Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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03 Aug 23. GKN Aerospace & Airbus Helicopters join forces for industrial collaboration.
The MoU paves the way for aerospace solutions following the Dutch Ministry of Defence helicopter pre-selection.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been inked between GKN Aerospace and Airbus Helicopters, marking a moment in their partnership.
This strategic collaboration comes on the heels of Airbus Helicopters’ pre-selection to furnish the Dutch Ministry of Defence with 14 H225M helicopters tailored for special operations.
Dignitaries graced the signing ceremony, including Vice Admiral de Waard, the National Armaments Director of the Netherlands, his successor Vice Admiral Hartman, and the Commissioner of Military Production Dicke.
Shawn Black, President – Defence Airframe at GKN Aerospace, officially sealed the agreement, and Matthieu Louvot, Executive Vice President Programmes at Airbus Helicopters.
GKN Aerospace will play a role in various domains, encompassing engineering, electrical wiring interconnections systems design and manufacturing, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul undertakings.
The partnership will spur potential innovation projects and spearhead aerostructure design and manufacturing, focusing on composite structures. This strategic alignment is poised to elevate the aerospace industry within the Netherlands while nurturing a culture of innovation within the Dutch Aerospace ecosystem.
GKN Aerospace unveiled a Global Technology Centre in the Netherlands this year to advance sustainable aerospace technology. The centre is based in Hoogeveen in the Netherlands.
The relationship between Airbus Helicopters and GKN Aerospace traces back to their involvement in NHIndustries, the esteemed NH90 manufacturing consortium, in collaboration with Leonardo. This collaboration has now matured into a new era of collective ingenuity.
Shawn Black, President of Defence Airframe of GKN Aerospace, asserted, “We have been working closely with Airbus Helicopters as partners on the NH90 program since 1992 and have actively supported them during the pre-selection phase with the Dutch MoD.
The signing of the MoU represents a significant milestone in our collaboration, reinforcing our partnership and setting the stage for future industrial participation. With our combined expertise and unwavering commitment, we will deliver advanced solutions and provide exceptional support to the Netherlands’ helicopter fleet.” (Source: Google/ airforce-technology.com)
03 Aug 23. Mercury Introduces the Industry’s First Open Blade Server Architecture for Defense Systems. Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a technology company that delivers processing power for the most demanding aerospace and defense missions, today introduced the Common Module System (CMS) X08, the industry’s first rugged, open standards-based blade server architecture to deliver a plug-n-play infrastructure model for tactical platforms operating at sea, on land, or in the air. Mercury’s solution is built around the Open Compute Project (OCP®) openEDGE standard and allows customers to eliminate vendor lock-in, simplify technology upgrades, reduce costs, and accelerate workloads.
Organizations that manage tactical data centers, signal processing systems, and remotely located console controllers have historically been locked into a single hardware provider for their blade ecosystems. With this new architecture, users can mix and match modules from various vendors into a Mercury chassis, creating a system tailored to their needs.
By leveraging the openEDGE standard as a catalyst for innovation, CMS X08 accelerates the deployment and refresh of advanced server technologies. With advanced thermal and mechanical design features that deliver superior resilience to shock, vibration, and temperature extremes, CMS X08 is the only OCP-based server capable of surviving edge deployments for aerospace and defense customers.
“The ability to integrate multiple vendor modules into a single system creates a mission advantage for customers that rely on the latest compute, storage, and networking technologies to operate in harsh environments,” said Brian Perry, Mercury’s Senior Vice President for Mission Systems. “By leveraging the principles of Modular Open Systems Approach and maintaining compatibility with the standards set forth by the Open Compute Project, CMS X08 delivers new capability, establishes a foundation for rapid technical updates, and optimizes configurability for our customers. Embodying efficiency, scalability, and openness, CMS X08 sets new standards for integrated systems, transforming the way we empower and support our customers on their missions.”
Optimized Performance and Reliability in the most Demanding Environments.
- Disaggregated compute modules that can be clustered into footprints of 1U, 2U, and 3U for optimal space utilization
- Each compute module is equipped with a 4th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processor (formerly Sapphire Rapids), capacity of up to 4 TB of DDR5-4800 ECC memory, and up to 246 TB of NVMe storage
- Compact and powerful computing platform with 18-inch depth
- Constructed with cutting-edge commercial off-the-shelf components such as NVIDIA H100 and A100 Tensor Core GPUs
- Only OCP-based platform engineered to comply with MIL-STD-810H and MIL-STD-167-1A standards
The CMS X08 extends Mercury’s leadership in the rugged blade server market with thousands of nodes currently deployed onboard U.S. Navy and U.S. Army platforms.
Mercury is now taking orders for the CMS X08. For more information, visit mrcy.com/cmsx08.
01 Aug 23. Frazer-Nash, Harmonic and VIMA join forces to create unified consultancy and offer new value and capabilities to customers, as the Frazer-Nash brand. A new UK consultancy is launching today as Frazer-Nash Consultancy (“Frazer-Nash”), the leading systems, engineering and technology company joins forces with change management business Harmonic Limited (“Harmonic”) and digital transformation specialists VIMA Group (“VIMA”), in a move that will provide customers with an even greater scope of capabilities and technical expertise, across a breadth of diverse sectors.
The three organisations will come together as Frazer-Nash, led by the recently appointed Managing Director, Sarah Wilkes. By combining their expertise under the established Frazer-Nash brand, the businesses will capitalise on their collaborative knowledge to provide a new and differentiated offering to their customers in existing and growth markets, including energy, defence, government and transport.
The move will create a combined workforce of around 1,300 in offices throughout the UK, and will see an increased focus on innovation and the creation of new strategic advisory capabilities sitting alongside existing and highly successful expertise in systems, engineering and technology solutions, change management, complex delivery and digital transformation.
Frazer-Nash, Harmonic and VIMA were acquired by KBR across 2021 and 2022 with a strategic view to create a comprehensive and innovative organisation capable of delivering solutions to governments and customers in the UK and around the world. Highly complementary with KBR’s global priorities and sitting within the company’s Government Solutions International arm, Frazer-Nash is well-placed to support clients on the national and international stage.
Sarah Wilkes, Managing Director at Frazer-Nash, said: “It’s an exciting moment for Frazer-Nash as we take the next step forward as a new integrated consultancy. By combining the three successful businesses we are in a strong position to collectively continue to respond to the changing needs of our customers, addressing the complex challenges presented by climate change, digitalisation and economic factors.
By bringing the best of our businesses together we can deliver an increased breadth of services that matters for our customers and deploy our technical excellence in established and emerging sectors alike. Working as a part of KBR, we can continue to grow and add new clients to our portfolio.”
Paul Kahn, KBR’s President of Government Solutions International, comments:
“We are proud to have Frazer-Nash as part of the One KBR family and to see the positive direction for the new unified consultancy. Frazer-Nash’s talented workforce can build on its long track record of delivering success as part of our Government Solutions International business. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
For interviews with Sarah Wilkes or for more information, please contact: Leanne Metcalfe, Marketing Lead, Frazer-Nash Consultancy on
01 Aug 23. Systematic Expands C2 capabilities for the German Navy through new contract signing. Systematic, the world’s leading provider of defence C4ISR software solutions, has signed a new contract with the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw).
As part of the agreement, Systematic will deliver the SitaWare Headquarters add-ons Maritime and Fusion as part of the German Mission Network Block 2 (GMN 2) project. This will help the German Navy to improve its command-and-control (C2) capability by developing its Recognised Maritime Picture (RMP) and facilitating its overall operational efficiency.
Systematic’s SitaWare Headquarters, an interoperable C4ISR software solution, as well as IRIS military messaging products are already in use in Germany as part of the Mission Enabling Service Bundeswehr (MESBw).
New capability
SitaWare Maritime ensures a field proven and future-proof C2 solution that exceeds much of the functionality of in-services systems. Designed for the maritime domain, it supports national headquarters, afloat commanders, individual ships as well as boarding teams, RHIBs, and mobile coastal units.
Modern naval warfare is conducted within a multi-domain, information-rich environment which can lead to a huge volume of data to be processed. The application of SitaWare Fusion ensures that this is correlated and fused to provide timely, next-level decision-support.
New maritime functionality
“The market-available add-ons – SitaWare Maritime and SitaWare Fusion – will extend the SitaWare Headquarters solution with maritime-specific functionality, “said Jan-Niklas Flick, Business Development Manager Maritime for Systematic’s German subsidiary.
“Now German naval commanders can ensure they make rapid, critical decisions based on a comprehensive and aligned RMP.”
29 Jul 23. NASA and uAvionix Deploy SkyLine Command and Control Services at AAM Test Range. NASA and uAvionix have signed a Space Act Agreement to develop advanced Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Command and Control (C2) technologies for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in urban environments. Under the agreement, NASA will work with uAvionix to conduct research & development of commercial UAS C2 systems utilizing internet-based infrastructure and air traffic control frequencies.
NASA researchers will conduct flight testing at the UAS Flight Test Range at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Flight data will be generated and evaluated on the uAvionix SkyLine C2 technology under the High Density Vertiplex (HDV) project.
“The HDV project is excited to partner with uAvionix to support the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) mission,” said Jacob Schaefer, HDV Technical Lead. “C2 technologies are critical to achieve the advanced flight operations envisioned within future of AAM.”
This partnership, and the associated technical work, is a great example of how NASA is working with industry to drive technology and innovation through the aviation industry.
This partnership will significantly contribute support to the development of remotely piloted commercial passenger flight operations that rely on the performance of certified Control and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) link systems.
“uAvionix is proud to partner with NASA on this important project”, said Christian Ramsey, uAvionix Managing Director. “NASA’s collaboration will help advance the operational application of our SkyLink 5060 radios, an important step to facilitate AAM, especially passenger carrying vehicles and vertiports that will ultimately require certification.”
The performance and operational standards are currently being tested by several manufacturers and operators with use cases ranging from Urban Air Mobility to long range cargo delivery.
Flight tests are planned between the summer of 2023 and summer of 2024 and will include technologies enabling advanced BVLOS operations. (Source: UAS VISION)
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/
The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/
Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.
Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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