Americas
SCD.USA Infrared LLC won a $17.4 million contract for sustainment support services for the AN/VSQ-6B Vehicle Optics Sensor system. The AN/VSQ-6B Vehicle Optics Sensor System is a surveillance system designed for vehicles supporting route and area clearance of explosives, ordnance and other threats. It is a gyrocam system that uses gyro-stabilized electro-optical sensors and night vision devices designed for bad weather and completely dark nights. It can be used by ground vehicles, aircraft and ships, as well as in static positions for area security. Estimated completion date is July 27, 2030.
The Pentagon has not taken contractors’ risks because of climate change into account, a Government Accountability Office report says. The reports says that the Defense Department has regarded climate change as a threat to operations since 2010. The report details a review of acquisition and supply processes, as well as mission assurance processes, to protect or ensure the function of capabilities and assets critical to the department’s missions. The review found that the Defense Department “has not routinely assessed climate-related risks faced by its contractors as part of its acquisition and supply processes,” and that typical processes to spot potential supply chain problems “do not systematically identify and consider climate-related risks to materiel acquisition and supply or the acquisition of weapon systems.”
Middle East & Africa
Vectrus Systems Corp. won a $529.1 million contract modification for Kuwait base operations and security support services. The Kuwait-Base, Operations and Security Support Services program supports key US Army installations across Kuwait including Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring, Udairi Range Complex, Camp Patriot on the Kuwait Naval Base and sites at Kuwait City International Airport and the Port of Shuaiba. Work will take place in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Estimated completion is September 28, 2021.
An unmanned aerial vehicle made in Israel for Germany’s Defense Ministry completed its first successful flight, builder Israel Aerospace Industries announced. The Heron TP, modified to the specifications of the German Defense Ministry, completed its first flight on July 26 in Israel, the company said. The medium altitude, long endurance Heron TP, regarded as the company’s most advanced drone, can be used for reconnaissance and support roles, and can fire air-to-ground missiles. With a maximum takeoff weight of 11,365 pounds, the vehicle has a 54-foot wingspan and can carry a payload of over 2,200 pounds. It is based on the Eitan UAV in use by the Israel Air Force. The German and Israeli defense ministries signed a nine-year, $600 million agreement in 2018 to lease an unknown number of UAVs. The contract covers training, support and maintenance, with 35 two-man teams from Germany training in Israel to operate the drones.
Europe
Netherlands has been given the green light to buy 16 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) for $39 million. The deal includes containers, weapon systems support and support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, US Government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The proposed sale will improve the Netherlands’ capability to meet current and future threats by deterring regional threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and enable interoperability and standardization between the armed forces of the Netherlands and the United States. The Netherlands, which already maintains AMRAAM missiles, will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and support into its armed forces.
Asia-Pacific
Taiwan has decided to add another $1 billion to acquired the Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense system. This will force the Navy to delay the purchase of 10 MH-60R naval helicopters in 2021 due to a shortfall in budget. According to the news report, the number of vehicles for the system remains the same. However, the island will be buying more Harpoon missiles instead. The move has created some resistance in the military as Taiwan has been trying to increase its anti-submarine capability, the delay in purchasing the naval helicopters will lead to a capability gap in undersea warfare in the short term.
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