Combat engineering is emerging as an under-appreciated but critical component of counter-insurgency work, with applications that range from restricting the battlefield to building cooperation with civilian populations. Britain is improving its own capabilities, and has just ordered 60 Terrier Armored Engineering Vehicles for the Royal Engineers, under a GBP 300 million ($430 million equivalent) contract with BAE Systems. The vehicles was designed in Leicester and will be assembled in Newcastle, with over 90% of its manufacture supported by companies from across the UK. Terrier will replace the existing Combat Engineer Tractor (CET) beginning in 2011, and will work alongside the Royal Engineers’ heavier Challenger 2 derived TROJAN AEV/AVREs.
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. in Malvern, PA won a maximum $267 million fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for radiology systems, subsystems and components on behalf of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies.
The proposal was originally solicited on FedBizOps, with 27 responses. The contract will be managed by the with the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA, and will run until March 30/10 (SPM2D1-09-D-8314).
Global simulation firm CAE, located in the Saint-Laurent district of Montreal, Canada, has announced a C$ 714 million (about $450 million equivalent), 5-year “Project Falcon” to enhance its modeling and simulation technologies, develop new ones, and diversify into other visualization markets including analysis and operations.
Aerospace is a major industry in Canada, but the size of Canada’s population and market ensures that over 80% of the industry’s business comes from exports. Hence the province of Quebec’s recent moves to assist Pratt & Whitney Canada with engine development, and the federal Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) for strategic industrial research and R&D in the aerospace, defence, space and security industries. For CAE’s Project Falcon, SADI will provide a 6-year, C$ 250 million (about $200 million equivalent) repayable loan.
Project Falcon will focus on applying investments into 6 main technology thrusts, including:
