according to a company statement. DIGARs will provide navigation for US Air National Guard (ANG) and US Air Force Reserve Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft operating in contested, electromagnetic environments. Rockwell Collins said this will be the first combat fighter aircraft to receive the latest version of DIGAR. The contract is a USD30m firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) commercial contract for Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System for pre-block F-16 aircraft. The contract provides for the procurement of Integrated GPS Anti-Jam Receiver 200 and GPS Embedded Module VII-2 spares with integration and engineering support and support integration with the F-16 Pre-Block 30/32 system upgrades, according to a Pentagon statement. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
TECHNOLOGY
13 Nov 18. The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) has awarded BAE Systems a four-year, $100m contract to provide technical, functional, and general support to the 116th Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB). The contract provides BAE Systems experts who will assist the 116th MIB to better understand regional threats. The team’s work will also help update and improve soldier training. The work in the contract aligns with INSCOM’s larger mission to consolidate, modernize, and strengthen its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities as outlined in the Army’s 2020 Intelligence strategy document. BAE Systems delivers a broad range of solutions and services enabling militaries and governments to successfully carry out their missions. The company provides large-scale systems engineering, integration, and sustainment services across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. BAE Systems takes pride in its support of national security and those who serve. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
13 Nov 18. Cohort plc, the independent technology group, announced that its subsidiary EID has been awarded two contracts to supply vehicle intercom systems valued at a total of €11m. The contracts are for supply to existing export customers, and deliveries will take place over the next two years.
13 Nov 18. RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. A leader in the development, production and sale of tactical land radar for force and border protection – announced the receipt of over $12 m in new orders, in recent weeks. Out of these, over $5m were orders for RADA’s software-defined radars for counter rocket artillery and mortar (C-RAM), counter UAV and short range air defense (SHORAD). The majority of these orders were from new and strategic defense organizations, and these orders represent initial orders with potential for much greater follow-on orders in the future. Portions of the orders were follow-ons from customers that have placed initial orders earlier this year. Almost $7m out of the $12m, were follow-on orders for RADA’s legacy avionics, including avionics for UAVs, helicopters, digital video recorders, and ongoing maintenance orders for RADA’s wide installment base of core avionics for military platforms.
SEA
14 Nov 18. Daewoo Shipbuilding Wins US$557m Order from S. Korean Navy. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world’s second-largest shipbuilder by orders, said Wednesday it has clinched a deal worth 631.5bn won (US$577m) to build two guided missile frigates for the South Korean Navy. The shipyard said it is set to deliver the 2,800-ton frigates to the Navy by 2022. The vessels will feature stealth design and use a hybrid electric drive propulsion system designed to reduce noise for more effective anti-submarine operations. In February, Daewoo Shipbuilding delivered the 2,800-ton frigate Daegu — the first vessel of the Navy’s second guided missile frigate acquisition program. The shipbuilder said it has received $5.45bn worth of ship orders for 41 vessels so far this year, accounting for about 75 percent of its order target of $7.3bn. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Yonhap wire service)
AIR
14 Nov 18. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT and TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that it was awarded a $167m contract from an Asia-Pacific country to supply a comprehensive aerial Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) solution. The contract will be performed over a 20-month period.
09 Nov 18. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has signed contracts with the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU) to supply KT-1B Woong-Bee basic trainer aircraft and to upgrade capabilities on the service’s T-50i Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer (AJT) aircraft. The contracts – announced at the Indo Defence show in Jakarta on 8 November – are collectively worth about KRW100bn (USD89m) and feature the export of three KT-1B aircraft and a programme to fit radars and gun systems to the T-50i. According to the terms of the deals, KAI will deliver three KT-1B aircraft within 28 months of contract signing and complete the Golden Eagle upgrade within 25 months. Excluding the new order, the TNI-AU has procured 19 KT-1B aircraft since 2003. The KT-1B is the TNI-AU version of the KT-1 basic trainer in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF). The KT-1B has some different avionics to the Korean version and is not fitted with a tactical air navigation (TACAN) system. The TNI-AU also operates a fleet of 16 T-50i aircraft, which were delivered by KAI between September 2013 and January 2014. The aircraft, one of which crashed in December 2015, were procured under a USD400m contract signed in 2011 to replace the TNI-AU’s fleet of Hawk Mk 53s. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
TECHNOLOGY
12 Nov 18. US-based engineering services company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has secured contract awards for new electronic warfare and communications systems. With a total value of approximately $10m, the contracts cover the development and delivery of airborne electronic warfare and communications solutions for an unnamed customer. Work under the new contract awards is due to be carried out at the company’s secure production facilities. Currently, the company has provided no additional information related to these awards owing to various customer-related considerations. (Source: army-technology.com)