Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions (CWDS) has received a contract from a leading international systems integrator to supply its modular and scalable electro-mechanical technology for use in a new ground combat vehicle programme. Under the contract, shipments are scheduled to begin in 2016 and are expected to continue through 2019. The initial contract is valued at more than $90 million. The potential value of the contract over the lifetime of the program is estimated well in excess of $100 million. Manufacture of the products covered by this agreement will be overseen by CWDS’ facility located in Switzerland.
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In November 2014, the Government of Canada has awarded a CA$287 million contract to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada for the provision and integration of an enhanced surveillance suite on to Canadian LAV III upgrade vehicles, known as LAV 6.0. The upgraded surveillance system will include a 10m retractable mast, an Operator Control Station and a surveillance suite inclusive of radar, thermal/day and image intensification sights, laser range finder and GPS mounted on a stabilized platform. Deliveries of LAV 6.0 vehicles equipped with the upgraded surveillance suite will commence in December 2016.***
Harris has been awarded a four-year, CA$180 million ceiling, single-award IDIQ contract to supply the Canadian Armed Forces with Harris FALCON III tactical radios. Under National Individual Standing Offer (NISO), Harris will supply secure tactical radio systems including the AN/PRC-152A wideband handheld radio, AN/PRC-117G wideband MANPACK radio, as well as the RF-7800H high-frequency MANPACK radio to the DoND in support of modernisation programmes.***
The Norwegian Armed Forces have awarded Intergraph a contract to produce unclassified topographical maps. Based on high resolution vector data produced through the Multinational Geospatial Co-production Programme (MGCP), the maps will cover different regions of the world. Intergraph will use Hexagon Geospatial software for the cartographic solution.***
The BAAINBw tasked Diehl BGT Defence in mid-October with setting up a laser protection system for countering guided missiles. In close cooperation with Diehl’s industry partner Elbit Systems, the initial study “DIRCM (Directed Infrared Counter Measure) for Airbus A400M” envisages linking three Elbit Systems J-MUSIC (Multi-Spectral IR Countermeasure) type system units to a complete system ensuring comprehensive 360° protection for the A400M.***
Air Force Security Forces to use Safariland Group law enforcement equipment, including 30,866 Monadnock DETECTIVE Series batons; 34,764 Safariland Model 6005 SLS Tactical Holsters, and holster accessories, and approximately 37,100 sets of SECOND CHANCE BV02 Level IIIA body armour packages for both male and female, supplied over the five-year contract period. ***
Elbit Systems was awarded contracts from an Asian country in a total amount of approximately $85 million for an F-5 aircraft avionics upgrade programme and the balance is for the supply of electro-optic and communications systems. The contracts will be performed over a three-year period.***
Safran received the notification from <MBDA of the development and production contract for the IR seekers of the future anti-tank Medium-Range Missile (MMP) for the French Army. Safran also signed a contract with MBDA for the development and production of the IR seekers of the French-British anti-surface guided weapon (FASGW).***
Following international RfPs, Sagem (Safran) has signed a contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) of South Korea, to supply the optronic surveillance masts for the ROK’s new submarines.***
The US DoD and Lockheed Martin have reached an agreement in principle for the production of 43 F-35 LIGHTNING II aircraft (29 US aircraft including 19 F-35As, six F-35Bs and four F-35Cs; the production of the first two F-35As for Israel, the first four F-35As for Japan, along with two F-35As for Norway, and two F-35As for Italy, as well as the UK’s four F-35Bs).***
The UK MoD has selected the Raytheon UK, Thales UK team to conduct a one-year study into upgrading existing IFF systems to Mode 5, which will address NATO's requirement for a new standard of IFF across all platforms. The two companies are offering the Thales BLUEGATE products, as well as, Raytheon UK's IFF4810 Mode 5 upgrade solution.***
Saab has won a contract to deliver a Water Borne IED ROV (WBIEDROV) in cooperation with the US Underwater Hazardous Device Team’s (UHDT), Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), to deliver an increased capability that will tackle the growing threat from IEDs in the US domestic maritime domain.***
Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions has received a contract from Northrop Grumman to supply its COTS-based ruggedised DMV-186 single board computer (SBC), SMS-652 network switch, and XMC-715 graphics display module technology to provide a digitised cockpit solution for use in the US Army’s UH-60V programme. Shipments are scheduled to begin in 2014.***
Sagem (Safran) has won the contract from the Norwegian Coast Guard, part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, to modernise the navigation system on six Coast Guard vessels (NORNEN-class and the KV HARSTAD) with Sagem's new BLUENAUTE attitude and heading reference system.***
Raytheon was awarded a multi-year bulk buy contract totalling over $200 million to provide PHALANX Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS) upgrade kits, support equipment and hardware spares to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).***
Rockwell Collins Government Systems was awarded a $101 million IDIQ contract for the procurement of AN/ARC-210 electronic protection radio equipment in support of domestic and FMS aircraft. This contract consists of a maximum of 1,160 radios inclusive of potential FMS sales: 920 associated ancillary equipment; five training sessions; 15 FMS Have Quick software media downloads; 140 associated FMS license and royalty fees; 500 FMS standard commercial warranties; 250 receiver-transmitter conversions; 10 failure analyses; and one lot for data. Work is expected to be completed in September 2015***
The USMC has awarded Northrop Grumman a $207 million contract for LRIP of AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) systems (ground-based multimission AESA radar), to be delivered in 2016-17. G/ATOR's total program value could exceed $2 billion, as additional LRIP contracts are anticipated.***
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), a global communications and information company, has been awarded a contract amendment valued at C$40 million by the Commonwealth of Australia to transition MDA's UAV services to Australia following completion of the currently contracted services in Afghanistan. MDA will provide the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with UAV operations and related services within Australia through December 2017, with options for up to an additional three years.***
KVH Industries has received a $4.3 million order for its TACNAV tactical navigation systems from a new customer who is a major defence contractor providing armoured vehicles for an international military client. With a short delivery requirement, shipments for this order are expected to be substantially completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.***
Tatra Trucks has introduced the new TATRA PHOENIX Euro 6 vehicle, being a result of the recently signed agreement between Tatra and DAF Trucks, guaranteeing that all-terrain heavy duty trucks manufactured in Koprivnice, Czech Republic, will remain on the European market.***
Airbus Defence & Space (DS) has signed a contract with the Polish MoD to provide a full flight simulator (FFS) for the Polish Air Force’s (PAF) Airbus C295 aircraft fleet. The FFS will be installed in the Krakow C295 Training Centre at the Balice Krakow Air Base, where the PAF´s 16 C295 are based – currently the world’s biggest C295 fleet.***
The maritime wing of the Australian Army purchased and installed a VSTEP maritime simulator classroom, to be used for landing craft operations and navigation training. The simulator purchase was made following an enquiry from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Bohemia Interactive Simulations. The maritime simulator classroom delivered by VSTEP includes 12 NAUTIS Desktop Trainers and 2 NAUTIS Instructor Stations. The simulators use the NAUTIS Naval Task Force software module, a training module specifically designed to meet the training requirements of the military.***
The US Army has placed its first order for the new 3M Canada’s M61 Respiratory Mask Canister through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, valued at over $3 million and was awarded under an IDIQ contract issued in December 2011. Deliveries under this order are scheduled to be completed by February 2015. In total, the IDIQ contract has potential value of over $100 million based on a seven-year performance period.***
AAR has been selected by AMMROC (Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center), the Abu Dhabi-based Joint Venture between Mubadala Development Company, Sikorsky, and Lockheed Martin, to support in the design, outfitting and integration of key areas of AMMROC’s state-of-the-art facility in Al Ain, UAE. The new facility will be one of the largest dedicated military MRO centres in the world.***
The Polish Armed Forces plan to acquire cruise missiles for new type of submarines. The missiles are to be capable of striking ground targets at distances up to 800km, and the acquisition of these new submarines is to start later this year, with contractor selection to follow in 2015.***
Cuts to the defence budget will harm the UK’s military capability, Armed Forces chiefs have recently warned. Senior military officials believe the next government in 2015 will not be able to maintain British deployments if current budget cuts are implemented. Military chiefs believe that current cuts to the defence budget would jeopardize the effectiveness of the Future Force 2020 plan, created to address the need for spending cuts in essential military capabilities, while maintaining an effective force.***