LOCATIONS
LAND
15 Oct 13. Lockheed Martin will move production of its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) to an assembly line at the company’s award-winning Camden, Ark., manufacturing complex, where the company expects to gain significant production efficiencies and cost reductions. “Lockheed Martin is implementing a low-risk production plan that will take advantage of the proven, outstanding Camden manufacturing operation and help make our JLTV more affordable for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps,” said Scott Greene, vice president of Ground Vehicles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. JLTV prototypes were produced at BAE Systems’ Sealy, Texas, manufacturing facility for the program’s Technology Development and Engineering and Manufacturing Development phases. Plans to close the Sealy plant were announced. BAE Systems will remain a key partner on the Lockheed Martin JLTV team, providing integrated cabs, protection solutions and other vehicle manufacturing expertise.
“BAE Systems remains committed to Lockheed Martin and our JLTV program,” said Mark Signorelli, vice president and general manager of Combat Vehicles for BAE Systems. “Recognizing the budget pressures our customers face, the team is reshaping our efforts to provide the most cost competitive offering with exceptional technical capability and product quality to our end users.”
15 Oct 13. General Dynamics European Land Systems has completed the transfer of its ammunition plant near Palencia in northern Spain to Norwegian company Nammo, the US-based group announced on 16 October. The deal, first announced in November 2012, was held in abeyance while Spain’s Ministry of Defence studied possible rival bids for a factory and equipment that it still owns after the formerly state-owned Santa Bárbara Sistemas that ran Palencia was sold to General Dynamics in 2001. In the end Nammo was the only bidder, putting forward a plan that will retain all the 200 staff for at least two years and current manufacturing activities for at least three years. (Source: Jane’s)
15 Oct 13. Airbus Military Services Logistic Hub starts operations. The Airbus Military Services Logistic Hub has started operations in Seville, Spain, in line with the Full In-Service Support (FISS) model developed by the company. This hub delivers spare parts for all Airbus Military products worldwide as well as ground equipment for the operation of the fleet. The new facility substantially strengthens the spare parts delivery procedure by improving reliability and cutting dispatch times. With the new Services Logistic Hub, 95% of customer’s requests for spare parts will be fulfilled within five days. For Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG)
Service the dispatch time is reduced to a maximum of four hours. Delivery reliability has increased since the start of operations. The new set up will also mean a reduction in recurring operational costs of around €500,000 a year compared with traditional processes.
MARITIME
15 Oct 13. Iranian Navy to launch modernised Lavan warship in November. The Iranian Navy will launch its modernised warship, dubbed Lavan, on 28
November, Iranian Navy commander rear admiral Habibollah Sayyari said. Farsnews Agency cited Sayyari as saying to reporters in Tehran that the Iranian Navy will launch the overhauled Lavan warship, fitted with advanced weapons and radar systems, on the Iranian month of Azar 7, and will also unveil a number of important overhauled projects. In September, the warship has been upgraded with advanced weapons and radar systems to enhance its performance and fire power, Sayyari announced earlier. Changes have been made to the ship’s body as well as the sailing, sonar and radar systems, weapons and information-gathering sensors. In June, Iran had also overhauled and modernised a vessel, named Bayandor, aimed to safeguard its territorial waters as well as to maintain security in regional and international waters. Upgrades to the Bayandor ship involved i