The US Air Force plans to deploy a squadron of F-22 Raptors
to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of U.S. Pacific Command's
Theater Security Package in the Western Pacific in early 2007.
This will be the first overseas deployment for the Air Force's
newest fighter. As part of continuing force-posture adjustments
to address worldwide requirements, the United States continues
to deploy additional forces throughout the Western Pacific.
Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN - News) Integrated Defense Systems
(IDS) recently completed 8,000 hours of successful operational
testing of Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor monolithic microwave
integrated circuits (MMICs). The tests demonstrated the reliability
of this new technology for high-power applications in military
radar, communications, electronic warfare and missile systems.
Raytheon plans to continue accumulating test hours on these
GaN MMICs and perform an independent concurrent validation of
the testing through 2007.
Solid-State Based Radar to
Enhance U.K. Air Surveillance
BAE Systems will produce a new, solid-state version of the
Commander aerial surveillance radar for the UK. Under a £30
million contract awarded by the U.K. Ministry of defence Air
Defence Ground Based Systems (ADGBS) Integrated Project Team.
The enhanced radar is a versatile medium-to-long-range tactical
system. It incorporates solid-state Transmitter/Receiver (T/R)
design, software signal processing and advanced digital tracking.
To cut cost and improve upgradability, he radar utilizes commercial
off the shelf equipment where this is made possible. The system
is expected to remain in service at least until 2025. Group
Captain Maurice Dixon, Project Team Leader, for ADGBS the new
radars are expected to be fielded within the next 18 months.
DRS to Supply Driver's Viewers
under new $60 Million Award
DRS Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: DRS) has been awarded $60 million
in new orders from the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics
Command (CECOM) to produce and install Driver
Vision Enhancers (DVEs) on a wide range of combat and tactical
wheeled vehicles. To date, DRS have been awarded DVE contracts
valued at $124 million. The first production deliveries occurred
in 2004 and are scheduled to continue through July 2008. Last
month DRS was awarded another contract to supply DVE mounting
kits.
Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) will design and develop a Radar
Common Data Link for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.
The program will establish datalink connectivity with for active
electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems to enable
rapid exchange of non-traditional ISR (intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance). The new protocols will match AESA radars
installed in F-22, B-2, and the latest models of F/A-18E/F Super
Hornet and F-15 aircraft. Raytheon is teamed with L-3 Communications
and Boeing on the program. L-3 will provide experience with
common data link waveforms. Boeing is the platform partner for
integration of the AESA technology on the F-15 and F/A-18 aircraft.
More details of the recent Spanish procurement of Spike missiles
reported here in November
06 were released today, with the announcement of formal
contract between General Dynamics Santa Barbara Systems of Spain
and the Israel's RAFAEL. According to the contract, the Israeli
company will supply its Spanish counterpart with 2,600 SPIKE-LR
missile and 260 launchers, for a total value of over US$400
million. General Dynamics Santa Barbara Systems is the prime
contractor for the $425 million, eight year program. deliveries
are expected to begin next year. Spain evaluated the Spike LR
against the US Javelin and European Milan-ER.
Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, has delivered today
to the Italian Air Force the first of twelve C-27J tactical
airlifters ordered in the advanced configuration specifically
required by the ItAF. The whole fleet will be delivered by 2008.
The new C-27Js will replace the G.222s previously in service
with the 46th Wing ItAF and will be used for troops, cargo,
paratroopers and cargo drops, for civil protection and fire-fighting
operations.
South Africa Orders Milan
3 Missiles
MBDA reported today receiving an order amounting over €18
million from South Africa, for the procurement of Milan 3 missiles,
new generation Milan ADT firing posts and training simulators.
South Africa becomes the first export client for the Milan ADT
firing post which is compatible with the future Milan
ER missile. The system incorporates new digital technologies
supporting target acquisition and reconnaissance. The systems
are planned for deployment with the South African Infantry (currently
deployed in The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi)
as well as the Special Forces.
A new joint venture co-funded by mobile satellite communications
provider Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT) and digital communications equipment
provider ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) is offering mobile satellite
communications services for the defense sector. The two companies
will develop a new mobile satellite communications terminal,
providing secure, highly mobile voice and high-speed data communications
destined for use by the armed forces.
Block 1 upgraded Javelin missile recently passed qualification
flight tests at Redstone Arsenal, in Huntsville, Alabama. The
U.S. Army continues to field the Javelin missile and has already
contracted for Block 1 missiles as part of its fiscal year 2005
contract. The upgraded missile uses an improved rocket motor
that reduces the missile's time of flight. Other improvements
are made in the command launch unit (CLU), introducing software
enhancements. The warhead has also been modified to increase
lethality against a wider range of target sets.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has successfully completed at-sea
demonstration operational testing of a new Fast Inshore Attack
Craft (FIAC) Defense System, which provides an innovative and
cost-effective way to quickly extend the defensive perimeter
of most naval vessels out to five miles.
The U.S. Special Operations Command has awarded Raytheon Company
(NYSE:RTN) a $135.4 million contract to develop a new tactical
radar for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. The radar, called
Silent Knight will be initially integrated in the service's
new MH-47G helicopter, serving as a common multi-mode terrain
following/terrain avoidance radar, allowing airborne forces
safe low-level flight and safe ingress and egress in adverse
environments. The current phase will be funded by cost plus
incentive fee contract with potential value of US$164 million,
which will include six production units. Future contracts will
fund additional procurement for more MH-47Gs, MH-60M, MC-130H,
and CV-22 block 30 aircraft. Raytheon's team for the program
includes AIC, Crestview, Fla.; DRS Technologies, St. Louis,
Mo.; and Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Sikorsky Aircraft to Acquire
PZL Mielec
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has agreed to acquire aircraft maker
PZL Mielec from the Polish government. Upon completion of this
acquisition Sikorsky plans to aggressively modernize the factory
and tooling at PZL Mielec to support International BLACK HAWK
production and continue the current capability for aircraft
design, manufacture, flight test and delivery. In September
2006 the two companies established PZL as the assembly center
for Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. Under the new agreement Sikorsky
will acquire a 100 percent stake in the company, which is a
wholly owned by the Industrial Development Agency (ARP), a government
holding company under the Ministry of Treasury.
