Contracts | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for the ‘Contracts’ Category

Bundeswehr Orders Another 1,515 Military Trucks from Rheinmetall out of Special Fund within Framework Contract – Order Value Over €920m

Thursday, June 13th, 2024

Rheinmetall has been commissioned by the Bundeswehr with a further delivery of 1,515 logistic vehicles, 265 of which are protected swap-body systems. This is another call-off from the framework contract for swap-body systems (WLS) signed in June 2020. This large-scale call-off is largely financed by the Bundeswehr’s special fund. In addition to the vehicles, the Bundeswehr’s procurement agency, BAAINBw, ordered 500 swap-body platforms to serve as interchangeable load carriers and 500 tarpaulin / roof bow setups. The call-off is worth over €920m gross. Delivery of the vehicles will take place in the second half of 2024 and will be completed by mid-November 2024.

“The extensive call-off from the framework contract, financed by the special fund shows the high relevance of Bundeswehr logistics in the conection with the turning point. By delivering all vehicles by the end of 2024, the special fund is helping to directly equip and strengthen the logistical capabilities and sustainability of the armed forces,” explains Michael Wittlinger, chairman of the management of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH. “With over 4,000 vehicles delivered since 2018, our HX-series military trucks are now an essential component of the Bundeswehr’s logistical capabilities and underline the importance of Rheinmetall for logistics.”

In June 2020, the BAAINBw concluded a framework contract with Rheinmetall until 2027 for the delivery of up to 4,000 trucks with swap-body systems, of which 1,008 have already been delivered. The swap-body trucks join the successful project of Unprotected Transport Vehicles, or UTFs, and expand the Bundeswehr’s fleet of vehicles from the military HX family. The swap-body system’s core equipment is the hook-loader developed by Hiab. It can lift and set down the swap-body carriers in the Bundeswehr in virtually any type of terrain with no need for additional handling equipment. As an alternative, the vehicles can carry a swap-body platform or a container via a standardised 20-foot ISO interface.

A large share of the swap-body trucks for the Bundeswehr will feature an armoured cab, substantially enhancing crew survivability and sustainment as well as the tactical flexibility of logistic units and formations. Swap-body trucks are used primarily for supplying combat formations with bulk consumables such as ammunition, fuel and water.

Both the swap-body systems and UTFs are based on Rheinmetall’s robust HX family of vehicles. Designed from the outset for military use, they assure excellent mobility even in rough terrain. Moreover, the widespread presence of the HX family offers major advantages in terms of interoperability and logistics, particularly during multinational deployments. At present, the user nations include, among other nations, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Hungary and Denmark. Together with the Bundeswehr and the armed forces of Germany’s partners, Rheinmetall is eager to continue writing the ongoing HX vehicles’ success story.

Posted in Contracts, International, Mobility, Press Release | Comments Off on Bundeswehr Orders Another 1,515 Military Trucks from Rheinmetall out of Special Fund within Framework Contract – Order Value Over €920m

US Government Secures $73 Million Contract with UVision and Mistral for Hero-120SF Loitering Munitions

Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

Contract with U.S. Special Operations Command Expected to be Completed by May 2029

June 05, 2024 – UVision Inc., a global leader in aerial loitering systems, and Mistral Inc., a distinguished player in the US defense industry, have secured a $73,552,208 contract with the U.S. Government to supply Hero-120SF Loitering Munitions for the U.S. Special Operations Command. The contract includes munitions, spare parts, engineering change proposals, new equipment training, and conversion from organic precision fires-mounted to medium-range precision strike systems.

The Hero-120SF Loitering Munition System is a state-of-the-art, mid-range, anti-tank system designed specifically for heavy strikes against armored targets like tanks, vehicles, and other hard targets on the modern battlefield. With its ability to cause minimal collateral damage and equipped with a range of multi-purpose warheads, the Hero-120SF provides operational users with an unparalleled effective engagement solution.

Tailored for Special Forces operations, the Hero-120SF includes enhancements such as improved payload capacity, advanced guidance systems, and increased flexibility for deployment from various platforms.

Major General (Ret.) Avi Mizrachi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of UVision USA, stated, “This significant contract with the U.S. Special Operations Command, a uniquely important entity, supported by our strong partnership with Mistral, underscores the commitment of both UVision and Mistral to provide cutting-edge technology and operational expertise to safeguard US national security.”

Production of the Hero-120SF will take place at UVision USA’s facilities in Virginia and at the new SAIC plant that opened in March. Mistral Inc, the exclusive representative of UVision in the USA, and the prime contractor of this contract, offering the Hero series to meet the discerning needs of the United States military will oversee the industrial and commercial aspects of the contract.

The work under this contract is expected to be completed by 2029.

Posted in Contracts, Munitions, Press Release, SOF | Comments Off on US Government Secures $73 Million Contract with UVision and Mistral for Hero-120SF Loitering Munitions

Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate Awards Oak Grove Technologies Special Operations Robotics Capability Course Contract

Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

According to a statement by Oak Grove Technologies (OGT), they were recently awarded the Special Operations Robotics Capability Course (SORCC) contract from the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD), under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD SO/LIC), to train on customization and adaptability in Small Uncrewed System Operations.

This is very exciting news as Special Operations Forces (SOF) are at the forefront of small unit unmanned systems across the air, ground and maritime domains.

SOF requires the ability to swiftly redesign, manufacture, build, test, and operate customized small uncrewed systems (sUXS). Please note that the X is used to describe unmanned systems write large while A is used for aerial, G is used for ground and U is used for undersea.

It is also important to note that this effort will build upon the US Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School’s six week program called Robotics and Unmanned Systems Integration Course (RUSIC) as well as IWTSD Human Performance and Training Subgroup’s Organically Designed and Built Small UAS (ODB sUAS) Course.

Operating often alongside partner forces, SOF leverages readily available equipment to enhance its capabilities. “SOF activities demand agile and adaptable solutions,” said Eli Monroe, Director of Uncrewed Systems at OGT. “By emphasizing customization and leveraging existing resources, we enhance our effectiveness while ensuring compatibility within diverse operational environments.”

Efforts are underway to address these training gaps, focusing on efficiently incorporating methodologies for sourcing, procuring, and manufacturing tailored systems using commercially available components. This initiative aims to empower SOF operators with the knowledge and skills necessary to optimize the utilization of small uncrewed systems in their missions.

Posted in Contracts, Industry, Robotics, Training | Comments Off on Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate Awards Oak Grove Technologies Special Operations Robotics Capability Course Contract

Framework Contract for Rheinmetall: Bundeswehr Orders Around One Million DM45 Smoke Grenades – Worth up to €67 Million

Wednesday, May 29th, 2024

Rheinmetall has been commissioned by the Bundeswehr to supply around one million DM45 smoke hand grenades. On 22 May, Annette Lehnigk-Emden, President of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH signed a framework agreement for the manufacture and supply of the grenades. A total of up to 1.5 million DM 45 smoke hand grenades can be procured under the agreement over the coming years. The potential order volume for the approximately one million smoke hand grenades is around EUR 67 million and will be financed from the Bundeswehr’s special fund. The framework agreement runs until 2027 and allows flexible annual call-off of the ammunition based on the identified requirements of the troops. The DM45 will be produced at Rheinmetall’s Silberhütte site in the Harz Mountains, Saxony Anhalt. The order that has now been placed means that the production facility will be utilised over the longer term.

The smoke hand grenade bears the official designation ‘Granate, Hand, DM45, 800 g, KM (grenade, hand, DM45, 800 g, KM)’. It has been in service with the Bundeswehr since the mid-1990s. When its pyrotechnic charge burns, the smoke hand grenade produces heavy smoke and thus forms a smoke screen. This interrupts the line of sight, making it possible to deceive enemy forces or disguise one’s own movements. The DM45 smoke grenade fully fulfils the requirements of the troops during training, exercises and operations.

Posted in Contracts, International, Munitions, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Major Order for Ammunition: NATO Customer Orders Artillery Ammunition from Rheinmetall – Worth Almost €300m

Sunday, May 26th, 2024

A NATO customer has placed an order with Rheinmetall for the supply of artillery ammunition. The order comprises several tens of thousands of artillery shells and several hundred thousand propellant charge modules. The total gross value of the orders booked in the second quarter of 2024 amounts to almost €300 million. The deliveries will take place between 2024 and 2028.

The need to replenish the armed forces’ ammunition stocks resulting from the war in Ukraine has brought Rheinmetall major orders in the field of artillery ammunition. The new orders once again emphasise Rheinmetall’s leading technological position in ammunition development and production in Europe.

Posted in Ammo, Contracts, International, Press Release | 3 Comments »

Rheinmetall MAN Contracted for Delivery of 48 HX 8×8 Protected Military Trucks for Swedish Archer Artillery System

Saturday, May 25th, 2024

Rheinmetall has been contracted by the Swedish company BAE Systems Bofors AB to deliver 48 all-terrain HX Cab Chassis with protected cabins. The highly mobile 8×8 military vehicles from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) will serve as carriers for the Swedish Armed Forces’ Archer artillery systems. The contract, which was concluded in March 2024, has a volume of around €71 million. Deliveries are foreseen to start in the third quarter of 2024 and to be completed by the end of 2027.

Besides the vehicles the order also includes additional service and maintenance scope. The robust HX vehicles are specially adapted to the requirements of a 155mm wheeled howitzer, for example to withstand the pressure wave when firing, and provide the operator with the highest level of off-road mobility. The particular hardened Rheinmetall integrated armoured cabin contributes significantly to the protection of the crew during deployment in high-risk scenarios. This contract constitutes the first series integration of Archer system on the HX truck family.

The integration of the system is done by BAE Systems Bofors AB. The Archer wheeled artillery system is currently being used by the Swedish Armed Forces on a 6×6 platform, which will now be replaced by the new HX-8×8 systems.

High-mobility trucks from RMMV’s HX2 series are already in service with the Swedish armed forces in large numbers – as logistics trucks and as carrier vehicles for the Patriot air defence missile system, for example. Thanks to the ‘family concept’ of the HX vehicle family, the new artillery system can be seamlessly integrated into the existing logistics of the Swedish armed forces.

With the current order, Rheinmetall is making a further contribution to increasing interoperability within NATO. Vehicles of the HX family have been introduced in a growing number of armed forces of the defence alliance and allied nations. In addition to Sweden, other nations such as Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Denmark, Austria and Norway are also using HX military trucks in large numbers and in various configurations. The use of similar systems offers synergy potential in the areas of training, deployment, maintenance and repair.

Posted in Contracts, Mobility, Press Release | Comments Off on Rheinmetall MAN Contracted for Delivery of 48 HX 8×8 Protected Military Trucks for Swedish Archer Artillery System

DroneShield Awarded $5.7 Million U.S. Government Contract

Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

• A repeat U.S. Government order of $5.7 million contract for several of DroneShield’s C-UxS solutions.

• Further material orders are anticipated from this customer.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (DroneShield or the Company) is pleased to announce it has received a repeat order of A$5.7 million from a U.S. Government customer for a number of its C-UxS (Counter-UxS) systems. C-UxS refers to counterdrone systems targeting multi-domain aerial, ground and maritime surface drones.

The delivery, involving multiple DroneShield product lines, is expected to be completed in several stages throughout the remainder of the year.

Matt McCrann, DroneShield’s US CEO, commented: “As the drone threat continues to evolve and proliferate across domains in modern conflicts, we are honored to support the U.S. Government and our allies as they look to meet the growing need for advanced Counter-UxS solutions. We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to support our troops and partners wherever possible.”

Tom Branstetter, DroneShield’s Director of Business Development, added “Our comprehensive product portfolio paired with high-level manufacturing affords us the ability to rapidly outfit U.S. and partner nations with lifesaving technology, while also addressing a wide range of operational requirements. It’s a privilege to assist the U.S. government and our allies in strengthening security both at home and abroad.”

Posted in Contracts, Press Release, UAS | 1 Comment »

Wilcox Industries Wins Significant Contract to Supply the Ruggedized Aiming/Illumination Device – Enhanced [RAID Xe] to the Dutch Armed Forces

Tuesday, May 21st, 2024

NEWINGTON, NH – In early 2024, Wilcox delivered the Wilcox RAID Xe to the Dutch Armed Forces following its selection after several months of rigorous testing and verification throughout 2023. The contract, awarded in late 2023, encompassed a substantial quantity of the Wilcox RAID Xe compact and potent laser aiming device.

The Wilcox Ruggedized Aiming/Illumination Device – Enhanced, commonly referred to as the RAID Xe, stands out as one of the most compact laser aiming devices currently available in the market today. Equipped with several integrated features, such as a dedicated room illuminator and a customizable remote port compatible with a variety of remotes, the RAID Xe distinguishes itself from other competitors. The RAID Xe comes in black or coyote/black exterior housings, offering red or green visible lasers, along with remote pads tailored to meet the specific needs of end users. Employing VCSEL laser diode technology for sharp and clear illumination, the RAID Xe represents the pinnacle of advanced design, all contained within a housing the size of a business card and weighing under 360 grams.

The selection process and subsequent award were achieved through collaboration and support via our Master Distributor for the BENELUX and the Scandinavian Region, ARLE – Applied Research Laboratory Europe. Manufacturing of the RAID Xe unit (pictured below) will take place at Wilcox’s expanding headquarters facility in Newington, NH, USA.

In response to the award, James Teetzel, CEO, stated, “Wilcox is always listening to our customers. It is their collective guidance that has allowed Wilcox to design, develop, and now offer our next-generation RAID Xe laser module to their security forces. We are honored and privileged to provide meaningful equipment to protect the sovereignty of the Dutch Armed Forces and the country they protect.”

Wilcox RAID Xe

For more information about the Wilcox RAID Xe and other Wilcox Xe Products, please visit www.wilcoxind.com/Xe-Products.

For information on all other Wilcox and Wilcox Products, visit Wilcox’ website at: www.wilcoxind.com or call: 603-431-1331.

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, International, Lights, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on Wilcox Industries Wins Significant Contract to Supply the Ruggedized Aiming/Illumination Device – Enhanced [RAID Xe] to the Dutch Armed Forces