15 Nov 10. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, DRS Technologies and Daylight Solutions announced today that they are partnering to address the U.S. Army’s Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) Technical Development requirement. The CIRCM program will provide laser defeat capability to rotary-wing aircraft operating in close terrain flying missions where man portable air defense systems represent a significant threat. Lockheed Martin’s CIRCM solution is a lightweight laser defeat system that incorporates a pointer tracker and commercial off-the-shelf processor and quantum cascade laser. It has been successfully integrated with the existing Common Missile Warning System and is compatible with next-generation missile warning systems. The system’s compact, streamlined design and modular open system architecture make it adaptable to a wide range of rotary-wing platforms and expandable to new threats and missions. CIRCM platforms will include the U.S. Army AH-64, UH-60 and CH-47 rotary-wing aircraft. DRS Technologies’ Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition business group is an experienced provider of advanced electro-optic infrared technology and is leveraging previous expertise with Distributed IRCM towards this team’s CIRCM solution. Daylight Solutions has developed and demonstrated quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology for Defense and Security applications. Daylight has integrated its QCL technology into their JammIR™ product line, resulting in lightweight, military-hardened multi-wavelength laser systems that have performed successfully in distributed infrared countermeasure applications. In order to deliver an affordable, multi-service solution for IRCM, Lockheed Martin is leveraging more than 30 years of experience in infrared missile warning system development and production, as well as experience in laser pointer/tracker technology. On programs such as Arrowhead, Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod and the F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System, Lockheed Martin focuses on delivering reliable, affordable solutions to meet Warfighters’ needs.

16 Nov 10. BAE Systems has agreed a set of exclusive agreements to lead a team comprising Gama Group Limited, Babcock Aerospace Limited and Pilatus Aircraft Limited to offer a training aircraft availability service solution for the UK armed forces. BAE Systems will lead, on behalf of its partners, the provision of a bid to Ascent Flight Training to be the Fixed Wing Aircraft Service Provider (ASP) for the UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme. Under MFTS the UK MOD has a requirement to have a range of aircraft platforms and systems available to train aircrew across the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. BAE Systems is well placed to deliver a low risk, innovative aircraft availability service to Ascent to underpin the provision of a first class training environment. The solution proposed by BAE Systems would build upon the success of the output based Hawk availability contracts and deliver fully supported elementary, basic and multi engine aircrew training platforms into the UK MFTS Fixed Wing programme for 25 years. (Source: ASD Network)

18 Nov 10. In a joint announcement Thales Australia and Marshall Land Systems announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which includes cooperation on vehicle opportunities in Australia, in particular LAND 121 Project Overlander. The MOU covers areas where the two companies’ capabilities, products and services complement each other, and where their interests can be jointly expanded, especially to provide turnkey solutions. The MOU follows close co-operation between Marshall Specialist Vehicles Ltd and Thales UK on successful programs such as the Watchkeeper UAV, and through the close co operation developed on the Bushmaster Utility vehicles. The MOU will initially be serviced by Marshall Land Systems’ company Marshall Specialist Vehicles (MSV), but will eventually migrate to the new Marshall Land S