UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
07 Feb 22. Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) awards £90m subcontract to Thales UK for state-of-the-art sighting systems on Challenger 3. A £90m subcontract has been awarded to Thales UK, based in Scotland, to deliver next generation sights for the British Army’s upgraded Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank (MBT). The contract was signed by RBSL and Thales, with the Secretary of State for Scotland in attendance, at Thales’s site in Glasgow where the majority of the integration work will take place. The contract will protect key manufacturing skills in the UK and sustain 700 skilled engineers and technicians based in Glasgow, including 30 apprentices currently receiving training. The contract will provide sights (panoramic and fixed azimuth weapon aiming sights) for both the vehicle commander and gunner. Thales will also provide a Signal Processing System (SPS), which will deliver state of the art video tracking and Wide Area Search and Detection (WASAD) capability. The sights will act as the eyes of the crew, enabling them to view the battlefield in high definition in all conditions, night and day. The system will increase the range and the detail available to the crew, as well as provide accurate target identification, tracking, digital imagery and firing ranges. The sights will be tailored to meet Challenger 3 specifications and form an integral part of the wider £800m upgrade programme, as announced by RBSL and the UK MOD in May 2021. The Challenger 3 programme will make significant enhancements to the vehicle and provide the British Army with a world-class capability, made in the UK.
SEA
01 Feb 22. Atlas Elektronik UK contracted to deliver additional ARCIMS USV to RN. Atlas Elektronik UK is to supply an additional ARCIMS mine countermeasures (MCM) unmanned surface vehicle (USV) to the UK Royal Navy (RN), bringing the number of ARCIMS platforms ordered by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to five. In a 31 January announcement, the company said it had been contracted by the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) team to deliver the additional system – to be named RNMB Hydra. ARCIMS is a modular 11m USV that can integrate different MCM payloads. Four systems –RNMBs Hussar, Halcyon, Harrier, and Hazard – have previously been delivered by Atlas Elektronik UK to support the MHC Sweep and Project Wilton programmes. Hydra is planned for delivery to the RN in late 2022 and is scheduled for deployment for operational evaluation early 2023. (Source: Janes)
28 Jan 22. L3 Harris Technologies Inc., L-3 Telemetry and Radio Frequency Products, San Diego, California, is awarded a $15,304,080 firm-fixed-price modification (P00002) to a previously awarded contract (N0001921C0064). This modification exercises an option for the production and delivery of 255 modernized radios, to include 228 for the Navy and 27 for the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed in November 2023. Fiscal 2022 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,963,456; fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $720,192; and Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $1,620,432 will be obligated at the 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
AIR
31 Jan 22. New funding to support sustainable future of space. Government announces new funding for space sustainability projects. The UK Space Agency is providing £1.7m for new projects to support sustainable space operations, Science Minister George Freeman announced today. The 13 new projects will help track and remove dangerous debris in space. They include an AI-based tool which can take autonomous action to avoid a collision and another which will see multiple small spacecraft fired at debris before taking it into the atmosphere to dispose of it. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
02 Feb 22. UK orders more Airbus helicopters. Five extra H135s are being supplied by Airbus to the UK MoD. Airbus Helicopters UK announced on 2 February that it has won an order to provide five additional H135 twin-engine helicopters for the MoD. The company did not disclose the delivery timeframe or value of the order. The MoD already operates 29 H135s in the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) at RAF Shawbury, where all British Army, RAF and RN rotary-wing pilots are instructed under the Military Flying Training System (MFTS). DHFS additionally operates seven Airbus H145 helicopters. In May 2016, Airbus was selected by Ascent as the aircraft service provider for the MFTS in a 17-year contract worth £500m ($678m). However, Shephard understands that the five new helicopters will not be based at Shawbury for use by the DHFS. (Source: Shephard)
EUROPE
LAND
28 Jan 22. Croatia Armed Forces to acquire 89 Bradley fighting vehicles. The Croatian Government has decided to strengthen its armed forces’ capabilities with the acquisition of 89 Bradley fighting vehicles, from the US. The deal is valued at $196.4m, but Croatia will pay only $145.3m as the remaining $51.1m will be considered a donation by the US. Croatia has been negotiating the procurement of US Bradley M2A2 infantry fighting vehicles since 2017. In addition to the $51.1m donation, the US will donate another $11m to upgrade the vehicles. The US will start delivering the vehicles in 2023 and, by 2026, Croatia will establish a medium infantry brigade. Last year, the US Army placed a new order with DiSTI for M2A3/M2A4 Bradley fighting vehicle (BFV) trainers. (Source: army-technology.com)
02 Feb 22. Plasan Sasa Ltd. (“Plasan”) has signed a contract with TESS DEFENCE S.A., to provide its advanced armour package for the Spanish Army’s VCR Dragon 8×8 wheeled combat vehicle. The contract that was signed by November 2021, covers the first 348 Dragon vehicles. Within the contract scope, Plasan will supply its innovative lightweight and modular RPG protection, branded as Hybrid Slat Fence (HSF), and its unique mine protection solution for under belly and IED side blast with its corresponding energy absorbing mine seats. Deliveries under this contract will start in January 2022 and will continue until 2026. (Source: PR Newswire)
SEA
31 Jan 22. Navantia has won a contract for the future modernisation of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Fridtjof Nansen Class (F-310) frigates. The contract was signed with the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) and extends the partnership between the two parties. As part of the terms of the contract, the company will be responsible for executing technical support and carrying out a Configuration Audit of the ships. The company’s audit work will involve the incorporation of changes performed by NDMA on the frigates after leaving the Spanish shipyard in the design documentation. The contract supports the frigates’ life extension and upgrade. Design and construction on the Fridtjof Nansen Class vessels were conducted by the company.
AIR
01 Feb 22. Airbus and Partners Have Been Awarded 2 Laser-communication Projects Related to HydRON on Behalf of ESA. The past years have seen an unprecedented rise in the volume of data streams that circle the globe. Terrestrial communications infrastructure is quickly expanding worldwide to meet the ever-growing demand. However, terrestrial fibre-based networks depend on intrinsically point-to-point implementation of suitable infrastructure – often involving expensive earthworks and construction – and thus neglecting less populated/developed areas almost completely. Laser based satellite communication has the potential to help bridge this digital gap for a variety of applications such as television broadcasting, internet and phone services, virtual private networks over satellite and the like. One response to this demand is the ESA HydRON (High Throughput Optical Network, SCYLIGHT SL.021) vision: an Optical Transport Network concept, based on the combination of space-based laser communication payloads in combination with extremely high throughput Optical Ground Space and Optical Inter-Satellite Links, complementing the existing terrestrial networks. Airbus Defence and Space and partners Tesat, Fraunhofer HHI, Fraunhofer FOKUS, DLR-IKN, ADVA and COLT recently kicked-off two projects to A) develop a System Simulator Testbed and B) study the implementation of a HydRON Demonstration System. The Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Directorate [TIA] of the European Space. (Source: ASD Network)
02 Feb 22. The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has contracted CAE to deliver initial training services for the German Air Force aviators. The deal will initially have a seven-year performance period of seven years and comes with an extension option of another five years. As part of the contract, CAE will build a new training facility at Germany’s Bremen Airport to train entry-level German Air Force aviators. The local government and Bremen Airport are supporting the establishment of the CAE Bremen Training Centre. During the first year, more than 40 student aviators will be enrolled to receive academic, simulator and live-flying training. The company will employ instructors, aircraft dispatchers, maintenance technicians and support staff to provide training at the facility. In addition, the CAE Bremen Training Centre and a training site in Montpellier, France, will make use of a fleet of Diamond DA-40 and CAE-owned DA-42 aircraft. This fleet will support the requirements of single and multi-engine live-flying training. The Montpellier training site is managed by industry partner Airways Aviation. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
USA
LAND
31 Jan 22. FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina, was awarded a $49,973,579 firm-fixed-price contract for M240L medium machine guns and titanium receivers. 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 Jan. 27, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-22-D-0010).
31 Jan 22. General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), announced today that it has received a $518m task order award from the U.S. Army Communications Electronics Command (CECOM) to provide logistics, sustainment and maintenance services for joint U.S. and coalition forces worldwide within the Army Field Support Brigade (AFSB) regions. The task order was provided under the Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services Multiple Award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract awarded in April 2021 to a General Dynamics joint venture including GDIT, General Dynamics Mission Systems, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced in December that work could start following the dismissal of two contract award protests. The Worldwide Field Support (WFS) task order includes support for current and future C5ISR systems, equipment, and ancillary operational requirements and expands GDIT’s Army logistics footprint by providing hardware and software field support to warfighters around the globe. (Source: PR Newswire)
31 Jan 22. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Radford, Virginia (W52P1J-22-D-0006); and Global Military Products Inc.,* Tampa, Florida (W52P1J-22-D-0007), will compete for each order of the $750,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for special ammunition and weapons systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity.
SEA
02 Feb 22. Serco Inc., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $21,987,146 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract action in support of the Program Executive Office (PEO) “SHIPS” PMS 400D mission to design, build, outfit and test all DDG 51 guided-missile destroyer-class ships, increasing the design performance capability of the DDG 51 class ships. Work will be performed at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., and at contracting site. Work is expected to be completed on Sept. 8, 2022. Fiscal 2022 ship construction (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,490,427 will be obligated at time of award. 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 Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-22-C-B003). (Awarded Jan. 7, 2022)
28 Jan 22. Serco Inc., Herndon, Virginia, is awarded a $64,411,044 firm-fixed price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00174-22-D-0006) for the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) Alteration Installation Team (AIT). This contract provides support in performing the functions of an alteration installation team with the installation of ship alterations, ship change documents, and ordnance alterations as related to the CIWS on Navy, Army, Coast Guard and Foreign Military Sales vessels. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (41%); San Diego, California (30%); Everett, Washington (6%); Mayport, Florida (6%); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (5%); and various overseas ports (12%), and is expected to be completed January 2027. Fiscal 2022 weapon procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,000 will be obligated at time of award, of which none will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
AIR
03 Feb 22. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has been selected by the U.S. Space Force to continue efforts to upgrade and modernize its space domain awareness, which is used to help combat anti-satellite threats. The U.S. Air Force began work in 2018 to replace the Space Defense Operations Center (SPADOC) with the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS). L3Harris has been developing applications in a new architecture that will allow ATLAS to scale and handle the exponential growth of commercial constellations, increased debris, anti-satellite tests and adversarial threats. Now, L3Harris has been selected to integrate the government’s equipment and oversee ATLAS application deployment. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
01 Feb 22. L3Harris Technologies Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $117,251,856 contract modification (P00078) to previously awarded contract FA8823-20-C-0004 for Period Three system sustainment services. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Dahlgren, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $14,531,219 are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $493,136,658. The Space Systems Center Directorate of Contracting, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Jan. 28, 2022)
31 Jan 22. The Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $1,420,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the C-130J mission sustainment support effort. This contract provides for contractor logistics support and sustainment of the C-130J aircraft fleet. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2032. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $91,023,138 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8504-22-D-0001).
24 Jan 22. Orbital Micro Systems’ (OMS) Global Earth Monitoring System (GEMS), WeatherRecord, WeatherLock, and International Center for Earth Data (ICED) capabilities, have been competitively selected across the entire Department of Defense (DoD) after nomination by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) to the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Defense Exportability Features (DEF) program. The DEF program is designed to develop and incorporate technology protection features into designated systems during their research and development phases with the goals of enhancing coalition interoperability, decreasing costs to the DoD and partner nations, and improving the international competitiveness of U.S. defense systems. Through this initiative, OMS will perform market research for the DoD regarding the potential to export its technology portfolio to countries who have signed defense cooperation treaties or agreements with the United States, including the Combined Maritime Forces, Organization of American States, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Five Eyes, Five Power Defense Arrangement, ANZUS treaty, Compact of Free Association, U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership, Japanese Security Alliance, South Korea Mutual Defense Agreement, India Major Defense Partner, and Rio treaty. In addition, OMS will outline a plan to incorporate the necessary program protection and security features to enable future export of its capabilities. (Source: Satnews)
02 Feb 22. Red 6, a revolutionary technology firm at the forefront of synthetic air combat training, is proud to announce it has been awarded a contract from Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI), an implementation of the U.S. Air Force SBIR/STTR Supplemental Funding Pilot Program. “We continue to be encouraged by the U.S. Air Force’s confidence in both the Red 6 solution and our mission to revolutionize training for our warfighter,” said Daniel Robinson, Founder and CEO of Red 6. Red 6 has redefined how warfighters will train by developing Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS). ATARS enables real pilots, in real airplanes to train against, and interact with synthetically generated entities, up in the sky. By allowing users to engage in complex training such as air-to-air refueling, formation flying and air combat maneuvering, this technological breakthrough will transform the quality, cost, and safety of airborne flight training. This award was granted in support of the continued integration of ATARS into the Air Force T-38 Talon. (Source: PR Newswire)
02 Feb 22. Safran Data Systems Inc. has received an award for the supply of two 7.3M Tracking Telemetry Antennas to be installed starting in the second quarter of 2023, at Eglin Air Force Base, a U.S. Air Force Major Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB) in Florida. This contract is a testimony to the performance and reliability of Safran tracking antennas, as well as best-in-class support. Indeed, since 2017, Safran Data Systems has delivered more than 40 antennas to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and aerospace industry customers. These SPARTE 700 antennas are equipped with a high accuracy pedestal supporting a carbon fiber reflector and a tri-band (L/S/C) feed with Single Channel Monopulse (SCM) RF auto-tracking technology. The feed provides test ranges the flexibility to support multiple platform flight tests. The Antenna Controller Unit (ACU) supports up to 8 Dual channel receivers, inherently increasing the reliability of the telemetry station. Its ergonomic control interface simplifies operations by providing a global view of the station’s equipment.
31 Jan 22. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a not-to-exceed $101,883,324 firm-fixed-price modification (P00001) to a previously awarded contract (N0001922C0004). This modification adds scope to procure long lead items for full rate production, Lot 7, CH-53K aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in December 2022. Fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $101,883,324 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.
31 Jan 22. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a $684,950,963 fixed-price incentive (firm target) modification (P00006) to a previously awarded contract (N0001920C0047). This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of nine low rate initial production, Lot 6, CH-53K heavy lift aircraft, as well as associated aircraft programmatic and logistical support. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (37.57%); Wichita, Kansas (9.56%); Salt Lake City, Utah (5.60%); St. Louis, Missouri (4.36%); Bridgeport, West Virginia (3.11%); Redmond, Washington (1.99%); Kent, Washington (1.67%); Quebec, Canada (1.63%); Cudahy, Wisconsin (1.42%); Rochester, United Kingdom (1.29%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (1.19%); Rome, New York (1.12%); Saint Marcel, France (1.04%); Jupiter, Florida (1.03%); various locations within the continental U.S. (26.36%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (1.06%), and is expected to be completed in July 2025. Fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $684,950,963 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.
TECHNOLOGY
31 Jan 22. US Army selects four companies for lightweight power solutions. The Army wants lightweight power solutions that can sustain dismounted soldiers for days at a time. US Army Futures Command announced today that it has selected four companies to participate in a cohort exploring lightweight power and energy solutions that soldiers can carry on foot, with minimal burden, for days. Under the eight-week Soldier Power Transfer cohort, AFC’s Army Applications Lab (AAL) chose Epirus, Resonant Link, Spark Thermionics and Xerion Advanced Battery to develop innovative power solutions for the service. (Source: glstrade.com/Breaking Defense.com)
31 Jan 22. FAA Awards Drone Research Contracts at Grand Sky. Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded two contracts totaling nearly $2.3m to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Appareo Systems LLC to conduct unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) research in collaboration with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in North Dakota. The awards were made available under a program that Hoeven established and worked to fund, supporting partnerships between companies and the nation’s UAS test sites to demonstrate or validate technologies essential to the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace. (Source: UAS VISION)
31 Jan 22. Ascend Elements, the vertically integrated lithium-ion battery recycling and engineered-materials company previously known as Battery Resourcers, today announced it has entered into a contract with Navitas Systems, a U.S. leader in comprehensive energy storage solutions and a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contractor. According to the contract, U.S.-based Ascend Elements will deliver cathode active material made from recycled batteries and scrap to Navitas Systems in April 2022 for use in a DoD project. This is the first commercial sale of cathode active materials made with Ascend Elements’ patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology. (Source: PR Newswire)
02 Feb 22. BAE Systems has been awarded a $14m contract from the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) to develop tools to decipher an ever-growing number of radio frequency (RF) signals in order to quickly and accurately help secure mission-critical information. BAE Systems will advance machine learning and artificial intelligence technology and techniques to identify signals in the RF spectrum under the terms of the contract, which is part of the Securing Compartmented Information with Smart Radio Systems (SCISRS) program. The technology will provide enhanced situational awareness, help to target threats, and secure communications against malicious attacks. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
31 Jan 22. BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems, Nashua, New Hampshire, is awarded a $78,464,317 firm-fixed-price modification (P00009) to a previously awarded contract (N0001919C0001). This modification exercises an option to procure radio frequency countermeasures in support of the Navy, Air Force and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed in March 2025. Fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $32,669,073; fiscal 2022 procurement of ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $17,310,164; fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $13,146,960; fiscal 2021 procurement of ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $438,232; and FMS funds in the amount of $14,899,888 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.
02 Feb 22. The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has contracted Northrop Grumman to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant prototype. This contract has been awarded under DARPA’s Perceptually-enabled Task Guidance (PTG) programme. In collaboration with the University of Central Florida (UCF), Northrop Grumman will build an Operator and Context Adaptive Reasoning Intuitive Assistant (OCARINA). The prototype is intended to aid pilots of the UH-60 Blackhawk rotary-wing aircraft to respond to ‘expected and unexpected tasks’ and successfully complete them. The rotorcraft pilots conduct visual and instrumented flight, which changes with environmental conditions such as the time of day, weather, and more. The new solution will help the aircrews to better deal with challenges encountered during a flight mission, which include enemy radar threats or when flying near urban structures, terrain, and people. It will be incorporated into an augmented reality (AR) headset to help improve pilot awareness and decision-making capabilities. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
31 Jan 22. Scale AI, the data infrastructure for AI, today announced its selection as a government-wide AI partner under a $249m-ceiling Blanket Purchase Agreement issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC). Through this agreement, Scale’s commercially-proven, market leading technology will be made readily available to all federal agencies to solve their most critical AI challenges and advance operational AI/ML capabilities across the U.S. government. As the JAIC’s AI readiness partner, Scale will develop Test & Evaluation (T&E) capabilities spanning machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks, with a focus on critical use cases including:
- Image analysis, testing deep learning-based visual search and image classifier
- Autonomous systems
- Humans augmented by machines (to include human-machine interfaces) and improved methods to measure warfighter cognitive and physical workloads (to include AR/VR test services)
- NLP-enabled products and services
Scale’s end-to-end AI solution enables the U.S. government to manage the entire ML lifecycle – from data annotation to dataset curation and management (via Scale Nucleus), to model testing and evaluation, to model development – all in one place. Analysts and operators can understand, visualize, curate, and collaborate on their data – aiding in their mission objectives through process automation, enhanced decision support, and insight generation. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
01 Feb 22. Sypris Electronics, LLC, a subsidiary of Sypris Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq/GM: SYPR), announced today that it has recently entered into a multi-year follow-on contract with a U.S. DOD prime contractor to produce and test electronic power supply modules for a large, mission-critical U.S. Navy program. The contract calls for a significant increase in production volume from existing levels beginning in 2022. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The program is an electronic warfare improvement program for the U.S. Navy. The upgrade will provide the capability to actively jam incoming missiles that threaten a warship, cue decoys and adapt quickly to evolving threats. The improvements to the electronic attack portion will provide integrated countermeasures against radio frequency-guided threats and extended frequency range coverage according to the U.S. Navy. The system is software-defined. Unlike analog radars of the past, the transmitters and receivers can easily adjust to send and receive different waveforms, allowing the system to be more easily adaptable. The adaptability for active electronic attack comes as foreign aggressors are simultaneously developing several new classes of missiles at a significant rate. Systems like this program and new directed energy weapons are part of the U.S. Navy’s efforts to enhance the useful life of deployed missile systems. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
04 Feb 22. The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested to buy a Foreign Military Sales Order (FMSO) II to provide funds for blanket order requisitions under a Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Agreement (CLSSA) for common spares/repair parts to support the United Arab Emirates’ Homing All the Way Killer (HAWK), Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target (PATRIOT), and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon systems, additional support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. An earlier FMS case, valued at $30m, provided this requirement. The amended FMS case would extend the funding to cover an additional three years. The estimated total case value is $65m. There are no principal contractors involved with this potential sale. There are no known offset agreements associated with this sale. (Source: glstrade.com)
04 Feb 22. US State Department approves sale of MIDS-LVT to Saudi Arabia The move comes after Saudi Arabia placed a request for 31 MIDS-LVT block upgrade 2. The US State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of multifunctional information distribution system-low volume terminals (MIDS-LVT) to Saudi Arabia. The estimated cost of the FMS, along with the associated equipment, is $23.7m. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has already notified Congress regarding the potential sale. According to a DSCA statement, Saudi Arabia placed a request for 31 MIDS-LVT block upgrade 2 (BU2). This follows a previous implemented sale of 11 MIDS-LVT BU1. The potential deal will also include the delivery of related communications equipment, support equipment, and engineering and technical support and assistance, as well as training and other logistics and programme support. MIDS-LVT BU2 includes high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital communication links, to support real-time secure tactical information across the military tactical data network Link 16. These terminals will be installed on terminal high altitude air defence (Thaad) platforms. The previous MIDS-LVT BU1 terminals were already installed on the Patriot missile system. The principal contractor for the proposed sale is yet to be determined. A competitive contractual award process will be carried out after LOA implementation. Data, insights and analysis delivered to you(Source: army-technology.com)
01 Feb 22. Advanced Technologies System Co. Inc., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a $93,841,747 firm-fixed-price contract for the Mobile Surveillance Sensor Security System (MS3) Phase II. This contract provides for fixed-site surveillance towers, an agile truck based Mobile Border Surveillance Vehicle, a Mobile Border Surveillance System Model 1300, a Mobile Field Workshop to perform on-site maintenance, and contractor logistics support. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia; Gilbert, Arizona; and Egypt, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 1, 2027. This contract involves 100 percent Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Egypt. This award is the result of a directed source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $74,821,496 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-22-C-0017).
03 Feb 22. Hanwha Defense signs largest deal to export K9 Self-Propelled Howitzers to Egypt. Hanwha Defense signed a contract on February 1 to provide a package of self-propelled howitzers and its support vehicles to the Egyptian Armed Forces. The contract is valued around $1.7bn for hundreds of the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH), K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicles, and K11 Fire Direction Control Vehicle. The deal is the largest in scale over the export of the K9 artillery solution, which has already been adopted by eight countries around the globe. A signing ceremony was held at Artillery House in the capital city of Cairo with the attendance of high-profile delegates from both countries. Among the Egyptian participants are Colonel General Mohamed Zaki, Minister of Defense; Major General Mohamed Morsi, Minister of Military Production; Staff Major General Osama Ezzat, Head of the Armament Authority; and Staff Major General Ayman Waafai, Chief of Artillery Department. South Korean delegates include Mr. Son Jae-il, President & CEO of Hanwha Defense; Mr. Kang Eun-ho, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration; and South Korean Ambassador to Egypt Hong Jin-wook. Under the contract, Hanwha Defense is scheduled to deliver the first batch of K9A1 EGYs before 2025, with the remainder to be produced at the state-run Military Factory 200 in Egypt through technology transfer. In addition, Hanwha Defense is committed to providing a variety of support programs, including user trainings and organizational/field/depot maintenance.
31 Jan 22. British threat detection specialist Silent Sentinel (www.silentsentinel.com) has been awarded contracts to supply its long-range thermal imaging cameras to provide protection for two major North African airports. Silent Sentinel will be providing nine of its Jaegar Ranger 225 Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) thermal platforms to one airport, all equipped with a 500mm HD low-light camera. The Jaegar 225 provides reliable human detection at over 4km, with camera positioning accuracy levels of 0.0002° and absolute feedback and automatic self-position correction. This contract is the second phase of an existing project utilising cooled cameras. Silent Sentinel was selected by their local partner to provide the popular Jaegar Ranger 225 platform because it could meet the same operational requirements as the existing MWIR cooled platforms for a lower cost. Because uncooled cameras don’t require expensive cooler services the client was also able to benefit from a lower cost of ownership, as well as reducing the requirements of holding spares to maintain continuous operation of the surveillance system. The other airport will be protected with 10 Aeron Scout cameras, 4 of which are fitted with 100mm fixed lenses, and 6 with 65mm fixed lenses. The Aeron Scouts will be complemented by 4 Oculus Scouts equipped with 50mm fixed lenses to create a total of 14 cameras protecting the second airport, all of which are LWIR Uncooled thermal lenses and are equipped with HD visible cameras. The Jaegar, Aeron and Oculus cameras are contained within a hard anodised ruggedised housing which, like all Silent Sentinel products, is tested to an IP-67 level of environmental protection, providing optimum performance in the harshest environments. This means that the cameras are perfectly suited to the extreme conditions of the desert, capable of operating within a temperature range of -30°C to 65°C. Silent Sentinel is a well-established provider of surveillance and security systems, specialising in both cooled and uncooled long-range thermal camera platforms, with products already exported to over 55 countries worldwide.
SEA
20 Jan 22. Taiwan Navy Commissions Four Minelayer Vessels. A budget of over $33m was established in 2017 to pay for the four minelayers, all four of which have now been delivered (the last two in December 2021). The vessels are being built by Lungteh Shipbuilding at I-Lan, Taiwan. Initial work began on 24 May, 2019, to provide ROCN with three catamarans corvettes which were being built to an improved Tuo Jiang II design and four mine-laying ships of the Min Jiang class. Each minelayer displaces 347 tons at full load with a maximum speed of 14 knots. Aside from the mines each ship has a T-75 cannon and T74 machine guns. Lungteh lists a capability to build a variety of naval vessels including 60 metre missile corvettes, 28m missile boats, as well as 17m and 15m multi-purpose attack craft. The vessels will use an indigenously developed automated mine laying system from Taiwan’s Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, formerly part of the Republic of China Ministry of National Defense’s Armaments Bureau. its mine development includes the No.2 Wan Xiang Bottom Mine and a moored mine. (Source: AMR)
01 Feb 22. Systems engineering firm Shoal Group has announced that it is the recipient of a Business Research and Innovation Initiative (BRII) grant, partnering with Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS) to research solutions for regulatory issues within commercial and defence applications of autonomous maritime vehicles. This stage of the research is being conducted under the BRII’s regulatory technology round. According to Shoal Group, the partners hope that their Assurance System Supporting Uncrewed Research, Evaluation and Design (ASSURED-M) product will enable companies to overcome complex maritime regulatory hurdles for operators, system designers and regulators. This will be hived via the creation of a web-based program to enable operators of autonomous marine vessels to “be guided through test and evaluation options, and access a Digital Compliance Lab as a test environment”. Under the Shoal-led collaboration, the companies will work alongside maritime safety experts including representatives from AMC Search, a division of the Australian Maritime College as well as AI firm Silverpond. TAS is expected to draw upon its expertise in autonomous and robotic systems, as well as the legal, regulatory and ethical structures that oversee their use to support the project. (Source: Defence Connect)
AIR
03 Feb 22. Black Sky Aerospace secures funding for sovereign space, missile endeavour. The commonwealth government has awarded funding to the Brisbane-based company, aimed at supporting the local manufacture of defence and space capability. Black Sky Aerospace has secured just under $500,000 as part of a co-investment via the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) managed Commercialisation Fund. The grant is expected to fund Black Sky’s work to manufacture the materials required to develop solid rocket motors for its sovereign space and defence projects. (Source: Defence Connect)
04 Feb 22. The Government of Jordan has requested to buy twelve (12) F-16 C Block 70 aircraft; four (4) F-16 D Block 70 aircraft; twenty-one (21) F100-GE-129D engines or F100-PW229EEP engines (16 installed, 5 spares); twenty-one (21) Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDG) (16 installed, 5 spares); twenty-one (21) AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radars (SABR) (16 installed, 5 spares); twenty-one (21) Modular Mission Computers (MMC) 7000AH (16 installed, 5 spares); twenty-seven (27) LN-260 (or equivalent) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) (EGI) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) and Precise Positioning Service (PPS) (16 installed, 11 spares); six (6) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP); thirty-one (31) Link 16 Low-Volume Terminals (for aircraft and ground stations) (26 installed, 5 spares); seventy-two (72) LAU-129 launchers (64 installed, 8 spares); twenty-one (21) M61A1 Vulcan cannons (16 installed, 5 spares); four hundred two (402) FMU-139 or FMU-152 Joint Programmable fuzes; one hundred (100) KMU-556 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for 2,000LB GBU-31; one hundred two (102) KMU-572 JDAM tail kits for 500LB Laser JDAM GBU-54; one hundred (100) MAU-209 Computer Control Group (CCG) for Paveway II (PWII) GBU-10; one hundred two (102) MXU-651 Air Foil Group (AFG) for 2,000LB PWII GBU-10; one hundred (100) MAU-210 Enhanced Computer Control Group (ECCG) for 500LB Enhanced Paveway II (EP II) EGBU-49; one hundred three (103) MXU-650 Air Foil Group (AFG) for 500LB EP II EGBU-49; two hundred (200) MK-84 or BLU-117 (or equivalent) bomb bodies; two hundred four (204) MK-82 or BLU-111 (or equivalent) bomb bodies; six (6) MK-82 inert bombs; and two (2) MAU-169 Computer Control Group (CCG) trainers. Also included are AN/ARC-238 radios; AN/APX-126 or equivalent Advanced Identification Friend or Foes (AIFF) with Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT); Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System II (JHMCS II) or Scorpion Hybrid Optical-based Inertial Tracker (HObIT) helmet mounted displays; AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield or equivalent Integrated Electronic Warfare (EW) systems; AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Systems (CMDS); KY-58M Cryptographic Devices; KIV-78 Cryptographic Devices; Simple Key Loaders (SKLs); Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) or equivalent; PGU-28 High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) ammunition; PGU-27 training ammunition (non-HEI); ARD-446 impulse cartridges; ARD-863 impulse cartridges; BBU-36 impulse cartridges; BBU-35 impulse cartridges; MK-124 smoke flares; MJU-7/B flare cartridges L463 or MJU-53 or equivalent; Common Munitions Built-in-Test (BIT) Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); ADU-891 adapters for CMBRE; DSU-38 laser sensors for Laser JDAM GBU-54; Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD); BRU‐57 bomb racks; MAU‐12 bomb racks and TER‐9A triple ejection racks; other chaff and flare, ammunition, and pylons; launcher adaptors and weapons interfaces; fuel tanks and attached hardware; travel pods; aircraft and weapons integration, test, and support equipment; electronic warfare database and mission data file development; precision measurement and calibration laboratory equipment; secure communications; cryptographic equipment; precision navigation equipment; aircraft and personnel support and test equipment; spare and repair parts; repair and return services; maps, publications, and technical documentation; studies and surveys; classified/unclassified software and software support; personnel training and training equipment; facilities and facility management, design and/or construction services; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost is $4.21bn. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin, Greenville, South Carolina. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. (Source: glstrade.com)
01 Feb 22. Morocco to receive Apache Guardian training equipment. Tactical Engagement Simulation System kits are included in the latest aspect of the FMS deal to sell AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters to Morocco. US firm Inter-Coastal Electronics will supply equipment and logistics support to assist in training Moroccan army and air force crews to operate the AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter. An $11.31m FMS deal from US Army Contracting Command, announced on 27 January, covers Tactical Engagement Simulation System kits, spares, aviation ground instrumentation network and logistics support services.
Inter-Coastal Electronics was the sole bidder. A total of 24 AH-64Es plus Longbow crew trainers are on order for Morocco, with deliveries anticipated from 2024 to 2025 under a $439.18m FMS contract sealed in June 2020. Morocco currently lacks a dedicated attack helicopter capability; instead, its army and air force rely on 24 Aérospatiale Gazelles. SH(Source: Shephard)
01 Feb 22. Shield AI, the defense-technology company using self-driving software to enable collaborative teams of unmanned aircraft to operate in GPS- and RF-denied environments, announced it has signed a contract with VSK Tactical, through reseller and facilitator Contingent Global, to provide Brazil with V-BAT 128 unmanned aircraft systems. The contract was signed at the V-BAT manufacturing facility in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 21. Later this year, Shield AI and VSK Tactical will complete V-BAT demonstrations on land and sea in Brazil for the Brazilian Army and Navy. (Source: PR Newswire)
01 Feb 22. Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), announced today that it has signed a contract with the South Korean aerospace manufacturer and defense company, LIG Nex1 Co., Ltd., to provide a state-of-the-art Digital Processor for the GEO-KOMPSAT-3 communications satellite. Scheduled for launch in 2027, GEO-KOMPSAT-3 (Geostationary Earth Orbit Korea Multipurpose Satellite 3) is a multi-band communications satellite that will provide broadband satellite communication services in the Korean Peninsula and surrounding maritime areas, ensuring service continuity of COMS-1 satellite, currently in operations in-orbit. In particular, it will support the Korea Coast Guard satellite communications for national maritime rescue and protection; secure stable information on monitoring water disasters in mountains, rivers and dams to the Ministry of Environment; and provide the Ministry of Science and ICT with a satellite communication system for emergency response to disaster situations, as well as with an advanced testbed for domestic satellite communication research activities. In addition, GEO-KOMPSAT-3 will also feature a Data Collection System (DCS) mission for gathering and retransmitting environmental and water related data; and a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) mission for satellite navigation augmentation service, particularly to support safe aircraft landing approach operations with vertical guidance. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) of Korea is responsible for the satellite payloads, while the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is responsible for the satellite platform. (Source: ASD Network)
TECHNOLOGY
01 Feb 22. A host of Queensland-based businesses operating in the defence and aerospace industry have shared in over half a million dollars in government funding. The Queensland government has announced the award of 45 grants to defence and aerospace businesses across the state, totalling $515,000. The grants have been issued as part of the second round of the $1.5m Defence and Aerospace Industry Development Fund.
Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the grants would help small-to-medium enterprises gain the globally recognised certifications needed to secure international defence and aerospace contracts. Townsville businesses secured the lion’s share of contracts, sharing in a combined $130,000. These include:
- A&O Engineering;
- Australian Lining Company;
- Beehive Vinyl Products;
- Brazier Motti;
- Detech Engineering;
- ICS Electrical Contractors;
- KDP Electrical;
- Krieger Industries;
- NQ Electrical;
- NQ Steel Frames;
- Raydar NQ;
- Sape Industries; and
- Waltlock.
(Source: Defence Connect)