EQUIPMENT

Rafael wins $80m contract in Asia for naval warfare systems suite

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been awarded a contract worth approximately $80m to supply a comprehensive naval warfare systems suite for Israel Shipyards’ Shaldag Mk V fast attack boats to an undisclosed country in Southeast Asia. The contract will be fulfilled over three years.


Rafael will supply an advanced naval warfare systems suite, which includes a combat management system, Typhoon and Mini-Typhoon remote operating weapon systems, naval Spike missiles, Sea-Com internal communication system and BNET tactical data link, as well as other components with full maintenance and support services.


Rafael's Naval Warfare Systems directorate vice-president Ran Tavor said: “Our naval applications integrate the ground-breaking combat-proven technologies found in Rafael systems across a multitude of domains along with the important advantage of accumulated experience in major naval projects with customers all around the world.


“The specialised portfolio of naval systems utilises Rafael's world-renowned latest technological innovation, such as advanced naval missile system using electro-optics seeker, computer vision, artificial intelligence and decision-making algorithms, that enables a wide range of tailored capability deployment choices, offering clients pinpoint accuracy, unrivalled flexibility and adaptability in order to best tackle current and future threats as well as to meet their individual requirements and needs".

APPOINTMENT

Permanent CEO appointed to lead the UK Cyber Security Council


The UK Cyber Security Council, the charitable, self-regulatory body for the cyber security education and skills sector, has announced the appointment of Simon Hepburn, a charity and education executive with over twenty years’ experience in a variety of national and international organisations, as its chief executive.


Hepburn was previously chief executive of a charity and founded two others and has held director positions with a variety of charities, academy trusts and businesses. He was also a Trustee Board member of the Association for Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and has sat on the BBC Charities Advisory Board.

EQUIPMENT

Silent Sentinel expands thermal imaging range with new EVO2 technology


British threat detection specialist Silent Sentinel has announced the launch of a new range of thermal sensors to complement its existing platforms. The EVO2 range of uncooled long-wave infrared  thermal sensors will use the latest thermal core and lens technology, providing advanced detection capabilities in the most extreme conditions.


The EVO2 range will be available within the existing Oculus, Aeron, Osiris, and Jaeger camera platforms, all available within the hard anodised, rugged housing which is tested to an IP67 level of environmental protection. The EVO2 thermal cameras are also capable of operating within a temperature range from -30°C to 65°C.

MEDICAL

G3 Systems supplies modular field hospital equipment to Belgium


G3 Systems, in partnership with French shelter manufacturer Utilis, has recently completed a contract to supply the Belgium Ministry of Defence with a modular, deployable field hospital and associated medical equipment.


The initial procurement, valued at $13.2m, provided a Role 2 enhanced field hospital, comprising 54 tents, a medical incinerator and medical equipment ranging from stethoscopes to X-ray machines and a telemedicine system. An additional 19 tents were procured to form a Role 2 basic hospital.


G3 Systems provided the medical equipment and incinerator while Utilis manufactured the tents and provided the supporting infrastructure.


Production commenced in June 2020 with delivery to the customer completed in March 2021. All hospital infrastructure and medical equipment was consolidated and packaged at Utilis’ facility at Ennery, near Metz. A full set of technical documentation and a comprehensive training package was compiled by G3 Systems and provided to the Belgian Armed Forces.

CYBER

NSA awards high-performance computing contract


The US National Security Agency (NSA) has awarded Hewlett Packard Enterprise a $2bn contract for high-performance computing capabilities the agency needs to meet its artificial intelligence and data analytics requirements.


Under the 10-year contract, NSA will pay to use HPE’s computing technology as a service. HPE will build a new service that includes a combination of its Apollo data storage system and ProLiant servers, which can ingest and process high volumes of data and support deep learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, according to a company press release.

LAND

BAE Systems submits CV90 bid to Czech MOD


BAE Systems has confirmed its bid submission to provide the combat-proven CV90 to the Czech Ministry of Defence for the BMP II Replacement Program.


In partnership with state-owned defence integrator VOP CZ, the team’s offer will ensure the production and delivery of the CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle on schedule and to budget, as well as support the sovereignty of the Czech Army and Czech industry in the service and future development of the vehicle.

CONTRACTS

Royal Navy awards contracts to four FSS competition contenders


The UK Ministry of Defence has announced the award of Competitive Procurement Phase (CPP) contracts for the Royal Navy to four contenders. These contracts will enable the contenders to develop their design and construction proposals for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships programme.


The contenders are Larsen & Toubro, Serco/Damen, Team Resolute and Team UK. The award of the CPP contracts, each worth around £5m, marks a new milestone in the FSS competition. The MOD is expected to select a preferred bidder in Q4 of 2022.

Raytheon to carry out PDR for SCIFiRE


Raytheon Missiles & Defense has been awarded a $27,991,408 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification for the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE) project Phase I preliminary design review (PDR).


The modification is an option exercise to mature a solid rocket-boosted, air-breathing, hypersonic conventional cruise missile, air-launched from existing fighter/bomber aircraft, through the completion of a PDR. Work is expected to be completed by September 2022. 

Indian Navy and BEL sign contract for naval anti-drone system


Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been awarded a contract to supply a naval anti-drone system (NADS) to the Indian Navy. The NADS was developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is manufactured by BEL. It is the first fully indigenously developed anti-drone system for the Indian Navy.


The Indian Ministry of Defence stated that the Indian Navy has been constantly providing support towards the joint development of the NADS system. Multiple units of BEL and DRDO Labs were involved in the development of this system under India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The NADS system is capable of instantly identifying and jamming micro drones and uses a laser-based kill mechanism against targets.

Lockheed Martin selects ReadSpeaker technology for F-35 training module


Lockheed Martin has selected ReadSpeaker’s text-to-speech (TTS) enabled voice technology for the single-seat F-35 Lightning II jet training module. The technology will provide digital voice capabilities which will guide the future F-35 pilots during their training programme.


ReadSpeaker North America president Matt Muldoon said: "Moving beyond the traditional classroom and into military classrooms was a natural progression for us. Our combination of security and flexibility enabled us to meet the very specific needs of this partnership. We are honoured to have been selected to work with Lockheed Martin.”

Babcock and HHI sign MoU for future Korean CVX aircraft carrier


Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Babcock International have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to focus on the South Korean Navy’s future light aircraft carrier project opportunity. The signing took place between Babcock and HHI holding company Korean Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering at a Babcock Korea facility.


In June, HHI displayed its conceptual design for the programme code-named CV eXperimental (CVX). An HHI spokesman said at the time that the company and Babcock are under contract for consultancy services associated with CVX’s basic design, reported Defense News.

Projects

US Navy plans to use UAS for cargo transport

The US Navy is assessing the feasibility of using uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for cargo transport between vessels or from ship to shore. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division has acquired a logistics UAS prototype to demonstrate the transfer of cargo over long ranges. The vehicle will be tested and upgraded for military sealift requirements.

Naval Group delivers first Suffren-class submarine to French Navy 

French shipbuilder Naval Group has delivered the first of six Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines for the French Navy. This delivery marks an important milestone in the Barracuda programme, which upgrades the submarine component of France's nuclear deterrent.

Iran unveils domestic ballistic missile launcher

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has reportedly unveiled a domestically built ballistic missile launching system. Tasnim news agency reported that the air force manufactured thdine automated system, which is used for launching long-range ballistic missiles.

Exercises

Australian Navy tests robots for counter-disaster operation

The Royal Australian Navy has tested robots in a simulated counter-disaster operation. As part of exercise Autonomous Warrior Genesis, the navy tested uncrewed land, air and sea vehicles in response to a simulated humanitarian relief scenario.

US and Japan complete exercise Keen Sword 21 

US Indo-Pacific Command units and the Japan Self-Defense Force have completed exercise Keen Sword 21, a joint-bilateral field training exercise in Japan. It involved maritime and air operations, amphibious landings, missile defence exercises, resupply, cyber and space operations.

Royal Air Force concludes Exercise Crimson Warrior 

The Royal Air Force has concluded Exercise Crimson Warrior, a three-week training operation involving fast jets, helicopters and unmanned air systems with involvement from the British Army, US Air Force and US Marines. Exercise Crimson Warrior has been adapted from Cobra Warrior with missiodinns being added to support the F-35B and helicopters that form part of the Carrier Strike Group Air Wing.

In brief

Fabri-Kal launches Recycleware Containers to expand sustainability

Food packaging solutions provider Fabri-Kal has expanded its sustainable product offerings with the launch of its new Recycleware Containers. Manufactured in the US, the products contain a minimum of 20-50% post-consumer recycled PET material and are recyclable.

Burger King and TerraCycle’s Loop to pilot new reusable packaging 

Fast-food chain Burger King has partnered with TerraCycle’s circular packaging service, Loop, to pilot new reusable packaging. The partnership is part of the brand’s Restaurant Brands for Good framework to help reduce packaging waste.

Stora Enso launches take-away bowls for food service packaging 

Pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso has partnered with wholesale company Tingstad to market its new food service take-away bowls, PureFiber. The packaging is designed to replace plastic on-the-go food packaging. It is free from plastic and PFAS.

H&M presents new Looop garment-to-garment recycling system

Swedish clothing-retail company H&M is introducing a garment-to-garment recycling system that helps transform old textiles into new ones. Known as Looop, the container-sized machine promotes circularity in fashion and keeps unwanted garments from turning into waste.