$333M for LMCO to Support USA’s Gyrocam Turrets

Gyrocam on MRAP

Gyrocam Systems, which was acquired by Lockheed Martin in 2009, has supplied a large number of 15″ class gyro-stabilised VOSS(Vehicle Optics Sensor System) surveillance turrets to the US military, mostly for mounting on blast-resistant MRAP vehicles. Extendable VOSS turrets can be raised over 20 feet to offer a combination of color, night vision and thermal sensors. They’ve been used for everything from force overwatch, to noting disturbed ground that might indicate land mines. The recent November 2011 contract split over $750 million in potential future orders with FLIR systems, but Gyrocam retains its considerable installed base.

How considerable? In August 2012, Lockheed Martin Gyrocam Systems in Sarasota, FL received a 2-year firm-fixed-price contract for VOSS spares and support, worth up to $333.3 million. Work will be performed in Sarasota, FL, with an estimated completion date of Aug 22/14. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 1 bid received by the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Alexandria, VA (W909MY-12-D-0017).

India’s $500M Smerch-M Order: From Russia, With… Love?

Smerch 9K58 firing

In February 2006, IANS reported that India had finally signed a $500 million deal with Russia for SPLAV’s Smerch-M BM 9K58 long-range 300mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). SMERCH systems will offer a huge capability boost, relative to India’s older truck-mounted 122mm Grad rocket launchers.

So, what kind of capabilities does this weapon bring to the table? It sounds similar to the Soviet NKVD’s dreaded World War 2 SMERSH (“death to spies”) units, who sometimes acted to stiffen defenders’ resolve by waiting just behind the front lines with machine guns. The Smerch 9K58s may also stiffen resolve on the front lines, and end up being justly feared – albeit for different reasons.

Rapid Fire August 30, 2012: Pressure, But Not Too Much

• Rear Adm. Yin Zhuo from the Chinese Navy is convinced that talks of increased US missile defense in Asia are meant to trick his country, as well as India, into diverting funds from conventional weapons into budget-draining ballistic weapons that would not be used in a conventional war.

• In the meantime China does not seem to lack cash, with a surge of acquisitions in Western countries in sectors such as energy that bring up national security concerns [PDF].

• France’s diplomatic pressure on Russia over its support of the Syrian regime falls short of putting their Mistral deal in the balance. Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius said [in French] that France would block any further deliveries if Russia were to breach contract clauses forbidding re-exportation to third parties, though that does not have much to do with the matter at hand.

• Russia is also finding stuff it likes in Italy’s armament catalog.

• India’s Army wants to buy 20 mini-UAVs for intelligence gathering and reconnaissance, while China’s State Oceanic Administration will launch UAVs to monitor the weather on its coasts.

• Togo’s Air Force acquired a CASA CN235M-10 transport aircraft from Botswana [PDF backgrounder on their Airforce] which replaced it recently with one of two newer CN235M-300s. General Philip Breedlove, commander of the US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, recommends that African nations pool their air force assets.

• Rheinmetall plans to cut more than 500 jobs in Germany, according to a trade union representative interviewed by Reuters.