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INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO

14 Aug 18. GB-Bristol: SHIPACQ182

Type of document: Contract Notice

Country: United Kingdom

MOD Prior Information Notice

GB-Bristol: SHIPACQ182

  1. Contract Title

Contract Title: GB-Bristol: SHIPACQ182

  1. Contracting Authority:

Ministry of Defence, Ships, Other

Ships Acquisition, Ash 0c, MOD Abbeywood, Bristol, BS34 8JH, United Kingdom

Tel. 01173146044, Email:

  1. Contract:

Contracting Authority’s file Reference number: SHIPACQ182

Type of Contract: SUPPLIES

Estimated value of requirement: Category A: 400M GBP and above

Short description of the contract: As announced in the National Shipbuilding Strategy (“NSbS”) the Ministry of Defence (“MOD”) is seeking to procure five (5) new General Purpose Frigates for the Royal Navy (“RN”) for a total cost not to exceed £1.25bn inclusive of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). These General Purpose Frigates have been denoted the Type 31e (T31e). The T31e will provide an enduring and continuous worldwide maritime security presence in forward operating areas and releasing other, more complex warships to their primary roles. The T31e will carry out maritime security and interdiction tasks, such as security patrols, escort duties, counter drugs and counter piracy. It will also carry out defence engagement activities, such as port visits and official entertainment, demonstrations of military capability and participation in allied training exercises. It must be ready to respond to emergent events, such as natural disasters or evacuation of non-combatants and will routinely carry specialist emergency relief stores in certain operating areas.

The T31e design will need to be adaptable, providing evolution paths for future capability insertion to enable growth of the destroyer and frigate numbers into the 2030s, and to address export customers’ needs.

The Authority previously commenced a competition for this requirement in February 2018 with the publication of Contract Notice reference TKR-2018222-DCB-11953582. Subsequently the Authority elected to stop this procurement due to inadequate competition prior to awarding Competitive Design Phase (CDP) contracts.

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to invite potential suppliers to a short period of early market engagement prior to the commencement of a new competition for the T31e requirement (“the New Procurement”). The New Procurement is planned to consist of:

  1. A Pre-Qualification Questionnaire;
  2. CDP Contracts for the supply of specific design deliverables during the Design & Build (D&B) competition; and
  3. A single D&B Contract to build five T31e frigates for the Royal Navy.

Suppliers who are interested in participating in the early market engagement ahead of the New Procurement should write to the Authority at to confirm your interest and to request a market engagement session. With your response, you must send:

  1. a) details of your lead consortium’s/company’s name and details of your consortium members; and
  2. b) two point of contact details (including names, phone numbers, email addresses and postal addresses).

The deadline for expressions to participate is Monday 20 August 2018. Any expression of interest received after this time may be rejected at the Authority’s sole discretion.

Type 31e requirement

The Authority’s high level requirement for Type 31e, in accordance with the NSbS, is for:

  • five (5) Type 31e ships with a target of the first ship entering into service in 2023 and the fifth ship entering into service in 2028;
  • a cost to the Authority (inclusive of GFE) of £1.25BN;
  • an open and adaptable whole ship and combat system design;
  • a UK focused Design and Build strategy which maximises UK prosperity and is built in a UK shipyard; and
  • a ship design with export potential to the global market.

Suppliers should only respond if they are (themselves or as part of a consortium with other suppliers) in a position to undertake the full Type 31e programme, meeting its full requirement including a £1.25bn cost and building the T31e in a UK shipyard.

Early Market Engagement

The Authority intends to commence a period of market engagement activity from 20 August 2018 with Suppliers who are interested in tendering for the T31e D&B contract and delivering the whole ship programme.

The purpose of the market engagement is for the Authority to share key elements of the New Procurement, including technical and commercial elements. The Authority intends to use the feedback from the market engagement to inform the further shaping of its requirements and commercial construct.

T31e competition.

Following a short period of early market engagement, the Authority anticipates launching the New Procurement with a Contract Notice and a PQQ. PQQ responses will be used to select suitable Suppliers to tender for a CDP Contract. Those Suppliers who are selected will be invited to tender for the D&B Contract by responding to a D&B Invitation to Negotiate (ITN). The D&B Contract will be awarded to the Supplier with the most economically advantageous tender response as evaluated against the Authority’s published evaluation criteria in the D&B ITN.

General & Data Room

The New Procurement will be exempt from the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (the “DSPCR”) pursuant to Article 346 TFEU and therefore no rights, duties, obligations or liabilities arising from the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 and/or the EU Treaties will apply. By expressing an interest to participate in the early market engagement, you acknowledge that none of the obligations, rights and remedies deriving from the DSPCR and/or the EU Treaties apply to the New Procurement.

The Authority may, at its sole discretion:

  • in any way amend and/or cancel the early market engagement or subsequent procurement process;
  • withdraw this PIN at any time for any reason;
  • decide not to award any contract to any bidder following the CDP and/or D&B phases.

The Authority does not bind itself to enter into any contract(s) arising out of the proceedings envisaged by this PIN and no contractual rights express or implied arise out of this notice or the procedures envisaged by it.

The Authority is using the AWARD™ software tool during this project. AWARD™ will be used to:

  • provide access to documents shared by the Authority;
  • allow Suppliers to raise and respond to requests and clarifications;
  • provide a portal for formal submission of responses; and
  • support the Authority in their assessment of the responses.

AWARD™ is an internet based system and contains on-line guidance. AWARD™ will be used to manage distribution of documentation, and collection of any response material. To access the system a user will need to state that they have read the AWARD™ terms and conditions of use and confirm that the user accepts them. Access to the documents is restricted and will only be provided through AWARD™ to those companies who express an interest as set out in this Prior Information Notice and subsequently provide acknowledgement of a Security Aspects Letter (SAL) to be issued by the Authority.

CPV codes:

34500000 – Ships and boats.

35511200 – Destroyers and frigates.

35510000 – Warships.

73424000 – Development of warships.

Additional Information: Suppliers interested in working with the Ministry of Defence should register on the MOD Supplier Information Database (SID) Register, available at www.contracts.mod.uk. The MOD SID is a database of active and potential suppliers available to all MOD and UK Defence procurement personnel, and is the main supplier database of MOD Procurement organisations. Please note: the registration and publication of a company profile on the MOD SID does not mean or imply that the supplier has in any way been vetted or approved by the MOD. Suppliers wishing to compete for advertised MOD contracts must respond to any specific call for competition by submitting a separate expression of interest in accordance with the instructions of the purchasing organisation.

The Authority reserves the right to amend any condition related to security of information to reflect any changes in national law or government policy. If any contract documents are accompanied by instructions on safeguarding classified information (e.g. a Security Aspects Letter), the Authority reserves the right to amend the terms of these instructions to reflect any changes in national law or government policy, whether in respect of the applicable protective marking scheme, specific protective markings given, the aspects to which any protective marking applies, or otherwise.

Advertising Regime DCB:- These contract opportunities are published in the MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin. (Source: www.defenceonline.co.uk)

14 Aug 18. UK DASA seeks proposals for new biological agent detection system. The UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has launched a new competition to seek proposals for technologies that would help further develop bio-detection capability. DASA aims to develop a fieldable system that would detect and report without users coming into close contact with hazardous and dangerous agents in the field. The competition is seeking ideas that are focused on sensors and reporting mechanisms and that would be capable of remotely detecting the hazards as quickly as possible, thereby enabling front line users to safely avoid the threats. In addition, technologies capable of detecting the hazard to a lower confidence level and then cue deployment of a high-confidence sensor could also be considered. According to DASA, the current methods to detect, locate and report hazardous biological materials consume a lot of time and are labour intensive. DASA is looking for proposals for proof-of-concept technologies above Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 Phase I. The competition’s Phase I has been allocated a total budget of up to £500k to fund around three to five projects. Furthermore, the duration of the Phase I research projects is expected to be up to six months. Additional funding is anticipated to be available for the future phases to further develop technologies to higher TRLs. The competition is scheduled to close on 7 November this year. A biological agent is defined as a micro-organism, cell culture or human endoparasite, including any which have been genetically modified and might cause an infection, allergy or toxicity, or otherwise create a hazard to human health. (Source: army-technology.com)

EUROPE

16 Aug 18. Poland relaunches Mustang programme. Poland’s Armament Inspectorate has launched a tender with revised requirements for the procurement of 4×4 multipurpose vehicles. Poland is seeking to purchase 859 soft-skin vehicles and 41 armoured variants in 2019–22. The contract includes an option for an additional 812 unarmoured vehicles to be delivered until 2022. The deadline for submitting offers is 28 September. The selection criteria are price (65%), warranty period (5%), ground clearance (10%), engine power (10%), and monocoque design (10%). The soft-skin variant with a gross vehicle weight of under 3,500 kg should be capable of carrying seven personnel and 1,000 kg. The armoured variant should be able to carry five crew members and 600 kg of cargo and is to feature STANAG 4569 Level 1 ballistic and mine protection. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

16 Aug 18. German army study sees need for dozens more light helicopters -sources. The German military needs dozens of new light helicopters to cover shortfalls in flight hours for pilot training and carry out other missions, a new study completed by the German army found, according to sources familiar with the document. The report, which has not been publicly released, concluded that the various military services needed about 70 to 80 new light helicopters, according to the sources, but no decisions about a procurement programme have been made. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen hinted at potential new orders of light helicopters during a visit to a helicopter air base last month, but gave no details. The study could eventually lead to dozens of new orders for the H145M light utility helicopter built by European aircraft maker Airbus, which has already supplied 15 of the helicopters to German special forces, the sources said. The helicopters already delivered were performing well, and had been delivered on cost and on time, they said, noting that the U.S. military operates more than 400 of an earlier model. A ministry spokesman confirmed completion of the internal study and said it would be used for further planning, but declined to provide any details.

“This is an internal planning document that provides a good basis for further analysis and discussions,” the spokesman said.

Airbus had no comment on the internal army report.

A company spokesman said the H145M military helicopter, derived from the Airbus H145 commercial workhorse used by police and emergency medical services, had also been ordered or was being operated by Serbia, Thailand, Hungary and Luxembourg.

“Mission readiness of the German air force’s H145M is above 99 percent, the fleet has accumulated more than 8,000 flight hours since the delivery of first aircraft in 2015,” the Airbus spokesman said.

Hans-Peter Bartels, the military ombudsman for the German parliament, has repeatedly called attention to the urgent need for more helicopters to cover shortfalls in flight hours for pilots across the German military, or Bundeswehr.

“Wherever the Bundeswehr has helicopters, there are shortages of flight hours,” he said. (Source: Reuters)

14 Aug 18. Spain seeks UAVs to protect overseas training missions. The Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has opened a bidding contest to supply unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to help protect troops posted on overseas training missions. Some EUR4.3m (USD4.9m) has been budgeted for the class 1 small remote aircraft (20 kg), which are expected to be delivered before the end of 2018. The MoD says the armed forces are finding themselves involved in training missions abroad where protection and security levels at the bases they work at are sometimes “minimal”. Each of the two systems being procured will have three UAVs and payloads, and two ground stations, along with launching and recovery systems. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

10 Aug 18. Croatia negotiates F-16 deal with Israel as counterweight to Serbian MiG-29s. The Croatian Ministry of Defence (MoD) invited the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to visit Croatia on 2-5 August as it negotiated the purchase of F-16 combat aircraft from Israel. The potential deal reflected Croatia’s growing sign of support and friendship with Israel, with the arrival of three F-16Ds from the IAF’s 109 Squadron. It is not known whether the visiting aircraft will be included in the possible upcoming purchase, but the IAF’s visit to Croatia ended with two Israeli F-16Ds taking part in the fly-by during Croatian Victory Day in Knin, an event celebrating the 1995 operation ‘Storm’, which every year strains relations between Serbia and Croatia. Croatia is under public pressure to field a new fighter following the first flights carried out by Serbia in late July of its MiG-29s donated by Russia in October 2017. As such, the IAF’s visit to Croatia can also be seen as a public relations exercise to counter Serbia in the fighter arena amid negotiations between Croatia and Israel following the 29 March decision to procure 12 used F-16s from Israel. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

09 Aug 18. German Naval Yards takes ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems on board MKS 180 project. The German Naval Yards (GNY) shipyard group announced on 8 August that it would co-operate with former competitor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to bid for the German Navy’s future MKS 180 multirole combat ship programme. GNY and TKMS agreed that the latter would act as subcontractor for the project. The only remaining competitor is Blohm + Voss, which is bidding with Dutch shipyard Damen. The German Navy has a requirement for four MKS 180s worth EUR3.9bn (USD4.5bn), with an option for two more. The German Navy expects the new ships to enter service by the beginning of 2023. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

USA

14 Aug 18. US Army to procure new jumper recovery system for soldiers. The US Army is planning to procure a new Towed Jumper Recovery System (TJRS) to save the lives of airborne soldiers. If the equipment does not function properly, jumping out of a plane for an airborne soldier can be deadly. The new technology will help prevent a towed jumper situation from occurring. US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Soldier Center Aerial Delivery Directorate project manager Samuel Corner said: “Generally, there are a handful of towed jumpers per year, which can be potentially dangerous situations.” In March last year, the Aerial Delivery Directorate’s Airdrop Technology team submitted a project proposal to the US Army Foreign Comparative Testing Program embedded in RDECOM’s Global Technology Office. The proposal was selected, following which the Airdrop Technology team purchased ten Hung Up Parachutist Release Assemblies (HUPRA) from the UK company IrvinGQ for tests and evaluation. Conducted at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, the tests used mannequins that ‘jumped’ out from the aircraft’s side doors and ramp. The testing was carried out on C-130 aircraft and divided into seven phases. TJRS (the Army name for the slightly modified HUPRA) was subject to a complete developmental test at YPG, including aircraft procedures development, safety evaluation, rigging procedure development and performance testing. The tests were conducted to ensure the system recovered with an All Up Weight maximum of 400 pounds. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were developed based on the C-130 aircraft that was used during testing, and another set of SOPs will be developed for C-17 aircraft. Corner further added: “The TJRS programme has been positively briefed to the Army Airborne Board. “The next step is to work with the board and TRADOC to develop a formal requirement for a jumper recovery system. After that, the project will transition to PM Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment, under PEO Soldier.” (Source: army-technology.com)

REST OF THE WORLD

14 Aug 18. Australian CDIC and DIH host Land Forces ‘18 briefings. As part of the Land Forces 2018 expo, the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) and the Defence Innovation Hub (DIH) are inviting businesses to engage in conversations to see how the organisations can help support the growth of Australian businesses. The CDIC and DIH will be co-located at the Adelaide Convention Centre, adjacent to three free meeting rooms. DIH and CDIC said that they encourage Australian businesses of all sizes to talk to key representatives, who can help with advice on building your business in the defence industry and innovation within Defence.  Presented in collaboration with the Australian Army, Land Forces 2018 is an international industry exposition to showcase equipment, technology and services for the armies of Australia and the Indo-Asia-Pacific. CDIC also has a program of specialised briefings, panel discussions and networking opportunities:

  • Defence Industry and Innovation Programs and policy settings update: Hear representatives from the Department of Defence speak on the Defence Industrial Capability Plan, Defence Exports Office, Defence Innovation System and the CDIC.
  • Showcasing Australian industrial capability – a discussion with industry leaders: Members of the CDIC advisory board will lead a discussion on sector development, including a summary of CDIC progress in industry engagement, and where industry needs to be to meet the challenges of the Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities.
  • Networking with global primes: Find out about the Global Supply Chain Program and meet representatives of six global primes at a special get together. Places are limited.
  • Australia-Israel defence industry briefing and networking event: A defence industry co-operation briefing and networking event for Australian and Israeli industry, this event will be run by the DIH and include a briefing on an upcoming Australia-Israel capability challenge and opportunities for future industry co-operation. Places are limited.

In addition to hosting senior international military, Defence, government, scientific, and industry delegations from around the world, Land Forces 2018 will attract a comprehensive array of defence professionals and trade visitors at all levels. (Source: Defence Connect)

14 Aug 18. New Delhi approves procurement of six next-generation OPVs for Indian Navy. India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the procurement of six indigenously designed and built next-generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) for the Indian Navy (IN) for INR49.41bn (USD706.4m) to enhance maritime security. The MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, sanctioned the procurement of the platforms on 13 August, which are to be fitted with state-of-the art sensors to perform multiple bluewater and littoral protection roles. The Indian government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a statement that the NGOPVs’ tasks will include maritime interdiction, surveillance, mine warfare, anti-piracy missions, seaward defence, protecting offshore assets, and conducting counter-infiltration operations. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

14 Aug 18. Philippines considers Russian loan to support submarine procurement. Russia has newly offered the Philippines an economic package to support its potential acquisition of Kilo-class submarines, Arsenio Andolong, the chief of public affairs at the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND), told Jane’s on 14 August. He said the offer was made to the Philippine government recently and consists of a soft loan that would be repayable over several years. He also stressed that the loan has not been agreed but is being considered by the Philippine government as it looks to boost the undersea capabilities of the Philippine Navy (PN).

“This offer was made last week,” said Andolong. “Russia has said that if we require funds [for the submarine procurement] we could opt for a soft loan to be repaid over a period of time. We are considering the offer, nothing has been agreed.”

The new loan offer was made shortly after the PN confirmed that it was discussing with the Russian Navy the terms of a memorandum of understanding centred on the provision of training and support of submarines. PN spokesman Commander Jonathan Zata also confirmed in comments to the state-run Philippine News Agency in early August that the Philippines is looking at Russia as a “possible source” of submarines and that the pending agreement would facilitate technical and operational training for the PN. PN officials have also been invited to Russian shipyards to observe submarine construction programmes, he said. The PN submarine procurement programme was recently accelerated by the Philippine government, and the DND is expected to decide on the acquisition within the next year. The acquisition, which is likely to feature the procurement of up to three platforms, was previously scheduled for 2023–27 under the Philippines’ ‘third horizon’ military modernisation programme but was moved forward to the 2018–22 second horizon. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

13 Aug 18. Diplomatic row jeopardizes $1.5bn helicopter deal between Turkey and Pakistan. An escalating diplomatic crisis between NATO allies Turkey and the United States may risk suspending a $1.5bn deal between Turkey and Pakistan for the sale of 30 Turkish-made T129 ATAK helicopter gunships. The T129 is being produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries under license from the Italian-British company AgustaWestland.

“The problem is related with the U.S.-made parts for which TAI will need U.S. export licenses in order to materialize the deal,” a Turkish aerospace official said.

The T129, based on its predecessor A129 Mangusta, is a twin-engine multirole attack helicopter. The T129 is powered by two LHTEC T800-4A turboshaft engines. Each engine can produce 1,014 kilowatts of output power. The T800-4A is an export version of the CTS800 engine. LHTEC is a joint venture between the American firm Honeywell and the British company Rolls-Royce.

“Apparently we shall need U.S. export licenses to go ahead with the T129 deal,” a senior procurement official said. “This is not a technological or financial matter but is purely political at the moment.”

Washington has sanctioned two Turkish ministers, and U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to double tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium exports to his country. Turkey retaliated by sanctioning two U.S. secretaries, but the row has already sparked a financial crisis in Turkey. The Turkish lira has lost 81.5 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar in the year to Aug. 12. The row significantly deepened after a Turkish court refused to release a U.S. pastor who had been in jail since 2016 on charges of terrorism and attempted to topple Turkey’s elected government. Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson was later released from jail to house arrest, but U.S. officials are demanding his immediate release and return to his homeland. The two NATO allies also have been at odds over U.S. support for Kurdish militants fighting the Islamic State group in northern Syria, as well as Turkey’s refusal to follow U.S. sanctions on Iran, and Ankara’s decision to deploy the Russian-made S-400 air and anti-missile defense systems on Turkish soil.

“This is a commercial deal (with Pakistan) with a country that has friendly relations with America. For Washington what matters should be the recipient of the systems, not who produces it and if relations are bumpy with the producer country,” a Turkish defense official said. “Why should the Americans punish Pakistan for their disagreements with Turkey?”

A TAI official said a U.S. embargo on the chopper deal was unlikely because it would also hurt a U.S. company as well as two British companies and one Italian. “These are not enemy producers,” he said. “They are on the ally side. And we (TAI) are not being sanctioned by the U.S. or any other ally country.”

A U.S. diplomat in Ankara refused to comment. Turkey and Pakistan signed a deal July 13 for 30 T129 ATAK helicopter gunships. Pakistani officials say their own AH-1F Cobra gunships lack the capability to perform adequately over the higher altitudes of the Hindu Kush mountain range separating Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2016, Pakistani officials thoroughly tested the T129 and endorsed the deal. LHTEC’s T129 engine also powers the 12 AH−1Z Viper attack helicopters ordered from the U.S. These are yet to be delivered, and such a timescale remains unclear in view of present U.S.-Pakistani bilateral relations. To finance one of the country’s largest defense and aerospace export contracts, Turkey offered Pakistan a $1.5bn credit line in 2017, but the deal’s payment terms are unknown.

“President Trump is not always predictable. … He may wish to punish Turkey by sabotaging such a critical export contract at a time when the Turkish economy is badly ailing. At the same time he may also wish to give a message to the Pakistanis,” according to a European defense attache in Ankara. Most recently, Congress took another step toward banning the delivery of the F-35 stealth fighter jet to Turkey after the House and Senate agreed to a compromised text to a defense spending bill. The two chambers agreed to prohibit delivery of any F-35s to Turkey until the Pentagon submits a plan that assesses the impact of expelling Turkey from the Joint Strike Fighter program of which Turkey is a partner. The assessment should come within 90 days of the text becoming law. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)

12 Aug 18. Austal set for Philippine OPV programme. Australian shipbuilder Austal confirmed on 13 August that it is in position to secure a contract to supply a version of its Cape-class patrol boat to the Philippine Navy (PN). The deal is expected to feature six vessels that will be built in the Philippines by the company’s local subsidiary, Austal Philippines, which is based in Balamban in the central island province of Cebu. The potential contract was announced by Austal two days after Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the PN would acquire six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) from the Australian company.

Austal said it had earlier submitted a proposal to the PN based on a “larger, more capable variant” of the 58 m Cape-class patrol boats that are currently in operation with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Australian Border Force (ABF). Austal said that the variant developed for the Philippines “is a circa 80m steel OPV, which includes a dedicated helicopter flight deck and the latest technology in naval systems” including Austal’s MarineLink ship control system and ride control technologies. The company said it hopes to finalise contractual arrangements “as soon as possible”.

Commenting on the proposed build programme, Austal said, “Austal’s OPV will be designed in Australia and the Philippines but will be proudly built at Austal Philippines, by Filipinos, for the Philippines Navy. Our Balamban shipyard will not only be able to build the new vessels but also support any through-life maintenance that is required.”

Austal acquired its Philippine shipbuilding business in 2012 for about AUD10m (USD7.2m). In May 2018, Austal said it would invest USD18m to expand these facilities, trebling its capacity and enabling it to build larger vessels. The expansion is expected to complete in 2019.

The RAN and ABF operate fleets of two and eight Cape-class patrol boats respectively. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

13 Aug 18. CASG supporting US DoD Land Forces ‘18 call for industry submissions. The Australian Department of Defence is hosting the US DoD’s Comparative Technology Office (CTO) at the Land Forces industry exposition in Adelaide from 4 to 6 September and in Sydney on 7 September. The CTO will meet with Australian defence industry to assess capabilities for consideration in the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program. This program seeks out world-leading technologies that will enhance military capabilities and provide long-term value to the Australian-US alliance. The CTO will consider both mature fielded technology (technology readiness level 8-9) and technology ready for testing in an operational environment (TRL 6-7). The CTO is focusing on capabilities in the following domains:

  1. Asymmetric force application: Asymmetric force application is the use of non-traditional technologies, tactics, and weapons to provide a clear military advantage to military forces during maneuver and engagement operations.
  2. Electromagnetic spectrum agility (EMS): The increasingly wireless nature of the global economy, coupled with advances in analog-to-digital conversion, cognitive radios, smart antennas, and increased transmitter-receiver diversity, present opportunities to develop new capabilities that sustain and extend military advantage in the EMS domain. These new capabilities will also mitigate the impact of new challenges, including an increasingly cluttered operational EMS environment.
  3. Autonomous systems: Autonomous systems are a “capability (or a set of capabilities) that enables a particular action of a system to be automatic or, within programmed boundaries, self-governing”. Autonomous systems can improve capability without increasing capacity by better co-ordinating and synchronising current sensors and weapon systems and by maximising the efficiency of both.
  4. Information operations and analytics: Exploit commercial technology advancements in information collection and management to provide the joint force enhanced communications and situational awareness within their area of responsibility to disrupt and delay adversary forces from offensive operations, counter their ability to use deceptive messaging to influence US/coalition operations and develop capabilities to counter adversary cyber and C2 communications.

The mission of the FCT program is to test items and technologies of foreign allies and friends that have a high TRL in order to satisfy valid defence requirements more quickly and economically.

Within the FCT program, foreign items are nominated by a sponsoring organisation within the US DoD for testing in order to determine whether the items satisfy US military requirements or address mission area shortcomings. The CTO funds testing and evaluation; the services fund all procurements that result from a successful test.

The FCT program’s objectives are to improve the US warfighter’s capabilities and reduce expenditures through:

  1. Rapidly fielding quality military equipment;
  2. Eliminating unnecessary duplication of research, development, test, and evaluation;
  3. Reducing life cycle or procurement costs;
  4. Enhancing standardisation and interoperability;
  5. Promoting competition by qualifying alternative sources; and
  6. Improving the US military industrial base.

All submissions are to be sent to  by Friday, 24 August 2018. (Source: Defence Connect)

13 Aug 18. Australian DIH calling for next-gen Army innovation proposals. The Defence Innovation Hub is seeking innovation proposals that will assist Defence in delivering the next-generation Australian Army. Defence seeks a next-generation Australian Army that is prepared for both current and future threats through a combination of concepts, organisation, and technology offsets. That is, an Army that is a fully integrated component of the joint force, capable of fighting and winning through its employment of networks, systems and sensors across all domains. In delivering the next-gen Army, Defence is particularly interested in innovative solutions relating to the following capability themes:

  1. Robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) in the combat team: As a result of major technological change in recent years, the soldier is now exposed to more information and intelligence than ever before. While technology positively assists in more informed decision making, it may also lead to information overload, as the soldier is expected to process, filter and assess large volumes of competing information from a range of data sources and technologies. This can lead to decision paralysis or sub-optimal decision making.

Armoured vehicles and dismounted combatants need to rapidly transfer and present information in a usable, cognitively manageable way to reduce risk of information overload, particularly when prosecuting fleeting targets. Defence is also seeking innovative ideas to reduce human involvement in the combat team’s engagement and decision cycle using robotics and autonomous systems.

Defence is particularly interested in technologies that answer the following questions:

  • What systems can quickly analyse threat information to alert, communicate, and/or suggest courses of actions to dismounted soldiers or vehicles (e.g. take cover, shoot at, move to, avoid) in a timely manner through appropriate sensory inputs?
  • What systems or methods can be used to ensure effective communication while also reducing the sensory burden on soldier (e.g. tactile cues)?
  • What new ways exist to enable the computer processing power held within heavy armoured vehicles to be utilised remotely by dismounts to reduce their load carriage requirements?
  1. Disruptive effects in signature management: A troop’s location can be identified through locating signatures from its people, vehicles and technology (such as radios, command and control systems, etc), whether stationary or on the move.

To address this, Defence is seeking disruptive technologies that obfuscate signatures or create uncertainty in attempts to geo-locate systems. This includes technologies that can change, manage, hide or deceive the signature of an individual, group of people, weapons or vehicles, including decoys. Defence is interested in managing signatures within the acoustic, radio, electro-optic, and infra-red bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, and particularly interested in technologies that answer the following question:

  • What disruptive technologies exist to obfuscate signatures and/or create uncertainty in enemies’ attempts to geo-locate?

Army Innovation Day 2018 (AID18):

AID18 will be held on Thursday, 25 October 2018 at the Adams Auditorium, at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. The purpose of AID18 is for selected respondents to display and pitch their proposed innovations to assessors, capability managers and Defence Innovation Hub personnel. AID18 is open to Defence personnel, Defence contractors (and any invited guests) and the media. Invitations will be extended to the Minister for Defence, Marise Payne, and the Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne. Service chiefs, Defence group heads, senior ADF officers responsible for capability development and senior officers at the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Border Force and Home Affairs may also attend. Submissions close 3pm on Wednesday, 22 August 2018. More information, including eligibility and assessment criteria and processes, is available here. (Source: Defence Connect)

09 Aug 18. Alion Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alion Science and Technology, headquartered in McLean, Va., has submitted their final bid and compliance forms to the Canadian government for the Canadian Surface Combatant Program. This is a major milestone in the Canadian Surface Combatant procurement.  “We provide a world-class combatant that is a proven, affordable, off-the-shelf solution. Our offering is focused on the Royal Canadian Navy’s stated requirements and will generate jobs and innovation across Canada,” says Chief Operating Officer Bruce Samuelsen. He added that Alion is ready today to work with Irving Shipbuilding and the Canadian Government to get production underway and ships in the water as soon as possible. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

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American Panel Corporation

American Panel Corporation (APC) since 1998, specializes in display products installed in defence land systems, as well as military and commercial aerospace platforms, having delivered well over 100,000 displays worldwide. Military aviators worldwide operate their aircraft and perform their missions using APC displays, including F-22, F-18, F-16, F-15, Euro-fighter Typhoon, Mirage 2000, C-130, C-17, P-3, S-3, U-2, AH-64 Apache Helicopter, V-22 tilt-rotor, as well as numerous other military and commercial aviation aircraft including Boeing 717 – 787 aircraft and several Airbus aircraft. APC panels are found in nearly every tactical aircraft in the US and around the world.

APC manufactures the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Large Area Display (LAD) display (20 inch by 8 inch) with dual pixel fields, power and video interfaces to provide complete display redundancy. At DSEI 2017 we are exhibiting the LAD with a more advanced design, dual display on single substrate with redundant characteristics and a bespoke purpose 8 inch by 6 inch armoured vehicle display.

In order to fully meet the demanding environmental and optical requirements without sacrificing critical tradeoffs in performance, APC designs, develops and manufactures these highly specialized displays in multiple sizes and configurations, controlling all AMLCD optical panel, mechanical and electrical design aspects. APC provides both ITAR and non-ITAR displays across the globe to OEM Prime and tiered vetronics and avionics integrators.

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