UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
AIR
06 Apr 21. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced its receipt of four firm-fixed-price orders totaling $11,527,074 from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) for Puma™ 3 AE tactical UAS and initial spares packages. 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 UAS employed by the defense forces of several NATO countries. AeroVironment received the orders in October and December 2020, with delivery anticipated by June 2021.
07 Apr 21. The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) announced today that its wholly owned U.K. subsidiary, The Aerospace Corporation UK Ltd (Aerospace UK), has secured a one-year contract for £500,000 to advise the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) Space Directorate on a decision-making framework for space capabilities. Aerospace UK will bring Aerospace’s 60 years of technical expertise and insight to help address the MoD Space Directorate’s challenges, in parallel with U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond’s Planning Guidance objective to strengthen the space capabilities of U.S. allies.
EUROPE
SEA
08 Apr 21. HENSOLDT UK announced the supply of Kelvin Hughes Mk11 X Band SharpEye navigation radars to two Polish Navy Kormoran II-class minehunters. ORP Albatros and ORP Mewa were built by Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland. Installed in conjunction with an OSI Maritime Systems integrated navigation bridge system, the radar will be tasked with navigation and surface surveillance functionality, providing the Polish Navy with solid state radar sensors to ensure safety of navigation whilst providing advanced small target search capability.
AIR
08 Apr 21. German Space Agency Selects LM iSpace System for Space Situational Awareness. To obtain real-time awareness of the more than 300,000 objects orbiting the earth, the German Space Agency at DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt / German Aerospace Center) has selected Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) iSpaceTM command and control system. The iSpace system tracks thousands of objects orbiting the earth by collecting data from a worldwide network of government, commercial and scientific community surveillance sensors.
The German Space Agency at DLR is the national space agency for the Federal Republic of Germany and operates the German Space Situational Awareness Center (GSSAC) together with the German Air Force. iSpace is the newest upgrade of the experimental mission system and will interface to German sensors to include the Tracking and Imaging Radar, GSSAC Optical Sensor and German Experimental Surveillance and Tracking Radar. iSpace will be used to task German sensors to support monitoring of high interest objects and space events. (Source: ASD Network)
USA
LAND
31 Mar 21. US defence department awards follow-on contract for Citadel’s Titan counter drone technology. US Department of Defense has issued a follow-on contract to Citadel Defense worth USD5m to protect US servicemen and servicewomen from small drone threats.
According to a company press release, Citadel will accelerate delivery of its Titan counter drone technology to address urgent operational needs to meet an aggressive deployment schedule for US troops. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
01 Apr 21. US Army selects Fortem Technologies’ DroneHunter counter drone technology as part of defence command and control programme. US Army Joint Counter-UAS Office (JCO) has selected Fortem Technologies’ DroneHunter as the interim command and control standard for countering small unmanned drones for the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control system, or FAAD C2. DroneHunter is a kinetic, non-lethal interceptor designed to stop dangerous drones, including RF-silent drones, at a safe distance before they harm people or cause damage to property. Built on open architecture, FAAD C2 is a flexible system that enables easy integration with multiple sensors, effectors and warning systems to launch rapid, real-time defense against short range and maneuvering threats. The system collects, processes, and disseminates real-time target tracking and cuing information to all short-range air defense weapons and provides command and control (C2) for the Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) System-of-Systems (SoS). (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
07 Apr 21. Raytheon awarded $15.5m to upgrade laser weapon. The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon Technologies a $15.5m contract to deliver an upgraded version of its dune buggy-mounted laser weapon system, which the company says will inform requirements for a future program of record. Raytheon has been rapidly prototyping its high-energy laser weapon system, or HELWS, for the military since 2019, when the Air Force Research Laboratory awarded the company a $23.8m contract for two prototypes. Later that year the company secured another $13.1m for a third prototype. While HELWS prototypes are attached to off-road vehicles, under the $15.5m contract the system will be delivered unmounted on pallets for potential use with different platforms. This latest contract was issued by the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, which will test HELWS to define requirements for future counter-drone production programs and make a recommendation to a procurement authority. Raytheon will support Air Force field assessments and help train operators. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
08 Apr 21. Symetrica Inc., a radiation detection and identification business, announced today that it has been awarded a $35m multi-year contract by the US Department of Defense to provide several hundred of its VeriFinder radioisotope identification devices (RIIDs) for deployment across all branches of the United States armed forces. Symetrica will begin delivering VeriFinders over the next few months and is expected to continue into 2025. This long term contract is testament to the technology behind Symetrica’s products, which are at the cutting edge of technology that deals with radioactive threats. Symetrica is the market leader in the detection and identification of radioactive threats through its patented Discovery Technology portfolio. The company was founded on designing, developing, manufacturing, and deploying detection equipment that is now in use for the detection of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Military and Homeland Security Market. Symetrica uses Machine Learning to provide the very best operational tools. As a result, Symetrica provides world-leading performance and low through-life costs to the Military and Homeland Security markets. Focus on operational challenges has enabled the business to apply detection technology in wider applications in Homeland Security and Civil National Infrastructure protection.
SEA
07 Apr 21. VTG, an industry-leading provider of force modernization and digital transformation solutions, announced that it has been awarded the Technical Insertion 16 Sustainment, Installation, Procurement and Engineering Services contract by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division, a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract has a potential value of $188m and a five-year period of performance. The TI16 program is the U.S. Navy’s enterprise approach to modernizing combat systems across the surface fleet – most notably the Aegis Combat System – and includes all cruisers and destroyers, aircraft carriers, and amphibious ships. TI16 also enables the Navy to introduce the latest commercial off-the-shelf technologies and open architecture designs into its combat systems. (Source: PR Newswire)
AIR
07 Apr 21. As the U.S. Air Force extends the operational service life of the B-52 Stratofortress into the 2050s, it has selected Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, to design and develop a new wheel and carbon brake for the platform, leading to fleet retrofit of 77 aircraft. Collins will design the new wheel and carbon brake for the B-52H using the company’s proprietary DURACARB® carbon heat sink material. With its increased wear life, DURACARB® will allow the Stratofortress to conduct more landings per overhaul, helping to reduce maintenance time and cost while increasing aircraft availability. DURACARB®’s ability to handle higher thermal energy loads during braking will also increase the safety margin when stopping heavily-loaded B-52s. (Source: PR Newswire)
07 Apr 21. Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) today announced that it was awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, a Lockheed Martin company, to provide its industry-leading rugged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) processor module technology to upgrade the F-22 Raptor, the world’s preeminent tactical fighter aircraft. The selection of Curtiss-Wright’s COTS technology is in alignment with the United States Air Force’s (USAF) Digital Trinity for e-systems: digital engineering; agile software development; and open architecture. The use of these U.S.-built open standards-based COTS processing modules and commercial best practices will deliver cost-effective new capabilities to the USAF sooner and more affordably. This open standards approach will also enable more economical and timely upgrades of the aircraft’s avionics systems. Representing a major industry milestone in the advancement of the DoD’s mandated Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), Curtiss-Wright’s open standards-based processor card is the first COTS module to be selected for service onboard the F-22. The module will be used in support of the F-22 Tactical Mandates program to upgrade the aircraft’s Central Integrated Processor (CIP). The CIP provides data and signal processing for the F-22’s radar, sensors, electronic warfare, and other compute intensive capabilities. Prior to its selection, the Curtiss-Wright processor module was successfully subjected to a rigorous and extensive durability test program to meet the F-22 Raptor’s extreme environmental requirements. The module also provides support for Trusted and Secure Computing hardware and software protections.
07 Apr 21. Pipistrel has selected Honeywell’s (NYSE: HON) next-generation Attitude Heading Reference System and Air Data Module for its Nuuva V300 cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The technologies provide critical navigation and motion-sensing data and will work in tandem with Honeywell’s Compact Fly-By-Wire system onboard the aircraft. If the fly-by-wire system operates as the “brain” of an aircraft’s flight controls, the Attitude Heading Reference System (AH-2000) and Air Data Module (ADM) act as the “heart,” supplying critical motion data to all avionics systems and many mechanical systems. Both the AH-2000 and ADM are key enablers for safe and efficient vehicle operations with potential to serve several flight applications, including urban air mobility vehicles, commercial aircraft, business jets and helicopters. (Source: ASD Network)
05 Apr 21. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider and industry-leading provider of high-performance unmanned systems, today announced that Micro Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. and part of the Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, has received an $85,949,472 contract award, with a $60.7m base and two options totaling approximately $25.3m, from the U.S. Army to support the Army Ground Aerial Target Control System, including software updating, cyber security inspections and installation of replacement parts. (Source: ASD Network)
05 Apr 21. NASA has selected L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) to develop a concept for the next generation of geostationary weather imagers which will help advance future severe storm tracking, weather forecasting, climate and other Earth observations. L3Harris will develop an imager design, as well as conduct technology development and analysis for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary and Extended Orbits (GEO-XO) satellite system. The GEO-XO mission will eventually replace the agency’s current Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) series of weather satellites, which includes the L3Harris-built primary payload. The L3Harris GEO-XO next-generation imager will include additional spectral bands, higher spatial resolution, and improved data compression algorithms. These features, combined with flexible and efficient scan capabilities, will provide improved severe storm tracking, weather forecasting, enhanced fire/smoke detection, as well as other vital benefits to government users, scientists and our nation. Supported by NASA, NOAA’s GEO-XO program is scheduled for launch in the early 2030s. L3Harris is the industry-leading provider of weather sensors flown by U.S. and international customers, such as NOAA’s Advanced Baseline Imager for the GOES-R satellite series, Cross Track Infrared Sounder for the Joint Polar Satellite System, Japan’s Advanced Himawari Imagers for the Himawari mission, and South Korea’s Advanced Meteorological Instrument for GEOKompsat-2a. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
02 Apr 21. Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $79,398,158 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Small Diameter Bomb Increment II lot integration and test. This contract effort will deliver all-up round (AUR) test vehicles, perform AUR-level assembly, checkout, testing and systems integration testing; and prepare for production cut-in and fielding for the multiple engineering changes needed, including National Security Agency (NSA) cryptographic modernization, Global Positioning System (GPS) military code, mitigation of part obsolescence, and design changes evolving from production and/or operations. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed April 1, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 Air Force (USAF) missile procurement funds in the amount of $11,977,567; fiscal 2020 USAF research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds in the amount of $6,495,714; fiscal 2021 Navy (USN) RDT&E funds in the amount of $5,133,243; fiscal 2021 USN weapon procurement funds in the amount of $2,783,878; and fiscal 2019 Special Defense Acquisition Funds in the amount of $9,021,596 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8672-21-F-6052).
TECHNOLOGY
02 Apr 21. The U.S. Air Force has awarded Alion Science and Technology a $77m task order with a 60-month period of performance to provide aircraft and weapons systems research and development for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO). Alion was awarded this contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. These DoD IAC MAC task orders (TOs) are awarded by the U.S. Air Force’s 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the DTIC repository and the Research and Development (R&D) and Science & Technology (S&T) community. (Source: PR Newswire)
06 Apr 21. Amplitech Group, Inc., an expert in the field of designing, developing, and manufacturing of custom and standard state-of-the-art RF components for Commercial, SATCOM, 5G, Quantum Computing, Space, Defense, and Military markets, announced the receipt of a ~$120,000 trial order for its ultra-low noise amplifiers from a major Fortune 200 Defense contractor today. It is an opportunity for Amplitech to show its capabilities and is a step in the right direction for the company. Amplitech Group has developed high quality amplifiers for use in Space-borne satellites and probes that orbit around the earth at an altitude of up to 1000 km . These parts are built, using specially developed techniques and procedures to withstand the rigors of launching and sustaining the highest performance in a space orbit for many years. They require the highest of quality standards and screening procedures to ensure proper operation in a space environment. Amplitech has perfected these processes and is focused on being a reliable supplier for high quality amplifiers necessary for high-speed communications and telemetric applications where the best performance is key for successful deployment. The Company has a proven track record as a dependable partner when looking for quality and service. (Source: PR Newswire)
07 Apr 21. BAE Systems has been awarded two contracts under the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Wideband Adaptive RF Protection (WARP) programme. Valued at $5m, the contracts include designing mechanisms for the DARPA that safeguard ‘emerging wideband receivers from interference’ and allowing their usage in complex environments. The WARP programme is aimed at supporting the continued use of wideband radios and address the challenges associated with bandwidth. The contract awards follow DARPA’s announcement about the selection of research teams for the programme. The company stated that radiofrequency systems within the US Department of Defense are designed to operate in an increasingly crowded electromagnetic spectrum and deal with interference from friendly and hostile sources that could compromise missions. (Source: army-technology.com)
07 Apr 21. Jump Aero Incorporated announces the award of a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research contract from the U.S. Air Force as part of Agility Prime, a program designed to accelerate the commercial market for dual-use advanced air mobility vehicles. Jump Aero has partnered with Caltech to develop an “electronic parachute” – an adaptive flight controller pre-tuned in simulation for various failure scenarios with a machine-learned neural network that will enable the pilot of the JA1 eVTOL aircraft to initiate rapid recalibration of the flight controller in midair in the event of damage. This adaptive/ML control technology has the potential to improve the probability of a safe outcome if the aircraft is physically damaged in flight without significantly increasing the training burden on the pilot. (Source: PR Newswire)
05 Apr 21. Perspecta Inc. (NYSE: PRSP), announced today that its innovative applied research arm, Perspecta Labs, received multiple awards for large-scale experimentation and prototyping of dual-use 5G technology for the Department of Defense (DOD). Perspecta Labs was awarded two prime contracts with a combined ceiling value of $8.1m and a 39-month period of performance if all options are exercised. Perspecta Labs will also perform as a subcontractor on two additional contracts. The four projects represent new work for the company. Commercial 5G mobile broadband technology delivers high speeds and significantly faster response times than current 4G technology, thus greatly increasing capacity for Internet of Things (IoT) networking and creating the ability to harness billions of connected sensors, smart appliances and wireless devices. By supporting full-scale testing of novel 5G prototypes in operational environments, the DOD will accelerate implementation of advanced wireless communications. Perspecta Labs will lead and participate in large-scale 5G prototypes for logistics, smart warehouses, dynamic spectrum utilization and spectrum sharing. (Source: PR Newswire)
07 Apr 21. SparkCognition Government Systems (SGS), the first full-spectrum artificial intelligence (AI) company devoted entirely to government and national defense has been awarded a contract with The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) through its SBIR program. The SBIR program is highly competitive and encourages small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development with the potential for commercialization. Through this contract, SGS will leverage proven commercial technologies and AI expertise to explore the uses of machine learning (ML) technology to enhance aspects of readiness, including manpower planning and decision optimization. (Source: PR Newswire)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
01 Apr 21. The federal government announced a $9m agreement with Lockheed Martin Australia as part of Defence’s Counter Improvised Grand Threat Challenge. The federal government confirmed that it is investing $9m in new technology to identify and mitigate the threat of improvised weapons systems under the government’s Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF). The agreement, as part of Defence’s Counter Improvised Grand Threat Challenge (CIT-GC), will be undertaken alongside Lockheed Martin Australia with US$3m support from the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). (Source: Defence Connect)
05 Apr 21. Raytheon Australia has been awarded an $84.5m (A$111m) sustainment contract by the Australian Department of Defence for the national advanced surface to air missile system (NASAMS). Raytheon Australia has been awarded an $84.5m (A$111m) sustainment contract by the Australian Department of Defence for the national advanced surface to air missile system (NASAMS). The system has been jointly developed by Raytheon and Kongsberg and entered service with the Australian Army in 2023. The latest contract will provide the initial five years of sustainment, with an option to extend the contract to the full 20 years. It will support the new short-range ground-based air defence (GAD) capability under the Land 19 Phase 7B programme. (Source: army-technology.com)
01 Apr 21. Thales Australia exports over $30m in munitions. The prime processed munitions export orders valued at over $30m in 2020, the highest year on record. Thales has revealed that its subsidiary, Australian Munitions, has undergone a record year of sales with more than $30m in orders to the US, New Zealand, Canada, Asia, and Europe over the course of 2020. The orders included the sale of munitions, propellant, military explosives and sporting shooter munitions, produced in Australian Munitions’ facilities in Benalla, Victoria, and Mulwala, NSW. (Source: Defence Connect)
SEA
06 Apr 21. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, was awarded a $79,310,913 fixed-price-incentive and firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-5101 for fiscal 2021 AEGIS modernization (AMOD) and guided missile destroyer new construction production requirements. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. government (84%); and the government of the Commonwealth of Australia (16%) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (80%); and Clearwater, Florida (20%), and is expected to be completed by March 2025. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $37,554,700 (48%); fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,990,910 (16%); FMS Australia funds in the amount of $12,784,579 (16%); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,985,543 (15%); and fiscal 2021 Defense-wide procurement funds in the amount of $3,995,181 (5%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 31, 2021)
AIR
06 Apr 21. Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) issued Centum Research & Technology a USD1.3m contract, including taxes, for its Cellular Airborne Sensor for Search and Rescue (CASSAR) programme on 26 March. Centum will provide five of its Lifeseeker software-defined radio systems as part of the award, along with training material for operators, and maintenance and user manuals for each unit. The DND had a requirement to procure between five and eight operational CASSAR systems. The device will allow the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to locate and communicate with operational mobile phones on people in distress during missions. Centum Research & Technology’s Lifeseeker software-defined radio. The Canadian DND awarded the company a USD1.3m contract to procure five Lifeseeker systems for its Cellular Airborne Sensor for Search and Rescue (CASSAR) programme. (Centum Research & Technology) The Lifeseeker will be used on the Lockheed Martin CC-130H Hercules fixed-wing transport aircraft, the Leonardo AW101 (CH-149 Cormorant in national service) medium multirole helicopter, and on Canada’s new Airbus Defence and Space C295W (CC-295 in Canadian service) Kingfisher fixed-wing platform. A DND spokesperson said on 1 April that the CC-130H fleet will be the first to have the CASSAR system integrated, followed by the CH-149, and the CC-295. The DND anticipates that RCAF search and rescue (SAR) crew will start using the CASSAR systems by mid-2021 once testing, training, and system licensing is completed. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2021. Centum did not return a request for comment prior to publication. (Source: Jane’s)