In March 2009, Forecast International relayed a report from Chile’s El Mercurio newspaper, which reports that Peru has signed $73 million in contracts for 488 Israeli and Russian anti-tank missiles to equip its armed forces, replacing or supplementing existing wire-guided Russian AT-3B/ 9M14M Sagger and German/Swiss Cobra 2000 missiles.
The Cobra 2000 was a more modern variant introduced in 1968, but the type did not have a good record in combat. The 1960s-70s era AT-3 Sagger may be the most widely produced anti-tank missile of all time. It had some initial success in Vietnam and the Middle east, but basic countermeasures like suppressive fire spoil its effectiveness. Its most recent revival took place during the 2006 Lebanon War, when it found a more suitable niche with Hezbollah as a cheap, infantry-portable, close-range substitute for precision artillery.
Peru’s recent purchases are reportedly an even split…
The Air Force recently awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems of San Diego, CA a $168.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance under the MQ-1 Predator/ MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aircraft System program. The MQ-9 Reaper is very different from its predecessorr; it is significantly larger, with different equipment, less endurance, the ability to operate at far higher altitudes, and the ability to carry far more ordnance. Nevertheless, the 2 platform types are maintained under the same program. DID has covered a previous $57.2 million contract in 2006, but the rising number of machines in service, and level of use that recently saw the USAF’s MQ-1 feet surpass 500,000 total hours flown, are raising the costs of maintenance.
This contract will fund all program management, urgent repairs and services, logistics support, configuration management, technical manual and software maintenance, engineering technical services, contractor inventory control point and spares management, depot repair, flight operations support, reliability/maintenance enhancements, data collection/entry and numbered periodic depot maintenance . At this time, the entire amount has been obligated by the 703d ASG at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH (FA8620-05-G-3028).
General Dynamics C4 Systems Inc. in Scottsdale, AZ received a $70.8 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity with firm-fixed-price contract.
This “face” value is based on the expected aggregate value of orders issued over the contract’s 6-year life. The basic contract and first delivery order cover 37 Prophet Enhanced (PE) B-Kits, 19 PE A-Kits, and associated spares. That initial order also provides quality management services, non-recurring engineering and first article testing and refurbishment. Work will be performed in Melbourne, FL (66%), Scottsdale, AZ (14%), San Diego, CA (12%), Huntsville, AL (0.5%), and Fairfax, VA (0.5%), with an estimated completion date of Feb 28/15. Bids were solicited on the Worldwide Web with 3 bids received by the CECOM Acquisition Center in Fort Monmouth, NJ (W15P7T-09-D-W401).
Prophet, which is being developed under the Army Program Executive Office, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO IEW&S), is is a lightweight tactical signals intelligence and electronic warfare system designed to support the US Army division and brigade forces…
Lockheed Martin Missile and Fires Control in Grand Prairie, TX received a $14.6 million firm-fixed-price contract to upgrade 6 of Bahrain’s M270 rocket launchers to the M270C1 configuration.
M270 tracked launchers can hold up to 12 rounds of M26-M31 227mm rockets, or up to 2 ATACMS missiles that can strike from over 200km away. The nature of Bahrain’s upgrades was not described, but a number of American MLRS launchers were upgraded to M270A1 status under a 2000 contract by adding improved fire control and mechanical systems. The British followed suit with their own upgrades, and recently installed a unique set of modifications for Afghan use that include air conditioning, improved side and underbody armor, and a remotely-operated machine gun for close-in defense.
Lockheed Martin will also provide one lot of Unique Spare Parts, plus special test equipment, training, and computerized Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) for the upgraded machines. Work is to be performed at Grand Prairie, TX (40%), and East Camden, AR (60%), with an estimated completion date of Sept 30/11. One bid was solicited from the M270’s manufacturer, and one bid received by the U.S. Army’s Aviation & Missile Command Contracting Center at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-09-C-0311).
