Frost & Sullivan’s study “European Military Helicopter Markets 2006 – 2015” (code: B858-16) Notes that the European military helicopter is valued at nearly $26 billion between 2006-2015, but will shrink in size over that time. A number of programs (NH90, Eurocopter Tiger, EH101) are in the delivery stage right now, and the firm sees continued shrinkage in European defense budgets.
Their most interesting points had to do with the demands of that particular market in the coming years. Beyond budgetary assessments, the overarching point was that “The European military helicopter market will be determined by the demands of operations other than war (OOTW) for the next ten years…,” a situation characterized by small numbers of troops being moved rapidly and safely around large areas. This in turn will place a premium on:
Rapid reconfiguarability for roles like aid and reconstruction
Carrying capacity beyond a squad of troops
Higher levels of maintainability & repair/ low operating costs
Ease of upgrade via Commercial Off the Shelf components
DRS Technologies, Inc. announced that it has received a $12 million order for Knight Precision Targeting Systems, mission equipment electronic units, cupolas and cables, and integration into more than 60 U.S. Army M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicles. The order was received by DRS from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, Michigan. Work will be performed by the company’s DRS Sustainment Systems unit in St. Louis, MO, and delivery of the completed vehicles is expected to commence in March 2008 and be complete by January 2009.
The Wright Brothers Institute Inc. in Dayton, OH received a $7.2 million collaborative project order contract. The objective of this project is to stimulate the rapid transition of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies by developing a rapid transition of radio frequency solutions center. The RFID solutions center shall provide an effective way to collaborate with government end users, contractors, and defense industry suppliers. At this time, $4.6 million has been obligated. Solicitations began April 2006, negotiations were complete October 2006, and work will be complete October 2007. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8650-06-3-9021).
The Wright Brothers Institute is a joint organization drawn from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the academic, industrial and business entities of the Miami Valley community, and the State of Ohio. Their mission is to support the development of world-class, aerospace science and technology collaborations in the area. See DID’s May 2006 article US DoD Beginning to See RFID Payback” for more background regarding RFID in the US military’s supply chain.
Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. in St. Louis, MO received a $5.6 million order against previously-issued basic ordering agreement N00019-05-G-0026. The order procures engineering change proposal 270-R2 1760 wiring kits to upgrade 30 AV-8B Harrier II aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO (70%) and Samarate, Italy (30%), and is expected to be complete in November 2007. Contract funds in the amount of $882,424 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.
