08 Sep 09. Lockheed Martin and Danish aerospace and defense company Terma A/S today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities associated with the potential sale of the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R multimission helicopter to the Danish Government. The agreement, announced at the Defence Systems & Equipment International exhibition, follows the Danish Government’s June 2009 authorization to procure new ship-based helicopters to support Royal Danish Navy vessels operating in the North Atlantic and internationally. The U.S. Navy’s MH-60R multimission helicopter is a candidate solution for these maritime operations. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Sep 09. Scientists at BAE Systems have teamed up with the MoD to develop innovative technologies to tackle the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) facing troops on the frontline. Under the programme codename project Saturn, the team has developed a new vehicle-mounted sensing system, taking it from concept design to a working demonstrator within just 100 days – compared to an average of 18 months using traditional approaches. The speed of innovation was achieved through a completely new form of partnership, which saw scientists from BAE Systems’ Advanced Technology Centre working side by side with armed forces personnel at a military testing site to simulate a realistic operational environment.
08 Sep 09. BAE Systems and JUNGHANS Microtec GmbH are jointly developing a range correcting fuze, to be called the European Correcting Fuze (ECF). ECF will give greater accuracy by deploying spoilers to aerodynamically compensate for inaccuracies in range, the main source of dispersion. Range dispersion will be less than 40 metres at all ranges, compared with a typical dispersion of around 300-400 metres at maximum range for non-corrected rounds. This improved accuracy reduces collateral damage and costs, as fewer rounds are required to engage any given target. ECF is a ‘screw-in’ replacement for conventional fuzes. It will use in-service
fuze technology to minimise costs and package the extra hardware into the same space envelope as existing fuzes to give a ballistic match. It will be fully compatible with all 105mm and 155mm conventional artillery ammunition with medium fuze intrusion in accordance with common military standards. Two parts of BAE Systems’ Global Combat Systems organisation are involved: its UK-based Munitions business and the Swedish part of its Weapons business (formerly Bofors). (Source: ASD Network)
10 Sep 09. Making it stronger, lighter and better has always been the clear mission behind the development of composite armor protection. What hasn’t been as clear-cut is where to find a reliable supply of leading edge composite armor. That’s changing, thanks in part to a partnership between BAE Systems and the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (RIA), located in Rock Island, Illinois. BAE Systems and RIA have jointly agreed to establish a manufacturing center designed to produce composite armor for a variety of customers in the public and private sector, including the US Government. While the agreement will ensure the continued availability of the most advanced composite armor solutions for customers, the partnership’s most important objective is to provide more responsive and timely support to our men and women in uniform. The agreement was initiated during the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Conference earlier this year, when the two parties signed a memorandum of intent for partnership.