B-1B Completes Conventional Weapons Upgrade

Boeing completed this week the installation of the final Block E avionics modification kit on the U.S. Air Force's active fleet of 67 B-1B Lancer long-range heavy bombers, completing a five-year, $680 million contract for enhanced computer hardware, software and weapons delivery capability. Block E upgrades enable the bomber to carry precision attack munitions, including Wind Corrected Munitions Dispensers, Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) and Joint Air-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). The follow-on Block F upgrades will focus on defensive avionics upgrades including the AN/ALR-56M radar warning receiver, ALE-55 fiber optic towed decoy; and ALQ-214 receiver modulator processor.

USAF F-16s To Get an Advanced Targeting Pod for SEAD

US Air Force will soon receive a new version of the High-Speed Anti-radiation Missile (HARM) Targeting System (HTS). The first R7 pod recently delivered by Raytheon will enable F-16 pilots to engage targets faster, and more accurately when tasked with Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) missions. All current Air Force HTS pod inventory will be retrofitted to R7 over the next two years. HTS R7 will target HARM and other PGMs to destroy fixed and mobile enemy air defense elements. HTS R7 precision coordinates will be available to all Joint Forces via Link-16.

Thales Canada has been selected by the Department of National Defence Land Forces to deliver a mini-UAV system based on Elbit’s Skylark technology. Thales Canada, Systems Division, currently manage the UAV fleet for DND, including the The Silver Fox UAV, from Advanced Ceramics Research, operated for the Canadian Forces Experimentation Centre.

The German Navy will get two additional class 212A submarines by 2012 or 2013. Both vessels will be equipped with an air-independent propulsion system based on the hydrogen fuel cell. Similar to the first four U212A submarines, the two submarines will be built in non-magnetic steel. The submarines will be equipped with new communications systems to fully integrate into net-centric operations, including the deployment of special forces. The vessels will be built by the ARGE consortium, made up of the companies Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft and Nordseewerke (from the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems shipyard alliance.) A contract formalizing the procurement was signed last week between the consortium and the German MOD defense and technology procurement office BwB.

NATO Launches theater Missile defense BMC4

An industry team led by SAIC was selected by NATO to deliver an Active Layered Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD). Under the $95 million contract the team will assist in the integration of various air defense weapons and sensors, operated by the alliance countries, to share a common battle management, command, control and communications environment to protect the alliance military forces and critical assets. Dutch based ThalesRaytheonSystems, one of the team members, is also the prime contractor for NATO’s Air Command and Control System (ACC). This system will unify air defense systems in Europe and provide the necessary architecture for ALTBMD deployment.
 

  Swiss Pocket Rangefinders for Navy SEALS

The US Navy is equipping its SEAL Special Forces teams with a Swiss made Pocket Laser Range Finder (PLRF). The Navy awarded Vectronix a US$10 million contract for up to 1420 devices, to be produced in Switzerland and the US and delivered by 2011. The waterproof, battery operated device weighs 620 grams, and uses eye-safe laser to measure ranges from 5 to 3.5 kilometers. Some versions offer enhanced functions such as a digital compass, azimuth and elevation measurement.

EQ-36 Counter-Artillery Radar Program Launched

Lockheed Martin will develop and supply the U.S. Army with five Enhanced AN/TPQ-36 radars under a US$120 million 3 year contract awarded September 26. The new radar, designated EQ-36 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar will replace existing TPQ-36 and TPQ-37 radars providing soldiers with the capability to detect, classify, track and determine the location of enemy indirect fire such as mortars, artillery and rockets. The potential exists for Lockheed Martin to provide the Army with more than 180 EQ-36 radars valued at more than $1.6 billion.