Showing results 1 - 10 of 30 for the search terms: CROWS.
Results for "CROWS"
M-ATV: A Win, at Last, for Oshkosh
11-Nov-2009 19:28 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, Design Innovations, Electronics - General, Forces - Air, Forces - Land, Forces - Marines, Forces - Special Ops, General Dynamics, Materials Innovations, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Policy - Procurement, RFPs, Raytheon, Trucks & Transport
Oshkosh M-ATV
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US government FedBizOpps, November 2008:
“The Government plans to acquire an MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). The M-ATV is a lighter, off-road, and more maneuverable vehicle that incorporates current MRAP level protection. The M-ATV will require effectiveness in an off-road mission profile. The vehicle will include EFP and RPG protection (integral or removable kit). The M-ATV will maximize both protection levels and off-road mobility & maneuverability attributes, and must balance the effects of size and weight while attempting to achieve the stated requirements.”
The current plan expects to spend up to $3.3 billion to order 5,244 M-ATVs for the US Army (2,598), Marine Corps (1,565), Special Operations Command (643), US Air Force (280) and the Navy (65), plus 93 test vehicles. Monthly delivery rates of up to 1,000 vehicles were part of the solicitation. Those requirements, and American requirements around classified data and regulatory compliance, ensured that the only reasonable contenders were firms that already produced MRAPs, trucks, or tactical vehicles for American forces: BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Force Protection, Navistar, and Oshkosh. Oshkosh Defense secured a long-denied MRAP win, and continues to remain ahead of production targets.
The latest news includes FY 2010 budget updates, delivery performance, and a $400+ million order for more vehicles…
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RWS for Italy’s LMVs
28-Oct-2009 13:06 EDT |
Related Stories: Contracts - Awards, Europe - Other, Finmeccanica, Remote Weapons Systems, Warfare - Trends
HITROLE Light
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Finmeccanica subsidiary Oto Melara and the Italian Ministry of Defense recently signed a sole-source EUR 20 million (currently $29.7 million) contract to acquire 81 HITROLE Light turrets for Italy’s Light Multirole Vehicles (LMV, or Lince). The Linces have served well in Afghanistan, using their blast protection to save lives during land mine attacks. The first HITROLE turret will be delivered for operational testing in about 4 months, with most delivered by the second half of 2010.
Small Remote Weapon Systems (RWS) offer a package of advanced sensors, as well as a 7.62mm or 12.7mm/ .50 caliber machine gun, or a 40mm grenade launcher, all controlled from inside the vehicle, using a joystick and screen. While their field of view is narrower than an exposed human’s, and they do not transmit auditory cues, they do offer long-range day and night surveillance, and protected firepower that is not vulnerable to snipers. Some high-end systems are even stabilized to ensure accurate fire from moving vehicles, though HITROLE does not appear to have this capability. American CROWS/ CROWS-II systems on its Humvee jeeps, many MRAPs, Stryker APCs, and M1A1 TUSK tanks offer just one example of growing RWS usage by armies who are increasingly forced to fight in complex terrain and urban areas. Italy has ordered 1,286 Lince blast-resistant vehicles as of June 2009, however, so 81 RWS systems aren’t – yet – a fleet-wide contract like CROWS.
The USA’s 2009 Hummer Orders
15-Oct-2009 12:36 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Other Corporation, Spotlight articles, Trucks & Transport
M1165 HMMWV
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The US military’s Hummers have demonstrated severe payload and survivability limitations. Nevertheless, they remain a fixture in the fleet, and new orders continue. At one point, the US Marines’ objective was to restrict Hummers to use “inside the wire” of American bases in Iraq. Instead, a sharp reduction in violence within Iraq, and a lower vehicle threat level so far in Afghanistan, have given the HMMWVs a new lease on life. They are still seeing extensive use on the front lines, and the early wear created by the weight of their add-on armor has led to RESET maintenance programs for some Hummers and allied giveaways for others.
By mid-2007, the US Army had about 19,000 HMMWVs serving on the Iraqi front alone. As Hummers wear out and are given away, or are sent to a depot, they must be replaced. Some replacement involves cycling vehicles from other units into theater, but those units must eventually have their lost vehicles replaced with Hummers or with something else, in order to maintain their own readiness rates for deployment. Hence the necessity for ongoing buys of more Hummers, in the absence of a program to provide replacements on a fleet-wide basis.
This Spotlight article covers the family’s newest variants, and chronicles the US military’s 2009 purchases. Recent updates cover the final set of FY 2009 orders, and enhanced the timeline via a detailed search that reconciled budgets with announced orders.
- Hummer Replacements?
- The HMMWV Family
- Contracts and Key Events, FY 2009 [updated]
- Additional Readings
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Cougar Family MRAPs to Stalk Mines on the Battlefield (updated)
29-Sep-2009 15:57 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Awards, Design Innovations, Engineering Vehicles, Europe - France, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Forces - Marines, Middle East - Other, Other Corporation, Trucks & Transport
The Cougar family of medium-sized blast-protected vehicles is produced in both 4-wheel (formerly Cougar H) and 6-wheel (formerly Cougar HE) layouts. Eventually, the wisdom of using survivable vehicles in a theater where land mines were the #1 threat became clearer, and these vehicles have gradually shifted from dedicated engineer and Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) roles to patrol and route-proving/ convoy lead functions as well. Related variants and blast-resistant designs are also produced in response to country-specific requirements (Wolfhound, Mastiff, Ridgback, ILAV Badger) or operational needs (Buffalo mine-clearance, Cheetah and Ocelot patrol vehicles). To date, the firm has received orders from Britain, Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Iraq, and Yemen; front line testimonials offer evidence of their effectiveness.
Cougar orders predate the USA’s MRAP program to rush mine-resistant vehicles to the front lines; indeed, the performance of Force Protection’s vehicles on the front lines was probably the #1 trigger for the MRAP program’s existence. This FOCUS Article describes Force Protection’s vehicles and corporate efforts; it also covers key events and procurements related to Force Protection’s Cougar (MRAP CAT I & II), Buffalo (MRAP CAT III) and Cheetah/Ocelot vehicle families in the USA and around the world.
Recent news involves the unveiling of a new vehicle type, and a contract for more Buffalo mine disposal vehicles…
Digital Abrams: The M1A2 SEP Program (updated)
20-Sep-2009 11:21 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Delivery & Task Orders, Electronics - General, FOCUS Articles, General Dynamics, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Simulation & Training, Tanks & Mechanized
M1A2 SEP
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America’s M1 Abrams tanks come in a number of versions. In addition to the M1A1 that is now standard, the US Army is beginning to field its M1 TUSK for urban warfare. It also operates the M1A2 System Enhancement Program (SEP), currently the most advanced standard variant.
The M1A2 SEP is builds on the digitized M1A2 platform with an improved armor package of third generation steel-encased depleted uranium armor, a new command and control system, second-generation FLIR thermal sights that include a Commander’s Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) for “hunter-killer” operation, the Under Armor Auxiliary Power Unit (UAAPU) that lets crews run key electronics without running the engine, and a Thermal Management System (TMS – i.e. air conditioning for crew & electronics). The M1A2 SEP also features enhanced electronics like color maps and displays, improved networked communications, high-density computer memory and increased microprocessing speed, a more user friendly “Soldier Machine Interface (SMI)”, and an open operating computing system that will make future upgrades and additions easier.
This DID article covers the M1A2 Abrams SEP upgrade program, and will be updated and backfilled as new contracts are issued and key events take place. New materials will be noted in green. The most recent additions are a CROWS-II RWS order, and a number of RESET contracts…
CROWS = Videogame + Vehicle + Real Guns
07-Sep-2009 16:52 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, Europe - Other, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Sensors & Guidance
CROWS in Iraq
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Most military vehicles can mount some sort of weapon, and even small protected vehicles like up-armored Hummers have top mounts. Manning them can be hazardous, however, as the story behind the Chavis Turret illustrates. Gunners are especially exposed to enemy sniper fire and counter-fire in urban environments, which figure prominently in current and expected war scenarios.
In response, larger armored vehicles have begun using Remote Weapon Systems (RWS), consisting of a gun and sensors that sit on top of the vehicle. These systems are controlled from inside via joystick and screen, and all ammunition, sensors, etc. are part of the topside assembly. The USA’s Common Remotely-Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) brings those capabilities to smaller vehicles, like up-armored Hummers or blast-resistant MRAPs. CROWS orders had traditionally been filled by Recon/Optical Inc., but a major “CROWS-II” framework agreement with Kongsberg in 2007 changed that landscape. Recent developments include a major delivery order…
- The CROWS System
- Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
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General Dynamics Acquires Axsys for $643M
04-Jun-2009 20:37 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, General Dynamics, Mergers & Acquisitions, Other Corporation, Sensors & Guidance
General Dynamics has agreed to pay $643 million to acquire Axsys Technologies, the world’s leading diamond turning optical manufacturer and a supplier of electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors and stabilized cameras to the U.S. military and homeland security agencies. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems will pay $54 per share for Axsys’ outstanding common stock.
According to a General Dynamics spokeswoman, Axsys supplies electro-optical cameras, infared sensors, and multi-axis stabilized sensors for the following U.S. military systems:
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“Bushmaster Bonanza at Bendigo”
12-Apr-2009 13:42 EDT |
Related Stories: Australia & S. Pacific, Contracts - Intent, Europe - Other, Signals Radio & Wireless, Thales, Transformation, Trucks & Transport
Bushmaster & ASLAV
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Australia’s “Hardened and Networked Army” push led them to adopt the v-hulled, mine resistant Bushmaster vehicles long before allies like the USA and Britain awoke to the need; Bushmasters have been deployed to East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
“Bushmaster Bonanza at Bendigo” read the August 2007 DoD headline, as Liberal Party Minister for Defence Dr. Brendan Nelson announced that Australia would buy at least 250 more Bushmaster vehicles. That order has now been finalized, under the Labor Party successor government. As announced by the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, the contract actually covers 293 Bushmasters, in order to meet Protected Mobility Medium requirements for Project Overlander’s Phase 3.
That’s the hardened component. Now comes the networked aspect, courtesy of a contract that leverages Thales’ international scope…
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US Army Stocks Up on Auto-Grenade Firepower as FY 2008 Closes
08-Oct-2008 16:58 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, General Dynamics, Grenades, Guns - 20-59 mm direct, Guns - Personal Weapons, L3 Communications, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Testing & Evaluation
Mk.19, firing
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As “Britain’s GMG Order Illustrates 2 Key Trends” discusses, 40mm grenades are a potent battlefield weapon.
Many of the current conflicts are essentially infantry battles, which makes firepower overmatch a critical goal. Whether fired singly from an M203 rifle mount, used in a remote-control vehicle system like CROWS, or as an infantry platoon’s crew-served heavy weapon, the 40mm grenade brings considerable firepower to the infantry fight. It’s also lethal against unarmored or lightly armored vehicles. Some companies are even offering shotgun-style repeating launchers, like Milkor’s MG-32 – or even weapons that can be fired around corners!
As FY 2008 ticked down to a close, the US military issued over $120 million worth of contracts for its staple 40mm weapon – the Mk19 grenade machine gun. It also got set to begin testing an interesting addition to infantry firepower – a programmable 25mm air bust weapon that offers comparable lethality, but can be carried by a single soldier…
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$735M for 4,853 More Hummers
29-Sep-2008 17:48 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Other Corporation, Trucks & Transport
RE HMMWV, changes
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new parts in yellow)
AM General LLC in South Bend, IN received a $735 million firm-fixed-price contract for 4,853 High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV). Work will be performed in Mishawaka, MI with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited and one bid was received by US Army TACOM in Warren, MI (DAAE07-01-C-S001). Note that these are just contracts for the basic vehicle; items like CROWS weapon mounts, Blue Force Tracker electronics, radios, et. al. are contracted separately and installed.
This tranche follows a flurry of orders in April and May 2008. See: “$650.1M for 4,526 Hummers,” “Another 3,216 Hummers for $522.4M,” and “$187.5M for Another 1,470 Hummers.”
The US military has begun fielding “Reliability Enhanced” M1151, M1152 and M1165 model HMMWVs. There have been some changes made, based on the harsh environment of South West Asia, increased payload demands, and some feedback from the field.
