07 Sep 04. DRS Optronics, Palm Bay, Fla., was awarded on Sept. 7, 2004, a delivery order amount of $856,000 as part of a $13,400,000 firm-fixed-price contract for repair and upgrade of the Abrams Gunner’s Auxiliary Sights. Work will be performed in Palm Bay, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on Jan. 5, 2004. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-04-D-0119).
10 Sep 04. The U.S. Air Force has selected a Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)-led team to develop the service’s E-10A aircraft’s Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) subsystem, one the most important programs in the development of Joint Network Centric Warfare in this decade. The company’s BMC2 team was selected following a 15-month competitive process for the estimated $308m system design and development phase of the program. The BMC2 subsystem is the backbone of the E-10A program. It provides the information processing capability for the E-10A’s MP-RTIP radar as well as the command and control functions key to the aircraft’s mission. BMC2 is also capable of accessing and correlating sensor data from other sources to provide commanders with a comprehensive battlespace picture The Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems sector leads the team, which also includes the company’s Electronic Systems, Information Technology and Mission Systems sectors. Two other top-tier team members, Harris Government Systems and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, will have key roles along with support from second-tier partners located throughout the United States. These include Cisco Systems, San Jose, Calif.; Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores, Calif.; Zel Technologies (ZelTech), Hampton Roads, Va.; Alphatech, Burlington, Mass.; L-3 Communications West, Salt Lake City, Utah; and L-3 Comcept, Rockwall, Texas.
09 Sep 04. Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd., has today signed its first export agreement to deliver military satellite communications services to the Portuguese Chief of Defence (CHOD). This agreement requires Paradigm to provide managed secure communications services to the Portuguese Armed Forces, as and when required. This will for the first time allow the Portuguese military direct access to secure satellite communications technology, which will enhance their communications capability in remote areas, facilitate their role in NATO and National operations, and allow cost-effective management of these resources. Malcolm Peto, Managing Director of Paradigm Secure Communications, said “This is brilliant news, my team are pleased to be working with the Portuguese military. With the constructive and responsive way that our teams have worked together we look forward to continuing to develop our ties with Portugal. After the recent NATO satcom announcement this further validates the rationale for a Milsatcom services market”. Paradigm is able to offer this unique service to export customers as a result of the signing of the innovative Skynet 5 Private Finance Initiative contract with the UK MOD in October 2003. In May 2003, Paradigm took over operations of the entire UK MOD satellite communications (satcom) network, and is today meeting all the UK Armed Forces’ satcoms requirements through a comprehensive managed service approach.
13 Sep 04. General Dynamics C4 Systems has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to develop and integrate the Air Warrior Block 3 system, which consists of state-of-the-art electronics and advanced, mission- specific protective clothing for Army helicopter aircrew members. The General Dynamics “soldier-as-a-system” solution includes an integrated aviator helmet system, upgraded microclimate cooling unit and enhanced voice/data communication capability.
13 Sep 04. General Dynamics Corp. received a $30m Army contract to