UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
LAND
14 Dec 22. Galvion, a world leader in innovative head protection systems and power and data management solutions, has been awarded a framework contract by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to supply its flagship Batlskin Caiman® ballistic helmet system. This announcement places Galvion as a major supplier of higher performance helmet systems, typically used by Special Operations Forces (SOF), to any NATO country wishing to purchase through NSPA. The contract was awarded following extensive user trials conducted by the lead user nation under the supervision of the NSPA. The contract duration is three years with options to be extended to a maximum of seven years. Selected by NSPA to meet the higher performance bracket of four specified helmet categories, Galvion’s flagship Batlskin Caiman® helmet comes in five sizes and is equipped with the very latest APEX lining system, an intuitively adjustable design that enables a customized fit for users. The Caiman helmet is scalable for highly dynamic operations, with mission-specific accessories (visor, mandible and helmet cover) also available through the framework contract. The helmet system has been tried and tested on operations and is already in service across multiple countries, primarily for SOF use, delivering unmatched levels of weight and comfort, and is expressly designed to incorporate electronics, communications headsets, and other critical equipment needs, now and into the future.
SEA
08 Dec 22. The Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Mitchel Field, New York, is awarded a $328,533,513 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-23-C-6045) for the U.S. and United Kingdom to provide Strategic Weapon System Trident Fleet support, Trident II Shipboard Integration Increment 8, and navigation subsystem development efforts. This contract award also benefits a foreign military sale to the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Mitchel Field, New York (64%); Huntington Beach, California (24%); Clearwater, Florida (9%); Cambridge, Massachusetts (2%); and Manassas, Virginia (1%). Work is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2026. Fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,181,524; and fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,386,309 will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,181,524 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is being awarded as a sole-source pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1) and (4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
15 Dec 22. BAE Systems has selected Israel-based company Plasan to provide armour for the second batch of the UK Royal Navy’s (RN) City-class or Type 26 vessels. This is the second contract awarded for the Type 26 Global Combat Ships (GCS) programme.The company was also responsible for providing composite armour for the first three vessels, HMS Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast, of this class and a contract for the same was awarded in March 2018. Building on the performance of the first batch contract, Plasan has now been selected to deliver armour for HMS Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Edinburgh and London. For the second batch ships, the company will use the same cost-effective and simple installation approach that was used for the first three vessels. Work under the contract will be carried out by the company in close coordination with the Design Authority partners. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
14 Dec 22. The UK Space Agency has announced £2.7m for 13 early-stage technology projects across England, Scotland and Wales to support the growing satellite launch sector. The UK is home to a thriving satellite manufacturing industry and is on track to become the first country in Europe to offer commercial launch services to small satellite manufacturers, from a range of spaceports offering both horizontal and vertical rocket launch capabilities. Funding from the agency’s new Launch UK Technology Investment Programme will support teams from industry and universities to develop technology, products and services that will enhance the UK spaceflight supply chain, strengthen international competitiveness and catalyse further investment. One project will recycle materials, including natural cork, to create thermal protection solutions for launcher propulsion systems and launch vehicles with a lower environmental impact, while another will develop launcher components out of lighter and more cost-effective metal composites, reducing the risk of creating space debris. Two further projects will follow next year. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
13 Dec 22. The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded AERALIS, the transformational British military jet developer, a £9m contract for digital engineering support services. The contract was awarded by the UK team within the new Global Combat Air Programme, which was announced by the Prime Minister on 9 December. Titled ‘Digital Aviation Learning from Experience,’ the contract will allow the MOD to access information that AERALIS will generate using its innovative, smart integrated digital enterprise system. AERALIS has developed the system to enable the company to develop a family of light military aircraft in shorter timescales and at reduced cost using a fully integrated digital approach to design, development and certification. As such, MOD will use the learning from AERALIS’s approach to reduce cost & risk for a range of other development programmes including UK Combat Air and the Future Combat Air System. This contract from the MOD to AERALIS follows on from AERALIS’ successful contract with the RAF Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) to support PYRAMID, the RAF’s Open Mission System Architecture (OMS). Awarded in February 2021 and ongoing, the PYRAMID OMS is planned to form the core of the AERALIS modular avionics and mission system. The MOD contract award highlights that AERALIS is the only known UK-based company that has adopted a clean-sheet approach to digital engineering to design, manufacture, test and certify a crewed, fixed-wing air system on the military register within the timescales required. This landmark contract marks an important step in the Company’s growth and maturity, signifying that AERALIS’ unique design engineering approach has been recognised as fulfilling an essential requirement for the future of affordable military aircraft design and development in the UK. AERALIS has seen significant successes in the last year, including opening its Enterprise Hub in Bristol as well as seeing substantial growth in its workforce. There are now over 135 people involved in the development of the aircraft, across 16 organisations in the UK. The contract from the MOD will allow AERALIS to create and sustain a further 250 highly skilled jobs and many more in the supply chain.
16 Dec 22. Lockheed Martin UK awarded £129m contract to deliver 250 cutting-edge mini drones for UK forces. Drones will deliver high-resolution imaging capabilities to locate and identify potential targets. Jobs supported at Lockheed Martin UK and across the UK supply chain. Replacing existing Mini Uncrewed Aerial Systems (MUAS) such as Desert Hawk 3, the 159 rotary-wing Indago 4 devices and 105 fixed-wing Stalker VXE30 drones, which are both capable of locating and identifying targets far from the operator, are due to be operational by the end of 2024. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
TECHNOLOGY
14 Dec 22. Atos will continue to provide support to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for three years, with an optional extension year to be determined by MoD, through the renewal of its contract to help deliver CORTISONE – the programme focused on transformation of Defence Medical Services delivery within the UK’s Defence services. The programme was established by MoD to deliver a sustainable and integrated system to enhance healthcare for all its personnel. The mission is to design, deploy and deliver the support to the CORTISONE ecosystem, to give the Defence Medical Services the ability to improve patient outcomes while maximizing resource efficiency and the number of service personnel fit for role.
EUROPE
LAND
14 Dec 22. Allison Transmission, a leading designer and manufacturer of conventional and electrified vehicle propulsion solutions for tactical wheeled and tracked defense vehicles, and medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, has been awarded a $51m contract for the X1100-3B1 transmission and technical support for the Abrams. Allison’s unique qualifications and experience with the development, testing and production of heavy-duty cross-drive transmissions have reduced risk to the U.S. Army as they’ve navigated the pandemic and unprecedented economic conditions. Allison’s innovative approach and best practices provide the Army with greater affordability to reinvest in readiness, which are benefits other manufacturers have been unable to achieve. Deliveries and technical support under this contract will begin in January 2023 and continue through March 2024. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Dec 22. BAE Systems has signed two contracts worth approximately $32m for its market-leading Bofors 57mm 3P (Pre-fragmented, Programmable, Proximity- fused) advanced ammunition in a combined procurement from both the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command (FDF LOG COM). Sweden is ordering a large stock of the Bofors 57mm 3P advanced ammunition, for an order value of approximately $18m. This is a critical step for the Swedish Armed Forces as they continue their efforts to increase readiness in the face of the current security situation in Central Europe. The FMV also has a contract option for additional quantities in 2023. Finland is also ordering a considerable stock of rounds of the ammunition, valued at approximately $14m. This is an important step in reinforcing the security of supplies as Finland, and in particular the Finnish Navy, also confirms its readiness. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
12 Dec 22. BAE Systems: Slovakia Signs $1.37bn Deal for 152 CV90s Under Government-to-Government Agreement. As part of a government-to-government agreement between Sweden and the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic has signed a $1.37 bn (€1.3 bn) agreement for the delivery of 152 CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) from BAE Systems. The CV90s will be produced and delivered in several configurations with the full cooperation of Slovak industry including ZTS – ŠPECIÁL as the main industry partner to BAE Systems. Other Slovak state-owned and private companies will take critical roles in producing the vehicles and supporting the program in the longer term. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
14 Dec 22. FDF orders containerised communications solution. The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) have ordered 20 ft containerised communication stations from Conlog Group. According to Conlog Group, on 12 December, the company will design, implement, manage, and maintain the containerised communication stations for the FDF. Juha Moisio, CEO of Conlog Group, informed Janes that the company is supplying its ‘Signal Station A’, intended for command-and-control purposes. He was unable to provide further details on the system, number of units being delivered, and delivery timeframes. The “self-contained stations will allow Finland to maintain communications in challenging environments”, the company said. The solution will be tailored to meet the specific requirements of the FDF, the company added. If all options are exercised, the contract will total EUR39.1m (USD41.6m). Conlog Group is a Finnish-based company that develops modular containers and vehicles intended for intelligence, surveillance, and command purposes. Their main products include mobile deployable solutions that require detailed engineering. (Source: Janes)
09 Dec 22. DRS Network & Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, was awarded a $26,667,763 firm-fixed-price contract to reconfigure, install, integrate, and test a combat network system. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Biedrusko, Poland, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 28, 2025. Fiscal 2022 Foreign Military Sales (Poland) funds in the amount of $26,667,763 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-23-C-5006).
12 Dec 22. Kromek Group has secured two contracts, totalling £1.5m, for the supply of its D3M and D3S-based nuclear security products. Delivery will commence immediately with the revenue being received in Kromek’s current financial year. Both contracts are to supply European government end-users. The contracts are for Kromek’s D3M, D3 static node and networking capability for these detectors. The D3M is a high-performance combined gamma/neutron personal radiation detector that is wearable, unobtrusive, hands-free and continuously scans for radiation. Kromek’s networked static radiation detection node, which is based on the Group’s D3S technology, is a small static unit designed for radiation monitoring that can easily be deployed discreetly with continuous power and communication in challenging environments.
16 Dec 22. Drone defence: Austrian Armed Forces and Rheinmetall successfully test anti-small drone system C-sUAS – lease contract extended. The Austrian Armed Forces and Rheinmetall have successfully tested the leased Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS), which had been delivered in May 2022, as part of a realistic exercise. Rheinmetall’s deployable C-sUAS system is currently being evaluated by the Austrian Armed Forces alongside other systems as part of the Countering Emerging Air Threats (C-EAT) project. Following the successful tests, the Austrian Armed Forces have now extended the lease contract by seven months. After the training on the system had been completed, the operational capability of the Rheinmetall C-sUAS system was now to be tested as intensively as possible under real conditions. For this purpose, a sophisticated test programme was developed, which included both test and realistic attack flights by small drones. The aim was to detect and clearly verify these drones as early as possible using a broadly based sensor mix. A possible fight against these enemy drones was demonstrated by means of jammers. A special highlight was the introduction of the target queuing device by tablet from the higher-level command and control system to the jammer operator. The large number of drones used – from commercially available drones to models with jet propulsion to self-built drones controlled according to the LTE mobile radio standard – clearly showed that modern drone defence can only be efficiently managed in a network.
15 Dec 22. Rheinmetall supplying an European customer with 155mm ammunition. Rheinmetall is supplying an European customer with 155mm artillery ammunition. In December 2022, the customer placed an order for the delivery of 10,000 L15 shells. To be delivered in 2023, the ammunition is worth around €33m. Rheinmetall has been a reliable partner to the artillery since the very beginning of its foundation in 1889. Against the background of its many years of experience and innovative expertise in the fields of armoured vehicles, weapons, ammunition, reconnaissance sensors, networking as well as training and simulation, the technology company offers a wide range of products and systems for the artillery of the 21st century. Rheinmetall covers the entire reconnaissance – command – effect chain – from sensor to shooter.
12 Dec 22. Finland is buying Saab Dynamics Bolide missiles, used by both its RBS70 short-range air defense missiles and its ASRAD-R Unimog-mounted quadruple launcher variant (pictured), and has also ordered Israeli-made 122mm unguided rockets. Both contracts were announced on Monday. The Ministry of Defense has authorized the Finnish Defense Forces to order Bolide anti-aircraft missiles. The products are supplied by the Swedish company Saab Dynamics AB. Bolide missiles are used in anti-aircraft missile systems ITO05 (ASRAD-R) and ITO05M (RBS70). The total value of the acquisition excluding VAT is 76.6 m euros. The acquisition will be financed from the state’s supplementary budget, which included additional funding for defense material acquisitions to be started quickly. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/. Finland Ministry of Defence)
15 Dec 22. Saab has received an order for NLAW (Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon) from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The order value is approximately SEK 900m with product deliveries scheduled 2024-2026. The order is placed within a framework agreement between FMV and Saab. NLAW is a shoulder-launched, anti-tank missile system that attacks the tank from above. It combines the simplicity of light anti-armour weapons with the advantages of heavy, crew-operated guided missile systems. With NLAW, a single soldier can take out a heavily protected modern main battle tank at ranges between 20 and 800 metres.
15 Dec 22. The Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed an order with Swedish company Saab to procure short-range air defence systems for the country’s armed forces. The new order includes ground based RBS 70 new generation (NG) very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) systems, as well as Giraffe 1X multi-mission radar systems. Associated deliveries are expected to start later this year. According to the company, the Giraffe 1X radar paired with the RBS 70 NG ground-based system will strengthen air defence capabilities and enhance the overall performance of the Latvian armed forces. (Source: army-technology.com)
09 Dec 22. Thales awarded contract by French MoD to build deployable communications networks for theatres of operations. The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has entrusted Thales with the design of deployable and high-speed communications networks for theatres of operations, a major asset for collaborative combat. Thales will deliver more than 200 modular, mobile stations in the phase 3 of the ASTRIDE 3 contract. Rapid to deploy and compliant with NATO interoperability standards, ASTRIDE 3 will enable France to command coalition forces as a framework nation, as well as provide the French armed forces with an autonomous multi-brigade force projection capability.
09 Dec 22. Croatia’s government on Friday said it would buy French air defence system Mistral for 72m euros ($75.84m) as part of the NATO member’s efforts to modernise its air force. The decision follows the purchase last year of 12 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets in a deal worth 999m euros, to replace Croatia’s squadron of Russian-made MiG-21 jets that dates from the period of the former Yugoslavia, only a few of which are still operational. (Source: Reuters)
SEA
16 Dec 22. Exail, an ECA Group and iXblue group, has signed a new contract to provide an A18D autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for the French Navy. The contract has been signed with the French Defence Procurement Agency (Direction générale de l’armement – DGA). Valued at approximately $3.72m (€3.5m), the contract has been awarded as part of the French Navy’s seabed control strategy, introduced in February last year. The objective of this strategy is to observe and monitor the deep ocean activities to safeguard national interests. The latest contract has been awarded after the successful operational assessment and examination of the A18D AUV by the French Navy and the Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) last year. Under the new deal, Exail will rent its AUV to the French Navy for around two years to conduct different operations in deep seabed, with a depth of up to 3,000m. The company will also provide associated academic and operational training to around 12 French Navy sailors. This theoretical/operational training is being provided to ensure that the naval crew is aware of the deployment, operation and recovery techniques of the AUV. It will also train the crews on how to process or post-process the data obtained by AUV. (Source: naval-technology.com)
13 Dec 22. Norwegian defence related systems and products supplier Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace said on Tuesday it has been awarded a 1.35bn NOK ($135m/128m euro) contract by U.S.-based Raytheon Missiles & Defense for the delivery of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System to Romania. The NSM can be launched from both land-and sea-based platforms and is already in use by, or chosen by 11 countries, Kongsberg said in a statement filed with the Oslo Stock Exchange. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is one of three business units of Norway’s Kongsberg Gruppen and supplier of defence and space related systems and products, mainly anti-ship missiles, military communications, and command and weapons control systems for naval vessels and air-defence applications, according to its website. The group has more than 12,000 employees in 40 countries and booked a total revenue of NOK 27.5bn in 2021. In March, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced that Romania needs to increase defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from 2%, following the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Romania, which joined NATO in 2004, has said it plans to spend a total of 9.8bn euro ($10.35bn) until 2026 to boost its defence capabilities. (Source: Google/SeeNews)
12 Dec 22. Royal Netherlands Navy Selects NSM – Naval Strike Missile. The Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) has selected Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) as the replacement for its ageing Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The missile developed by Kongsberg of Norway is quickly becoming the anti-ship missile of choice for NATO navies: The Royal Netherlands Navy follows the Royal Navy who announced the selection of NSM less than three weeks ago. Naval News announced that the Spanish Navy selected the Naval Strike Missile back in September. The Netherlands thus becomes the 11th customer of the Naval Strike Missile, joining the navies of Norway, Poland, Malaysia, Germany, United States (for both the US Navy and USMC), Romania, Canada, Australia, Spain and the UK. (Source: Google/https://www.navalnews.com/)
AIR
16 Dec 22. Europe’s Future Combat Air System: on the way to the first flight.
- Industry awarded €3.2bn by France, Germany and Spain
- FCAS Phase 1B Contract for R&T and flying Demonstrators Global Design
On behalf of the governments of France, Germany and Spain, the French General Directorate for Armament (DGA) has awarded to Dassault Aviation, Airbus, Indra, Eumet and their industrial partners the contract for the Demonstrator Phase 1B of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). This landmark contract, amounting to € 3.2bn, will cover work on the FCAS demonstrator and its components for about three and a half years. Dassault Aviation, Airbus, Indra and Eumet welcome this major step forward that reflects the determination of France, Germany and Spain to develop a powerful, innovative and fully European weapon system to meet the operational needs of the countries’ armed forces. This contract notification comes on the heels of the signature of the industrial agreements supporting the demonstrator Phase 1B by Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Indra and Eumet as prime contractors of the programme and by their industrial partners from the three nations. Discussions held over the last months have enabled the creation of a solid basis for cooperation between industry and the three governments. This continues the successful Phase 1A demonstrators’ related R&T work and development activities, which enabled the identification of key technologies and the launch of the demonstrators’ developments. Paving the way for the development phase of the programme, this demonstration phase 1B will allow continuation of flying demonstrators and required cutting-edge technologies development and maturation as well as project architectures consolidation, with in-flight demonstrations targeted in the next phases by 2028-2029.
08 Dec 22. Launches Secured for 5 Sentinel Satellites. A contract signed today between ESA and Arianespace has ensured rides into orbit for five Copernicus Sentinels: Sentinel-1D, Sentinel-2C, Sentinel-3C, and the Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide-A and -B satellites. All the satellites will be launched on Vega-C rockets from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana and are scheduled to take place between 2024 and 2026. The contract not only marks an important milestone in the continuity of the Sentinel missions and the European Union’s Copernicus programme, but also Europe’s autonomous access to space. (Source: ASD Network)
16 Dec 22. GKN Aerospace has signed a contract with ArianeGroup to supply the next phase of Ariane 6 turbines and Vulcain nozzles. The contract includes the manufacturing and supply of units for the next 14 Ariane 6 launchers, to be produced from now until 2025. GKN Aerospace, at its Trollhättan site in Sweden, is currently focused on industrializing and integrating novel, innovative technology into its Ariane 6 products. This includes the nozzle channel wall, which will include all-new technologies in a flight application. The design has been continuously improved over time, and during the transition batch process, it will be further matured in GKN Aerospace’s state-of-the-art centre of excellence. This is essential to prepare for increased production in the next phase of launcher exploitation. GKN Aerospace’s space business unit, in Trollhättan, has been active in the Ariane program from its inception in 1974, having contributed to the programme at every stage from initial research and development through to serial production. To date, GKN Aerospace has made over 1,000 combustion chambers and nozzles as well as over 250 turbines for the Ariane rocket.
13 Dec 22. PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company, finalized a contract with the Polish National Police for two S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, which will increase its fleet of Black Hawks to five by the end of 2024. The expanded Sikorsky Black Hawk fleet will fulfill important missions including counter-terrorism activities, search and rescue, and firefighting. The contract includes a logistical support package that will cover spare parts, pilot and maintenance specialist training, and ground support equipment. Currently, the Police Aviation Authority operates three S-70i helicopters delivered by PZL Mielec in 2018 and 2019. They are deployed for a range of activities, including search and rescue missions, border patrol activities and, in cooperation with the Headquarters of the State Fire Service, actions to combat fires and natural disasters. (Source: ASD Network)
16 Dec 22. Saab Receives Order for Upgrade of Gripen C/D. Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) have today signed a contract and Saab has received an order to ensure the continued operability of and provide capability enhancements to the fighter aircraft JAS 39 Gripen C/D. The order value is approximately SEK 3.5 billion and the contract period is 2023-2029. The contract also includes options that enable FMV to place additional orders for capability enhancements during 2023. The enhancements will provide Sweden with a more effective and powerful fighter capability. The aircraft will be equipped with a new version of the engine, which will enhance flight performance. A more effective electronic warfare system will also be introduced and the upgrade will create conditions for increased attack capability with a new payload. The order encompasses an upgrade to Saab’s latest fighter radar, which provides increased performance with emphasis on enhanced fighter capability and extended detection and tracking range. It also includes an upgraded and future-proof avionic system which, among other features, enables fast software updates of the sensor function. The capability enhancement will enable better interoperability between Gripen C/D and Gripen E, for example by the upgrade of support systems and data links. Interoperability is a prerequisite as the platforms will be used in parallel over many years.
USA
LAND
13 Dec 22. Cleo Robotics, developer of the Dronut aerial vehicle platform, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to deliver a number of prototype Tactical Dronut (TacDronut) systems for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability. The contract, valued at $2.5M, was awarded by the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) after the technology was selected during an Army Innovation Day competition evaluation of disruptive and innovative technologies to address required critical capabilities. Army RCCTO specializes in executing rapid prototyping and initial equipping of strategically important capabilities. “Partnering with a company like Cleo Robotics allows the Army RCCTO to bring disruptive capabilities to the warfighter. Working through our Innovation Day process paired this approach to a unit of action,” said Mr. Robert Monto, Jr., deputy director of Critical Technologies Office (CTO) and Advanced Concepts and Experimentation (ACE) of the Army RCCTO. (Source: UAS VISION)
13 Dec 22. Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an innovator in satellite and multi-transport networks for over 50 years, today announced that OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, has ordered 10,000 Hughes LEO Terminals to enable networking services for enterprise and government customers. Engineered and manufactured by Hughes, the terminals (model number HL1100) include the Hughes electronically steered antenna and compact indoor and outdoor equipment necessary to activate high-speed, low latency broadband service on the OneWeb constellation. (Source: PR Newswire)
13 Dec 22. The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command awarded L3Harris Technologies a contract worth up to $886m to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the Army, Department of Defense and intelligence community. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract includes a five-year base award with five one-year follow-on options to provide datalink architecture, network design enhancements for aerial and ground-based communications, and lifecycle management support. Applying its trusted disruptor approach, L3Harris continues to evolve its ISR and resilient communication solutions that help inform prudent planning and timely decision making, with innovative multi-beam, active electronically scanned array techniques, multi-constellation orbit data transports for aerial and ground systems, and protected datalink and smart network exploitation capabilities. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Dec 22. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) received funding through the Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for enhancements to its hypersonics manufacturing technology. The $8.8m contract supports improvements that will help to shorten production times and drive affordability for hypersonic weapons in production. The company combines traditional manufacturing techniques with innovative manufacturing approaches and digital engineering to reduce part counts, inspection and touch labor. This comprehensive approach ensures the successful transition of hypersonic weapons from research and development to production while enabling sustainable, predictable and affordable life-cycle costs.
15 Dec 22. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $543,478,661 modification (P00349) to contract W56HZV-20-C-0050 to exercise available options to support the fielding of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Family of Vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2024. Fiscal 2022 and 2023 Air Force Procurement funds; fiscal 2022 and 2023 Air Force Procurement European Deterrence funds; fiscal 2023 Foreign Military Sales (Slovenia) funds; fiscal 2021 and 2023 Navy Procurement funds; fiscal 2022 National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account funds; fiscal 2021 and 2023 other procurement, Army funds; fiscal 2023 other procurement, Army, Mods-In-Service funds; and fiscal 2022 U.S. Marine Corps funds in the amount of $543,478,661 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
14 Dec 22. Precision Optics Corporation, Inc. (NASDAQ:POCI), a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced optical instruments for the medical and defense industries, today announced the receipt of a follow-on production order totaling approximately $2.6m from a major US defense contractor, to meet increased demand for a highly complex optical assembly. The order is expected to be delivered over the next 12 to 18 months. Precision Optics has supplied this optical assembly to the customer since 2018. The new $2.6m order represents a three-fold increase from the most recent order received for this optical assembly. Based on discussions with the customer, the end-market product is seeing increased demand and the customer expects continued ongoing renewals of production orders in the years to come. (Source: PR Newswire)
13 Dec 22. Raytheon Selected to Develop a CTEN for the USAF’s Advanced Battle Management System. Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business, has been selected to develop a Common Tactical Edge Network, or CTEN, in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System. RI&S is one of nine companies selected to demonstrate portions of the network. CTEN will provide edge networking to help operators enable distributable battle management command and control in highly contested environments to support Joint All-Domain Command and Control. (Source: ASD Network)
SEA
09 Dec 22. BAE Systems – Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $294,786,804 firm-fixed-price contract action for maintenance, modernization and repair of USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) fiscal 2023 docking selected restricted availability. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $340,311,714. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2024. Fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $289,402,941 (98.2%); and fiscal 2022 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,383,863 (1.8%) will be obligated at the time of award, of which $289,402,941 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the System for Award website, with two offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-23-C-4408).
14 Dec 22. Jacobs (NYSE:J) was awarded the Underwater Launch Test Capability (ULTC) services contract with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), located in Crane, Indiana. Through the $99.8m contract, Jacobs will provide integration and activation of special test equipment, verification and commissioning services of this test facility, and support launch test operations and sustainment in collaboration with NSWC Crane. The ULTC services contract establishes interoperability between several hardware and software elements which were previously delivered under separate contracts, including: the facility, launch reaction stand, arrestment system, crossflow simulator, support equipment, test vehicles, and the control and data acquisition system. Following site activation, Jacobs will support test operations and site sustainment throughout the life of the contract. (Source: PR Newswire)
09 Dec 22. Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $349,500,982 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for support to execute in-service engineering agent (ISEA) functions for afloat and ashore tactical networks (TACNET). Specifically, Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific requires ISEA support, technical and engineering assistance, design analysis, network information assurance accreditation, installation, integration, sustainment, and life cycle support ISEA functions for afloat and ashore TACNET and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence systems including the sustainment of fielded systems through end-of-life replacement, system upgrades, follow-on, or interrelated system, distant support, onsite repair, installations, and system analysis to ensure networks are performing within designed specifications and peak capabilities. The contract includes a single five-year ordering period. The period of performance of the base award is from Dec. 9, 2022, through Dec. 8, 2027. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (70%); and outside continental U.S. locations on a temporary basis at worldwide Department of Defense ashore and afloat facilities (30%, if applicable) and will be annotated at the task order level. Funding will be obligated via task orders. The predominant types of funding anticipated to be obligated on task orders include operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); research, development, test and evaluation; and shipbuilding and conversion (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-22-R-0030 which was published on the System for Award management website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command E-Commerce Central website. One offer was received and selected for award. NIWC Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-23-D-0004).
AIR
14 Dec 22. The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Alabama, is being awarded a $109,101,801 contract modification (P00160) to a previously awarded, cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (HQ0147-19-C-0004). The value of this contact is increased from $5,058,764,537 to $5,167,866,338. Under this modification, the contract period of performance is being extended by 12 months. This extension will allow completion of the Ground Test (GT)-08 test campaign; fielding of the Launch Management System software version 8D and Increment 6B.2 of the Missile Defense System; and installation of new Launch System Components and Launch Support Systems. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama; Fort Greely, Alaska; and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The contract period of performance will be extended from December 2023 to December 2024. Fiscal 2023, 2024, and 2025, research, development, test and evaluations funds will be used on this effort; however, no funds are being obligated at this time. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-C-0004).
12 Dec 22. NASA has finalized its contract with Boeing of Huntsville, Alabama, for approximately $3.2bn to continue manufacturing core and upper stages for future Space Launch System (SLS) rockets for Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. Under the SLS Stages Production and Evolution Contract action, Boeing will produce SLS core stages for Artemis III and IV, procure critical and long-lead material for the core stages for Artemis V and VI, provide the exploration upper stages (EUS) for Artemis V and VI, as well as tooling and related support and engineering services. In October 2019, NASA provided initial funding and authorization for Artemis III core stage work and targeted long-lead materials and cost-efficient bulk purchases. The finalization of this contract extends production activities and preparations for future work through July 2028. As part of the contract NASA may order up to 10 core stages and eight exploration upper stages total to support future deep space exploration missions. (Source: ASD Network)
13 Dec 22. The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems $13.5m to incorporate its Smart D2™ technology as part of the U.S Navy’s ALE-47 Common Carriage program which increases expendable payload capacity as the USN converts from round to square countermeasures. The contract is an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) through the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC). This is the first purchase of Smart D2 technology by the Department of Defense (DoD). The Smart D2 technology can be integrated into an aircraft’s existing ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasures Dispenser System – the trusted system of choice for aircraft survivability among U.S. armed forces and international allies. More than 4,000 ALE-47 systems have been installed in over 30 countries. Instead of replacing an aircraft’s entire ALE-47 system, Smart D2 technology allows for the replacement of key elements – the programmer, sequencer, dispenser, and expendables. The programmer contains a regularly-updated database of known threats and identifies the appropriate payload, quantity, and dispensing intervals of each countermeasure. It also provides two-way communication of mission-critical information to enable pilots to make more informed decisions on the spot. Smart D2 technology supports the U.S. Navy conversion to countermeasure expendables with the same square form factor as the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. The Smart D2 sequencer and square style dispenser are a form and fit replacement to the current ALE-47 sequencer and dispenser for the U.S. Navy’s effort under the NASC OTA. Smart D2 will be deployed on USN rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and is also designed to operate on future platforms. Work on Smart D2 under the ALE-47 Common Carriage program is underway at BAE Systems’ state-of-the-art facility in Austin, Texas. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Dec 22. Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, along with its partners ILC Dover and Oceaneering, was awarded a contract to design, develop and demonstrate the next-generation spacesuit for the International Space Station. This is Collins’ first task order under NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services, or xEVAS, contract which was awarded in May 2022. Collins’ next-generation spacesuit contains everything an astronaut needs to survive in the vacuum of space. Made up of more than 18,000 parts and with an interior volume the size of a small refrigerator, the suit provides oxygen, CO2 removal, electrical power, hydration, ventilation, thermal control and communications. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Dec 22. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $2,218,242,426 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, and fixed-price incentive, cost reimbursable modification (P00060) to a previously awarded contract (N0001921C0020). This modification exercises an option to provide logistics support, to include ground maintenance activities, action request solution, depot activities, automatic logistics information system operations and maintenance, reliability and maintainability, supply chain management, pilot training, maintainer training, and training system sustainment in support of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter air systems for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (57%); Orlando, Florida (26%); Greeneville, South Carolina (11%); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (4%); and El Segundo, California (2%), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. Fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $429,707,693; fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $121,187,907; fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $54,259,998; FMS customer funds in the amount of $121,551,361; and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $293,723,889 will be obligated at time of award, $605,155,598 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
12 Dec 22. Magellan Aerospace Corporation (“Magellan”) announced today that it will continue producing F-35 Lightning II (“F-35”) horizontal tail assemblies under an agreement with BAE Systems. This significant, multi-year agreement is the continuation of contract awards made to Magellan by BAE Systems and will further Magellan’s participation on the global program. Magellan and BAE Systems have been working together to produce horizontal tails for the global F-35 program for more than a decade, signing the original Letter of Intent for this agreement in 2006. Both companies have since made significant investment in facilities, technologies and training to ensure the successful delivery of these flight-critical assemblies to F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin. The horizontal tail assemblies produced at Magellan’s facility in Winnipeg, MB, will be used on the Conventional Takeoff and Landing variant of the F-35. Magellan is targeting to produce more than 1,000 ship sets of horizontal tail assemblies over the life of the F-35 program.(Source: ASD Network)
15 Dec 22. Raytheon Technologies Corp., doing business as Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a $619,068,244 firm-fixed-price, fixed-price incentive (firm target), cost reimbursable modification (P00008) to a previously awarded contract (N0001920C0011). This modification adds scope to procure long-lead materials, parts and components for Lot 17 F135 propulsion systems in support of the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Additionally, this modification adds scope for the production and delivery of four F135-PW-600 propulsion systems in support of Lots 15 and 16 F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter for non-U.S. DOD partners and FMS customers, as well as provides for integration efforts for an FMS customer into the Joint Strike Fighter program. Work will be performed in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (23%); Indianapolis, Indiana (19%); Houston, Texas (4%); Phoenix, Arizona (3%); West Palm Beach, Florida (3%); Southington, Connecticut (3%); the following labor surplus areas to include East Hartford, Connecticut (15%); Rockford, Illinois (5%); and New Britain, Connecticut (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (3%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (20%), and is expected to be completed in October 2030. Fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $101,285,551; fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $44,081,814; FMS customer funds in the amount of $339,131,605; and non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $134,569,274 will be obligated at 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.
TECHNOLOGY
13 Dec 22. The Defense Intelligence Agency said it awarded a “significant” contract to modernize its top-secret intranet, the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Collection System, or JWICS. Agency officials told reporters Tuesday the eight-year contract was issued Nov. 17. They would not disclose the winning company, its subcontractors or the value of the deal. The chosen contractor will provide day-to-day operations support for the system as well as capability upgrades, she said. JWICS is a top-secret IT network used by the intelligence community to transmit sensitive information. The DIA, which provides the Defense Department with information about foreign countries’ military capabilities, manages it. The system was designed in the 1990s to provide secure video teleconferencing between DoD and DIA headquarters, but its scope and user base has grown significantly since then. JWICS now includes data and email services and has more than 200,000 users, according to DIA Chief Information Officer Doug Cossa. That increased demand, a need for greater security and a desire to incorporate new technology are the drivers behind the JWICS modernization initiative, he said. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
15 Dec 22. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that it has received the initial $30m in funding on a potential $250m Command, Control, Communication, Computing, Combat System Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) program. The new contract is single award to Kratos. Kratos is a technology company in the National Security market and a leading provider of systems, subsystems, components and solutions for mission critical programs, including in the unmanned aerial drone, hypersonic, space, satellite communication, propulsion system, cyber warfare and microwave electronic areas. Work under this new program award will be performed at secure Kratos engineering and manufacturing facilities. Due to competitive, security and other considerations, no additional information will be provided related to this program award. (Source: ASD Network)
16 Dec 22. Metron Inc. (Metron), a leading provider of advanced research, scientific and software solutions for defense, federal, and private-sector industries, announced today it has been awarded a $7,806,349 cost-plus-fixed-fee Office of Naval Research (ONR) contract for “Advanced Algorithm Development for Autonomous Marine Systems.” The contract award will leverage Metron’s expertise in mission and path planning, object detection, tracking and data fusion, autonomous behaviors, and Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) simulation. Under the terms, Metron will provide applied research investigations and software development for undersea mission autonomy. Research and technical elements will include model development, algorithm research and development, mission simulation, objective planning, system-level performance assessments, and at sea demonstrations. The improved capabilities developed under the contract terms will have broad applicability across current and emerging Navy UUV systems and programs and will enhance performance across the undersea mission space. (Source: PR Newswire)
14 Dec 22. Palantir USG Inc., Palo Alto, California, was awarded a $10,123,008 modification (P00002) to contract W911QX-22-C-0031 to conduct research and development services in the area of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Work will be performed in Palo Alto, California, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2023. Fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $5,083,476 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Adelphi, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
15 Dec 22. Pacific Defense, a leading open systems integrator delivering Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) products and solutions, announced today it has signed a contract with the Space Control Technology Branch of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop and demonstrate a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) sensor built on MOSA principles to address the rapidly expanding challenge of space situational awareness (SSA) in the cislunar regime. The “Moonraker” system builds upon Pacific Defense’s expertise in MOSA system development, leveraging 3U software-defined radio (SDR) and graphics processing unit (GPU) technology, as well as an open software framework comprised of company and industry-provided SSA applications. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
08 Dec 22. Peraton Risk Decision Inc., Loveland, Colorado (HS002123D0001); and CACI Inc. – Federal, Reston, Virginia (HS002123D0002), have been awarded parallel, single-award, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts for nationwide background investigation fieldwork services under solicitation numbers HS002122R0002 and HS002122R0003. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is the primary investigative service provider for the federal government. Each multi-year contract has a maximum value of $2,250,000,000; a minimum guaranteed value of $50,000,000; and a five-year ordering period that will conclude on Dec. 8, 2027. The awards are the result of a competitive acquisition process under which four offers were received in response to each solicitation. Task order awards to Peraton and CACI, each obligated in the amount of $50,000,000 with defense working capital funds, followed directly thereafter. DCSA Acquisition and Contracting, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
08 Dec 22. Riverside Research, an independent nonprofit national security company, announces win of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Microelectronics and Embedded System Assurance (MESA) II Research and Development contract. The $49.5m, five-year contract allows Riverside Research to continue its breakthrough research and long-standing technical leadership in this critical mission area. Riverside Research has conducted research and development on behalf of AFRL for over twenty years, providing independent and unbiased technical R&D in microelectronics, open architecture, electromagnetics, PNT, materials and plasma physics. This contract enables Riverside Research to continue supporting AFRL in its advancement of technologies for the warfighter. (Source: PR Newswire)
15 Dec 22. Sparta Science, the developer of a scalable, machine learning-based movement health platform, was recently awarded an AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract by the United States Air Force to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) embedded in cloud and mobile apps to extend the reach and productivity of Space Force’s Guardian Resiliency Teams (GRT) in their mission to optimize individual Guardians’ performance. This award is significant as it aims to improve Guardians’ coping mechanisms to operational stressors through Lifestyle & Performance Medicine across the United States Space Force. Sparta Science is actively collaborating with the Department of Defense on multiple SBIR Phase I and Phase II projects to improve warfighter readiness by utilizing Sparta Science’s movement health intelligence platform in various use cases. These initiatives will explore opportunities to enhance clinicians’ and practitioners’ abilities to deliver effective movement health guidance at a scale relevant to the USAF. Under this award, Sparta Science will explore research and development partnerships with GRTs across the Space Force as well as transition and acquisition strategies with program offices such as Air Force Medical Service. This will allow a successful transition of Sparta Science’s lifestyle and performance optimization capability to all Space Base Deltas. (Source: PR Newswire)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
04 Dec 22. AAC Clyde Space’s contract with Chile’s Atacama Large Millimeter Array worth 6.1 MSEK. Focused on exploring the darkest, coldest, most distant, regions of space to develop a deeper understanding of the origins of our universe. The Atacama Large Millimeter Submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a forefront astronomy facility in northern Chile. ALMA is at an altitude of 5,050 meters and consists of an 11-mile-wide interferometric imaging array of 54, 12-meter dish antennas and a compact array of 12, 7-meter antennas. AAC Clyde Space has won a contract to maintain radiometers in the telescopes of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. The contract runs for five years and is worth 574kEUR (approx. 6.2MSEK). The subsidiary AAC Omnisys are long term collaborators of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), one of the international partners operating the ALMA radio facility in Chile. AAC Omnisys supplied Water Vapour Radiometers for the antennas at the telescope. The contract now awarded aims to ensure operation of the Water Vapour Radiometers for another five years. (Source: Satnews)
09 Dec 22. Patria AMVXP 8×8 vehicle selected by Japan as a new Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (WAPC) for Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The Japan Ministry of Defense has announced today that Patria AMVXP 8×8 has been selected for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force as their next Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier 8×8 vehicle under the WAPC programme. The selection includes manufacturing licence of the vehicles in Japan, with a solid contribution to the local economy and technology development securing the supply and service in Japan. The Patria AMVXP 8×8 vehicles will be replacing the Type-96 8×8 Armored Personnel Carrier vehicles which are currently in service by Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Patria has worked for the WAPC programme since 2018 and it has also established a local subsidiary, Patria Japan Ltd., to support its activities in Japan. The next step in the programme is licence negotiations which will start immediately. Patria has a very strong heritage of providing services and high-technology systems engaging successfully with local industries and providing the local security of supply. Patria sees the selection of Patria AMVXP 8×8 as a great opportunity to further develop cooperation in Japan with new services and solutions as well as to establish long-term strategic partnerships with Japan and its industries.
09 Dec 22. Rheinmetall supplying international customer with Skynex air defence system. Rheinmetall is supplying an international customer with two Skynex air defence systems. The systems will enhance the customer’s ability to defend itself against aerial threats. Worth around €182m, the system is to be delivered in the beginning of 2024. In addition, a memorandum of understanding was signed for the procurement of HX trucks in the amount of approximately €12m. These vehicles will be delivered with the Skynex systems. (Ukraine)
SEA
15 Dec 22. Babcock Australasia (Babcock) and NORSTA Maritime (Norsta) have signed a collaboration agreement to sustain the Royal Australian Navy ’s (Ran ) vessels under the Plan Galileo. The focus of Plan Galileo is to create a network of regional maintenance centres (RMCs) at strategic locations around the country. This new collaboration comes after last month’s announcement on Babcock’s completely owned subsidiary Naval Ship Management being selected as the Regional Maintenance Provider (RMP) West to sustain RAN vessels at Henderson, Western Australia over the next five years. Norsta was chosen as the RMP North East in May 2020 with the responsibility to manage the maintenance of RAN vessels in Cairns, Queensland. (Source: naval-technology.com)
30 Nov 22. Colombian Navy awards contract to COTECMAR for first PES frigate, ocean patrol vessel, and logistic support ship. The Colombian Navy (Armada de la República de Colombia: ARC) awarded a contract to COTECMAR to build the service’s first frigate under the Strategic Surface Platform (Plataforma estratégica de superficie: PES) project on 22 November. The contract includes the construction of an ocean patrol vessel (Patrullera Oceánica Colombiana: POC) offshore patrol vessel (OPV) 93 and a logistic support vessel (LSV) (Buque de Apoyo logístico: BAL). Vice Admiral Francisco Hernando Cubides Granados, commander of the ARC, said the new vessels will help to protect the country’s maritime interests on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The government announced a total of USD440 m for the construction, integration, testing, commissioning, and operation of afloat naval units, and also for improving their protection capabilities. The project is expected to be completed in 10 years, and will be fulfilled under different phases. (Source: Janes)
14 Dec 22. Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (KSOE) said Wednesday it has signed a 670.7bn-won (US$517m) deal with South Korea’s state arm procurement agency to build a new 8,200-ton destroyer for the country’s Navy. Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., a KSOE affiliate, will construct the next-generation, Aegis-equipped destroyer at its shipyard in the southeastern port of Ulsan and deliver the vessel to the Navy in 2027. The 170-meter-long, 21-meter-wide will be armed with a missile interception platform and stronger anti-submarine capabilities. It will be the third warship built as part of Seoul’s acquisition program, code-named Gwanggaeto-III Batch-II, under which the country has been pushing to procure three high-tech destroyers in an effort to bolster defense against North Korea’s evolving military capabilities. (Source: News Now/https://en.yna.co.kr/)
08 Dec 22. Kraken Robotics has secured a prime contract from the Government of Canada to provide Remote Minehunting and Disposal Systems (RMDS) for the Department of National Defense (DND). The contract comprises an estimated 24-month acquisition programme following which is an initial five-year Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) programme. The ILS programmes features options for further spare parts, training, and technical support. Commencement of the acquisition programme will begin in January next year. The total value of the contract will be more than $50m if all options under the acquisition and ILS programmes are exercised. This amount will consist of around $40m for acquisition and $10m for ILS. Kraken will deliver remote minehunting and disposal systems to Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on the East Coast, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia; and the West Coast, located in Esquimalt, British Columbia. Besides several combat-variant and training-variant mine disposal systems (MDS), transportable command center (TCC) and computer-based trainer (CBT), the RMDS also comprises two classes of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) – light weight AUVs and operator portable AUVs. The AUVs will be equipped with Kraken’s AquaPix synthetic aperture sonar. Among Kraken’s partners included on this programme are Kongsberg Maritime Canada, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and SH Defense. Kongsberg Maritime Canada is a provider of HIl’s Mission Technologies Division’s REMUS AUV; ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada (tkMS) is offering SEAFOX mine disposal vehicles; and SH Defense will provide ‘The Cube’, which is a containerised multi mission module system, as transportable command centre and effector/ launch and recovery centre. (Source: naval-technology.com)
12 Dec 22. The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has awarded a contract extension to Thales Australia to continue supporting the SEA 1442 Phase 3 programme. The programme aims to upgrade the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) existing communication systems into an internet protocol (IP)-based maritime tactical wide area network (MTWAN). This MTWAN system has an integrated IP-based digital environment that can interface with a variety of existing systems in the RAN fleet. It works at the ‘critical core’ of all the RAN’s maritime communication systems. Thales’ MTWAN is a low-risk approach that can also minimise the service’s through life support expenses. Work is being carried out by a Thales’ team of highly skilled engineers from across Australia. The team works out of company’s Secure Communications Centre of Excellence at Rydalmere in Western Sydney. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
15 Dec 22. L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a contract to provide its smart weapon release systems for three countries in the Middle East and North African regions. The three US-allied nations to receive the new weapon release systems include Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco. The estimated value of this indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract is approximately $29m. As part of the latest order, the company will initially deliver a batch of as many as 105 Bomb Release Unit (BRU)-57/A systems for the three nations’ air defence forces. L3Harris’ BRU-57/A weapon rack will be used with F-16 multi-role fighter aircraft in service with Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco military forces. It will double the munitions capacity of the F-16 aircraft by allowing the aircraft to simultaneously carry two smart weapons on each system, instead of just one. Additional munitions can further allow commanders to reduce the number of aircraft to be deployed on a particular strike mission. (Source: airforce-technology.com)