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An enhanced version of the FireScout Vertical Takeoff UAV (VTUAV)
completed an initial series of flight tests conducted by the
U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman. The Navy plans to use Fire Scouts
on board the Littoral Combat Ship, where sailors will operate
both manned and unmanned helicopters to support operational
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The FüInfoSys Heer, a new command and control (C2) system
developed for the German Army will enter production soon in
2007. The planned procurement will equip 1,500 vehicles. Delivery
of the first batch is expected to complete by 2012, under the
current € 380 Million contract. Deliveries will begin starting
2007 to German Army units as well as the joint German-French
Brigade. The system will be produced by the FüInfoSys Heer
joint-venture established between, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and
Rheinmetall Landsysteme. |
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Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp. will supply mobile satellite data
transceivers to equip U.S. Army vehicles through the "Blue
Force Tracking" of the brigade's command and control systems
(FBCB2). This latest order will include the delivery of Comtech’s
Model 2011E, under a $2.7 million order for the Army Movement
Tracking System program, for which Comte already received orders
worth $361.4 million. The total MTS contract value is $418.2
million. |
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The Spanish army will field the ARTHUR weapon locating radars,
following today's announcement of a €59 Million (U.S. $78
million) order, by Norwegian based Saab Microwave Systems AS.
The recent acquisition is significant for Saab, as it represents
the company's first major deal in Spain. Delivery will start
at the end of 2007, and continue through June 2009.
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The Slovenian Ministry of Defence has today signed agreements
with the local company Rotis and Patria of Finland, covering
the procurement of 135 Patria AMV 8x8 vehicles as well as Patria
Nemo 120 mm single-barrel
mortars to the Slovenian Army. The total value of the program
is about € 278 million. Production will gradually be transferred
to Slovenia in 2007 and 2008. |
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Northrop Grumman (NOC) Space Technology and Lockheed Martin
(LMT) were awarded two contracts amounting about U.S. $49 million
each, for the development of candidate architectures for a future
space-based, Synthetic Aperture Radar / Surface Moving Target
Indication (SAR/GMTI) imaging system. The Space Radar (SR) will
provide global, persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
(ISR) capability.
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Pentagon awarded a U.S. $2 billion contract to Boeing Co. (BA),
for 10 additional C-17s. According to Boeing, the recent international
C-17 orders and commitments, and the 10 new Air Force order
would keep Boeing's C-17 production line in Long Beach, California
running until late 2009.
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The Indian Navy has put forward a requirement of U.S. $25 Billion
to equip the Indian Navy's five year force buildup plans. According
to Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, "The navy currently
has 136 ships and building of 33 more ships is underway in our
shipyards".
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Spatial Integrated Systems Inc. (SIS) will develop a Multi-Purpose
Sensor System (MPSS) for the Autonomous Maritime Navigation
(AMN) Program designed for future naval surface autonomous vehicles
(USVs). The system will integrate electro-optical, electro-magnetic,
and acoustic sensors processed on a geographic 3D 'world' to
represent the vehicle's situation awareness and control.
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Merger
of BAE Systems, VT Group's Naval Activities Considered
Last week the UK based BAE Systems plc and VT Group plc announced
that they are discussing the combination of their surface ship
building and naval support businesses into a joint venture.
BAE Systems’ submarines business will continue to operate
independent of the JV. The announcement will better position
the British shipbuilding capabilities which face tough competition
in the European market. BAE System's current shipbuilding activities
involve the Type 45 anti-aircraft destroyers and Astute class
submarines, produced for the Royal Navy. BAE Systems is seeking
to strengthen its submarine activities with parallel strategic
ventures.
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On December 1, France’s defense procurement agency (DGA)
successfully completed the first operational test firing of
the AASM modular air-to-ground weapon. The weapon, developed
by Sagem Defense Group, a member of the Safran Group (SAF) is
destined to equip the French Army’s and Navy’s Rafale
planes by 2007.
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