UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
04 Apr 22. Kromek (AIM: KMK), a leading developer of radiation and bio-detection technology solutions for the advanced imaging and CBRN detection segments, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract worth £1.7m from an existing UK government-related customer. The contract is for the provision of CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) detection products and services. It is to be delivered over the next four years, with revenue split equally over that period.
SEA
01 Apr 22. Lockheed Martin Space, Titusville, Florida, is awarded a $68,311,682 cost-plus-fixed-fee, level-of-effort and completion type contract (N0003022C2023) to provide the United Kingdom (UK) with engineering, technical support services, and deliverable materials for the UK Fleet Ballistic Missile Program requirements that are identified and integrated to support planned milestone schedules and emergent requirements. UK resident technical support, operational support hardware, and consumable spares are also provided. Work will be performed in Denver, Colorado (24.64 percent); Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (23.3 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (23.21 percent); Titusville, Florida (9.75 percent); Sunnyvale, California (7.77 percent); Coulport, Scotland (4.19 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (1.83 percent); Bangor, Washington (1 percent); and various places below one percent (4.35 percent), with an expected level-of-effort completion date of March 31, 2023; a deliverable items completion date of March 31, 2024; and a collaborative replacement materials experiments design completion date of March 31, 2027. Contract funds in the amount of $22,487,065 will be obligated on this award. No contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole source acquisition pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
AIR
06 Apr 22. Leonardo will now deliver the next stage of the Wildcat Integrated Support and Training (WIST) contract, which confirms the next five-year period of the 34-year contract originally signed in 2012. This £360m contract awarded last year marks the continued delivery of support services for the UK’s fleet of AW159 Wildcat helicopters to the British Armed Forces. The WIST contract includes a spares provisioning service, a 3-Year Scheduled Maintenance service, enhanced technical support services including aircraft safety management, as well as delivering synthetic and ground-based training for both aircrew and maintainers. The contract will sustain over 340 industry jobs, mainly in the South West of England at RNAS Yeovilton where the Wildcat Training Centre and frontline squadrons are located and also at Leonardo in Yeovil where the joint Leonardo/Ministry of Defence WIST project office is located. The twin-engine AW159 helicopter is a modern, multi-role and agile platform utilised for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) roles around the world. The platform recently surpassed 80,000 flight hours across its global fleet. To date more than 70 AW159s in a variety of roles have been delivered to battlefield and maritime military operators around the world, including the British Army and Royal Navy.
EUROPE
LAND
05 Apr 22. The Finnish Minister of Defense Mr. Antti Kaikkonen has authorized the Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command to enter into a purchase agreement with Bittium for the continuation of narrowband waveform development work. The narrowband waveform will be used with the Bittium Tough SDR™ radios that Bittium is supplying to the Finnish Defence Forces. According to the authorization, the total value of the purchase agreement can be approximately EUR 6 m (excl. VAT) at the maximum. The actual order is expected in the second quarter of 2022, and it does not change Bittium’s financial outlook for the first of half of the year 2022 published on February 10, 2022. With the waveform development work, the Finnish Defence Forces can achieve full operational performance for the new software defined radios. The development work will be carried out in phases and all the new functionalities to be included in the purchase agreement are planned to be finalized by the year 2025. The narrowband waveform enables simultaneous transmission of voice and messages in command networks, also over long distances and wide frequency range if required. Bittium Tough SDR radios can use, even simultaneously, both Bittium Narrowband Waveform™ as well as the wideband Bittium TAC WIN Waveform™ (Tactical Wireless IP Network) and the European collaborative ESSOR Wideband Waveform (European Secure Software defined Radio).
04 Apr 22. CS Group-Thales consortium “wins French military’s EUR 350m PARADE contract.” According to IntelligenceOnline, the CS Group-Thales consortium has won the competition to supply the French defence ministry with C-UAS equipment as part of the ministry’s strategic PARADE C-UAS programme. The consortium reportedly won the contract against rival bids from Indra and MBDA, following a series of tests in Toulon during late 2021. According to ForceOperations: “PARADE will have to ensure the permanent and 360° protection of military or civilian sites located in France or in theatres of external operations in all weathers, day and night. Each system will include at least a scalable C2 system, a radar, a goniometer, an optronic system and a jamming system. PARADE will ensure the automatic detection, characterization and identification, as well as the neutralization of micro and mini-drones, whether or not they emit electromagnetic waves. This system is expected to be moved from one site to another.” The initial plan is to have ten C-UAS systems operations by the end of 2022 in time for deployment before the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and the Paris Olympics in 2024. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
04 Apr 22. INVISIO has received a first initial order under the five-year framework agreement that the company announced in January 2022. The contract is with the system integrator of the end-customer’s vehicle modernization program. The order concerns the Racal Acoustics branded new product RA4000 Magna™ headset with accessories. The order value is SEK 91m. Shipments are related to vehicle deliveries and ongoing until 2026. The order, as well as the five-year framework agreement, are part of the end-customer’s ongoing modernization program of systems that enable effective communication in heavy and noisy vehicles. The order and contract, represents a significant strategic success for the new and advanced digital RA4000 Magna™ headset. The five-year framework agreement has an estimated total value of approximately SEK 275m.(Source: ASD Network)
04 Apr 22. Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) has been awarded a contract to supply 40 mm grenade ammunition to the Spanish military. The contract covers the supply of 40×53 mm high velocity grenades for SB Lag-40 and Mk 19 grenade launchers in service with the Spanish Armed Forces. Deliveries will take place over four years, starting in 2022. The acquisition covers High Explosive (HE) grenades, High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) and Practice Ammunition as well as Practice-Tracer Rounds. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
28 Mar 22. The German Bundeswehr has contracted with the new Rheinmetall subsidiary Zeppelin Mobile Systeme GmbH (ZMS) to supply and integrate state-of-the-art medical technology for the field hospital at Camp Castor, the Bundeswehr’s forward operating base in Gao, Mali. In all, the order is worth a figure in the lower two-digit m-Euro range. The material will be furnished in the second half of the year, with integration slated to take place at the end of 2022 on location in Mali. Besides furnishing and integrating high-quality medical technology into the fixed infrastructure of the forward operating base in Gao, ZMS GmbH’s scope of performance includes training of personnel, comprehensive documentation as well as a service and maintenance package. (Source: www.joint-forces.com)
05 Apr 22. The Finnish Defence Forces signed a $16.2m (Skr152m) contract with Saab for combat training simulators. The contract involves upgrading the Finnish military training facility in Pori brigade and modernising its equipment. The scope of work will also include upgrading other individual simulators within eight separate troop units. Saab booked the order in the first quarter of 2022. Once complete, the upgrade will enable the Finnish Defence Forces to use the simulators for training until 2032. (Source: army-technology.com)
AIR
01 Apr 22. Leonardo and the Directorate for Air Armaments and Airworthiness of the Italian Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Directorate signed yesterday the Acquisition Contract for the supply of one C-27J to the Slovenian Ministry of Defence, additional equipment for aero-medical operations, training services and integrated logistic support for two years. The contract follows the framework of the Italy-Slovenia Government-to-Government (G2G) Agreement signed by the Italian Minister of Defence, Lorenzo Guerini, and the Slovenian Minister of Defence, Matej Tonin, on 17 November 2021, and it is aimed at reinforcing the bilateral collaboration between the two countries. (Source: ASD Network)
05 Apr 22. The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale (FMS) of F-16 aircraft and associated equipment to Bulgaria. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the US Congress regarding the potential $1.673bn sale. The move comes after the Government of Bulgaria placed a request to purchase four F-16 C Block 70 aircraft and four F-16 D Block 70 aircraft. According to a DSCA statement, the procurement package will also include 11 F100-GE-129D engines, 11 Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDG), 11 AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radars (SABR) and 11 Modular Mission Computers (MMC) 7000AH among others. Bulgaria also requested 19 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) AIM-120C-7/C-8 or equivalent missiles; 48 LAU-129A launchers; 28 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs); 11 M61A1 Vulcan Cannons and four AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs). The proposal also includes the delivery of missiles, radios, guidance units, ammunition, helmet-mounted displays, test and support equipment, and logistical support. Lockheed Martin will be the principal contractor for this possible sale. The procurement will enable Bulgarian Air Force to combat current and future threats, as well as deploy the fighter jets for patrolling missions in the Black Sea region. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
30 Mar 22. SES has announced that Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDQ: CMTL) is supplying antenna systems for its second-generation MEO O3b mPOWER gateways. The antenna hardware comes in a range of sizes – from the 5.5 meter gateway intended for telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) to smaller antennas for enterprise and government use. The antennas can also be deployed as customer gateways for O3b mPOWER. (Source: Satnews)
TECHNOLOGY
06 Apr 22. Thales – SESO® Optics, a French manufacturer of high-precision optics, has won a contract from the advanced materials laboratory (LMA) at the French Scientific Research Center (CNRS) to polish critical optics for the European Advanced Virgo+ project. Advanced Virgo+ is the latest upgrade of the Virgo interferometer, designed to detect the gravitational waves that Albert Einstein predicted 105 years ago. It uses a very large-scale interferometer near Pisa, Italy, comprising two 3-km long arms and a very large vacuum chamber. A laser beam is injected and is reflected back and forth between the mirrored surfaces about 400 times. This interferometer is able to detect a difference in size between the two arms as small as 10-19 meter, caused by the space-time contraction induced by gravitational waves. Using this small contraction and the associated exceptional accuracy, the interferometer can detect and measure distant powerful cosmic events, such as black hole mergers, which are gravitational-wave emitting systems.
USA
SEA
01 Apr 22. Innovative Defense Technologies LLC,* Arlington, Virginia, is being awarded a $98,635,397 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the rapid and affordable software development supporting Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO). Innovative Defense Technologies LLC stood up a prototype development environment that not only allows for rapid and affordable software development, but also allows for simultaneously monitoring and analyzing the effects of the software change in performance, in the physical realm and in the cyber realm. This contract provides for the delivery of this transformational and essential environment to the Navy enterprise and its frontline fleet platforms. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, and is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised, by April 1, 2025. The maximum dollar value, including a 12-month base period, and two 12-month option periods, is $98,635,397. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,146,183 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III follow-on contract that derives from, extends, or completes efforts made under prior SBIR/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I or II awards. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-22-C-1042).
06 Apr 22. Martin Defense Group LLC,* Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded a $14,967,196 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the development of an Amphibious Vehicle for Unmanned Surface Mobility (AVUSM). This contract provides for technology development and maturation with the objective of transitioning the technology /capability to Navy and/or Marine Corps acquisition programs. The AVUSM system provides the capability of autonomously delivering a lay-flat fuel line hose from a floating embarkment platform, through the surf-zone, to above a high water mark line for fuel delivery in support of Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations. This is also known as a Reach-to-the-Beach capability. Work will be performed in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by April 5, 2025. The maximum dollar value, including a 36-month base period, one 12-month option period and one 36-month option period that, if exercised, can run concurrent with the base, is $14,967,196. Fiscal 2022 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $285,001 are obligated at time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under the (N00014-22-S-B001), Office of Naval Research long range broad agency announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps science and 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 (N00014-22-C-1015).
AIR
06 Apr 22. BAE to Develop Mission Data Framework for Space Systems Command. BAE Systems will develop the mission data framework for Space Systems Command’s Enterprise Management and Control (EM&C) system. Under the prototype contract, BAE Systems will create an integrated data management environment, connecting interoperable sources to support fusion and discovery of data, minimize disruptions, deliver near real-time status of assets, and provide curated data for mission needs. During a year-long development period, BAE Systems will perform four demonstrations. The demonstrations will show improved situational awareness for global satellite communications, or SATCOM, and underscore how the framework allows warfighters to rapidly respond to end users in contested, degraded, and operationally challenged environments. (Source: ASD Network)
06 Apr 22. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has been awarded $117m for option-year three of a U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command contract to continue maintaining and modernizing infrastructure to track objects in space. The Maintenance Of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities (MOSSAIC) program has an estimated contract value of $1.2bn over 10 years. L3Harris won the initial MOSSAIC contract in February 2020 to maintain and upgrade radar and optical sensors and command and control systems that provide timely, accurate space domain awareness data for military, civil and commercial users. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
07 Apr 22. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a not-to-exceed $261,425,000 fixed-price incentive (firm target) modification (P00010) to a previously awarded contract (N0001920C0009). This modification increases scope for the procurement of long lead-time materials, parts, components, and efforts for the production of nine Lot 17 F-35C aircraft for the Navy, 13 Lot 17 F-35A aircraft and two Lot 17 F-35B aircraft for non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (57%); El Segundo, California (14%); Warton, United Kingdom (9%); Cameri, Italy (4%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); Nagoya, Japan (2%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (2%), and is expected to be completed in May 2026. Fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $75,425,000; and non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $186,000,000 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.
04 Apr 22. Northrop Grumman System Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $65,256,002 modification (P00002) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0001921C0054). This modification exercises options to provide continued operation, logistics and sustainment engineering support, to include training, supply chain and spares management for Global Hawk peculiar items, peculiar support equipment, and technical publications in support of ensuring the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstrator (BAMS-D) aircraft are mission-capable for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (70%); undisclosed locations outside the continental U.S. (25%); and Rancho Bernardo, California (5%), and is expected to be completed in April 2023. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,500,000 will be obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
07 Apr 22. Northrop Grumman has been awarded $108m in advance procurement funds for the acquisition of long lead production items for the US Air Force’s (USAF) B-21 Raider programme. Awarded by the US Department of Air Force (DAF), the funds will support the production of the first batch of B-21 stealth bomber aircraft. Currently, the company is developing the B-21 test aircraft using the same process, tooling and technicians required to build a production aircraft. The first B-21 test aircraft has already entered the loads calibration phase, where it will undergo structural design validation before taking its first flight. Following the loads calibration phase, the test aircraft will go through ground testing and integration. According to the USAF, the funds have been provided by the Defense Appropriations Act for the fiscal year 2022, for five new military construction projects to support the B-21 programme. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
04 Apr 22. Space Micro Inc., powered by Voyager Space, and a provider of digital, electro-optic and communications systems for satellites, deep space exploration and other space equipment, today announced an award from the U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command for a contract to build a GEO-capable µLCT™ secure laser communications terminal. Under the contract, Space Micro plans to deliver a flight model to Space Force in early 2024. This new award builds on an initial development contract the U.S. Air Force issued to Space Micro in 2019. This initial contract and subsequent modifications provided funding for Space Micro to update the current µLCT design specifically for this mission and to provide communications interoperability to existing systems. Space Micro delivered an engineering model to Space Force in late 2021.The µLCT Space Micro will deliver to Space Force under this contract will be a 10 cm system capable of providing full duplex GEO to GEO crosslinks at 40,000 km. (Source: PR Newswire)
TECHNOLOGY
04 Apr 22. Collins Aerospace has been selected by the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) to produce a small form factor, cross domain solution (CDS) that allows secure transfer of critical data in seconds as opposed to minutes. This new technology will provide real-time data across multiple classification levels to accelerate mission execution. Currently, data is passed back and forth through a multi-level approval chain before it reaches the intended user, which can create delays in addressing real-time targeting opportunities. The Collins CDS minimizes data lag by passing information directly to the approval authority to expedite clearance. Additionally, the small form factor reduces the physical load for Soldiers while facilitating timely decision making, regardless of location. (Source: ASD Network)
01 Apr 22. GovCIO, a leading provider of high-end technology and digital services to federal agencies, announced today that it has partnered with Torch.AI, the leader in artificial intelligence powered ultra-high speed data processing, to provide the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) with AI/ML technology to increase its unstructured data processing. GovCIO provides proven successful solutions and support to the DOD and its interagency partners across the spectrum of telecommunications technical and engineering services. Utilizing Torch.AI’s flagship software platform Nexus™, the combined team is fulfilling a need to identify the relevant data features within disparate DOD holdings. This platform enables the customer to rapidly use its complete data catalog, regardless of data format or delivery protocol, to strengthen the security enterprise of the department. (Source: PR Newswire)
07 Apr 22. Maximus, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today it has been awarded the Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) Data Readiness for Artificial Intelligence Development (DRAID) services Basic Order Agreement (BOA). JAIC DRAID was established to help the Department prepare data for use in AI applications by providing an easily accessible path to innovative commercial services to meet complex technical challenges. The goal of the JAIC DRAID program is to ensure access for DOD to AI data preparation tools, capabilities, and services to effectively prepare for and support the full range of AI activities. These efforts include partnering with JAIC and working closely with leaders to identify appropriate uses for AI across the entirety of DOD, develop new capabilities, and deploy scalable solutions. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
06 Apr 22. Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, today announced it received a $6.9m order from a leading defense prime contractor for high performance, OpenVPX™ digital signal processing systems for a manned airborne radar application. The order was received in the Company’s fiscal 2022 third quarter and is expected to be shipped over the next several quarters.
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
05 Apr 22. The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of equipment, training and other items to support the Patriot Air Defense System in a deal valued at up to $95m, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained of increased military pressure by Beijing to try and force the democratically ruled island to accept its sovereignty. The package would include training, planning, fielding, deployment, operation, maintenance and sustainment of the Patriot Air Defense System and associated equipment, the Pentagon said, in a notification to Congress. (Source: Reuters)
05 Apr 22. Embraer and the Brazilian Army signed a contract to develop and implement Phase Two of the Army’s Strategic Program for the Integrated Border Monitoring System (SISFRON). The announcement was made at the FIDAE (Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio) 2022 event, which is being held at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile, from April 5th to 10th. Among the world’s largest border surveillance projects, SISFRON aims to protect Brazil’s borders, covering an extension of 16,886 kilometers across ten bordering countries. The SISFRON implements a sensing and command and control structure in support of Land Forces’ operation, acting in an integrated way to strengthen the State’s presence and capacity to monitor and act on its borders, while enhancing the performance of other government entities with responsibilities over this area.
SEA
07 Apr 22. Babcock International Group, the aerospace, defence and security company, has signed a four year contract to deliver through life support to the Marinha do Brasil’s flagship vessel, NAM Atlântico, formerly the UK Royal Navy platform HMS Ocean, as part of its global support programme. Working hand-in-hand with their customers, Babcock’s key asset management activities include deep maintenance, in-service support, equipment and systems support and through life engineering of naval assets across the globe. Babcock will draw on this significant experience to provide the Marinha do Brasil with a support solution that will enable them to deliver international operations. The through life support package will see Babcock deliver maintenance planning and delivery, technical advice and knowledge transfer. Babcock will also assist the Marinha do Brasil to develop a spares management system for the ship, deliver a range of technical training packages to personnel on-board and at the naval base, as well as developing and installing upgrades on the ship. An in-country team will be embedded within the Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro, the main maintenance centre and naval base of the Brazilian Navy, to deliver this package of work, supported by a team based in the UK who will provide technical support from the wider Babcock business.
AIR
07 Apr 22. The Western Australian government has announced a $6.5m boost of funding into some of the state’s key space programs. It is set to benefit the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium and Curtin University’s Binar Space Program over four years. As part of the funding boost, Curtin’s Binar Space Program is set to receive $2.5 m to support its upcoming satellite launches. Binar-1 launched last August on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to low-Earth orbit, and is currently orbiting 400 kilometres above earth. Its objective is to test the spacecraft system that will eventually be part of the SSTC moon mission – Curtin is set on a WA-built spacecraft launched to the moon by 2025, the Binar Prospector, which will deliver geophysical mapping of the lunar surface. The team hopes the data found through Binar Prospector will assist NASA’s Artemis mission to return humans back to the moon. (Source: Space Connect)
01 Apr 22. AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $29,238,432 modification (P00010) to contract W58RGZ-20-C-0015 for new AW119Kx aircraft. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2024. Fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement, Army funds; and Foreign Military Sales (Israel) funds in the amount of $29,238,432 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
06 Apr 22. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the global leader in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), is pleased to be selected to support the Japan Coast Guard’s (JCG) RPAS Project. Operations will feature GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian® and begin in October 2022. SeaGuardian will be used to conduct wide-area maritime surveillance to support JCG’s missions, which include search and rescue, disaster response, and maritime law enforcement. This project follows a series of successful JCG flight trials in 2020 that used SeaGuardian to validate the same JCG missions in accordance with Japan’s “Policy on Strengthening the Maritime Security Systems,” using unmanned aerial vehicles to perform maritime wide-area surveillance. SeaGuardian features a multi-mode maritime surface-search radar with an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) imaging mode, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, and High-Definition – Full-Motion Video sensor equipped with optical and infrared cameras. This sensor suite enables real-time detection and identification of surface vessels over thousands of square nautical miles and provides automatic tracking of maritime targets and correlation of AIS transmitters with radar tracks.
04 Apr 22. Mali receives Mi-24s and radars from Russia. Mali’s military has received two Mi-24P attack helicopters from Russia as part of continuing efforts to bolster the country’s armed forces. The Forces Armees Maliennes (FAMA) said a batch of equipment from Russia was received by Defence Minister Sadio Camara at Bamako-Senou Airport on 30 March. The equipment, delivered by a Russian Air Force An-124 transport under a longstanding agreement with Russia, included attack helicopters and radar systems (Protivnik-GE/59N6-TE mobile radars). The Mi-24Ps add to the four Mi-35s received earlier from Russia. The final two Mi-35s arrived in Russia in January 2021, following a 2016 contract for four of the aircraft, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The first two were delivered in 2017. SIPRI also reports that four Mi-171Sh helicopters were received in 2021 under a $61m deal that includes training and weaponry. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
06 Apr 22. Ukraine conflict: Teal Drones lands first Ukraine-related order. US-based Teal Drones has received an order for 15 Golden Eagle small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) from a NATO member country that wants to give them to Ukraine, according to Teal parent company Red Cat Holdings. Although Red Cat did not name the buyer or respond to questions about the planned purchase, it indicated that the order is the first it has received in Europe as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “We believe this is the first of many relationships and purchases in the region,” Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson said on 4 April. The announcement came less than three weeks after Thompson told analysts that Teal had been “slammed” with inquiries from countries that wanted to provide “thousands” of sUAS to Ukraine to help it fight Russian forces. (Source: Janes)
TECHNOLOGY
05 Apr 22. A new tranche of Australian defence innovation contracts has been awarded to 10 SMEs across the country. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price has announced the award of $23m in contracts to 10 Australian businesses via the Defence Innovation Hub.
The contracts aim to support the development of new capability for the Australian Defence Force, while also contributing to the growth of the sovereign defence industry.
Victoria-based A.W. Bell Machinery Pty Ltd secured the largest contract, winning $5.8m to develop a high-grade titanium casting system for in-service aircraft that could enhance Air Force capabilities.
NSW-based Jenkins Engineering Defence Systems Pty Ltd also secured $5.6m to continue the development of a cost-effective maritime radar electronic support system.
This could provide automated warnings on the detection of potential threat signals from platforms operating in the same area as the host vessel.
Other recipients include:
Organisation State Contract Value (GST incl.)
Description of innovation
Agent Orient Software Pty Ltd VIC $3.33m
To continue the development of an enhanced version of agent’s intelligent software system that could offer advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications that aid and enhance decision making capabilities.
IAS Asia Pacific Pty Ltd VIC $2.44m
To develop a multispectral optical radar using advanced sensors and algorithms for enhanced object detection that could provide aircraft systems with the ability to conduct extensive wide area search operations across multiple defence environments.
Prism Systems Pty Ltd SA $1.81m
To develop a digital precision approach system for aviation systems that could utilise ship and aircraft navigation systems at night and in poor visibility to improve platform safety in a cost-effective manner.
ECLIPS Logistics Pty Ltd ACT $1.68m
To develop an advanced autonomous robotic system for Defence artillery that could reduce the challenges of manual handling requirements and safety risks to ADF personnel, while speeding up resupply.
EPE Pty Ltd QLD $1.13m
To develop a handheld explosive detector that can be integrated onto uncrewed systems to assist with the detection and classification of chemical and explosive threats to reduce risk to ADF personnel.
Mincham Aviation Pty Ltd SA $1.12m
To develop a deployable payload delivery system that could be launched from a variety of platforms to strategic equipment in a desired target location.
Invicta Prospectus Group Pty Ltd NSW $290,000
To develop a unique software system incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning that could improve Defence operational decision-making and enhance personnel health and safety.
Moog Australia VIC $257,000
To develop protection systems for next-generation armoured vehicles to significantly improve vehicle and soldier survivability.
04 Apr 22. Canberra’s Datapod received the investment to help deliver scalable and deployable modular data centres, to support Defence’s operational and ICT networks “at short notice”. Datapod has worked with Defence in the past, delivering scalable data centres that can integrate into Defence’s current and future operational and ICT networks. (Source: Defence Connect)
07 Apr 22. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has been awarded a contract by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) for an advanced study which will significantly improve the accuracy and timing of Japan’s weather forecasting. L3Harris will lead the geostationary hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounder study for the JMA’s future enterprise. The six-month design study began last month and allows L3Harris to evaluate geostationary sounder instrument concepts. Sounders are advanced spectrometers that produce high-resolution, three-dimensional temperature and moisture profiles from space. The study also will analyze performance, mature the design, and develop ground processing algorithms for prompt use of IR sounder data after launch. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)