HOMELAND SECURITY
22 Nov 07. BQT, a company that provides access security solutions for some of the UK’s most sensitive government buildings has developed a new low cost, high performance, access control solution for SME’s, called SmaX. The SmaX system is IP based, has a simple to operate web-based interface, is fast, easy to use and very quick and cost-effective to install. Being an IP solution, SmaX can be operated by any designated personnel, from any PC/PC’s, at any location within the organisation, whilst still giving the operator the ability to monitor, authorise and record all access movements. Its web-based interface requires minimal operator training and can be completed in just a few hours. This means the system can be up and running on the day of installation and reduces ongoing operating costs. It also means that it is fast and easy to install, driving down installation costs.
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
19 Nov 07. Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF): French Involvement. The Defence Equipment Minister was asked (19 Nov 07) about the progress of the CVF programme. The Minister replied: “Nothing is finalised about French involvement, but it would have to be to the advantage of everyone to go down that path.”.
Comment: A France/UK framework for co-operation on the PA2 and CVF programmes was signed on 6 Mar 06. French and British contractors signed a co-operation agreement on 16 Nov 07: Aker Yards and DCNS signed from France while Babcock, BAE Systems, Thales and VT signed from the UK. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0746, 26 Nov 07)
26 Nov 07. Lockheed Martin and Sanmina-SCI have signed a teaming agreement to compete for the U.S. Army program to upgrade thousands of existing tanks, trucks and tactical wheeled vehicles with a next-generation digital intercommunications system. Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY, will be prime contractor and systems integrator with principal subcontractor Sanmina-SCI’s Defense and Aerospace Systems Division, Huntsville, AL. Together, the two companies will offer an enhanced tactical vehicle version of Sanmina-SCI’s proven TOCNET™ intercommunication system for the Army’s Vehicular Intercommunication System – Extended (VIS-X) competition. Winner of the $3.5 billion VIS-X contract will integrate and support intercom systems in 54,000 vehicles worldwide, among them Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, up-armored HMMWVs and Army-operated commercial trucks. The VIS-X solution will provide vehicle crews with significant improvements in speech intelligibility and hearing protection, and will enable true on-the-move, command-and-control, over-the-horizon data and voice communications. The U.S. Army’s Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), Ft. Monmouth, NJ, is expected to award a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract by mid 2008.
27 Nov 07. Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing (CWCEC), a leading manufacturer of Physical Layer Switching solutions, and Sigma Technologies & Resources, a leading supplier of testing technologies for networking, security and wireless, today announced that they have partnered to offer integrated physical layer switch and test automation software solutions for enterprise network lab automation applications. Sigma announced that it has developed software libraries to integrate its SigmationTF test automation software with Curtiss-Wright’s GLX family of switches, including the GLX4000 series of non-blocking, multi-protocol physical layer switches.
27 Nov 07. CAE announced that it will work together with Microsoft Corporation to provide collaborative simulation solutions for the defence, public safety and homeland security markets. Microsoft has selected CAE as a worldwide “go-to-market” Industry Priority Solution partner focused on simulation-based solutions, including professional services and commercial-off-the-shelf simulation software. Working together in the defence, public safety and homeland se