$1.45 Billion Awarded for 9th San-Antonio Class LPD Ship

Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a $1.45 billion U.S. Navy shipbuilding contract for the construction and further development of a new San Antonio (LPD 17)-class ship. The contract funds the construction of the 9th amphibious transport dock ship, Arlington (LPD 24), and for long lead material procurement for the 10th ship - Somerset (LPD 25). Current Navy plans call for Northrop Grumman to build at least nine ships in the class.

Army to Evaluate NOKIA Wireless Communications Protocols

Nokia has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army to evaluate its technologies for use in military and defense applications. Nokia is planning to launch a five year evaluation program, where PCS, WCDMA 3G, GSM, WiMAX and advanced wireless networking protocols will be tested and explored by the U.S. Army Communications - Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC). Used deployed military forces, such systems could provide access to high-capacity throughput to support Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence information flow. (more about wireless networking)

Magna to provide perimeter security for French military

Magna BSP of Dimona, Israel was selected by Thales to supply electro-optical passive area surveillance systems for the French Army perimeter defense program. Following recently concluded test conducted by Thales and the French defense technology agency, a system presented by Magna BSP's passive EO system was selected to provide the future solution for future perimeter security for mobile forces as well as fixed sites. Based on the French requirements for up to 800 systems, total value of the program could reach up to €320 million over five years. At the initial phase, the company expects deliveries of 300 systems worth about €80 million. The company is also competing for similar programs underway with the U.S. Marine Corps and Israel defense Forces.

The U.S. Army will establish a fully instrumented, Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT) training site in Jordan. General Dynamics Information Technology is constructing the site, under a U.S. Army $17 million contract, span over two years. The site will include 44 fully controlled and monitored buildings, designed and instrumented with targets, and battlefield effects to enable urban operations training with live fire, fully monitored in day and night by video and audio. The site will also provide after action review theater. and tactical driver's training course. The comprehensive urban operations suite of integrated equipment will enhance the training readiness of allied forces from individual soldiers through battalions.

Grippen Begins Flight Testing with IRIS-T Missiles

Saab conducted the first flight tests with the air-to-air missile IRIS-T. The test flight is part of the verification phase of the missile's  integration with the Gripen aircraft. IRIS-T is an air-to-air missile is scheduled to replace the Sidewinder missiles in service with a number of European air forces. The development of IRIS-T is being undertaken as an international industrial project with the participation of Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Norway and Spain. A total of over 4000 IRIS-T missiles will be produced over the coming years. The integration program, launched by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in 2006 is scheduled to continue until 2009. Saab is also involved in the flight testing of the European Meteor medium-range, radar guided BVR missile.

U.S. Marines to Get Additional 280 EOD Vehicles

The US Marine Corps will soon get 200 additional Cougar Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicles (JERRV) and 80 Buffalo mine protected explosive devices clearance vehicles. The total contract worth is estimated at $214 million.

MTC Technologies, Inc. will develop and demonstrate a new unmanned aerial system for the U.S. Marines' Tier II program, under a US$3 million one year contract awarded by the US Marine's Warfighting lab. MTC's "SpyHawk" UAS is designed to be a multi-mission system providing up to 12 hour missions with day/night visual coverage of long tract or high value assets.