UNITED KINGDOM
AIR
14 Nov 19. 48 Fighter Wing Contracting Squadron Award Cobham Aviation Services UK Operational Readiness Training Contract. Cobham has been awarded a contract to deliver Operational Readiness Training for RAF Lakenheath, as part of a four year deal. The training, which begins later this year, will include exercises in Aerial Gunnery (live fire) and Electronic Attack to prepare USAFE/UK personnel for the increasingly complex front-line threats which they face whilst conducting global operations. The programme will involve Cobham’s specially modified Falcon 20 aircraft, equipped with advanced technology solutions to simulate the effects of an enemy’s latest electronic warfare equipment during training exercises. (Source: ASD Network)
EUROPE
LAND
11 Nov 19. Invisio receives Belgian follow-on order. The Belgian Army has placed a follow-on order with Invisio for communication and hearing protection systems. The order was received in partnership with main contractor, Thales Belgium, with deliveries to be complete in the first half of 2020. Invisio won the Belgian Army’s procurement contract for communication and hearing protection solutions in October 2019. The programme aims to protect soldiers’ hearing while improving their ability to communicate in critical environments. (Source: Shephard)
SEA
08 Nov 19. Bulgaria purchases two used Tripartite-class minehunters. The Bulgarian government decided on 6 November to purchase two used Tripartite-class minehunters from the Netherlands for nearly EUR2m (USD2.2m). The decision authorises Bulgarian Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov to sign the intergovernmental purchase agreement for the minehunters. The government decision also says the purchase is of vital importance for improving Bulgarian counter-mine capabilities to meet its commitments to NATO and the EU. The procurement of the used minehunters was announced publicly for the first time in September, when Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Velichkov said that the overall project would be valued at EUR3.5m, with the amount above the purchase price to be spent on new equipment for the vessels. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
AIR
11 Nov 19. Spain gives go-ahead to buy final two Seahawks. The Spanish government has given the go-ahead to buy a final two Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk helicopters as part of a stopgap measure to cover the Armada’s (Spanish Navy) requirements ahead of procuring a new European tactical transport replacement. The cabinet approved a EUR36.3m (USD40.2m) budget on 9 November for the order, which will also include two non-flying helicopters for spares. Spain first registered its interest in the SH-60F in 2012, agreeing to begin buying them under the US Navy Excess Defense Articles scheme. The helicopters were withdrawn from US service in the six years leading up to 2014, with an average in-service commitment of 7,000 flying hours, according to a cabinet statement. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
11 Nov 19. After the successful two-month maritime surveillance services of Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 for the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) extends the contract to the end of the year. EMSA’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) is based on the Croatian island of Brač and routinely carries out regular day and night patrolling flights, on-demand incident monitoring missions and specific inspection operations. The extension comes after a successful two months of maritime operations with 67 missions and 210 flight hours so far. The S-100 is equipped with a Harris L3 Wescam Electro-Optical / Infra-Red (EO/IR) camera, an Overwatch Imaging PT-8 Oceanwatch payload and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver. EMSA awarded a multi-year maritime surveillance contract for a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) service to Schiebel in November 2018. In execution of this contract, Schiebel provides simultaneous maritime surveillance services to several European Union (EU) member states and EU bodies.
USA
LAND
07 Nov 19. Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) announced today, that during its first quarter of fiscal 2020, its New York-based subsidiary, Comtech PST Corp., which is part of Comtech’s Government Solutions segment, received multiple contract awards totaling $1.6m for high-power amplifier modules to support the U.S. military. These high frequency amplifier modules, which utilize the latest in solid-state GaN transistor technology, provide for very broad frequency coverage and will be utilized as part of an electronic warfare system. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
14 Nov 19. Endeavor Robotics Inc., Chelmsford, Massachusetts, was awarded a $109,044,937 hybrid (cost plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for procurement of up to 350 Common Robotic System – Heavy systems, refurbishment of systems associated spare parts, test support, user training support and logistics development. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 12, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-D-0017).
08 Nov 19. General Dynamic Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $34,873,995 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract to procure Improved Fire Control Electronics Units. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Tallahassee, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2020 procurement of weapons and tracked combat vehicles, Army funds in the amount of $2,245,559 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-F-0060).
08 Nov 19. General Dynamics Mission Systems, Scottsdale, Arizona, is awarded a $731,876,547 cost-plus-award-fee and firm-fixed-price indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract for Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) ground system sustainment. MUOS is a narrowband military satellite communications system that supports a worldwide, multiservice population of users, providing modern netcentric communications capabilities while supporting legacy terminals. Fiscal 2020-2029 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2020-2029 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and fiscal 2020-2029 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding will be applied to task orders after the contract award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in Scottsdale, Arizona (94%); Wahiawa, Hawaii (2%); San Diego, California (1%); Niscemi, Italy (1%); Chesapeake, Virginia (1%); and Geraldton, Australia (1%). Work is expected to be completed by November 2029. This contract was not competitively procured because it is a sole source acquisition pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1); only one responsible source (Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 6.302-1). The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N00039-20-D-0146).
14 Nov 19. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $21,791,160 modification (P00275) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 for contractor support, labor hours, material and travel for the Marine Corps’ efforts for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2020 procurement, Marine Corps funds in the amount of $21,791,160 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
SEA
14 Nov 19. BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4416); Continental Maritime of San Diego, San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4417); and General Dynamics, NASSCO, San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4418), are being awarded a $299,342,235 ceiling increase to the maximum potential cumulative total of orders for all firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contracts to $838,522,014 for complex emergent and continuous maintenance and Chief of Naval Operations availabilities on surface combatants (DDG and CG) class ships. Each contractor shall furnish the facilities and human resources capable of completing complex emergent and continuous maintenance, repair, modernization and Chief of Naval Operations availabilities on surface ships assigned to or visiting the port of San Diego, California. These three companies will have the opportunity to offer on individual delivery orders. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be complete by March 2021. No funding is being obligated through this contract modification. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
13 Nov 19. BAE Systems, Jacksonville Ship Repair, Jacksonville, Fla. (N40027-17-D-1001); Colonna Shipyards Inc., Norfolk, Virginia (N40027-17-D-1002); East Coast Repair & Fabrication LLC, Norfolk, Virginia (N40027-17-D-1003); Metro Machine Corp., Jacksonville, Fla. (N40027-17-D-1004); North Florida Shipyards, Jacksonville, Fla, (N40027-17-D-1005); and Tecnico Corp., Chesapeake, Va. (N40027-17-D-1006), are each awarded a maximum-value $270,601,012, firm-fixed-price modification to their respective previously-awarded contracts to exercise Option Year Three for the accomplishment of fixed-priced delivery orders for emergent and continuous ship maintenance availabilities for ships homeported in Mayport, Fla. These six companies will have the opportunity to provide offers for individual delivery orders. Work will be performed in Mayport, Fla., and is expected to be completed by November 2020. No funding will be obligated at time of award. The Southeast Regional Maintenance Center, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.
13 Nov 19. BAE Systems, Jacksonville Ship Repair, Jacksonville, Fla. (N00024-17-D-1007); Colonna Shipyards Inc., Norfolk, Va. (N40027-17-D-1008); and Metro Machine Corp, Jacksonville, Fla. (N40027-17-D-1009) are each awarded a maximum value $83,087,424 firm-fixed-price modification to their respective previously awarded contracts to exercise Option Year Two for the accomplishment of fixed priced delivery orders for docking and non-docking Chief of Naval Operations scheduled availabilities. These three companies will have the opportunity to provide offers for individual delivery orders. Work will be performed in Mayport, Fla., and is expected to be completed by November 2020. No funding will be obligated at time of award. The Southeast Regional Maintenance Center, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.
08 Nov 19. Serco has secured a contract to support the development of the US Navy’s next multi-mission small-surface combatant. The company will help the navy’s Guided Missile Frigate FFG(X) Program Executive Office (PEO) for Unmanned and Small Combatants in designing and building the vessel. The contract will see Serco advise the PEO on technical design issues. Serco will be responsible for the development of system integration parameters and test requirements, as well as for maintaining cost estimates for the navy. The firm will also establish the ship systems’ network architecture and cybersecurity. The contract has a potential value of $43m. It includes a base period of one year and four one-year option periods. The company will provide cost estimating, network architecture and cybersecurity, system integration, as well as testing, engineering, design, and production. Other tasks will include acquisition, programme management, lifecycle management, and design site support. The programme will include modelling the new class of combatants in a 3D environment. It will also involve the use of virtual technology in the design site to assist in evaluating the design and maintainability. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
13 Nov 19. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for both defense and commercial applications, announced the U.S. Army awarded the company a firm-fixed-price contract on June 6, 2019 to begin radio frequency modifications on its currently deployed Raven® UAS. The initial base delivery order is $862,488, with potential contract options valued up to $55m. AeroVironment won the competitive bid as part of the Army’s $248.5m five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity small UAS sustainment contract announced in April 2018. AeroVironment and six other awardees were selected as part of the IDIQ contract, which covers six domains: Systems, Tactical Open Government Owned Architecture (TOGA), Other Major Components, RQ-20A Puma Spares, RQ-11B Raven Spares and Flight Control Systems (FCS). The Army selected AeroVironment as the sole-source supplier for RQ-20A and RQ-11B spares and for FCS. AeroVironment’s Raven system is designed for rapid deployment and high mobility for applications requiring low-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. With a wingspan of 4.5 feet and weighing 4.2 pounds, the hand-launched Raven provides aerial observation, day or night, at line-of-sight ranges up to approximately 6.2 miles (10 kilometers). With its stabilized gimbaled payload, the Raven delivers real-time color or infrared imagery to ground control and remote viewing stations.
12 Nov 19. BAE Systems was awarded research and development funding through the U.S. Army to create an advanced radar jamming technology. The technology aims to improve air survivability and mission effectiveness for U.S. Army rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by detecting and defeating complex and unknown threats in electronic combat. As part of the contract, BAE Systems FAST Labs™ research and development team will design technology to integrate adaptive radio frequency jamming and sensing capabilities into one system. Whereas today’s electronic countermeasure systems are too bulky and heavy for most rotary-wing and UAS platforms, BAE Systems technology will combine multiple, software-programmable antennas into a digital phased array that will enable simultaneous functions, exceeding existing capabilities while reducing the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of current systems. The technology will enable these platforms to safely fly closer to threats and within contested areas while remaining protected. Research for this contract adds to BAE Systems’ advanced electronics portfolio and is based on many years of investment on various programs with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), U.S. Army, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), including DARPA’s CONverged Collaborative Elements for RF Task Operations (CONCERTO) and DARPA’s Radio Frequency Field Programmable Gate Arrays (RF-FPGA) programs. Work for the contract will be completed at the company’s facilities in Nashua, New Hampshire and Merrimack, New Hampshire. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
08 Nov 19. Kaman Aerospace Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation (NYSE: KAMN) announced that it has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by The Boeing Company (Boeing). This new work package is for the manufacture of wing control surfaces and structural assemblies in support of the U.S Air Force (USAF) A-10 Thunderbolt Advanced Wing Continuation Kitting (ATTACK) program. Work for this program will be performed in its Jacksonville, FL facility. The USAF awarded Boeing a $999m (ceiling) contract, which was announced in the Department of Defense release on August 21, 2019 to provide up to 112 new wing assemblies and up to15 wing kits through 2030. Kaman is a leading supplier of complex aircraft structures and sub-assemblies, as well as sheet metal details, extruded parts and machined components for the commercial and defense aerospace industries. Kaman successfully delivered flight control surfaces to Boeing for 173 aircraft under the previous Wing Replacement Program (WRP) that ran from 2007 through to 2018. Under this new contract, Kaman continues to be a major supplier to Boeing in its effort to complete the upgrade of the remaining A-10 Thunderbolt II fleet. Kaman will deliver wing structural assemblies, which include the inboard and outboard flaps, slats, and deceleron/speed brake assemblies, including upper and lower speed brakes, trim tabs, and leading edge assemblies. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Nov 19. L2 Aviation has received a contract to install the Mode-5 Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) upgrades for the US Air Force (USAF) fleet of KC-10 Extender aircraft. The remote avionics modification installation subcontract was awarded by Collins Aerospace. The value of the contract has not been revealed by the parties. As part of the contract, L2 Aviation’s Remote Avionics Modification Services (RAMS) teams will perform the installation work. L2 Aviation will conduct four concurrent modification lines. The contract is part of the effort to meet the KC-10 aerial refuelling tanker’s Mode-5/ADS-B activation goals. The programme will involve performing 58 KC-10 installations at different locations around the US. The USAF awarded a $160m contract to Rockwell Collins in 2011 to upgrade its KC-10 fleet under the communication, navigation, surveillance / air traffic management (CNS / ATM) cockpit modernisation programme. Work includes systems integration for KC-10 and the supply of flight management systems, surveillance systems, displays and data link communications. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
11 Nov 19. L3Harris receives AN/ALQ-214A(V)4 work order. L3Harris Technologies has received an order from US Naval Air Systems Command for modifications to the AN/ALQ-214A(V)4 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures System. Announced by the US Department of Defense on 8 November, the order covers non-recurring engineering to develop, integrate, test and deliver software and firmware as well as all technical data. It also provides engineering and technical support for test efforts including correction of deficiencies discovered during testing in support of a Foreign Military Sales customer. The AN/ALQ-214 is an RF integrated countermeasure system. The system is designed to counter RF guided threats with proven electronic countermeasures techniques that deny, disrupt, delay and degrade launch and engagement sequences. Each threat is identified, prioritised, countered and displayed to the aircrew for situational awareness as well as self-protection. Work is expected to be completed in November 2022. (Source: Shephard)
08 Nov 19. Lockheed Martin Corp., Ft. Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $15,746,610 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Universal Armament Interface. This contract provides for system engineering and program management for universal armament interface development. Work will be performed in Ft. Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 19, 2024. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $780,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8628-20-C-2266).
07 Nov 19. Lockheed Martin received a $25m initial contract award for engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) for the GPS Spatial Temporal Anti-Jam Receiver (GSTAR) system that will be integrated into the F-35 as part of its modernization phase, also known as Block 4. The GSTAR system will replace the current Antenna Electronics Unit (AEU) and will provide enhanced capabilities including the next-generation, anti-jam solution and provide a significant weight and cost reduction to the aircraft. The F-35 today is the most technologically advanced fighter ever built. As threats advance and technology evolves, the joint government and industry team is modernizing the system to ensure it remains a step ahead. GSTAR is one of several key enhancements planned across the F-35’s sensors, data links, engine, mission systems, weapons and more. (Source: Warfare.Today)
07 Nov 19. USN orders E-2D aerial refuelling kits. The US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a $32.5m contract modification exercising an option for five aerial refuelling retrofit kits, installations and technical support for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft. Work will be performed at various sites across the US, and is expected to be completed in March 2021. USN FY19 aircraft procurement funds of the full contract modification amount were allocated at time of award. The Naval Air Systems Command based at Patuxent River in Maryland is the contracting activity for the award. (Source: Shephard)
14 Nov 19. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Air Force for a prototype project to demonstrate an internally mounted electronic warfare suite and digital radar warning receiver for the F-16 fighter aircraft. The agreement was issued under SOSSEC Consortium’s Air Force Open System Acquisition Initiative (OSAI) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for prototyping. The goal of the prototype project is to provide spherical radar warning, threat identification and countermeasure capabilities to protect aircrews from modern electromagnetic spectrum threats. Northrop Grumman’s prototype solution builds upon the company’s advanced electronic warfare system architecture that is in production for multiple programs, offering protection from current and emerging threats and a growth path to even greater self-protection capabilities. Northrop Grumman has teamed with non-traditional defense contractors for the execution of this OTA prototype project.
14 Nov 19. Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded a $1,207,968,973 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides sustainment support of the V-22 AE1107C engine at various V-22 aircraft production, test and operating sites. Sustainment support includes program management, integrated logistics support, sustaining engineering, maintenance, repair, reliability improvements, configuration management and site support. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and various locations within and outside the continental U.S., and is expected to be completed in February 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-D-0004).
TECHNOLOGY
11 Nov 19. Kratos announces new C5 product orders. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ Kratos Microwave Electronics Division (KMED) has received order worth $15m in support of command, control, communication, computing and combat system (C5) related programmes. KMED provides C5 products in support of missile, radar, missile defence, electronic warfare, communication and other systems. (Source: Shephard)
07 Nov 19. ManTech has received a $132m task order from the US Army to integrate software for the US Army’s Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS-A) Family of Systems (FoS). The five-year award includes the provision of full lifecycle software and systems engineering. The order was awarded by the US Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) Software Engineering Center (SEC), Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors Directorate (IEW&SD), and Intelligence Support Division (ISD). Under the contract, the company will provide services in support of the SEC mission. The services will include software integration and build services, configuration management, cybersecurity, verification and validation, infrastructure and logistics services. Under the sustainment support effort, the company will provide maintenance for DCGS-A FoS post-deployment and post-production software sustainment (PDDS/PPSS).
The software platforms will include Counter Intelligence/Human Intelligence Automated Reporting and Collection System (CHARCS), Tactical Intelligence Ground Station (TGS), and Machine Foreign Language Translation System (MFLTS). In 2015, ManTech won a contract to provide support to the army’s DCGS-A programmes of record modernisation effort.
DCGS-A provides military intelligence for multiple US military branches. The system caters to the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) needs of commanders. It is used to process and disseminate ISR information from battalion to echelons. (Source: army-technology.com)
11 Nov 19. Parsons has received a task order to provide advanced video activity analytics (AVAA) to support the US Navy’s cyberspace operations. This is the company’s first task order awarded by the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract. The three-year deal has a base value of $293.8m and includes two 24-month option periods, which could take the total contract value to $710.98m. Under the contract, the firm will provide technical, professional and management support services to help the navy establish and maintain cyberspace operations. The contract will also support the ‘interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. The task order has a potential value of $11.7m. It includes a base period of one year and four one-year option periods. Parsons’ AVAA is an automated analysis solution that integrates computer vision analytics from distinctly different sources into a single processing pipeline. (Source: naval-technology.com)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
13 Nov 19. Nigerian Army orders 28 Ezugwu armoured vehicles. The Nigerian Army has ordered 28 Ezugwu armoured vehicles from the Nigerian military’s Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), it was announced on 12 November. The Nigerian Army described the Ezugwu as a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle (MRAP) and said it would be used for counter-terrorism/insurgency and other types of operations. The agreement was signed by a representative for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and DICON Director General of DICON Major General Victor Ezugwu at the army’s headquarters in Abuja. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
11 Nov 19. Netline Communications Technologies Ltd. – a leading developer and manufacturer of high-end electronic warfare and spectrum dominance solutions – is strengthening its presence in the APAC region, with several new contracts recently signed in this market. One significant contract is a program to provide the C-Guard Reactive Jamming (RJ) Vehicular System, a vehicle-installed system that provides counter-IED (improvised explosive device) protection, to head-of-state motorcades in a Southeast Asian country. This unique solution both detects the threat and provides an immediate response, preventing remote detonation of radio controlled IEDs by transmitting jamming signals around the entire convoy. The system will be delivered by the end of the year. Other contracts signed by Netline include follow-on orders for the supply of both vehicular and ManPack (MP) C-IED systems, to a state police force in Asia. In its MP configuration, C-Guard RJ is carried by frontline forces in a single backpack unit, preventing attempts to activate IEDs around tactical forces when on the move.
11 Nov 19. Indian MoD awards OFB USD2.8bn contract to licence-build 464 additional T-90S MBTs. India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a INR200bn (USD2.8bn) contract with the state-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to licence-build 464 additional T-90S main battle tanks (MBTs) for the Indian Army (IA). OFB spokesperson Uddipan Mukherjee told Jane’s on 11 November that under deal, which was signed five days earlier, the OFB’s Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi, in southern India, would complete delivery of the MBTs within four to five years. Industry sources said the order is part of a series of earlier contracts agreed upon with the HVF in 2006-07 to licence-build 1,000 T-90Ss – designated ‘Bhishma’ in Indian service – under a transfer of technology agreement signed with Russia. This programme has faced recurring technological problems for several years, especially with regard to the MBT’s 125 mm smoothbore gun barrel, which has resulted in extended delays and cost overruns. However, IA sources told Jane’s that these glitches have now been resolved, with the latest order for 464 T-90S tanks meant to complete the previous agreement with HVF for the licensed production of 1,000 of these platforms. The recently signed agreement is separate from the planned INR134.48bn acquisition of an equal number of T-90MS MBTs, all of which would be imported in kit form from Russian tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) for assembly by the HVF. India’s Committee on Security approved the T-90MS procurement in April, but no contract has yet to be signed. Industry sources said that the planned T-90MS acquisition also featured in discussions held in early November in Moscow during a meeting of the 9th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC), but pointed out that no deal has yet been reached. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
SEA
13 Nov 19. Israel Ministry of Defense has signed an agreement with Israel Shipyards Ltd. for the design of the next Israel Navy new and advanced combat vessel – the “Reshef” Class. Replacing the reliable above-20-years-in-service SA’AR 4.5, the new vessel is to successfully withstand the new and evolving threats and challenges the force will face. The Reshef Class vessels, which will be based on the ISL S-72 proven design, will significantly empower the Israeli Navy capabilities in the future combat field and will assist in protecting Israel’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as the off shore oil & gas facilities within Israel’s territorial waters. All combat systems on board the new ship will be of Israel’s defense industry produce. Israel Shipyards Ltd. is one of the largest privately-owned shipbuilding and repair facilities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its main offerings cover SA’AR class missile corvettes, including SA’AR 4, SA’AR 4.5 and SA’AR S-72, Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs); Fast Patrol Craft, including SHALDAG MK II – MK V; commercial ships; tugboats and multipurpose boats. In recent decades, the company has built and delivered a large number of these vessels, which are in active service with the Israeli Navy as well as in the Navies, Coast Guards and law enforcement authorities of countries around the world.
AIR
14 Nov 19. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced a major Middle Eastern ally awarded the company a firm fixed-price contract valued at $11,999,992 on October 25, 2019 for logistics support, spares, and repair services in support of its existing fleet of AeroVironment’s Puma™ AE and Raven® B tactical UAS. The contract award period of performance is two years.
08 Nov 19. DoD/DSCA Notifies Congress of Possible FMS of CH-47F Chinook Cargo Helicopters to the UAW. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the Congress that the Government of the United Arab Emirates has requested to buy ten (10) CH-47F Chinook cargo helicopters; twenty-six (26) T55-GA-714A Engines; twenty-four (24) Embedded Global Positioning Systems with Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS); twelve (12) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS); twenty (20) M134D-H Mini Guns; and twenty (20) M240H Machine Guns. Also included are aircraft survivability equipment to include: APR-39A(V)l, AN/ARC-231, Harris RF-7850A-MR, Thales 5400NS, Tetra THR9i, AN/APX-123A, WESCAM MX-l5HDi, ARN-147 VOR/ILS, ARN-153 TACAN, APN-209 Receiver Transmitters, APN-209 Indicator, AN/ARC-220; Infrared Suppression System (IRSS); Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction System (FRIES); Extended Range Fuel System (ERFS); Fire Fighting Equipment; Ballistic Armor Protection System; airworthiness support; spare and repair parts; communications equipment; personnel training and training equipment; site surveys; tool and test equipment; ground support equipment; repair and return; publications and technical documentation; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $830.3m. The principal contractors will be Boeing Helicopters Aircraft Company in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania; Honeywell Engine Company in Phoenix, Arizona; Science and Engineering Services in Huntsville, Alabama. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.
11 Nov 19. Kongsberg signs Japan follow-on JSM contract. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has signed a follow-on contract with Japan to supply the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for its fleet of F-35 combat aircraft. The JSM is a stealth air-to surface missile designed to strike well-defended sea and land targets across long distances. As the missile can be carried internally in the F-35 it ensures the aircraft’s low-signature capabilities. (Source: Shephard)