nEUROn UCAV Spawns ISR UAV Partnership

SkyLynx concept

“nEUROn UCAV Project Rolling Down the Runway (updated)” covers the multi-national European R&D program to field a stealthy, sub-sonic unmanned aircraft with range and payload capabilities that approach those of manned fighters. Now it has spawned a spin-off project that aims to take a number of its technologies, and use them to create a Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) UAV system that will compete against market alternatives like the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator, Thales UK/Elbit Watchkeeper WK450, IAI’s Heron, et. al.

$50.3M for US Base Operations & Security in Qatar

Qatar
(click for full region)

ITT Federal Services International Corp. in Colorado Springs, CO received a $50.3 million cost-plus-fixed-fee/ award-fee contract for Base Operations and Security Services at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. Work is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2012. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on Aug. 23, 2006, and 5 bids were received by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Qatar (W912D2-07-C-0004).

While the air base at Al Uedid attracts more attention, Camp As Saliyah’s role as a pre-positioning facility located just outside the capital city of Doha makes it an important piece of the USA’s overall presence in the Persian Gulf. It is reportedly the largest pre-positioning facility outside the USA, and ITT Federal Services International has been involved in associated contracts for some time now.

$14M for Elbit’s ANVIS-HUID Systems

ANVIS/HUD

Elbit Systems Ltd. recently announced 2 contracts worth approximately $14 million, to supply Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System/Head-Up Displays (ANVIS/HUD) for “helicopters of two NATO member countries.” Release [PDF]. The ANVIS/HUD(TM) system allows the helicopter pilot to fly night operations without looking into the cockpit, by projecting critical flight information into the pilot’s visor or night vision goggles‘ view. This is especially critical during low-level flight, or when taking fire, where awareness must be maintained but a moment’s worth of inattention can be fatal.

ANVIS/HUD has been used by the US military since the mid-1990s, and has equipped more than 5,000 helicopters belonging to 20 countries. Integrated platforms include the H-60 series, CH-53, CH-47, CH-46, V-22, AH-1, UH-1, Super Puma, Cougar, and others. Elbit also offers the HeliDASH system as a higher end choice; their major competitor these days is Thales’ TopOwl, in service with the Eurocopter Tiger, South Africa’s Rooivalk attack helicopter, NH90 variants, and the USMC’s forthcoming UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters.

Germany Exercises Option for 42 More NH90s

NH90 TTH, Heer

As part of the initial EUR 6.6 billion, 298 helicopter NH90 production order in 2000 [PDF format], Germany ordered 80 NH90 TTH troop transport versions: 50 for the Heer (Army), and 30 TTH for its Luftwaffe (Air Force) – of which 23 were slated for Combat Search and Rescue missions. Their EUR 488 million public-private training arrangement for the helicopters has also attracted attention, and even foreign interest. Now Germany has ordered an additional 42 NH90 TTH helicopters out of their 54 contracted options – 30 more for the Army air Corps (total 80), and another 12 for the Air Force (total 42). Costs for the contract option were not given, but might be inferred. EADS release | NHI release.

The 30 new TTH for the Army Air Corps will be in the same configuration as those previously ordered. The 12 for the Air Force will feature the NH90′s optional rear ramp, plus provisions for armor protection and a machine gun.

The German Army Air Corps was the first customer to take delivery of its NH90s, with the first 4 arriving in late 2006 and early 2007. Three of them are being used for flight training at the Army Air Corps Flight Training Academy in Buckeburg, the fourth is being used as a maintenance trainer at the Army base in Fassberg. A total of 8 TTH are scheduled to be in service with the German Armed Forces by the end of 2007, as NH Industries struggles to ramp up production.

EODT Wins Baghdad Security Services Contract

June 14/07: Small business qualifier EOD Technology Inc. in Lenoir City, TN received an $18.3 million increment as part of $122.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for static security services in Baghdad, Iraq. This contract will end by Jan. 31, 2008. There were 5 bids solicited on April 15, 2007, and 2 bids were received by the Multi-National Security and Transition Command, Baghdad, Iraq, is the contracting activity (W91GY0-07-C-0053).

EDOT is no stranger to operations in Iraq; they were the prime contractor for the Iraqi Defence Network (IDN) Communications Project, which aims to provide a nationwide, robust, reliable, and secure data network for the Iraqi Ministry of Defence. The Iraqis will assume full operational control in 2008. Security services are also part of EODT’s portfolio – but that kind of work does come with casualties.

$8.5M for Flu Vaccine

Henry Schein subsidiary General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc. in Bastian, VA received a maximum $8.5 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite quantity/ indefinite delivery contract for influenza virus vaccine on behalf of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. There were 18 proposals solicited with 4 responses. Date of performance completion is December 31, 2007. Contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA (SPM2DP-07-D-0001).

US Army Awards Top 10 Inventions of 2006

M113A2 Dozer, Canada
by Luc Desmoreaux

The US Army held its 5th annual “top 10 greatest inventions” ceremony recently in Arlington, VA, recognizing the Top 10 inventions of 2006. The top picks were chosen by Soldiers from active-Army divisions and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command according to three criteria: impact on Army capabilities, potential benefits outside the Army and inventiveness.

Three of this year’s top inventions are geared toward defeating IED land mines, and there’s even one tracked armored blast from the past. Most inventions have already been fielded to soldiers on the front lines.

FY 2006 Supplementals Buy C-130J Variants for USA

USMC KC-130J

The C-130J program has been the focus of a great deal of controversy – and recently, of a full program restructuring. As a number of the C-130J’s foreign customers band together to create a common upgrade set for their serving fleets, the plane officially reached “initial operating capability” for the US military late in 2006.

Purchases are taking place under both annual budgets and supplemental wartime funding. Now the number of aircraft involved in the December 2006 supplemental funds purchase has grown to 5, as part of the fallout from program restructuring…

Canada’s CRTI: R&D to Deal With WMD & Terrorism

Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) announced a federal investment of more than C$ 48.8 million (about $45 million) for 29 new projects under the Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI). These projects will address diverse requirements such as the development of more rapid, accurate and portable tools to detect chemical, biological and radiological agents, the fast-track development of an antiviral drug against Avian influenza, and the enhancement of decision-making support tools that assist the first responder and national security communities in coordinating a more efficient response to CBRNE incidents.

Canadian government departments and agencies working on this round of projects include DRDC, Department of National Defence, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Environment Canada, Health Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, National Research Council of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Projects funded under this round include:

Aurora Receives $6.2M for Hydrogen-Powered Orion UAV

Orion HALL

Small business qualifier Aurora Flight Sciences in Manassas, VA received a $6.2 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Orion Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Prototype Development and Test Flight. Work is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2010, and will be performed at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville, MS; Aurora just completed a new production facility nearby. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were an unknown number of bids solicited via the World Wide Web on Dec. 21, 2005, and one bid was received by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, AL (W9113M-06-C-0186).

Orion HALL (High Altitude, Long Loiter) is a hydrogen powered UAV designed to fly at high altitudes for up to 4 days. Unlike other platforms Aurora is involved in like the RQ-4 Global Hawk, the Orion HALL will reportedly have a much smaller carrying capacity of about 180 kg/ 400 pounds. This would limit its surveillance capabilities but make it an outstanding communications relay. The project is a collaboration with Boeing’s cutting-edge Phantom Works division, who is working on a version with a 10-day endurance. The first Orion UAV is expected to fly in 2008.