According to an unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com, DCN has received a contract for the total operational support of the 6 Rubis Amethyste Class nuclear-powered attack submarines operated by the French Navy and home-ported in Toulon, France. The deal is worth EUR 406 million (about $485 million) over four years, with a firm initial tranche worth EUR 80 million ($95 million). It extends the global contract approach adopted by the customer, the Service du Soutien de la Flotte (SSF, or Fleet Support Department) and consolidates all activities contributing to the operational support of French SSNs.
The submarine support deal extends DCN’s history in the area of fleet support, and also includes a number of innovative elements.
Following joint development between the United Kingdom and Sweden, the Swedish FMV defense procurement agency placed a SEK 500 million (about $63 million) purchase order with Saab Bofors Dynamics for the RB 57 NLAW(Next generation Light Antitank Weapon). NLAW was developed in Sweden and will be produced in the United Kingdom, where it is known as MBT-LAW. A number of British subcontractors are involved in production, and final assembly will take place at Thales Air Defence in Belfast. This order is for series production and delivery for the Swedish Armed Forces.
In the summer of 2002 the Swedish FMV and British Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) ordered development of NLAW for the United Kingdom and Sweden, plus series production and delivery for the British Armed Forces. The order was worth approximately SEK 4,000 million (about $430 million at the time), beating out the Predator/Kestrel from Lockheed Martin, MBDA and Insys.
Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT has received a $15.5 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-96-C-2100) for execution of the USS Virginia’s (SSN 774) Post Shakedown Availability to accomplish maintenance, repair, alterations, testing, and other work. Note that work of this type is routine with all new ships post-shakedown, and that first-in-class ships always represent additional work. The first-of-class USS Virginia is currently undergoing operational evaluation (OpEval), and is currently scheduled to be inducted into service in 2007-2008.
Work will be performed in Groton, CT (99%) and Quonset Point, RI (1%), and is expected to be complete in November 2006. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair, USN in Groton, CT issued the contract.
