UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
10 Sep 21. The selection for the MoD Spares Framework Agreement worth £149m has been announced today. Sources close to BATTLESPACE suggest that the companies named below have been selected for the UK MoD Vehicle Support Capital Spares Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement Major Spares programme worth £149m a year – REFERENCE No. 700007835. The requirement is for the establishment of a Framework Agreement under which the Authority may procure Capital Spares in support of the DE&S Vehicle Support Team (VST) portfolio of wheeled and tracked platforms. Individual Call-Off contracts that may be placed under the Framework Agreement shall be subject to a competitive process between those Tenderers admitted to the Framework, noting that the Authority shall have no obligation to order or buy anything under this Framework Agreement. The anticipated date for the contract award decision is 30 June 2021. This is an indicative date and may change.
Companies Selected
AME AUTO Ltd,
Carwood Motor Units Ltd,
GDUK,
Hobson Industries Ltd,
LEONARDO MW Ltd,
NP AEROSPACE Ltd,
Rheinmetall
Companies Not Selected
Aviation Spares And Repairs Ltd
Babcock Land Defence Ltd,
EXSEL Design & Integration Ltd,
SUPACAT Ltd
TVS
10 Sep 21. MOD awards £3.8m contract for advanced base protection system. Programme TALOS, overseen by Strategic Command’s innovation hub (jHub), helps to rapidly bring new technology into defence. A £3.8m contract to trial an advanced base defence system has been awarded to the American company Anduril Industries through Strategic Command’s jHub. The system uses an advanced operating system, which is assisted by AI, and a network of sensors to autonomously detect, classify, and track potential threats. It uses a combination of sentry towers, ground sensors and drone technology to alert personnel of any intrusion on the ground or in the air and then presents options for personnel to respond. The system has the capacity to add different sensors and autonomously offers options to respond, depending on the threat. The contract was awarded as a part of Programme TALOS, a MOD programme focused on accelerating a defence-wide approach to integrated command and control (C2). The system has been offered through a new subscription model, meaning the software and hardware will be updated with the latest technology whilst also being maintained for operational use. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
09 Sep 21. Mass awarded £11m contract extension. Cohort, the AIM listed independent technology group, announces that its wholly owned subsidiary MASS Consultants Ltd (“MASS”) has been awarded a further two-year extension to the Joint Command and Staff Training (JCAST) contract for the UK armed forces’ Strategic Command. The contract extension has a value of over £11m and is deliverable evenly over two years, commencing in July 2022.
07 Sep 21. UK MoD orders thermal imaging systems from Theon Sensors. The order includes delivery of 500 units of Thermis CS imaging systems by next year. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract to Theon Sensors to deliver Thermis CS thermal imaging systems. The thermal imagers are being procured in support of Sniper In-Line Low Light System (SILLS) – Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) Thermal Sight “Weapon Sight 2”. The order includes the supply of 500 units of Thermis CS imaging systems. The company is required to complete the delivery of these units next year. Furthermore, the order includes options that can be exercised to acquire extra units. The contract will be executed by the company in coordination with its UK-based partner Active Electronics. (Source: army-technology.com)
EUROPE
LAND
03 Sep 21. FN Herstal, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of small calibre weapons and weapon systems, has recently been awarded by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence a multi-year contract for, firstly, the production and provision of up to 4,000 FN MINIMI Mk3 (3rd generation) light machine guns in 7.62x51mm NATO calibre and associated initial spare parts over a 7-year period, and secondly, maintenance and support equipment over a 20-year period. This decision concludes a programme that was initiated by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence more than two years ago and included a series of technical evaluations and commercial negotiations in which FN Herstal competed against three American suppliers. Norway thus becomes the 37th country to select and standardise the FN MINIMI 7.62 for its armed forces. (Source: www.joint-forcescom)
10 Sep 21. HENSOLDT is supplying a mobile system for tactical radio reconnaissance to two NATO countries. A corresponding order worth a two-digit million Euro sum has now been signed. The system for monitoring and analysing enemy radio traffic includes digital broadband receivers, compact direction finders and high-performance software for real-time signal evaluation. The core elements of the system are integrated into armoured vehicles or designed to be portable so that troops can be supported directly in the theatre of operations and detect threats at an early stage.
07 Sep 21. PGZ-WZM consortium to overhaul Polish BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. The deliveries of overhauled BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicles will begin next year. A consortium of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne (WZM) has secured a long-term contract to overhaul Poland’s BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). Awarded by Polish Army’s 2nd Regional Logistics Base, the contract is valued at around $26.27m (PLN100m) gross. Work will include major repair works of 31 vehicles and maintenance overhauls of nine other BWP-1 IFVs under the guaranteed contract. The agreement also includes an option of two overhauls and three maintenance overhauls. The deal will be executed between 2022 and 2024, with the first deliveries scheduled next year. PGZ management board president Sebastian Chwałek said: “Infantry fighting vehicles are invariably the basis of the equipment of the land forces, which is why it is so important to ensure their proper efficiency throughout the entire lifecycle of this equipment. (Source: army-technology.com)
08 Sep 21. Saab to deliver live training systems for Polish Armed Forces. The contract includes supply of a complete live training solution for a reinforced mechanised battalion. Swedish company Saab has been contracted to provide the Polish Armed Forces with multiple live training systems and services. The contract comprises delivery of a complete live training solution for a ‘reinforced mechanised battalion’. It also covers supply of four training centres for company size units. Furthermore, the contract includes support for a period of three years. The total order is valued at around $116m (Skr1bn) and valid for a period of five years. The contract period starts from this year and runs until 2026. (Source: army-technology.com)
10 Sep 21. Spectra Group receives another SlingShot order from major European Customer. Spectra Group, the specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems, has received an order for their SlingShot satellite communications system from an undisclosed European ministry of defence. The order is for specialist use by troops currently deployed on remote operations globally.
AIR
07 Sep 21. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a firm-fixed-price and fixed-price-incentive-firm $30,547,124 order (FA8689-21-F-2800) to a previously awarded, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (FA8689-20-D-2020) for the Italy Mid-Life Modernization (MLM) Lot 1 MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft and Block 30 Mobile Ground Control Station (MGCS) procurement. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2023. This contract involves 100% Foreign Military Sales to Italy. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $30,547,124 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.
USA
LAND
07 Sep 21. Avon Protection Ceradyne LLC, Irvine, California (W91CRB-21-D-0022); and Gentex Corp., Simpson, Pennsylvania (W91CRB-21-D-0023), will compete for each order of the $87,619,643 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of Next Generation Integrated Head Protection Systems. 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 Sept. 6, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
02 Sep 21. U.S. Army Awards Cubic STE LTS Award. Cubic Corporation today announced that its Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions (CMPS) business division was awarded a U.S. Army Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Live Training System (LTS) prototype development contract. Cubic will execute this contract with its live training system partner, General Dynamics Mission Systems. The award is for the Army’s modernization of its Soldier, direct fire, and vehicle systems. It will also be used for the introduction of counter defilade and indirect fire systems into the live training environment at Combat Training Centers and Army home stations around the globe. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
09 Sep 21. Leonardo DRS, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a contract by General Dynamics to provide additional mission equipment packages (MEP) for Maneuver Short Range Air Defense Increment 1(M-SHORAD Inc. 1) systems. The contract is valued at $204m. Under this contract, part of the original five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity award, the company is expected to provide 59 additional MEPs for the program. This order follows the first delivery order for 28 production MEPs being delivered beginning early next year. These production contract awards follow a very successful rapid prototyping effort that completed an aggressive government test schedule and fielded four production-like systems in Germany. Leonardo DRS Land Systems fully integrates the MEP before providing it to General Dynamics Land Systems, the platform integrator and prime contractor. The M-SHORAD Inc. 1 MEP includes Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP ®) turret with multiple kinetic effectors including the XM914E1 30mm cannon, M240 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, Stinger and Longbow HELLFIRE missiles. The MEP also includes Rada USA’s Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) and several other enabling technologies.
09 Sep 21. Gentex, Corp., Simpson, Pennsylvania, has been awarded an estimated $26,807,269 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract for helmet assemblies and associated components. 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 five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Pennsylvania, with a Sept. 8, 2026, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-21-D-1493).
03 Sep 21. Halvik Corp, a leader in technology, engineering, and professional services for the U.S. Federal market has been awarded 5-year, unrestricted contract estimated at $34m by the US Army Command and Control Support Agency (CCSA). Through this contract, Halvik will help CCSA deliver Command and Control (C2) IT support and automation services to the Army Chief of Staff (CSA), the Army, Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), HQDA, G-3/5/7, the Department of the Army, Military Operations – Operations, Readiness, and Mobilization Directorate (DAMOOD), the Army Operations Center (AOC), and the Resource and Situational Awareness Center (RSAC). (Source: PR Newswire)
03 Sep 21. LEIDOS Inc., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $49,417,035 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Multi-Domain Radar for a Contested Environment (MuDRaCE) effort. The Marines currently uses centralized, high power radio frequency radar assets to detect and target adversaries. These systems have limited mobility, are susceptible to detection and attack which represents a significant failure point. MuDRaCE seeks to provide greater interoperability, ease of integration with emerging technologies and improved sensor fusion-based situational awareness while maintaining legacy capability resulting in a robust survivable sensing network. Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia (67.7%); Huntsville, Alabama (18.6%); Longmont, Colorado (6.2%); Taunton, Maryland (4.6%); and Fulton, Maryland (2.9%). Work for the base period is expected to be completed by Sept. 6, 2024. The maximum dollar value, including a 36-month base period and seven 12-month option periods, is $49,417,035. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,141,655 are obligated at time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under N00014-21-S-B001, “Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science & Technology.” Since proposals are received throughout the year under the long range BAA, the number of proposals received in response to the solicitation is unknown. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-21-C-1042).
SEA
03 Sep 21. Lockheed Martin – Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, was awarded a $63,625,766 modification to increase the ceiling of the existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, and firm-fixed price contract (N00039-18-D-0001) for the Integrated Common Processor (ICP) on behalf of the Program Executive Office Submarines’ Maritime Surveillance Systems Program Office. The ICP program provides a common Integrated Undersea Surveillance Systems (IUSS) signal processing and display system software and hardware suite for Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System ships and IUSS shore sites. No funding is being placed on the modification. Contract actions will be issued and funds obligated as individual delivery orders. Funds will be placed on contract with an initial delivery order issued to the contractor at the time of award. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by December 2022. This contract was not competitively procured because it is a sole source acquisition pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) – Only One Responsible Source (Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 6.302-1). Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 2, 2021)
AIR
03 Sep 21. The Air Force awarded a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $46,000,000,000 to 55 vendors: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia; Sierra Nevada Corp., Centennial, Colorado; Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc., Sacramento, California; Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona; General Dynamics OTS Inc., Niceville, Florida; Integrated Solutions for Systems Inc., Huntsville, Alabama; Applied Research Associates Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico; L3 Technologies Inc., Camden, New Jersey; General Atomics, San Diego, California; MBDA Inc., Huntsville, Alabama; Tangram Flex Inc., Dayton, Ohio; Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Northridge, California; Dynetics Inc., Huntsville, Alabama; Logicquest LLC, Huntsville, Alabama; Intuitive Research and Technology Corp., Huntsville, Alabama; Serco Inc., Herndon, Virginia; Kihomac Inc., Reston, Virginia; Linquest Corp., Los Angeles, California; DCA Corp., Alexandria, Virginia; Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida; Odyssey Systems Consulting Group LTD, Wakefield, Massachusetts; Zitech Inc., Niceville, Florida; Parsons Government Services Inc., Pasadena, California; KBR Services LLC, Lexington Park, Maryland; Cummings Aerospace Inc., Huntsville, Alabama; Radiance Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Alabama; MAG Aerospace, Fairfax, Virginia; Applied Research Solutions Inc., Beavercreek, Ohio; Autonodyne LLC, Boston, Massachusetts; Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., Huntsville, Alabama; Morsecorp Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts; Blue Force Technologies Inc., Morrisville, North Carolina; OST Inc., McLean, Virginia; Signalink Inc., Madison, Alabama; Strategic Technology Consulting LLC, Toms River, New Jersey; Cintel Inc., Huntsville, Alabama; Graham Technologies LLC, Largo, Maryland; Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colorado; The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri; AGR LLC, Dallas, Texas; CFD Research Corp., Huntsville, Alabama; Corvid Technologies LLC, Mooresville, North Carolina; Shield AI Inc., San Diego, California; Systems & Technology Research LLC, Woburn, Massachusetts; Strategic Technical Services LLC, Carmel, Indiana; Textron Systems Corporation, Hunt Valley, Maryland; Cyberspace Solutions LLC, Herndon, Virginia; Episys Science Inc., Poway, California; Opto-Knowledge Systems Inc., Torrance, California; Riverside Research Institute, New York, New York; Defense Warriors Government Solutions LLC, Portsmouth, Virginia; Systima Technologies Inc., Mukileto, Washington; The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts; Simmonds Precision Products, a part of Collins Aerospace, Vergennes, Vermont; and Accurate Machine & Tool Corp., Madison, Alabama, for work within the Eglin Air Force Base Armament Mission. This contract provides for work in digital engineering and model based systems engineering, agile processes, open systems architecture, weapons and enterprise analytics for Eglin AFB, Florida, and its mission partners. The location of performance spans across the 55 vendors’ locations receiving award, and work is expected to be completed by Sept. 6, 2032. This award is the result of a competitive source selection for which one solicitation was published and 58 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 3600 (research and development) funds in the amount of $55,000 were obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin AFB, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8656-21-D-A001).
09 Sep 21. The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems, Inc. a $26 m contract for Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) spares for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide Beamforming Networks (BFNs), an integral part of antenna control for the AN/APX-122A IFF Interrogator system, onboard the carrier-capable tactical aircraft. The AN/APX-122A IFF Interrogator system provides positive identification of friendly aircraft, giving E-2D Advanced Hawkeye operators the situational awareness they need to safely complete their missions. These missions include command and control, border security, search and rescue, and missile defense. The AN/APX-122A IFF Interrogator system is produced exclusively for the E-2D, due to the extraordinary requirements for this aircraft. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
08 Sep 21. Collins Aerospace has secured an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) sustainment contract from the US Air Force (USAF) for the service’s U-2 reconnaissance aircraft programme. Under the contract, which has a cumulative value of $493m, Collins will support the USAF’s installed U-2 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors fleet. The company also won a $66.2m task order to provide the first year of support and service for the programme It includes fully negotiated options worth $114.6m for the second and third years of services and support. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
03 Sep 21. Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a maximum $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for production of radio receivers and radio sets to support Army helicopter tactical navigation and landing systems. 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 one-year contract and no option periods. Location of performance is Iowa, with an Aug. 30, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-21-D-0013).
07 Sep 21. Collins secures additional E-2D contract. Collins Aerospace received a contract modification to enhance HITS-A and HITS-M training devices for the E-2D. Collins Aerospace has continued to add to its Hawkeye Integrated Training System (HITS) business with a $17.62m contract to upgrade training systems for aircrew and maintenance crew. Awarded by the Orlando, Florida-based US Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWC TSD), the contract covers aircrew systems within the HITS-A programme and maintainers under HITS-M. (Source: Shephard)
08 Sep 21. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P., doing business as L3 Aeromet, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $172,719,699. A single initial task order in the amount of $22,878,503 is being issued. Under this contract, the contractor will provide support for the Airborne Sensors (ABS) program. These efforts will continue operations and sustainment of the High Altitude Observatory (HALO) aircraft and sensor equipment, mission planning and flight test execution, and improvement and modernization efforts. The work will be performed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The ordering period will September 2021 through September 2026. One offeror was solicited and one offer was received. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,000,000 are being obligated on this award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0855-21-D-0001).
07 Sep 21. Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $13,000,000 modification (P00040) to contract W58RGZ-20-C-0024 for system operations and sustainment services for the Saturn Arch Aerial Intelligence Systems Quick Reaction Capability Program. Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia; and Bridgewater, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of March 16, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $13,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
07 Sep 21. The US Space Force (USSF) has awarded a $476m ten-year prime contract to ManTech to provide systems engineering solutions. Services delivered under the contract will support the USSF’s Space and Missile Center, which has been recently redesignated as Space Systems Command (SSC). ManTech continues to offer its support for several critical space launch programmes by providing services such as launch service integration, fleet surveillance and certification for space and missile systems. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
03 Sep 21. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Northrop Grumman Space Systems Sector, Chandler, Arizona, is being awarded a noncompetitive, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, hybrid contract (cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, fixed-price incentive fee, firm-fixed-price and cost) with a maximum ceiling value of $421,600,000, including $233,900,000 for the base period; $112,000,000 for Option Period 1; and $75,700,000 for Option Period 2. This contract is for the procurement of a minimum of six additional Boost Vehicles (BVs); spare BV components; and BV sustainment to include but not limited to repair, upgrade, and maintenance of software and hardware to support the Ground Based Interceptor BVs. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 procurement funds in the amount of $31,436,515 and $150,000,000 respectfully, will be obligated at time of award of Delivery Order 1. Future funding will be determined with each order. The work will be performed in Chandler, Arizona; and Magna, Utah. The ordering period including options is expected to be completed by August 2031. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0856-21-D-0001).
09 Sep 21. The U.S. Air Force has approved an approximately $750,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant to SpiderOak to test its new OrbitSecure™ secure communications protocol on military satellites and ground stations. The outcome will enable government agencies to leverage commercial space assets for federal missions in emerging hybrid space architectures that mix commercial and government satellites. The grant will facilitate SpiderOak’s adaptation of its OrbitSecure commercial technology to new uses that are of importance to those who rely on satellites, including military and intelligence operators. This grant is a successor to a previous Air Force allotment that allowed SpiderOak to begin to demonstrate its OrbitSecure technology to various users in the Defense Department. This is yet another indication of SpiderOak’s commitment to bring zero-trust solutions to space environments and comes on the heels of the company’s addition of aerospace and small-satellite expert Phil Eichensehr to its federal advisory board. In the current phase, SpiderOak will be required to demonstrate security enhancements in ephemeral key creation, key rotation, and key assignment via a “Dynamic Authority” that will create and distribute thousands of unique cryptographic keys to a specific user or satellite time, pass, or action. This innovation will help fulfil a need of the Armed Services for zero-trust software to create secure cryptographic communication channels in an ephemeral manner. (Source: PR Newswire)
TECHNOLOGY
07 Sep 21. DARPA contracts BAE to progress ‘revolutionary’ aircraft design. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has contracted BAE Systems to progress “revolutionary” aircraft design and testing. The award, announced on 7 September, covers the design of a full-scale demonstrator concept with active flow control (AFC) at its core. As noted by the UK-based company, its award forms part of DARPA’s wider Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) project, “which intends to inject active flow control technology early into the aircraft design process to demonstrate significant efficiency benefits, as well as improvements to aircraft cost, weight, performance, and reliability”. While no value for the award was disclosed, BAE Systems said that it will perform the design, integration, and de-risking activities, including wind tunnel testing, at its facilities in the northwest England in 2022. (Source: Jane’s)
09 Sep 21. ECS, a leader in advanced technology, science, and engineering solutions, has been awarded a five-year, $36.7m contract by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Through this firm fixed-priced, prime contract, ECS will support CENTCOM’s Operations Directorate Command and Control Division (CCJ3/C) as they execute military operations critical to regional security and the country’s enduring interests. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
07 Sep 21. Israel Weapon Industries – a member of the SK GROUP (founded by Mr. Samy Katsav), and a worldwide leader in the production of combat-proven small arms for governments, armies, and law enforcement agencies around the world is proud by the additional procurement of the Micro-TAVOR assault rifle by the IDF, to be in service by infantry units. The decision was made as part of the IDF’s complete annual plan, taking under consideration significant parameters such as adaption to the forces’ missions in the modern battlefield, compliance between acting duty forces and reserve and more. Designed for militaries, law Enforcement agencies, and special forces, the Micro-TAVOR (X95) was developed in close cooperation with elite units of the IDF, and was tailored to their specific requirements. Incorporating advanced technology enabling the conversion between calibers within minutes, special ops can use the same weapon platform for a wide array of scenarios, for mission success. With an outstanding effective range of more than 500 meters, the Micro-TAVOR was created to deal with modern terror threats, as well as urban and open area combat – all in one mission. Exceptionally reliable in even the harshest weather conditions, the Micro-TAVOR complies with the most stringent NATO standards for small arms, including environmental standards. Combat-proven by many police and armed forces around the world, it is the standard Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rifle.
08 Sep 21. Silent Sentinel Inc, the US division of British thermal imaging specialists Silent Sentinel (www.silentsentinel.com) has been selected to provide a series of its market-leading Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) thermal imaging platforms to safeguard an 80km stretch of Mexican coastline, spanning a large naval base and various tourist resorts. The Osiris Searcher cameras will each be paired with a Terma maritime surveillance radar, integrated with Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) software from Prodar. In order to guard this stretch of the Mexican Pacific coast against seaborne threats from human traffickers, pirates and cartels, Silent Sentinel will be providing three systems, each comprising of an Osiris Pan-Tilt Unit (PTU) fitted with a 550mm cooled MWIR thermal lens and a 30x zoom HD visible camera. The Osiris Searcher will provide identification of small watercraft at a range of up to 10km and detection up to 40km. Each Osiris camera platform will operate in tandem with a coastal security radar provided by Terma and integrated by Prodar, utilising Prodar’s P-Shield VTS software to provide protection for one of the largest Mexican naval ports on the Pacific coast. The Osiris Searcher is a high-specification mid-to-long range Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) camera capable of supporting multi-sensor technologies, with 360° continuous rotation, pan-tilt speeds of up to 100° per second and accuracy levels of 0.002°. Such high levels of accuracy are of paramount importance when detecting the shallow-draught vessels favoured by criminals and traffickers at long distances. Like all Silent Sentinel platforms, the Osiris Searcher is contained within a hard anodised IP67-rated ruggedised housing, built to marine specifications and designed to resist saltwater corrosion. The Osiris is also capable of operating within a temperature range of -30°C to 65°C. This contract reinforces Silent Sentinel’s position as a global leader in Electro-Optical maritime threat detection, with products that are designed to be easily integrated into a wider software-based solution. The technical partnership with Prodar is indicative of Silent Sentinel’s ambition to provide best-in-class thermal imaging systems that form part of a versatile maritime threat detection array. On top of Silent Sentinel’s recent successes in providing maritime surveillance to naval bases along the East Coast of the US, this order constitutes a significant expansion of the business as a whole, following the recent establishment of Silent Sentinel Inc. in St Petersburg, Florida last year. The successful completion of this order proves Silent Sentinel Inc’s value as a key player in the North American thermal imaging market.
SEA
08 Sep 21. Serco Asia Pacific secures new RAN services contract. The company is set to continue delivering in-port services on behalf of the Royal Australian Navy after securing a new long-term deal. Serco Asia Pacific has confirmed its receipt of a $120 m contract to deliver essential marine support services in naval and non-naval ports across Australia under the Defence Marine Support Services (DMSS) Program Service Package 1. The initial six-year contract, scheduled to commence on 1 October, also involves crewing, maintenance and upkeep of asset bases. Specifically, the work includes general harbour services, security patrols, personnel and stores transfers, Bunker Barge Operation, maintenance support services and training. The new contract contains provisions for two further five-year extensions, which could take the total length of the deal to 16 years. (Source: Defence Connect)
08 Sep 21. Ultra (Australia) has entered into agreement for the 5th year of in-service support for the Australian Hobart Class guided-missile destroyer (DDG) ships together with Raytheon Australia. This contract ensures that the Integrated Sonar System installed on the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) DDGs, which is comprised of a Hull Mounted Sonar and a Towed Variable Depth Sonar joined by an integrated sonar processing suite to provide an advanced multi-sensor sonar capability, continues to support the operational requirements of the RAN.
AIR
08 Sep 21. India to procure 56 transport aircraft from Airbus Defence. The Indian government on Wednesday approved the procurement of 56 transport aircraft from the Airbus Defence and Space S.A of which 16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition from Spain, while the remaining 40 will be manufactured in India. These 56 C-295MW transport aircraft of Airbus will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from Airbus Defence for the Indian Air Force. The C-295MW aircraft is a transport aircraft of five to 10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology. The aircraft has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo. Sixteen aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition from Spain within 48 months of signing of the contract, and 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India by the TATA Consortium within 10 years of signing of the contract. (Source: News Now/https://www.thestatesman.com/)
06 Sep 21. AMSL wins CRC-P grant to develop Vertiia powertrain for high speed eVTOL. Sydney-based AMSL Aero Pty Limited has won a $3m Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) grant from the Department of Industry, Science, Education and Resources (DISER) to continue its development of the Vertiia eVTOL aircraft. This will provide rapid response air ambulance and low cost passenger transport for regional and remote Australia. The $8.05m project to which the MMI grant will contribute is designed to enable the optimisation and development of a quiet, efficient and lightweight propulsion system tailored for Vertiia. The project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2023. Off the shelf motors, prop-rotors and power electronics have significant room for improvement in eVTOL applications, with several emerging technologies that will greatly increase range, and reduce noise and cost. Optimising these components will increase Vertiia’s potential to operate in noise sensitive areas and enable the delivery of the lowest cost transport as an air ambulance or air taxi. (Source: Rumour Control)
06 Sep 21. Indian Army orders locally produced loitering munitions. The Indian Army (IA) has signed two contracts worth a combined INR2bn (USD27.4m) to acquire a total of 200 locally produced loitering munitions to meet urgent operational requirements. The first contract, worth INR1bn, was awarded on 31 August to a joint venture (JV) between local company Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL) and Israel’s Elbit Systems for the supply of 100 SkyStriker light munition systems. Elbit Systems’ SkyStriker is a precision-guided loitering munition designed to seek, locate, and acquire operator-marked targets and targets of opportunity in tactical-level engagements. According to the company, the SkyStriker can cover a distance of 20km within 10 minutes. Upon reaching the target area, it can loiter and pursue the target for up to 2 hours when fitted with a 5 km warhead and for up to one hour with a 10 kg warhead. The system uses autonomous navigation for its cruising and loitering phases. When preparing to strike, it applies its electro-optical ‘lock’ on the target. The munition can be deployed as a standalone system or as part of a ‘drone swarm’. The SkyStriker’s operator can also initiate a ‘strike abort’ function up to two seconds before impact, re-engage or, if target engagement is not authorised, direct the loitering munition to safe recovery. The munition is retrieved via a parachute/airbed function. The second contract, also worth INR1bn, was awarded to Bangalore-based NewSpace Research and Technologies on 3 September for 100 locally developed ‘swarm drone units’ capable of also seeking, tracking, and striking enemy targets with a 5 kg or 10 kg warhead in tactical-level engagements. (Source: Jane’s)
07 Sep 21. Russian defense contractor Kronstadt announced that it has signed contracts for the sale of drones to unspecified foreign countries. The first deliveries are expected by 2022. Kronstadt was granted a credit line of 3bn Russian rubles ($41.2bn) by state-owned bank Promsvyazbank that it will use to produce the new unmanned aerial vehicles. Production will take place at the company’s new plant in Dubna, near Moscow. Although no specific details regarding foreign sales have yet been revealed, General Director of Kronstadt Sergei Bogatikov described the technical specifications of the company’s latest drones. The UAVs “are made according to a modular scheme with an open architecture and can, at the request of customers, change the composition of equipment, payload, and ground components, depending on the conditions of use and tasks,” he said. Bogatikov also revealed that the drone components have already been ordered from contract suppliers for the first batch of export units, and will be brought to the processing facility by November of this year. (Source: UAS VISION/The Defense Post)
07 Sep 21. Jetpack announced its very first jetpack sales: two JB-12 units, which sold for US$400,000 apiece to an “undisclosed military customer in South-East Asia,” deliverable within about six months. JB-11, uses three small Jetcat turbines per side. Mayman told us in 2019 that this time, the jets are configured in a triangle, rather than a line. It’s triply redundant, from the new flight computers to the jet engines, giving pilots an excellent chance of surviving a failure in one or two systems. And yes, flight computers; the JB-12 is likely getting considerably smarter and more idiot-proof than JPA’s previous jetpacks, which have very much been manual affairs. The JB-12 will weigh 105 lb (48 kg), so it’s by no means a small thing to wear on your back. It’ll max out at 528 lb (2.34 kN) of thrust, and it’ll be capable of speeds up to 120 mph (193 km/) for soldiers with the cojones to push it. (Source: News Now/https://newatlas.com/)
03 Sep 21. Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is awarded a not-to-exceed $208,113,847 undefinitized, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00029) to a previously awarded contract (N0001919C0013). This modification adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering for Phase II design and development of unique hardware and software for the government of India in support of the MH-60R development program. Work will be performed in Owego, New York (81%); and Stratford, Connecticut (19%), and is expected to be completed in September 2027. Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $47,100,000 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.
09 Sep 21. Indonesia has quietly signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, multiple sources have told Defense News. Photos taken during the Indonesian Air Force chief’s visit to the aircraft’s production line suggests construction on the first aircraft is underway. The government and industry sources told Defense News that Indonesia will acquire five C-130Js under a Direct Commercial Sales contract. They added that the contract was signed in late 2019, although neither party formally announced the order. (Source: Defense News)