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BAE Systems To Build New Signals Detection Platform | Fire Scout Ready For Fleet Operations | Serbia’s Milos Commenced Trials

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Americas Lockheed Martin won a $41.3 million contract modification for the design, procurement and integration of flight test instrumentation and data processing solutions for F-35 Lightning II development test aircraft to support the Tech Refresh-3 and the Follow on Modernization Block 4 mission systems configuration. The Naval Air Systems Command awarded the contract. The deal, […]
Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $41.3 million contract modification for the design, procurement and integration of flight test instrumentation and data processing solutions for F-35 Lightning II development test aircraft to support the Tech Refresh-3 and the Follow on Modernization Block 4 mission systems configuration. The Naval Air Systems Command awarded the contract. The deal, with expected completion date of February 2021, will cater to the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and non-US Department of Defense partners. The F-35 Lightning is a supersonic, multi-role fighter jet that represents a quantum leap in air-dominance capability, offering enhanced lethality and survivability in hostile, anti-access airspace environments. The jet is being utilized by the defense forces of the United States and 11 other nations, chiefly owing to its advanced stealth, integrated avionics, sensor fusion, superior logistics support and powerful integrated sensors capabilities.

According to BAE Systems, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded the company funding to integrate machine-learning (ML) technology into platforms that decipher radio frequency signals. The deal is worth up to $4.7 million, depending on successful completion of milestones. The contract includes hardware delivery along with integration and demonstration support. BAE System’s Controllable Hardware Integration for Machine-learning Enabled Real-time Adaptivity (CHIMERA) solution provides a reconfigurable hardware platform for ML algorithm developers to make sense of radio frequency signals in increasingly crowded electromagnetic spectrum environments. The contract is the second BAE has received under the Radio Frequency Machine Learning systems program. The first was a contract to develop data-driven machine learning algorithms.

The MQ-8C Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter is cleared for fleet operations and training. The Navy declared initial operational capability of the Fire Scout on June 28. According to the Naval Air Systems Command, the MQ-8 Fire Scout is a sea-based, vertical lift unmanned system that is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, and precision targeting support for ground, air and sea forces. „This milestone is a culmination of several years of hard work and dedication from our joint government and industry team,” said Capt. Eric Soderberg, Fire Scout program manager. The MQ-8C will be equipped with an upgraded radar that allows for a larger field of view and a range of digital modes including weather detection, air-to-air targeting and a ground moving target indicator.

Middle East & Africa

Denel requested a cash injection from the South African government to help it win contracts and aid its financial recovery, Reuters reports. South Africa’s state defense company asked for a $200 million cash injection to help it emerge from a financial crisis and secure lucrative export deals, its chief executive said. Denzel’s CEO, Danie du Toit, said the injection could potentially help the company win an anticipated $2.1 billion worth of contracts over the next two years and support ongoing recovery efforts.

Europe

The US Army awarded Boeing a $21.6 million contract modification for engineering services under a UK Foreign Military Sale. Work locations as well as funding will be determined with each order, according to the DoD. Estimated completion date is August 2, 2022. The contracting activity is the US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

The Milos unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) has commenced trials at the Serbian Technical Test Center and been demonstrated to local and overseas delegations at the Nikinci Military Test Range, Jane’s reports. Milos is a remotely-operated tracked vehicle powered by an electric drive system. The UGV was developed by the Military Technical Institute (MTI) of Serbia in co-operation with PPT Namenska to meet the requirements of the Serbian Army. It is intended to assist special forces and reconnaissance troops in counter-terrorism missions in urban and cross-country environments. The Milos UGV is armed with a 7.62×54 mm M86 machine gun, which is fed from a box holding 500 rounds of ready-to-use ammunition on the right-hand side. An ammunition counter is also fitted.

Asia-Pacific

According to local reports, the South Korean military plans to deploy an additional naval ship, increase patrol flights by manned and unmanned aircraft and install more radars on and offshore to beef up security of the sea border with North Korea. The measures are set to include boosting co-operation between the Republic of Korea Navy, the Korea Coast Guard, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, as well as optimizing the use of available assets in the area such as naval vessels, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

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