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EUROPE
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11 Jan 23. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT and TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems” or the “Company”) announced today that it was awarded a contract in an amount of approximately $70m to supply rockets to the armed forces of a European country. The contract will be performed over a period of 3 years. Under the contract, Elbit Systems will supply 122mm extended-range rockets that are intended to significantly increase the performance and effectiveness of operations by allowing ground forces to concentrate fire at an increased range of up to 40 kilometers. The rocket offers simple autonomous operation in various weather conditions and can be ready to be launched in less than one minute.
10 Jan 23. The Italian Navy orders 36 IDV Amphibious Armoured Vehicles (VBA). IDV will be supplying 36 Amphibious Armoured Vehicles (VBA) Personnel Carrier to the Italian Navy. IDV’s state-of-the-art amphibious vehicles will reinforce the fleet of San Marco Marina Brigade (BMSM) and will effectively increase the Sea Projection National Capability. On December 22nd, the Directorate of Land Armaments signed a contract with IDV for the supply of 36 Amphibious Armoured Vehicles (VBA) to the Italian Navy. The contract comes as part of the program to renew and extend the vehicles’ fleet for National Defence, aimed at increasing the Sea Projection National Capability of the Italian Navy. The VBA is an 8×8 all-terrain vehicle, capable of being launched and recovered from an amphibious vessel in open ocean and offering at the same time excellent mobility and high-level ballistic, anti-mine and anti-IED protection The 700HP FPT Cursor 16 engine, combined with an automatic 7-speed gearbox and an H-driveline, derived from the Centauro and the VBM Freccia, provides the VBA with a maximum on-road speed of 105 km/h, while the two rear-mounted hydraulic propellers guarantee the navigation beyond “Sea State 3” and a top speed of 6 knots. The platform is equipped with a HITROLE Light remote turret, supplied by Leonardo, with a 12.7mm calibre weapon and latest generation C4 systems. The VBA for the Italian Navy is based on the SUPERAV 8×8, the amphibious vehicle platform used for the US Marine Corps’ ACV (Amphibious Combat Vehicle), which is provided in partnership with BAE Systems.
09 Jan 23. Officials of the US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington announced a $208.7m contract Thursday to the Raytheon Missiles & Defense segment in Tucson, Ariz., for the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System (NSM CDS) for the Republic of Romania. The NSM CDS has target recognition and a network-centric architecture that enables several simultaneous engagements and over the horizon (OTH) targeting. The system can be closely integrated and adapted to a country’s weapons and command and control systems. The NSM CDS has a fire-distribution center for battle management; the anti-ship and land-attack Raytheon Naval Strike Missile (NSM); and sea surveillance and tracking radar. One of the primary NSM CDS systems integrators is Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS in Kongsberg, Norway. The system’s fire-distribution center has an open modular software architecture is based on the similar proven Kongsberg BMC4I fire-distribution center used in the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), and is independent of vehicle types. The system operates in a real-time network of sensors and missile launchers that establishes an integrated maritime picture that enhances situational awareness through data sharing. (Source: Google/https://www.militaryaerospace.com/)
11 Jan 23. Rheinmetall signs contracts to produce 40mm ammunition for two European NATO customers. Two European NATO customers have signed contracts with Rheinmetall to supply their armed forces with 40mm ammunition. The total value of these contracts exceeds €30m. In December 2022 a European NATO customer has contracted with Rheinmetall to supply up to 300,000 rounds of 40mm ammunition, including LV (low velocity) and HV (high velocity) variants. Under this framework contract, this customer has already issued a first call-off of around 75,000 cartridges. Under a separate contract, the same customer will be taking delivery of some 45,000 programmable cartridges in 40 mm x 53 HV HE-T ABM (High velocity High Explosive-Tracer Airburst Munition) calibre in the first half of 2024. Another European NATO customer will be supplied with around 10,000 rounds of the same type of ammunition, which is mainly used for combating drones. Delivery will take place starting in mid-2023.
AIR
06 Jan 23. Czech aircraft company AERO Vodochody has been awarded a new contract to modernise the Bulgarian Air Force’s L-39 advanced trainer aircraft. Awarded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence (MoD), the contract has a performance period of four years. The initial order under this contract involves the modernisation and overhaul of the first two L-39ZA aircraft. The company will repair the two engines and Safir auxiliary launch unit of the aircraft. The two aircraft to undergo repairs will be transferred by the Bulgarian Air Force to Aero Vodochody by the end of this month. It will be delivered to the Vodokhod factory. Once delivered, Aero will commence the extensive overhaul work, which also includes the replacement of the L-39 aircraft’s original Russian avionics with the new Western ones. In addition, the company will upgrade the navigation, communication, identification and recording equipment of the trainer jets, along with other partial upgrades on the aircraft’s machines. The associated work will be carried out by Aero Vodochody in collaboration with other industry partners and suppliers from the Czech Republic, including VR Group’s subsidiary LOM PRAHA. LOM Praha is Aero’s strategic partner and will support the overhaul of Bulgarian aircraft’s AI-25TL engines. Work on the first upgraded aircraft is expected to complete by 2024. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
USA
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03 Jan 23. USAF awards Black Sage a C-UAS contract worth up to USD900m. Black Sage Technologies has announced it has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for counter-UAS systems from the US Air Force. The contract has a value of up to USD900m over a five-year period with options to extend up to ten years. Black Sage Technologies, acquired by Acorn Growth Companies in 2019, is a developer of C-UAS solutions that identify, classify, track, and defeat UAS threats for military, government, law enforcement, and civil applications. For more information: https://www.einpresswire.com/article/607595541/us-air-force-awards-black-sage-technologies-900m-contract-for-technology-development?r=paYiErrKg3VTQR4uBE (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
09 Jan 23. Iron Bow Technologies, the leading technology solutions provider to government, commercial, and healthcare markets, today announced that the company was awarded the Prime Contract for the Theater Deployable Communications (TDC) Agile Communications Packages (ACP) for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLMC) at Hanscom Air Force Base, Ma. The total contract value over the next four years approximates $144 m. Iron Bow has supported the TDC Program for over ten years and has produced and delivered over one hundred m dollars in tactical communications equipment and services. The TDC Program provides enterprise level Information Technology (IT) capabilities for expeditionary communications at the tactical edge. The TDC Packages will both extend the greater Department of Defense Information Networks (DODIN) as well as provide a resilient node to support Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) operations. As part of this contract, Iron Bow will provide TDC ACPs consisting of voice and data networking services at deployed locations, such as Command and Control Centers and theater air bases; provide connectivity among deployed locations; and provide reach-back from the Area of Responsibility (AOR) to Continental United States (CONUS) and Combatant Commanders (COCOMs). The ACPs will utilize DISA Standardized Tactical Entry Point (STEP) sites as their entry point and will eventually target other forms of transport through the use of SD-WAN. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
09 Jan 23. Kromek Group plc (AIM: KMK) today announces that it has secured a repeat order, worth $0.8m, from a US government customer for its D3S ID wearable nuclear radiation detector. Delivery and revenue recognition is expected to occur in the Group’s current financial year. The D3S ID gamma neutron detector is a wearable Radiation Isotope Identifier (“RIID”) designed for first responders, armed forces, border security and other CBRN experts, which can recognise isotopes and neutrons in seconds. It is designed to detect radiological threats like dirty bombs, radioactive contamination, smuggling of radioactive substances and radiation at the scene of an accident or terrorist attack.
SEA
10 Jan 23. BAE Systems has received a $119.2m contract from the U.S. Navy to perform major modernization work aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82). The value of the competitively-awarded contract could reach $137.9m if all options are exercised. BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair will dry-dock the ship for seven months under the depot maintenance period (DMP) availability contract awarded by the Navy. In addition to underwater hull preservation work, the company’s Florida shipyard will recondition the ship’s engineering spaces, upgrade its command and control equipment, and refurbish the crew’s living spaces. The company expects the DMP work to begin in January 2023 and be completed in April 2024. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
11 Jan 23. BAE Systems has received a $12m Phase 2 contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to further develop a low cost, all-weather, multi-mode (radar/infrared) open architecture seeker under the Maritime Weapon Innovation Program (MWIP) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (also known as QUICKSINK). QUICKSINK munition concept provides air-delivered maritime surface vessel defeat capability for the warfighter via a cost-effective precision-guided munition kit. The program aims to integrate the new seeker developed by BAE Systems’ FAST Labs™ research and development organization. The Weapon Open Systems Architecture (WOSA) compliant seeker is designed to be plug and play – providing semi-autonomous precision targeting of maritime surface vessels at low cost by retrofitting existing weapon systems to achieve torpedo-like seaworthy capabilities from the air. Phase 2 focuses on integration and test maturation of a prototype multi-mode seeker system through free flight capability demonstration against a maritime target. Under the terms of the contract, BAE Systems is leading the development, integration and testing of its multi-mode seeker for maritime strike applications. The company’s solution extends and uses its experience from Phase 1, its precision munitions portfolio, and sensor research area. Its previous open architecture seeker development work includes the Seeker Cost Transformation (SECTR) program and its Microwave Array Technology for Reconfigurable Integrated Circuit (MATRICs™) Transceiver – a field-reprogrammable array of radio frequency subsystems. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
09 Jan 23. HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division was awarded a $10.5m contract today for the modernization period planning of Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) and USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). HII has invested nearly $1bn in the infrastructure, facility and toolsets at Ingalls Shipbuilding enabling the work of Ingalls’ shipbuilders, improving product flow and process efficiency, and enhancing product quality. (Source: ASD Network)
10 Jan 23. ManTech has secured a $57m contract from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane to develop technology solutions to support advanced expeditionary weapon systems. Under the five-year contract, ManTech will develop systems intended for US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). This contract was awarded to the company under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. The DoD IAC programme is sponsored by the Defense Technical Information Center. It offers technical data management and research support for DoD and federal government users. NSWC Crane handles the research, prototyping, acquisition, test, evaluation and delivery aspects of expeditionary weapon systems for SOCOM Program Manager-Special Operations Force Lethality (PM-SOF Lethality). (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
06 Jan 23. Advanced Space has awarded a contract to General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) to support the US Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Oracle spacecraft programme. As part of this contract, GA-EMS will develop an ESPA-Grande standard satellite for the Oracle programme and perform the associated payload integration and space vehicle tests. GA-EMS president Scott Forney said: “On-orbit capability to generate greater space situational awareness has wide application as space exploration and efforts to return to the Moon continue to accelerate. The Oracle spacecraft programme, formerly known as the Cislunar Highway Patrol System, aims to boost the USSF’s ability to detect or track artificial objects operating at lunar distances. In November 2022, Advanced Space was awarded a $72m contract to work on the Oracle programme. As the prime contractor, the company is designing mission approach and advanced navigation, tracking, and communication solutions for the programme. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
09 Jan 23. Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, is awarded a $19,279,611 firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to a previously awarded, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0001922D0038). This modification adds scope for the production and delivery of 10 RQ-21A air vehicles, two RQ-21A turrets, support equipment, spares, tools, and training in support of RQ-21A Blackjack and ScanEagle unmanned aircraft platforms for the Navy, Marine Corps, and international partners. Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington (88%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (12%), and is expected to be completed in June 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air System Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: UAS VISION/DoD)
11 Jan 23. Kratos Receives Mayhem Hypersonic Missile Program Contract Award. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that its Defense & Rocket System Services (DRSS) Division, in collaboration with Kratos’ Unmanned Systems Division, has received a contract from its prime teammate and partner Leidos to support the Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and Strike Program, known as Mayhem. This new contract award will support the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) development of an air-breathing hypersonic weapon system over its initial 51-month period of performance. The initial task order will conduct the System Requirements Review (SRR) and Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) in a Digital Engineering (DE) environment. In partnership with Leidos, Kratos will serve as a member of the System Design Agent (SDA) team for the Mayhem program, which also includes Calspan and Draper. The SDA’s goal is to design a system that allows rapid relevant technology insertions utilizing the expertise and capabilities from a variety of industry partners. The role of the SDA for this program will also include bringing the best of industry together to perform research and development necessary for production of air-breathing multi-mission hypersonic system prototypes. The SDA will oversee designs, prototypes, and tests to ultimately produce and deliver a technical data package for high performance, relevant hypersonic weapon systems. (Source: ASD Network)
10 Jan 23. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $464,399,742 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract action for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node E-11A (BACN E-11A) platform maintenance and main operating base contractor logistics support establishment. This task order provides for operations and sustainment of the BACN E-11A platform subsystems and ancillary equipment to continue effective flight operations to include the continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S. locations, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and supply requirements for the E-11A aircraft and associated support equipment. In addition, this acquisition will establish a main operating base at an Air Force base in the continental U.S. for the BACN E-11A fleet to support training and deployed operations. Work is expected to be completed by Jan. 23, 2028. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and one offer was received. Fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $37,601,066 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8726-23-F-0028).
09 Jan 23. The Space Force released an additional $605m in November to Raytheon Technologies and Millennium Space Systems to build prototypes of satellites that can detect and track hypersonic and ballistic missiles from medium Earth orbit, C4ISRNET has learned. The service chose the companies in May 2021 to develop models of missile warning sensors for its Missile Track Custody program. The Space Force did not disclose the contract values at the time, but confirmed to C4ISRNET this week Raytheon’s deal is worth up to $727m and Millennium’s up to $412m. The contracts include options for baseline design work, operations, data processing and the purchase of up to three aircraft. Following a successful review of their sensor payload designs in November, the service exercised additional options within those original contracts, awarding Raytheon $396m and Millennium $209m. With that funding, which is based on the proposals each company made when they bid for the effort, they will build satellite prototypes that could fly as soon as 2026. They’ll also develop ground-based command-and-control and data-processing systems. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/C4ISR & Networks)
TECHNOLOGY
12 Jan 23. BigBear.ai (NYSE: BBAI), a leader in AI-powered analytics and cyber engineering solutions, today announced it has been awarded a multiple award $900m Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Air Force. The contract vehicle allows BigBear.ai to compete for task orders delivering capabilities, systems, and synthetic environments to the Air Force as a prime contractor. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Architectures and Integration Directorate expects the work on awarded task orders to be completed by 2032. Under the terms of the contract, BigBear.ai can also compete for task orders supporting the research and development of new technologies, creation of rapid prototypes, capability testing, and solution implementation. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
06 Jan 23. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US Department of Defense has awarded a $12m contract to Parsons’ subsidiary BlackHorse Solutions for a research project under the Signature Management using Operational Knowledge and Environments (SMOKE) programme. This cost-plus-fixed-fee contract was secured by the subsidiary via a competitive acquisition process. Given that cyber networks are always under threat from malicious cyber-attacks, Parsons will build data-driven tools that can automate the planning and execution of threat-emulated cyber infrastructure required for network security evaluations under the SMOKE programme. (Source: army-technology.com)
12 Jan 23. Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC) has been awarded a $349m contract by the U.S. Navy to continue supporting In-Service Engineering Agent (ISEA) functions for Afloat and Ashore Tactical Networks (TACNET). Under the five-year contract, SAIC will continue to provide management, engineering, technical, integrated logistics, configuration management, and life cycle support for afloat and ashore TACNET and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence systems. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
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09 Jan 23. DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (DroneShield or the Company) has received a new purchase order for approximately A$11m for a Government agency customer. The order includes several different types of DroneShield counterdrone/C-UAS equipment. The order is expected to be delivered by mid 2023. The proceeds are expected to be received across March and June 2023 quarters. The order is subject to receiving relevant export approvals.
10 Jan 23. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT and TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems” or the “Company”) announced today that it was awarded a contract in an amount of approximately $180m from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD) to provide, operate and maintain the new Mission Training Center (MTC) for the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) F-16 fleet. The contract will be delivered over a three-year period with an additional fifteen year period that will include operation and maintenance services. The new Mission Training Center will be added to the existing MTC, that will be upgraded as part of the contract. Both MTCs will improve the quality of aircrew training, doubling the number of training sorties for the IAF’s F-16 and F-15 aircrew. The Air Force’s new MTC will include ten simulators with advanced high resolution displays, accurate weapon simulation and Elbit’s arena generator, that combine to enable simulation of both current and future battlefield environments.
06 Jan 23. Colombia has ordered 18 units of the 155mm howitzer Atmos from Israel’s Elbit Systems in a deal worth $101.7m, military sources in Bogota told Defense News. The decision came as a surprise for some observers who expected the contract to go to the Colombian Army’s preferred choice, the six-wheel drive Caesar made by French company Nexter. During final negotiations, Nexter informed Colombia that the value of the potential deal would be $114m, according to the military sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to talk to the media. That price was deemed too high compared to funding allocated to the acquisition program. (Source: Defense News)
09 Jan 23. L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a contract to supply 14 Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletised intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) Rocket Equipment (VAMPIRE) weapon systesm to Ukraine. Valued at approximately $40m, the new contract has been awarded by the US Department of Defense (DoD). L3Harris’ VAMPIRE system was one of the counter uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) included in the US DoD’s $3bn security assistance tranche announced in August last year. The package was part of the DoD’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that aims to strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ battlefield capabilities to counter Russian forces. The latest contract requires L3Harris to install its VAMPIRE kits on different US government-provided land platforms to provide the necessary agile combat support to the Ukrainian troops. Delivery of 14 VAMPIRE kits to the DoD will take place in two phases. The initial set of four systems is scheduled to be delivered by mid-2023 while the remaining ten systems are expected to be delivered by the end of the current year. Once delivered, the new multi-purpose, portable weapons systems will enable Ukrainian armed soldiers to target and shoot down enemy UAS. The VAMPIRE systems included under the latest contract will specifically be customised to deliver critical defence assets to enable Ukrainian forces to safeguard civilian infrastructure against drone attacks. (Source: army-technology.com)
09 Jan 23. Oshkosh Defense Selected to Produce Eitan Armored Personnel Carrier Hulls for the Israeli MoD. Oshkosh Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), announced today that the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has selected Oshkosh Defense to produce the Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) hulls for the Israeli Defense Forces. As part of this contract, valued at over $100 m, Oshkosh Defense will build hundreds of Eitan APC main hulls. (Source: ASD Network)
10 Jan 23. An international customer has contracted with Rheinmetall to modernize its 35mm cannon-based air defence systems. The order also includes ammunition and other components for the modernized Skyguard air defence batteries. Work will start in 2023. The contract is worth a figure in the low three-digit m-euro range. Rheinmetall is upgrading the customer’s 35mm twin guns, bringing them up to the latest Oerlikon GDF009 standard, which will be capable of using AHEAD airburst ammunition. This will enable the country to protect itself and its vital assets from a wide range of aerial threats, including small unmanned aerial systems. Rheinmetall Italia is handling the order. The contract is of great importance to Rheinmetall. It not only strengthens a strategic customer relationship that has existed for decades, but also underscores the high degree of confidence in Rheinmetall’s world-leading expertise in the field of ground-based air defence.
AIR
09 Jan 23. Canada Announces the Procurement of the F-35 Lightning II. The Government of Canada announced today it is procuring Lockheed Martin’s 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft as a result of the Future Fighter Capability Project competition. The Royal Canadian Air Force will receive 88 F-35A multirole stealth fighters, a sustainment solution tailored to Canada’s sovereign requirements and a comprehensive training program. The F-35 strengthens Canada’s operational capability with its allies as a cornerstone for interoperability with NORAD and NATO. As a critical node in the 21st Century Security mission space, the F-35 gives pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe. To date, the F-35 operates from 27 bases worldwide, with nine nations operating F-35s on their home soil. There are more than 890 F-35s in service today, with more than 1,870 pilots and 13,500 maintainers trained on the aircraft.
11 Jan 23. Colombian Air Force to buy more T-6C training aircraft. The Colombian Air Force plans to buy four additional T-6C Texan II turboprop training aircraft from Textron Aviation in a potential deal worth $38.34m. The negotiations are part of an effort to acquire up to 24 of the trainers, unveiled by the Defense Ministry on Dec. 9. Colombia previously ordered three T-6Cs in 2020 for $28.74m. That contract included the option for Colombia to buy up to eight more. The next year, the country ordered an additional four in separate contracts, with an aggregated value of $37m. (Source: Defense News)
TECHNOLOGY
09 Jan 23. BATM Advanced Communications said on Monday that it has received a “substantial” government cyber security order with a value of $26m. The order is to be delivered within a maximum period of five years and will begin this year. The order is from BATM’s long-standing government defence department customer and is for the supply of its high-speed network cyber platform that integrates advanced equipment and software. It enables the deployment of secure networking in mission critical and national scale networks, to prevent cyber-attacks and the leak of confidential data. (Source: Sharecast)
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Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leading global technology company providing terrestrial and wireless network solutions, next-generation 9-1-1 emergency services, satellite and space communications technologies, and clouded native solutions to commercial and government customers around the world. Our unique culture of innovation and employee empowerment unleashes a relentless passion for customer success. With multiple facilities located in technology corridors throughout the United States and the world, Comtech leverages its global presence, technology leadership and decades of experience to create the world’s most innovative communications solutions.
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