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Billion-Euro Contract for Rheinmetall: Bundeswehr Calls Off Further IdZ-ES Soldier-Systems

Monday, April 27th, 2026

Rheinmetall has received another Billion-euro-contract from the Bundeswehr in the field of soldier-systems. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has placed a call-off order with Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH for additional ‘Infantry Soldier of the Future – Enhanced System’ (IdZ-ES) soldier-systems under a framework agreement.

The contract covers the modernisation of existing systems and the delivery of additional 237 platoon systems. It is worth €1.04bn gross. The systems have are to be delivered between November 2027 and December 2029. Additional 8,600 soldiers will receive the IdZ-ES system. In total, the Bundeswehr will then be equipped with 353 platoon systems comprising over 12,000 individual sets of equipment. Awarded in April, the contract will be booked in the second quarter of 2026. In total, the German Bundestag has approved €1.3 billion for the project a few days ago, so further call-offs are expected.

One platoon system mainly comprises 35 individual soldier-systems and a platoon equipment of peripheral components, consisting of advanced IT-equipment, optics, optronics, as well as military clothing, protection and carrying equipment. As the general contractor, Rheinmetall is responsible for the system and is coordinating the contribution of more than 30 subcontractors.

In February of 2025, the BAAINBw signed a framework contract with Rheinmetall for the procurement of additional IdZ-ES systems, with a maximum value of €3.1bn gross. The contract runs until the end of 2030 and already included a firm order for the modernisation of 68 systems already in use and the procurement of 24 new platoon systems worth around €417m gross. This framework contract for the procurement of soldier-systems is the largest of its kind to date for both Rheinmetall and BAAINBw.
Digital soldier-systems play an increasingly important role in future digital battlefield operations. The Bundeswehr can thus initiate the proportionate refurbishment, manufacturing and delivery of further IdZ-ES platoon systems, as well as the procurement of numerous additional components and services.

The commissioned modernised design status eliminates all technically obsolete components and implements communication and data exchange capabilities with different vehicle platforms. With the revised base hardware, the soldier system is connected via the vehicle platform to the ‘Digitisation of Land-based Operations’ (D-LBO) information and communications network. Furthermore, the conditions for direct connection to D-LBO have been established.

Posted in Contracts, Digitization, International, Press Release | No Comments »

Major Order Worth Billions: Rheinmetall to Supply the Bundeswehr with FV-014 Loitering Munition

Thursday, April 23rd, 2026

Rheinmetall has received a major order from the Bundeswehr for FV-014 loitering munition systems. A contract to that effect was signed today in Koblenz. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027, following qualification from the second quarter of 2026. The framework contract is worth billions, with the first call-off amounting to approximately €300m gross. The order will be booked in April 2026. The framework agreement optionally includes a five-figure number of FV-014 autonomous recce and strike drones.

“Within a very short time, Rheinmetall has developed an autonomous drone that combines reconnaissance and strike capabilities. The FV-014 will enable the Bundeswehr to protect its own forces and engage critical targets in a fast, controlled and effective manner. We are grateful for the trust placed in us and will begin producing the system in large quantities on an industrial scale very soon”, said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG.

The FV-014 loitering munition system has a range of up to 100 km and is equipped with a 4 kg warhead and detonator mechanism. The drone can remain airborne for up to 70 minutes, monitoring targets until engaging on them. The system combines intelligence and firepower and is manufactured entirely within the EU.

Posted in Contracts, International, Munitions, Press Release | No Comments »

RAMPART Awarded $39M CAD Canadian Federal Police Pistol Replacement Contract

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026

Ottawa, ON – April 22, 2026 — RAMPART Corp., Canada’s leading supplier of operational equipment to military and Law Enforcement end users, has been awarded a $39 million CAD contract to supply the Canadian Federal Police with a new duty pistol system.

The Federal Police Service operates in some of the most diverse and challenging environments, from remote northern regions to densely populated urban centers.

Following a competitive procurement process led by Public Services and Procurement Canada, Rampart has been awarded a contract to supply the police service with the GLOCK 45 MOS 7. The system includes the Aimpoint ACRO P2 red dot sight, Streamlight TLR-7X weapon light, and Safariland 6360RDS holster, delivering significant advancements in accuracy, reliability, and operational capability.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for RAMPART and our partners,” said Mike Klein, President of RAMPART Corp. “Once fielded, GLOCK pistols will be used by nearly 95% of Canadian Law Enforcement personnel.”

“GLOCK is extremely proud to be providing police officers with our pistol,” stated James R. Cassells, Canadian Sales Manager for GLOCK. “I know our late founder, Gaston Glock, would have been very proud that GLOCK was awarded this contract.”

The new pistol system includes:

• Pistol: GLOCK 45 MOS 7

• Red Dot Sight: Aimpoint ACRO P2

• Weapon Light: Streamlight TLR-7X

• Night Sights: Ameriglo

• Duty Holster: Safariland 6360RDS

• Pistol Case: NANUK 910

• The contract also includes dedicated GLOCK 45 training pistols.

More information on the contract can be found here:

canadabuys.canada.ca/en/tender-opportunities/contract-history/cw2439993-000

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, International, LE, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Echodyne Named as Radar System for Trust Automation’s $490M Air Force Counter-UAS Engineering Contract

Tuesday, April 21st, 2026

EchoShield® radar integrated into Small-Unmanned Air Defense System (SUADS) to deliver on $490M Air Force IDIQ

Kirkland, WA, April 20, 2026 – Echodyne, the radar platform company, today announces its inclusion as a primary radar system within Trust Automation’s Small-Unmanned Air Defense System (SUADS) Counter-UAS platform, to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force under a $490M IDIQ contract announced in August 2025.

Rapidly Deployable Small-Unmanned Air Defense System (RD-SUADS), Fixed Site Small?Unmanned Air Defense System (FS-SUADS), and Expeditionary Small-Unmanned Air Defense System (EX-SUADS) platforms adhere to the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) standard with EchoShield radars being the first fully integrated SOSA solution in the platform. The RD-SUADS platform is a self-contained, self-powered C-UAS system fitted to standard pallet sizes for easy transport via military aircraft, while the FS-SUADS is for deployment at permanent military installations and can be integrated as a group or standalone for diverse redundant base protection and 360-degree security. The EX-SUADS detection only system is designed for checked baggage transportation and sized to fit with cases in larger SUV vehicles.

EchoShield is the market-leading medium range radar that reliably and consistently generates precise location data for all drone types and configurations. A commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) radar system, EchoShield’s industry standard interfaces and rich data options create a baseline data set that more accurately slews optical sensors, cues effector options, and accelerates reaction time. Boasting advanced classification capabilities built on recursive neural network (RvNN) machine learning models, EchoShield tracks all movement and pinpoints system and operator attention where and when it matters.

“It is becoming more and more evident that the fidelity of radar data, its accuracy in all data dimensions, is a critical attribute of any radar system,” said Eben Frankenberg, CEO at Echodyne. “The new table stakes for every defensive system is actionable data at the range of reaction and with the precision to consistently direct kinetic effectors onto fast, nimble, UAS threats.”

“Integrating Echodyne’s advanced radar into our RD-SUADS, FS-SUADS, and EX-SUADS systems enhances both detection range and accuracy, enabling operators to identify threats sooner and respond with greater confidence,” said Ty Safreno, CEO at Trust Automation, Inc. “These systems provide agile, comprehensive C-sUAS capability that helps protect warfighters and critical facilities through elevated situational awareness.”

For more information about EchoShield and Echodyne, Eben Frankenberg will present to Counter-UAS Technologies in London, UK on April 20-22, and Echodyne can be found at Modern Day Marine in Washington, DC on April 28-30.

Posted in C-UAS, Contracts, MDM, Sensors, USMC | No Comments »

US Army Selects Vector AI for Brigade Combat Teams

Friday, April 17th, 2026

Quantum Systems’ Vector AI will support U.S. Army modernization and future Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) capabilities for Brigade Combat Teams

Moorpark, California (USA), April 15, 2026 – Quantum Systems Inc., the US entity of Quantum Systems, today announced that Vector AI has been selected for the U.S. Army’s Company-Level sUAS Directed Requirement (DR) 2 initiative under a contract valued at $15.3 million. Vector AI will accelerate the delivery of advanced aerial intelligence capabilities to Brigade Combat Teams of the U.S. Army.

The effort is a key component of the Army’s modernization strategy to rapidly field commercially available unmanned systems to Soldiers while informing the development of its future Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) program, which will define the next generation of tactical unmanned aircraft systems for maneuver units.

Vector AI was selected following a competitive evaluation process that assessed aircraft performance, payload integration, and interoperability with emerging Army software architectures. The program reflects the Army’s push to rapidly field operationally proven, commercially available systems that can evolve alongside future requirements while delivering immediate operational capability to forces at the tactical edge.

“Today’s battlefield demands unmanned systems that are adaptable, resilient, and proven in real-world operations,” said Dave Sharpin, CEO of Quantum-Systems Inc. “The Vector platform has logged more than 20,000 operational flight hours in Ukraine alone where operational use has helped refine its autonomy and mission adaptability in contested environments. Its modular architecture and open integration approach align directly with the Army’s push toward interoperable, rapidly evolving capabilities.”

Vector AI delivers real-time tactical intelligence to maneuver forces through an electric vertical take-off and landing design that combines runway-independent launch and recovery with the endurance and efficiency of fixed-wing flight. Deployable by a single operator in under five minutes, the compact system supports reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition through AI-enabled mission planning, advanced electro-optical sensing, and vision-based targeting.

Designed for contested environments, Vector AI incorporates anti-jamming features and a multi-layered GPS denied navigation stack to support visual navigation and precision targeting functionalities that work completely independently from GPS. Its modular, open architecture enables rapid payload integration and interoperability with external systems such as TAK and other battlefield management systems, enabling units to detect, track, and develop targets while maintaining situational awareness across the operational area.

Posted in AI / ML, Army, Contracts, Press Release | No Comments »

US Army Awards Contracts for Mounted PNT NorthStar Solution

Tuesday, April 14th, 2026

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD – Project Manager Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PM PNT) is pleased to announce the Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground award of two Other Transaction Authority (OTAs) via a C5 prototyping project for a mounted PNT NorthStar solution to IS4S and GPS Source. With an estimated value of up to $41 million and 36-month period of performance, the OTAs enable the selected vendors to develop next generation of mounted Assured PNT capability that’s modular and upgradable for Army 2040 ground-based platforms.

“We’re excited to move into the next phase of NorthStar with this award,” said Chris Jais, project manager, PM PNT. “We’re confident that with our vendor partners, we’ll introduce an affordable, MOSA-compliant product with next-generation capability into our family of open solutions and continue to bring upgradable and scalable APNT products to soldiers in the field.”

PM PNT’s Modernization product office introduced the NorthStar effort in August 2023 via a virtual event and release of an RFI that received 27 vendor responses. These responses informed PM PNT’s decision to solicit industry for the design of tiers of capability that would offer a range of non-radio frequency technologies to outpace the threat of Army 2040; the responses, combined with tech evaluations and review of white papers, also led to the organization deciding to ultimately award a NorthStar OTA to more than one vendor.

“Awarding to multiple vendors encourages competition, speeds up implementation and integration of new technology to meet emerging threats, and reduces cost of engineering change proposals,” said Erik Scott, product manager for PNT Modernization. “Prioritizing a modular system design for hardware and software ensures the best value for the government and the best solution for our Warfighters.”

Contract kickoffs with each vendor are scheduled for next month with design review and a soldier touchpoint to follow.

For more information on PM PNT, visit the PM PNT page on the Capability Program Executive Intelligence and Spectrum Warfare website cpeisw.army.mil/pm-pnt.

Posted in Army, C5ISR, Contracts, Press Release | No Comments »

USMC Awards Gentex Contract for Integrated Helmet Systems

Monday, April 13th, 2026

The Department of War made the following announcement on Friday, 10 April, 2026 at COB;

Gentex Corp., Simpson, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $128,484,849 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Integrated Helmet Systems. This contract provides for the procurement of Integrated Helmet Systems with associated components and accessories. The ordering period will be a maximum of five years and is expected to be completed in April 2031. Work will be performed in Simpson, Pennsylvania. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task/delivery orders as they are issued. The requirement was procured under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 4022(f) as a follow-on production agreement to the prototype agreement (M67854-20-9-1000). Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-26-D-5401).

I’d like to remind readers that Galvion was also issued a contract by the Marine Corps for this program last August for $131,396,296. Both contracts are Indefinite Quantity Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ).

This program has been underway for quite some time. To give you an idea, the photo was taken of the Gentex helmet in May of 2022.

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, Helmets, USMC | 4 Comments »

Textron Aviation Receives First Military Order For Cessna Skycourier, Launching The Aircraft Into Global Defense Market

Thursday, April 9th, 2026

Belgium selects SkyCourier fleet to boost special operations airlift for troop transport, logistics, casevac and crisis response

A new ally in the air: An artist’s rendering shows a Cessna SkyCourier configured for military operations, including a special operations paint scheme and mission equipment. The aircraft was selected by Belgium Special Operations Forces.

WICHITA, Kan. (Apr. 7, 2026) – Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced Belgium has selected the Cessna SkyCourier as its newest special mission aircraft, awarding an order for five multirole aircraft to support the nation’s Special Operations Forces. The selection launches the SkyCourier into the global defense market for the first time and strengthens Belgium’s airlift capability through a rugged, flexible platform built for demanding missions.

Belgium’s SkyCourier fleet will enable rapid movement of personnel and equipment while supporting logistics, medical evacuation and crisis response operations. Deliveries to the prime contractor Sabena Engineering are expected throughout 2027, followed by in?country military modifications prior to the final aircraft transfer to the Belgian Special Operations Forces.

“This first military selection signals strong armed service interest in the Cessna SkyCourier and underscores its readiness for high?consequence missions,” said Travis Tyler, president and CEO, Textron Aviation Defense. “The SkyCourier’s combination of rugged performance, low operating cost and the ability to operate from short and unimproved runways makes it a powerful solution for customers who need dependable lift in unpredictable environments.”

The SkyCourier’s debut into the global defense market builds on its momentum of expansion across new global regions. Designed for reliability and mission adaptability, the twin?engine, high?wing turboprop offers flexible cabin configurations, significant payload capacity and proven performance in austere settings.

Belgium’s decision reflects a rising government demand for affordable, multirole aircraft that can support rapidly evolving mission sets. The selection also expands the capabilities of local industry through Sabena’s modification design work in Belgium, reinforcing defense relationships throughout the region.

“Working closely with Textron Aviation, Sabena Engineering will perform all mission?specific integration and certification in Belgium, ensuring the SkyCourier delivers the flexible, responsive airlift capability our Special Operations Forces require while strengthening national industrial expertise and sovereignty,” added Stephane Burton, CEO, Sabena Engineering.

Posted in Aviation, Contracts, International, Press Release, SOF | No Comments »