News.

Logicon has received a task order to install and support a Cray MTA-2 multithreaded supercomputer at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. The task order has a first-year value of $5.8 million and a total value of $25.9 million if all options are exercised.

Telephonics was awarded a $3.6 million contract from the US Navy to upgrade the air traffic control capabilities onboard select aircraft carriers and amphibious class ships. The contract calls for Telephonics, a subsidiary of the Griffon Corporation, to provide Cots signal processing technology equipment that integrates with the ships' onboard combat and identification radar systems. The US Navy's initial order is for three complete systems, with follow-on potential that could exceed $10 million.

Hagglunds Vehicle won an order for fifteen Bv206S all-terrain vehicles from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. This contract, worth SEK 76 million, also covers the training, maintenance and spare parts of the vehicles -- an armour-protected version of the Bv206. The vehicles will form part of Sweden's rapid reaction forces for international service, which is preparing to participate in the European Union's joint force beginning January 2003.

DCN has won a 530 million [European dollar] contract from the French Ministry of Defence to develop and build two NTCD class helicopter landing docks (LHD). The two craft, named Mistral and Tonnerre, will be replacing the LPDs Ouragan and Orage and are expected to come into service in 2004 and 2005 respectfully.

DRS Technologies has received an order to produce rugged computers for a variety of US Army and Marine Corps ground force modernisation applications. The $6.5 million contract calls for DRS to deliver Explorer MP rugged portable multi-platform workstations for a range of digital battlefield applications. The sale of the Explorer series has accounted for over $81 million in revenue for DRS in the past five years.

Lockheed Martin began testing its first pre-delivery production Low-altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared System (Lantirn) advanced deployment kit, which is scheduled to be delivered to the US Air National Guard in Spring 2001. The original order calls for three kits, worth up to $7.5 million, and includes a Battlefield Reconfigurable Instrument for Test of Electro-optics (Brite) test station.

DCN and Thales have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint company, combining the contracting activities of Thales and the naval shipbuilding and combat systems activities of Thales Naval France and DCN/DCN International. The new company will take over French responsibilities in the Franco/Italian Horizon frigate programme and expects to generate approximately one billion Euros worth of revenues within four to five years' time.

BAE Systems has won the first competitive contract offered by the French government to supply Nato-qualified 5.56 mm rounds to the French Army. This was the DGA's first open tender for ammunition, with Small Arms Ammunition, a division of BAE Systems RO Defence, winning the five million [pounds sterling] contract together with TDA Armements (a joint-venture of Thales and Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace).

Eads won a DM 53 million for the upgrade of the CL-289 reconnaissance drone from the Nato Maintenance and Supply Agency (Namsa). The contract award covers the upgrade of the operational onboard software of 140 drones. The CL-289 provided surveillance and reconnaissance images in over 400 missions during peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Lockheed Martin has been selected to provide a TPS-117 long-range radar system to expand the coverage of the Baltnet air surveillance network, which monitors the airspace over and around the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. The Estonian Ministry of Defence awarded the Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems-Radar Systems division of Lockheed Martin the contract which also contains options to provide a second system to Latvia, bringing the total value up to $30 million. (Armada covered this system in a Digest item in issue 6/2000 on page 78, with an errant typo thrice naming the TPS-117 the "FPS-117").

Ultra Electronics announced that its subsidiary, Power Magnetics and Electronics Systems, was contracted by BAE Systems for over one million [pounds sterling] to supply the Emergency Propulsion System (EPS) for the Royal Navy's Astute class submarines. The EPS is a back-up to the submarine's steam-driven, geared, turbine propulsion system and can propel the boat in both ahead and astern directions using only the DC electrical system.

Rosoboronexport has won a contract from India to supply 310 T-90S main battle tanks for an estimated $600 to $700 million. The Indian Army will be the first export customer for the T-90S. 124 will be delivered from the Nizhnyi Tagil plant, with the remaining vehicles to be assembled under license at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in India (which currently builds T-72s).

Wescam announced its Government Systems division was awarded a C$3.8 million contract from the US Air Force for the supply of its 14PS penta (5) sensor visual information systems. The 14PS system includes a high-resolution infrared camera, two colour daylight video cameras, a high power laser rangefinder and a laser illuminator. The 14PS provides day/night high-resolution surveillance, accurately measures range-to-target and reveals targets with laser lights that only aircraft personnel or ground troops with night vision goggles can see. The systems are scheduled for delivery in 2001 and deployment on a variety of high-speed, fixed-wing aircraft.

Kaman has signed a contract for the delivery of five K-Max external lift helicopters to the US State Department, for use in supporting Peru's counter-drug efforts. The $21 million contract includes the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and spare parts. A follow-on contract is to be negotiated to cover up to four years of logistic support and training. Deliveries are scheduled for Spring 2001.

A legend on page 40 of issue 1/2001 of Armada International erroneously mentioned that the Giat Leclerc main battle tank had been selected by both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia had not, at time of that issue, chosen the Leclerc.

GDI Simulation has secured a contract from the French procurement agency, DGA, covering the acquisition and support of Direct Firing Weapons Effects Simulators (DFWES) for the machine guns and canon which will equip the French Army. Under the terms of the contract, for an undisclosed amount, 400 two-way DFWES systems are slated to be delivered to the Army. The DFWES reproduces real weapon performances in realistic tactical exercises.

BFGoodrich has received a follow-on order from the US Air Force to supply advanced wheel and carbon brake systems for the balance of 750 F-16 Block 32 and prior aircraft. This order, with a total value of $30 million, completes a contract award originally announced in 1999.

Bucher-Guyer has received an order for 150 of its Steyr SSF-Bucher-Duro all terrain vehicles from Venezuela. This award, worth around CHF 30 million, calls for the delivery of the modified Duro 4 X 4 personnel carriers, plus spare parts and maintenance and supplementary services. The Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch and Swiss Bucher-Guyer formed a consortium in 2000 to offer these vehicles in selected markets.

SIN Atlas has received an order worth "several million DM" for the delivery of a shiphandling simulator to the Direccion General del Territorio Maritime y Marina Mercante -- the Chilean head authority for maritime affairs. This order marks the first of its kind to the South American continent. The contract also covers special training courses and future instructor education.

Link Simulation and Training has received multiple awards totalling $8.9 million to build two new US Navy P-3C Partial Aircrew Coordination Trainers (Pact) and to upgrade a currently fielded Pact system. The two new systems are scheduled for delivery during the first and second quarters of 2002.

Akers Krutbruk Protection (AKB) has received an order from Scania for 44 ballistically-protected truck cabins, to be supplied this year. The AKB cabs protect crews from armour piercing small arms ammunition and fragments from shells and mines. This order is a breakthrough for AKB within the area of truck protection and of strategic importance to the company.