EUROPE
22 Aug 05. Kiel-based EADS subsidiary Hagenuk Marinekommunikation and its customer, EADS Defence & Security Systems Ltd., UK, are sharing the systems responsibility for three external communications systems (ECS) to be supplied for the UK Royal Navy’s ASTUTE class of nuclear submarines. HMS ASTUTE is the first submarine in the world to be equipped with this new system – currently the most advanced external communications system for submarines in the world.
Due to the extremely high security requirements, the communications system was evaluated in advance by the CLEF certification company under contract to the UK Ministry of Defence, achieving certification with outstanding results. The communications system was installed on schedule on the Command Deck Module of HMS ASTUTE and will enable the submarine crew to transmit voice, data and imagery over all the frequency ranges used for tactical communication. The system is controlled by special software for integrated message handling, which also satisfies the requirement that the entire system be capable of operation by a single person from a central workstation. EADS is now concentrating on following up this success by winning the contract to supply the ECSs for the second and third ASTUTE class submarines. This is another example of EADS successfully offering innovative products and high-tech solutions for the steadily rising and changing requirements of naval forces.
19 Aug 05. QinetiQ’s DUMAS research results in contract for Thales led team. The UK MoD, French DGA and Industry are jointly funding the four-year programme, under the auspices of the European Research Grouping Arrangement No1 (EUROPA MOU). The DUMAS project will provide demonstrator hardware for flight trials on board a French PUMA helicopter in 2007/8. QinetiQ will continue to work alongside Thales UK on the advanced seeker algorithms and the control processor. Safran (created by Sagem’s recent merger with Snecma) is also in the team to provide systems engineering support as a weapons systems prime contractor. Thales UK will manage the programme and will lead the seeker integration, mechanical design, and joint algorithm design and modelling activity. Thales teams in France will provide the overall engineering lead and head the infrared and laser sensor designs and seeker trials. DUMAS now provides the Thales led team with a key opportunity to further its capability in the emerging infrared seeker market. A production version of DUMAS is expected to have application in a number of programmes, including the UK MoD’s SPEAR (Selectable Precision Effects At Range) and the French DGA’s AASM (Armement Air Sol Modulaire) – a Modular air-to-surface weapon and the SCALP-EG stand-off long range cruise missile programmes. DUMAS technology combines an active infrared scanning laser and a passive infrared detector which, used in conjunction with sophisticated algorithms, detects, images and identifies targets. DUMAS is expected to improve existing and new missile systems by increasing target search areas and by providing powerful automated target identification capabilities.
23 Aug 05. EADS has signed a five-year framework agreement – with the possibility of an extension – with the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement. The “F124 Software maintenance/modification consortium” led by EADS/Thales Marinesysteme GmbH (ETMS) is set to take over maintenance of the software for the three most modern ships in the German Navy, the F124 ‘Sachsen’ class frigates. The contract provides for regular software updates every 18 months, maintaining the operational capability of the new frigates and optimizing functionality based on in-service experience. Modification of the software packages in line with new requirements is to be carried out by the EADS Defence and Communications Systems business unit. EADS’s share of the order for the first version amounts to around €10m. The project is another example of succ