UNITED KINGDOM
AIR
09 Aug 19. UK pursues low-cost unmanned combat aircraft. Industry teams led by Blue Bear Systems Research, Boeing Defence UK, and Callen-Lenz have been awarded contracts by the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) to complete the preliminary design of a low-cost unmanned combat aircraft that can operate alongside manned fast jets as part of future air power mix. The Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Air (LANCA) technology demonstrator initiative, which is known as Project Mosquito, is intended to generate evidence in order to inform a potential future ‘Loyal Wingman’ requirement. As well as exploring the utility of an unmanned adjunct capability to inform the UK’s Combat Air Strategy, the LANCA initiative is also intended to grow understanding of methods to radically reduce the cost and time of fielding a combat air capability of this class compared with traditional combat air systems. The acquisition strategy for Project Mosquito is split into two phases: Phase I, which lasts for 12 months and covers preliminary system design, and Phase II, which will see a downselect to one or two teams to further mature their designs, complete manufacturing of the technology demonstrator, and complete a limited flight-test programme. Up to two contracts will be awarded for Phase II. Initial flight tests of the demonstrator air vehicle could take place as early as 2022. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
EUROPE
SEA
13 Aug 19. HENSOLDT delivers Naval Radar to Norwegian Coast Guard. Reliable air and sea surveillance for arctic patrol vessels. The sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT will equip the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel “Svalbard” with the latest version of its TRS-3D naval radar and MSSR 2000 I IFF System. This is already the second upgrade contract from the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency as HENSOLDT is already under contract to equip the three new Arctic Coast Guard Vessels in the P6615 Program with the upgraded radar and IFF system. Under both contracts worth more than € 27 m HENSOLDT will deliver four TRS-3D radars including the latest solid-state technology and signal processing software from 2021, in parallel to the building program of the new Arctic Coast Guard vessels. The TRS-3D includes a secondary radar MSSR 2000 I for Identification-friend-or-foe (IFF). It operates all current IFF modes, including the latest “Mode S/Mode 5 Level 1/2” standard answering the most recent NATO requirements.
USA
LAND
15 Aug 19. Elbit Systems of America subsidiary Real-Time Laboratories (RTL) has received a contract from the US Army to develop Turret Distribution Manifolds for the M1 Abrams main battle tank. The manifold is a hydraulic component that supports the operations of the heavily armoured M1 Abrams tank and can be controlled by both the gunner and commander using control handles. The RTL-designed technology allows operators to give commands to rotate the turret atop the vehicle, raise or lower the tank’s gun barrel or load ammunition. RTL is currently manufacturing seven components for the M1 Abrams tank. The company will perform the contract work in Boca Raton, Florida. (Source: army-technology.com)
12 Aug 19. Georgia’s Statewide Police Academy Selects Meggitt Training Systems to Upgrade De-escalation Training. The Georgia Public Safety Training Center and its Georgia Police Academy have chosen Meggitt Training Systems’ five-screen, 300-degree FATS® 300LE advanced simulation system and BlueFire® wireless weapons to help law enforcement officers understand complex situations, then be able to de-escalate or make the right use-of-force option. GPSTC’s Police Academy, which trains officers from more than 100 Georgia agencies, believes relevant scenarios and realistic weapons will dramatically improve split-second decision-making. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
15 Aug 19. Honeywell International Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded an $110,870,867 modification (P00102) to contract W56HZV-12-C-0344 for Total Integrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER) hardware to meet the Anniston Army Depot production of the Advanced Gas Turbine 1500 engine for the Abrams tanks and TIGER field repair site requirements. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 22, 2022. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $110,870,867 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
14 Aug 19. Invisio Communications has won a competition to provide a suite of hearing enhancement solutions for the US Marine Corps (USMC). The systems will ensure the protection of marines’ hearing and help increase situational awareness in training and combat environments. The company has secured the first-order, worth Skr43m ($4.49m), and delivery is to be made during the next six months. The company noted that its hearing enhancement systems can be used along with Marine Corps radios and the Marine Corps Enhanced Combat Helmet. The systems are available in communications enabled and hearing protection only versions. (Source: naval-technology.com)
SEA
14 Aug 19. Advanced Technology International, Summerville, South Carolina, is awarded a $99,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Navy Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Center for Innovative Naval Shipbuilding and Advanced Manufacturing. Work will be performed in Summerville, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed August 2024. Two task orders will be awarded upon award of the contract obligating fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $450,000. No funds will expire at end of current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under N00014-18-R-0006, with two proposals received in response to the solicitation. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-19-D-7001).
13 Aug 19. Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) today announced that it has been awarded contracts valued in excess of $80m to provide propulsion valves for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine and Columbia-class submarines programs. The awards were received from Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) to support ship construction and spare parts procurement and General Dynamics Electric Boat to support ship construction for Block V, which includes the new Virginia Payload Module. Curtiss-Wright is performing this work at its facility in East Farmingdale, N.Y., a business unit of Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division within the Commercial/Industrial segment. Engineering and manufacturing has commenced and will continue through 2024.
09 Aug 19. General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded $15,200,000 for delivery order N62789-19-F-0019 under previously awarded, multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00024-16-D-4300 for the planning, material procurement, and repair work for USS Washington (SSN 787). Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be complete by December 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $7,600,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. A Fair Opportunity Notice was issued to both multiple award contract indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity holders on July 18, 2019, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity.
AIR
14 Aug 19. NAVAIR contracts BAE Systems to integrate CV-22 HMD with Forward Defensive Weapon System. BAE Systems Controls has been contracted by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for the software development associated with the integration of Defensive Weapon System (DWS) enhancements with the CV-22 tiltrotor helmet-mounted display (HMD). The DWS, which is also known as AN/AWG-35(V), is a belly-mounted GAU-17 7.62 mm machine gun that provides the CV-22 with a mission-configurable, crew-served, night vision-compatible weapon system. Under a USD1.9m delivery order awarded by the NAVAIR’s Program Executive Office Air Assault and Special Mission Programs (A), V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) on 25 July, BAE Systems will perform non-recurring engineering for software development to integrate DWS enhancements with the colour helmet-mounted display (CHMD) to control the gun system of the CV-22 aircraft. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Aug 19. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ELST) (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that its subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America LLC, (“Elbit Systems of America”) was awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy for the supply of components of the for Color Helmet Mounted Display System of the CV-22 aircraft. The contract is in an amount that is not material to Elbit Systems and is expected to be completed by October 2020.
09 Aug 19. Kratos Receives $4.8m in Sole Source Awards for High Performance Jet Drone Systems. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that its Unmanned Systems Division has recently received approximately $4.8m of awards for high performance jet drones, spares for Kratos jet drones, support equipment for Kratos jet drones, and specialty composite components. Kratos is a leading provider of high performance unmanned aerial drone systems for threat representative target missions to exercise weapon, radar, and other systems; and tactical aerial drone systems for strike/ISR and force multiplication missions. Work under these recent contract awards will be performed at secure Kratos manufacturing facilities and customer locations. (Source: ASD Network)
10 Aug 19. One Stop Systems (OSS) has received a subcontract worth $36m to provide flash storage arrays to the US Navy. The five-year sole-source contract was awarded by prime contractor Raytheon, according to the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The company noted that the flash storage arrays will be installed on navy surveillance aircraft deployed across the globe. The firm will supply full mil-spec flash storage systems, including removable canisters. The canisters will enable the removal of collected data from the aircraft and subsequent transfer to ground stations. OSS stated that the systems have the ability to store real-time data captured from advanced airborne sensors (AAS), including radar and other sensors. The company will also provide airborne and ground systems, spare canisters, and support services. The firm expects to commence shipments related to the contract in this quarter of the year. According to Seeking Alpha, the customised flash arrays are intended for the new P8 Poseidon military aircraft. (Source: naval-technology.com)
14 Aug 19. Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solutions, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $31,133,702 for modification P00013 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N61340-17-C-0014). This modification provides for one E-2D Hawkeye Integrated Training System III Weapons Systems Trainer and one Aircrew Procedures Trainer, including technical data. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in April 2024. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $31,133,702 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity.
12 Aug 19. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded $107,353,729 for firm-fixed-price advance acquisition contract modification P00029 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0048). This modification procures long lead items for six CH-53K low-rate initial production lot 4 aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in August 2020. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $107,353,729 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.
16 Aug 19. Ultra Electronics Holdings plc (ULE) and Sparton DeLeon Springs, LLC announce the award of an IDIQ contract valued at Not-to-Exceed amount of $1.04bn to their ERAPSCO joint venture, for the manufacture of sonobuoys for the United States Navy. The contract provides the base year award of a five year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. ERAPSCO will provide production subcontracts in support of the USN FY19 base year delivery order in the amount of $75.75m and $75.26m to Ultra Electronics USSI and Sparton. Production will take place at Sparton’s DeLeon Springs, FL facility as well as Ultra’s Columbia City, IN facility.
TECHNOLOGY
09 Aug 19. Cray has received two contracts to supply its CS500 supercomputer to the Army Research Lab (ARL) and the US Army Engineering and Research Development Center (ERDC). With a combined value of more than $46m, the two contracts have been awarded under the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) High-Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP). Through the deployment of Cray CS500 systems, ARL and ERDC will accelerate research in science and technology. Cray is expected to deliver the CS500 systems in the fourth quarter of the year. The systems will provide high-performance computing capabilities at army research centres. (Source: army-technology.com)
13 Aug 19. Leidos has secured a task order from the US Army to provide software engineering services. The contract has a potential value of $160m and includes a one-year base performance period and four one-year option periods. Under the contract, Leidos will support the US Army’s Communications-Electronics Command Software Engineering Center (SEC). The company will provide post-deployment and post-production software sustainment using SecDevOps engineering practices that can enhance mission readiness and reduce cost. Leidos will perform the sustainment of mission command, radars and other systems that are used to observe and coordinate army surface-to-surface fires. The task order will cover all fielded versions of the US Army’s Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) fire support command and control (C2) system software. The US Army and Marine Corps use the AFATDS system to provide automated support for planning, coordinating, controlling and executing fires and effects. (Source: army-technology.com)
14 Aug 19. Sabre Systems Inc., Warrington, Pennsylvania, is awarded $42,999,468 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N68335-19-F-0533 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N68335-16-G-0022). This delivery order provides for the research and development of cyber resilient and full spectrum cyber warfare capabilities in support of the Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test Department, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Infrastructure Division. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in August 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
12 Aug 19. India to acquire more BrahMos missiles. Local media outlets are reporting that India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, has approved plans to acquire two new BrahMos supersonic cruise missile coastal batteries for the Indian Navy. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile batteries will be deployed on Tatra trucks, making them mobile and deployable to protect critical infrastructure. According to the reports, new Indian-built software-defined radios are also set to be purchased for the Indian armed forces. (Source: Shephard)
08 Aug 19. Kratos Awarded $5.7m Contract from PSN for Unified Monitoring Solution for Region’s 1st Very High Throughput Satellite. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that it was selected by the PSN Consortium, led by Indonesian satellite operator Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) to deliver a unified ground station monitoring solution to support the first Very High-Throughput Satellite (VHTS) in the region. PSN will deploy and operate the highest broadband satellite in Asia on behalf of Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to bring Internet access to unreached parts of the nation’s islands. The VHTS is expected to launch in 2022 and will carry more than 150 gigabits per second over the entire Indonesian territory to connect thousands of schools, hospitals and public buildings across the Indonesian archipelago. (Source: ASD Network)
13 Aug 19. The Kingdom of Bahrain signed an agreement to purchase Raytheon’s (NYSE: RTN) combat-proven Patriot™ air and missile defense system from the U.S. Army. This letter of offer and acceptance allows the U.S. government to begin contract negotiations with Raytheon for production of an undisclosed quantity of systems and missiles.
SEA
15 Aug 19. Birdon Group, headquartered in Port Macquarie, has announced that its US subsidiary, Birdon America Inc, has been awarded two new contracts worth up to US$390m. The first contract, worth US$191m, is for the upgrading of the US Coast Guard’s (USCG) fleet of 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) vessels, which are reaching the end of their 25-year service life. Birdon America has been appointed to deliver the redesign and upgrade of its fleet of 107 MLBs under the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which aims to extend the vessel’s service life for another 20 years, as well as enhancing key aspects of the MLB’s operational capability and performance. The second contract is worth up to US$199m and is a five-year extension to Birdon’s existing contract to supply Bridge Erection Boats (BEBs) to the US Army. (Source: Defence Connect)
09 Aug 19. Griffon’s subsidiary Telephonics has received a contract to supply its AN/UPX-44 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system in support of the Republic of Korea (ROK) naval modernisation programmes. The Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) subcontract worth $22.8m has been awarded by Huneed Technologies. The AN/UPX-44 system will include Mode 5 capabilities that enable expanded data handling transmissions without increasing interference. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
13 Aug 19. Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $99,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) foreign military sales production support. This contract will provide for lifecycle support for all efforts related to JASSM and any JASSM variants in the areas of system upgrades, integration, production, sustainment, management and logistical support. Work will be performed at Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by August 2024. This contract involves foreign military sales to Finland, Poland and Australia. This award is the result of sole-source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8682-19-D-0003).