UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
25 Nov 22. A £90m contract to upgrade land-based radio capabilities will improve battlefield effectiveness while supporting over 200 jobs in Hampshire. The new deal for 1,300 new Multi-Mode Radios (MMR), which has been awarded to L3 Harris Communications Systems, will see the portable radios operated by foot soldiers or those mounted on vehicles. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
SEA
23 Nov 22. Royal Navy ships to be fitted with advanced new Kongsberg missile system. The missiles will be fitted to eleven frigates and destroyers after a deal with the Norwegian government. Royal Navy frigates and destroyers will get a significant boost to their long-range precision strike capabilities following a new partnership between the UK and key NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) ally, Norway. Strengthening defence ties between the UK and Norway, the Royal Navy will receive the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), outfitted on a total of eleven Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers, in a collaboration with the Norwegian government. Replacing the Harpoon surface-to-surface weapon, due to go out of service in 2023, the world-class anti-ship missile will be fitted to three vessels at pace and will be ready for operations onboard the first Royal Navy vessel in a little over 12 months. The collaboration will result in more ships equipped with the highly sophisticated naval strike missiles which in turn will contributes in enhancing the security in our common areas of interest. The missile system will be integrated in UK Dockyards through Babcock and BAE with Norwegian support, the missile system is manufactured by Kongsberg Defence Aerospace. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
24 Nov 22. QinetiQ has signed a contract with the Royal Navy, in partnership with Inzpire and BAE Systems, to deliver the next concept demonstration phase of the synthetic training solution, Platform Enabled Training Capability (PETC). In Phase 1 of PETC, QinetiQ and Inzpire demonstrated the ability of the operational crew of a Royal Navy platform, HMS Kent, to train in its own operations room, simulating a realistic warfighting situation in an immersive environment. Utilising secure communications links from Portsdown Technology Park, Portsmouth, the QinetiQ-Inzpire team generated the synthetic training environment that, through advanced sensor emulators, was fed directly into the combat system of the ship. This enabled Inzpire’s White Force* to implement and direct a rich training scenario to demonstrate the benefit to the ship’s operations room team. Nix oPhase 2 of PETC will allow the Royal Navy to undertake combined simulated warfare training as a carrier task group, while geographically dispersed. This will involve use of BAE Systems’ digital twin of the combat system, facilitating faster transition in and out of the training environment. The combined industry team will simultaneously emulate the combat systems of multiple platforms in the carrier task group, including the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier, enabling them to work together in a common, simulated threat environment. This next phase will demonstrate an adaptive solution that enables key warfighting elements of the platforms to be tested in a far more complex and realistic environment than can be represented in live training.
AIR
21 Nov 22. QinetiQ, along with its Aurora Partners Atkins and BMT, have been awarded a £31m EDP contract to provide technical support to the UK MOD’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Enterprise and the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Catalyst delivery team, which is responsible for delivering the latest combat air capabilities to UK frontline commands One of QinetiQ’s primary tasks will be supporting the delivery of the Future Combat Air System which will result in a new advanced combat aircraft replacing the Typhoon from the mid-2030s. FCAS is one of the major capabilities which the Catalyst Delivery Team has contracted as part of this wider programme which also includes support to un-crewed systems and digital engineering capability development. Together, these will enable DE&S to deliver the necessary engineering outputs required by the MOD to support the development of future FCAS capabilities as they are acquired and brought into service. QinetiQ will provide a range of support to Catalyst, using its digital engineering capabilities and vast experience in requirements management. This will include engineering support initially focussing on Human Performance, Safety and Systems Engineering disciplines through to August 2025. As the Catalyst programme grows, EDP provides a strong platform to support emerging requirements for years to come. Delivered through the Engineering Delivery Partner (EDP), this work will be supported by its EDP Aurora Partners Atkins and BMT along with a number of provider network organisations. It will also utilise Requirements Management expertise provided by QinetiQ’s subsidiary business, Inzpire.
EUROPE
LAND
22 Nov 22. Bittium has received a purchase order from the Finnish Defence Forces for tactical Bittium Tough SDR™ handheld and vehicular radios. The value of the purchase order is approximately EUR 4,3m (excl. VAT). This purchase is the first optional additional purchase related to the purchase agreement signed on December 12, 2018. The radio deliveries related to this purchase order will begin during the year 2022. The purchase order does not change Bittium’s financial outlook for the year 2022, published in Bittium Corporation’s Business Review January-September 2022 on October 21, 2022. Bittium Tough SDR handheld and vehicular radios will replace the Finnish Defence Forces’ existing stock of analogue tactical radios with modern software defined radios intended for broadband tactical communications. The radios will also offer significantly better performance for the Finnish Defence Forces compared to the earlier generation digital tactical radios. The Tough SDR radios are compatible with the software defined radio based Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network™ (TAC WIN) system already used by the Finnish Defence Forces. Part of the performance of the software defined radios is created with the software used in the radios. Thus, software development enables performance enhancements for the radios throughout their whole life cycle. Bittium issued a stock exchange release on December 12, 2018, on the purchase agreement signed by the Finnish Defence Forces and Bittium. The purchase agreement includes terms for additional purchases, according to which, the Finnish Defence Forces have an option to purchase additional tactical radios and their related accessories, training, and system management for the use of the Army, Air Force, and Navy based on the prices agreed in the purchase agreement. If the optional additional purchase amounts would materialize in full, the total value of the purchases would be approximately EUR 207m (excl. VAT) (EUR 257m, incl. VAT) at the maximum.
24 Nov 22. Norway to procure new artillery location radars from Thales. Norway will acquire three new mobile artillery location radars from Thales under a government-to-government deal with the Netherlands. The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (FMA) has signed a follow-on contract, valued at NOK460m (USD45.8m), with the Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) for an additional three Thales Ground Master 200 Multi Mission Compact radars (GM200 MM/C), the FMA announced on 23 November. The initial contract for five Thales GM200 MM/C radars, with an option for three more systems, was announced in May 2021. The contract was valued at EUR77m (USD79.6m), with deliveries scheduled by 2023–24.In total, eight radars will be delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces for just over NOK2bn, with deliveries expected by the end of 2025, the latest announcement said. Future radar acquisitions from other NATO countries are permissible as part of the Thales Nederland and Dutch DMO agreement. To that end, several NATO countries have expressed an interest, the FMA said. (Source: Janes)
SEA
24 Nov 22. OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) has been contracted to deliver a Fleet Wide License for the next generation of ECPINS to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) Fleet, Shore establishments and the Belgian Navy (BN) frigates. The Fleet Wide License allows both the current and new ECPINS versions to be rolled out over an unlimited number of RNLN surface ships, submarines and shore establishments. The signing of this contract further strengthens the strong relationship of OSI with the RNLN, BN, NL Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), RNLN Naval Academy, and the RNLN Maintenance and Sustainment Agency (DMI). (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
21 Nov 22. Airbus and ArianeGroup have signed a contract for the next transition batch of Ariane 6 large carbon fibre structures. The contract includes the manufacturing and supply of innovative, large, lightweight structures for the next fourteen Ariane 6 launchers, to be manufactured until 2025. The contract will support ArianeGroup’s ramp up to full production rate by then. Airbus builds up to four carbon fibre structures for each Ariane launcher at its Getafe site, near Madrid. The new state-of-the-art 4.0 industrial facility includes a dedicated manufacturing and assembly line for the Ariane 6 launcher structures. The latest technology innovations have resulted in a reduced mass while delivering a stronger structure in a single piece at a lower cost. The Interface Structure (upper and lower) is the largest space carbon fibre structure ever produced in Europe. The other structures include the Launch Vehicle Adapter, for the upper stage; and the Equipped Solid Rocket upper part of each rocket booster.
USA
LAND
16 Nov 22. D-Fend reports contracts worth over USD3m with US government security agencies in 3Q22. Counter drone company D-Fend Solutions reports multiple security deals with US federal security agencies in 3Q22. The company has sold over USD3m EnforceAir counter-drone security systems and components to various agencies spanning a range of sectors and applications in US defense, homeland security and law enforcement. The contracts are distributed across multiple high-profile departments and agencies, says the company press release. EnforceAir is designed to autonomously execute RF, cyber-takeovers of rogue drones for a safe landing and outcome. For more information: www.d-fendsolutions.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
AIR
12 Nov 22. ATLAS Space Operations has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to develop a data analytics platform for the United States Space Force — the program will see ATLAS integrate communications infrastructure and multi-domain command and control systems to deliver enhanced insights regarding space communications through network data analytics. ATLAS is well-positioned to execute the SBIR because it already leverages metric sharing on Freedom™ Software as a Service, the company’s space data transfer tool. Using metrics from pass success and equipment performance that are available to ATLAS’ clients, Space Force will gain valuable insight into the performance of ground site hardware, satellites, space communications, and even federated networks. ATLAS’ SBIR development places a strong emphasis on space-based software interoperability to identify opportunities and ensure a resilient on-orbit environment. (Source: Satnews)
21 Nov 22. KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been awarded a $156.7m task order to support capabilities assessment and enhancements for the U.S. Army’s Utility Helicopter 60 Variant (UH-60V) fleet, providing technologically superior and cost-effective helicopters for U.S. and Allied Forces. KBR was awarded this contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. These DoD IAC MAC task orders are awarded by the U.S. Air Force’s 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) repository and the research and development and science and technology community. Under the terms of the contract with Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation, Utility Helicopter Project Office (UHPO), KBR and key teammate Northrop Grumman Corporation will develop recommendations and technical solutions for the UHPO and its international partners to increase availability, improve reliability, and reduce the support costs for the UH-60V.
21 Nov 22. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, has been awarded a $99,365,970 firm-fixed-price modification (P00076) to previously awarded contract FA8615-17-C-6047 for Active Electronically Scanned Array radars of Air Force F-16 aircraft. This modification is for the exercise of options including 42 production radars, one initial spare kit, and two readiness spare kits. Work will be performed in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2025. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $1,346,043,651. Fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $99,365,970 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 18, 2022)
22 Nov 22. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected to provide engineering services for the KBR-led $156.7m, five-year Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. IAC MAC task orders are awarded by the U.S. Air Force’s 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) repository and the research and development (R&D) and science and technology (S&T) community. The UH-60V is a comprehensive digital cockpit redesign that replaces the UH-60L’s legacy analog instrumentation with a fully open and integrated avionics suite. The architecture flying in UH-60V is applicable to both Current Fleet and Future Vertical Lift aircraft, and is extensible to Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook aircraft. that replaces the UH-60L’s legacy analog instrumentation with a fully open and integrated avionics suite. The architecture flying in UH-60V is applicable to both Current Fleet and Future Vertical Lift aircraft, and is extensible to Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook aircraft.
The DoD IAC, sponsored by the DTIC, provides technical data management and research support for DoD and federal government users. Established in 1946, the IAC program serves the DoD S&T and acquisition communities to drive innovation and technological developments by enhancing collaboration through integrated scientific and technical information development and dissemination for the DoD and broader S&T community.
TECHNOLOGY
22 Nov 22. The Department of Defense announced awards to 147 university researchers totaling $59m under the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP). These awards will finance the purchase of research equipment at 77 institutions across 30 states in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, enabling universities to perform state-of-the-art research that augments current and develops new capabilities.
23 Nov 22. NanoGraf Wins Contract from U.S. Government to Develop First Large-Volume Advanced Silicon Anode Manufacturing Facility in the U.S. NanoGraf, an advanced battery material company and enabler of the world’s most energy-dense 18650 lithium-ion cell, today announced a contract award from the U.S. Government. The contract will fund the onshore manufacturing of high-performance silicon anode materials as the first large-volume silicon oxide manufacturing facility in the U.S. At peak production, NanoGraf will produce 35 T/Y, enough material to provide enhanced power for various battery applications. The 18-month contract complements NanoGraf’s existing domestic material production strategy and the company’s additional plans to support the electric vehicle market by 2024. NanoGraf will produce 35 tons of silicon anode material per year as the company scales to 1,000 tons per year to support the EV market. With NanoGraf’s proprietary silicon oxide material design, material prices will be on par with the cost of lower-performance graphite anodes.
22 Nov 22. Viasat, Inc., Carlsbad, California, is being awarded a Single Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract (H92401-23-D-0001) with five one-year ordering periods, for the PEO-Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) Tactical Communications Systems in support of United States Special Operations Command. The contract has a $325,000,000 maximum ceiling with a $5,000 minimum guarantee. Fiscal Year (FY) 23 funds in the amount of $5,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The PEO-C4 Tactical Communications Systems contract procures Primary Mission Equipment (PME), ancillary equipment, interoperable accessories, support services, repairs, and training in support of PEO-C4 Radio Integration Systems (RIS), Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI), Airborne, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Transport (AISR-T), and Satellite Deployable Nodes (SDN) Programs of Record (POR). The work will be performed primarily at the contractor’s facility in Carlsbad, California and is expected to be completed by November 20, 2027. This contract was awarded through Other than Full and Open Competition under 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1). U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity.
REST OF THE WORLD
SEA
18 Nov 22. REDARC Defence & Space received a contract for 12,600 LED lights for the Hunter Class frigate. Valued at $23m, the contact is for the manufacture and delivery of lighting and related parts for the Hunter Class frigate. The contract was announced following a five-year collaboration between REDARC and UK’s MARL International. In addition to supporting Australian industrial capability on the Hunter Class, BAE Systems Australia contracts Australian SMEs to work with the UK’s Type 26 frigates. As part of the agreement, REDARC Defence & Space is partnering with MARL International for the manufacture and supply of 79 different types of lights for the Hunter Class. (Source: Defence Connect)
TECHNOLOGY
21 Nov 22. Six Australian defence firms have secured grants to bolster their competitiveness in global markets. The Commonwealth government has awarded $1.3m in grants to six local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) via the Defence Global Competitiveness Grant Program.
Recipients include QuantX Labs, MyModular, and Ezy-Fit Engineering Group, which each received $240,000.
QuantX is expected to leverage the funding to increase export opportunities by expanding production and testing capability to meet lower size and cost expectations.
MyModular is tipped to bring manufacturing “in-house” by acquiring specialised plant and equipment to construct extra low voltage (ELV) lighting systems with data transmission capability.
Meanwhile, Ezy-Fit Engineering Group has committed to implementing a new honing capability to manufacture specialised marine classified hydraulic cylinders up to four metres long.
Other recipients include:
- The Smart Think Australia — received $227,686 for the expansion of hard armour production line with the introduction of industry 4.0 production and quality control measures to meet international market demand.
- Safe Defence — received $237,942 for the establishment of a manufacturing facility for a unique technology-driven update to the Stokes Type Litter Stretcher product for international markets.
- PFG Group — received $211,996 for improvements to the manufacturing capability and facility suitability for international defence contracts.
(Source: Defence Connect)
24 Nov 22. MASS has been awarded a £5m contract for Electronic Warfare operational support services to an export customer. This is a 4-year extension to a contract that MASS has been undertaking for the past 15 years.