On Oct 30/09, the EU’s OCCAR defense procurement agency, which manages the Franco-Italian FREMM project, issues an order to DCNS for 3 more Aquitaine class FREMM frigates on behalf of France’s Navy. The 3 ships will include 2 anti-submarine (ASW/ASM) variants and an air defense (AAW/FREDA) variant. The award was formally announced by French defense minister Hervé Morin during a visit to the Lorient shipyard, where he was attending the keel-laying of France’s 2nd FREMM frigate, the Normandie. Price was not given, but based upon expected budgets this order will involve EUR 1.2 – 1.5 billion ($1.8 – 2.2 billion).
The Fuerza Aerea Boliviana wants to replace its 16 obsolete Lockheed T-33s, a fleet of trainer and light attack jets whose design is derived from the USAAF/ USAF’s first jet fighter, the P-80 Shooting Star. American production ended during the late 1950s, but licensed builds ended later, and it is still in service with some air forces around the world.
Bolivia discussed possible deals for EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft with Brazil, and spent a great deal of time negotiating with The Czech Republic for some of its surplus L-159 ALCA/ L-159T advanced trainers and light attack jets. Unlike their popular Soviet-era L-39/L-59 counterparts, however, the L-159 was designed for compatibility with NATO equipment, and featured a number of American components. That proved the sale’s undoing. The USA invoked ITAR military technology transfer laws, and blocked the export to Chavez ally Evo Morales’ government.
In response, Bolivia turned to a Chinese/Pakistani joint venture, and will soon receive its jets…
The US Army Contracting Center of Excellence awarded contracts worth a combined $220.3 million to 2 firms for provision of personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and other services to the US Army Continuing Education System (ACES).
ACES programs and services expand soldier skills, knowledge, and aptitudes for leadership. The programs support leader development and soldier career progression by building job-related critical thinking and decision-making skills required for combat, peacekeeping operations, and competence on the digitized battlefield, according to the Army.
The 2 firms who won contracts to support ACES are:
According to London’s Asharq Al-Awsat, Algeria has shifted negotiations for 6 FREMM multirole frigates from France’s DCNS to Italy’s Fincantieri, while negotiating a contract with AgustaWestland for about 100 helicopters. The paper reports that Algeria will receive the frigates in 2011:
“…equipped with American anti-submarine missiles following a deal with Italy worth 4 billion euros. The deal replaces a similar agreement with France… Algeria concluded another deal with Italy to sell 100 helicopters.”
Or are there deals at all? The latest report comes from UPI, which says the frigate order is now an international competition…
ITT Federal Services International Corp. in Colorado Springs, CO received an $87 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for global maintenance support and services (GMASS) at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.
Camp Arifjan is a US Army base located south of Kuwait City. It also accommodates elements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard, as well as a number of US Army National Guard units. Military personnel from the UK, Australia, Romania and Poland are also forward deployed there.
The original Army GMASS contracts were awarded to ITT Federal Services, AECOM, and DynCorp in 2004…
