$100M for 3 JHMCS Contracts

DID has covered the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS) before, from its revolutionary effect on air combat when used with 4th generation SRAAMs like the AIM-9X Sidewinder, to the program’s rocky but ultimately successful history. JHMCS helmets are now a common request from countries who are upgrading their US-made fighters.

Vision Systems International, LLC recently announced the receipt of several new contracts with a total value of more than $100 million: a request from Boeing for more than 500 additional JHMCS systems under Full Rate Production Lot 2 (FRP-2), and direct contracts from the United States Navy and Air Force for spares and test equipments in support of the JHMCS program. These procurements fills U.S. government domestic requirements for the USAF F-15 and F-16, ANG F-15, USN F/A-18 Single seat and Dual Seat platforms as well as foreign military sales production and spares commitments.

$67M for HMMWV Recap Program

AM General LLC in Mishawaka, IN received a maximum $67 million firm-fixed-price contract for services and part support for 1,098 National Stock Numbers (NSNs) in support of the HMMWV Recap program to completely rebuild HMMWVs for the US Army. That program currently in place at Red River Army Depot, Letterkenny Army Depot and Maine Military Authority, and will be in existence until 2011.

In a letter announcing this program [PDF], the Defense Supply Center Columbus noted that:

$13.5M for Automatic Fire-Extinguishers in M1114 Humvees

HMMWV, IEDed

Small business qualifier Kidde Dual Spectrum in Goleta, CA received a $13.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for automatic fire extinguishing systems, to be mounted in up-armored M1114 HMMWV jeeps with associated support. Work will be performed in Goleta, CA and is expected to be complete by May 7, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 14, 2005 by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI (W56HZV-06-C-0009).

Australia Deploys Skylark UAVs to Iraq

Skylark IV mini-UAV

On Wednesday, DID noted the popularity of the RQ-11 Raven mini-UAV in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the interest in American UAVs and doctrine among other Western armies. That article also included mini-UAV announcements by the Canadians and British. Now Australian Defence Minister Sen. Robert Hill has said that 4 of Elbit Systems’ Skylark IV mini-UAVs will be deployed to Iraq, where they will assist the second rotation of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG2). He also said the Government was investing more and more on research and development of unmanned vehicle technology for use in future operations and for surveillance purposes.

So, what’s the Skylark IV?

Harris Contracts for JDAM’s Anti-Jamming GPS Reach $21 million

Harris Corporation, best known for its success in the tactical radio market, announced that it has been awarded an $18.2 million follow-on contract by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems to provide Anti-Jam Global Positioning System (AJ GPS) modules for Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) program that turns conventional bombs into smart bombs.

The initial development contract was valued at approximately $3.9 million, bringing the total value of the program for Harris to more than $21 million since 2003. Full production and future options could increase the program’s value for Harris to more than $50 million by 2008. See corporate release.

The Western Defense Market for Merchant Class Computer Boards: $3.3B By 2008

Recently, Venture Development Corporation (VDC) conducted a study and evaluation of the present and future market for COTS merchant computer boards, systems, and software in North American and Western European military and defense. This examination concentrated on merchant products; those that are sold individually on the open market, but excluded deeply embedded equipment that is task, application, and customer-specific. Captive or internal sales, as well as general-purpose and enterprise-class equipment, were also excluded from the study.

This article presents some of the findings contained in the report.