UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
10 Nov 22. Elbit Systems UK’s subsidiary Instro Precision Technologies (Instro) has been awarded a contract to provide another consignment of its XACT nv33 Night Vision Goggles to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). This follows the successful delivery of XACT nv33 NVGs that have been deployed across various military elements including the new Ranger Regiment and the RAF Regiment. The deployment of the XACT nv33 systems received a positive reception from end-users, and Instro was contracted to provide additional XACT nv33 systems to MOD as well as through-life support. This latest order brings the total accumulated value of XACT NVG contracts to approximately £30m over the last two years. The rollout of the systems will take place over the next 18 months and follows a substantial investment into Instro’s facility in Kent. With a state-of-the-art Electro-Optical equipment factory, clean rooms and cutting-edge test apparatus installed, the facility will have the capacity to support additional large MOD programmes. Instro now has fully end-to-end domestic manufacturing capabilities which will maximise the quality and timely delivery of equipment, as well as investing in local skills and supporting jobs in the area. The lightweight micro binocular XACT nv33 Night Vision Goggles be supplied in a helmet-mounted configuration, with size, weight and improved capabilities that have already been well-received by the Army. The XACT nv33 systems allow troops to operate effectively in low-light conditions at a tactical level, maximising their mission efficiency in both dismounted and mounted roles. Products from the XACT family are already in operational use with a number of NATO members including the Netherlands and Germany.
TECHNOLOGY
10 Nov 22. Roke, a leading UK innovator in science and engineering, has been successful in winning a £4.7m contract with the Ministry of Defence. The British Army is seeking to uplift its training assessment capability by bringing new insights into the Radio Frequency (RF), Electro-Optic (EO) and Infra-red (IR) emissions associated with battlefield operations. The competitive contract awarded to Roke is to deliver Project BESTLA which will provide remote observation, surveillance and RF emission collection systems for the British Army’s Land Warfare Centre (LWC). This service will provide enhanced support to LWC’s Observer Mentors in their training assessment and feedback. Project BESTLA can be used wherever the British Army trains around the world. The solution builds upon Roke’s established “Electronic Warfare as a Service” (EWaaS) offering, exploiting the RESOLVE and PERCEIVE product lines, and combining with EO/IR surveillance capabilities delivered by Soteria Defence and Security Limited. The contract has a value of £4.698M for the initial 3 years’ service with options to extend for a further 2 years.
EUROPE
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07 Nov 22. Kitron has entered into a long-term production agreement with an expected value of NOK 750m with Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace AS for electronic modules that are part of KONGSBERG’s remote weapon station system (RWS). On Monday, 31 October, KONGSBERG announced a new 5-year framework agreement with the U.S. Army for its version of the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS). For Kitron’s production facilities in the USA and Norway, the CROWS program is expected to generate annual revenues of NOK 150m over the next five years. The volume will depend on demand and the annual budget process in the US and may therefore be either lower or higher. (Source: Google/Yahoo!)
07 Nov 22. Rosomak to supply more technical reconnaissance vehicles to Poland. Rosomak WRT enables troops to take up multiple tasks including diagnostics, evacuation, and repair of damaged vehicles. The Polish Armaments Agency has awarded a contract to Rosomak for the delivery of 11 additional Rosomak WRT technical reconnaissance vehicles. Valued at more than $30.55m (zl144m), the contract involves the supply of technical reconnaissance versions of wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for the Polish Army. The vehicles are expected to be delivered between 2024 and 2025. (Source: army-technology.com)
09 Nov 22. The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Lithuania of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Launchers and related equipment for an estimated cost of $495m. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Lithuania has requested to buy eight (8) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Launchers; thirty-six (36) M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) Missile Pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS); thirty-six (36) M31A2 GMLRS Unitary High Explosive (HE) Missile Pods; thirty-six (36) XM403 Extended Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) Missile Pods with IMPS; thirty-six (36) XM404 Extended Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) Unitary Pods with IMPS; and eighteen (18) M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Missile Pods. Also included are M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket (LCRRPR) pods; International Field Artillery Tactical Data System (IFATDS); battle management system Vehicle Integration Kits; ruggedized laptops; training equipment publications for HIMARS and munitions; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The total estimated cost is $495 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of a NATO Ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress within Eastern Europe. The proposed sale will contribute to Lithuania’s military goals of updating its capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies. Lithuania intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. Lithuania will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. (Source: ASD Network)
SEA
09 Nov 22. Raytheon Missile and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $60,423,838 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-22-C-5400 to exercise options for fiscal 2023 U.S. Navy and Federal Republic of Germany procurements for Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2B guided missile round pack requirements. Work will be performed in Ottobrunn, Germany (62%); Bedford, New Hampshire (12%); Glenrothes Fife, Scotland (9%); Middletown, Pennsylvania (7%); Tucson, Arizona (5%); Keyser, West Virginia (2%); and various other locations each under 1% (3%), and is expected to be completed by January 2026. Fiscal 2023 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $52,688,938 (87%); and Memorandum of Understanding funds in the amount of $7,734,900 (13%) will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
AIR
07 Nov 22. The Romanian Ministry of National Defense (MApN) announced in a press release on November 4 that it signed the EUR388m contract for the purchase of 32 F-16 aircraft from the Government of Norway. The agreement includes the 32 F-16 aircraft in the M6.5.2 configuration, spare engines and logistical support. Although Norway’s F-16s are older and have been used more (40 years), according to MApN, they are in a better configuration than the 17 that Romania now operates. Currently, the Romanian Air Force has 17 F-16 aircraft, purchased from Portugal, in the M5.2R configuration, which will also be upgraded to the M6.6 configuration with the contribution of the US. The permit from the US, which supports the purchase of the 32 F-16 aircraft from Norway, should be received by the end of this year. The aircraft will be delivered within three years, with the first units expected by the end of 2023. Romania’s Air Force will use the F-16 fleet until switching to the newer gen-5 aircraft. (Source: News Now/https://www.romania-insider.com/)
08 Nov 22. DoD/DCSA Notifies Congress of Possible FMS of Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Belgium. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Cooperation Security Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress that the Government of Belgium has requested to buy incrementally up to one hundred twenty (120) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); and ten (10) AMRAAM C-8 Guidance Sections. Also included are spare AIM-120 control sections and containers; AIM-120C Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); other spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair/return support; classified software; books, technical documentation, and other publications; training and training equipment; munitions support and support equipment; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost for the approved scope is $380 m. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. (Source: glstrade.com)
08 Nov 22. Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), today announced that scale-up manufacturer SWISSto12 will produce the Intelsat 45 satellite (IS-45). With the order, Intelsat becomes the first commercial customer for the innovative HummingSat geostationary (GEO) telecommunications product. Scheduled for launch in 2025, Intelsat 45 will provide Ku-band fixed-satellite services enabling Intelsat to provide specialized and efficient service to Media and Network customers. (Source: ASD Network)
USA
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08 Nov 22. Eolian VR Inc., Nutley, New Jersey, was awarded a $9,999,980 firm-fixed-price, production, other transaction agreement (H92405-23-9-P001) with a period of performance from Nov. 7, 2022, through Nov. 6, 2025. The agreement will provide U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) with an enterprise-level augmented reality and virtual reality production system that will provide a rapid and efficient solution for an emerging capability opportunity to operational users across the Special Operations Forces enterprise. The work will be performed in Nutley, New Jersey, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 6, 2025. Fiscal 2022 procurement funds were obligated at the time of award. This contract is awarded as a follow-on production after full and open competition from the initial prototype, other transaction agreement H92405-20-9-P012. This organization is a small, disadvantaged business. USSOCOM, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 7, 2022)
08 Nov 22. Inmarsat Government announced that the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has awarded Inmarsat Government the U.S. Army Blue Force Tracker (BFT) Network Services Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for satellite communications (SATCOM) to support connectivity between BFT devices and backhaul, with the ceiling value of up to $410m over a one year base plus 4 one year options. BFT provides friendly force tracking information across tens of thousands of platforms and increased network capacity to transfer data. Under the contract, Inmarsat Government, will deliver Inmarsat ELERA-powered worldwide, assured, resilient L-band satellite solutions to allow connectivity between BFT transceivers and satellite earth stations. Inmarsat Government has provided world-class support to operational BFT units since 2017. Under the newly awarded BPA, Inmarsat Government will continue to provide L-band power and bandwidth leases, super high frequency satellite connectivity, Internet service and Host Nation Agreement services to support operations of the BFT networks worldwide. (Source: ASD Network)
10 Nov 22. Kromek (AIM: KMK), a leading developer of radiation and bio-detection technology solutions for the advanced imaging and CBRN detection segments, announces that it has received, and delivered, a contract worth $1.3m from a US customer for the Group’s D3M wearable radiation detector. This contract is a repeat order, with Kromek having now delivered D3M orders worth $2.6m to this customer in the last six months. Kromek’s D3M is a high-performance combined gamma/neutron personal radiation detector that helps guard against the threat of nuclear terrorism and the illicit movement of nuclear materials. It is wearable, unobtrusive, hands-free and continuously scans for radiation with a six-times lower false alarm rate than the standard of the American National Standards Institute.
SEA
08 Nov 22. Saab has received a contract modification to provide two additional AN/SPN-50(V)1 shipboard air traffic radar (SATR) systems for the US Navy. This modification builds on a previously awarded low-rate initial production contract from last year. The estimated value of the new modification is around $30m. Booked in the third quarter of 2022, the contract modification also includes the delivery of spare parts and radar installation support. The company will perform the related radar manufacturing, delivery, test and integration work at its facility in Syracuse, New York. Delivery of the first radar system to the US Navy is expected to take place by 2024. The two systems will be the sixth and seventh SATR systems covered in the production contract. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
09 Nov 22. AeroVironment Inc.,* Simi Valley, California, was awarded an $86,424,635 firm-fixed-price contract for the RQ-20B All Environment 3 and the Long Endurance Puma unmanned aircraft systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Simi Valley, California, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2023. Fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $86,424,635 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-23-C-0007).
09 Nov 22. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colorado, has been awarded $78,298,370 firm-fixed-price contract modification (P00059) to previously awarded FA8810-18-C-0002 for development and fabrication of the weather system follow-on microwave Space Vehicle 2. Work will be performed in Boulder, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 15, 2027. Fiscal year 2022 and 2023 research and development funds in the amount of $24,411,492 are being obligated at the time of award. Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity.
08 Nov 22. Cognitive Space, a startup based in Houston, Texas, won a $1.2m contract extension to continue development of the company’s satellite tasking software for the Air Force Research Laboratory. The contract is a Small Business Innovation Research agreement known as a TACFI, or Tactical Funding Increase. The Air Force uses the company’s Cognitive Inference Tasking (CNTIENT) software tool to prototype a hybrid architecture of government and commercial remote-sensing satellites. Cognitive Space in 2020 won a $1.5 m SBIR Phase 2 contract for the artificial intelligence-driven software. The $1.2 m TACFI deal includes both government and private funding, and extends the work for two more years. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Space News)
03 Nov 22. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, has been awarded a subcontract to increase America’s capacity for hypersonic flight testing. The program, known as Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB), was awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division’s Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) other transaction authority to Kratos partner and prime contractor Dynetics and the MACH-TB Team (the Team) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Under the MACH-TB contract, the Team will develop an affordable and responsive hypersonic test bed platform to dramatically increase the nation’s capacity for ground and flight testing of hypersonic technologies and payloads by leveraging commercial infrastructure and launch vehicle providers. The MACH-TB Experimentation project will result in a proof of concept and prototype demonstration of modular Experimental Glide Body (EGB) testing hypersonic technologies/experimental payloads in operational trajectories using already available boosters. The MACH-TB program will offer the DoD a national hypersonic testing capability to be leveraged by a broad range of U.S. military hypersonics programs, DoD research programs, industry partners, and stakeholders from academia. MACH-TB will leverage many of Kratos’ strengths, products, systems, and solutions, including decades of experience and expertise with hypersonic materials and structures gained through the recent acquisition of the Kratos Southern Research Engineering (SRE) business unit, as well as decades of proven hypersonic flight testing and launch vehicle experience within Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services (DRSS) Division. (Source: ASD Network)
04 Nov 22. Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a not-to-exceed $765,158,560 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, undefinitized indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for site activation/hardware requirements in support of first aircraft arrival, initial operation capability, and full operational capability milestone events, to include site activation events, support equipment, pilot flight equipment, and post ejection survival training material, as well as contract management, planning and readiness reviews and associated non-recurring introduction to service activities in support of F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C aircraft initial sustainment activities for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense participants and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California (52%); Orlando, Florida (44%); Fort Worth, Texas (3%); and Lancashire, United Kingdom (1%), and is expected to be completed in December 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001923D0010).
02 Nov 22. RocketStar has been awarded a contract by the United States Air Force (USAF) AFWERX program for a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award to continue its effort in the development a fusion-powered space engine called the Boron-Enhanced Electric Propulsion (BEEP) Drive. The BEEP Drive project is a collaboration between Rocketstar, Rhea Space Activity, Inc., and Miles Space, Inc. The award marks an essential next step for RocketStar’s evolving offering of space propulsion technologies. The new grant was secured based on extraordinary Phase 1 results, which saw the company and its partners achieve aneutronic fusion by observing a high degree of alpha particles. RocketStar’s aneutronic fusion technology creates a fusion reaction of a boron nucleus with a proton that produces alpha particles. This Phase 2 award will allow for third party validation of the fusion, as well as the ability to accurately quantify thrust output. (Source: ASD Network)
TECHNOLOGY
09 Nov 22. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded BAE Systems a $17m contract to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) into an interactive game environment to revolutionize air operations planning for contested environments. As part of the Fight Tonight program, the company will provide air operations planners with the tools they need to dramatically accelerate the process of planning complex air attack operations. Under the terms of the Technical Area 2, Plan Gaming and Outcome Analysis contract, BAE Systems’ FAST Labs™ research and development organization, along with subcontractors Uncharted Software and Kestrel Institute, will develop a solution to rapidly generate and review multiple plans and select the most robust. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
08 Nov 22. The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a contract for the purchase and integration of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) payload on two additional E-11A modified Bombardier business jets. BACN enhances tactical and situational awareness communications and coordination for joint and coalition forces. This award is part of the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract awarded in 2021 for continued BACN operations, sustainment and support. BACN is currently carried on three E-11As and is a key command and control facilitator supporting airdrops, personnel recovery, convoy, humanitarian assistance and close air support operations. In 2020, Northrop Grumman’s BACN gateway system reached 200,000 combat operational flight hours since its first deployment with the U.S. Air Force and is one of the first battle-tested gateway systems to enable warfighters and platforms to effectively communicate and securely share data across all branches of the DoD.
08 Nov 22. QinetiQ US, a leading defense company providing mission-critical solutions in robotics and autonomous systems, sensing, protection systems, and next-generation autonomous vehicles announced today that it has won a contract for Research, Development, and Engineering Support for Image Processing and Advanced Optics Technologies supporting the U.S. Army C5ISR Center, Research & Technology Integration Directorate, Image Processing Division (IPD). This task order has a ceiling value of over $48m with a 48-month period of performance, including a 24-month base and 24-month option. QinetiQ will provide engineering support for a multi-fold research, engineering, and development project for the C5ISR Center. These efforts support the Army’s modernization priorities and Cross Functional Team (CFT) science and technology research objectives to include those of Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV), Future Vertical Lift (FVL), and Soldier Lethality (SL) via development and sustainment of software algorithms, computer programming, hardware integration, advanced optics, sensor protection, displays, systems engineering, and Testing and Evaluation (T&E). (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
07 Nov 22. Aimpoint awarded Fire Control Systems contract for Canada. Aimpoint, the leading manufacturer and innovator of red dot sighting technology, has been awarded a contract for supply of the Aimpoint® FCS13-RE Fire Control System and TH-60 thermal sight systems to the Canadian military. The system will be used on deployed operations as the primary day and night Fire Control System (FCS) on Canada’s in-service M3 84mm Carl Gustaf produced by SAAB Dynamics. The contract was awarded through Twenty20 Insight Inc. The FCS13-RE is a direct view, Dynamic Universal Reflex Sight, which utilizes an integrated laser range finder and ballistic computer to give the gunner an aiming point corrected for range, type of munition, terrain angle, and environmental conditions. The FCS13-RE provides a very high probability of first shot hit on both stationary and moving targets at extended ranges and utilizes a very intuitive user control interface. The system purchased by Canada MOD includes the TH-60 thermal imaging sight to allow full operational capability at night. A proven system delivered to other NATO militaries, the Aimpoint FCS13-RE and TH-60 system was chosen for this program as it fully met or exceeded all of Canada’s strict technical performance requirements. Deliveries of the Aimpoint FCS13-RE and TH-60 are scheduled for 2023. The system will be fielded by the Canadian Army.
09 Nov 22. The Canadian military has ordered 39 additional light-armored vehicles from General Dynamics for $165m as it aims to replace equipment it donated to Ukraine earlier this year, according to a spokesman with the National Defence Department. (Source: Defense News)
SEA
11 Nov 22. Elettronica has signed a contract to equip two Indonesian Navy 90m Offshore Patrol Vessels currently under construction at PT Daya Radar Utama shipyard with its Naval Radar Electronic Counter-Measures systems and further 90m Offshore Patrol Vessels are expected to be built by Indonesian shipyards for the Navy. This is the first contract in Indonesia in the history of Elettronica, which since more than 70 years has been one of the world leader in the electronic warfare sector, and one of the best jamming-house in the world. The Radar Electronic Counter Measures System provides naval platforms with an effective Electronic Defence using a powerful Active Phased Array Transmitter. The generated jamming techniques are segments of countermeasure programs that are automatically and adaptively selected for system effectiveness against both terminal missile attacks and long-range designation radar systems. A modular design approach permits configuration adaptation to individual ship classes. The Radar Electronic Counter-Measures System, selected by the Indonesian Navy, is composed of two JASS (Jamming Antenna Sub System) and can co-operate with other onboard EW sensors and actuators, is ITAR-free and can integrate with all currently available naval Combat Management Systems (CMS).
03 Nov 22. Leonardo’s Marlin 40 naval remote weapon system has been selected to equip two Indonesian Navy PC60 fast patrol boats currently under construction at PT Caputra Mitra Sejati shipyard. This follows the procurement in 2021 of four Marlin 40 systems for two PC60 vessels and two Teluk Bintuni-class tank landing ships (LSTs). Both PC60 and LST will be equipped with the Marlin 40 Independent Line of Sight (ILOS) variant, the most feature-rich version of the turret. Further PC60 and LST vessels are expected to be built by Indonesian shipyards for the Navy. The Marlin 40 turret is a fully digitized system. It is lightweight, compact and easy to integrate. This means that the turret can be integrated onto all types of naval platforms as a primary or secondary defence system. Capable of anti-air and anti-surface defence, the Marlin 40 has a range of over four kilometres, is ITAR-free and can integrate with all currently-available naval Combat Management Systems (CMS). This latest contract further develops Leonardo’s strong partnership with the Indonesian Navy, which has previously selected the company for its naval gunnery requirements. Today, 38 Indonesian vessels are operating Leonardo weapon systems. The Navy’s inventory includes Leonardo’s Marlin 30, Marlin 40 Twin Barrel and 76/62 SuperRapid. The latter is the best-selling medium-caliber naval gun mount available on the market, employed by 60 Navies and already installed on 15 Indonesian Navy vessels. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
04 Nov 22. Collins Aerospace and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) today announced an agreement to modernize the Indonesian Air Force C-130 military transport aircraft as part of its Phase 2 rollout plan, and eleven C-130 aircraft will be upgraded. Serving as a contractor to PTDI, Collins will provide its Flight2™ aftermarket avionics solution, which delivers the most cost-effective and lowest-risk CNS/ATM upgrade solution. Flight2 transforms a federated analog system into a modern digital glass cockpit. With its advanced displays and integrated military/civil flight management system, Flight2 delivers the most advanced capabilities available today, including required navigation performance, area navigation flight management system with high altitude release point, and computed air release point precision airdrop software. At the same time, it’s the most cost-effective and lowest-risk CNS/ATM upgrade solution. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Nov 22. Innovaero awarded loitering munition contract by ADF. Perth-based aerospace engineering company Innovaero is developing a sovereign loitering munition for the Australian Army under a contract of undisclosed value. The munition is designed to have a range of 200km and a choice of payloads. Importantly, the munition remains under human control at all times and can’t attack a target without a direct command from a controller. The Army started looking for just this capability more than a year ago and understands the operational and design requirements well: it needs to be cheap enough to be bought in significant numbers and used as a throwaway weapon, but sophisticated enough to attack in different modes, depending on the operational scenario. The Innovaero OWL (for One Way Loitering) loitering munition’s maiden flight was in May this year, just five months after design work began. If ongoing testing, including planned live-fire tests, is successful, the next step could be the start of volume production. Although much of this project is considered sensitive, Innovaero showed a full-scale model of the 1.6m-span OWL at last month’s Land Forces 2022 expo in Brisbane. The 30kg, semi-stealthy Unmanned Air System (UAS) has a composite airframe with folding wings and tail plane; it is propelled by a battery-powered electric motor; it uses a GPS-independent optical sensor to spot targets; it has a long-range data link for over-the-horizon control and targeting; and it will be fitted with an explosive warhead. Most of these are developed and manufactured in Australia. (Source: Rumour Control)
09 Nov 22. The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW) and related equipment to Oman for an estimated cost of $385m, the Defense Department said on Wednesday. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense Company of Tucson, Arizona, the Pentagon said. (Source: Reuters)
TECHNOLOGY
04 Nov 22. 4 Defence projects take home $600k in funds from SA government. The Defence Innovation Partnership’s Collaborative Research Fund has revealed the four recipients of the latest round of funding. Susan Close, Deputy Premier and Minister for Defence and Space Industries for South Australia, unveiled the four recipients of the recent Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) round, supporting the development of next-generation technologies to support Defence. The Defence Innovation Partnership (DIP) is a collaboration between Defence SA, the Department of Defence’s Next Generation Technologies fund, as well as three South Australian universities, including the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia. This round of funding has supported an array of organisations developing space technologies, semiconductors, environmental monitoring as well as test and evaluation models. According to a communiqué from the South Australian government, funds and recipients include:
- $150,000 for dual-use satellite messaging beacon system for Defence and emergency services, led by Safety from Space and supported by Flinders University, University of South Australia, SmartSat CRC, and Defence Science and Technology Group;
- $150,000 for sensing semiconductor devices with terahertz waves, overseen by the University of Adelaide and supported by Flinders University, Keysight Technologies Australia, and Defence Science and Technology Group;
- $148,658 for rapid environmental monitoring using autonomous systems, managed by the University of Adelaide and supported by Flinders University, Acacia Systems, and Defence Science and Technology Group; and
- $149,404 for the validation of a test and evaluation model for planning and architecture optimisation, overseen by the University of South Australia and supported by the University of Adelaide, Nova Systems, and Defence Science and Technology Group. (Source: Defence Connect)