UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
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10 Jun 20. CDS Defence & Security (CDS DS) has been awarded a contract to deliver Support Services to the Joint CEMA Group (JCG) for Project ERUGATE, over five years and to a potential value of £30m. CDS DS has delivered mission critical support activities to Project ERUGATE for over 19 years, providing a team of specialist engineers, operators, analysts, project managers and support staff at JCG sites overseas and in the UK. Our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) have also delivered training and mentoring to Forces personnel as they move in and out of roles. The three-year contract, with an option for a further 1 + 1 year extension, was awarded as a result of CDS DS’ long history and significant experiences with this project.
SEA
10 Jun 20. General Dynamics Mission Systems, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is awarded a $104,214,429 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-no-fee contract (N00030-20-C-0003) for fiscal 2020-2023 Columbia (US01) and Dreadnought ballistic missile submarine class development, production and installation requirement. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (90%); the United Kingdom (6%); Quonset Point, Rhode Island (3%); and Groton, Connecticut (1%). Work is expected to be complete by November 2024. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $26,390,000; United Kingdom funds in the amount of $10,727,082; and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,210,541 are obligated on this award, and no funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is being awarded to the contractor on a sole-source basis under 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and four were previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
11 Jun 20. The UK Quantum Technology Hub Sensors and Timing, led by the University of Birmingham, has awarded funding for research to improve the precision of maritime navigation. The project, funded by £600,000 from the Hub’s Partnership Resource Fund (PRF), is being led by Professor Tom Pike at Imperial College London and Dr Simon Calcutt at the University of Oxford. It aims to develop the missing component to transform an existing gravity gradiometer developed by Hub scientists into a hybrid instrument that will extend the Hub’s map-matching navigation technology to applications in maritime environments. This will allow navigation that will not only rely on satellite signals, but will measure the localised gravity field produced by underground conditions which can be matched to gravity maps to establish a vessel’s precise location. The team will exploit gravity gradiometer technology developed by Quantum Technology Hub academics, and patented by University of Birmingham Enterprise, to ensure its effectiveness on a moving platform. Hub academics are already working closely with industry partners, such as Network Rail and the Lighthouse Authority, to implement map matching navigation, and this project aims to add electronics that are able to compensate for the dynamics of the deployment platform to offer higher frequency capabilities required for resilient maritime navigation. The sensor instrument is based on the MEMS seismometers previously developed by Professor Pike for the NASA InSight mission, which is currently operating on the surface of Mars, and has a world-leading 0.3 ng/rtHz performance. These seismometers are helping to study the interior of the planet by listening to ‘marsquakes’.
AIR
10 Jun 20. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced its receipt of two firm-fixed-price orders totaling $9,804,448 from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The orders, received on March 5, 2020 and April 16, 2020, encompass the procurement of Raven® and Puma™3 AE tactical UAS and spares. Delivery for the first order is anticipated by August 2020 and the second order by October 2020. The orders are part of a three-year base contract received from NSPA in January 2020. The contract includes an option for two additional years of logistics support for Raven, Wasp® and Puma tactical UAS. The total potential value of the multi-year contract is $80m, encompassing the procurement and sustainment of AeroVironment tactical unmanned aircraft systems employed by the defense forces of several NATO countries. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
EUROPE
SEA
10 Jun 20. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has awarded a contract to maritime navigation company iXblue to deliver 172 Quadrans gyrocompasses. Under the four-year contract, the company will equip the Swedish Navy’s fleet of CB90 combat boats with fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG)-based Quadrans navigation systems. Developed around the Fiber-Optic Gyroscope technology, the Quadrans gyrocompasses are solid-state and strap-down systems providing accurate heading and attitude data. This allows high performance at high speeds in challenging environments, even in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-denied settings. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. The compact, lightweight Quadrans Gyrocompasses are easy to install on small-sized crafts and consume less power. The open architecture of the system permits seamless interfacing with all GNSS systems and other third-party navigation software. (Source: naval-technology.com)
10 Jun 20. Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) has selected Leonardo for a potential future upgrade of gun mounts. The possible upgrade work is part of a framework agreement signed by both parties. The scope of the 20-year deal may see the upgrade of 17 lightweight 76/62 Super Rapid gun mounts. The gun mounts are currently in-service with the Danish Navy’s Iver Huitfeldt Class Frigates, Thetis Class Inspection Ships and Knud Rasmussen Class Inspection Ships. The rapid-fire naval gun supports air defence, anti-surface roles, and anti-missile missions. The 76/62 SR is suitable for installation on various ships, including small naval units. The €70m ($79.4m) worth agreement can be extended according to the requirements of DALO. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. Under the agreement, the company will also deliver logistics support for the Danish Navy. Leonardo will be responsible for basic support supplies, such as spare parts, tools and technical logistics services. It also includes new latest configuration 76/62 SR guns. The first purchase orders will cover operational guns maintenance, with plans to implement a new digital version for all original consoles. (Source: naval-technology.com)
11 Jun 20. EDA Selects The ‘PILUM’ Consortium, A Disruptive-Technology Research Project For Innovative EM Railgun. Following calls for proposals launched by the European Defence Agency (EDA) in 2019, the consortium “PILUM” (Projectiles for Increased Long-range effects Using Electro-Magnetic railgun) has been selected to lead a research project on the electromagnetic railgun. The consortium brings together nine partners from five European countries, each with its own industrial, technological and advanced scientific expertise:
- ISL, the French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis, European leader in electromagnetic acceleration and coordinator of the project;
- the Von Karman Research Institute (Belgium), specialised in fluid dynamics and propulsion;
- two system integrators, Naval Group and Nexter Systems (France);
- two ammunition suppliers, Diehl Defence (Germany) and Nexter Munitions (France);
- Explomet (Poland), a small company specialised in the explosive cladding of metals;
- ICAR (Italy), manufacturer of high-density electric capacitors;
- Erdyn Consultants (France), an expert in the management of European collaborative projects (Source: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/)
AIR
05 Jun 20. Israel Aerospace wins $350m European special mission aircraft deal. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) [ISRAI.UL] has received a $350m contract from a European country for special mission aircraft, the state-controlled company said on Monday. The contract will be carried out by IAI’s ELTA Systems. IAI did not name the European country. IAI delivered special mission aircraft to the Israel Defence Forces and numerous countries and is one of only a few companies with these technology capabilities in-house. Its technology enables high-performance business jets to be used as special mission aircraft. Previously, most of these aircraft, primarily used for collecting intelligence, were based on converted cargo or passenger planes. IAI has four lines of special mission aircraft: airborne early warning and control aircraft, air to ground surveillance aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft and signal intelligence aircraft that monitor the electromagnetic spectrum. (Source: Google/https://wkzo.com/)
11 Jun 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $368,194,942 not-to-exceed, undefinitized contract modification (P00036) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification provides for the procurement of five F-35A Lightning II lot 14 aircraft, one F-35B lot 14 combat aircrafts and associated red gear for the government of Italy. It also authorizes the common capability scope of work at the Final Assembly and Checkout Facility in Cameri, Italy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35%); Cameri, Italy (28%); El Segundo, California (15%); Warton, United Kingdom (8%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (1.3%) and various locations outside the continental U.S. (0.7%). Work is expected to be complete by June 2023. Non-Department of Defense funds for $184,429,857 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.
10 Jun 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $1,042,250,000 modification (P00001) to contract W31P4Q-20-C-0023 for incidental services, hardware, facilities, equipment, and all technical, planning, management, manufacturing, and testing efforts to produce Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target Advanced Capability-3 missiles. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama; Camden, Arkansas; Chelmsford, Massachusetts; Grand Prairie, Texas; and Lufkin, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement, Army; and Foreign Military Sales (Bahrain, Germany, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates) funds in the amount of $1,042,250,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
USA
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09 Jun 20. Applied Technology Associates (ATA) has been awarded a contract for the Independent Target Acquisition and Tracking System (ITATS) as part of the U.S. Army Directed Energy-Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (DE-MSHORAD) prototyping initiative. The initiative includes integrating a directed energy weapon system on a Stryker vehicle as a path-finding effort toward the U.S. Army M-SHORAD objective to provide more comprehensive protection of frontline combat units. The Army’s future M-SHORAD protection for forward-deployed soldiers includes laser weapon systems as an effective complement to kinetic capabilities in countering aerial threats, rockets, artillery, and mortars, and unmanned aircraft systems. The DE-MSHORAD prototyping initiative is managed by the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Under the initiative from the RCCTO and a contract from Radiance Technologies, ATA will build an upgraded suite of advanced electro-optical infrared sensors, target acquisition and tracking system, and the required controls on an Army Stryker combat vehicle. This ITATS is an upgraded version of the first ITATS that was delivered to Kord Technologies and integrated on the Army’s existing surrogate, risk-reduction laser weapon Stryker platform in 2019. (Source: PR Newswire)
08 Jun 20. CORRECTION: The contract W56KGY-20-D-0008, originally announced on May 29, 2020, has been changed as follows: Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Canada, was awarded a $380,117,626 hybrid (firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-level-of-effort) contract for MX sensor systems product and system support. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 28, 2028. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGY-20-D-0008). (Awarded June 5, 2020)
04 Jun 20. Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) has revealed that, during the company’s third quarter of fiscal 2020, their Tempe, Arizona-based subsidiary, Comtech EF Data Corp., which is part of Comtech’s Commercial Solutions segment, received a $4.7m contract for engineering services from a large prime U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) contractor to support a critical Air Force and Army Anti-jam Modem (“A3M”) program under the U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (“SMC”). The A3M program will provide the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army with a secure, wideband, anti-jam satellite communications terminal modem for tactical satellite communication operations. The jam-resistant modems will support SMC’s Protected Tactical Waveform technology, an anti-jam capability operating on military satellite communication terminals through the Wideband Global Satcom constellation. The prime contractor was awarded a five-year, $500m ceiling, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (“IDIQ”) contract. The prime has received an initial delivery order in excess of $30m for the development and prototype phase. Comtech EF Data will be a key subcontractor providing both engineering and hardware services and has received initial funding of $501,000 with additional orders expected during the Company’s fourth quarter. Once development is completed, Comtech EF Data expects to receive significant hardware orders in future periods during the production phase. (Source: Satnews)
09 Jun 20. FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced that the United States (U.S.) Army and Navy have ordered in total more than 160 of the company’s Centaur™ unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), plus related spares and accessories. The two contracts, totaling $23.5m, are being sourced through the Army’s Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II) program. Since March, FLIR has announced orders totaling more than $65m for nearly 500 Centaur UGVs from the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, and now Navy. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams will use the FLIR Centaur to assist in disarming improvised explosive devices, unexploded ordnance, and similar hazardous tasks. Operators can quickly attach different sensors and payloads to the robot to support other functions, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) missions.
10 Jun 20. General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $2,477,329,768 fixed-price-incentive contract for the production of Stryker Double V-Hull A1 engineering change proposal vehicles. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-D-0005).
04 Jun 20. Harris, Rochester, New York, was awarded a $90,000,000 modification (P00019) to contract W91CRB-16-D-5006 to procure Harris family of radios, ancillaries, spare parts and services. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 21, 2021. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
11 Jun 20. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $10,836,726 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract for pneumatic tires for palletized load system vehicle wheels. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Wisconsin and New Jersey, with a June 10, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-D0065).
08 Jun 20. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $12,994,546 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for transfer cases with containers. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with a June 8, 2023, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2020 through 2023 (Army) working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-D-0107).
04 Jun 20. Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin JV, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $75,350,484 modification (P00019) to contract W31P4Q-19-C-0076 for Javelin weapon system full rate production primary deliverables. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2010, 2018 and 2020 missile procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $75,350,483 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
08 Jun 20. The USAF awarded a contract potentially worth $35m to Wickr, a secure communications platform provider, the Defense Department announced June 1. Under the two-year contract, the Air Force will use Wickr’s secure recall, alert and messaging services. The cloud-based application suite will provide end-to-end encrypted file, video, chat, text and voice services for end users. The Air Force is obligating $7.7m in fiscal 2020 funds at the time of the award, according to the contract announcement. The award was made by the Air Force Installation Contracting Center at Hurlburt Field in Florida. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
SEA
11 Jun 20. The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a contract to produce multiple types of Vertical Launching System (VLS) canisters with a total lifetime maximum value of $955m. The initial contract was awarded in February with $24m funded, followed by contract modifications of $99m and $43m received in March and May respectively. Options on the contract include additional canister types for future Navy production requirements. VLS canisters serve in a multifaceted role as containers for missile shipping and storage as well as launch tubes when loaded into the VLS. They also provide identification and firing support to multiple missile types, including the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, Standard Missile-2, Standard Missile-3, Standard Missile-6, and the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
11 Jun 20. DRS Systems Inc., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $120,009,046 not-to-exceed, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost undefinitized contract to provide non-recurring engineering to design, develop, integrate and test engineering development models and production representative models of weapons replaceable assemblies for the AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure system. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas (61%); San Diego, California (31%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (7%); and Melbourne, Florida (1%), and is expected to be complete by June 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $23,497,884 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 Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-C-0041).
08 Jun 20. McKean wins contract to provide submarine engineering support. McKean has won a contract from the US NSWC PD to support Submarine Program Management, Engineering, Technical, and Logistics Support. Credit: recca on Unsplash. McKean Defense Group has won a contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division (NSWC PD) to support submarine programme management, engineering, technical, and logistics support. Under the $14m-valued five-year single award contract, the company will provide programme management, engineering and technical support, logistics, financial management and associated efforts. It supports Submarine Type Commanders (TYCOMs), NAVSEA 05, NAVSEA 07, PMS 391, PMS 392, PMS 394, PMS 397, PMS 399, PMS 435, PMS 450, SPAWAR, and NAVSEA 08. The contract will also support other US Navy submarine activities while in port or underway. The contract work will be executed in the US states of Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Virginia, Massachusetts, Georgia, California, and Washington state, as well as in Japan. Submarines underway or while in port will also host the contract work. The cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract has a base value of $56.3m with a ceiling of $249m. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
10 Jun 20. BAE Systems, Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Greenlawn, New York, is awarded a $58,738,453 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for the manufacture, test and delivery of 239 Mode 5 capable RT-1763C/D AN/APX-111(V) combined interrogator transponders and 397 spare shop replaceable assemblies for the F/A-18 Super Hornet series and Boeing EA-18G Growler warfare aircraft for the Navy and the government of Canada. Work will be performed in Greenlawn, New York (84%); and Austin, Texas (16%), and is expected to be complete by December 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 Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-D-0002).
08 Jun 20. L3Harris Technologies Inc., Clifton, New Jersey, has been awarded an estimated $70,000,746 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for AN/ALQ-161A radio frequency surveillance/electronic countermeasures system line replaceable units and shop replaceable units. This contract provides for the repair of 154 national stock numbers applicable to the B1-B aircraft/electronic countermeasures. Work will be performed in Amityville, New York, and is expected to be completed June 5, 2025. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 consolidated sustainment activity group-engineering funds will be used to fund individual orders issued against the basic contract. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8522-20-D-0002).
TECHNOLOGY
11 Jun 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York (HQ0727-16-D-0001); BAE Systems Information and Electronics, Nashua, New Hampshire (HQ0727-16-D-0002); General Dynamics Mission Systems, Bloomington, Minnesota (HQ0727-16-D-0003); Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland (HQ0727-16-D-0004); Cobham Advanced Electronics Solutions Inc., Lansdale, Pennsylvania (HQ0727-16-D-0005); Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California (HQ0727-16-D-0006); The Boeing Co., Hazelwood, Missouri (HQ0727-16-D-0007); and Honeywell International Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico (HQ0727-16-D-0008), are being awarded a maximum $10,271,000,000 modification on existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, Advanced Technology Support Program IV (ATSP4) contracts. The modification raises the ceiling on the current ATSP4 contracts from $7,200,000,000 to $17,471,000,000. ATSP4 are multiple-award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts for engineering services designed to resolve problems with obsolete, unreliable, unmaintainable, underperforming, or incapable electronics hardware and software through development of advanced technology insertions and applications to meet the requirements of the Department of Defense for a quick reaction capability. With all options exercised, the ordering period goes until March 31, 2026. The contracts were competitively procured via a February 2015 solicitation resulting in nine proposals and eight awards. No funds are being obligated on award. Funding will occur through individual task orders. The Defense Microelectronics Activity, McClellan, California, is the contracting activity.
09 Jun 20. Buchanan & Edwards wins USAF contract for data governance training. Buchanan & Edwards has secured a new contract with the USAF Office of the CDO to provide public sector data governance training and certification services. Buchanan & Edwards has secured a contract from the US Air Force (USAF) Office of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) to provide public sector data governance training and certification services. Buchanan & Edwards’ wholly owned subsidiary R2C has partnered with the Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) to provide the training and certification to USAF data stewards across the country. The training certification has been tailored according to the needs of public sector organisations. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
11 Jun 20. Persistent Systems awarded US Air Force JADC2 contract. The Company’s MPU5 device to demonstrate networked communications, edge computing and AI capabilities. Persistent Systems, LLC (“Persistent”), a leader in mobile ad hoc network (MANET) solutions, announced today that it has been awarded a $950,000,000 ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the maturation, demonstration and proliferation of capability across platforms and domains, leveraging open systems design, modern software and algorithm development in order to enable Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2). (Source: PR Newswire)
11 Jun 20. Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp., Cambridge, Massachusetts, was awarded a $12,039,376 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a research project under the Fast Network Interface Cards (FastNICs) program. The FastNICs program will speed up applications such as the distributed training of machine learning classifiers by 100 times through the development, implementation, integration and validation of novel, clean-slate network subsystems. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Seattle, Washington, with an expected completion date of June 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,670,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition under an open broad agency announcement and eight offers were received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-20-C-0089).
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
11 Jun 20. DOD Announces $250m to Ukraine. The Department of Defense announced today its plans for $250m in Fiscal Year 2020 Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds for additional training, equipment, and advisory efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression. This reaffirms the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Ukraine – a critical partner on the front line of strategic competition with Russia. The United States remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The USAI funds – $125m of which was conditional on Ukraine’s progress on defense reforms – will provide equipment to support ongoing training programs and operational needs. This includes capabilities to enhance Ukraine’s defensive lethal capabilities and situational awareness in the maritime domain, air surveillance systems to monitor sovereign airspace, command and control and survivability of Ukraine’s Land and Special Operations Forces through the provision of counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment, military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures, and cyber defense and strategic communications to counter Russian cyber offensive operations and misinformation. (Source: US DoD)
11 Jun 20. Cohort’s wholly owned subsidiary, Chess Dynamics (“Chess”), has been awarded a €7.5m contract for its Air Guard Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) for air base and critical infrastructure protection for an international customer. The majority of the contract is to be delivered during the current and next financial years.
10 Jun 20. Curtiss-Wright to deliver turret drive system for Boxer program. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division has announced it has secured a contract with Rheinmetall Defence Australia to deliver its turret drive stabilisation system in support of the Australian Army’s Project LAND 400 Phase 2 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV). Under the contract, Curtiss-Wright will deliver 133 of its state-of-the-art Turret Drive Servo Systems (TDSS) and associated hand controllers to Rheinmetall. The delivery incorporates more than 50 per cent Australian industry content (AIC), with Curtiss-Wright working alongside a team of Australian small and medium sized enterprises following initial industry engagement activities in 2018 and 2019. Under the contract, shipments are scheduled to run through Q1 2026. Major milestones in support of this agreement have already been achieved, including initial planning visits to Australia, which began in 2018 and continued through Q1 2020, and the first delivery of TDSS sample PCB and chassis kits to Australia. The final assembly of the products covered by this agreement will take place at Rheinmetall’s new Military Vehicle Center of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) facility in Queensland. (Source: Defence Connect)
09 Jun 20. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has confirmed a successful Northrop Grumman foreign military sale (FMS) to provide Australia with $29.9m worth of counter-improvised explosive device (IED) equipment. The $29.9m firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract to exercise options for mounted systems, dismounted systems and auxiliary kits for the Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Increment One Block One (I1B1) systems full-rate production in support of the Expeditionary Warfare Program Office. (Source: Defence Connect)
SEA
05 Jun 20. Australian company BlueScope Steel AIS has signed a contract with ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia, to deliver more than 1,500 tonnes of steel plate, which will be used to construct five Hunter Class ship blocks in the prototyping phase of the program. The blocks will then test processes, systems, tools, and facilities prior to construction commencing on the first of nine frigates by end 2022. Under the $2.6m contract, BlueScope Steel AIS will deliver more than 1,500 tonnes of steel plate to ASC Shipbuilding. (Source: Defence Connect)
09 Jun 20. Sonardyne’s BlueComm underwater communications selected by Australian Defence Science and Technology Group. Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DST) has acquired a BlueComm undersea communications system from Sonardyne International Ltd. as part of its ongoing program in maritime autonomous systems (MAS). BlueComm is the only commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology that enables wireless transmission of high bandwidth tactical data, including video, over ranges of a few tens or even hundreds of metres, at rates of up to 10 megabits per second.
AIR
09 Jun 20. Canada to procure two new Challenger 650 liaison aircraft. Canada is to procure two new Bombardier Challenger 650 business jets to replace a pair of older 601-model aircraft that have been in service for more than 30 years. Canada is to acquire two new Challenger 605 jets (pictured), to replace two of four older 601s it currently operates. The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) announced on 6 June that the procurement will allow for a continuation of capability for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with the retirement of the 1980s-vintage Challenger 601s. As well as providing an international disaster relief utility, the Challenger 601s and the 605s will afford the RCAF an aero medical evacuation and VIP-transport capability. Delivery of the two new Challengers is expected during the third quarter of 2020 with an initial operational capability targeted a few weeks later. The value of the contract for the two aircraft, initial training, and spare parts is approximately CND105m (USD78m) before taxes. (Source: Jane’s)
08 Jun 20. Meggitt PLC, a leading international company specialising in high performance components and subsystems for the aerospace, defence, and selected energy markets, has signed a $15m contract with Chemring Australia Pty, for the continued supply of flare countermeasure assemblies on the F35 fighter jet. The contract award further strengthens the existing partnership between Chemring Australia and Meggitt, on this world leading multirole combat aircraft. (Source: News Now/https://www.meggitt.com/)
10 Jun 20. Japan orders its first series UH-X helicopters. The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) in Japan has placed orders for the first six production UH-X helicopters for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). Two contracts for these aircraft, signed on 19 March but not publicised at the time, amounted to JPY14.3bn ($131.6m). The beneficiary was Subaru Corporation (formerly Fuji Heavy Industries), who will manufacture them in Japan. These six aircraft are to be completed by January 2023.
The utility helicopter programme, originally called UH-X, will likely see the aircraft receiving the nomenclature UH-2. The type, based on the commercially available Bell 412EPX, will supplant the UH-1J workhorse, of which more than 120 are thought to be still in JGSDF service. (Source: Shephard)
TECHNOLOGY
10 Jun 20. Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) announced today that during its fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, its Tempe, Arizona-based subsidiary, Comtech EF Data Corp., which is part of Comtech’s Commercial Solutions segment, received a $1.1m order for satellite ground station equipment from a South East Asia Ministry of Defense. This initial order of SCPC modems and complementary redundancy switches is part of a network upgrade which could expand to more than 2,000 units. After a competitive Request for Proposal (“RFP”) process, followed by a technical evaluation and testing, the Ministry of Defense selected the CDM-625A Advanced Satellite Modem as the platform for its extensive network upgrade and expansion. The CDM-625A was chosen based on its interoperability with a prior generation platform, its advanced feature set designed to provide maximum bandwidth efficiencies, including DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier® bandwidth compression and VersaFEC®-2 forward error correction, and its flexible management functionality, including SNMP v2 and v3. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)