UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
26 Nov 19. Cubic Defence negotiating for UK’s SCOPIC 2 contract. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is in negotiations to award a contract for the British Army’s SCOPIC 2 programme, which integrates synthetic resources into live training, to Cubic Defence UK (CD UK). The selection was announced on Defence Contracts Online on 14 November, and the contract has a total value of GBP25m.
CD UK currently provides its Synthetic Wrap (SW) to simulate scarce assets during live training as part of Project Micro-SCOPIC, for which it was awarded a contract in 2016. SW enables the integration into live training of a range of combat support assets that otherwise would not be available, either because of their scarcity, expense, or peacetime safety constraints. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
TECHNOLOGY
25 Nov 19. Techmodal, the Bristol and London based data specialists, have been successful in their bid to deliver positive transformational change in people, analytics and associated digital communications for the Royal Navy. Supporting Navy Command’s senior leadership in their programme to transform the Navy in 1000 days, under this framework contract Techmodal will build, deliver and support data science, analytics and digital solutions underpinned by support from industry leading governance and assurance subject matter experts including Karmarama, Kainos, PA Consulting, PwC, Deloitte, Oliver Wyman, Havas and Palantir. Techmodal has previously delivered disruptive change in the form of tailored Digital People Analytics Solutions to Navy Command HQ over the last two years and have built an expanded team around their proven Data Science led capability.
EUROPE
LAND
28 Nov 19. Iveco Defence Vehicles signs contract to deliver an initial 918 medium multirole protected vehicles “12kN” to the Dutch Armed Forces. Following the award announced in September 2019, Iveco Defence Vehicles has signed a contract with the Dutch Ministry of Defence to initially provide 918 medium multirole protected vehicles denominated “12kN”. The signing ceremony was held on November 28, 2019 at the NIDV exhibition in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in the presence of Vice Admiral Arie Jan de Waard, Director of the Defence Material Organization (DMO).
28 Nov 19. Millog to support Finnish vehicle fleet. Millog will provide maintenance services for vehicles of the Finnish Defence Force under a contract announced on 26 November. The Finnish Ministry of Defence authorised the contract which will cover the maintenance of defence force vehicles for the year 2020. The €15.9m contract includes a number of maintenance services, including fault and damage repairs, periodic maintenance, surveys and necessary spare parts. (Source: Shephard)
25 Nov 19. Lithuania signs agreement to purchase 200 JLTVs from US. The Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania and the US Department of Defense have signed a letter of offer and acceptance for the procurement of 200 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs). The new vehicles are expected to strengthen the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, provide greater mobility, personnel protection and combat power. Lithuania will buy the JLTVs from the US Government. The all-terrain vehicles will be manufactured for the Lithuanian Armed Forces by US enterprise Oshkosh Defence. The new JLTVs, featuring turrets and 12.7mm M2 QCB machine-guns, will be provided to battalions of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf and the Motorised Infantry Brigade Griffin as part of a strategy to strengthen the national rapid response forces. The first all-terrain JLTVs are expected to be delivered to Lithuania in late 2021. The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence will allocate €145m for the purchase of JLTVs, equipment and weaponry complements, spare parts, personnel training, and sustainment in 2020-24. According to the Defence Materiel Council of the Ministry of National Defence, the US-manufactured JLTVs met the price-performance ratio in 2017. (Source: army-technology.com)
26 Nov 19. MELLS guided missile for the German Infantry: Bundeswehr awards Rheinmetall multi-million-euro contract. Rheinmetall and its joint venture partners Diehl Defence and Rafael have won an order to supply the Bundeswehr with the advanced MELLS antitank guided missile. Rheinmetall is tasked with supplying key components to Eurospike, the company that manufactures the MELLS multirole lightweight guided missile system. For Rheinmetall, this represents an order intake of over €30m without valued added tax. Delivery begins in 2020 and continues through to 2023. A framework agreement contains an option for the fabrication and delivery of around 100 additional weapon systems and a five-figure number of component sets for the MELLS guided missile during the 2024-2031 timeframe. This would mean incoming orders for Rheinmetall in the three-digit million-euro range. The MELLS missiles now ordered by the Bundeswehr are intended for infantry operations. Rheinmetall will be supplying over a hundred integrated command and launch units, including transport and storage containers, as well as 1,500 sets with components for the long-range Spike LR missile produced by Rafael. Produced by Eurospike – a joint venture of Rheinmetall, Diehl Defence and Rafael – the MELLS is a state-of-the-art effector capable of engaging armoured targets at ranges of up to 4,000 metres. Rheinmetall can point to abundant expertise and experience with the MELLS. The Düsseldorf, Germany-based company has already integrated this advanced missile system into the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, and is doing so again in the Puma IFV. In addition, another contractor is currently integrating the system into Rheinmetall’s air-portable Wiesel/Wiesel weapons carrier. Looking ahead, more extensive networking of the command and launch units and guided missiles with Rheinmetall-made soldier systems like the Future Soldier – Expanded System (IdZ-ES) and the TacNet battle management system offers significant future potential, which will further optimize the sensor-to-shooter sequence.
AIR
28 Nov 19. Spain will acquire 24 Pilatus PC-21 turboprop training aircraft to replace its Casa Aviojet C-101 jet trainers, confirming a worldwide trend that sees older jet training aircraft being succeeded by high-performance turboprops. Pilatus, whose PC-21 “clearly offered the best cost-quality ratio,” beat the Beechcraft T-6A Texan II and the Embraer Super Tucano to win the order. Spain’s decision was announced on Nov. 26 on the government’s procurement platform, Plataforma de Contratacion del Sector Publico (PCSP), but it has not yet been formally announced by the Ministry of Defense or the Spanish Air Force. According to PCSP, Pilatus will supply 24 PC-21 training aircraft and its Integrated Training System (ITS), more efficient and better adapted to the use of modern technologies, at a cost of €204.75m, almost 10% less than the €225m budget that had been authorized for the acquisition. The funds will be paid out in three annual instalments (€71.5m in 2020, €71m in 2021 and €62.5m in 2022). In addition to the aircraft, the ITS will include an emergency ejection trainer, two cockpit simulators and two network-connected flight simulators, as well as an initial logistics package. The schedule for deliveries is very tight, as the first C-101 will be gradually retired from September 2021 to 2027, which requires that the PC-21 be ready to begin basic training in the 2021-22 academic year. Consequently, the first six PC-21s and one simulator are to be delivered by March 2020 to allow training of the first eight instructors. The PC-21 will be known as E.27 in Spanish service. Initially, the PC-21s will replace the T-35 Tamiz for elementary flight training, and the C-101 for basic training, but no decision has yet been taken about the replacement of the remaining C-101s and F-5Bs used for advanced training, and which will likely be decided around the middle of the next decade. (Source: defense-aerospace.com)
USA
LAND
27 Nov 19. Palomar Display Products has secured two contracts totalling more than $6.2m to deliver military display systems and spare display parts for the M1A2 Abrams tank fire control system. The company said that the high-resolution, optically coupled display systems have been designed, tested and qualified by Palomar Display Products, specifically for the M1A2 Abrams tank. The display systems will be delivered to the US Army during 2021. Palomar Display Products president Paul Bell said: “These two orders bring our 2019 Q4 bookings to $12m and our total FY 2019 bookings to $36m. Earlier this month, Palomar Display Products won a $5.4m firm fixed-price contract from the US Army Contracting Command for military display systems for the M1A2 Abrams tank. (Source: army-technology.com)
SEA
26 Nov 19. Klein Marine Systems, a unit belonging to Mitcham Industries, will install its MA-X technology on a next-generation system for evaluation by the US Navy after securing a contract from an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) manufacturer. Mitcham Industries provides technology to the oceanographic, defence, hydrographic, seismic and security industries. MA-X technology is claimed to be a cost-effective and high-quality gap-filler solution that is sought by the industry. The company said that a nadir gap is created in the centre of the image in traditional side-scan sonar imaging. However, MA-X technology removes this gap, eliminating the need for overlapping survey lines time to achieve 100% coverage. Mitcham said that this will enable operators of AUVs to extend the duration of the mission or reduce the time taken to cover the same area. For the defence sector, the company said that the MA-X technology offers a major advantage in terms of the ability to produce high-quality imagery of the nadir area, which is comparable to the traditional side scan. This facilitates the feeding of data acquired from MA-X directly into existing automatic target recognition (ATR) software, enabling the automated detection and recognition of targets of interest. (Source: naval-technology.com)
25 Nov 19. The Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded a contract to Mikros Systems to develop an in-stride sensor degradation solution for unmanned surface vehicle (USV) and unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) platforms. The contract was awarded under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme for USV and UUV autonomous behaviour development. Mikros will develop a Sensor In-stride Diagnostic, Correction, and Confidence Component (SID3C) under a $150,000 delivery order. The solution will be able to monitor shipboard sensors. SID3C will be installed in current and future USV and UUV platforms to detect sensor degradation and fix those that are recoverable. The technology will also support autonomous systems in filtering unreliable sensor data. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
25 Nov 19. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $172,233,232 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-18-D-0001). This modification increases the ceiling of the contract to continue service life modifications to extend the operational service life from 6,000 flight hours to 10,000 flight hours of up to 23 F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas (59%); El Segundo, California (25%); and St. Louis, Missouri (16%), and is expected to be completed in May 2022. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
22 Nov 19. USAF awards SBIR Phase II contract to Capella Space. The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a small business innovative research (SBIR) phase II contract to Capella Space to adapt its commercial persistent space radar to meet military requirements. The contract involves the application of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to the virtual reality software used by the USAF. Integration of SAR data will enable the service to simulate potential adversary scenarios and support missile defence. It will also provide predictive intelligence capability to predict foreign threats. Under the SBIR contract, Capella will also provide the USAF with an analytics service to enable object identification and change detection capabilities. The software tool will provide automatic insights from satellite data. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
28 Nov 19. Canadian aerial firefighting company Coulson Aviation has won a contract from the US Air Force to install its Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS)-XXL Firefighting Systems on seven C-130H aircraft. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will operate the aircraft. The company has partnered with Lockheed Martin, which will carry out the installation activities at its location in Greenville, South Carolina, US. The addition of the seven aircraft is expected to make the RADS Series of Aerial Delivery Systems the most prominent large air tanker delivery system globally. Coulson Aviation first installed the RADS in 2011 to equip its C-130H/Q aircraft for aerial fire suppression. The company has now won a contract from the US Air Force to provide a modern RADS for its fleet of C-130s. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
22 Nov 19. DCS has received a task order to support the US Air Force’s (USAF) aircraft research, development and acquisition efforts. The order was awarded as part of the USAF’s engineering and professional acquisition support services (EPASS) programme. Under the contract, DCS will provide services in support of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces Directorate’s Helicopter Program Office (HPO). The five-year task order has a potential value of $93.4m. According to DCS, it will support aircraft lifecycle acquisition, sustainment, research, development and production activities. The services will include acquisition, research, engineering and administrative support with work expected to begin from next month. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
19 Nov 19. Leonardo Signs ‘Maximum Availability’ Support Contract for Radars Used in USAF Adversary Training.
–Leonardo has signed a multi-year, performance-based logistics contract with Draken International to ensure a high availability rate for the Grifo-L radars used to train US Air Force pilots
–The contract marks an important milestone in the partnership between Draken and Leonardo, and paves the way for future activities relating to other Leonardo products and services in high-usage domains like Adversary
–Leonardo’s Grifo family of radar systems is in service with six international Air Forces plus private operator Draken International, together reaching over 150,000 flight hours
Leonardo has signed a multi-year support service contract with Draken International which will ensure that the Grifo-L fire control radar systems installed on Draken’s fleet of 24 L-159E fighter jets are available whenever they are needed. Key to the contract award was Leonardo’s ability to quickly implement a bespoke business model, whereby robust support is delivered via a repair-and-return cycle backed by the wider Leonardo business.
The Grifo-L radars which will be supported are used to deliver ‘Adversary Air’ services at the United States Air Force (USAF) Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base. Here, the L-159E, nicknamed the “Honey Badger”, simulates the role of an ‘enemy’ aircraft. As part of engagements, the Grifo-L radar is used to emulate a credible threat to the 4th and 5th Generation US, Italian, NATO, and other Allied fighter pilots undergoing training.
The contract is designed to sustain Draken’s flying-by-the-hour business model, which requires the Grifo-L radars to be readily available. To meet this need, Leonardo has developed a tailored, high-performance model which is able to support the ‘wartime rate’ of flying which is required. Leonardo tested the new model under a trial basis with Draken in 2018 where it proved successful.
Leonardo’s Grifo family of radar systems is in service with six international Air Forces as well as Draken, a private operator. In total, more than 450 Grifo radars have been sold, notching up more than 150,000 flight hours between them. The latest addition to the Grifo family is the Grifo-346 radar, which features optimised performance and has been tailored for the Leonardo M-346FA (Fighter Attack) aircraft. (Source: ASD Network)
28 Nov 19. Lockheed Martin has won a $134.7m modification contract to supply Joint-Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGMs) to the US Army. The target for completion of the assigned work is set for February 28, 2023, the US Department of Defense said in a statement Wednesday. The JAGM will be used on joint rotary-wing and unmanned aircraft systems of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The air-to-surface missiles are being developed to replace the current air-launched BGM-71 TOW, AGM-114 Hellfire, and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. According to the US Army, the JAGM utilizes a multimode seeker to provide precision point and fire-and-forget targeting against a variety of countermeasures. A multipurpose warhead provides lethal effects against a range of target types, from armored vehicles, thin-skinned vehicles and maritime patrol craft to urban structures and field fortifications. (Source: UAS VISION)
26 Nov 19. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $327,950,000 fixed-price-incentive-firm-target advance acquisition contract to procure long lead material, parts and components in support of the Lot 15 production and delivery of 48 F-35A Lightning II aircraft for the Air Force. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35%); El Segundo, California (25%); Warton, United Kingdom (20%); Orlando, Florida (10%); Nashua, New Hampshire (5%); and Baltimore, Maryland (5%), and is expected to be completed in June 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $327,950,000 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 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-C-0009).
25 Nov 19. Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, is awarded a $403,301,277 modification (P00062) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0002). This modification increases the scope of the contract to procure an additional seven System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA) shipsets, 60 SDTA pod subsystems, 27 pieces of peculiar support equipment, one fatigue test pod and one static test pod in support of the initial operational test and evaluation phase of the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Program. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas (33%); Forest, Mississippi (33%); El Segundo, California (22%); Andover, Massachusetts (7%); and Fort Wayne, Indiana (5%), and is expected to be completed in December 2022. No funds are being obligated at time of award. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
27 Nov 19. United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a $521,996,409 undefinitized contract modification (P00070) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee and fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract (N00019-17-C-0010). This modification provides performance based logistics sustainment in support of the F-35 Lightning II F135 propulsion system for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants and foreign military sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (73%); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (18%); Camari, Italy (3%); Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (2%); Edwards Air Force Base, California (1%); Hill Air Force Base, Utah (1%); Luke Air Force Base, Arizona (1%); and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina (1%), and is expected to be completed in November 2020. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Air Force) funds for $72,261,440 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($179,272,654; 34%); Marine Corps ($134,605,633; 26%); Navy ($29,758,385; 6%); non-DoD participants ($124,483,008; 24%), and FMS customers ($53,876,729; 10%) under the FMS Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
TECHNOLOGY
25 Nov 19. HumanTouch has won a contract from the US Air Force to provide Cloud services to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/HN, LevelUP, and its developers. Under the contract, HumanTouch will provide a range of services, including mechanisms for continuous development, testing, staging and deploying into production (DevOps/DevSecOps). The objective is to integrate and test IL2, IL5, IL6 and other classification networks at various levels for government Cloud and hybrid Cloud architectures. The airforce said that LevelUP is seeking a Cloud service provider that can help process workloads at DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide (DoD SRG) Impact Level 5 (IL5) in addition to other networks, impact levels and classifications. It said that this will enable the airforce to take forward software artefacts from development to production at various classification levels and hybrid Cloud architectures. The contract is intended to obtain a secure, flexible, efficient and cost-effective commercial Cloud service offering, which will allow scaling of infrastructure, IT capabilities and services, as well as application resources to meet evolving application and user demand. Services to be provided under the contract will include infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS), which are expected to streamline the migration, implementation, support, computation and storage of current and future LevelUP workloads and applications. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
25 Nov 19. Leidos has secured a follow-on contract from the US Pacific Air Force Command (PACAF) for providing command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and operations (C5ISRO) support. The contract has a total approximate value of over $95m. The company will carry out the work at US Air Force bases in Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Japan and Korea. Under the contract, Leidos will provide engineering and technical services for PACAF C5ISRO systems. The systems support intelligence and operational activities pertaining to national security and command and control of military forces. A one-stop procurement solution developed by Leidos delivers end-to-end logistics support to ensure engineering, testing and fielding of the systems. Leidos will also provide support to the operation and security of PACAF C5ISRO systems to meet the present-day missions and future requirements for the Indo-Pacific Command area. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
25 Nov 19. Lockheed Martin and its Japanese trading partner have received a contract to produce two solid-state radar (SSR) antenna sets for Japan’s Aegis Ashore land-based missile system. The contract was awarded by the Japanese Ministry of Defence and comes after the US Government recently designated Lockheed Martin’s SSR as AN/SPY-7(V)1. When combined with the Aegis Ashore system, the SPY-7 radar will provide continuous protection to Japan against the threat of ballistic missiles. Aegis Ashore Japan will provide the capability to detect and engage sophisticated ballistic missile threats. The weapon system is designed to offer enhanced sensitivity and detection range when compared to traditional SPY-1 Aegis Ashore systems. In addition, it can engage multiple targets at the same time. (Source: army-technology.com)
26 Nov 19. Australian Defence Apparel (ADA) has been awarded a contract to supply the Australian Defence Force with additional Load Carriage Equipment. The contract utilises an existing deed arrangement, which sees the Victoria-based company to continue to supply the ADF with leading-edge equipment and modernised capability for their personnel. The load carriage equipment optimises soldiers’ mobility while carrying mission essential equipment. The equipment comprises:
- Modular belt webbing/load carriage harness;
- Modular tiered body armour system;
- Load carriage packs issued to each soldier contingent based on their role/specialisation;
- Assault packs;
- Pouches for carrying mission essential equipment; and
- A carryall for transporting the soldier combat ensemble.
Recently, the ADF has seen the delivery of modernised capability for the individual soldier. (Source: Defence Connect)
25 Nov 19. Navistar Defense LLC, Lisle, Illinois, was awarded a $26,748,087 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Somalia) contract for two commercial Medium Tactical Vehicle Variants — the 6×6 General Transport Truck and the 6×6 Wrecker Vehicle Recovery Truck, and spare parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 25, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-D-0016).
22 Nov 19. Australia requests JCREW equipment. Australia has requested Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) systems from the US government, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 20 November. Under a foreign military sale worth an estimated $245m Australia wants up to 850 JCREW Increment 1 Block 1 (I1B1) systems and related equipment. Of these, 533 will be vehicle mounted and 317 dismounted. Also included are spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; technical exchanges, publications and technical documentation; support equipment; and other related elements of logistics support. The equipment will provide Australia increased force protection from radio-controlled improvised explosive device threats for its defence forces and vehicles. If the sale goes ahead the prime contractor will be Northrop Grumman. (Source: Shephard)
SEA
25 Nov 19. Naval Group has signed a subcontract with Babcock International Group for the design of the weapon discharge system for the Attack Class submarines. A critical component of Australia’s Future Submarine, the weapon discharge system is responsible for the launch of submarine main weapons, including torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. Babcock has previously been engaged with supporting systems already installed on the Collins Class submarine, as well as the Hobart Class guided missile destroyers. (Source: Defence Connect)
AIR
26 Nov 19. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded an $831,008,187 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-17-C-0001). This modification provides for the production and delivery of 15 lot 14 F-35A aircraft and associated red gear in support of the Government of Australia. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (59%); El Segundo, California (14%); Warton, United Kingdom (9%); Cameri, Italy (4%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (2%), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Non-U.S. Department of Defense participant funds in the amount of $831,008,187 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.
27 Nov 19. MD Helicopters has received a firm fixed-price order for the delivery of 12 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters for the Afghan Air Force (AAF). This is the fourth delivery order issued to MD Helicopters against its five-year, $1.4bn light scout attack helicopter indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract. The Afghan Air Force is currently the largest MD 530F Cayuse Warrior operator globally. Awarded through US Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, on behalf of the Multi-national Aviation Special Project Office (MASPO), the contract comes after the successful delivery of aircraft ordered through Delivery Order 1. The contract vehicle is intended to ensure the availability of up to 150 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior and/or MD 530G attack helicopters to the US and partner nation military forces. So far, 54 of 150 helicopters are under contract with multiple operators. The company said that all Air Force MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light scout attack helicopters supplied to Afghanistan are powered by the Rolls-Royce 250-C30 650shp turbine engine. The helicopters feature an advanced, all-glass cockpit, Dillon Aero Fixed-Forward Sighting System, ballistically tolerant crashworthy main and auxiliary fuel system, Dillon Aero Mission Configurable Armament System (MCAS), FN Herstal HMP 400 .50 calibre Machine Gun Pods, ballistic armour protection, and M260 7-shot rocket pods. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
TECHNOLOGY
23 Nov 19. AVT Australia Secures $5m Defence Innovation Hub Contract. AVT Australia has been awarded a Defence Innovation Hub contract worth $AUD 5.2m to design and develop a revolutionary system that will improve the quality of images captured by drones. The contract was announced last week by Minister for Defence Industry, the Hons Melissa Price MP at the Defence Innovation Hub Industry Conference in Canberra.
AVT Australia intends to combine multiple sensor configurations, smart features and a range of autonomous tracking algorithms in a small, lightweight and compact system. This is the second Defence Innovation Hub contract awarded to AVT Australia for innovating multi sensor imaging systems. In 2017, AVT Australia was selected to design and manufacture a miniature, gyro-stabilised imaging system for the Australian Defence Force. More information on the Micro Gimbal, can be found here.
AVT Australia specialises in gyro-stabilised imaging systems, fully integrated solutions and innovative software for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), target acquisition, air defence and counter drone operations for the defence, aerospace and unmanned systems industries. AVT Australia manages regional sales, support, R&D and in-house system development for customers. AVT Australia’s pioneering systems are supporting airborne, ground and maritime missions in over 50 countries. (Source: ASD Network)