UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
18 Oct 22. Serco, the international provider of services to Governments, has been awarded a three-year contract extension by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to continue to provide operations and maintenance support to the Solid State Phased Array Radar (SSPAR), part of the UK / US Ballistic Missile Early Warning System located at RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire. The initial six-year contract ran from 1 April 2014 to 2020 and this contract extension is the second of two three-year options, which will run from 2023-2026. Under the contract, Serco will continue to be responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of the SSPAR and associated hardware and life support systems including project management, facilities and hardware systems maintenance, analytical and training activities.
17 Oct 22. Major order for new Jackals for Supacat. A VTN has now been released and closed on 18 Oct for 75 new Jackals with a possibility of a further 165 over the next 18-months or so. This is great news for Supacat and its supplier base.
Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: (2022/S 000-028118/EN)
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Negotiated without a call for competition
Type of bid required: Not applicable
Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Supplies
Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: Ministry of Defence
Postal address: Vehicle Support Team, Cedar 1A #4110, MOD Abbey Wood South
Town: Bristol
Postal code: BS34 8JH
Country: United Kingdom
Contact Person: Ian Hamblin
Telephone: +44 3067988244
Email:
Internet address(es):
Main address:
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local sub-divisions
I.5) Main activity
Defence
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: Procurement of 75x High Mobility Truck Variant (HMTV) Platforms and associated support items
II.1.2) Main CPV code: 35410000
II.1.3) Type of contract Supplies
II.1.4) Short Description:
This contract will cover the procurement of additional High Mobility Tactical Vehicle (HMTV) platforms and associated support items to mitigate shortfalls against the current fleet as well as Future Soldier structures.
II.1.6) Information about lots
The contract is divided into lots: no
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement(excluding VAT)
Value:60000000.00
Currency:GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code: Main site or place of performance:Supacat Limited
The Airfield
Dunkeswell
Devon
EX14 4LF
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Authority intends to award a contract to Supacat Limited for the procurement of additional HMTV Platforms and associated support items to mitigate shortfalls against the current fleet as well as Future Soldier structures. The Contract shall include options for additional quantities of platforms, noting that there is no obligation to invoke these. Estimated value excluding VAT: Range £60m and £250m Ex VAT covering the procurement of 75x platforms across FY22/23 and 23/24 and associated support items, such as Complete Equipment Schedule (CES) and Training Support. It is estimated that the initial contract for the 75x platforms and support will total between £60m – £100m Ex VAT. This may potentially increase by a further 165x platforms and therefore have a potential total value of £250m Ex VAT if contractual options are invoked, noting that the Authority has no obligation to do so, therefore increasing the Total Fleet Requirement to 240x platforms. Any future procurements would be subject to separate Business Case approval.
II.2.5) Award criteria
II.2.11) Information about options
Options: yes
Description of options:
The initial contract will be for a 2-year period and shall contain options for additional quantities of HMTV platforms. Options shall be included for the Authority to procure additional platform quantities, noting there is no obligation on the Authority to invoke these. This will also require separate financial approval.
SEA
19 Oct 22. Rolls-Royce has secured a contract to provide long-term support for all the mtu generator sets onboard the UK Royal Navy’s (RN) ships and submarines. The contract was signed between the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) procurement arm Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and the company’s business unit Power Systems. The initial contract is valid for five years and has an additional two-year extension option. Work involves providing preventive and corrective maintenance services for more than 90 mtu engines from different series, including Series 183, 396 and 4000. All the gensets are either equipped with the existing RN vessels or are yet to be fitted. Different RN vessels to have mtu gensets include Hunt-class mine hunters, Duke-class or Type 23 vessels, Daring-class or Type 45 destroyers, City-class or Type 26 frigates and Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines. Rolls-Royce will also provide spare parts, on- and off-the-vessel repair support, diagnostics and commissioning assistance. If required, the company will also deliver design solutions for the modification and enhancement of different components of the vessels. (Source: naval-technology.com)
EUROPE
LAND
19 Oct 22. Lithuanian contract signed on acquisition of additional 300 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. Additional 300 JLTVs (Joint Light Tactical Vehicles) have been acquired for the Lithuanian Armed Forces according to a contract signed by the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence with the United. The Lithuanian Armed Forces will receive the total of 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, the current amount and the 200 items contracted for with the U.S. Government in 2019. The new vehicles will substantially strengthen the current capability of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, add mobility, personnel protection and combat power. The first shipment including 50 JLTVs arrived in Lithuania last summer and is now successfully used by the Lithuanian military. The next batch of 50 will be delivered in a month or two this year, and another 100 – in 2023, with the remaining to come gradually as well. The JLTVs will be assigned to battalions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Iron Wolf and Griffin Brigades, and to the national Rapid Response Force in order of priority.
19 Oct 22. Rheinmetall has won an order from the German Bundeswehr to supply additional rounds of its innovative 120mm practice ammunition for main battle tanks. The contract encompasses 10,715 DM98 cartridges and 10,000 DM88 cartridges. Issued in the second quarter of 2022, the order is worth around €42m, including value added tax. Delivery began in August and is slated to be complete in October. The German armed forces first took delivery of the new DM98 120mm practice round at the end of 2017. Developed by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH, this full-calibre practice round supersedes the earlier DM18 cartridge. Key features of the new round include above-average accuracy at ranges exceeding 2,000 metres as well as good observability during firing thanks to its continuously visible tracer under all daylight conditions. The new round, dubbed the “RH88”, was qualified in 2015 by Denmark, the pilot customer, for all Leopard 2 main armament variants in response to an urgent operational requirement. In 2016 it was successfully qualified by the Bundeswehr with a second packaging system and introduced as the DM98. In English it is officially known as the “Cartridge 120mm x 570, DM98 TP-T”, with the last three letters standing for Target Practice-Tracer. Qualified by the Bundeswehr in 2015/2016, the equally new 120mm DM88 subcalibre practice cartridge has been successfully used by the German military ever since. Developed by Rheinmetall as a successor to the DM78, it features an improved tracer as well as minor modifications due to altered materials specifications. Like the DM98, the DM88 features excellent accuracy, resulting in a highly realistic training experience. Its official English designation is “Cartridge 120mm x 570, DM88 TPCSDS-T”, short for Target Practice Cone Stabilized Discarding Sabot Tracer. In their current state of design, the cartridges fully comply with the EU regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).
SEA
19 Oct 22. The dTHOR consortium, lead by SINTEF (Norway), has been awarded €14.5m for research on the advancement of interpreting results from Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems in a Navy context (EDF-2021-NAVAL-R-SSHM). dTHOR (Digital Ship Structural Health Monitoring), will develop the next generation of predictive systems based on advanced sensors, a digital framework complying with recognised open standards for data exchange, and hybrid analysis and modelling combining physics-based, data-driven models. Light Structures is also a member of the EDINAF consortium, lead by Navantia (Spain), which has been awarded €29m for research on the next generation Digital Ship and Ship Digital Architecture (call: EDF-2021-NAVAL-R-DSSDA). EDINAF (European Digital Naval Foundation) will provide a European digital ship reference architecture, integrating the systems onboard to enhance operational capabilities.
20 Oct 22. Thales Develops its Cooperation With Greek Industries in the Frame of the FDI Belharra Frigates. At the 2022 edition of Euronaval in Paris, Thales has signed new local contracts with AKMON, SSMART and SSA concerning the FDI Belharra Frigates. Building on this momentum, Thales plans to further expand participation of other Greek industrial partners to other naval projects worldwide for manufacturing and for on-board activities. Moreover, Thales plans to reinforce its procurement capacity in Greece in 2023, with the objective to develop its Greek supplier eco-system. Thales will seize every opportunity and will commit to cooperate with Greek industrial partners or develop academic partnerships through universities and research centres. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
17 Oct 22. Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) announced that General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada has won a $24m contract to help the Portuguese Air Force modernize its fleet of P-3C aircraft to support Maritime patrol and reconnaissance activities. This was secured through a government-to-government (G2G) contract between CCC and the Portuguese Air Force. G2G contracts are part of CCC’s International Prime Contractor service that brings qualified Canadian companies to foreign government buyers. General Dynamics will provide equipment and technology to upgrade the communications and mission electronics. The upgrades to Portugal’s P3-C fleet are modeled on modernizations that General Dynamics provides to the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Mission Management System offered to Portugal now comprises over 50 installations worldwide on both Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Maritime Patrol Helicopters. (Source: PR Newswire)
20 Oct 22. Poland leases Reaper UAS as interim unmanned ISR solution. Poland is to lease a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper as an interim solution until it can field its own national medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capability. Mariusz Błaszczak, the country’s deputy prime minister and defence minister, made the disclosure on 21 October, announcing on his official Twitter account that the Reaper is being leased as “a bridging solution” for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Błaszczak did not disclose how many Reaper systems or air vehicles Poland is leasing, or for how long. (Source: Janes)
USA
LAND
13 Oct 22. Leidos has announced that it has secured a task order to support the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) various services. The order requires the company to take up works across the globe and comes with a ceiling value of over $1.5bn, if all solutions are deployed. The contract comes with a one-year base period of performance and four one-year option periods. Under the task order, Leidos will work on accelerating technological innovation by leveraging command, control, computers, communications, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) capabilities. The company will support the US Government with rapid technology insertions across services to improve C5ISR operations. The works will also focus on improving the efficiency of legacy systems through new technology. (Source: army-technology.com)
21 Oct 22. Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $476,814,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System. 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 Aug. 15, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-23-D-0003).
11 Oct 22. US Army awards Raytheon a USD207m C-UAS contract. Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business has been awarded a USD207mi U.S. Army contract for Ku-band Radio Frequency Sensors, or KuRFS, and Coyote® effectors. Under the contract, the systems will equip two U.S. Army divisions. Additional assets will also be provided to support ongoing Army flight tests and operational deployments. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
SEA
18 Oct 22. US Navy Awards BAE $143m Contract to Continue Surface Combat Systems Center Support. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division has awarded BAE Systems a five-year contract to provide management, engineering, maintenance, and IT support services to the Surface Combat Systems Center BAE Systems will continue to support the integration of various mission equipment, combat systems, and computer programs for the U.S. Navy’s Surface Combat Systems Center (SCSC) in Wallops Island, Virginia with a new $143 m, five-year contract. These mission-essential systems are used by sailors across the fleet for all current and future cruiser, destroyer, and amphibious ship modernization initiatives. BAE Systems’ technical, engineering, and overall programmatic support for SCSC includes all major activities and engineering on the systems used for Surface Navy testing, training, and support of deployed surface combat systems, advanced systems under development, warfare systems integration, interoperability, and at-sea testing and exercises. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
20 Oct 22. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is now under contract to deliver three Orion spacecraft to NASA for its Artemis VI-VIII missions, continuing the delivery of exploration vehicles to the agency to carry astronauts into deep space and around the Moon supporting the Artemis program. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for the Orion program and has completed two Orion vehicles—EFT-1 which flew in 2014, and Artemis I, which is weeks away from its launch to the Moon—and is actively building vehicles for the Artemis II-V missions. This order marks the second three missions under the agency’s Orion Production and Operations Contract (OPOC), an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for up to 12 vehicles. A breakout of these orders includes:
- 2019: NASA initiates OPOC IDIQ and orders three Orion spacecraft for Artemis missions III-V.
- 2022: NASA orders three additional Orion spacecraft missions for Artemis VI-VIII for $1.99bn.
- In the future: NASA can order an additional six Orion missions.
Under OPOC, Lockheed Martin and NASA have reduced the costs on Orion by 50% per vehicle on Artemis III through Artemis V, compared to vehicles built during the design and development phase. The vehicles built for Artemis VI, VII and VIII will see an additional 30% cost reduction. Additionally, the company will drive out cost from these production vehicles through material and component bulk buys from suppliers and an accelerated mission cadence.
18 Oct 22. Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B) announced today that L3Harris Technologies has selected Moog’s Space and Defense segment to provide its weapon Stores Management System (SMS) in support of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Armed Overwatch Program.
L3Harris’ USSOCOM award includes an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with a cost ceiling of $3bn. The program calls for delivery of up to 75 manned, fixed-wing aircraft. Moog’s combat proven, modular, lightweight, and affordable SMS solution will be integrated on each aircraft to provide superior fire-control and mission set capabilities. The flexible design of the SMS enables rapid integration and future upgrades to the sensors, avionics, and weapons ensuring value for future mission requirements in response to rapidly evolving threats. The Moog weapon SMS Armed Overwatch solution set entails the following:
– Enhanced Stores Management Computer (E-SMC)
– Stores Interface Unit (SIU)
– Remote Power Unit (RPU-6)
– Dual Rail Launcher (DRL) for HELLFIRE® Missile
18 Oct 22. Space Micro Inc, powered by Voyager Space, has been awarded an Orbital Prime contract by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) as part of the first phase of the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Space Micro proposed the development of Control Moment Gyro Barnacle (Barnacle), a robotic spacecraft that would replace or restore Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) capabilities and to expand on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (OSAM). Space Micro’s winning proposal is part of the USSF’s push to spur innovation, update high- value bespoke space systems, and harvest the maximum lifetime from these assets. The Barnacle will help address this need by augmenting spacecraft with additional ADCS technology and coordinating control of the target spacecraft, allowing USSF to resurrect key space assets that were previously lost. This proposal was developed in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories and Voyager’s Altius Space Machines. Space Micro teamed with Sandia National Labs to help with customer discovery during the program as well as Altius Space Machines, whose technology will be critical to allow the Barnacle to attach to satellites in geosynchronous orbit and then revive or refurbish that asset. (Source: PR Newswire)
TECHNOLOGY
17 Oct 22. Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing Company, has received a contract award for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Enabling Confidence (EC) program. The goal of this program is to develop scalable methods for incorporating uncertainty from sensors and environments into machine learning (ML) system outputs. This uncertainty is key to combining ML approaches with existing statistics-based estimation methods, such as Kalman Filters. As part of this project, Aurora aims to develop and train a novel ML system for simultaneously generating image-based object detections alongside their associated uncertainties. Under a subaward for this program, Aurora will collaborate with the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) to develop a scalable method to generate and maintain accurate statistical models in state-of-the-art deep neural networks for object detection and tracking. The program aims to enable the Department of Defense (DoD) to exploit advances in AI/ML to develop computationally efficient tools for processing and combining information from multiple sources while providing robust performance in mission-relevant tasks and safety-critical applications. This is Aurora’s fifth award under DARPA’s Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) program, a key component of the agency’s broader artificial intelligence (AI) investment strategy aimed at ensuring the United States maintains an advantage in this critical and rapidly accelerating technology area. (Source: ASD Network)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
21 Oct 22. Australia has awarded a contract to Babcock for the provision of an Enhanced Defence High-Frequency Communications System (EDHFCS) to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under the JP 9101 project. The new capability will be designed to provide Australian and allied armed forces with the ability to securely communicate using voice and data in support of key regional and global military operations. The 10-year contract, commencing in October 2023, forms part of the Commonwealth government’s $1.96bn commitment to upgrading communications infrastructure across the country. This is expected to involve building a new communication site near Darwin and establishing a software development centre in Adelaide. Babcock’s offering is expected to leverage the company’s Intelligent Network and Serial Protocol Interface for Radio Equipment (INSPIRE), built to simplify upgrades and reconfiguration. This is tipped to help produce an industrial capability solution, capable of providing through life support over the duration of the program.According to Babcock, the majority of works commissioned as part of the contract would be undertaken in Australia. (Source: Defence Connect)
19 Oct 22. Netro Optronics by MKU, Ms. Prachi Gupta (CEO, Netro Optronics) has been awarded the contract for Design & Indigenous Development of Night Vision Goggles for LUH by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This marks the first time the ANVG will not be imported from a foreign country. The revolutionary device powered by Gen 3 technology, will be developed under the fast-emerging and highly esteemed Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC).
19 Oct 22. Netro has also signed a monumental MOU with Hensoldt to indigenously manufacture and assemble NightOwl products in India, a technology developed for observation at extremely long ranges. The solution fulfils highest requirements for the seamless surveillance of land and maritime borders. Netro Soldier Optronics from MKU are industry-leading in-house solutions for night vision and thermal equipment which allow soldiers to operate efficiently in the dark. The range includes night vision and thermal weapon sights.
AIR
19 Oct 22. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has awarded the contract for Design & Indigenous Development of Night Vision Goggles for LUH to MKU Ltd, a Global Defence and Homeland Security Solutions Company headquartered out of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. This marks the first time the ANVG will not be imported from a foreign country. The revolutionary device powered by Gen 3 technology, will be developed under the fast-emerging and highly esteemed Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC). HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is a new-generation multi-role rotorcraft designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Armed Forces, designed to meet both military and civilian needs. It can perform multiple missions such as surveillance, reconnaissance, rescue, medical evacuations, and cargo/troop transport. Up until now, the Aviation Night Vision Goggles for the LUH were procured by Elbit Systems, headquartered in Israel. The contract was awarded to Ms. Prachi Gupta, CEO Netro Optronics at MKU.
20 Oct 22. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of MH-60R helicopter fleet sustainment support to Australia. The estimated $162m sale has also received approval from the US State Department. As part of this sale package, the Australian Government has requested to purchase additional non-major defence equipment (MDE) MH-60R sustainment equipment and services. The items and services will be added to the original implemented case, which included MH-60R multi-mission helicopter sustainment support. The original FMS was valued at $89.8m. Prime contractor for the latest non-MDE FMS will be Lockheed Martin. (Source: naval-technology.com)