Capability: October 2007

Lockheed and logistics
The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $23 million contract for follow-on technical and logistics support services for Norway’s Aegis weapon system-equipped F310-class frigates.

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will provide a full range of engineering, technical, logistics and configuration management support services to maintain and enhance the performance and operational effectiveness of the Aegis computer systems on all five F310-class ships.

During the past three months, the Norway’s F310 program recorded three significant milestones. In May, the second ship of the class, Roald Amundsen, was commissioned, and the third ship, Otto Sverdrup, was launched.

In June, the lead ship, Fridtjof Nansen, successfully completed Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) in the first-ever three-nation CSSQT with the USS Gridley and Spain’s Méndez Núñez.

The Fridtjof Nansen’s participation also marked the introduction of the SPY-1F radar system. SPY-1F is a smaller, lighter version of the SPY-1D radar system, providing robust performance with Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) and Standard Missile (SM)-2 missile capability on frigate and corvette-sized ships.

The SPY-1F successfully detected and tracked all targets in Norway’s CSSQT air defense scenarios.

Next gen submarine propulsion
Rolls-Royce has been selected to develop technology for the ADVENT program, the next-generation propulsion system for the US Air Force.

The work will be carried out at the Group’s LibertyWorks research unit at Indianapolis, IN.
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) announced the agreement, which is valued at up to $296 million over two phases of the program.

ADVENT (Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology) is a technology demonstrator program funded by AFRL and focused on variable cycle features for future US Military aerospace platforms. The goal is to enable a high-thrust capability and a separate loiter operation with reduced fuel consumption.

LibertyWorks, known officially as Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., has a long history of innovative service to the US military. It has contributed technology to the F-35 Lightning II LiftFan and F136 engine; the IHPTET (Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology) program; and the RATTLRS supersonic missile.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with the Air Force Research Laboratory in developing a new generation of propulsion technology. It’s an exciting time in aviation history.

Working together with the AFRL, we will deliver some lasting changes that will dramatically reduce fuel consumption,” said Phil Burkholder, Chief Operating Officer for LibertyWorks.

The deal is done
The Carlyle Group and Onex Corporations have recently announced the completion of their $5.575 billion acquisition of Allison Transmission from General Motors Corporation.

“We’re excited about our future with Carlyle and Onex, which includes plans for new products, new markets and global growth across the breadth of our business sectors,” said Larry Dewey, Allison’s Chief Executive Officer.

The equity investment of approximately $1.5 billion is split equally between Onex and The Carlyle Group.
Exclusively distributed nationally by MTU Detroit Diesel Australia, Allison transmission designs; manufactures; and markets automatic transmissions and Hybrid propulsion systems for on-highway trucks and buses; off-highway vehicles and equipment; and military vehicles.

Allison Transmission generates annual revenues in excess of $2 billion and delivers over 80 percent of the world’s commercial vehicle fully-automatic transmissions, supplying over 250 original equipment manufacturers around the world.

MTU Detroit Diesel Australia (MTUDDA) announced the official opening of its new state-of-the-art Manufacturing Centre on August 7th, 2007.

The Manufacturing Centre is a purpose-built facility heavily focusing on tailoring MTUDDA’s Allison transmissions to the needs of our original equipment manufacturers.

Bryan Considine, Production Manager for MTUDDA, said that the cutting-edge Manufacturing Centre enables up to 12 transmissions to be processed simultaneously; thus dramatically improving productivity and service capabilities for the end customer.

“The Manufacturing Centre enables MTU Detroit Diesel Australia to move forward and set a new standard for our customers with larger stock holdings and greater service capabilities,” said Mr Considine.

A Daring adventure
The HMS Daring has completed her stage one sea trials and has received glowing reports after performing above all expectations.

The high standard of the ship's overall design is such that not a single one of her almost 800 compartments exceeds the habitability standards for vibration when operating at full power.

The first of the new Type 45 Daring Class destroyers has been put through her paces off the west coast of Scotland by BAE Systems engineers and the Royal Navy personnel who will form her permanent crew once she enters service in 2009.

Trials began on 18th July and have focused on testing the 'ship' part of 'warship' - the platform itself; propulsion systems, controls, key weapons engineering systems, navigation, radars and gyros, as well as the habitability of the ship including the galley, cabins, sewage treatment plant, ventilation and lighting.

Some of HMS Daring's achievements are;
- Against an initial design target of 28 knots, the ship has already comfortably exceeded 30 knots
- HMS Daring reached top speed in little over two minutes from a standing start
- The ship has spent two days at the Benbecula range in the North Atlantic trialling its 4.5 inch gun and twin small calibre guns on the port and starboard sides.

On her return to Scotstoun, HMS Daring will continue with her systems integration and testing prior to stage two trialling in March 2008.

This is not a game
CAE has unveiled Presagis, its new modelling and simulation software company. CAE combined its acquisitions of Engenuity Technologies, MultiGen-Paradigm and TERREX and an existing CAE commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software team, to create an independent, industry-leading company specialising in COTS modelling and simulation software.

As part of CAE's military simulation products business, Presagis solidifies CAE's position as a significant player in the COTS modelling and simulation market.

“The technology depth and international reach of this COTS business further extends CAE's position as a global leader in the modelling and simulation market,” said Patrice Commune, President of Presagis.

“CAE is a recognized global leader in simulation and training and we are thrilled to continue its legacy of excellence and innovation.

“Presagis brings together a powerful product portfolio that will help our customers build applications faster, without compromising on value, training, creative vision and support. By drawing on the strengths of these combined companies, Presagis is positioned to break new ground in technology development and deliver the highest possible standards of innovation and customer service.”

The company will expand the possibilities for modelling and simulation by delivering an easier to use and integrated suite of COTS software.

By offering a unified product portfolio, Presagis will simplify the procurement and support of COTS modelling and simulation software for the aerospace and defence industry. The company's core technologies stand alone in their levels of integration, depth of functionality and compliance with industry standards.

Eyes on the ground
BAE Systems will design and develop a digitally enhanced night-vision goggle as part of the US Army’s Enhanced Night Vision Goggle program. This next-generation goggle will use digital imagery to improve soldier mobility and situational awareness under all lighting conditions and in the presence of battlefield obscurants.

The helmet-mounted goggle will digitally combine video imagery from a low-light-level visible sensor and an uncooled long-wave infrared sensor on a single colour display located in front of the soldier's eye.

This digital technology will provide improved image quality and will enable imagery to be shared among soldiers, improving platoon effectiveness.

“This program will demonstrate the maturity and effectiveness of digital fusion technology and its benefit to the warfighter,” said Margaret Kohin, Advanced Systems program director for BAE Systems.

“Applying innovative technology to help our soldiers complete their missions is an objective BAE Systems stands behind every day.”

BAE Systems also plans to incorporate its uncooled MicroIR microbolometer sensor technology in the enhanced goggle.

This technology also is used in the thermal weapon sights the company supplies to the Army. BAE Systems has two microbolometer foundries and has delivered more than 50,000 microbolometer-based imagers to date.

Lasers to lead the way
Boeing has been awarded a US Army contract valued at approximately US$7 million to begin developing the initial phase for a truck-mounted laser weapon system that destroys rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds.

Under the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD) Phase I contract, awarded Friday, Boeing will develop and complete a preliminary design of a rugged beam control system (BCS) on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck.
The contract contains options that, if exercised, will call for Boeing to build and test a significant component of the HEL TD system, comprised of the BCS integrated on a vehicle platform, and refine requirements for the entire HEL TD system. The options would increase the total program contract cost to approximately US$50 million.

The objective of the HEL TD program is to demonstrate that a mobile, solid-state laser weapon system can effectively counter rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles. The program will support the transition to a full-fledged Army acquisition program.

“We consider this program an important win for Boeing because it supports a cornerstone of the Army's high-energy laser program,” said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. “We believe this is the next step for developing a weapon system that can change the face of the battlefield.”

Developing UK surveillance
QinetiQ has secured a five-year, £9.3 million programme from the UK’s MoD's Research Acquisition Organisation to engage with industry and academia and focus on de-risking future procurement and raising technology readiness levels (TRLs) for the development and exploitation of advanced Electronic Surveillance (ES) technology.

“This partnering arrangement provides a firm foundation for future ES research in the UK, drawing in expertise from the wider industrial and academic sectors and its exploitation into procurement,” stated Steve Brittan, MD of QinetiQ's Spectrum Solutions business.

The detailed five year research plan will draw on previous QinetiQ work into future electronic surveillance technologies. These include the demonstration of the TigerShark airborne ES system, which led to the UK developing its own experimental surveillance platform in the form of a BAC1-11 flown out of MOD Boscombe Down. This will be extensively exploited to research both manned and unmanned airborne ES concepts.

As part of the programme QinetiQ will engage with industry, SMEs and academia to establish where capabilities can be exploited to enhance innovation and raise TRLs, and to optimise the exploitation route into service.

This research programme will address capability needs for ES relating to future land, sea and air procurements, including Listener, Soothsayer, Helix, Shaman, Eddystone, SEER, WatchKeeper and Dabinett.

The outputs of this programme are also aligned with current assumptions on the critical procurement phases of these projects, and planned incremental improvements, to optimise opportunities for exploitation.

Rockwell Collins Selected for UK MOD FAC/FOO Program
Rockwell Collins has received an $18 million contract from the UK MoD to provide a suite of products for the next generation Forward Air Controller and Forward Observation Officer (FAC/FOO) system.

The FAC/FOO system, as part of the Improved Targeting Geolocation Accuracy (ITGA) program, is comprised of a suite of new lightweight, fully integrated digital hardware and software.

At the heart of the system is a tablet computer that hosts the Rockwell Collins Rosetta Joint Fires (RJF) software package, providing targeting and communication capabilities and an important gateway for future systems.

The Rockwell Collins Azimuth Augmentation system, an important part of the FAC/FOO system, provides unparalleled targeting precision by correcting Laser Range Finder (LRF) inaccuracies and enabling the precise delivery of modern GPS guided weapons.

The system also includes the Rockwell Collins Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) and other system ancillaries.

The program provides a significant advance in UK MoD FAC/FOO capabilities and gives users a fully-digitised system, enabling the British Forward Air Controllers to exchange 9- or 15-line FAC targeting messages with all US aircraft, as well as an increasing number of coalition forces.

Copyright Australian Defence Magazine, October 2007