Rapid Fire 2010-04-27: AWACS for Pakistan

• Argentina signs deal to buy 2 Mi-171E transport helicopters from Russia for $30 million.

• Iran ramps up Persian Gulf exercises with test of 5 new shore-to-sea and sea-to-sea missiles – as China opens an Iranian factory for C-704 anti-ship missiles.

• Pakistan receives its 2nd Saab-2000 Erieye AWACS aircraft, from a 4-plane deal.

$768M More in US DESC Aviation Fuel Contracts

April is not the cruelest month for companies that sell aviation fuel to the US military. Six more firms have secured up to $768.6 million in new aviation fuel contracts from the US Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) in Fort Belvoir, VA.

These contracts are on top of $1.24 billion in aviation fuel contracts awarded on April 23/10.

They are 12 month fixed price with economic price adjustment indefinite-delivery/ indefinite quantity contracts for aviation fuel for delivery in the USA.

The winners are:

Harris to Supply Digital Maps and Computers for US Military Aircraft

Harris Corp.’s Government Communications Systems Division in Melbourne, FL received a $6.2 million firm-fixed-priced indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for the full rate production and support of 63 tactical aircraft moving map capability digital map computers (TAMMAC DMC), 47 digital video map computers, and 41 extension housings in support of multiple aircraft platforms.

The TAMMAC DMC provides the pilot with a graphical representation of the aircraft’s present position and the relative positions of targets, threats, terrain features, planned mission flight path, no fly zones, safe bases, and other objects.

The map presents contour lines, slope shading, dynamic elevation banding, threat inter-visibility, cultural features, variable scaling, and overlays…