UNITED KINGDOM
24 Sep 21. Digitising UK Land Tactical ISTAR. The Ministry of Defence is embracing far-reaching benefits of digitisation for its Land ISTAR programme, to transform how the British Army operates, integrates and sustains a persistent and decisive global presence. A contract worth £6.7m has been awarded to Roke, the delivery partner for ZODIAC, which will act as the central nervous system for Land ISTAR. It marks the start of an Alpha development phase to de-risk the delivery of the Land ISTAR programme
SEA
21 Sep 21. The Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Mitchell Field, New York, is awarded a $7,924,721 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00030) to a previously awarded and announced contract (N00030-20-C-0045) for the U.S. and United Kingdom to provide strategic weapon system Trident fleet support, Trident II Strategic Systems Programs shipboard Integration (SSI) Increment 8, SSI Increment 16, Columbia-class and U.K. Dreadnaught-class navigation subsystem development efforts. Work will be performed in Mitchel Field, New York (47%); Huntington Beach, California (36%); Clearwater, Florida (9%); Cambridge, Massachusetts (6%); and Hingham, Massachusetts (2%), with an expected completion date of Nov. 30, 2023. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,924,721 will be obligated. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and (4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
EUROPE
LAND
21 Sep 21. Bundeswehr awards Rheinmetall contract to modernize Fuchs/Fox armoured NBC reconnaissance vehicle – new highly protected A8A7 configuration. Rheinmetall has been awarded a Bundeswehr contract to modernize the tried-and-tested Fuchs/Fox armoured NBC reconnaissance vehicle. A total of five A6A1 versions of the vehicle will be upgraded to the new highly protected A8A7 configuration. The Bundeswehr will thus have at its disposal an NBC reconnaissance and analysis capability that is a match for modern operational threats. Work begins in September 2021 and is expected to be complete by July 2024. The first vehicles are due to be transferred to the German military starting in 2023. The order has special significance for Rheinmetall’s Kassel plant for two reasons. It strengthens the Group’s centre of excellence for NBC systems technology, and thus safeguards valuable jobs in the north Hessian metropolis, which also happens to be the birthplace of the battle-tested 6×6 fighting vehicle. Potentially, the order could also lead to the Bundeswehr’s remaining 22 Fuchs/Fox armoured NBC reconnaissance vehicles being upgraded to the new A8A7 configuration, as well as proposals to modernize systems operated by international customers.
AIR
21 Sep 21. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has signed three contracts with ArianeGroup to deliver technology to Europe’s new Ariane 6 launcher, managed and funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). KONGSBERG will deliver the forward booster attachment and release mechanism (UPPA), the Optical Safety Barrier (OSB) and the Level Conditioner for the next-generation launcher. The contract is a 30 year frame agreement with a total value of up to €200m. (Source: https://www.marketscreener.com/)
21 Sep 21. Thales to provide SEARCHMASTER radar for French Navy aircraft. The French Navy is procuring 12 Falcon 2000LXS aircraft from Dassault Aviation under the AVSIMAR programme. Thales has secured a contract to provide its SEARCHMASTER surveillance radar and the mission navigation system for the Albatros Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Aircraft (AVSIMAR) programme. The contract has been awarded by Dassault Aviation and the programme aims to renew the French Navy’s fleet of maritime surveillance aircraft. The French Navy is procuring 12 Falcon 2000LXS aircraft from Dassault Aviation under the AVSIMAR programme to replace eight Falcon 50M and five Falcon 200 Gardian aircraft. (Source: naval-technology.com)
USA
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24 Sep 21. Avon Protection, the maker of personal safety equipment for emergency services and the armed forces, said the US Defense Logistics Agency has exercised a one-year extension option on a body armour contract that has a minimum order value of $19m. (Source: FT.com)
23 Sep 21. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT, TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems” or “the Company”) announced today, further to the Company’s announcement of October 22, 2020, that its U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America LLC, (“Elbit Systems of America”), was awarded a second production order in the amount of approximately $54m to supply Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular (“ENVG-B”) systems, provide spare parts, logistics support and test equipment for the U.S. Army. The order will be executed in Roanoke, Virginia and will be supplied through February 2023. This order is part of an Other Transaction Authority (“OTA”) contract that could reach a maximum amount of approximately $442m.
23 Sep 21. Galvion Ballistics,* Newport, Vermont, has been awarded an estimated $36,500,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for advanced combat helmets. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a two-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Vermont, with a Sept. 24, 2023, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-21-D-1498).
21 Sep 21. General Lattice Secures contract with the U.S. Army to Improve Energy Absorption of Next Generation Combat Helmet with 3D Printing. General Lattice, Inc., is developing a predictive modeling toolset to design and generate lattice materials based on real-world data, which will improve impact absorption technology for the U.S. Army Combat Helmet. The yearlong research and development project is currently underway at General Lattice’s facility in Chicago, Illinois(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 Sep 21. U.S. Navy Selects Kongsberg to Help Develop Autonomous Target Recognition for USMC Weapon Systems. The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace have signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to demonstrate a weapon system with autonomous target identification, recognition and engagement. NSWCDD develops the Automated Remote Engagement System (ARES) that increases the efficiency of remote weapon systems and remote turrets which will be integrated onto Kongsberg Remote Weapon Stations to evaluate technology performance at a system level and support the demonstration of a weapon system for autonomous target identification, recognition, and engagement. The common goal is to demonstrate this performance on Kongsberg’s latest weapon systems that will be fielded in the U.S Navy such as the Tech Refresh Common Remote Operation Weapon System (CROWS), the RT20 turret on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS). Kongsberg’s selection for the CRADA follows on the heels of several other Marine Corps programs started in the last two years. In addition to the fielding of CROWS on ACV and the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV), Kongsberg’s RS6 30x113mm RWS was selected for the MADIS program, its RT20 30x173mm turret was selected as the ACV medium caliber weapon system, and various Kongsberg RWS are the weapon systems on the prototypes selected for the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV). For the CRADA, Kongsberg is leveraging work it has already done as the remote lethality architecture provider for the U.S. Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. Kongsberg brings more than twenty years of remote-control weapon technology of different sizes, complexity and payloads and is an ideal partner for this co-development effort with NSWCDD. While continuing to perfect its systems, Kongsberg has developed a fire control system that can be wireless operated and controlled by a robotic operator. This independently funded fire control system for RWS and medium caliber turrets is capable of interacting with ARES and will be demonstrated through this CRADA.
22 Sep 21. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $10,513,166 modification (P00162) to contract W56HZV-20-C-0050 for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Family of Vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2019 and 2021 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $10,513,166 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
22 Sep 21. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $16,708,584 firm-fixed-price contract for M1120A4 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTTs), M977A4 HEMTTs, M978A4 HEMTTs, 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, 2022. Fiscal 2019 Foreign Military Sales (Iraq, Lebanon and Malaysia) funds in the amount of $16,708,584 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-21-F-0404).
SEA
21 Sep 21. Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) today announced that it has been awarded contracts valued at approximately $100m to provide pumps for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarine, Columbia-class submarine and Ford-class aircraft carrier programs. The awards were received from Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) to support ship construction. Curtiss-Wright is performing this work at its Cheswick, Pennsylvania facility within the Company’s Naval & Power Segment. The receipt of these new awards builds upon previously awarded contracts to provide propulsion valves, pumps and advanced instrumentation and control systems, valued in excess of $130m, received in the second quarter of 2021.
AIR
20 Sep 21. AAR (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs and OEMs, was awarded a firm, fixed price contract by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for the conversion and delivery of a B737-700 aircraft modified into a “FlexCombi” configuration. With this acquisition, the NNSA will increase its fleet size to support mission critical activities to maintain the safety, security and effectiveness of the United States’ nuclear deterrent capacity. The FlexCombi configuration gives the NNSA the ability to quickly configure the aircraft between passenger and/or cargo modes, serving ever-evolving mission requirements. Work will commence immediately and be completed within twelve months.
22 Sep 21. Collins Aerospace has been selected to deliver NP2000 propeller systems for an additional 26 C-130H aircraft for the U.S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. The Air Force plans to retrofit approximately 140 C-130H with NP2000 and has now ordered NP2000 upgrades for 83 C-130H aircraft. Collins has installed the system on 16 Air Force C-130H to date, including aircraft for the Georgia, Nevada and Wyoming Air National Guard units. (Source: ASD Network)
21 Sep 21. Collins Aerospace has been selected by the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin to provide boltless wheels and carbon brakes for 60 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in production for the U.S. Air Force. Collins’ equipment replaces the platform‘s legacy steel brakes, helping the Air Force reduce maintenance time and costs, while increasing aircraft availability. Collins will manufacture the new C-130J wheels and brakes at its facility here, which has been named an Elite Supplier by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for five consecutive years. Elite Suppliers are recognized for averaging 99% on-time deliveries and zero quality defects throughout the year and represent the top 1% of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics suppliers. Collins’ Troy facility supplies wheels and carbon brakes for several Lockheed Martin platforms, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, U-2 Dragon Lady and LM-100J, the commercial freighter derivative of the C-130J military airlifter. (Source: ASD Network)
22 Sep 21. EFW Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $75,984,294 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System spares that support the AH-64 Apache helicopter. 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. Locations of performance are Texas and Israel, with a Sept. 21, 2026, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-21-D-0044).
23 Sep 21. L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, was awarded a $35,409,911 modification (P00005) to contract W58RGZ-21-F-0144 for the Manned Unmanned Teaming hardware and technical/engineering support for the Apache attack helicopter. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 23, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
20 Sep 21. Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced it received two awards from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) through the Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP) to conduct research that will examine the use and implementation of 5G networks on the battlespace. These awards are part of the DoD $600m 5G research initiative announced last year, to explore how 5G technology can strengthen warfighting capabilities.
TECHNOLOGY
21 Sep 21. CTI announces it has been awarded a $188m GSA FEDSIM SBIR Phase III contract: “Multi-Domain Analysis, Evaluation, and Software for Tactical and Remote Operations (MAESTRO).” MAESTRO is a multi-sponsor, combined effort for engineering services and software development to integrate SBIR technologies into existing manned and unmanned vehicles and cloud solutions, leveraging CTI’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) developed technology. CTI has developed a range of technologies in the SBIR program, including enhanced and advanced air, ground, and sea mission awareness and control; analysis of “Big Data” from tactical and operational environments for discerning patterns of life, opportunities for exploitation, and awareness of own force vulnerabilities; visualization, understanding, and response to denied and degraded navigation and timing environments; enhanced planning, analysis, and review of manned and unmanned platform missions; and advanced software architectures and approaches for dynamic, flexible, secure applications from the edge of the battlefield to the operations center to the global cloud. The contract provides for a five-year period of performance. (Source: PR Newswire)
23 Sep 21. The Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp., Atlanta, Georgia, is being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $121,000,000. Under this follow-on contract, the contractor will provide research, development, and engineering work related to sensors, weapons, and communication systems for ground and airborne-based missile defense platforms, investigation of new missile defense systems, and participation in future Department of Defense technology initiatives. Two task orders are being issued at this time in the amount of $9,377,126.00. The work will be performed in Atlanta, Georgia; and Huntsville, Alabama. The ordering period is Sept. 29, 2021, through Sep. 28, 2026 for this noncompetitive, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. Fiscal 2021 funds in the amount of $938,962 are being obligated on this award via the two task orders. The Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0854-21-D-0002).
22 Sep 21. Office of Naval Research Gives Ideal Aerosmith $17m Research Contract. Senator John Hoeven announced that the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded a $17m contract to Ideal Aerosmith in Grand Forks. Under the contract, Ideal Aerosmith will develop an Expeditionary Mission Support Station, which:
- Includes a mission planning suite for special operations as well as a ground station for controlling multiple unmanned aircraft and sensor systems.
- Enables mission planners to access classified and non-classified information in one place, including data from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, like those flown out of the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
- Allows ISR and other sensor data to be more readily available for re-planning of a mission based on changing weather conditions or new threats that are encountered.
- This improves the effectiveness of ISR operations and makes special operations planning faster, easier and more flexible.
- (Source: UAS VISION)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
20 Sep 21. Saudi Arabia – Continuation of Maintenance Support Services (MSS). The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Continuation of Maintenance Support Services (MSS) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $500m. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy the continuation of the Maintenance Support Services (MSS) contract that supports the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command’s (RSLFAC) fleet of AH-64D/E, UH-60L, UH-60M, Schweizer 333, and Bell 406CS helicopters, as well as the future fleet of CH-47F Chinook helicopters. The MSS contract services include management and installation of engineering change proposals and modification work orders; Repair and Return (R&R) management services and component repairs; aircraft simulator logistics, maintenance and technical support; training; maintenance management support for the RSLFAC headquarters staff; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total value is $500m. This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic growth in the Middle East. The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by the continuation of MSS services that will aid in the maintenance support of Saudi Arabia’s rotary wing aircraft fleet, engines, avionics, weapons, and missile components. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The vendor is unknown at this time. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the vendor. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of two (2) U.S. Government and three hundred fifty (350) U.S. contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia for a duration of two (2) years. (Source: ASD Network)
20 Sep 21. Cymat Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: CYM) (“Company” or “Cymat”) announced the receipt of an order for two underbelly blast protection kits from an Asian military vehicle manufacturer. These kits will be used to complete final product testing by the vehicle manufacturer’s customer. Cymat has been working for several years with this Asian military vehicle manufacturer on the design and development of a retrofit underbelly blast protection kit for the manufacturer’s existing family of troop–carrying vehicles. These long-serving vehicles are used by numerous major military organizations around the globe. The principal purpose of these kits is to protect vehicle occupants from the fatal effects of Improvised Explosive Devices (“IEDs”), or powerful land mines, by absorbing the blast energy generated by the detonation of these devices. Cymat’s SmartMetalTM stabilized aluminum foam (SAF) has proven to be particularly effective at absorbing and reducing the energy of the compressed air wave that precedes these explosions. In addition, SmartMetal’sTM exceedingly light weight means that the kits add only minimal weight to the vehicles – a critical requirment. (Source: PR Newswire)
16 Sep 21. Saab has received orders for the recoilless rifle Carl-Gustaf M4 with included ammunition. The combined order value is approximately 900m SEK and deliveries will take place in 2022. The industry’s nature is such that depending on circumstances concerning the product and customer, further information regarding the customer will not be announced. (Source: www.joint-forcescom)
AIR
20 Sep 21. Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, is awarded a $140,370,582 fixed-price-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price modification (P00009) to a previously awarded contract (N0001920C0001). This modification adds scope to procure 36 AN/APG-79(V)4 radar systems in support of radar integration into the C/F-18A aircraft for the government of Canada. Additionally, this modification provides supplies and support to include software, obsolescence management, engineering support and associated technical, financial, and administrative data in support of AN/APG-79(V)4 radar integration effort. Work will be performed in Forest, Mississippi (41.1%); El Segundo, California (32.6%); Andover, Massachusetts (18.3%); and Dallas, Texas (8%), and is expected to be completed in March 2024. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $140,370,582 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.