BAE Systems in Minneapolis, MN announced a $39 million delivery order from the U.S. Navy to deliver 67 of its Mk 38 Mod 2 gun mounts to go aboard cruisers, destroyers and Landing Ship Transport Dock (LPD) ships for reliable close-in defense against small craft et. al. DID has covered the basic Mk 38 gun before, but the Mk 38 Mod 2 is a stabilized 25mm gun with radar and/or TOPLITE laser/optical/infrared guidance, auto-tracking once locked, its own integrated power system, no through-deck penetration, automated or manual operation, and embedded training incorporated into the system’s interface. The Mk 38 gun has an effective range of 1 mile, and uses the same M242 25mm chain gun found on the Marines’ LAV-25 and Army M2/M3 Bradley armored vehicles.
Designation-Systems notes that AIM-120D (aka. AIM-120C-8) is a development of the F-22 optimized AIM-120C with a two-way data link, more accurate navigation, an expanded no-escape envelope, improved High-Angle Off-Boresight which is the width of the seeker’s “view”, and a 50% increase in range. This joint USAF/US Navy project is currently in the testing phase.
Along those lines, Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ just received a $21.8 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) lead time away material, and systems engineering performance responsibility (SEPR). The lead time material will cover 12 operational test missiles (AIM-120D) and 40 initial operational capability missiles (AIM-120D and AIM-120C7). Work will be complete in October 2007. The Headquarters Medium Range Missile Systems Group, Eglin Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (FA8675-06-C-0003/P0002).
Singapore was noted in the article as a TransHospital buyer, and their MINDEF recently held a formal unveiling of their newly-operational system. It includes interior pictures, along will other details regarding the new systems. As Captain Lim Poh Thiam put it, noting one of the prime advantages of container-based facilities:
“All our equipment are already packed and ready for use in these containers which means we can be deployed more quickly than in the past. So we are ready to go anytime!”
Couldn’t resist including this one. Small business qualifier Bickerstaff Brothers Inc. in Batesville, MS received a $5.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for flood control measures… in Water Valley, MS. Sounds like they have their work cut out for them.
Work is expected to be complete by Oct. 31, 2006. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on March 6, 2006, and three bids were received by the Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, MS (W912EE-06-C-0016).
