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20 Dec 18. Marshall Signs 14-Year Contract to Support Royal Netherlands Air Force C-130H.
- Most economically advantageous tender
- Builds on 22 year relationship with Royal Netherlands Air Force
- Turn-key solution covering aircraft and engine maintenance and supply chain management
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has secured a contract with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to sustain its C-130H fleet through to its out of service date. The contract was signed this morning (Thursday 20th) during a ceremony at the Eindhoven Air Base in the presence of senior officials from the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Marshall’s bid was confirmed as the most economically advantageous tender following careful and thorough verification and evaluation of the international tenders submitted for the sustainment of the C-130H fleet,
Commenting at the contract signing ceremony, Alistair McPhee, Chief Executive Officer Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group said, “This is a very important contract for the company and further builds on the 22-year history that Marshall has in supporting the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The relationships between Marshall and the Netherlands are extremely strong and we look forward to providing a world class service to the C-130H fleet as we sustain the aircraft through to the end of their operational service.”
“We wish to thank the Royal Netherlands Ministry of Defence for the trust they have shown in Marshall to be their long-term partner for both this C-130 sustainment project and also the recently signed DVOW contract,” added Mr McPhee.
Representing the Royal Netherlands Air Force at the signing ceremony in Eindhoven, Air Cdre Richard Laurijssen, Director of Sustainment and Logistics & Commander Logistics Centre Woensdrecht said, “This contract is a further step into modern sustainment and logistics for our C-130 fleet. Our job is about availability and affordability for the RNLAF and this modern approach is needed for that.
“The new contract comprises a lot more than previous separate contracts and defines a future collaboration where more will be achieved by combining our collective knowledge and skills. It will help to fulfil my ambition to build a joint capability for more predictive maintenance and logistics. A contract like this can only rest on a strong strategic partnership and that is what I value in particular. I am looking forward to extend the successful and inspiring cooperation with Marshall.”
The multi-year total sustainment contract for the C-130H fleet will see Marshall deliver a turn-key solution to the Royal Netherlands Air Force covering aircraft maintenance, engine maintenance and supply chain management. Marshall has already carried out a major Cockpit Upgrade Programme on the fleet and currently holds the Engineering Support contract. In the delivery of this contract Marshall will again be working with the local defence industry in the Netherlands.
At the beginning of December Marshall also signed a contract worth in excess of £100m to supply the next generation of containers to the Dutch Armed Forces under the Defensiebrede Vervanging Operationele Wielvoertuigen, or DVOW programme.
19 Dec 18. Airbus secures C-130J contract extension. Airbus Australia Pacific has been awarded a two-year contract extension to provide sustainment services through to 2024, including engineering, maintenance and supply support for the RAAF’s C-130J fleet.
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said the contract extension was granted after Airbus provided outstanding sustainment support to the C-130J fleet.
“Airbus reduced sustainment costs by $10m over the 2019 to 2024 period,” Minister Pyne said.
Originally signed in 2009, the contract is structured as a six-year rolling agreement, the continuation of which is linked to demonstrated performance and cost containment. Under the terms of yesterday’s agreement valued at A$175m, the six-year rolling contract will be extended by an additional two years, out to 2024, securing the ongoing employment of about 220 industry personnel, located at RAAF Base Richmond. The C-130J Hercules is a medium-sized tactical air-lifter that can deliver cargo to airfields with short unsurfaced runways, and airdrop cargo and paratroops by parachute.
A fleet of 12 are operated from RAAF Base Richmond by No. 37 Squadron. They were delivered to the base between 1999 and 2001. The C-130J is an important air link for Australian Defence Force personnel overseas, with two aircraft deployed in the Middle East to provide assistance to medical treatment locations.
Commenting on the latest extension, Rob Elder, Acting Managing Director, Airbus Australia Pacific, acknowledged the contribution of Airbus personnel engaged on C-130J TLS and deep maintenance at RAAF Richmond and other Airbus precincts.
“I wish to thank our employees for their special contribution to enabling this achievement,” he said.
“The C-130J TLS Contract Extension is the best recognition we can receive from our customer, and will ensure long-term employment opportunities for our people in the technical and professional disciplines as we support the C-130J to fly, to succeed and to come home safely, every time,” Elder added.
Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo congratulated Airbus on the contract extension, saying “Australian content is valued at approximately $110m for the two-year extension and comprises about 62 per cent of the contract,” Minister Ciobo said.
The ADF relies extensively on the C-130J when deploying personnel and aid. The C-130J Hercules can carry up to 128 passengers, or eight pallets of cargo. It can work alongside other airlifters, including the C-27J Spartan and C-17A Globemaster III. Upgrades to the C-130J have enhanced communications and information-sharing, and improved the aircraft’s endurance during battle. The C-130J Hercules can also be used in other roles, such as search and survivor assistance and medical evacuation of wounded or sick patients. (Source: Defence Connect)
18 Dec 18. Russian Airborne Troops to launch BMD-2 refit programme. The Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) are planning to upgrade a large number of BMD-2 air-droppable infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to the BMD-2M standard, a military source has told Jane’s.
“The VDV is set to conduct a major upgrade of 600 BMD-2s, fitting the vehicles with new weapons and digital command, control, information, surveillance, and reconnaissance subsystems. The launch date of the programme is set for 2021,” said the source. He added that BMD-2K command IFVs would be upgraded to the BMD-2K-AU standard and integrated with the YeSU TZ tactical command-and-control system. The modernisation programme envisages the installation of new weapons and sensors, including a twin launcher for the 9M133 Kornet family of anti-tank guided missiles on the right side of the turret, a bank of three Tucha 902V smoke dischargers on the rooftop, and a panoramic sight with a thermal imager. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
17 Dec 18. ADLINK Technology Inc has today announced that its Data Distribution Service (DDS) based Transport Services Segment (TSS) software is aligned to Edition 2.1.1 of the FACE™ Technical Standard. ADLINK provides leading Edge Computing solutions that drive data-to-decision applications across industries globally.
“ADLINK is a leading DDS vendor in the aviation industry offering a well-established solution aligned to the FACE Technical Standard,” said Mike Roberts, solutions architect at ADLINK. “ADLINK’s Vortex OpenSpliceTM solution is part of our Vortex Intelligent Data Sharing Platform and is being used globally by our customers in mission-critical defense and aerospace applications, ranging from radar processors to simulation and next-generation network-centric systems. Our DDS expertise has grown from our strong track record of enabling real-time device, Edge and cloud data sharing by providing standards-based, open architecture defense and aerospace solutions.
“Vortex DDS is a crucial enabler for systems that have to deliver high volumes of data reliably and securely with stringent end-to-end qualities-of-service. The software plays a vital role in many mission-critical systems by ensuring that the right information is delivered to the right place at the right time.”
ADLINK has developed its Vortex DDS implementation as a reference to align to the FACE Technical Standard Edition 2.1.1 TSS, using DDS as the underlying transport layer. This is fully compatible and interoperable with the commercially supported Vortex OpenSplice V6.10 solution.
ADLINK’s TSS reference implementation provides a mapping-layer between the FACE Transport Services Application Programming Interfaces (API) and the standard OMG-DDS API. The TSS implementation supports both C++ and Java APIs and enables portable components to share and exchange data using DDS.
17 Dec 18. Airbus and Hungary announce long-term industrial partnership. Airbus Helicopters and Hungary have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to create an industrial cooperation for long-term aviation projects that will initially focus on the production of certain high precision mechanical parts for helicopter dynamic systems. This project is part of the ‘Zrinyi 2026’ armed forces development program supporting Hungary’s national security goals of developing independent defence capabilities.
“This partnership is in line with our European cooperation strategy at Airbus and a demonstration of our commitment to accelerate our collaboration with one of Europe’s fastest growing economies,” said Bruno Even, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Helicopters. “This project has been made possible thanks to Hungary’s industrial expertise and commitment to innovation, which will now thrive in Airbus´ global supply chain.”
The agreement intends to create a sustainable and integrated plant within Airbus. The green field production unit will start by manufacturing mechanical parts that will then be delivered to the major component assembly centre for dynamic parts to be fitted on to the various helicopters of the Airbus range that are operated in more than 150 countries worldwide. The agreement will also rely on a local supply chain being qualified to perform certain tasks such as surface treatment.
Hungary has been a long-standing supporter of Airbus’ civil and military products, which found a home in a wide range of defense and civil applications. The Hungarian Ministry of Defence has recently purchased 36 helicopters, among which 20 H145Ms and 16 H225Ms, and it also operates two A319 aircraft. Wizz Air, one of the largest European airlines and an all-Airbus customer, operates a large fleet of more than 100 aircraft, with over 260 in the order book.
17 Dec 18. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Universal Synaptics Corporation signed an agreement to help the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) tackle an issue known as intermittent fault anomaly. A new automated testing technology, developed by Universal Synaptics, called Intermittent Fault Detection discovers random fault anomalies in multi-domain platform electronics as well as wiring harnesses. This issue currently drives an estimated $2bn in annual DoD maintenance costs. This system increases platform mission capable rates by eliminating unnecessary follow-on maintenance and proactively addressing emerging issues. This new capability isolates each intermittent fault and provides easy-to-follow maintenance actions for the maintainer to return the unit back into service. In addition to mission capable improvements, eliminating intermittent failures will dramatically reduce sustainment costs by keeping platforms operating and decreasing repairs and supply support.
“This new capability is groundbreaking, and we’re tremendously excited to help the DoD address a challenge costing them billions,” said Laura Frank, vice president of Lockheed Martin Enterprise Sustainment Solutions. “Resolving intermittence in electronics is a discriminator for the DoD in achieving an 80-percent Mission Capable rate across platforms.”
Together, the team will identify solutions for the DoD with the Intermittent Fault Detection & Isolation System 2.0™ (IFDIS2™), the Voyager Intermittent Fault Detector™ (VIFD™) and the associated Interface and Application (IA) solutions. This next-generation, integrated system is used to detect intermittent faults in nearly any piece of electronic equipment or wiring on any platform including F-22, F-16, F-35, F/A-18, rotary platforms such as the UH-60 as well as land and sea platforms.
“This partnership aligns our collective goals of reducing No Fault Found and increasing warfighter readiness by eradicating intermittent faults,” said Ken Anderson, Universal Synaptics Corporation President and CEO. “Together we will define a new era of advanced test capabilities and reset test equipment performance expectations for the DoD Maintenance Enterprise.”
17 Dec 18. WYG attains ISO 44001 certification for work on UK DIO project. Planning and built environment consultancy WYG has been granted the ISO 44001 certification standard, making it the first certified contractor to the UK Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). Attained through global certification body DNV GL, the collaborative working certification was awarded to the company for its work on the British Army Basing Programme (ABP). The standard identifies WYG’s collaborative business relationship management, which helped in the successful delivery of the Salisbury Plain Training Area Service Families Accommodation. It also recognises the benefits such as improved performance and innovation, costs reduction, and mitigation of risk delivered due to WYG’s collaborative working approach.
WYG managing director Clive Anderson said: “Collaboration is at the heart of WYG’s approach to building client relationships. We are delighted to have achieved our first ISO 44001 certification through the Army Basing Programme (ABP) with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
“Our collaborative working methodology has played an important role in the success of the Salisbury Plain Training Area Service Families Accommodation, one of the largest army basing projects undertaken so far in the UK.
“We look forward to strengthening our DIO collaboration with further ISO 44001- certified enterprises in 2019 as we work to become an industry leader in collaborative working.”
Using WYG’s collaborative methodology, which includes a joint relationship management plan and a joint partnering board, partners working on the project were able to understand ‘each other’s vision, values, and objectives’.
Under the ABP, a contract was awarded to Lovell in November last year to deliver 917 service families accommodation units at Bulford, Ludgershall and Larkhill.
ABP programme director Mark Duddy said: “I am thrilled that WYG has achieved the Collaborative Working standard while working on one of the ABP’s flagship projects the Salisbury Plain Training Area Service Families Accommodation project.
“This certification formally recognises our joint intention to work in a more collaborative manner to the benefit of the army and the wider customer base of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.” (Source: army-technology.com)
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About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For decades Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support our customers’ missions. In addition, Oshkosh offers advanced technologies and vehicle components such as TAK-4® independent suspension systems, TerraMax™ unmanned ground vehicle solutions, Command Zone™ integrated control and diagnostics system, and ProPulse® diesel electric and on-board vehicle power solutions, to provide our customers with a technical edge as they fulfill their missions. Every Oshkosh vehicle is backed by a team of defense industry experts and complete range of sustainment and training services to optimize fleet readiness and performance. Oshkosh Defense, LLC is an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE: OSK].
To learn more about Oshkosh Defense, please visit us at www.oshkoshdefense.com.
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