UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
25 May 21. RFEL announced an award to supply their TRAILBLAZER driver vision aid into the Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme for UK MOD. TRAILBLAZER improves driver and crew effectiveness by extending visibility beyond the normal daylight spectrum, overcoming adverse weather and low-light conditions with fusion of daylight and thermal sensors. TRAILBLAZER is safe by design and is the chosen Driver Vision System for hatches down driving in all weather and light conditions.
SEA
26 May 21. MBDA’s Sea Ceptor system will protect the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigates under a contract awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence. Sea Ceptor is the world’s most modern naval air defence system of its class. Utilising the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM), it offers both world-leading close-in air defence and local-area air defence. The system will allow the Type 31 to protect simultaneously both itself and vessels near it from attack from current and future threats, including high-speed manoeuvring missiles, attack aircraft and fast inshore attack craft. The new contract includes integration of Sea Ceptor with the Type 31’s systems, along with delivery and installation of ship hardware for the Type 31 programme. Designed and made in the UK, the contract forms part of the Portfolio Management Agreement (PMA), a partnership initiated in 2010 between the UK MoD and MBDA on sovereign complex weapons design and production. The PMA delivers world-beating military equipment for the UK Armed Forces and has secured over 4,000 jobs at MBDA UK while generating savings worth over £1.2bn. Sea Ceptor is currently in service on the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, and will also protect the new Type 26 frigates. The UK Ministry of Defence maintains a common stockpile of CAMM missiles for both the Royal Navy and British Army. The CAMM missile family has been selected by a growing list of other nations for both naval and land based air defence.
23 May 21. Rolls-Royce has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to strengthen support for two key Royal Navy programmes. The contract will enable both parties to work together to deliver on-going support for Rolls-Royce MT30 and WR-21 marine engines. The contract which will run until 2026 will improve on-going support for the Rolls-Royce MT30 engines that power the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Aircraft Carriers. It also covers support of the WR-21 engines that power the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
28 May 21. 6 UK businesses have won a share of over £2m in government funding to help shape options for the UK’s satellite navigation and timing capability, to protect UK Critical National Infrastructure. Leading UK space companies Airbus, CGI, Sirrus Analysis, GMV NSL, Inmarsat, and QinetiQ will each receive a share of the funding to help develop system design and operation, signals and algorithms, resilience, assurance, and cost modelling for the UK Space Agency’s Space Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Programme (SBPP). (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
27 May 21. £274m training boost for RAF. Pilots and engineers who operate the UK’s C-17 Globemaster aircraft are to benefit from world-leading interactive training, following a £274m contract award. Awarded for the next 19 years, the contract with Boeing Defence UK will provide unique synthetic training courses for RAF personnel who operate the aircraft until 2040 and will support around 30 UK jobs at the International Training Centre (ITC) in Farnborough. Alongside the continued training for pilots on the interactive C-17 flight simulators, from 2023 RAF trainees will also benefit from two new pieces of equipment in a purpose-built facility. Maintainers will be provided with engineering training so they can diagnose faults and practice repairs without having to work on the live aircraft. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
26 May 21. Broadband terminal developer Isotropic Systems confirmed that the company has been the recipient of funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency to support the ongoing innovation of their satellite communications capabilities. Under the announcement, Isotropic will receive €18.5m from the UK Space Agency, which is expected to support funding via the ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program. The announcement comes following the company’s successful $40m capital raising from SES, Orbital Ventures, Boeing HorizonX Global Ventures, Space Angels, firmament Ventures and the UK government’s Future Fund. It is hoped that the funding will support a new research facility in Reading, with another 150 jobs being created. According to a statement released by the company, the Isotropic is already engaged with British space businesses such as QintetiQ, Statellite Applications Catapult and Innovate UK. (Source: Space Connect)
EUROPE
LAND
21 May 21. LMT Defense (formerly known as Lewis Machine & Tool) announce the award of the firearms contract for Estonian Defence Forces. After an extensive two year tender and testing process, the Estonian Defence Forces have selected LMT Defense. The original competition had 12 companies respond to the call for tenderers. This week LMT Defense was finally confirmed as the chosen winner. LMT Defense is honoured to be selected to supply complete small arms solutions to the Estonian Defence Forces, EDF. The rifle selected is the LMT MARS family of rifles, including the AR 15 and AR 10, in addition to 40mm Grenade Launchers. (Source: joint-forces.com)
19 May 21. Bulgaria Orders Saab’s Deployable Maintenance Facility. Saab has signed a contract to deliver the innovative Deployable Maintenance Facility (DAM) for use by the Bulgarian Air Force. The system will provide the Bulgarian Air Force with an efficient and flexible way to optimise their infrastructure capability. Along with the system deliveries, we will also provide training where DAM will be installed together with the end-user. Deliveries will commence later this year. (Source: ASD Network)
25 May 21. Rheinmetall supplying Portuguese Army with 1,500 LM-LowProfile laser modules. The Portuguese Army has awarded Rheinmetall an order for 1,500 LM-LowProfile laser modules. The contract, booked back in October 2020, calls for delivery of the devices in three lots. Delivery is to be complete by the third quarter of 2021. The order is worth a figure in the low single-digit million-euro range. In carrying out the order, Rheinmetall is cooperating closely with its local sales partner, NT Group Portugal. Developed by Rheinmetall Soldier Electronics of Stockach, Germany, the minute LM-LowProfile laser module is designed for use on compact assault rifles, but it is also suitable for other small arms. The device, weighing around 160 grams and 85 mm long, can be attached to any standard assault rifle via a standard interface as defined by MIL-STD 1913/NATO STANAG 4694. Owing to its low height (25 mm), it can be used in combination with daylight optics. Nor does it interfere with the line of sight. Owing to the alignment of the laser along the running axis, the device lends itself particularly well to weapons without removeable mechanical sights (rear and front sights). Powered by a CR123 battery, the LM-LowProfile features visible and infrared target markers as well as a focusable infrared illuminator. All of the integrated lasers can be regulated in parallel by means of block adjustment. They can be remotely controlled via a trigger cable or by means of a single push button directly on the device. The LM-LowProfile is watertight at depths of up to 30 metres for up to two hours. Adding a tactical weapon light further enhances the laser module’s operational effectiveness. Rheinmetall has already supplied the Portuguese Army with a weapon light in an earlier order. In comparative trials conducted by the Portuguese military, the device outshone its various rivals with regard both to ergonomics and performance. Moreover, the LM-LowProfile offers the added advantage of not being subject to America’s strict ITAR export regulations. Laser engraving can be used to individualize the devices. Delivery is already underway. This is the third order from Portugal in the space of three years, underscoring the great trust the Portuguese military places in Rheinmetall’s soldier systems expertise.
20 May 21. Senop Oy has signed a contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace As to supply integrated Fire Distribution Centers to an international NASAMS program. Contract consists of Fire Distribution Centers integrated into Shelters and spare parts. The Fire Distribution Center (FDC) is a proven and fielded Air Defence Battle Management Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (BMC4I) module that provides modern BMC4I for current and future air defense missions. The FDC integrates systems, sensors, and effectors in one system. Contract is a continuation to the partnership between Senop and Kongsberg, which started in 2009 when Finland acquired the NASAMS air defence system. Since the Finnish acquisition, Senop has almost continuously been involved in Kongsberg’s NASAMS export programs as a trusted supplier. Contract will support the Finnish defence industry through Senop’s broad subcontractor network. Majority of contract value comes within Finnish industry. Involvement in Kongsberg’s NASAMS export programs have ensured local security of supply and maintainability in all circumstances and maintained critical technological know-how. Cooperation with Kongsberg shows that Finnish industry is capable of producing various systems and equipment’s for Finland’s air defence needs also in the future.
25 May 21. Building on the strong international NATO cooperation within the Ground Based domain, as well as strategic bi-lateral defence ties, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) has signed an agreement with the Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) for the acquisition of five Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact radars (GM200 MM/C). The agreement also includes an option for three additional systems.
AIR
24 May 21. Poland is to receive armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey under a deal disclosed by the country’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) on 22 May. Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Baszczak announced the purchase, noting that deliveries of four Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), comprising 24 UAVs, will commence in 2022. Built in Turkey by Baykar Makina, the Bayraktar TB2 is a single-engined medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV that was developed to provide the Turkish Army with a tactical intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability. According to Janes All the World’s Aircraft: Unmanned, the Bayraktar TB2 is 6.5m long and has a 12m wingspan. With a maximum take-off weight of 630kg, the air vehicle can carry up to 55kg in mission system and/or weapons payload. Performance specifications give the Bayraktar TB2 a cruising speed of 70kt, a range of 150km, an endurance of 24 hours, and a service ceiling of nearly 30,000ft. Having made its maiden flight in June 2009, the Bayraktar TB2 has previously been sold to the armed forces of Azerbaijan, Qatar, Turkey, and Ukraine. (Source: Jane’s)
27 May 21. The Italian Air Force has partnered with the U.S. Government and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to provide a mid-life update to its fleet of MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and Ground Control Stations (GCS) as part of a Foreign Military Sales agreement. The Italian Air Force’s Mid-Life Modernization (MLM) Program will include updates to the MQ-9s which will improve them from Block 1 to Block 5 configuration. The Block 5 system includes a significantly increased electrical power capability, improved landing gear and the latest versions of the GA-ASI Lynx® Multi-mode Radar and Raytheon Electro-Optical sensors.
24 May 21. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress that the Government of Spain has requested to buy follow on Contractor Logistics Support to include contractor provided MQ-9A Blk 5 aircraft components, spares, and accessories; repair and return; software and software support services; simulator software; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor provided engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $110m. The prime contractor will be General Atomics, Palmdale, CA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. (Source: glstrade.com)
25 May 21. Kleos Space S.A (ASX:KSS, Frankfurt:KS1), a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a-service (DaaS) company, has signed a contract with Innovative Solutions in Space B.V. (ISISPACE) to build and support its third satellite cluster of four satellites, the Polar Patrol Mission (KSF2), scheduled to launch at the end of 2021 onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. ISISPACE is also completing Kleos’ second satellite cluster, the Polar Vigilance Mission (KSF1), for dispatch to the launch site week commencing 31 May 2021.
24 May 21. Saab has received an order from Panavia Aircraft GmbH to upgrade the radar warning equipment on the Tornado aircraft operated by the German Air Force. The order value is approximately 400m SEK. Saab will supply modern digital components, which will enhance the processing power and extend the lifetime of the Tornado’s radar warning equipment. Deliveries will take place between 2021 and 2025. Saab will carry out the work at its sites in Nuremberg, Germany and Järfälla, Sweden. (Source: ASD Network)
USA
LAND
24 May 21. Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Plymouth, Minnesota, was awarded a $167,758,125 modification (P00077) to contract W15QKN-13-C-0074 for the Precision Guidance Kit. Work will be performed in Plymouth, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of May 23, 2024. Fiscal 2021 procurement of ammunition, Army funds in the amount of $167,758,125 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
26 May 21. BAE Systems Information and Electronics Systems Integration, Nashua, New Hampshire, was awarded a $21,642,248 modification (P00002) to contract W58RGZ-21-D-0023 for life cycle contractor support for the Limited Interim Missile Warning System quick reaction capability. 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 Sept. 30, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-21-D-0023).
26 May 21. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, St. Petersburg, Florida, was awarded a $49,311,266 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 105 mm M724A2 rounds. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 25, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-21-D-0043).
26 May 21. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $26,067,335 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of M978A4 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck Tankers, M984A4 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck Wreckers and M1070A1 Heavy Equipment Transporters. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales (Egypt) funds in the amount of $26,067,335 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-21-F-0234).
SEA
25 May 21. Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) today announced that it has been awarded contracts valued in excess of $130m to provide propulsion valves, pumps and advanced instrumentation and control systems for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine, Columbia-class submarine and Ford-class aircraft carrier programs. The awards were received from Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) and General Dynamics Electric Boat to support ship construction, spare parts and submarine back-fit procurements. Curtiss-Wright is performing this work at its facilities in New York and Pennsylvania within the Company’s Defense Electronics and Naval & Power Segments. Engineering and manufacturing have commenced and will continue through 2025.
20 May 21. The Navy has awarded a $553.9m contract option to Fincantieri Marinette Marine to build a second Constellation-class guided missile frigate, the service announced Thursday. The future USS Congress is designed to have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations, the Navy said. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/UPI)
26 May 21. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has received an order from the US Navy for the supply of two REMUS 300 unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The two-man portable vehicle is manufactured by US-based underwater technology company Hydroid, a subsidiary of HII. The REMUS 300 is a new, small class unmanned UUV built for military and commercial applications, such as mine countermeasures and search and recovery. It has options for 1.5kWh, 3kWh, or 4.5kWh lithium-ion batteries to achieve endurance of up to ten, 20 or 30 hours and recharge time of six, 12 or 18 hours, respectively. The company will deliver the vehicles in the middle of next year. (Source: naval-technology.com)
26 May 21. Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is awarded a $16,793,446 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee level of effort, and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-6305 to procure production Airborne Mine Neutralization Systems. This modification incorporates additional contract options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this action to $68,550,513. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and is expected to be completed by March 2024. If all options are exercised, work will continue through March 2027. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,293,446 (55%); and 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,500,000 (45%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) — only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
AIR
27 May 21. Ace Aero, Gunterville, Alabama (FA8691-21-D-1001); Airtec, Lexington Park, Maryland (FA8691-21-D-1002); Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Virginia (FA8691-21-D-1003); Arctos Mission Systems LLC, Tampa, Florida (FA8691-21-D-1004); ATI Engineering Services, Johnstown, Pennsylvania (FA8691-21-D-1005); Axxeum, Huntsville, Alabama (FA8691-21-D-1006); BlackHawk Aerospace, Huntsville, Alabama (FA8691-21-D-1007); ISD, Wilsonville, Oregon (FA8691-21-D-1008); KIHOMAC, Reston, Virginia (FA8691-21-D-1009); L3 Harris Communications Integrated Systems, Greenville, Texas (FA8691-21-D-1010); L3 Harris Communications Systems West, Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8691-21-D-1011); Leidos, Reston, Virginia (FA8691-21-D-1012); MAG Aero, Fairfax, Virginia (FA8691-21-D-1013); Meta Special Aerospace, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (FA8691-21-D-1014); Naval Systems Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (FA8691-21-D-1015); Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Fort Worth, Texas (FA8691-21-D-1016); PAE, Arlington, Virginia (FA8691-21-D-1017); Pinnacle Solutions, Huntsville, Alabama (FA8691-21-D-1018); SES-i, Huntsville, Alabama (FA8691-21-D-1019); Sierra Nevada Corp., Centennial, Colorado (FA8691-21-D-1020); Textron Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland (FA8691-21-D-1021); and Vertex, Madison, Mississippi (FA8691-21-D-1022), have been awarded a combined $950,000,000 multiple award, fair opportunity, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a firm-fixed-price task order. Contractors will provide various Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers engineering assessments, procurement of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors and related equipment, integration of ISR sensors into non-standard aircraft, and contractor logistics support for non-standard aircraft with ISR sensors. Work will be performed at the locations of the contractors and various FMS customer locations and is expected to be completed May 31, 2031. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 22 offers were received. Fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales administrative funds in the amount of $22,000 are being obligated to each company at the time of the award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
21 May 21. L3Wescam USA, Santa Rosa, California, was awarded a $96,430,000 maximum indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract (H92241-21-D-0001) for the Improved Rotary-wing Electro-optical/Infra-red Sensor (IRES) program in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Fiscal 2020 and 2021 procurement, defense-wide funds in the amount of $7,634,515 are being obligated at the time of award for IRES sensors and associated program management. The majority of the work will be performed in Santa Rosa. This contract is a noncompetitive award in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1. USSOCOM, Tampa, Florida is the contracting activity.
21 May 21. Rohde & Schwarz has been awarded a subcontract for the delivery of R&S MR6000R software defined, multiband-capable airborne transceivers for the US Air Force’s Boeing-built T-7A Red Hawk aircraft, used for advanced pilot training. This forms part of Boeing’s $9.2bn contract to deliver 351 T-7A aircraft, 46 simulators and associated ground equipment to replace Air Education and Training Command’s ageing fleet of T-38C Talons. The R&S MR6000R technology has been designed to meet small size, lightweight and low power requirements, weighing less than four kilograms. According to Rohde & Schwarz, the R&S MR6000R covers the frequency range from 30 MHz to 400 MHz and can support the NATO frequency algorithms ‘HAVE QUICK II’ for interoperability and digital fast frequency hopping standard ‘SATURN’. (Source: Defence Connect)
TECHNOLOGY
24 May 21. CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) announced today that it was awarded an eight year, single-award contract, with a ceiling value of $373m, to provide geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) analysis expertise to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Under the contract, seasoned CACI intelligence experts will provide mission expertise, including full-lifecycle geospatial intelligence analytic support. Additionally, CACI system engineers will help maintain and evolve SOCOM’s intelligence information technology infrastructure. Full lifecycle GEOINT expertise, a unique offering provided by CACI, will apply to all phases of processing intelligence, including the immediate reporting, corroboration, and contextualization of data. Meanwhile, CACI will update and maintain SOCOM’s geospatial architecture infrastructure and tools to ensure intelligence data is correctly and efficiently distributed to analysts. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
26 May 21. CBG Systems lands long-term Hanwha deal. The Tasmania-based firm has been selected to deliver ongoing services in support of Hanwha Defense Australia’s land projects. Hanwha Defense Australia has extended its partnership with insulation technology provider CBG Systems, which has been selected to provide long-term support for Hanwha’s LAND 8116 Protected Mobile Fires project – a $900m-$1.3bn project to acquire 30 self-propelled armoured artillery systems and 15 armoured resupply vehicles to the Australian Army. This is in addition to CBG’s involvement in Team Redback – a Hanwha-led cooperative bidding for the Commonwealth government’s $18bn-$27bn LAND 400 Phase 3 program – with the Tasmanian firm supporting the risk mitigation activities as part of the selection process. Hanwha confirmed that CBG’s new long-term deal would extend to LAND 400 Phase 3 if it is selected to deliver up to 450 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) to replace Army’s M113 fleet. CBG Systems is currently leveraging its Solar Sigma Shield advanced insulation technology to improve the Redback and Huntsman vehicles illusiveness, in a bid to deliver a combat advantage against adversary detection and engagement systems. The Solar Sigma Shield technology is also designed to assist in managing the thermal signature and other heat transfer properties on Hanwha’s platforms. According to CBG, its insulation technology can decrease internal vehicle temperatures by up to 25 degrees Celsius, helping to reduce heat stress on personnel and equipment. (Source: Defence Connect)
25 May 21. Hall & Watts Australia Receive Significant Order for Mini-DRFD as part of LAND 154. Hall & Watts Australia have been awarded a multi-million pound order for the supply of MAS Zengrange Remote Initiation Systems to the Australia Defence Forces. Following on from earlier success with Project SEA 1778, where Mini-DRFD was selected as the command initiation system for the Royal Australian Navy’s mine clearance capability, Mini-DRFD has recently been chosen under the auspices of project LAND 154 to equip units of both the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force to conduct demolition tasks. Mini-DRFD M3.0 is a UHF digital radio-controlled initiation system designed for the remote or timed initiation of munitions and explosives, and is now the joint service remote firing device for the Australian Defence Force. With this acquisition, the ADF joins over 30 countries across the tri-service spectrum who are all using Mini-DRFD for explosive demolition operations.
SEA
24 May 21. Australian construction firm Hansen Yuncken Pty Limited has won a $65m head contract for the construction of Navy’s new Land-Based Test Facility (LBTF) for the new Hunter Class frigates. The LBTF, located at the former St Kilda Transmitting Station north of Adelaide, will enable the testing and integration of the combat systems for the Hunter program, which will deliver nine ASW Frigates. Construction of the facility is due to start this month, with completion anticipated by early 2023. (Source: http://rumourcontrol.com.au/)
27 May 21. Terma was recently awarded a contract to supply a SCANTER 6002 radar for the latest Indonesian Navy’s Hospital Assistance Ship (BRS). The radar delivery is planned for June 2021. The award follows a previous contract signed in 2019 to supply a similar radar for the BRS “Wahidin Soedirohusodo”, delivered in January 2021. Hospital ships are vessels designed to act as floating medical treatment facilities for humanitarian missions or for use in war zones. Under the new contract, Terma will deliver the radar in June 2021 to support the latest Indonesian Navy Hospital Assistance Ship (BRS). The Indonesian Navy’s BRS built in Surabaya by the Indonesian state-owned shipyard PT PAL is 124 meters long, 21.8 meters wide, and able to host more than 600 people including crew, troops, and patients. According to PT PAL, the BRS can accommodate medical personnel to carry-out operational missions equivalent to those of a regular hospital. The BRS will be fitted with polyclinic facilities, emergency rooms, a radiology unit, and more.
AIR
21 May 21. Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has ordered a further 180 passive radio-frequency sensors from BAE Systems Australia for the precision-guided, stand-off Joint Strike Missile (JSM). BAE Systems announced on 21 May that these sensors are in addition to an initial tranche of 20 ordered by Kongsberg in October 2020 and bring the first full-rate production total order to 200. Production of the new order will begin in 2022 and is part of a broader co-operation agreement between the two companies that has been in operation for the past five years, a company spokesperson told Janes. The company disclosed in 2017 that an electronic support measure (ESM) receiver being provided to Kongsberg for integration with the JSM “will feature an additional land-attack and littoral attack capability, as well as a two-way communications line for target adjustment and in-flight termination”. Kongsberg said at the same time that the RF seeker sensor will enable the JSM to locate targets on the basis of their electronic signature in addition to the missile’s existing advanced imaging infrared sensor. The miniaturised receiver is understood to weigh less than 2.5 kg and operate at up to 18 GHz in the high-frequency range. This development comes after Australia’s Department of Defence (DoD) signed a NOK150m (USD18m) contract with Kongsberg to continue the integration and qualification of the RF seeker into the JSM, which is the only anti-ship cruise missile that can be carried internally by the Lockheed Martin F-35A/C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters. (Source: Jane’s)