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02 Feb 17. SRC Wins $65 M US Army Anti-Drone Contract. The U.S. Army has awarded a $65 million contract to SRC Inc. of Cicero to develop a system that can detect and defeat one of the newest threats on the battlefield — small, slow and low-flying drones. SRC said it will immediately hire at least 50 engineers at its headquarters in Central New York as a result of the contract and other new business. The company, the former Syracuse Research Corporation, also plans to hire an additional 300 employees nationwide over the next three years as a result of anticipated growth in several technology areas. SRC has offices in five buildings in Central New York and across the nation, employing 1,100 people including 700 in the Syracuse area. The Army selected SRC to develop and produce in Central New York up to 15 sets of counter-drone systems, which it considers an urgent operational need, according to the Pentagon. The low-flying small drones, including off-the-shelf quadcopters and other recreational drones, are the hardest to detect and can evade radar. SRC has focused on the evolving drone industry and its technology for its future growth. In 2014 the company established Gryphon Sensors, a wholly-owned subsidiary, to develop sensors that will allow drones to fly safely in civilian airspace. Gryphon Sensors is trying to tap into what is expected to be a multibillion dollar market as demand surges for ways to detect, track and identify errant or hostile drones near airports and other infrastructure. Now the Army is turning to SRC for similar solutions on the battlefield. “We are proud to partner with the Army to provide critical technology that will defend against evolving threats like small drones,” said Paul Tremont, president and CEO of SRC. “This contract is a great example of the innovative solutions that our employees create.” (Source: UAS VISION/Syracuse.com)
01 Feb 17. Thermal Imaging of Team Challenger 2. Being part of the Team Challenger 2 (lead BAE Systems), Leonardo will bring into the British project new Thermal Imaging (TI) capabilities. The current TI capability for Challenger 2 is provided by the UK’s 1st Generation TI technology in the form of the Thermal Imaging Common Module II (TICM II) set of components delivered to the British Army when the Challenger 2 first entered service. New TI technology is in its 3rd Generation. Leonardo stated: “As the current supplier of the 1st Generation Thermal Imaging technology for the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank, Leonardo brings to the team a unique UK-based TI expertise and engineering capability that will contribute to obsolescence removal, capability enhancement and future-proofing the Challenger 2 Mark 2 platform to deliver an optimum value for money solution for British taxpayer.”
The new Challenger 2 Mark 2 solution will deliver an enhanced platform operability and availability, improved threat identification and engagement performance, a future-proofed platform that is fully supportable and, if necessary, capable of further enhancement through its remaining service-life, operational advantage to the British Army and maintain freedom of action for the UK Government. (Source: Mittler Report)
01 Feb 17. Kazakhstan JV announces first exports. Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering (KAE) announced on 30 January that it had begun its first export deliveries of thermal weapon sights to Turkey. The deliveries result from a contract valued at USD5.8m that was signed in November 2016 with KAE, a joint venture between Kazakhstan Engineering and Aselsan. The contract is for Aselsan’s Python and Boa thermal weapon sights. The Python was launched in February 2008 as a follow-on to Aselsan’s earlier Thermal Weapon Sight. The system uses uncooled microbolometer technology to provide thermal sighting capability to any type of infantry rifle, usin