UNITED KINGDOM
AIR
222 Jan 20. Airbus Helicopters in the UK is to provide four additional H145 helicopters as part of an expansion of the UK Military Flight Training System (UKMFTS). The new helicopters will join the existing fleet of 29 H135s and three H145s, known respectively as Juno and Jupiter in UKMFTS service. They will be delivered during 2020. Operated by Ascent Flight Training Management Ltd primarily from RAF Shawbury and also RAF Valley on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, the aircraft are used to train all UK military helicopter pilots and rear crew. Airbus Helicopters is fully embedded at both bases as the rotary wing aircraft service provider to Ascent.
EUROPE
LAND
20 Jan 20. Rheinmetall books €110m-contract to extend the service life of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle for the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr has contracted with Rheinmetall to carry out new measures for extending the service life of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. In order to maintain the operational readiness of this tracked vehicle, the drivetrain of 71 Marder 1A5 vehicles will be replaced. During the 2020-2023 timeframe, Rheinmetall will be supplying the German military with a total of 78 conversion kits as well as vehicle tool kits and special tools, logistical support, an initial store of spare parts, and training and instruction. The order is worth around €110m, including value added tax. The service life extension will maintain and expand the capabilities of the Marder, which the Bundeswehr first fielded in 1971. As a first step in replacing the drivetrain, a new powerpack will be installed in all of the vehicles, which will boost the Marder’s engine output from 600 to over 750 HP. The new powerpack will significantly enhance the tried-and-tested vehicle’s responsiveness. Here, the Bundeswehr has opted for a highly advanced, forward-looking new solution proposed by well-known German manufacturers.
24 Jan 20. On the 30th of December 2019, the French defence procurement agency (DGA) awarded the sixth contract amendment on the SCORPION programme to the consortium[1] formed by Nexter, Arquus and Thales. This latest award, known as MEPAC[2], covers the delivery of 54 additional Griffon multi-role armoured vehicles (VBMR[3]) equipped with Thales’s 120-mm 2R2M (Rifled Recoiled Mounted Mortar) system, reaching the total number of Griffon vehicles on the SCORPION program to 1,872 in accordance with the Military Planning Law 2019-2025. Since consultations began in November 2018, the three industry partners have worked together and with the DGA to design a new version of the vehicle concept with artillery capabilities. This is the first time the French Army will field the 2R2M, which is already in service in four other countries. The mounted mortar system will provide added mobility and precision in front-line combat operations as well as better protection for soldiers. In particular, the Thales system has built its reputation on its semi-automatic loading system and the precision of its rifled barrel, and has been combat-proven in numerous theatres of operations. In addition to structural modifications to the system architecture, this new version will include significant changes to the onboard optronics and the vehicle’s mobility systems.
SEA
22 Jan 20. Patria has been awarded a contract for the design and delivery of new Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Sonars by Saab, the Squadron 2020 Combat System Contractor. This new state-of-the-art ASW product strengthens Patria’s product portfolio and improves company’s competitiveness and position in the international naval markets. The employment effect of the contract in Finland is approximately 50 man-years. The new lightweight dual-tow Sonac DTS system consists of both an active variable depth sonar and a passive towed thin-line receiving array that can be used together or independently. The system has been designed to meet the demanding acoustic underwater environmental conditions of the Baltic Sea to ensure the best possible performance. Future collaboration covers also combat system engineering and integration, software development and the underwater sensor domain, including sonars. The contract further enables Patria to contribute to software development of the 9LV Combat Management System (CMS) for the global market and Saab to contribute to productization and marketing of Patria’s underwater sensor portfolio. The collaboration will also strengthen the domestic defense industry and technology base, as well as improve the security of supply for the Squadron 2020 project.
TECHNOLOGY
20 Jan 20. Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure, today announced the Defence Geographic Agency (DGeo) of The Netherlands Ministry of Defence signed a multi-million dollar, multi-year subscription to SecureWatch, the company’s cloud-based geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) platform. DGeo will leverage SecureWatch to enrich its geospatial foundation data holdings and derivative product portfolio that aid critical decision-making within The Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD). Through SecureWatch, DGeo will have access to Maxar’s 110-petabyte, high-resolution satellite imagery library, daily imagery collections, Vivid and Metro imagery mosaics, FirstLook service and synthetic aperture radar data from MDA’s RADARSAT-2 satellite. When the WorldView Legion constellation imagery is available after the first satellites launch in early 2021, DGeo will also access it via SecureWatch. The abundance and variety of geospatial data available in SecureWatch will inform and support the MoD’s information-driven activities such as mission planning, disaster response and border security, among other purposes. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
USA
LAND
17 Jan 20. AAR (NYSE: AIR) Mobility Systems has been awarded a sole-source Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to produce specialized shipping/storage containers and accessories. The containers and accessories will be manufactured in Cadillac. The sole-source IDIQ contract with the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support in Philadelphia includes a two-year base period, with an option to extend thereafter for three additional years, for an estimated value of $90m. This contract provides the U.S. Armed Forces and its allies with a direct method for procuring AAR’s rapid deployment products, which have been used by troops around the globe for over five decades. The products are designed to offer militaries worldwide a robust, modular and secure method for transporting their mission-critical equipment and for use by troops once deployed.
21 Jan 20. BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $400,905,801 modification (P00080) to contract W56HZV-15-C-A001 to procure 160 armored multi-purpose vehicles. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2023. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 European reassurance initiative, defense; and procurement of weapons and tracked combat vehicles, Army funds in the amount of $400,905,801 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
AIR
22 Jan 20. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., doing business as Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, San Diego, California, is being awarded a $217,160,682 modification (P00021) to previously-awarded base contract FA8726-18-C-0005 to extend the contract by an additional year. This contract provides for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node payload operation and support for payload equipment and services. Work will be performed at San Diego, California, and undisclosed overseas locations, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 23, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $20,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $570,165,699. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity.
TECHNOLOGY
22 Jan 20. Comtech Telecommunications subsidiary Comtech EF Data has secured an order from a major US Department of Defense (DoD) contractor for satellite modems. Comtech EF Data is part of Comtech’s Commercial Solutions segment. As part of the order, Comtech EF Data will deliver the DMD2050E MIL-STD-188-165A/STANAG 4486 Edition 3 Compliant Universal Satellite Modem to support the US Army Project Manager (PM) Tactical Network. Designed to comply with US Government and commercial standards, the DMD2050E Satellite Modem is compatible with the largest number of satellite modems in the industry. It is also fully compliant with MIL-STD-188-165A (all terminal types) and complies with STANAG 4486 Edition 3, and the IESS-308, IESS-309, IESS-310 and IESS-315 commercial standards. (Source: army-technology.com)
22 Jan 20. Cybersecurity company Kinnami Software has been awarded a contract by the US Air Force (USAF) to further develop its advanced security platform AmiShare. AmiShare is a distributed data security platform that distributes, encrypts and audits data across users, servers, devices and Cloud. It prevents breach of sensitive information and against growing data threats. Unlike other available security platforms, AmiShare secures the data where it is created and keeps it encrypted. This protects data even when it is moves between devices. The contract has been awarded through AFWERX and Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), under the USAF small business innovation research (SBIR) Phase I contract. The application system will be optimised to protect the USAF data. It will also audit and control its access. Additionally, the contract will see Kinnami engage with the USAF to pilot AmiShare. In the first half of 2019, more than 4,000 data breaches occurred and compromised four million records. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
22 Jan 20. MTS Advantage has secured a contract from the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic to provide services to the US Navy. The company is a Small Business Administration (SBA) Mentor-Protégé joint venture (JV) between Millennium and TIME Systems. Under the terms of the $99.9m single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, MTS Advantage will provide worldwide Cyber Red Team services, operational test support services, information assurance, and cyber defence. Other services to be offered to the US Navy include cyber systems security, network infrastructure, programme management, and related technical services. The five-year contract is performance-based and includes a base period and an option period that would extend the performance period until July 2026. (Source: naval-technology.com)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
21 Jan 20. Expal Systems to provide ammo, mortars for Philippine Navy. Spain’s Expal Systems has been awarded two separate contracts to supply the Philippine Navy (PN) with naval gun ammunition and mortars. Under a USD1.2m contract Expal is set to deliver 720 training and 748 high-explosive, point-detonating 76mm rounds for the service’s two José Rizal-class multirole frigates. The first of these vessels is expected to be handed over to the PN between April and May, while the second is set to be delivered between September and October. Each of these frigates, which have been built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, is armed with a Leonardo 76 mm Super Rapid naval gun in the primary position and a 30mm ‘SMASH’ remote-controlled stabilised gun system from Turkey’s Aselsan in the aft section. (Source: Jane’s)
21 Jan 20. Leonardo to provide RAT 31 DL/M radar system to Indonesian Air Force. Italian defence group Leonardo has signed a contract with Indonesian company PT Len Industri (Persero) to provide an RAT 31DL/M long-range, 3D air-defence radar system for the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU). The TNI-AU will operate the L-band, solid-state, phased array radar system to strengthen Indonesia’s air defences, said the company in a 21 January statement, without providing any details about the value of the contract or the delivery schedule. (Source: Jane’s)
SEA
17 Jan 20. Australia – Australia Surface Combatant (ASC) Program. The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of long lead items, engineering development activities, and other defense services to support the Australian Surface Combatant Program for an estimated cost of $1.5bn. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on yesterday. The Government of Australia has requested to buy long lead items, engineering development activities, and other defense services to support the Australian Surface Combatant Program, including the modernization of the three Hobart Class Destroyers, and construction of the first three (of nine total) Hunter Class Frigates which includes: three (3) Shipsets of the AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) in the MK 6 Mod 1 configuration to support the Modernization of the Hobart Class DDGs; three (3) Shipsets of the AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) in the MK 6 Mod 1 configuration to support the New Construction of the Hunter Class FFGs; three (3) shipsets of the MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) for installation on the Hunter Class Frigates; three (3) shipsets (2 mounts per ship) of the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) for installation on the Hunter Class Frigates; two (2) Australia AEGIS Weapon System Computer Programs (one for Hobart Class, one for Hunter Class), and associated computer programs for AEGIS Combat System components for installation on both the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; six (6) shipsets of the Global Positioning System (GPS) – Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Service (GPNTS) Navigation Systems and associated Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) antennas and support equipment for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; six (6) shipsets of upgraded Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) equipment for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; six (6) shipsets of Command and Control Processor (C2P) equipment for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; and eight (8) shipsets of Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Set (MIDS JTRS) terminals for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships. Also included are: three (3) shipsets of MK 34 Gun Weapon System (GWS) modification equipment to include the Electro Optical Sight System and changes supporting Naval Fires Planner and associated TacLink Control System for installation on the Hobart Class Destroyers; three (3) shipsets of MK 34 Gun Weapon System components to include the MK 160 Gun Computing System and the MK 20 Electro Optical Sight System, and the Naval Fires Planner and associated TacLink Control System for installation on the Hunter Class Frigates; three (3) shipsets of: Mode 5/S capable Identification, Friend of Foe (IFF) Systems; Gigabit Ethernet Data Multiplexing System (GEDMS); AN/WSN-7 Ring Laser Gyrocompass Inertial Navigation Systems; WSN-9 Digital Hybrid Speed Log systems; Common Data Link Management System (CDLMS); and Global Command and Control System-Maritime (GCCS-M) systems for installation on the Hunter Class Frigates; six (6) shipsets of AN/SRQ-4 Hawklink and SQQ-89 Sonobuoy processing equipment for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; defense services for development and integration of a capability upgrade for the installed AEGIS Combat System on the Hobart Class Destroyer, including Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability and growth capability for Ballistic Missile Defense; development, integration and testing support for installation of a AEGIS Combat System for installation on the Hunter Class FFG, a Global Combat Ship Type 26 (BAE) platform, including the integration of the indigenous CEAFAR 2 Phased Array Radar (CEA Industries) with the AEGIS Combat System (including Cooperative Engagement Capability) and the primary radar sensor and illuminator; integration of selected Australian provided combat system components including Undersea Warfare and Ship Self Defense for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; integration of the MH-60R helicopter into the AEGIS Combat System for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; Procurement and delivery of installation support material, special purpose test equipment, initial logistics outfitting, spares and other ancillary equipment to support the installation and integration of AEGIS Combat System equipment in the Hunter and Hobart class ship platforms; development of technical documentation to support both programs; provision of logistics and other support services to support the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; procurement, staging, delivery and installation support for AEGIS Combat System equipment for the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; provision of training support for curriculum development, training tool development, front-end analysis, and crew training for the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; U.S. Government and contractor representative engineering, logistics, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support for the Hobart and Hunter Class ships. The total estimated cost is $1.50bn. The proposed sale will enhance Australia’s Surface Combatant capability by modernizing their existing three AEGIS capable Hobart Class Destroyers with the latest technology and capability, and delivering the first three (of nine) AEGIS capable Hunter Class Future Frigates. This sale enhances Australia’s self-defense capability, while significantly improving interoperability with U.S. Navy AEGIS combatants in the region. By deploying a surface combatant fleet that will incorporate Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), Australia will significantly improve network-centric warfare capability for US forces operating in the region. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. There are a significant number of companies under contract with the U.S. Navy that will provide components and systems as well as engineering services during the execution of this effort, with a significant portion of the effort to be performed by Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, NJ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
23 Jan 20. CONTROP Precision Technologies Ltd. – a company specialising in the field of electro-optics and infrared (EO/IR) for defence and homeland security solutions – has won a tender by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the supply of its iSky-50HD systems, for use on unmanned air platforms. The iSky-50HD is a member of CONTROP’s iSky family of lightweight, compact EO/IR observation systems, which have been specifically designed for use in challenging airborne environments. The iSky-50HD features highly-sensitive multi-spectral sensors, which are gyro-stabilized and have advanced image processing algorithms, thereby providing maximum sensor ranges and performance, for a variety of airborne defence applications. In daily operation around the world since the 1990s, the iSky systems are integrated into a wide variety of UAV, helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft and aerostat platforms.
21 Jan 20. Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB) today announced its Cubic Global Defense (CGD) business division was awarded a contract to supply the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) with its P5 Combat Training System (P5CTS). Under the contract, Cubic, along with principal subcontractor, Leonardo DRS, will deliver P5CTS airborne subsystems and associated ground subsystems to be integrated with ROKAF aircraft and training infrastructure. The P5CTS is the only fourth- and fifth-generation interoperable Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) system flying in the world today. The P5CTS provides high-fidelity, live mission training capabilities for advanced weapons and tactics training.
TECHNOLOGY
20 Jan 20. A team from UNSW Art & Design in Australia has secured a grant to develop new technology to bring about improvement in the cognitive performance and resilience of troops in the Australian Army. The $523,000 grant awarded by the Human Performance Research network (HPRnet) is part of the Defence Science and Technology’s $730m Next Generation Technologies Fund. The latest research project is one of nine studies selected in areas that cover cognitive augmentation, nutrition and gut health to the use of augmented reality, team training and resilience. UNSW National Facility for Human Robot Interaction Research and the Creative Robotics Lab director Mari Velonaki said that the project will involve the development of a non-intrusive working model. This new model will be capable of identifying warning signs of physical and cognitive stress in individuals and groups under critical conditions such as firefighters, surgeons or soldiers. Furthermore, it aims to improve rapidly distributing information methods to assist in task allocation and enhance the performance of the team. The Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said that the research studies will be performed for four years and will enable HPRnet to benefit troops in the army, navy and airforce. A total of 14 Australian universities are currently engaged in HPRnet projects. The project will be conducted at the UNSW’s purpose-designed National Facility. It marks the first time the facility or the Creative Robotics Lab at the university have worked with the Australian Army and HPRnet. Velonaki and her team previously collaborated with the US Department of Defense. In September last year, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced funding to a consortium of the University of Melbourne, Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales and Queensland University of Technology for the development of the next-generation of autonomous vehicles. (Source: army-technology.com)