USAF Awards AMRAAM Production Orders

Raytheon received the first production award in the amount of $112.9 million for the AIM-120D configuration of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), an enhanced Beyond Visual range (BVR) missile equipped with an enhanced datalink, GPS and inertial measurement unit (GPS/IMU) and improved kinematics. The new order supplements the production of current AIM-120C7 missiles with the new "D" version, scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army from December 2007 through January 2009. The two Lot 20 contracts combined total $168 million. Under a separate $66 million order, Raytheon will produce 114 AIM-120C-5 missiles for Saudi-Arabia and Singapore, to be delivered by November 2008.

Affordable Weapon in Progress

The US Navy added US$10 million to the Affordable Weapon System program, under development by Titan Corp. a member of the L-3 Communications group. The additional funding will support the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the enhanced (Spiral 1 increment 1) missile. The AWS will be deployed with the US Navy new Littoral Combat Ships, (LCS). The rocket boosted missile will be powered by a turbojet engine, carrying a 200-pound (100 kg) payload to a target several hundred miles away. Equipped with both line-of sight and beyond line-of-sight satellite data links, the weapon will be able to fly directly to its designated target or loiter over the area, for several hours, until a forward observer directs it to a target. The AWS is in development by Tital Corp, as part of a US$32 million contract awarded by the US Navy in 2005. BAE Systems is providing the launching systems, and SWB Turbines is providing the SWB-25 turbojet engine for the project.

the U.S. Army ordered additional 109 Stryker wheeled combat vehicles from General Dynamics Land Systems, under three recent orders valued at US$155 million, increasing the Army's fiscal year 2006 Stryker procurement to a total of 518 vehicles. GDLS is also won a US$189 million contract to supply 151 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV-A2) to the U.S. Marine Corps. The company will also upgrade 394 existing LAVs with the installation of electric drives for the vehicle's Delco turret. The company also received new orders for 60 RG-31 Armored Patrol Vehicles.

Supplying the Field Hospital for Robots

Foster-Miller, Inc will supply $20 million worth of TALON robots and replacement parts have to equip the "robot hospitals" supporting deployed EOD teams operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Robot hospitals" fix TALON robots damaged by defusing or destroying IEDs and put them back into service within four hours. Robots are rapidly rebuilt from replacement parts and usable parts scavenged from other damaged TALON robots.

Raytheon is enhancing the US Navy Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) system with a new target cueing system. The new feature is designed to reduce the workload of image analysts. With the TCS upgrade, the system's tactical imaging sensor will deliver more refined information to the image analyst.

Alliant Techsystems and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) recently completed the first European demonstration of U.S. 120mm tank ammunition in the Leopard 2 Tank. In total 60 rounds of multiple types were fired at various temperatures from standard barrel length and extended barrel length Leopard 2's. All test objectives were met. Among the ammunition types demonstrated fired were KEW A2 tungsten long-rod penetrator rounds, M830A1 multi-purpose rounds, M1002 training ammunition and the new M1028 canister round. Targets included armored vehicles, simulated helicopters and a variety of witness panels. The purpose of the demonstration was to position US ammunition producers as viable sources supplying European Leopard 2 users with a range of ammunition types.

Talley Defense Systems, received a US$14 million contract to supply 3,000 thermobaric MK80 "Novel Explosive" rocket propelled weapons for the shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon. The delivery of the weapons is expected by January 2008. Talley has already supplied the USMC with MK80 NE weapons, which were successfully used in combat in Iraq.

India, Israel Launch EW Joint Venture

India's Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) and the Israels Electronic Warfare (EW) expert Elisra, member of the Elbit Systems group, will setup a joint venture to develop advanced EW systems for their air forces' fighter aircraft. Both companies are expected to invest around US$100 million over three years in the new venture. Elisra is expected to own 30% of the new venture. Elisra is expected to provide its imaging infrared based PAWS missile approach warning technology while DARE will develop ancillary systems and integration for the various aircraft types.
 

Harris Corp. is investing over $6 million to develop and implement advanced manufacturing technologies and processes to produce data links for weapon systems. Funded by the US Air Force, the program will enable Harris to offer weapon's data-links at dramatically lower costs by 2009.