December 17, 2020 | International, Land
By: Jen Judson
WASHINGTON — Joint Light Tactical Vehicle-maker Oshkosh Defense announced it has agreed to buy engineering company Pratt Miller, which brings with it artificial intelligence, autonomy and robotics expertise.
Oshkosh said in a Dec. 15 news release that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pratt Miller in a cash-free, debt-free purchase price of $115 million.
The New Hudson, Michigan-based Pratt Miller will keep its name, team, facilities and branding, according to the statement.
The engineering company was founded in 1989 and is becoming known for its robotics capabilities. The firm recently won a U.S. Army contract in a partnership with QinetiQ to provide prototypes of the light variant of its Robotic Combat Vehicle for evaluation.
Pratt Miller also won a contract to develop a design to integrate a new weapon system onto a Stryker combat vehicle under the Stryker Medium Caliber Weapons System lethality program. It is partnered with Rafael in the competition in which government testing of offerings is ongoing. The Israeli government recently expressed enthusiastic interest in mating Oshkosh vehicles with Rafael's Iron Dome missile defense system.
In addition, Pratt Miller was one of six companies chosen by Army Futures Command to work on ways to improve the currently cumbersome, taxing and sometimes risky munitions resupply system for field artillery units operating M109 Paladin howitzers.
“Pratt Miller has made significant advances in dynamic growth areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous and connected systems and electrification,” which puts Oshkosh more into the robotics game than ever before.
“We believe combining Pratt Miller's engineering expertise with Oshkosh's innovation and operational strengths will enable us to better serve customers and position our Company for growth,” John Pfeifer, Oshkosh Corporation president and chief operating officer, said in the statement.
“Pratt Miller's motorsports heritage has created a culture of speed and agility that has defined our success,” added Matt Carroll, the company's CEO. “Oshkosh is an ideal partner for us to apply that mindset to some of the most significant challenges facing customers today. Together, we expect to grow our decade-long partnership and expand our pipeline of new business opportunities. We look forward to learning from one another and continuing to innovate to bring market-leading products to our customers.”
The buy, which is subject to customary closing conditions, should be complete in the first quarter of calendar year 2021, the statement noted.
The acquisition also could give Oshkosh more leverage in competitions like JLTV re-compete effort which has recently kicked off and the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program to replace the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. A request for proposals for the OMFV program is expected to drop by the end of the week.
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/12/15/oshkosh-buys-pratt-miller-for-115m/
November 16, 2021 | International, Aerospace
The system has a 150-kilometer interception range and a 350-kilometer detection range, and it features a 360-degree multifunctional radar fitted with a rotating active electronically scanned array antenna based on gallium nitride technology.
October 29, 2020 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
Nathan Strout WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded Descartes Labs a $2.2 million contract to generate real-time analytics with a focus on developing moving target indication data, the company announced Oct. 27. Under this new contract, AFRL will gain access to the company's geospatial analytics platform, which uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to process and fuse sensor data, such as satellite imagery, for tactical use. Descartes Labs claims the focus of this contract will involve using its platform to help the Air Force solve the challenge of generating moving target indication data for ground and airborne targets. The New Mexico-based company was recently awarded a contract from AFRL and AFWERX — an Air Force effort to spark innovation through nontraditional vendors — that gave the service access to Descartes Labs' geospatial analytics platform for multi-sensor data fusion and situational awareness. The company has also worked with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, helping the firm further refine its approach. “Through the implementation of multi-sensor analytics, the Air Force is creating a forward-thinking state-of-the-art national security system,” Mike Warren, Descartes Labs co-founder and chief technology officer, said in a statement. “Through increasing use of diverse types of data, the Air Force is laying the groundwork to solve tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance problems now and in the future.” This latest contract was issued through AFRL's Space Technology Advanced Research program, which was launched in summer 2019 to develop enabling technologies for space-based capabilities, including on-orbit servicing, debris management, ground systems and more. http://9. https://www.c4isrnet.com/intel-geoint/2020/10/28/the-air-force-wants-help-seeing-moving-targets-in-its-sensor-data/
October 16, 2018 | International, Aerospace
NEWS PROVIDED BY Frost & Sullivan Commercial off-the-shelf solutions and modernisation strategies will ignite fresh growth opportunities, finds Frost & Sullivan LONDON, Oct. 16, 2018 /CNW/ -- After almost 10 years of stagnation and delayed programmes in key regions, the global market for military and public services helicopters is facing recovery. Growth is primarily driven by geopolitical tensions, replacing and upgrading obsolete helicopters, new development programs such as rotary unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) of operations to strengthen battlefield readiness. "Ongoing deployment overseas and rising threats will drive market recovery and fuel demand for additional helicopters," said Alix Leboulanger, Senior Industry Analyst, Defence at Frost & Sullivan. "There will be a focus on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions to minimise training, sustain costs and improve adoption timeframes with modernisation plans preferred due to budget sensitivity and operational readiness requirements." For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/2uq Leboulanger recommends helicopter original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) look towards recent developments in the rise of UAS and their increasing operational usage on front lines. The development of rotary UAS has generated new opportunities for helicopter OEMs in terms of new platform developments and designs and is one of the most promising growth areas within this market. Five key trends creating growth opportunities in the market include: North America remains the biggest market for military helicopters; Operators are increasingly looking at optimising their fleets with fewer types and more operational capabilities; Global renewal cycles hold billions of dollars' worth of planned and forecasted opportunities in new procurements and modernisation programmes; Significant investment in MUM-T as joint deployments of manned and unmanned assets become the new standard; and Collaboration with non-traditional military players and start-ups involved in robotic fields to refine and improve UAS. "Despite stringent replacement requirements and operational readiness objectives pushing forward military helicopter replacement plans, financial recovery remains very fragile," noted Leboulanger. "Political uncertainty over international trade agreements and the reissuing of trade barriers could impact helicopter production lines and exports. Original equipment manufacturers need to consider new strategies for international competition and to retain traditional export customers." Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Global Military and Public Services Helicopters Market, Forecast to 2026, assesses disruptive trends, drivers and restraints, market share and the competitive environment for players such as Boeing, Sikorsky Aircraft, Airbus Helicopters, Bell Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters, Hindustan Aeronautics, Russian Helicopters, MD Helicopters, and AVICOPTER, L-3 Technologies, and Lockheed Martin. Spending forecasts, key findings, and engineering measurements for segments such as attack, maritime, utility, transport, and public services helicopters are provided. Regional analysis includes Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, Europe, Central and South Asia, Middle East, and North America. About Frost & Sullivan For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Global Military and Public Services Helicopters Market, Forecast to 2026 MD6A_16 Contact: Jacqui Holmes Corporate Communications Consultant E: jacqui.holmes@frost.com Twitter: @FrostADS LinkedIn: Frost & Sullivan's Aerospace, Defence and Security Forum http://ww2.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/geopolitical-instability-and-the-need-to-refresh-obsolete-fleets-will-drive-recovery-of-military-and-public-services-helicopters-market-697658971.html