Rheinmetall Group subsidiary Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH (RDE) of Bremen, Germany has been awarded a subcontract to supply the complete Loadmaster Control System for the new EADS Airbus A400M military transport aircraft throughout the entire period of production. Under the currently envisaged order volume of 180 planes, the value of the order comes to approximately EUR 72 million in 2005. RDE expects the total value of this project – which is set to run 20-25 years – to be in the region of EUR 200 million.
Modern transport aircraft require a cargo hold system that is easy to operate, and completely reliable both electrically and electronically.
The August 2005 issue of National Defense Magazine reports that the Pentagon’s $20 billion JTRS program to develop a family of digital combat radios is expected to see substantial changes in scope and technical requirements. The focus of the program would reportedly shift from replacing current radios to developing advanced networking technology that could be applied to existing devices.
JTRS, conceived in the late 1990s, was intended to eventually supplant more than 750,000 radios in the current US military inventory. Unlike conventional radios, JTRS devices are programmable and designed to operate a variety of radio “waveforms.” Key struggles for the program have included…
Light helicopter manufacturer MD Helicopters, Inc. in Mesa, AZ, completed a significant restructuring transaction this month. As part of the transaction, Patriarch Partners, LLC, a New York based financial firm with approximately $4.5 billion under management, acquired a controlling interest.
The restructuring ensures that MDHI is designed to provide adequate working capital to continue production of existing product lines, aggressively improve customer support and fulfill existing orders. Following the recapitalization, MDHI is an independent Arizona-based company. As part of the recapitalization…
Two US Army Engineer districts in Kansas and North Carolina have issued a total of $157.4M in construction contracts to Alutiiq LLC and its subsidiaries. Alutiiq, LLC is a subsidiary of Afognak Native Corporation, an Alaska Native Corporation formed under the Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act.
The U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, MI a $5.5 million modification to an existing contract for M1 Abrams tank systems technical support (STS). Work will be performed in Kuwait by existing General Dynamics employees and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2006. This modification is part of a contract initially awarded in November 2001 and brings the cumulative value to $685 million.
STS funds engineering studies and investigations on Abrams tanks with the purpose of identifying improvements and changing obsolete parts, while keeping Abrams tanks current to their base configuration. The STS program’s objective is to maintain Abrams tanks at high operational readiness.
Opticomp Corp. in Zephyr Cove, NV is being awarded a $12.3 cost-plus fixed-fee contract. The contractor will design and deliver an initial prototype, an advanced prototype, an experimental prototype and a production level prototype of an optical/ electronic network architecture for use by satellites and UAVs in the Global Information Grid. The program, Massively Parallel Optical Interconnects, is intended to develop ultra-wide bandwidth, multi-channeled, air and space-based communications networks on and between various platforms. Solicitation began August 2003, negotiations were completed July 2005, and work will be complete by July 2009. The Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, NY issued the contract (FA8750-05-C-0110).
Contractor logistics support includes ordering spare parts, managing a spare parts warehouse, worldwide distribution of repair parts and completing maintenance services on Stryker wheeled combat vehicles at U.S. Army garrisons and overseas bases.
Veteran-owned business Buie Wholesale Supply Ltd. in Boerne, TX received a maximum $11.5 million fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for lumber, plywood, millwork, wood working tools and machinery prime vendor for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Federal Civilian Agencies, and Foreign Military Sales.
