• EADS CEO says the company is looking to buy a medium-sized defense company in the US; last US acquisition was PlantCML.

• The use of metrology assisted machining, manufacturing, and assembly is growing in the aerospace sector.

• Strategy Analytics: Annual market for SATCOM-related electronics to grow from $796 million in 2009 to nearly $2.58 billion in 2020.

• Der Spiegel Online attempts to cover the growing use of UAVs, includes interview with Brookings’ Peter Singer (vid. “In the Loop? Armed Robots and the Future of War”)

• US Navy i-ENCON program saves 354,000 barrels of fuel during Q1 2010; 4.9% better than Q4 2009.

• WIRED Danger Room looks at ongoing issues with removable storage in US military, and the flip-side of its cyber-security efforts for operations.

• Boeing completes design of US Navy free electron laser weapon system to take out high-speed cruise missiles.

• Honeywell gets US Army order to maintain Cold War era Washington-Moscow hotline.

• CACI secures $219 million contract to provide C4ISR and IT to SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic.

Night raid
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Small business qualifier Oasys Technology secures $10.7 million contract to supply US Navy thermal binoculars. (March 17/10)

It was Christmas Eve 2007 and US Army Rangers were searching for suspected Al-Qaeda members in Mosul, Iraq. They were using their night vision goggles so they would have the element of surprise on their side. The story, detailed in a USA Today article, dramatically demonstrates the advantage night vision capabilities provide to US troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Rangers found 2 Al-Qaeda suspects who were holding an 11-year-old Iraqi boy hostage. Using their night vision capabilities, they were able to shoot the suspects without harming the boy. After that encounter, a firefight erupted between the Army rangers and Al-Qaeda insurgents, with 10 insurgents killed, including the head of an assassination cell, and no Army ranger losses. As former General Barry McCaffrey, commander of the US Army’s 24th Infantry Division in the 1991 Desert Storm conflict, commented: “Our night vision capability provided the single greatest mismatch of the war.” It still does.

This free DID Spotlight Article will examine how this technology works, how its military application has developed over years, how the technology is used by troops in the field, as well as major DoD contracts for procuring night vision devices.

• Night Vision Technology
• Generations
• Riding the Omnibus
• Thermal Weapon Sight II
• Multi-Functioning Aiming Laser System
• Helicopter Systems
• Panoramic Night Vision
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

RG-33 variant
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Field Service Reps order, Updated MRAP program totals & percentages. (March 12/10)

The USA’s Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected (MRAP) program has been a long road for BAE Systems. In the wake of the US Army’s belated realization that mine protection was critical for vehicles in theater, BAE’s designs, long-standing experience in the field, and production capacity had made them an early favorite. Early results were a deeply humbling experience for the firm, but a combination of acquisitions, persistence, and product development combined to recover 2nd place status by the time MRAP orders ceased.

This in-depth, updated DID feature shines a spotlight on BAE Systems’ family of MRAP offerings, order record, and associated contracts. The MRAP program appears to have reached its vehicle limit, but some BAE vehicles are getting a major suspension upgrade and maintenance contracts continue…

• BAE MRAP: The Vehicles
• BAE MRAP: The Current Tally [updated]
• BAE MRAP: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Appendix A: MRAP Competition Half-Time Update, June 28/07
  
  Continue Reading… »

Sachsen, sending SM-2
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Greek deal adds submarine construction capabilities. (March 1/10)

ThyseenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) recently announced a “close strategic partnership” and Memorandum of Understanding with the Abu Dhabi MAR group in the United Arab Emirates, but the move is much closer to a sale of key assets. The MoU stipulates a 50/50 joint venture to build naval surface ships, with TKMS retaining a lead role and know-how in all projects with the German Navy and NATO partners. Similarly, Abu Dhabi MAR Group will be responsible for the Middle East and North Africa. At the same time, however, Abu Dhabi MAR is acquiring 80% of TKMS’ key surface ship firms: Blohm + Voss Shipyards, Blohm + Voss Repair, and Blohm + Voss Industries.

The proposed sale follows other recent purchases in Germany by Abu Dhabi MAR, and other recent shipyard sales by TKMS. The net effect is a restructuring of Germany’s naval shipbuilding industry…

Continue Reading… »

In 1998, with a global sales partnership in place for Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen fighter, BAE bought a 35% stake in Saab for 3.5 billion Swedish kronor. In March 2010, a month after BAE Systems settled bribery cases with the US and Britain over weapons sales that included Gripen fighters, Britain is divesting just over half of its remaining stake in the Swedish defense firm, for SEK 1.07 billion (about $150 million). Saab’s best-known product is its JAS-39 Gripen lightweight fighter, but the firm offers a diverse array of defense products that include radars, missiles, UUVs, and more.

BAE had already reduced its stake in Saab to 20.5% in 2005, and was not involved in recent efforts to sell the Gripen to Switzerland and Brazil. The firm reportedly intends to dispose of all Saab holdings…

Continue Reading… »

• Will Northrop Grumman’s new compensation focus on profitability rather than growing market share kill KC-X tanker bid?

• US Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn asks for an extension to finalize a 3rd multiyear Super Hornet/ EA-18G deal.

• USAF, Northrop Grumman to redesign B-2 stealth bomber’s aft deck to lessen cracking .

• G2 Solutions: US Army tactical UAS competitions could total $2.6 billion between 2013 and 2025.

• Bill Sweetman on F-35 program: “Remember this distinction: The Donner Party was on track. They were not on schedule.”

• Pentagon moves F-35 JSF fighter full-rate production to November 2015, withholds $614 million from Lockheed Martin as promised earlier, restructures contract.

• Lockheed Martin-led team fabricates the world’s largest (16.4 foot diameter) heat shield structure, under budget and early.

• USA’s Ground Combat Vehicle next-generation armor: BAE (platform) teams with Northrop Grumman (C4ISR).

• Australia’s naval helicopter competition is officially on: MH-60R vs. NH90-NFH.

• UK Takeover Panel gives Babcock a 1 month deadline to complete GBP 1.25 billion purchase of UK defense firm VT Group.

• British medics get blood warming equipment to treat wounded in Afghanistan.

• BAE Systems will provide mission computer systems for the Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.

• As Argentina and Britain revisit their Falklands dispute, the UK conducts armed patrols, while France reportedly considers selling Argentina improved Super Etendard strike aircraft by 2015.

• Taiwan air force is not ready to withstand an attack from China, US DIA report warns. AP | Reuters

• Pakistan formally inducts 1st JF-17 fighter squadron.

• WIRED Danger Room: Where have all the MANPADS (MAN Portable Air Defense missile Systems) gone?

• United Technologies’ Sikorsky Aircraft selected for DARPA mission-adaptive rotor (MAR) technology development.

• Sikorsky upgrading its S-92 helicopters; British SAR likely to benefit.

• US Army’s proposed new IFV hitting roadblocks?

• British defense firm VT Group rejects revised GBP 1.3 billion takeover offer from Babcock.

• Israel’s Elbit Systems gets $20 million follow-on contract from defense ministry for “Snunit” aircraft trainer.

• US Air Force Chief of Staff warns F-35 Joint Strike Fighter could exceed Nunn-McCurdy limits on unit cost growth.

• Iraqi Air Force: development and current state.

• Britain, France sign Memorandum of Understanding re: Urgent Operational Request buys. UK MoD | French DGA [in French].

• L-3 to acquire Insight Technology, a supplier of night vision devices to the US military.

• Raytheon Australia gets 3-year, A$21.5 million contract to support F/A-18F Super Hornet training systems at the RAAF base Amberley. Australia’s expects 1st of 24 Super Hornets in late March 2010.

• Smart thinking under AFSO21 helps USAF improve B-1 bomber maintenance.

• New Fort Carson facilities achieving LEED Gold ratings.

• Raytheon’s Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer (MALD-J) completes US Air Force critical design review.

• BAE Systems posts $105 million net loss for 2009 as a result of regulatory penalites, lost US DoD business.

• Were fire support restrictions responsible for the USMC/ANA casualties at Ganjal? NY Times says yes. Official report says the officers who thought so may have been incorrect.

• US DoD’s top weapons buyer says that the pace of cutting costly weapons programs should slow.

• BAE wins order for 400 AN/PAS-13C thermal sights to equip Australia’s Carl Gustaf M3 panzerfausts.

• USA releases “VXX” Presidential Helicopter RFI to replace existing VH-3/60s, canceled VH-71 program.

• Bangladesh orders 2 AW109 Power helicopters for naval duties.

• Three Indian vehicle manufacturers vie for Indian Army’s mine protected vehicle procurement.

• Babcock says it will not launch hostile bid after British defense firm VT Group rejects takeover offer. Bloomberg reports otherwise.

• Ranking House Armed Services Seapower subcommittee Rep. Todd Akin [R-MO] wants increased numbers, renewal of multi-year buy approach for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G.

• 2nd operational EA-18G electronic warfare fighter squadron “safe to fly.”

• USAF STRATCOM lifts ban on thumb drives.

• US Coast Guard doesn’t have enough National Security Cutters to meet demand.

• Russia is delaying delivery of S-300 air defense missiles to Iran due to “technical problems.” Hmm, do those involve UAVs, by any chance?

• US DoD to require vendors to meet tougher cybersecurity standards.

• Cyberattack simulation highlights infrastructure, leadership gaps. What keeps cybersecurity specialists up at night?

• Pentagon cites over 100 cyber breaches at US defense contractors and agencies.

• Pwnage: US Army calls in its best VBS2 gamers for a conference.

• Lockheed Martin may battle Babcock to acquire British defense firm VT Group.

• UK begins using new “Python” for mine clearance in Afghanistan, showcases CDE research projects.

• F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s development schedule to be delayed a year.

• US Army is developing a signal-processing interface to combine outputs from different radar systems.

• Navistar’s $750+ million contract to provide 1,050 more MaxxPro Dash vehicles is expected to restore 400 jobs to the company’s West Point, MS facility, following multiple layoffs in 2009 that had cut staffing to 120.