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EU warns US about protectionism in KC-X tanker RFP. EU release Brazil’s president not yet sure what fighter to buy . Raytheon gets $152 million order to provide engineering services for the Patroit anti-air missile defense system . Up to $600 million to Rolls-Royce to provide logistics support for the AE 1107C-Liberty engines powering MV-22 and CV-22 Ospreys . USJFCOM ready to deploy Valiant Angel system that uses commercial technology to access, retrieve and store large data files for US troops in Afghanistan.

View post: Rapid Fire: 2010-03-10

Cougar 6?6, IEDed – the crew lived . (click to view full) FY 2009 financials, new COO, new vehicle, 23 Mastiffs for UK, more TAK-4 suspension work. (March 8/10) The Cougar family of medium-sized blast-protected vehicles is produced in both 4-wheel (formerly Cougar H) and 6-wheel (formerly Cougar HE) layouts. Eventually, the wisdom of using survivable vehicles in a theater where land mines were the #1 threat became clearer, and these vehicles have gradually shifted from dedicated engineer and Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) roles to patrol and route-proving/ convoy lead functions as well. Related variants and blast-resistant designs are also produced in response to country-specific requirements (Wolfhound, Mastiff, Ridgback, ILAV Badger) and other designs cover different operational needs (Buffalo mine-clearance, Cheetah, Ocelot, and JAMMA patrol vehicles). To date, the firm has received orders from Britain, Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Iraq, and Yemen; and Poland operates some on loan from the USA. Front line testimonials offer evidence of their effectiveness. Cougar orders predate the USA’s MRAP program to rush mine-resistant vehicles to the front lines; indeed, the performance of Force Protection’s vehicles on the front lines was probably the #1 trigger for the MRAP program’s existence. This FOCUS article describes Force Protection’s vehicles and corporate performance, which became an issue in recent years. It also covers key events and procurements around the world related to Force Protection’s Cougar (MRAP CAT I & II), Buffalo (MRAP CAT III), and the firm’s related blast-resistant vehicle families. The Cougar Vehicles [updated] Cougar Family: Related Contracts & Events [updated] Appendix A: Ramping Up Production Appendix B: Additional Readings and Sources (more…)

Read more: Cougar Family MRAPs to Stalk Mines on the Battlefield (updated)

The US Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) in Patuxent River, MD is looking for contractors to provide maintenance, logistics, and life cycle service support for its Special Communications Requirement Division’s (SCRD) communication-electronic (C-E) equipment, systems and subsystems. The SCRD designs, develops, tests and supports joint special operations’ communications and electronics equipment. The division develops quick reaction and testing of communications packages for hand-held and manpack radios, high speed and rigid inflatable boats, mobile and fixed-base operations, special communications vans and other vehicles, and air-land transportable command posts. NAWCAD recently issued a sources sought notice to get industry feedback for a follow-on to a contract (N00421-06-C-0085) that was awarded to BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services in Rockville, MD in 2006. (more…)

Excerpt from: Desperately Seeking Sources: NAWCAD Looks for Help on Special Ops Comms

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific in Pearl Harbor, HI awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts to 4 small business qualifiers in support of the Environmental Remedial Action Program at various sites in NAVFAC Pacific’s area of responsibility (AOR). The maximum dollar value, including the base period and 4 option years, for all contracts is $30 million. The 4 small business qualifiers are… (more…)

Read the original: NAVFAC Awards $30M in Pacific Environmental Remediation Contracts

The US Navy commissions the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer DDG-105 Dewey at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach, CA. US Army’s “mad scientist” conference considers enemies’ ability to blend existing, future technologies to disrupt superior forces. UK “tug of the future” to support new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers as part of GBP 1 billion marine services contract. UK MoD’s top civil servant tells panel that cost dispute prompted cuts in military equipment . UK institute condemns Cambodia’s plans for private businesses to sponsor military units. Boeing develops 3-D camera for US military application.

Read more: Rapid Fire: 2010-03-09

QF-4: the QF-16 predecessor (click to view full) QF-16s [pdf] are former F-16 fighters that will be fitted with remote-control equipment and used as aerial targets and decoys for testing against missiles and radars. Boeing in St. Louis, MO recently received a $69.7 million contract to provide QF-16 full scale aerial targets. The USAF expects to buy 220 QF-16 with full rate production expected in FY 2014. The QF-16 is a follow-on to the QF-4 aerial target drone… (more…)

Link: QF-16s: Look Ma, No Hands!

‘Tugs of the Future’ at Portsmouth Naval Base (click to view larger) The UK is

Visit link: UK MoD Places Order for ‘Tugs of the Future’

M1A2 SEP (click to view full) 22 more tanks, program details. (March 8/10) America’s M1 Abrams tanks come in a number of versions. In addition to the M1A1 that is now standard, the US Army is beginning to field its M1 TUSK for urban warfare . It also operates the M1A2 System Enhancement Program (SEP), currently the most advanced standard variant. This Spotlight article covers the M1A2 Abrams SEP upgrade program, and will be updated and backfilled as new contracts are issued and key events take place. M1A2 SEP: Additional Background M1A2 SEP: Related Contracts, 1996 – Present [updated] Additional Readings & Sources (more…)

Read the rest here: Digital Abrams: The M1A2 SEP Program (updated)

P-3P Orion (click to view full) Covering the Atlantic side of Europe out of the Azores, and sitting near the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, Portugal has a lot of maritime territory to patrol. The FAP has received a number of upgraded P-3 Orion aircraft over the years, from the US P-3Bs that became P-3Ps via upgrades etc., to a recent set of P-3Cs from The Netherlands. Maintaining their long range maritime patrol capabilities, and keeping the fleet at acceptable strength as aircraft are retired , is critical to Portugal’s ability to watch those important sea lanes. Soon the Dutch P-3Cs will constitute Portugal’s entire P-3C fleet, as the P-3Ps are being retired. These 5 Orions will be supplemented by shorter-range CASA C-295 VIMARs – but they will also require their own capability upgrades…. (more…)

See the original post: Upgrades for 5 Portuguese P-3Cs

In 1998, with a global sales partnership in place for Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen fighter, BAE bought a 35% stake in Saab for 3.5 billion Swedish kronor. In March 2010, a month after BAE Systems settled bribery cases with the US and Britain over weapons sales that included Gripen fighters, Britain is divesting just over half of its remaining stake in the Swedish defense firm, for SEK 1.07 billion (about $150 million). Saab’s best-known product is its JAS-39 Gripen lightweight fighter, but the firm offers a diverse array of defense products that include radars, missiles, UUVs, and more. BAE had already reduced its stake in Saab to 20.5% in 2005, and was not involved in recent efforts to sell the Gripen to Switzerland and Brazil . The firm reportedly intends to dispose of all Saab holdings… (more…)

Read more: BAE Systems Selling Stake in Sweden’s Saab