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AeroVironment Wins U.S. Army Contract Valued at Up to $55 Million for Radio Frequency Modifications to Raven B Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Thursday, November 14th, 2019

• Potential contract options total as much as $55 million; initial base delivery order is $862,488

• Hand-launched AeroVironment Raven is the most widely used military unmanned aircraft system in the world

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 13, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for both defense and commercial applications, announced the U.S. Army awarded the company a firm-fixed-price contract on June 6, 2019 to begin radio frequency modifications on its currently deployed Raven® UAS. The initial base delivery order is $862,488, with potential contract options valued up to $55 million.

“AeroVironment engineered and manufactures the Raven system, so we are best equipped to support quick and efficient field upgrades to ensure maximum Raven system uptime and force protection for operators around the world,” said Rick Pedigo, vice president, sales and business development for AeroVironment. “AeroVironment and the Army are committed to supplying soldiers closest to the fight with the most advanced aerial robotic technology to gain critical situational awareness anywhere and at any time to help them proceed with certainty.”

AeroVironment won the competitive bid as part of the Army’s $248.5 million five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity small UAS sustainment contract announced in April 2018. AeroVironment and six other awardees were selected as part of the IDIQ contract, which covers six domains: Systems, Tactical Open Government Owned Architecture (TOGA), Other Major Components, RQ-20A Puma Spares, RQ-11B Raven Spares and Flight Control Systems (FCS). The Army selected AeroVironment as the sole-source supplier for RQ-20A and RQ-11B spares and for FCS.

AeroVironment’s Raven system is designed for rapid deployment and high mobility for applications requiring low-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. With a wingspan of 4.5 feet and weighing 4.2 pounds, the hand-launched Raven provides aerial observation, day or night, at line-of-sight ranges up to approximately 6.2 miles (10 kilometers). With its stabilized gimbaled payload, the Raven delivers real-time color or infrared imagery to ground control and remote viewing stations.

Posted in Contracts, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on AeroVironment Wins U.S. Army Contract Valued at Up to $55 Million for Radio Frequency Modifications to Raven B Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Netline Strengthens Its Presence In Asia-Pacific With A New Contract To Protect Head-Of-State Convoy

Wednesday, November 13th, 2019

The company has also secured follow-on orders worth $8 million to supply its C-IED system, the C-Guard RJ, in both portable & vehicular configurations, to a state police force in Asia.

November 11, 2019 – Netline Communications Technologies Ltd. – a leading developer and manufacturer of high-end electronic warfare and spectrum dominance solutions – is strengthening its presence in the APAC region, with several new contracts recently signed in this market.

One significant contract is a program to provide the C-Guard Reactive Jamming (RJ) Vehicular System, a vehicle-installed system that provides counter-IED (improvised explosive device) protection, to head-of-state motorcades in a Southeast Asian country. This unique solution both detects the threat and provides an immediate response, preventing remote detonation of radio controlled IEDs by transmitting jamming signals around the entire convoy. The system will be delivered by the end of the year.

Other contracts signed by Netline include follow-on orders for the supply of both vehicular and ManPack (MP) C-IED systems, to a state police force in Asia. In its MP configuration, C-Guard RJ is carried by frontline forces in a single backpack unit, preventing attempts to activate IEDs around tactical forces when on the move.

IEDs, such as roadside bombs, are activated by radio-controlled devices (cell phones, walkie talkie, etc.), and have become a common threat in today’s asymmetric warfare, as they are easy to make. Delivering benefits that include superior reactive jamming capabilities, wide coverage, simple operation by ground forces within a specific radius, and compliance with a wide range of Mil-STDs and radiation safety regulations, Netline’s C-Guard family of reactive jamming systems provide a real-time counter-IED solution.

“We are pleased to further establish our presence in Asia, both with new contracts and business, and by securing follow-on orders from existing customers,” says Yallon Bahat, CEO of Netline. “Both our new and repeat orders are an indication of our customers’ satisfaction with Netline’s technology and products. We appreciate the cooperation with the different security agencies in these countries and believe this cooperation will be extended to additional future projects, enabling our customer to align their EW security strategy with the rapidly evolving threats, by using Netline’s high-end, advanced EW technology.”

www.netlinetech.com

Posted in CEMA, Contracts, International | Comments Off on Netline Strengthens Its Presence In Asia-Pacific With A New Contract To Protect Head-Of-State Convoy

Ravenswood Awarded $555M Contract to Support Army National Guard Training Program

Tuesday, November 12th, 2019

Army Contracting Command–Orlando has awarded Ravenswood Solutions an indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for support to the Army National Guard’s (ARNG) eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) program.

The single award contract will have a potential value of $555 million and will provide planning, operations, and sustainment for the XCTC program through October 31, 2024.

The mission of the XCTC program is to provide a highly realistic, fully instrumented, and intensive live training event for brigade combat teams, functional, and multi-functional brigades. The scope of the ARNG’s XCTC program involves training as many as three brigades simultaneously at multiple locations using a government-provided instrumentation system that tracks and records location and time-synchronized training events.

“Ravenswood Solutions gives our all to provide best-in-class products and services to our troops,” said Dan Donoghue, President and CEO of Ravenswood Solutions. “We are honored to be chosen to continue to support this critically-important training to our nation’s Guardsmen.”

More than 21,000 troops will train at XCTC exercises in 2020.

Posted in Contracts, Training | 1 Comment »

Dallas SWAT Selects LWRCI IC-A5 Surefire, Aimpoint, B.E. Meyers For Their New Rifle System

Saturday, November 9th, 2019

Elite Tactical Unit fields first completely new weapons and components upgrade in departments’ history.

Cambridge, MD (November 8, 2019) – LWRC International, the leader in piston driven carbines and rifles, is honored to have been chosen, and fielded as the duty carbine for the Dallas, Texas SWAT Team.

In an official statement released today- ” The Dallas Texas Police Department SWAT team has selected and fielded the LWRCI IC-A5 carbine. The entire carbine setup was the first time in the departments history to obtain factory new weapon and components, identified, tested and selected by its team members, and delivered as a complete kit.”

Dallas SWAT Team members conducted long and rigorous testing on each component from several companies over a nearly 2 year review process. At the end of that process they chose the LWRCI IC-A5 Individual Carbine in a 10.5″ barrel configuration as its issued carbine for their elite tactical unit.

The IC-A5 is built on the patented LWRCI short-stroke gas piston system that offers unparalleled reliability and easy maintenance. Dual Control fully ambidextrous lower receiver includes bolt catch and release, magazine release and fire control access from both sides of the IC-A5 make it a versatile option for any operator. A low profile 2 position adjustable gas block allows the operator to compensate for running a suppressor.

Key accessory components were also included in the testing process. Dallas SWAT chose the Aimpoint CompM5 red dot as their primary sighting system, a Surefire SOCOM Mini II suppressor, the Surefire M622 Ultra SCOUT Light and the MAWL-DA visible / IR laser aiming and illumination device from B.E. Meyers to complete the package.

The team members who tested and chose the system issued this statement to those who made this possible. “Thank you to the citizens of Dallas who donated the funds to the Team foundation that ultimately paid for the purchase. This outstanding rifle package was entirely privately-funded and donated to our Dallas SWAT officers. We cannot thank those outstanding civic leaders and their associations enough for their enthusiasm to support us and make this rifle a possibility.”

“At this time, we are going leave these special donors remain anonymous, but you know who you are.” They also wished to express their gratitude to the Fort Worth SWAT team who had suggested the LWRCI rifle and components that they had tested and selected two years prior. Thanks as well to DSG Arms, an Authorized LWRCI Law Enforcement Distributor who won the procurement contract and managed the logistics to assemble the kit as delivered.”

Upon receipt of the carbines, Dallas SWAT went through several weeks of new equipment familiarization and training, contracted and provided by Victory First and the manufacturers to increase proficiency with the new technology and benefits of the components. After several long training cycles and qualifications, Dallas SWAT began their operational deployments with new equipment.

For more information on the rifle and components chosen by Dallas, Texas SWAT click the links below:

LWRCI | IC A5 INDIVIDUAL CARBINE

SUREFIRE | M622 LIGHT / SOCOM MINI II SUPPRESSOR

AIMPOINT | COMP M5

B.E. MEYERS | MAWL-DA

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, LE, Lights, Press Release, Suppressors | 5 Comments »

Southeast Asian Military Customer Awards AeroVironment $6.4 Million Raven Tactical UAS Follow-On Contract Award

Monday, November 4th, 2019

• New order expands customer’s fleet of Raven systems

• Raven is the most widely used military unmanned aircraft system in the world

• AeroVironment’s Family of Tactical UAS are deployed by more than 45 allied governments

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 4, 2019 – AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced it received a firm fixed-price contract valued at $6,408,542 from an existing Southeast Asian military customer on September 17, 2019 for additional Raven® unmanned aircraft systems. Delivery is anticipated within 12 months.

“With nearly two decades of combat-proven effectiveness, Raven is a mainstay workhorse for this customer’s military, other allied governments, and the U.S. military because it gives troops closest to the fight immediate eyes in the sky to gain lifesaving situational awareness anywhere and at any time,” said Rick Pedigo, vice president of sales and business development at AeroVironment. “Raven’s ruggedness, small footprint and sensor capabilities ensure that allied forces throughout the world have a profound advantage at a moment’s notice in the most extreme environments.”

AeroVironment is participating in the Defense and Security 2019 Exhibition and Conference in Bangkok, Thailand from November 18 through 21. Please visit AeroVironment at Booth U03 or at www.avinc.com to learn more.

Posted in Contracts, International, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Southeast Asian Military Customer Awards AeroVironment $6.4 Million Raven Tactical UAS Follow-On Contract Award

Multimillion-Euro Contract: International Customers Orders Air Defence Systems from Rheinmetall

Thursday, October 31st, 2019

Rheinmetall has won an order from an international customer for state-of-the-art air defence systems. The contract, which is now official, is worth a total of around €210 million. Delivery is to be complete by 2022.

Among other items, the order encompasses Skymaster command and control systems, X-TAR 3D radars, Oerlikon Revolver Gun MK3-automatic cannon as well as an ammunition package that includes airburst-capable AHEAD rounds. Spare parts, technical documentation and service support round out the order.

As the world’s leading supplier of comprehensive ground-based air defence solutions, Rheinmetall combines all relevant sensors, effectors, platforms and C4I assets in overarching, scalable networks. This results in highly effective, modularly configurable ground-based air defence systems that assure maximum operational flexibility throughout the military mission spectrum.

www.rheinmetall.com

Posted in Contracts, International, Press Release | 2 Comments »

GAO Sustains Leupold & Stevens GAO Protest On USSOCOM’s S-VPS Program

Thursday, October 31st, 2019

Bottom Line Up Front: The Government Accounting Officer has sustained Leupold & Stevens’ protest against the U.S. Department of the Navy Surface Warfare Center Crane Division’s recent contract modification for Miniature Aiming Systems-Day Squad-Variable Power Scopes (Second Focal Plane).

Leupold has “won” but they didn’t get anything tangible from the protest. Unlike many other protests, they won’t be awarded anything. It’s more a moral victory.

On the other hand, Crane won’t be able to pay SIG SAUER for changes to the optics they’ve directed.

Other than withdrawing the contract modification, Crane has not announced a course of action to correct the situation. Possible outcomes are to purchase the optics with a different reticle, a new solicitation, no procurement at all, a new solicitation being issued. Alternatively, SIG may decide you eat the cost of the government directed changes.

Background

In August, optics manufacturer Leupold & Stevens submitted a GAO protest of the U.S. Department of the Navy Surface Warfare Center Crane Division’s recent contract modification published on 18 July 2019, to the internal reticle under Solicitation No. N00164-18-R-JQ30 (“the Solicitation”) and Contract No. N00164-18-D-JQ30 (“the Contract”) for Miniature Aiming Systems-Day Squad-Variable Power Scopes (Second Focal Plane) to Sig Sauer, Inc. For this solicitation, Crane was working on behalf of United States Special Operations Command as their office of primary responsibility for lethality. SOF weapons and accessories as well as Visual Augmentation Systems are procured by Crane.

Leupold asserted that Crane improperly modified its contract with Sig Sauer and that the changes made to the contract were so substantial that the contract should be terminated and a new competition conducted for the modified requirements. The additional funding of the contract modification is so much when added to SIG’s winning bid that Leupold feels someone else would have been awarded the contract instead of SIG.

While the SIG Optics TANGO6T is at the heart of this action, it’s important to point out that the protest has nothing to do with performance. That hasn’t even been actually assessed yet as neither SIG nor Nightforce have delivered any production samples to the government. This is because USSOCOM decided to integrate a new reticle into S-VPS, the Tremor8.

When the program was created, a different reticle had initially been considered, but due to the adoption of 6.5 Creedmoor, SOCOM decided they wanted a bullet drop compensator reticle. Todd Hodnett had envisioned a new Tremor reticle and this was adopted, but in concept only. The reticle was sketched out on a napkin and included settings for 5.56 M855A1 as well as the new 6.5 CM round. Even when the optics had been selected and contracts awarded, the Tremor8 still did not exist. Just recently, months later, the reticle has finally been certified. Now that it has been certified, Nightforce and SIG can integrate the reticle into their scopes and deliver samples to the government for acceptance testing.

In fact, Nightforce has already provided first production samples and they’ve passed Destructive Testing at Crane. They’ve completed the New Equipment Training and Operational Testing earlier this month and should have the Fielding & Deployment Release by early November.

SIG’s winning submission to S-VPS (SFP) incorporated a proprietary wire reticle. While this was selected, SOCOM later decided they wanted an etched, illuminated Tremor8 reticle. Naturally, this increased cost and the government paying for the additional cost of the integration of the Tremor8 into the SIG TANGO6T is what Leupold protested.

Posted in Contracts, Optics, SOF | 26 Comments »

USSOCOM To Buy M110K1 Upper Receivers In 6.5CM From Knight’s Armament Co

Tuesday, October 29th, 2019

According to a pre-solicitation notice published yesterday by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane, Knights Armament Company has offered to the Government an improved, capability upgrade to the upper receiver assembly for the M110K1 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS). The new upper receiver is 6.5mm Creedmoor (versus 7.62mm, CLIN 0001 on current contract) and provides longer distance shots and increased range.

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane has a requirement for M110K1 new upper receiver (6.5mm Creedmoor conversion kit) assembly (Technology Improvement). NSWC, Crane Division, Crane, IN intends to modify the existing sole-source, Firm-Fixed Price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract (N00164-18-D-JN50) for technology improvements with Knights Armament Company.

Last year, USSOCOM adopted the 6.5 Creedmoor caliber to replace certain uses of 7.62mm NATO.

Posted in Contracts, SOF, weapons | 11 Comments »