Contracts for April 8, 2021

On the same subject

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  July 24, 2020 | International, Land

  Germany’s KMW pitches bridge-launching Boxer vehicle

  By: Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany — German tank-maker Krauss-Maffei Wegmann is developing a tactical bridge-launching capability for its Boxer vehicle that the company hopes to sell to its growing customer base. Executives still consider the module an internal prototype, with more testing planned in the coming months. But the premise of a bridge-launching capability in forces lighter than the heavy, tracked vehicles mostly used for that job today could garner interest, they said. The German military, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the U.K. and Australia are current or soon-to-be operators of Boxer fleets. The vehicles were developed in a joint venture with Germany's Rheinmetall. The rides are modular by design, consisting of base chassis that can be combined with payloads for troop transport, command and control, combat, or medical evacuation, for example. The new module will be able to deploy two types of bridges: a heavy variant that spans 14 meters and can carry 80 tons, and a longer version of 22 meters certified for 50 tons. Those weight limits are sufficient for heavy battle tanks and the slightly lighter infantry fighting vehicles, respectively. KMW officials had planned to debut the new development at the Eurosatory expo in Paris, France, last month before organizers canceled the event due to the coronavirus pandemic. The next chance to display the bridging module for would-be clients will be the U.K.-based DVD2020 conference, sponsored by the British Ministry of Defence, in November, according to the company. Modifications needed to operate the bridging module with the base version of the Boxer include a new drive output for siphoning power from the main engine to the hydraulic arms used to push the bridge from the vehicle to the ground, officials explained. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/07/23/germanys-kmw-pitches-bridge-launching-boxer-to-its-customer-base/

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  May 19, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  How COVID-19 Has Affected Defense Production (Podcast)

  Although defense production has largely continued during the coronavirus pandemic, manufacturing plants have not escaped the reach of the disease. Facilities have been shut down for short periods of time or the number of workers has been reduced in order to ensure the safety of the workforce. The U.S. Defense Department anticipates a three-month slowdown for most of its development and procurement programs. Here is a look at some of the specific factory closures and slowdowns that have occurred since the spread of COVID-19 began. https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/how-covid-19-has-affected-defense-production

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  July 15, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Raytheon awarded $17.8M for computers to launch Navy's anti-radiation missiles

  By Allen Cone July 11 (UPI) -- Raytheon was awarded a $17.8 million contract to deliver 114 computers to launch the U.S. Navy's high-speed anti-radiation missiles. The contract for the system, known as HARM, will include two pre-production units, one first article test unit and 111 production units in support of the Navy, the Defense Department announced Wednesday. Work will be performed at Raytheon's plant in Tucson, Ariz., and is expected to be completed in October 2021. Naval working capital, and fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement funds in the full amount will be obligated at time of award, $6.2 million of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The CP-1001B/C HARM Command Launch Computer is an electronics subsystem installed on the airframe to interface with the AGM-88 A/B/C HARM Missile. "Continued hardware and software upgrades have allowed HARM to counter advanced radar threats. HARM has proven itself in both reliability and combat performance," Raytheon said on its website. HARM's primary mission is designed to suppress or destroy an enemy's surface-to-air missile radar and radar-directed air defense artillery systems. When it is airborne, the 800-pound missile can operate in preemptive, missile-as-sensor and self-protect modes. The AGM-88 HARM is a joint U.S. Navy and Air Force program developed by the Navy and Raytheon. The system is employed on a variety of Navy, Air Force and Marine Corpsaircraft, including the EA-6B, F-16 and F/A-18. In addition, the HARM is available to nations through foreign military sales. The AGM-88 HARM was first involved in combat against Libyan targets in the Gulf of Sidra in 1986. During Operation Desert Storm, U.S. aircraft fired 1,961 missiles against Iraqi targets. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/07/11/Raytheon-awarded-178M-for-computers-to-launch-Navys-anti-radiation-missiles/9561562846921/