BAE Systems tapped for maintenance | Final H225M delivered to Brazilian Navy | Rafael and Aeronautics will develop new UAVs

Americas

The US Army has awarded BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc. an $89.5 million contract modification for operations and maintenance of Radford Army Ammunition Plant. The plant is the core propellant manufacturer of the US Department of Defense and was originally built in the 1940s to support the war effort. Today it is the primary supplier of solventless propellant to support direct fire, indirect fire and rocket applications. It is also the only north american manufacturer and supplier of nitrocellulose. Work will be performed in Radford, Virginia and is scheduled to end on December 31, 2019. The US Army has also contracted BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc. with an $74.8 million modification for building G-3 NQ/RDX recrystallization construction at Holston Army Ammunition Plant. The Holston Army Ammunition Plant is the major supplier of explosive materials to the U.S. Department of Defense. Work will be performed in Kingsport, Tennessee. The estimated date of completion is November 31, 2021.

The 11th Contracting Squadron, Joint Base Andrews has contracted DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas with $75 million for rotary wing aircraft maintenance. The contract provides for services to support all management, personnel, equipment and services needed to perform 811th Operations Group rotary wing flight line maintenance.  The 811th Operations Group provides continuous rotary-wing contingency response capability. Work will be performed at Joint Base Andrews Maryland and is scheduled to be completed by the end of June, 2024.

Airbus’ Brazilian subsidiary Helibras has given its third and final H225M helicopter in the combat search and rescue configuration (CSAR) to the Brazilian Navy. The H225M is a long-range tactical support military helicopter, equipped with Saab’s RWS-300 radar warning receiver, LWS-310 laser warning receiver, MAW-300 missile warning receiver and BOP-L chaff and flare dispensers. The helicopters are delivered as part of the Brazilian H-XBR Program which will see Helibras deliver a total of 50 H225Ms to the Brazilian Armed forces.

Middle East & Africa

The Israeli companies Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. and Aeronautics Ltd. will develop and manufacture advanced drones based on Aeronautics’ Orbiter family of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The five-year agreement involves joint marketing nasals of the systems, starting in Israel with the goal to receive authorization to expand overseas. Rafael is able to cancel the cooperation agreement in case Aeronautic’s ownership structure changes. Aeronautics reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) that the new agreement constitutes anchoring and extension of an existing agreement in principle signed 30 months ago.

Europe

The german company GIWS (Gesellschaft für Intelligente Wirksysteme mbH) has confirmed that qualification of its relaunched SMArt 155 artillery projectile will be undertaken between 2022 and 2024, Jane’s reports. GIWS is a joint venture company between Diehl Defense and Rheinmetall Weapons. SMArt 155, manufactured by GIWS, is a 155 millimeter artillery round and only one of two 155 mm top attack munitions currently in production in the West. The SMArt carrier shell contains two submunitions with infrared sensor and millimeter wave radar. Extensive trials by the German Army confirmed that SMArt 155 has a dud rate of less than 1 percent. After the end of the qualification period in 2024, there will be a Phase 4 production program until 2027, under which a considerable number is to be procured to replenish supplies.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea’s Army launches a new research institute on artificial intelligence. The AI Research and Development Center under its Training & Doctrine Command will consist of about 50 military and civilian personnel with expertise in AI, big data and other new technologies. The new team will have four offices in charge of developing the concept for the military AI utility, the potential demand for technological applications and collaboration with relevant civilian research institutes and industries.

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Brazil’s $1B+ Order for EC725 Cougar Helicopters

Brazil’s “Project H-X BR” medium transport helicopter competition featured 3 established players: AgustaWestland’s EH101 has found success in Britain, Europe, and Japan, and was chosen as the base for the USA’s VH-71 Presidential helicopter before that program was canceled. Eurocopter’s EC725 Cougar is an updated version of the popular AS332/532 Super Puma, and has been ordered in limited quantities by the French and Mexican governments. An up-to-date version of Russia’s widely used Mi-17 was the 3rd contender; like the Super Puma, Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters are already in wide use within Latin America.

In truth, however, Eurocopter always had an edge. The Brazilian Army’s Aviacao do Exercito already uses the AS532/”HM-3″ Super Puma, basing them in the Amazon at Manaus. Its Navy also uses Super Puma variants: AS332s and AS532s both serve in the Navy as the UH-14, flying from Brazil’s NAe Sao Paulo aircraft carrier, and from the southeastern base of Sao Pedro da Aldeia in support of Brazil’s Marines. Now, Eurocopter’s offering will become Brazil’s medium-lift helicopter across all services… thanks to a new contract.