EUROPE
AIR
23 Nov 21. Slovenia signs for C-27J Spartan. Slovenian Defence Minister Matej Tonin and his Italian counterpart, Lorenzo Guerini, signed a government-to-government agreement in Rome on 17 November for a C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft for the Slovenian Armed Forces, the Slovenian government announced on its website the next day. Worth EUR72m (more than USD81m), the agreement covers the acquisition of a C-27J baseline configuration aircraft with ballistic protection for EUR48m, plus EUR11m for modules for cargo; transporting passengers, infected persons, and slightly and seriously injured persons with vital signs monitoring; in addition to a firefighting module. The remaining EUR13m is for a logistical support package, spare parts, crew training (including with simulators), technical documentation, and final certification. The purchase of a tactical transport aircraft is envisaged in the Resolution on the General Long-Term Development and Equipping Programme of the Slovenian Armed Forces until 2025 and the Medium-Term Defence Programme for 2018–23. Scheduled for delivery in mid-2023, the C-27J is funded by the 2021 and 2022 Slovenian defence budgets. (Source: Janes)
25 Nov 21. Croatia signs purchase of French jets during Macron visit. Croatia on Thursday signed a deal to buy 12 Rafale fighter jets from France worth nearly 1bn euros ($1.2bn) that officials said will considerably strengthen its air force amid lingering tensions in the Balkans. The contract for the used combat aircraft was signed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Croatia. It was the first visit by France’s head of state to Croatia since it split from the former Yugoslav federation in the 1991-95 war. (Source: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/)
14 Nov 21. GomSpace Contracted By Politecnico di Milano To Support H.E.R.M.E.S. Mission. GomSpace has signed a contract with Politecnico di Milano that includes a large quantity of GomSpace space qualified products for the H.E.R.M.E.S. mission with a value of 5.8 MSEK. The contract deliveries will take place in 2021/2022 and GomSpace will support the technology activities of the university with products and knowledge. The main goal of the High Energy Rapid Modular Ensemble of Satellites (H.E.R.M.E.S.) mission is the accurate and prompt localization of bright hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray transients, such as Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), with a distribution of sensors on a 6 cubesat constellation. The concept is based on miniaturized, innovative high energy emission detectors developed by Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) and hosted by a constellation of 6 smallsats to be launched into LEO, designed and implemented at the Politecnico di Milano labs. The H.E.R.M.E.S. program is carried out via a collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and INAF, together with many other national and international entities active in the Space sector, and is financed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. (Source: Satnews)
25 Nov 21. Israel Aerospace Industries has received a $350$m Special Mission Aircraft related contract from a major European country. The Contract will be executed by IAI’s ELTA Systems, a global leader in the Special Mission Aircraft domain. (Source: News Now/
AMR)
USA
LAND
24 Nov 21. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $591,605,517 modification (P00191) to contract W56HZV-20-C-0050 for 1,669 Joint Light Tactical Vehicle trucks, 868 JLTV trailers and associated kits and parts. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2020 and 2022 other procurement, Army funds; fiscal 2022 other procurement, Marine Corps funds; fiscal 2022 other procurement, Air Force funds; fiscal 2022 other procurement, Navy funds; and fiscal 2022 Foreign Military Sales (Slovenia, Montenegro, Brazil and Lithuania) funds in the amount of 591,605,517 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
23 Nov 21. Raven Aerostar wins DoD contract to display stratospheric balloon utilities. The DIU will assess the feasibility of using Raven Aerostar’s stratospheric technology for live military field operations. An electronics and engineering team from Raven Aerostar launches a high-altitude balloon to sense a simulated target in the Norwegian Sea during an exercise earlier this year. Credit: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS). Raven Industries subsidiary Aerostar Technical Solutions (Raven Aerostar) has received a contract to demonstrate the utility of stratospheric balloons for different US Department of Defense (DoD) operational requirements. The contract was awarded by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), a DoD unit that focuses on organising commercial technology for the US military. As agreed, Raven Aerostar will conduct several service-driven prototyping and field utility demonstrations to display the capabilities of the stratospheric balloons. It will start by integrating the prototype communication nodes onto Raven Aerostar’s Thunderhead Balloon Systems. The Thunderhead Balloon Systems are able to carry sensors, payloads and other technologies, allowing for data collection during the stratospheric flight. This capability will help the DoD to analyse data and improve situational awareness that will benefit the warfighter on the battlefield. (Source: army-technology.com)
23 Nov 21. XL Fleet Corp. (NYSE: XL) (“XL Fleet” or the “Company”), a leader in vehicle electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, today announced it was awarded a contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and The U.S. Army’s Project Manager Transportation Systems (PM TS) to prototype a fuel-saving technology for military vehicles. After earning the opportunity through a highly competitive bidding process, XL Fleet is one of two companies awarded a contract to develop a pilot technology project over the course of the next year. This technology has the potential to be applied to tens of thousands of existing vehicles across a wide range of military applications. The pilot program began on October 1, 2021, and will run for 13 months. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
SEA
24 Nov 21. Austal USA has secured a contract to maintain the US Navy’s littoral combat ships (LCS) deployed to the Western Pacific. The maintenance award is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for the repair and maintenance of several Independence-class LCSs. It involves performing emergent repair and continuous maintenance on LCSs deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, as well as the countries and ports within the region. The $72.5m (approximately A$100.4m) contract value could increase to $215.9m (nearly A$298.9m) if all options are exercised by the US Navy. It includes a one 24-month base period and three additional one-year option periods. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
24 Nov 21. The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $212,629,000 cost-plus fixed fee and firm-fixed-price modification to an existing delivery order contract (H92241-20-F-0020) to procure six MH47-G renew rotary wing aircraft and eight spare shipsets in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. Fiscal 2021 procurement; and aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $212,629,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The majority of the work will be performed in Ridley Park. This delivery order modification is a noncompetitive award and is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity.
24 Nov 21. GE Awarded 2 Contracts Supporting T700 Engine Fleets Across US Military. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) awarded GE two contracts in September totaling more than $1bn to support T700 turboshaft engine fleets across the U.S. military. GE will provide field-level consumables and services through a five-year, $284m contract with DLA Aviation in Richmond, Virginia., and depot-level repairables and module section components through a five-year, $722m contract with DLA Aviation in Huntsville, Alabama. GE facilities in Lynn, Massachusetts, and Evendale, Ohio, will produce the majority of parts associated with these contracts. These T700 contracts are replacing the current Technical, Engineering, Logistics Supplies and Services (TELSS) contract which supports the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) located in Corpus Christi, Texas. These contracts will expand GE’s responsibility from depot only to fleet-level support. (Source: ASD Network)
22 Nov 21. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a contract by the United States Air Force to provide dynamic inflight rerouting for RQ-4B Global Hawk. The software update, known as Dynamic Mission Operations (DYNAMO), will enhance Global Hawk’s ability to provide critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data to geographic combatant commanders. The DYNAMO flexible mission planning capability enables in-flight rerouting of Global Hawk, allowing operators to respond to changing real world conditions, whether natural or manmade, during a mission. The upgrade is on track to be fielded in 2023. Today, Global Hawk is the premier autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance ISR platform for the U.S. Air Force and global partners. No other system provides a better combination of range, endurance and payload capacity. To meet future operational needs, Global Hawk is capable of delivering data beyond its traditional strategic ISR mission by providing persistent communications relay and secure processing without putting personnel in harm’s way. Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 90,000 employees define possible every day.
TECHNOLOGY
23 Nov 21. BAE Systems has been chosen to serve as a prime contractor on Lot 1 of the US Army’s $2.4bn National Cyber Range (NCR) Complex Event Planning, Operations, and Support hybrid contract. Under the ten-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) multiple-award contract, BAE will compete for orders in systems testing, cybersecurity integration, range support services, and workforce training. (Source: army-technology.com)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
23 Nov 21. Morocco Buys Israel’s Skylock Dome System. Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces have purchased Israel’s Skylock Dome System to strengthen FAR’s defensive and territory control capabilities and preserve the country’s national and strategic stability. Designed and developed by the Israeli company Skylock Systems, a subsidiary of the Avnon Group, Skylock Dome detects, verifies, and neutralizes unauthorized drones. Morocco acquired five anti-drone defense systems from the Israeli company, the Royal Armed Forces announced in a Facebook post. (Source: UAS VISION/Morocco World News)
25 Nov 21. Australia has awarded a $19.7m contract to Supashock for the delivery of 36 locally produced specialist automatic load handling systems for integration with the Army’s fleet of protected HX77 medium heavy vehicles. The handling systems, developed by Supashock in partnership with Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia, are designed to enable vehicle operators to load and unload shipping containers and NATO standard flat racks without leaving the safety of the vehicle’s protected cabin. This is expected to involve the delivery of major maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work and spiral upgrades, including developing digital sustainment capability at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The work is to be delivered over the life of the P-8A Poseidon fleet, tipped to provide new opportunities for the local supply chain, while also upskilling the broader defence and aerospace industry. (Source: Defence Connect)
AIR
24 Nov 21. Boeing Australia wins contract to maintain RAAF P-8A Poseidon fleet The contract will see the creation of an additional 37 jobs at the company. Boeing Australia has been awarded a $43.4m (A$60m) contract to provide maintenance services for the P-8A Poseidon fleet at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Edinburgh. The aircraft serves as a key part of Australia’s future maritime patrol and response strategy. The RAAF took delivery of its first P-8A aircraft in 2016 and all 12 aircraft were delivered by 2019. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
19 Nov 21. The Indian Government has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the supply of two Fixed Base Full Mission Simulators (FBFMS). The simulators are being procured for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Jaguar aircraft. The government signed a five-year comprehensive annual maintenance contract (CAMC) at a combined cost of $50.4m (Rs3.75bn). (Source: airforce-technology.com)
19 Nov 21. Rohde & Schwarz has successfully delivered communications equipment for mobile air traffic control (ATC) towers to a customer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Having already supplied an UAE customer with radios in the past, Rohde & Schwarz has been chosen again, as the company provided the best solution for the customer. Each mobile ATC tower consists of a cabin equipped with consoles, all installed on a lifting system fixed on a trailer that is fitted to be transportable by a C17 transport aircraft. Each cabin has been designed to accommodate three controller working positions, equipped with R&S Series4200 software defined radios, CERTIUM VCS voice communications system, CERTIUM Management and CERTIUM Gateways. (Source: Joint Forces)