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The U.S. Army has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems a $305
million contract to reset and upgrade 312 M1A2 Abrams main battle
tanks returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom under a new program
called Improved Systems Enhancement Package (SEP) Reset. 72
of the tanks will be upgraded in 2007. Additional 240 tanks
will go through the process in 2008-2009. |
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The integration of Hellfire
II missiles with the Eurocopter Tiger HAP helicopter is
progressing, Lockheed Martin reported of a recent test firing
conducted in Australia by the French MOD Armament Agency (DGA).
The first-time gunner, a French pilot, employed a lock-on-before-launch
technique, scored a direct at a target six kilometers away.
The recent test followed seven previous firings, where all missiles
hit their designated targets. Hellfire is currently employed
with various platforms, including the Apache, Cobra, and Predator
UAV. Integration with the Tiger is underway for the Australian
Army, while the French Army is also considering the missile
for its Tigers. Another potential airborne platform currently
considered for the Hellfire is the Black Hawk helicopter. |
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Lockheed Martin demonstrated the capability of its Sky Spirit
Mini UAV to operate with Miniature SAR, offering tactical ground
forces with broad-area, high resolution imaging capability under
all weather conditions. During the October 19th flight the Sky
Spirit flew with the Sandia National Laboratories MiniSAR at
an altitude of 3,000 feet, transmitting high resolution (4 inch)
SAR imagery to the ground station in near-real-time. |
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RAFAEL Unveils Sea Spotter
- a Third Generation Naval IRST
RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd is developing an
advanced, passive Infra-Red Search & Track (IRST) system
that will enable a naval vessel to automatically locate and
pinpoint threats and targets located around it without employing
on-board radar, thus becoming exposed to enemy electronic support
measures. The system employs a third generation staring infrared
system providing automatic location of surface and airborne
targets. Sea Spotter is able to locate such threats as surface-to-surface
missiles, super sonic and sub sonic sea skimming missiles, combat
aircraft, gliding bombs, ARM weapons helicopters, ships, small
target vessels such as a submarine periscope and/or terrorist
threats like jet skis. |
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High Capacity Data Radios
for Israel's Army Digitization Program
Streamlining systems acquisition for the Israel Defense Forces'
Digital Army Program
(Zayad), Elbit Systems will procure high capacity data radios
from its newly acquired subsidiary Tadiran Communications. Originally,
Elbit opted for a derivative of US based ITT's Mercury
High Capacity Data Radio (HCDR) for this role but after
the acquisition of Tadiran, the company obtained such technologies
in-house. Tadiran was subsequently assigned a US$ 23.6 million
contract to complete development and deliver the radios for
DAP, with deliveries expected to continue through 2011. Under
a different DAP related program Tadiran is developing the higher
level, broadband area communications layer, based on the military
implementation of commercial WIMAX
standards. |
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Netherlands Look for 50
new Special Forces' Vehicles
The Dutch Army plans to procure 50 high mobility vehicles to
equip its special operations units. According to a Dutch MoD
Request for Information (RFI) released this week, the vehicles
should accommodate 4 soldiers, with significant mission and
payload carrying capability while maintaining excellent cross
country mobility. The vehicles should also be fitted with armor
protection and armament mountings. |
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