Sensor to Shooter conference, Silver Spring, MD. USA

NATO Plans Strategic Airlift Capability Based on C-17s

Following six months of negotiations, NATO released an official Letter of Intent (LOI) endorsed by 13 NATO Allies, to launch contract negotiations for the purchase of C-17 transport aircraft. NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) has begun negotiations with Boeing. The SAC planes will be configured in the same way as the C-17s flown by the US Air Force and the UK Royal Air Force The air crews will be trained to the same basic standards, including air-to-air refueling and night vision operations.

Saudi Arabia to Upgrade Tornados in a 4.7 Billion deal

BAE SYSTEMS has won a major new contract worth £2.5bn (US $4.6bn) to upgrade 80 Saudi Arabia’s ageing fleet of Tornado fighter planes. The deal comes just three weeks after the British government announced the sale of 72 Eurofighter Typhoons to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth an initial £10bn. The upgrade contract will involve all attack versions of the Tornados flying in the Royal Saudi Air Force, extending their useful service life till 2020. The upgrade will include installation of advanced electronic warfare systems. Most of the work will be conducted in the UK.

Bulgaria Seeking MiG-29 Squadron Replacement

The Bulgarian government is seeking replacement for 16 – 20 MiG-29s with an estimated investment of US$1 billion. Western fighters are considered - so far Grippen International confirmed interest. Grippens have already been successfully introduced to several Eastern European Air Forces, with ex-Swedish Air Force aircraft leased to Hungary and the Czech Republic. Grippen International offered Bulgaria a package of 16 Grippen C/D aircraft (12 single and 4 two-seater), full support and training provided in cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces. Other contenders expected to compete include Eurofighter, with the Typhoon, Boeing with the F/A-18E/F, Dassault with the Rafale, and Lockheed Martin with the latest model F-16.

The Système Intérimaire de Drone Male (SDIM) unmanned aerial system made its first flight from Istres air base flight test center in Southern France. A Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System, SDIM program is led by the French armaments procurement agency (DGA) and is developed under cooperation between EADS and IAI/MALAT. When fully developed, SDIM will be deployed by the French Air Force as a strategic ISR asset.

Long-Delayed Euro Hawk Contract Expected In October

Next month Northrop Grumman expects to at last receive the long-delayed contract for Germany's first Euro Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, which the German military hopes to have operational as a signals intelligence platform by 2010. (Aerospace Daily)

Indian Army Fields a Strategic Broadband Network

The Indian Army introduced today the 'Mercury Thunder', a third phase of the Army's Static Switched Communications Network (ASCON) slated to become the strategic backbone network of the Indian Army. The broadband terrestrial network transfers up to 10,000 simultaneous voice conversations, or a mix of voice, video and data streams, increasing capacity by x100 compared to existing terrestrial channels. 'Mercury Thunder' builds on 'Mercury Streak', an optical fiber cable network established in 1995 and 'Mercury Flash' microwave network, constructed in 1998. Further expansion is expected with the integration of deployed forces at the division level, under the forthcoming Tactical Communications System (TCS) program.

GD-UK Demonstrates Future FRES Platforms

General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited has successfully demonstrated two of the leading contender platforms for the British Army's Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) program the Piranha Evolution and Advanced Hybrid Electrical Drive (AHED) vehicle. FRES is a £16bn program to provide the next generation of Armored Fighting Vehicles to the British Army, and has a through life value of £60bn. By using enhanced proven technology General Dynamics hopes to achieve a potential early date of 2012 for key FRES capabilities.

New Norwegian Frigate Completes Aegis System Test

The Norwegian AEGIS frigate F-310 Fridtjof Nansen performed its first live missile firing test. During the test, the ship's SPY-1F Aegis Weapon System detected, tracked and engaged the unmanned target with an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM). The vessel is the first of five vessels of this to be fielded by the Norwegian Navy.