UNITED KINGDOM NAD NATO
LAND
23 June 22. DIO awards £117m worth of contracts to support US Visiting Forces. United States Forces stationed in the UK will benefit from £117m worth of new contracts to deliver repair and maintenance services to bases. The contracts, awarded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), will provide hard facilities management services to United States (US) Air Force bases at; RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Croughton, RAF Molesworth, RAF Alconbury, RAF Fairford and RAF Menwith Hill. The contracts will support current and future operational requirements by providing property maintenance, repairs, servicing, and hard facilities management to buildings used by the US Forces, as well as housing at Lakenheath. They were awarded to; VIVO Defence for RAF Lakenheath, RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford and RAF Menwith Hill, and to Mitie for RAF Mildenhall. The contracts, which also include the provision for a further £46m in additional works, have been developed in close collaboration with the US Air Force to ensure that the needs of the users on each base have been fully considered. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
SEA
21 June 22. Royal Navy Aircraft carriers to be supported by new logistics facility. A new Royal Navy logistics centre in Portsmouth – dedicated to crucial maintenance for the QEC aircraft carriers – has been officially opened today. A new Royal Navy logistics centre in Portsmouth – dedicated to crucial maintenance for HMS Queen Elizabeth and wider naval ships and equipment – has been officially opened today. Providing critical support to the UK’s largest and most powerful surface vessels in the Royal Navy, the Queen Elizabeth Carrier (QEC) Forward Logistics Centre will streamline logistical support for the vessels. The new Hampshire facility will see everything from new lightbulbs, to critical engine parts funnelled through the site, helping to ensure that following maintenance the QEC carriers can quickly return to operations to protect and defend the UK’s interests at sea. Secured with a £7m contract with BAE Systems and Francis Construction, the new centre is the final project delivered within the 19-year QEC Infrastructure programme. Beginning in 2003, the programme has invested £350m into the Portsmouth naval base and £100m in Scotland, creating and sustaining at least 550 jobs across the 50-year life of the vessels. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
17 June 22. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. Marine Systems, Sunnyvale, California, is awarded a $458,006,503 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0003022C1013) for fiscal 2022-2026 shipyard field operations, program management, systems engineering, documentation, logistics and hardware production activities in support of the Columbia and Dreadnought Fleet Ballistic Missile Program. This contract action contains option line items. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (88%); Bangor, Washington (4.3%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (3.3%); Annapolis, Maryland (.8%); Kings Bay, Georgia (0.5%); and the United Kingdom (3.1%). Work is expected to be completed November 30, 2027. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,000; fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,921,054; and fiscal 2022 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $61,668,000 are obligated on this award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is being awarded to the contractor on a sole source basis under 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and was previously synopsized on the System for Award Management online portal. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
AIR
23 June 22. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of precision guided munitions and related equipment to the Nato Support and Procurement Agency. The US State Department has approved the $22.7m sale that includes 279 GBU-39/B small diameter bombs, Increment I, 204 FMU-152 fuses, 204 MK-82 500LB general purpose bombs, and 50 BLU-109 2000LB hard target penetrator bombs. Smoke signal cartridges, engineering, and technical support, among other logistical support, are also part of the sale. Boeing and Raytheon Missile Systems will serve as the principal contractors for production. The principal contractor responsible for integration is likely to be decided during the course of contract negotiations. There is no known offset deal with regards to this sale. The sale will allow Nato to address evolving ground threats. The increased quantity of the precision guided munitions will also help the organisation to initiate a pre-coordinated transfer of weapons, and improve interoperability within contingency operations. The proposed sale supports the foreign policy and national security of the US. It allows 12 Nato nations, including the UK, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Greece, and one enhanced opportunity partner nation, to execute contingency operations. (Source: army-technology.com)
EUROPE
LAND
20 Jun 22. The French defense procurement agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has announced a new “optional tranche” contract awarded to Safran Electronics & Defense for FURIOUS (FUturs systèmes Robotiques Innovants en tant qu’OUtilS), a science and technology program that aims to develop innovative robotic systems for mounted and dismounted warfighters. The DGA’s announcement follows successful field trials of the FURIOUS robotic system, carried out by Safran in late 2021 at the French army’s urban combat training center (Sissone military base) – a key advance culminating the firm contract phase. During this phase participants focused on the modular architecture concept (hardware and software), designed to ensure the autonomous operation of any terrestrial platform, whether crewed or not. Safran Electronics & Defense was able to deploy this architecture on three very different types of platforms included in the FURIOUS system. The optional tranche announced today aims to optimize this architecture and make the autonomous functions developed more robust (tracking passage points, replaying trajectories, monitoring the leader, autonomous target homing, etc.) within more complex and even unstable environments.
AIR
23 June 22. The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) has signed a landmark Spanish contract for the acquisition of 20 latest generation Eurofighter jets. Known as the Halcon programme, the order will cover the delivery of a fleet of E-Scan (Electronically Scanned) radar equipped fighter aircraft consisting of 16 single-seaters and 4 twin-seaters to replace the F-18 fleet operated by the Spanish Air Force on the Canary Islands. This contract will see the Spanish Eurofighter fleet grow to 90 aircraft. With the first delivery due in 2026, these new aircraft will enhance and position the Spanish Air Force fighter fleet among its NATO allies with the most modern fighter jet developed in Europe, as well as securing industrial activity through to 2030. The acquisition, valued at € 2.043bn, was approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers on 14 December 2021 and includes the aircraft, engines, a simulator and the necessary support services. The order will see the Eurofighter consortium deliver aircraft for the Spanish Air Force equipped with an advanced new electronically-scanning radar, ensuring it is ready to be part of the future battlespace into the 2060s and beyond. BAE Systems leads the overall design, development, manufacture, upgrade and support for Typhoon aircraft in the UK. BAE Systems is responsible for manufacturing more than a third of components for every Spanish aircraft, including the aircraft’s front fuselage and tail, under a contract worth in excess of £500m. Final assembly of the aircraft for Spain will be undertaken by Airbus in Getafe, Spain, with deliveries scheduled to commence from 2025. The Typhoon aircraft will replace Spain’s ageing F-18 Hornet aircraft based at Gando Air Base in the Canary Islands.
23 June 22. Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), announced that it has entered into a framework agreement worth up to NOK 475m (approximately $48m) with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency to deliver advanced Black Hornet® nano unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The agreement is valid for four years but can be extended a year at a time for up to three additional years. While Norway received its first Black Hornet in 2015, this agreement represents the country’s largest commitment to date. With these new orders, Norway will become one of the largest users of Teledyne FLIR’s Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System. The Black Hornet weighs just 33 grams (less than 0.1 pounds) and measures 168 millimeters (less than seven inches). Well suited for operations in highly contested and GPS-denied environments, nearly silent, and with a flight time up to 25 minutes, the pocket-sized UAV transmits live visible and thermal video to the operator. Teledyne FLIR Defense has delivered more than 12,000 Black Hornets to defense and security forces worldwide. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 June 22. Rheinmetall wins major air start units order for the German Air Force. Rheinmetall has received a new and important contract for the German Air Force. The framework contract, awarded by the German procurement agency BAAINBw, is currently worth up to CAD 18 m (€13 m) and will run over the next three years. Between 2022 and 2025, Rheinmetall will supply its customer with 16 new mobile start units with integrated ground power (MSU-GP). The contract also includes the retrofit of 48 MSU-E units currently in service to the most recent MSU-GP version. The German Air Force has been using the Rheinmetall MSU to start its entire fleet of aircraft, including the Eurofighter, since 2014. This contract hence continues a business relationship that has been successful for decades. Designed to prioritize reliability and versatility, the Rheinmetall MSU-GP is a dependable solution for any takeoff. As the only turbine-powered air start unit, it is lighter to deploy and more compact than a diesel engine unit. Air transportable and proven across the globe even in extreme weather environments, the MSU-GP delivers. And integrated ground power means 2-for-1: it saves critical space with both a bleed air and electrical power supply in a single unit, while improving cost effectiveness. Rheinmetall’s mobile start units (MSU) have both military and commercial applications and a broad international appeal. These units are found in airports around the globe: more than 1200 have been sold in more than 40 countries. On the military side, Rheinmetall MSUs are not only used with the German Air Force, but are also in operation with the US Navy who employs them on all of their aircraft carriers. Trusted by civilian companies including major German aviation companies, British Airways, American Airlines, Air New Zealand, and FedEx, the MSUs can start even the most demanding aircraft, including the B777-300ER and A380.
20 Jun 22. Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo 33%), and Telespazio, the joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), have signed a follow-on contract with the Italian Ministry of Defense1, for the SICRAL 3 secure satellite communications system and its ground segment. This latest contract covers the development of phase D2. It continues a complex, process that started with the initial phases 0/A, followed by phases B and C and several implementation phases, leading up to the launch of SICRAL 3A by 2026 and subsequently the launch of SICRAL 3B. SICRAL, the Italian System for Secure Communications and Alerts, comprises geostationary satellites for strategic and tactical communications, which support various defense missions, both in Italy and abroad. The new SICRAL 3 system is designed to meet Italian defense communications and interoperability requirements. It will ensure continuity with the current SHF and UHF-band telecom services provided by the SICRAL 1A, 1B and SICRAL 2 satellites, while expanding its range of services with a new Ka-band payload, as well as supporting security, public rescue and civil protection services. (Source: ASD Network)
TECHNOLOGY
22 June 22. The French DGA has awarded a multi-year contract to Thales and radiocommunications developer Syrlinks to develop a new generation of atomic clocks. The small, high performance quantum clocks, named CHRONOS, will cater to both civil and military applications. Given the high stability, with an error of less than one second in tens of thousands of years, the quantum clocks will enable defence-related electronics equipment to operate even when a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal such as GPS or Galileo, is unavailable, especially in cases of hostile jamming. (Source: army-technology.com)
USA
SEA
21 June 22. Austal USA has secured a detailed design and construction (DD&C) contract for the US Navy’s auxiliary floating dry dock medium (AFDM). The DD&C contract has an estimated value of $128m. The company will carry out the AFDM construction work at its modern steel panel line in Mobile, Alabama. AFDM is a Rennie-type floating dry dock with a lifting capacity of around 18,000lt. The clear deck working area of the dry dock medium is approximately 90,800ft². The overall length of AFDM is 694ft, the breadth of the pontoon is 157ft, and the height from baseline to wing deck is 65ft. The new AFDM will include various features to enhance maintainability and operability of the dry dock. These new additions will be based on Austal’s experience gained from owning, maintaining and operating a dry dock at its West Campus repair facility. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
20 Jun 22. The US Air Force (USAF) has selected LIFT Airborne Technologies to continue the development of a new helmet prototype for fixed-wing aircrew. The selection comes after the Air Combat Command (ACC) initiated a search for a next-generation helmet to meet the aircrew’s requirements. The helmets will now undergo additional research, test and enhancements before the USAF finalises the prototype design and offers a production contract in 2024. Once the production is complete, ACC is planning to execute a phased approach for the delivery of helmets to all the fixed-wing aircrew members. Delivery of helmets will start with the F-15E Strike Eagle aircrew. With the new helmet, ACC aims to address various issues including enhancing pilot longevity, solution for long-term neck and back injuries, optimising aircraft technology and delivering improved fitment to different aircrews. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
21 June 22. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, has been awarded a $130,527,339 modification (P00032) to contract FA8210-17-C-0001 for the Advanced Radar Threat System – Variant 2 (ARTS-V2) systems. The contract modification is to provide for the exercise of Options 3 and 4 for an additional quantity of eight ARTS-V2 systems being produced under the basic contract. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, and is expected to be completed June 16, 2024. Fiscal 2021 and 2022 other procurement funds are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $589,806,917. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity.
23 June 22. Lockheed Martin Corp., Littleton, Colorado, has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract in the amount of $581,638,399 for Global Positioning System (GPS) IIR IIR-M III IIIF On-Orbit Support. This contract will provide engineering services to the operational units in support of GPS Block IIR/IIR-M/III/IIIF satellite constellation. It encompasses, but is not limited to, technical expertise, system administration for government furnished property, cybersecurity, special studies, data collection, and anomaly resolution. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Los Angeles, California. The Space Systems Command Directorate of Contracting, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the contracting activity (FA8823-22-D-0002).
22 June 22. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $248,225,000 modification (P00027) to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive (firm-target) contract (N0001919C0008). This modification adds scope to procure two additional low rate initial production Lot 5 MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft systems for the Navy. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (24.8%); Palmdale, California (14.8%); Red Oak, Texas (11.6%); Baltimore, Maryland (9.7%); Moss Point, Mississippi (8.1%); Salt Lake City, Utah (6.6%); Bridgeport, West Virginia (5.7%); Indianapolis, Indiana (4.6%); Newton, North Dakota (1.6%); San Clemente, California (1.5%); various locations within the continental U.S. (9.8%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (1.2%), and is expected to be completed in February 2027. Fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $248,225,000 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.
17 June 22. Raytheon Technologies’ company Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S) has been selected for a $46.2m project-level agreement to modernise the US Air Force’s (USAF) A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The firm-fixed-price contract falls under the System of Systems Consortium’s (SOSSEC) Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) consortium initiative Other Transaction Authority (OTA). As part of the latest agreement, RI&S will replace the mission computer of the USAF’s A-10C Thunderbolt II (Warthog) aircraft with its Common Open Secure Mission Computer (COSMC). The modernisation effort will upgrade the combat systems control improving air dominance and sustainability of the aircraft. The A-10 Central Interface Control System programme involves replacing the existing weapons stores management and mission computer systems, modernising operational flight programme software environment and establishing RI&S’ COSMC as the A-10’s new central computer. RI&S has collaborated with non-traditional defence contractors including Vertex, KIHOMAC, Apogee Worx and CymSTAR. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
TECHNOLOGY
23 June 22. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded BAE Systems a $7.8m contract to develop tightly integrated machine learning software as part of the Multi-Sensor Exploitation for Tactical Autonomy (META) program. This technology will enable advanced situational awareness and automatic target recognition (ATR). Under the terms of the award, BAE Systems’ FAST Labs™ research and development organization will provide Environmentally Adaptive Geospatial Learning and Exploitation, an innovative suite of machine learning and fusion algorithms. The system integrates multiple elements of the company’s extensive autonomy portfolio to provide high confidence detection, tracking, identification, and intent understanding for critical mobile targets in contested environments, including targets under camouflage, concealment, and deception. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
21 June 22. BlueHalo has won a contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for Directed Energy Modeling, Simulation, Analysis and Wargaming (DEMSAW) programme. The contract has an estimated value of $80m. Under the DEMSAW programme, the company will provide its Wargaming as a Service Enterprise (WaaSE) as a solution. It will support the development and operation of a credible virtual range and a digital ecosystem for housing Modelling, Simulation, Analysis and Wargaming (MSA&W) tools. Additionally, the WaaSE solution will support the transition of directed energy (DE) systems and concepts to the warfighters. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
23 June 22. ECS, a leader in advanced technology, science, and digital transformation solutions, has been awarded a five-year contract by the U.S. Army valued at $49m. This project aligns with the Army’s larger network transformation strategy of providing units across the globe with a simple-to-use, expeditionary, mobile, hardened tactical network. To that end, ECS will provide software licensing, engineering services, training, and laboratory services to support the accreditation, integration, testing, and fielding of security software products. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
23 June 22. Gambia orders Hizir APCs. Gambia has apparently become the latest customer for Turkey’s Hizir armoured personnel carrier, after ordering 20 of the type. Africa Intelligence reported last year that Gambia was ordering 20 Hizir vehicles from Katmerciler, and Turkish defence publication DefenceTurk reported earlier this month that the agreement was signed in August 2021. It went on to state that photos showed Hizir vehicles in Gambian camouflage, indicating testing and deliveries were underway. The apparent order comes after a March 2021 visit by a Gambian military delegation to Turkey that discussed bilateral cooperation. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
AIR
22 June 22. IAI to provide airborne EW jammer pods to an Asian air force. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has secured a contract to provide their Scorpius-SP airborne electronic warfare (EW) self-protection jammer pods to an undisclosed country in Asia. The “multimillion-dollar deal” has been finalised to enhance the capabilities of the concerned country’s air force, IAI said in a media release on 21 May. IAI had not responded to Janes request for more information regarding the Asia-based customer at the time of publication. According to Janes C4ISR & Mission Systems: Air, Scorpius-SP – also known as ELL-8222SB – is based on active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology. The AESA technology, with its narrowly focused high-power directional beams, provides high sensitivity for target detection. The jammer pod utilises electronically steered jamming technology together with digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) and a range of electronic countermeasure (ECM) techniques to enable protection against various threats. According to IAI, Scorpius-SP can simultaneously detect and suppress all types of air-to-air and surface-to-air threats in different directions around the aircraft. (Source: Janes)
16 June 22. Jordan to Join F-16 Block 70 Program. The selection of new production F-16 aircraft extends Jordan’s existing fleet of F-16s, bringing advanced capabilities to the mission combined with affordable operating and lifecycle costs. Jordan’s new F-16s will be built in Greenville, South Carolina, where Lockheed Martin continues to hire for positions that work directly on building and sustaining these jets. (Source: ASD Network)
17 June 22. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $578,246,002 firm-fixed-price modification (P00001) to a previously awarded contract (N0001922C0032). This modification provides program management support, non-recurring unique requirements, and training for continued integration efforts for a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (85%); Orlando, Florida (10%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (5%), and is expected to be completed in March 2030. FMS customer funds in the amount of $578,246,002 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.
22 June 22. US approves $94m sale of AGM-88E2 missiles to Australia. Principal contractor of the FMS is Northrop Grumman Information Systems (NGIS), Ridgecrest, California. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of the potential foreign military sale (FMS) of AGM-88E2 advanced anti-radiation guided missiles (AARGM) to Australia. The estimated $94m FMS has been approved by the US State Department and includes associated equipment and support. The deal includes AGM-88E2 AARGM all up round (AUR) tactical missiles, AGM-88E2 AARGM captive air training missiles (CATM), high speed anti-radiation missiles (HARM) G-Code AUR, HARM G-Code CATM, M-Code GPS receivers, containers, support and test equipment. Additionally, this sale package will include 15 AGM-88E2 AARGMs guidance sections, 15 AARGM control sections, 15 HARM rocket motors, 15 HARM warheads and 15 HARM control sections. The Australian Government also requested to provide EA-18G Growler test support, software (classified and unclassified), spare and repair parts, the US government and contractor engineering support and related elements of logistical and programme support. Principal contractor of the deal is Northrop Grumman Information Systems (NGIS), Ridgecrest, California. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
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