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Tom Kington ROME — Radar engineers on the Tempest fighter program have said they expect to break data-processing records. The secret, they explain, is all about miniaturization and going digital. The sixth-generation jet — planned by the U.K., Sweden and Italy and set to enter service after 2030 — will bristle with new technology, from its weaponry and propulsion to a virtual cockpit projected inside the pilot's helmet. But the group set the bar high in October by announcing the fighter's radar would process a quantity of data equivalent to nine hours of high-definition video — or the internet traffic of a medium-sized city — every second. Few details were given to back up the claim, but now U.K.-based engineers with Italian firm Leonardo, who are working on the radar, have shared clues with Defense News. Boosting performance will mean rethinking today's electronically scanned radars, which have grids of small Transmit Receive Modules, or TRM, on the antenna, each generating an individual radar beam which can follow different targets or combine with others to create a larger beam. The TRMs in the array are formed into groups, and the signals received by each group are fed to a receiver which digitalizes the data before passing it to the radar's processor. Due to their size, the receivers must be positioned back from the aircraft's nose and accept the incoming analogue radar signal down coaxial cables, which incurs some data loss before the signal is digitalized. To remedy that, Leonardo is working on miniaturizing the receivers so they can be moved up into the nose and integrated within the antenna, cutting out the need for a coaxial cable. The data emerging from the receiver must still travel to the processor, but by now it is digital and can flow down fiber-optic cables, reducing data loss. “Miniaturized receivers can digitalize the signal within the antenna much earlier in the receive chain,” said chief engineer Tim Bungey. That's one step up from the new state-of-the-art European Common Radar System Mark 2 radar that BAE Systems and Leonardo have signed to deliver for RAF Eurofighters, which will use coaxial cables. “Digitalizing the data closer to the array means more data can be received and transmitted, the data can be more flexibly manipulated, and there is more potential for using the radar as a multi-function sensor such as for data linking and for electronic warfare,” said Bungey. There is also a second advantage to miniaturized receivers: Many more can be installed, meaning each one handles fewer TRMs. “To improve performance and flexibility within the system, a key challenge is to divide the TRMs into more groups containing fewer TRMs, handled by more receivers,” said Bungey. “By achieving that, together with supporting wider bandwidths, you can generate significantly more data, giving greater flexibility for beam steering and multi-function operation,” he added. “We are aiming to increase the number of groups of TRMs, and therefore the number of receivers, beyond what will be offered by the MK2 radar for Eurofighter,” he added. While the radar may push the envelope, Duncan McCrory, Leonardo's Tempest chief engineer, said it would be a mistake to consider it as a stand-alone component. “The MRFS will be integrated within the wider Tempest Mission System, which incorporates a full suite of electronic-warfare and defensive-aids capabilities, EO/IR targeting and situational awareness systems, and a comprehensive communications system.” he said. “The data captured by these systems will be fused to create a rich situational awareness picture for the aircrew,” he added. “This information will also be fused with data received from other aircraft and unmanned systems, with machine learning used to combine and process the overall situational awareness picture for the aircrew. This avoids information overload in the cockpit, enabling the aircrew to quickly absorb data and make decisions based on suitably processed and validated information, and rapidly respond to threats in highly contested environments,” he said. McCrory added that Leonardo demonstrated aspects of human-machine teaming recently in a trial organized with the British Army and the MoD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, in which a Wildcat helicopter crew tasked a semi-autonomous UAV provided by Callen-Lenz to gather imagery and feed it back to the cockpit display via datalink. “It is these human-machine teaming principles that we will be building upon for Tempest,” he said. “The MRFS will be integrated within the wider Tempest Mission System, which incorporates a full suite of electronic-warfare and defensive-aids capabilities, EO/IR targeting and situational awareness systems, and a comprehensive communications system.” he said. “The data captured by these systems will be fused to create a rich situational awareness picture for the aircrew,” he added. “This information will also be fused with data received from other aircraft and unmanned systems, with machine learning used to combine and process the overall situational awareness picture for the aircrew. This avoids information overload in the cockpit, enabling the aircrew to quickly absorb data and make decisions based on suitably processed and validated information, and rapidly respond to threats in highly contested environments,” he said. McCrory added that Leonardo demonstrated aspects of human-machine teaming recently in a trial organized with the British Army and the MoD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, in which a Wildcat helicopter crew tasked a semi-autonomous UAV provided by Callen-Lenz to gather imagery and feed it back to the cockpit display via datalink. “It is these human-machine teaming principles that we will be building upon for Tempest,” he said. As Tempest development proceeds, McCrory said design of the integrated mission system was proceeding in parallel with the design of the aircraft itself. “We are effectively designing the aircraft from the inside out; by this I mean we are working closely with the MoD to understand future sensing, communications and effects capability requirements, and then working with the Team Tempest partners to ensure the aircraft can accommodate and support the required avionic systems.” Leonardo is working with BAE Systems to ensure the airframe will accommodate sensors, with Rolls Royce to ensure there is sufficient powering and cooling for the systems, and with MBDA, said McCrory, “to give weapons the best available data prior to launch, and to keep them informed after they are released and receive data back from them as they progress towards the target.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/home/2021/01/15/secrets-of-tempests-ground-breaking-radar-revealed/

NAVY DoD Marine Constructors JV, Napa, California (N62473-21-D-1403); The Dutra Group, San Rafael, California (N62473-21-D-1404); Granite-Healy Tibbitts JV, Watsonville, California (N62473-21-D-1405); Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington (N62473-21-D-1406); Marathon Construction Corp.,* Lakeside, California (N62473-21-D-1407); R.E. Staite Engineering Inc.,* San Diego, California (N62473-21-D-1408); Reyes Construction Inc., Pomona, California (N62473-21-D-1409); and TNT Constructors, Bremerton, Washington (N62473-21-D-1410), are each awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award construction contract for new construction, repair and renovation of waterfront facilities at various government installations located in the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest area of responsibility. These eight businesses may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. No task orders are being issued at this time. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and one option year for all eight contracts combined, is $750,000,000. The work to be performed provides for new construction, repair and renovation of waterfront structures and dredging within the North American Industry Classification System Code 237990 by design-build or design-bid-build. Types of projects may include, but are not limited to, dredging and disposal, piers, wharves, quay walls, bulkheads, relieving platforms, cellular structures, dry docks/caissons, break waters, fixed moorings, docks and marinas, pile driving, primary and secondary fender systems, sheet piles and sea walls. The solicitation's requirement for two or more awards to be reserved for highly qualified small businesses was met by the awards to Marathon Construction Corp. and R.E. Staite Engineering Inc. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy); Navy working capital; and military construction (Navy) funds. Work will be performed at various government installations in states including, but not limited to, California (90%); Arizona (6%); Nevada (1%); Utah (1%); Colorado (1%); and New Mexico (1%), and will be completed by December 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,000 will be obligated to each awardee at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov contract opportunities website, with 15 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. TechFlow Mission Support LLC, doing business as EMI Services, Idaho Falls, Idaho, is awarded a maximum value $128,970,744 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operation support services at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland; Webster Field, St. Inigoes, Maryland; Solomons Annex, Solomons, Maryland; and Point Lookout, St. Mary's County, Maryland. Work will be performed in St. Mary's County, Maryland (92%); and Calvert County, Maryland (8%), and is expected to be complete by March 2029. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,269,831 for recurring work will be obligated under the initial task order at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The base operation support services to be performed include general information; management and administration; airfield facilities; and facilities support, including facility management, facility investment, integrated solid waste management, swimming pool services, special event support, utilities management, wastewater management, water services and environmental services. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-21-D-0002). The MIL Corp., Bowie, Maryland, is awarded an $80,864,126 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for systems engineering services for assigned Global Radio Frequency Intelligence Networks related technologies and systems in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field Integrated Command, Control and Intel Division. Work will be performed in Saint Inigoes, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in April 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-21-D-0010). Kay and Associates Inc., Buffalo Grove, Illinois, is awarded a $69,515,496 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable modification (P00012) to previously awarded contract N00421-17-C-0044. This modification exercises an option to procure maintenance and support services for F/A-18 aircraft and associated equipment in support of the government of Kuwait. Work will be performed in Kuwait, and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount $69,515,496 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, is awarded a $39,211,704 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-6402 to exercise options for the production of MK11 shallow water combat submersibles. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by September 2024. Foreign Military Sales (country name withheld per international agreement) funding in the amount of $39,211,704 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Keyport, Washington, is awarded a $16,095,857 modification to previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity requirements contract N61331-17-D-0001 to exercise options for maintenance and support for the AN/AQS-20 sonar mine detecting set. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (65%); Keyport, Washington (30%); and Panama City, Florida (5%), and is expected to be completed by January 2022. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Florida, is the contracting activity. Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California, is awarded a maximum value $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for specialty trade work, additions, alterations and repairs at various facilities located at Travis Air Force Base, California. No task orders are being issued at time of award. The work to be performed will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task orders with minimal design effort (e.g. shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, specialty trade work. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy) funds. Work will be performed at Travis Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed by January 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,000 will be obligated at time of award in order to meet the minimum guarantee and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website, with nine proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-21-D-1018). Agile-Bot II LLC,* Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $14,075,424 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for advanced cyber support services in support of the Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group. This one-year contract includes four one-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $72,996,224. All work will be performed in Quantico, Virginia. The period of performance of the base period is from Jan. 14, 2021, through Jan. 13, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Jan. 13, 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $2,991,443 will be obligated at the time of award. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0011 published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the NAVWAR e-Commerce Central website. Five offers were received and one was selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-21-C-0043). Electrical Equipment Co.,* Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $10,976,873 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for the delivery of up to a maximum quantity of 620 XVR16 and 380 XVR19 Versa Module Eurocard Single Board computers; four annual XVR19 Open Linux software development kit maintenance licenses; and 120 RES-3000 Ethernet Switch System components for multiple AN/UPX-24(V) Interrogator Set and AN/UPX-46(V) Interrogator System projects in support of Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Combat Integration and Identification Systems. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in January 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-21-D-0047). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY L3Harris Technologies Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana, is being awarded a firm-fixed-price prototype award with a total value of $121,634,954 through the Missile Defense Agency's authority under 10 U.S. Code § 2371b. This prototype award was competitively solicited among awardees of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor Phase IIa effort, which was competitively awarded as a Prototype Other Transaction pursuant to 10 U.S. Code § 2371b. Four proposals were received. Under this award, the performer will provide the Missile Defense Agency's Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor program with an on-orbit prototype demonstration, culminating with launch and early orbit testing. The work will be performed in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with an estimated completion date of July 14, 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $25,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award. These funds will expire at the end of the 2021 fiscal year. Missile Defense Agency, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity (HQ0857-20-9-0001). DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $17,949,424 modification (P00003) to previously awarded System of Systems Enhanced Small Unit (SESU) contract HR0011-20-C-0008. This modification brings the cumulative face value of the contract from $5,162,120 to $23,111,544. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts (39%); Tucson, Arizona (36%); Woburn, Massachusetts (13%); and Clifton, New Jersey (12%), with an estimated completion date of October 2022. Fiscal 2021 research and development funds in the amount of $2,000,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2473002/source/GovDelivery/

by Pat Host The US Air Force (USAF) has downselected Northrop Grumman as the sole contractor to complete final project efforts to provide the electronic warfare (EW) suite for the service's Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet. Northrop Grumman spokesman Stephen Lamb said on 11 January that the company was selected in 2019 to develop a prototype internally mounted EW suite and digital radar warning receiver for F-16s. Northrop Grumman, he said, is performing on this contract. L3Harris was also competing under this contract. However, L3Harris spokesperson Kristin Jones said on 12 January that the company was not selected to move forward. This EW suite will protect pilots from radio frequency (RF)-guided weapons by detecting, identifying, and defeating advanced threat systems, according to a company statement. Northrop Grumman's solution uses common building blocks and architecture. Lamb said the company has combined its ultra wideband radar warning receiver technology with a lightweight processor and digital transmitter modules to provide effective protection. Northrop Grumman will deliver and demonstrate a safety of flight-qualified prototype to meet customer requirements under this other transaction agreement (OTA) contract, and is working toward its fielding. Lamb said the OTA period of performance ends in mid-2021. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-air-force-downselects-northrop-grumman-for-f-16-electronic-warfare-suite

by Gareth Jennings The United Kingdom is growing the level of organic sustainment and support it is able to provide for its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning combat aircraft, with the GBP76 million (USD101 million) Lightning Air System National Availability Enterprise (LANCE) contract. Announced on 14 January, the Project LANCE award signed by Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) will, according to the Royal Air Force (RAF), provide additional expertise on aircraft maintenance, bespoke UK training courses for pilots, groundcrew and engineers, and logistical and technical support for the fleet over the next two years. “Based at RAF Marham, home of the UK Lightning Force, the investment reflects the increasing size of the UK's F-35 fleet and will create and secure 172 jobs mainly at the Norfolk base,” the RAF said. “The contract will provide support for 25 months, with an option for a further three months. The majority of the work will be carried out by subcontractor BAE Systems.” As noted in the announcement, the contract will deliver additional personnel expertise at the existing Maintenance & Finishing Facility, where the aircraft are maintained; the Integrated Training Centre, where pilots, ground crew and engineers are trained with bespoke UK courses; and the Lightning Operations Centre, a key logistics and support hub for the Lightning Force. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uk-grows-national-f-35-support-with-lance-contract

By: Andrew Chuter LONDON – The Northern Ireland arm of Thales UK has struck a partnering arrangement with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) as part of its effort to secure a deal with the Indian military to purchase the British-developed Starstreak man-portable, air-defense system. In a statement the two companies said the tie-up will see BDL become a “part of the Starstreak global supply chain, providing the opportunity for export of Indian-manufactured components to existing and future Starstreak air defense customers, including the UK armed forces.” The agreement also provides the opportunity for BDL to “offer a ‘Make in India' solution to the Indian government, with a capability that will match the immediate air defence needs of the Indian Army and Air force, and with 60 percent of the system manufactured in India,” said the two companies. The tie-up is the culmination of a four-year effort by Thales and BDL to explore a possible technology-transfer deal following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2017. The items in line for building by the Indian state-owned BDL include electronic and mechanical components with sub-system and system assembly, Thales UK officials told Defense News. The industry teaming agreement was signed in a virtual ceremony in Britain and India on Jan. 13 with British defense procurement minister Jeremy Quin and the Indian Army's director general of air defense in attendance. “Today's signing marks the start of the next-generation of missile systems for the Indian Army and reinforces our commitment to work with international partners,” Quin said. The partnership follows the two governments' recent signing of a defense-technology and industrial-cooperation memorandum of understanding. To date Starstreak has not participated in any Indian competition for a man-portable, air-defense weapon. The high-velocity, Mach 3-plus weapon, which can be man-portable or platform-mounted, has been in service with the British Army since 1997 and has been exported to several nations, including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The weapon is unique in that it employs three laser guided darts as its warhead. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/01/14/thales-uk-secures-indian-partner-for-selling-its-starstreak-air-defense-missile

Nathan Strout WASHINGTON — The Missile Defense Agency awarded L3Harris Technologies a $121 million contract to build a prototype satellite capable of tracking hypersonic weapons, the agency announced Jan. 14. Under the contract, L3Harris is tasked with building an on-orbit prototype demonstration for the agency's Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, a proliferated constellation in low Earth orbit that is capable of detecting and tracking hypersonic weapons. The constellation is designed to fill the gap in the country's missile defense architecture created by hypersonic weapons, which are dimmer than traditional ballistic missiles, making them harder to see with the nation's infrared sensors based in geosynchronous orbit. In addition, they are able to maneuver around terrestrial sensors. With China and Russia developing these weapons, the Department of Defense is eager to develop a new constellation that can detect and track the threats anywhere in the world. And so is Congress — in December lawmakers set aside $130 million to fund the project. The HBTSS design solves the hypersonic weapon problem by placing the sensor much closer to the Earth's surface in the lower orbit, making it easier to see the threat. But because the sensors are closer to the Earth, they have a far more limited field of view than the sensors in geosynchronous orbit. In order to achieve global coverage, the Missile Defense Agency wants a proliferated constellation made up of dozens of satellites on orbit. L3Harris was one of four companies awarded $20 million contracts in 2019 to develop a prototype payload design and risk reduction demonstration for HBTSS, along with Northrop Grumman, Leidos and Raytheon Technologies. According to the initial contract announcements, work on those designs was due Oct. 31, 2020. With this most recent award, L3Harris has won the subsequent competition between the four companies to build the actual prototype. The company has also been selected to build satellites for the Space Development Agency that will track hypersonic threats and feed data to HBTSS. In October, L3Harris won a $193 million contract to build four of the agency's eight wide field of view (WFOV) satellites, with SpaceX building four more. According to Space Development Agency leaders, their satellites will work in conjunction with HBTSS satellites to track hypersonic threats. The WFOV satellites will provide initial detection and tracing of the weapons, passing custody from satellite to satellite as the threats traverse the globe. Then, the WFOV satellites will pass custody to the medium field of view HBTSS satellites, which can provide targeting solutions with their more accurate sensors. The WFOV satellites are scheduled for launch as early as September 2022. Work on the HBTSS prototype contract will be complete in July 2023. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/01/14/l3harris-to-build-prototype-satellite-capable-of-tracking-hypersonic-weapons

January 14, 2021 - BAE Systems will provide the Royal Netherlands Army with a new turret for 122 CV90s as part of an extensive mid-life upgrade program. BAE Systems has signed an extensive mid-life upgrade contract worth more than $500 million with the Dutch Defence Materiel Organization (DMO) for the Royal Netherlands Army's fleet of 122 CV90s, with an option for an additional 19 vehicles. The upgrade program with a new turret will vastly improve the vehicle's capabilities while providing crews with improved protection and ergonomics for increased combat efficiency. The new CV90 turret, developed by BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, represents a leap forward in design and functionality. The main weapon position is changed to provide even better vehicle balance and enable new ways to introduce a variety of weaponry for increased lethality. It also offers significant ergonomic improvements to benefit the vehicle's crew. The enhanced turret design is built on years of combat-proven experience, continuous vehicle improvements, and data analysis from the CV90 User Club – the seven nations currently operating CV90 fleets. The improvements are also based on a recent study conducted by the Royal Netherlands Army, and a BAE Systems' analysis of cognitive load on Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) crews to address man-machine interaction. The result gives crews increased advantages, such as the ability to choose intuitive and effective modes of operation as well as shorten the time to detection, identification, decision-making, and engagement. “This is an important step to make sure that our Infantry Fighting Vehicles and our Army are well prepared for many years to come. This mid-life upgrade will also result in a lowering of the vehicles lifetime cost, at the same time as keeping our soldiers safe in the face of new threats,” said Colonel Norbert Moerkens, the Royal Netherlands Army's head of strategy and plans. Work is already underway to equip the Dutch CV9035 vehicles with several enhanced capabilities such as an Active Protection System (APS) and Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), as well as a new Electro-Optic Aiming System (EOPS) which gives additional situation awareness. The latest upgrade also includes future-proofing the electronics by upgrading to the fourth generation digital backbone, with embedded and more robust cybersecurity. “We are committed to delivering the most modern and adaptable IFVs to meet our customers' requirements and are extremely proud of the technological developments underway as part of this significant mid-life upgrade program,” said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hägglunds. “We look forward to supporting our Dutch customer increase its combat efficiency on the future battlefield.” More than 20 Dutch companies are involved in the supply chain for the mid-life upgrade program to include mechanical and electrical components to BAE Systems Hägglunds and the main subsystem suppliers, which will support the Dutch defense industrial base for many years to come. There are about 1,300 CV90s of numerous variants in service with Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The vehicle has a combat-proven track record and is designed to accommodate future growth to meet evolving missions. Contact Ola Thorén Director, Communications Platforms & Services BAE Systems Hägglunds Office: +46 660 80506 Mobile: +46 708 335000 Contact Rebecca Surtees Head of International Communications Platforms & Services Platforms & Services +44 (0) 7825 948274 View source version on BAE Systems: https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/bae-systems-receives-contract-to-provide-new-turret-for-netherlands-cv90s

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi NEW DELHI — India on Wednesday cleared the country's largest-ever indigenous defense deal worth $6.5 billion for the purchase of 83 LCA MK1A Tejas light combat aircraft. The deal was approved by the government's apex security body, the Cabinet Committee on Security, which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The deal will see state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited manufacture 73 LCA MK1A Tejas fighter versions and 10 trainers versions, the Ministry of Defence said. “This deal will be a game-changer for self-reliance in Indian defence manufacturing. It would act as a catalyst for transforming the domestic aerospace ecosystem. The LCA-Tejas is going to be the backbone of the [Indian Air Force] fighter fleet in the years to come,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said. “Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan [Self-Reliant India Initiative], India is continuously growing in its power to indigenously design, develop and manufacture advanced cutting edge technologies and systems in the defence sector,” the MoD said in a statement. “About 500 Indian companies including MSMEs [micro, small and medium enterprises] in the design and manufacturing sectors will be working with HAL in this procurement. The programme would act as a catalyst for transforming the Indian aerospace manufacturing ecosystem into a vibrant self-sustaining ecosystem.” The MoD said this deal is the first “Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)” category procurement of combat aircraft with indigenous content of at least 50 percent — and it's expected that will increase to 60 percent by the end of the program. HAL Chairman Ramakrishnan Madhavan said the Tejas program will involve the highest level of local work in comparison to any Indian program of this scale. According to a senior HAL executive, the private defense companies that will support assembly include Larsen & Toubro for the wings, Dynamatic Technologies for the front fuselage, Alpha Tokal for the rear fuselage, and VEM Technologies for the center fuselage. The LCA MK1A fighters will have new capabilities including midair refueling; improvement in operational roles; enhanced combat capability; maintainability improvements; and active electronically scanned array radar, an electronic warfare suite and beyond-visual-range missile capabilities, a company executive said. The Indian Air Force will sign a formal contract with HAL during the Aero India air show in Bengaluru next month, according to an MoD official. Each LCA MK1A fighter is powered by a single F404-GE-IN20 engine, and each jet will cost about $78.5 million, another HAL executive said, adding that the program is expected to generate 5,000 jobs in India. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/01/14/indian-government-clears-65-billion-deal-for-homemade-tejas-fighter-jets

Le Royaume-Uni notifie le missilier MBDA d'un contrat de 550 M£ pour lancer la production du mini-missile de croisière Spear 3 qui a déjà bénéficié de 561 M£ en contrats d'évaluation et de développement. 550 M£ de plus pour MBDA Le ministère britannique de la Défense a notifié le missilier MBDA un contrat d'un montant de 550 M£ pour la mise en production du mini-missile de croisière SPEAR en développement depuis 2010. Destiné à équiper les Airbus Typhoon et les Lockheed Martin F-35B de la Royal Air Force et de la Fleet Air Arm, ce missile, qui est désigné "SPEAR 3", est le premier de sa catégorie à être équipé de moyens de connectivité pour une utilisation en réseau, préfigurant les effecteurs déportés et utilisables en essaims. MBDA ne précise pas si les missiles SPEAR 3 destinés à la Royal Air Force comprendront une version dotée d'une charge de guerre électronique pour brouiller les moyens de détection ennemis. On peut supposer que "oui" puisque cela était une demande de la Royal Air Force. Déjà 561 M£ versés pour le missile SPEAR 3 Ce nouveau contrat d'un montant de 550 M£ qui lance la production du missile MBDA Spear s'ajoute à ceux déjà passés les années 2010 et 2016. En mai 2016, le ministère de la défense britannique avait annoncé avoir accordé un contrat d'une valeur de 411M£ à MBDA pour poursuivre le développement du missile Spear 3. Ce contrat faisait suite à un premier engagement de 150M£ accordé en 2010 pour lancer la phase d'évaluation du système. Essais sur avion de combat Airbus Typhoon Les essais de tir depuis l'avion de combat Airbus Typhoon avaient commencé quelques mois plus tôt tandis que les travaux d'intégration sur l'avion de combat Lockheed Martin F-35B avaient officiellement commencé trois ans plus tard, parallèlement aux travaux d'intégration du missile Meteor de MBDA sur le même avion. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/mbda-le-missile-spear-passe-en-production-24077