UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
11 Apr 22. British Army to get another 100 Boxer wheeled armoured vehicles. The Boxer success story continues. The British government, represented by the European procurement organization OCCAR, and ARTEC, a consortium of Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), have signed a contract extension to supply the British Army with an additional 100 Boxer wheeled armoured vehicles. The contract encompasses three previously ordered variants of the Boxer: the infantry carrier, the command vehicle and the field ambulance. In issuing the order, the United Kingdom is exercising an option contained in the contract signed in 2019 for the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) procurement project, which includes 523 Boxer wheeled armoured vehicles in several variants. ARTEC will be supplying the vehicles to the UK via OCCAR, the intergovernmental Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation. The bulk of Boxer production will take place in Britain. Series production is currently getting underway in Germany, after which most of the Boxer vehicles already ordered will be produced in British factories of Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land and KMW subsidiary WFEL. The additional vehicles just ordered will also be produced in both the UK and Germany. Here, the partners will be drawing on the knowledge and components of the established and expanding British supply chain, which already forms the basis of the first lot of 523 vehicles. To date, some 1,500 vehicles in twenty different versions have been ordered by Australia and four NATO countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Australia, a close partner of NATO, has already taken delivery of a first shipment of 25 Boxer vehicles.
SEA
12 Apr 22. Atlas Elektronik UK to supply Royal Navy with autonomous underwater vehicles. The UK Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) team has awarded a GBP32m (USD41.6m) contract to Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) for autonomous mine-hunting systems, the company announced on 12 April. The company will supply the Royal Navy (RN) with three MHC autonomous underwater vessel (AUV) systems. Each system will encompass three SeaCat vehicles configured with a synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) system and Seebyte Neptune’s advanced planning and analysis software, comprising nine vehicles, AEUK added. According to a DE&S announcement, the first MHC AUV or medium autonomous underwater vessel (MAUV) systems are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2023, and will help to detect and neutralise mines, while being controlled remotely by operators at sea or on land. (Source: Janes)
AIR
13 Apr 22. Draken Europe awarded interim ‘Red Air’ training contract for UK. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contracted Draken Europe to provide an Interim Red Air Aggressor Training Service (IRAATS) for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN). Announced on 8 April, the IRAATS award will see Aero L-159E Honey Badger aircraft flown against front-line Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning squadrons for three years from 1 July. As noted in the announcement, the L-159Es will be flown by experienced ex-military fast-jet pilots regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, replicating the tactics, techniques, and procedures of potential adversaries. The L-159E takes over this role from the BAE Systems Hawk T1, which was retired from RAF and RN service on 31 March. “The L-159E delivers a capability enhancement over the Hawk through increased endurance, an air-to-air radar, and a radar warning receiver,” the MoD said. This is the first contract for medium to fast air capability placed in the UK, and follows a similar model that Draken International is delivering to the US Air Force. (Source: Janes)
12 Apr 22. QinetiQ has been awarded a $7.8m (£6m) Vampire Phase I contract to support the future uncrewed aerial system (UAS) operations for the UK Royal Navy (RN). Under the four-year contract, QinetiQ will supply its Banshee Jet80+ targets to assist in the training of RN’s aircraft carriers for real-world situations. In September 2021, the RN demonstrated QinetiQ’s Banshee Jet80+ from the deck of aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales. The RN will now assess and trial the capability of small, fixed-wing, jet powered uncrewed systems under the new contract. (Source: naval-technology.com)
EUROPE
AIR
11 Apr 22. Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to ensure the continued operation of JAS 39 Gripen C/D and to provide capability enhancements to preserve the operational relevance of the fighter aircraft. The order value is SEK 500m. Gripen C/D is the system that will be used for many years to come in Sweden and in other countries that have purchased Gripen. The development is also done to further ensure a cost-effective solution regarding construction, design and procurement. (Source: ASD Network)
USA
LAND
08 Apr 22. Lockheed Martin Corp. Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, is being awarded a $74,085,614 modification (P00050) to a previously-awarded contract (HQ0147-17-C-0032) for the production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ground equipment to support the U.S. government. The total maximum ceiling value of this contract is increased from $7,760,614,995 to $7,834,700,609. Under this contract modification, Lockheed Martin will provide six launchers, THAAD Fire Control and Communication (TFCC), and associated Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE) under firm-fixed-price and fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract line items. The work will be performed in Dallas, Texas; Lufkin, Texas; and Camden, Arkansas. The period of performance is from April 8, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2021 procurement funds in the amount of $74,085,614 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
SEA
08 Apr 22. Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC, Lockport, Louisiana, is awarded a $13,725,953 fixed-price incentive (firm target), firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-type contract for the production of the Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MCM USV), engineering services and other direct costs. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $122,908,682. Work will be performed in Lockport, Louisiana (65%); Portsmouth, Virginia (22%); Atlanta, Georgia (10%); and Orrville, Ohio (3%), and is expected to be completed by April 2023. If all options are exercised, work will continue through April 2027. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,725,953 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with three offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-22-C-6305).
AIR
14 Apr 22. KBR (NYSE: KBR) was awarded a $62m, five-year recompete task order to provide conception-to-completion development, testing, engineering and analysis services for the U.S. Army Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space, Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions Project Office, and Strategic and Operational Rockets and Missiles (STORM) Project Office. KBR was awarded this task order under the DoD Information Analysis Center (IAC) Multiple Award Contract (MAC) vehicle. The U.S. Air Force 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron awarded these DoD IAC MAC task orders to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the Defense Technical Information Center repository as well as the Research and Development and Science and Technology (S&T) communities. KBR has served PEO Missiles and Space for over 20 years.
14 Apr 22. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has been selected by United Launch Alliance (ULA) to provide avionics and communication equipment critical to the launch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper commercial satellites over a five-year period. ULA will launch the majority of the Project Kuiper satellite constellation to bring high-speed, low-latency broadband service to places not reached by traditional networks. L3Harris, ULA’s primary launch avionics partner since 2017, will provide communication transmitters, range safety receivers, power distribution and control, data acquisition, flight computers and inertial measurement units. L3Harris has delivered proven launch avionics and services supporting Atlas V and Delta IV; and L3Harris is the primary provider of avionics for ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur rockets through 2027. L3Harris will continue to assist ULA in providing high-performance, affordable launch services and superior solutions for satellite customers.
12 Apr 22. Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was awarded a $7,815,883 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Common Avionics Architecture System procurement. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 14, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-22-F-0200).
13 Apr 22. Spirit AeroSystems has secured a contract from The Boeing Company to support the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP). As agreed, Spirit AeroSystems will provide engine pylons and nacelles for the initial phase of the programme. The contract works will help in extending the service life of the B-52 Stratofortress through to 2050. Overall, the CERP scheme will involve the replacement of 608 engines installed in the US Air Force (USAF) B-52H fleet. These aircraft were built in Wichita, Kansas. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
12 Apr 22. Vertex Company has been awarded an $850m contract to support test aircraft for the US Navy’s Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL). The performance period of the new contract is one year and includes six additional one-year options. As per the contract, Vertex will provide assistance to a variety of fixed-wing, rotary and uncrewed aircraft operated by five squadrons of the NTWL naval aviation wing. The five test and evaluation squadrons under NTWL include HX-21, UX-24, VX-23, VX-20 and US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS). NTWL is a part of the US Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) and serves as fleet advocate for supporting the Navy’s evaluation and test aircraft. (Source: naval-technology.com)
TECHNOLOGY
12 Apr 22. Mercury Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, announced it received a $14m order from a leading defense prime contractor to provide system-in-package (SiP) assemblies for an airborne secure processing application. The order was received in the Company’s fiscal 2022 third quarter and is expected to be delivered over the next several quarters.
14 Apr 22. Peraton, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $118,209,707 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of services to support agile design and development of software used in the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command Systems for the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense program. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 13, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. (W31P4Q-22-F-0120).
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
11 Apr 22. Applied Virtual Simulation Pty Ltd has been awarded a $17.6m contract to provide next-generation military computer simulation training software to the Australian Army under Land Simulation Core 2.0 Tranche 1. Applied Virtual Simulation will now be tasked with facilitating access to its Common Simulation Software across Army’s Land Simulation Network over the next two years. The software, which features high-quality data, models and behaviours, is tipped to support training in realistic virtual warfighting scenarios, including military vehicle and weapon platforms training. (Source: Defence Connect)
12 Apr 22. BIRD Aerosystems, a global provider of innovative defense technology and solutions that protect the air, sea, and land fleets of governments and related agencies, is honored to announce that the company was chosen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MOD) through MAFAT – the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Research and Development, to demonstrate a prototype of a new defense system that will protect ground troops and high-value assets against various kinds of threats and missiles, including anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). The new defense system prototype will include a small innovative radar, based on the confirmation and tracking radar implemented in BIRD’s operationally-proven SPREOS. Small and lightweight, the new radar will conduct detection and verification of the threat, and then deploy and guide the system countermeasures to intercept the threat. Taking the unique abilities of BIRD’s renowned SPREOS DIRCM to novel arenas, the new defense system prototype will provide effective and precise protection to the ground forces. The project is currently under advanced stages of development, and the company is expected to conduct a demonstration of the complete defense system during 2022.
13 Apr 22. Queensland-based munitions company NIOA has secured funding to deliver lethality systems to the ADF under LAND 159 Tranche 1 following a period of consultation. Minister for Defence Peter Dutton has confirmed NIOA has been formally selected to deliver the Lethality Systems Project (LAND 159) Tranche 1. The $527.2m investment is designed to support the delivery of a range of lethal equipment to the Australian Defence Force, including:
- enhanced shotguns;
- personal defence weapons;
- pistols, laser sights;
- sniper sytems; and
- breaching systems.
In 2020, NIOA agreed to support Defence with approach to market, test and evaluation as well as the selection of systems. (Source: Defence Connect)
AIR
14 Apr 22. AeroVironment Inc., Simi Valley, California, was awarded a $19,737,523 firm-fixed-price contract for RQ-20 Puma AE systems, reconnaissance surveillance and target acquisition kits, initial spares package, contractor logistics support and new equipment training for the country of Ukraine. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Simi Valley, California, with an estimated completion date of May 30, 2022. Fiscal 2022 special funds in the amount of $19,737,523 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-22-C-0045). (Awarded April 12, 2022)
14 Apr 22. The U.S. State Department has cleared the sale of 12 AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria worth nearly $1bn, apparently after U.S. lawmakers lifted objections over human rights concerns. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Thursday announced the sale of the helicopters and related defense systems to the Nigerian military. The package includes $25m for human rights-related training. The sale includes the Bell-made Cobras; 28 General Electric-made T700-401C engines; 2,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems used to convert unguided missies into precision-guided missiles; and night vision, targeting and navigation systems. (Source: Defense News)
11 Apr 22. Argentina receives US State Department approval for T-6 sustainment and support deal. The US Department of State has approved a possible USD73mi Foreign Military Sale of T-6 Texan aircraft sustainment and related support to Argentina, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on 8 April. The government of Argentina requested modifications to the T-6 airframe and avionics to improve reliability, and for the integration of training munitions and external fuel tanks, according to the DSCA release. Buenos Aires is also requesting aircraft and engine support equipment; spare parts; heavy maintenance support; and US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services, as part of the package. The proposed deal needs approval by the US Congress. “The proposed renewal of T-6 aircraft support will provide the government of Argentina with the capability to meet current and future threats by revitalising Argentina’s trainer aircraft capabilities and to aid in the overall development of a professional pilot corps,” DSCA said. (Source: Janes)