BAE bets on battery-powered quadcopter drone for cargo hauling

On the same subject

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  April 22, 2021 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR

  L’alliance entre SDTS et SECAERO donne naissance à ARES (Advanced Redair European Squadron), un nouveau leader européen des services aériens de plastronnage et de simulation

  Implantée sur l'aéroport de Nîmes-Garons, SDTS est spécialisée dans l'entraînement opérationnel et les missions de type « REDAIR – Aggressor Squadron ». Entreprise partenaire notamment de la Marine nationale, elle dispose d'une flotte de 9 avions MB-339 (Aermacchi) auxquels s'ajoutent un Cessna et un ULM. Quant à SECAERO, l'entreprise est domiciliée sur l'aérodrome de Valence-Chabeuil, et spécialisée dans la maintenance, la modernisation d'avions et d'hélicoptères, et la formation des mécaniciens. Sa flotte est composée de neuf MB-339 (Aermacchi), Cessna 337, un CTSW (ULM), deux hélicoptères Merlin (Agusta Westland Leonardo) en location. La nouvelle entreprise sera spécialisée dans l'entraînement aérien opérationnel de type REDAIR ou ADAIR pour Adversary Air Services, la maintenance aéronautique de type MRO/MCO, le développement et la fabrication d'équipements optroniques. ARES affiche ses ambitions dans son communiqué de presse « ARES projette d'investir, en liaison avec le constructeur Dassault-Aviation, le motoriste Safran et l'équipementier Thales, dans la modernisation de sa flotte avec des Mirage 2000, avions de 4e génération, supersoniques équipés de radar, pour répondre et s'adapter avec le plus haut niveau de réalisme aux besoins d'entrainement opérationnel grandissants des Forces armées françaises et européennes ». Lignes de défense, 22 avril

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  December 10, 2020 | International, C4ISR

  DISA releases final solicitation for $11 billion IT contract

  Andrew Eversden WASHINGTON — The U.S Defense Information Systems Agency released its final solicitation for a highly anticipated IT consolidation contract that is potentially worth billions of dollars. The Defense Enclave Services contract, potentially worth up to about $11.7 billion over a decade, will consolidate the IT systems of Pentagon's Fourth Estate agencies, which handle business tasks and don't sit under a military department. The award will go to a single provider and is an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. The contract, released Tuesday, stems from a 2019 policy that established DISA as the single IT service provider for fourth estate agencies. The company that wins the contract will unify the common-use IT systems and provide “integrated, standardized and cost-effective IT services, while improving security, network availability and reliability for 22 DAFAs within the Fourth Estate,” the RFP description states. “The DES effort will establish the modern infrastructure foundation and united frame of thought needed to deliver cohesive combat support capabilities to the war fighter,” it says. DISA expects to award the contract in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. RFP responses are due Feb. 8. The agency originally slated the RFP for release at the end of September, but it was delayed several months due a final review by DoD CIO Dana Deasy. At a media roundtable last week, Danielle Metz, acting deputy CIO for information enterprise, said the review was normal procedure. “This is an incredibly important endeavor that we are embarking on,” Metz said. “It is one of the crown jewels that we have as part of our IT reform initiative under the [National Defense Strategy], and so we thought that a little bit more due diligence was important to make sure that we were doing what was right for the department.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/disa/2020/12/09/disa-releases-final-solicitation-for-11-billion-it-contract

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  February 20, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  Sikorsky lands $470.8M deal for presidential helicopter upgrade

  Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Sikorsky Aircraft was awarded a $470.8 million modification for six VH-92A helicopters for the presidential helicopter replacement program. The deal modifies a $542 million contract awarded in June to build six new helicopters for the Presidential fleet. Under the modification, Sikorsky -- a division of Lockheed Martin -- will provide interim contractor support and six cabin interior reconfiguration kits as well as six low rate initial production lot II VH-92A aircraft for the presidential fleet. The Navy plans to replace the current Marine Corps fleet of 19 helicopters, composed of the VH-3D, which entered service in 1978 and the VH-60N aircraft, which arrived in 1987 -- with 23 new aircraft. The VH-92A is designed to increase performance and payload, including crew coordination systems and communications capabilities, and be easier to maintain. In December, General Electric received an $11.1 million contract to build five CT7-8A6 engines for the presidential helicopter fleet. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/02/19/Sikorsky-lands-4708M-deal-for-presidential-helicopter-upgrade/1301582159979/