UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
23 Nov 20. UK Government Invests in MOD and NATO with Significant Agile IT and Digital Transformation Contract for CDW and Viasat UK. IT solutions specialist CDW announced an agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) headquarters in Gloucester, UK, to deliver a two-year Agile technical innovation contract for a Command, Control and Communication (C3) programme named LELANTOS. ARRC is NATO’s rapidly deployable headquarters that acts as a nerve centre for operations and crisis response. CDW – the world’s largest IT technology enabler – and Viasat UK Ltd, a global leader in communication technologies, have partnered on the two-year programme, which will enable a more survivable, maneuverable and deployable HQ. Programme LELANTOS will involve regular technological innovation, as well as the wider digital transformation of HQ ARRC, and is part of a range of initiatives that demonstrate the UK’s continued commitment to the NATO alliance. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
19 Nov 20. QinetiQ wins UK Dstl award to develop Optical Ground Station. QinetiQ has received a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to construct a relocatable Optical Ground Station (OGS). QinetiQ has received a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to construct a relocatable Optical Ground Station (OGS). The £2.3m contract was awarded via the Serapis Lot 2 commercial framework. OGS will be designed to be able to receive high-speed data transmissions from space and will support the Space Programme of Dstl. It will provide a platform to carry out research and experimentation related to free-space optical communications (FSOC) from space. The station will aid the ‘Titania’ Capability Demonstrator, which aims to develop and showcase the use of low Earth orbit (LEO) direct-to-Earth (DTE) free space optical communications in the military. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
24 Nov 20. Rheinmetall Landsysteme awards RBSL £860m subcontract for UK MOD’s Mechanised Infantry Vehicle programme – More than 260 Boxer vehicles to be produced in Telford. In a Group-internal transaction, Rheinmetall Landsysteme has awarded Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) a subcontract to manufacture more than 260 Boxer vehicles for the UK MOD’s Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme. The Command and Special Carrier variants will be produced at RBSL’s facility in Telford, Shropshire. The subcontract, worth about £860m (€960m), marks a significant milestone for the programme, following the £2.3bn MIV contract awarded to ARTEC, the Rheinmetall and KMW consortium in December 2019.
SEA
23 Nov 20. Lockheed Martin Space, Titusville, Florida, is awarded a $108,778,290 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00002) to exercise options under previously awarded contract N00030-20-C-0100 for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed systems support. Work will be performed in Denver, Colorado (25%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (23.5%); Borgo San Dalmazzo, Italy (12%); Sunnyvale, California (9.7%); Hoffman Estates, Illinois (4.3%); Titusville, Florida (3.4%); Melbourne, Florida (2.6%); Berlin, Connecticut (1.8%); Modesto, California (1.3%); Bangor, Washington (1.1%); Kings Bay, Georgia (1.1%); Clearwater, Florida (1%); and other various locations (less than 1% each, 13.2% total). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $94,943,006; fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,176,348; United Kingdom funds in the amount of $3,618,936; and fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $40,000 are being obligated on this award, $40,000 of which 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 was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
26 Nov 20. World-class autonomous minehunters to protect Royal Navy. The UK and France reaffirmed their long-standing defence relationship today by committing to a joint programme for Autonomous Minehunting Systems that will detect and neutralise mines around the world.Speaking at the Franco-British Council Defence Conference, the Defence Secretary announced a £184m investment in the joint Maritime Mine Counter Measure (MMCM) programme, which will create new systems to combat sea mines and keep ships and personnel away from danger.The contract will support 215 jobs across the UK at Thales sites in Somerset and Plymouth, as well as in the wider supply chain, including L3 Harris in Portsmouth, Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire and Alba Ultrasound in Glasgow. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
EUROPE
LAND
26 Nov 20. RUAG has signed a contract with the Swedish company BAE Systems Hägglunds and, as the most important supplier, has secured a comprehensive order as part of the Swiss Army’s extension of use of the armored infantry fighting vehicles CV9030 (Nutzungsverlängerung Schutzenpanzer 2000). The services provided by RUAG include the introduction of measures to extend the use of 186 CV9030 tracked vehicles in four different configurations, as well as other comprehensive services, such as the establishment of a material competence center. With this program, the aim is to make the armored infantry fighting vehicles usable until 2040. In particular, assemblies that can no longer be maintained are replaced. In addition, the vehicles are equipped with an active chassis to increase mobility and reduce damage caused by vibrations. The program will begin with the production of two series samples in Sweden and the subsequent production of five pilot series vehicles at RUAG in Thun. After successful testing, the entire fleet will be converted at RUAG, which is expected to continue until 2025. (Source: Armada)
26 Nov 20. Silent Sentinel has been awarded a significant contract to supply a bespoke multi-sensor electro-optic platform for leading defence manufacturer Rheinmetall Canada’s latest Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV). Silent Sentinel’s platform will have full integration capabilities for the Rheinmetall Mission Master – Armed Reconnaissance Autonomous – Unmanned Ground Vehicle (A-UGV) of Rheinmetall’s UGV range. The programme is currently ongoing with the first units of Silent Sentinel’s platform already deployed and operational. Silent Sentinel are anticipating further deliveries of their product by the end of 2021. Silent Sentinel’s offering includes a dual Electro-Optic/Infra-Red camera payload, a laser range finder and a panoramic full ring camera that provides 360º surveillance, all on one Jaegar pan and tilt unit. This contract is the first for Silent Sentinel in this area as they continue to push into the unmanned sector. As the demand for high-quality electro-optics grows, Silent Sentinel are proving to be a leader in the field, providing advanced and easily integrated systems which can be adapted and utilised in all scenarios. Silent Sentinel are already recognised for their broad offering of easily interchangeable modular options that meet the needs of each customer.
AIR
26 Nov 20. The German Bundeswehr has ordered 31 NH90 NFH helicopters, to be known as Sea Tiger, for the German Navy’s shipborne operations. Nathalie Tarnaud-Laude, President of NH90 Helicopter Industries (NHI) and Giorgio Gomma, General Manager of the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA), on behalf of the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the German Armed Forces (BAAINBw) signed the contract on 26 November. The helicopters will replace the German Navy’s Sea Lynx Mk88A fleet which entered into service in 1981. The Bundeswehr has already ordered 18 NH90 Sea Lion naval transport helicopters, seven of which have already been delivered.
26 Nov 20. Nordic Unmanned to Deliver LM Indago 3 UAV Including Life Cycle Support to the Norwegian Armed Forces. Nordic Unmanned was awarded contract as system integrator including training and life cycle support for the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency for VTOL UAS. The non-exclusive framework contract, under the name “VTOL UAS”, is one of the most valuable mini VTOL UAV defense contracts of 2020 in Europe, and further enhances Nordic Unmanned’s position as a leading European provider of unmanned systems and services. The contract is a non-exclusive framework contract available for the Norwegian Ministry of Defence and Justice with all subordinate agencies. The duration of the contract is 3 years, with options to extend the duration of the contract up to a total of 7 years. The initial call-off is expected to be done within the following months.
Details of the framework contract:
* Nordic Unmanned is the system integrator and oversees all quality systems and project management according to client requirements.
* Nordic Unmanned will deliver training and MRO services.
* Nordic Unmanned will provide system integration of radios from the Norwegian producer Radionor Communications AS.
* Lockheed Martin is the OEM of the Indago products (Source: ASD Network)
23 Nov 20. USSF’s SMC Receives First M-Code Order For Military GPS From Germany. The Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Production Corps achieved a major milestone on September 30 when the Global Positioning System (GPS) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) office received its first Military Code (M-Code) capable Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) order from Germany. SMC is facilitating international access and availability of M-Code user equipment as directed by the Secretary of the Air Force and the Office of the Secretary of Defense to 58 authorized nations. Germany is expected to receive delivery of its first M-Code receiver in 2021. Additional foreign military sales of MGUE are being worked. Currently, SMC is engaged with several nations in bi-lateral M-Code prototyping, demonstration, and lead platform planning efforts. Under a multilateral agreement, MGUE ground-based receivers are on schedule to be loaned to approved partners for early integration and test in national weapons systems. M-Code is an upgrade to the currently available GPS signals that provides enhanced secure positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) performance, anti-jam, and anti-spoofing to provide a more resilient PNT solution. It will improve interoperability with our defense partners’ equipment and operations while increasing navigation warfare effectiveness for allied operations. (Source: Satnews)
USA
LAND
23 Nov 20. Connection (PC Connection, Inc.; NASDAQ: CNXN), a leading information technology solutions provider to business, government, healthcare, and education markets, announced today that it has been awarded an Information Technology Enterprise Solutions–Software 2 (ITES-SW2) contract by the U.S. Army Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) office. ITES-SW2 is a $13bn multiple-award, firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract vehicle that allows recipients to compete for the sale of IT solutions to the U.S. Army, Department of Defense (DoD), and other Federal agencies and associated contractors. The contract has a 5-year base period with an additional 5-year option term through August 2030, covering the provision of software and maintenance services across 14 product categories. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Nov 20. FLIR Unmanned Ground Systems Inc., Chelmsford, Massachusetts, was awarded a $30,100,000 modification (P00007) to contract W56HZV-19-D-0031 for reset, sustainment, maintenance and recap parts to support the overall sustainment actions of the entire FLIR Unmanned Ground Systems family of small, medium and large robots. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 23, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity
26 Nov 20. US Government Awards Gilat Contract for Military Communications Program. Wavestream Ships 5,000th high-power 50W Ka-band block upconverter to military communications program. Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: GILT), a worldwide leader in satellite networking technology, solutions and services, announced today that its subsidiary Wavestream received a multi-million-dollar order from the United States Government for a military communication program contract. With this award, Wavestream achieves an industry record shipment milestone by surpassing 5,000 units of its high-power 50W Ka-band military Block Upconverter (BUC) to be delivered to this military program. (Source: ASD Network)
SEA
24 Nov 20. BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Virginia, was awarded a $197,452,828, firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of the USS Wasp (LHD 1) fiscal 2021 Chief of Naval Operations scheduled docking selected restricted availability. This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair of USS Wasp (LHD 1). This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $237,765,941. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by May 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) (97.2%); and fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) (2.8%) funding in the amount of $197,452,828 will be obligated at contract award, of which funding in the amount of $191,836,933 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website with one offer received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-20-R-4404. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-C-4404). (Awarded Nov. 20, 2020)
23 Nov 20. GE’s Power Conversion business has been awarded a $40m contract to supply the power and propulsion systems for two National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs). This new class of purpose-built ships will be used primarily to provide cadets with at-sea training on operational vessels. GE was selected as the single-source vendor (SSV) for the ships’ propulsion system, which includes the integration of the diesel engines, generators, switchboards, transformers, main propulsion drives, propulsion motors, and auxiliary support systems. While prior training vessels used steam propulsion plants, the new ships will have an all-electric system, enabling students to be trained on the latest technology being used in the commercial marine industry. In addition to introducing cadets to the work of a merchant mariner, the ships also will serve critical national security interests, including missions in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief throughout the world. Cadets may also benefit from learning about and working with the latest electric ship systems, gaining valuable insights in how electrification is impacting ship performance and emissions. It is an opportunity to get practical experience of GE’s electric ship technology, learning in a real, safe environment. The new ships will accommodate up to 600 cadets and instructors and provide comprehensive, instructional spaces and a full training bridge. The vessels have roll-on/roll-off (RORO) capabilities and container storage capacity as well as a helicopter landing pad, enabling them to support humanitarian aid or disaster relief if needed. The NSMV will be powered by Cummins Inc. using Wabtec’s latest 16V250 Series diesel engines, which meet the EPA’s stringent Tier 4 emission standards without using urea-based after-treatments.
24 Nov 20. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has been awarded a contract modification from General Dynamics Electric Boat in support of construction on the first two Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. The contract modification, valued at approximately $2.2bn, provides continued design support efforts, as well as the construction and delivery of six module sections for each of the first two Columbia-class submarines. As part of the contract, Newport News will deliver the completed modules to Electric Boat for final assembly. The contracted module delivery dates are scheduled to start in November 2022 with the last module delivery taking place by January 2028. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
25 Nov 20. The Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, California, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $188,572,655 modification (P00010) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPRPA1-17-D-009U) with four one-year option periods for performance-based logistics and engineering support for the V-22 platform. This is a firm-fixed-price requirements contract. Locations of performance are Maryland, Texas and Pennsylvania, with a Nov. 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using customers are Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and military services in Japan. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 (Air Force, Navy, Special Operations Command and Foreign Military Sales) appropriated funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
24 Nov 20. CAE has been awarded a subcontract by Lockheed Martin to supply the CAE Magnetic Anomaly Detection-Extended Role (MAD-XR) system for United States Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. CAE MAD-XR is a highly sensitive magnetometer designed to sense changes in the earth’s magnetic field and is used as a sensor to detect submarines. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems is the lead systems integrator for the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R “Romeo” helicopter, which is the Navy’s primary anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopter. Under terms of a Phase 1 contract from the U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin has responsibility to integrate the CAE MAD-XR into the MH-60R helicopter. CAE will provide the MAD-XR system and support Lockheed Martin with non-recurring engineering and integration services. Initially, a total of six MH-60R helicopters will be integrated with the CAE MAD-XR during Phase 1. (Source: ASD Network)
24 Nov 20. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been awarded a $93.3m contract from the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) to enhance the autonomous sensing capabilities of unmanned aircraft. The goal of the JAIC Smart Sensor project is to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology by demonstrating object recognition algorithms using an unmanned aircraft, as well as employing onboard AI to control the aircraft’s sensors and direct autonomous flight. GA-ASI will deploy the technology on the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft configured with multiple sensors, including GA-ASI’s Reaper Defense Electronic Support System (RDESS) and Lynx® Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). GA-ASI’s Metis product will be used to command the MQ-9. Metis is an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) tasking and intelligence-sharing application that enables operators to specify effects-based mission objectives and receive automatic notification of actionable intelligence.
23 Nov 20. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Selects Immervision InnovationLab to Develop a Computer Vision Wide Angle Camera for the Blue UAS Framework Project. Technology will enable advanced low light vision for small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) for commercial and defense applications. Immervision, the Montreal-based leader in wide-angle intelligent vision, today announced it has received an award from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), part of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for a Blue UAS Framework effort. The Immervision InnovationLab team is developing a wide-angle computer vision camera for small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS), enabling advanced low-light vision for Blue UAS Framework effort which provides affordable, trusted, high performing, and interoperable UAS drone technologies for commercial and defense application (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 Nov 20. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $9,326,062 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Long Range Systems Division seeking to integrate the Navy Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) into the F-35. The AARGM-ER is a Navy weapon that will provide the F-35A advanced suppression of enemy air defenses/destruction of enemy air defenses capability. This contract includes one contract line item number and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8682-21-C-2000).
25 Nov 20. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, has been awarded a $4,800,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Global Hawk development, modernization, retrofit and sustainment activities for all Air Force Global Hawk variants. This contract provides for management, including program, business and technical areas; engineering efforts, including configuration management, data management, reliability, availability and maintainability, and related areas of concern such as technical refresh, diminishing manufacturing sources, etc.; studies and analyses; design, development, integration, test and evaluation; contract/production line closeout/shutdown; training; sparing; overseas contingency operations support; fielding; cyber security/information assurance; interoperability support; facilities modifications/renovation; integrated logistics support; requirements management specification management; and quality assurance. Additional, and more specific, guidance will be included within each individual delivery order/task order statement of work and performance work statement regarding these and other tasks. This contract provides flexibility to accommodate the broad enterprise of activities associated with the Global Hawk program. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2030. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Multiple fiscal years and types of funds will be used for this contract. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the primary contracting activity (FA8690-21-D-1009).
23 Nov 20. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Clearfield, Utah, has been awarded a $185,700,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the A-10 Aircraft Structural Integrity Program Legacy VII. This contract provides for sustaining engineering services of A-10 aircraft. Work will be performed in Clearfield, Utah, and is expected to be completed Nov. 22, 2030. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,480,694 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8202-21-D-0001).
TECHNOLOGY
21 Nov 20. The Central Intelligence Agency has awarded its new multivendor cloud contract to a few companies, the spy organization confirmed Friday. Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, IBM and Oracle all confirmed to C4ISRNET they had been awarded the CIA’s Commercial Cloud Enterprise contract, which will serve as the intelligence community’s cloud environment. NextGov, which first broke the news, reported Google as an additional winner. The CIA declined to confirm specific vendors to C4ISRNET. The CIA declined to provide the contract value, though contract documents obtained by NextGov in 2019 stated it could be valued in the “tens of billions.” The draft request for proposals, released in February 2020 and obtained by C4ISRNET, was considering a 15-year performance period, a five-year base and two five-year options. The C2E contract is a follow-on award to the intel community’s Commercial Cloud Services contact. AWS was the sole provider for that contract, which was worth $600m. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/C4ISR & Networks)
23 Nov 20. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $93,293,554 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for research, development, test and evaluation of artificial intelligence for the smart sensor prototype unmanned aerial platform. Bids were solicited via the internet with 999 received. Work will be performed in Poway, California, with an estimated completion date of March 2, 2023. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $13,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QX-21-C-0001). (Source: UAS VISION)
24 Nov 20. Ion Storage Systems (ISS) was awarded a $500,000 contract from a University of Maryland (UMD)-led $7.2m consortium for the Center for Research in Extreme Batteries (CREB). The consortium grant from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, now known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is intended to expedite the development of safer, lighter, and higher power batteries. This award enhances $2m in recent funding ISS has received from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) with the goal of producing a solid state Conformal Wearable Battery (CWB) that will significantly increase the operating time of equipment and weapons systems, while eliminating the risk of battery fire or explosions. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
25 Nov 20. Raytheon Technologies Corp., East Hartford, Connecticut, has been awarded a $453,057,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the aircraft engine Component Improvement Program. This contract provides for the following work: the Component Improvement Program establishes prioritized list of projects each calendar year to include developing engineering changes to the engines, developing organizational, intermediate and depot level repairs as needed, and designing modifications to existing support equipment as well as initiating new support equipment designs as required by engine driven changes. The program also provides support to resolve service-revealed deficiencies and maintain or extend the life limits of aircraft engines. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2029. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $557,347 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 (FA8626-21-D-0001).
23 Nov 20. Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) received a subcontract from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to support the United States Navy’s endeavors with Advanced Hypersonic Technologies through the Global Deterrence and Defense Department (Code GX) at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Crane, Indiana. SPA has been providing support for Advanced Hypersonic Technology and will continue under this contract in the areas of program management support, budget support, system safety, risk management, scheduling, system and subsystem test and evaluation, and system integration of the weapon system onto operational platforms. When fully fielded, Advanced Hypersonic Technology will enable our Nation’s warfighters with the advanced systems needed to meet critical mission objectives. SPA is teamed with SAIC, as the prime, on this $63.5m, 5-year contract. SPA has been supporting Advanced Hypersonic Technologies with SAIC since 2016. (Source: PR Newswire)
REST OF THE WORLD
SEA
23 Nov 20. Marine Group Boat Works is awarded a $48m modification contract in support of the government of Jordan for two 37-meter patrol boats, communications equipment and other technical assistance. Foreign Military Sales (Jordan) in the amount of $48m will be obligated at time of award. This contract is for two 37-meter Patrol Boats, communications equipment and other technical assistance for the Royal Jordanian Navy. The Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity. (Source: Armada)
25 Nov 20. Melbourne-based PMB Defence has announced it has been awarded the contract to supply main storage batteries to Saab for Sweden’s next-generation A26 Blekinge Class submarines. The latest evolution of Sweden’s submarines are being designed and built by Saab, Sweden’s upgraded version of Uppland and her sister ship Gotland are paving the way for the most modern AIP submarine under production today: the Blekinge Class (A26). More than 20 new systems on-board the new Gotland Class will be implemented in the state-of-the-art A26, which contributes to their de-risking for the A26. The A26 submarines will serve as successors to Gotland Class subs for the Swedish Navy, with deliveries to begin in 2022, and continue through to 2024. A26’s capabilities include maritime security, covert mine countermeasure, intelligence and reconnaissance, anti-submarine/surface warfare, mine-laying and other operations. (Source: Defence Connect)