Contracts | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for the ‘Contracts’ Category

Reptilia Awarded Prestigious Contract to Supply Weapon Accessories for the Alternative Individual Weapon System for the UK MOD

Friday, September 8th, 2023

Reptilia is proud to announce that we have been awarded a prestigious contract, in partnership with our UK distributor Edgar Brothers, to supply the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) with a range of specially designed, battle-proven weapon accessories for the new L403A1 Alternative Individual Weapon System.

Project Hunter demanded weapon accessories that not only met high standards of durability and functionality, but also pushed the boundaries of innovation, ergonomics, and weight savings. We are proud to have exceeded these requirements.

Steve Allen, CEO of Reptilia, spoke about the commitment to providing the absolute best products to our customers. “At Reptilia, we constantly strive to deliver excellence and enhance the capabilities of those who defend our freedom. Working closely with our UK Distributor, Edgar Brothers, our mission was to design and deliver innovative weapon accessory solutions that would further enhance the end user’s capabilities.”

Project Hunter involved extensive, rigorous, and competitive testing, driving innovation within our industry. We are honored that Reptilia weapon accessories are now part of the finest personal weapon system in the world today. Congratulations go out to our industry counterparts and Edgar Brothers who have also played a crucial role in securing this contract win.

This contract not only reinforces Reptilia’s position in the industry but also enables us to invest further in new employees and future innovation. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Reptilia will be at London DSEI, booth H2-588, showcasing our battle-proven weapon accessories.

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, International, Press Release, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on Reptilia Awarded Prestigious Contract to Supply Weapon Accessories for the Alternative Individual Weapon System for the UK MOD

Britain’s Commandos to Get New Assault Rifles

Friday, September 8th, 2023

Britain’s elite Royal Marine Commando Forces will be stealthier and deadlier thanks to a new assault rifle.

The Knight’s Stoner 1 (KS-1) rifle (designated L403A1) headlines a host of new kit additions for the UK Commando Forces in ‘lead strike teams’ – those responsible for raiding and amphibious operations worldwide.

More than a thousand of the new rifles have been bought from US producers Knight’s Armament Company and come with advanced optical and thermal sights as well as suppressor (silencer) systems to make Commandos harder to trace and more formidable in combat.

The Commando Force regularly deploys around the globe in all extremes of environment – arctic, desert and jungle – reacting to crises and conducting a range of complex operations, including counter piracy and terrorism, drugs busts and humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

It means there is a need to put top-end kit in the hands of these specialist warriors to give them the upper hand on the battlefield.

A new rifle, night vision goggles, tactical communications systems, battlefield vehicles and ‘survivability systems’, including new helmets, communications and suppressors which make the force more difficult to detect, are to be rolled out as the Royal Navy makes an initial investment in new kit for its elite, very high readiness fighting force, with plans for a longer-term procurement programme from 2024.

Captain Nick Unwin RN, Commando Force Programme Director, said: “Delivery of quality equipment such as we see today is a genuine increase in capability and capacity for the UK’s Commando Force Strike Teams and offers significant tactical advantage to the user.

“The Commando Force Programme is delivering change across all areas of amphibious operations; this is just one small part of the wider change programme we are all embarked upon as we adjust to evolving threats and challenges.”

Alongside this new rifle and a new helmet made by Gentex, Commando Forces will take delivery of the new Fused Binocular Night Vision Device produced by L3Harris, giving them a significant advantage over their adversaries in night-time littoral operations, or as they move in darkness through confined spaces during boarding operations.

Again, more than a thousand have been procured and the systems feature advanced low-light image intensification with a fused thermal input – which means the devices include both night vision and thermal sensor superimposed into a single image for the operator – that far outperforms older systems currently used by the UK’s Armed Forces.

Commando Forces are also exploring how to use the night vision kit alongside digital communications systems, providing a live feed to the goggles to help commanders assess the battlefield and make decisions.

Meanwhile, advances are being made with upgrades to the Sharpshooter rifle.

The Lewis Machine and Tool L129A2 rifle is an improvement on the well-established Sharpshooter with new Leupold scopes and HuxWrx suppressors, making it more accurate and quieter.

It is also equipped with an Envision Technology ballistic calculator and a Pixels-on-Target thermal sight. Each Commando Strike Team will comprise two designated expert shooters equipped with these upgraded rifles.

Royal Marines

Posted in Contracts, Guest Post, International, weapons | Comments Off on Britain’s Commandos to Get New Assault Rifles

Allen-Vanguard Deepens its ECM Support to Somalia with an 18-month Contract Extension for its Field Service Representative (FSR) Team

Thursday, September 7th, 2023

Allen-Vanguard, a global leader in providing customized solutions for defeating Radio Frequency (RF) based terrorist and extremist threats, has a long-established relationship of providing vital ECM and counter explosive threat support to Security Forces across Somalia. This support has recently been increased with the provision of additional ECM hardware to the region and the formal 18-month extension of the in-country Field Service Representative (FSR) team based in Mogadishu. Allen- Vanguard will be at DSEi 23 on stand H2-820 to discuss all their RF dominance solutions.

Since 1991, the civil war and related power struggles between warring factions and various extremist groups has created one of the highest risk areas of operation for government security forces and international peacekeeping troops in the world. For those required to operate in the region, either military or diplomatic, the risk of injury or death from explosive related devices either intentionally detonated or accidentally triggered remains significant and therefore it is essential, in order to protect those trying to bring peace to the region, to have access to the necessary ECM hardware, training and in-country support.

Allen-Vanguard has been working in Somalia supporting national Security Forces and working with other peace keeping nations since 2018, helping to defeat the RF threat by supplying high quality but cost-effective ECM protection, such as our SCORPION and 3XXX suite of protection. The 3XXX offers an internally modular and easily upgradeable architecture with a raft of protection measures. The 3XXX series is robust, simple to operate and maintain, and can be vehicle mounted or used at a static location so is perfect for use in the region. The SCORPION has similar technology and capability but in a highly flexible manpack form, maximising its utility. These features combined with their outstanding performance make both ideal for security forces but also major Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Other Government Departments (OGDs).

Allen-Vanguard is committed to providing the best possible service and outcomes for their customers and they aspire to create indigenous force protection capability through comprehensive training (recently they provided additional Explosive Threat Reduction Training in Somalia) and through their dedicated in-country FSR team. This team has the necessary Allen-Vanguard specialists to provide a tailored mission support service for all their ECM systems updating and testing. They offer a range of support options to optimize algorithms specific for every user’s needs and to combat threats specific to the region of operations. The Somali team have been in Mogadishu since August 2021, and has just been extended for a further 18-months.

Bobby Strawbridge, Director Business Development for Allen-Vanguard said “We at Allen-Vanguard are very conscious that ECM equipment alone does not defeat the threat. Our vision is to create local capability, share knowledge, provide training and help to develop regional expertise so that those facing the greatest risk in peace keeping operations get the maximum possible protection. As one of the highest risk operational theatres in the world and building on a decade’s worth of supporting peacekeeping operations in Somalia, Allen-Vanguard’s footprint has recently grown considerably, reinforced with a permanent presence on the ground delivering OEM support at the ‘sharp end’ of operations.”

Posted in Contracts, EW, International, Press Release | Comments Off on Allen-Vanguard Deepens its ECM Support to Somalia with an 18-month Contract Extension for its Field Service Representative (FSR) Team

Edgar Brothers Awarded Contract to Supply Alternative Individual Weapon System to UK MOD

Thursday, September 7th, 2023

Edgar Brothers is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a Contract to supply the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) with the Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) System, following a highly competitive trial process.

The AIW will consist of three elements:

– Rifle System: Rifle and Signature Reduction System
– Optic System: Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO), Mini Red Dot (RDS) and Emergency Back Up Sight (EBS)
– Training System: Safe Blank Firing System (SBFS) and Marker Round Training System (MRTS)

As the Prime Contractor and UK Distributors, Edgar Brothers will be utilising a range of battle-proven products from suppliers from around the world to deliver the chosen solution.

These include:

– Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) and their KS-1 Rifle, PRT suppressors, and Safe Blank Firing System (SBFS)
– Vortex Optics and their 1-10x LPVO
– Aimpoint and their ACRO P-2 MRD
– Reptilia and their AUS Mount, ROF 90 Mount, Dot Mount & various other accessories
– Magpul and their PMAG, MBUS PRO EBS and other accessories
– Simunition and their line of FX Conversion Kits and PPE to work with the in-service MRTS ammunition

As part of the initial requirements, the Contract will also include several firm requirements Edgar Brothers must undertake to improve Social Value in the UK, these will cover the five key themes stipulated in The Social Value Model.

Mike Newman, Director of Edgar Brothers, commented, “Project Hunter is an extremely complex programme that pushed the limits of innovation for the modern personal weapon system, yet remained practical for industry to implement. As a testimony to Knights Armament and Edgar Brothers’ dedication, plus our industry partners Vortex, Reptilia, Aimpoint, and Magpul, the KS-1 rifle system was born and has earned recognition after undergoing rigorous testing. The base weapon, combined with market-leading Surveillance Target Acquisition (STA) and ancillaries has now set a new standard.”

Newman continued, “As with every programme we undertake, Edgar Brothers’ main goal is to enhance the soldiers’ capabilities to effectively perform their mission. We are now looking forward to working alongside the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) team to bring the system into service. This Contract win strengthens our growth trajectory and provides us with the opportunity to expand our team by hiring exceptional talent from our local community. We are privileged to supply what we believe to be the finest personal weapon system in the world to the UK MOD.”

Col Paul Cummings, DE&S Dismounted Close Combat Portfolio Leader, said: “Project Hunter has been a fabulous example of close collaboration between the user community, Defence Equipment and Support, and industry to deliver game-changing capability at pace. This will deliver improved lethality into the hands of the Army Special Operations Brigade and is the latest in a range of improved capabilities being operated by the new Ranger Battalions. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Edgar Brothers as we move into the production phase.”

To download poster as PDF, click here.

For more information about Edgar Brothers and our products, please visit:

www.edgarbrothers.com

Edgar Brothers will the full system on display at DSEI, booth H2-588.

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, International, Press Release, weapons | 11 Comments »

£90 Million Contract Equips Armed Forces with Advanced New Rifle

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.

From:

Ministry of Defence and James Cartlidge MP

Published

7 September 2023

The new advanced rifle.

• New rifle provides UK troops with an improved lethal capability on the battlefield.

• Rifle more discreet through sight and hearing signature reduction.

• Up to 10,000 weapons could be procured over the next 10 years.

British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.

The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system – known as the L403A1 and procured by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) under Project HUNTER – is made up of a new assault rifle fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system and an improved optical sighting system.

The AIW is a modern rifle using the latest in design technology and manufacturing methods, to produce an exceptionally reliable and accurate weapon. The magnified optic means the user is able to engage threats from greater distances; whilst the signature reduction system works to mask the AIW from detection from sight and hearing.

Supplementing the current in-service L85A3, the AIW system has been secured under a £90 million contract with Macclesfield-based company Edgar Brothers, supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by helping sustain approximately 50 jobs at the family-owned company.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

This is another example of how we are committed to investing in the most advanced battlefield equipment to back our troops on the battlefield. This advanced rifle’s ability to help soldiers maintain the stealth edge not only protects them but delivers war-fighting advantage over our adversaries.

An initial £15 million order of 1,620 AIW systems has been placed, with options to procure up to 10,000 systems – totalling £90 million – under the contract over the next decade. The systems will initially be fielded to the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB) who operate in complex, high threat environments.

DE&S Dismounted Close Combat Portfolio Leader, Colonel Paul Cummings, said:

Project Hunter has been a fabulous example of close collaboration with the user community and strong engagement with industry to deliver game-changing capability at pace. This is another example of the enormous commitment of the men and women in DCC to deliver battle-winning capability into the hands of the user and I’m enormously proud of what they have achieved. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Edgar Brothers as we move into the production phase.

The L403A1 is a high performing modern development of the ArmaLite Rifle (AR), which pushes the boundaries of modern performance. As an AR system, it shares much in common with the rifle systems used by many of the UK’s allies. Given their specialist role, and the critical task of working with and alongside many of the UK’s allies, the platform will enable ASOB to share skills and drills in an efficient manner.

Lt Col Gareth Davies, SO1 SoldierWorks, Military Capability Delivery, Army Headquarters, said:

Project HUNTER has successfully delivered a new weapon option for UK Defence. At the current time this is being procured for the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB). It offers a marked increase in lethality, and the system includes one of most capable day sights currently available. Importantly the weapon system will be further enhanced by our newest generation of night optics, with which the ASOB are already equipped.

As a key component of the ASOB, the Ranger Regiment will receive the AIW later this year. Made up of four battalions, the Rangers deployed to over 60 countries in their first 12 months of operation, following their formation as part Future Soldier under the Defence Command Paper 2021.

Posted in Contracts, Guest Post, International, weapons | 12 Comments »

Rheinmetall Supplies Norway with a Mission Master XT After Demonstrating Its Capabilities in Hostile Nordic Conditions

Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

Rheinmetall has supplied Norway with its very first Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme-terrain unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) capable of thriving in sub-zero temperatures.

The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (the prime institution responsible for defence-related research and development in Norway) awarded Rheinmetall the contract after it won a competitive bid with challenging mobility and schedule requirements.

A tried-and-tested solution for Nordic countries

This contract comes just months after Rheinmetall took part in the Artic Mobility Trials in Finland, where the autonomy and mobility of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT were put to the test. Despite a challenging environment and -30°C weather conditions, the vehicle successfully navigated through icy rivers and climbed up slippery banks.

The Rheinmetall Mission Master XT during the Artic Mobility Trials in Finland

“We are proud to have developed systems that can withstand some of the world’s harshest conditions. These recent trials have proven that we are in a strong position to meet the needs of Nordic countries that face similar challenges to us here in Canada,” stated Alain Tremblay, vice president for business development and innovation at Rheinmetall Canada.

Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme terrain UGV

Developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2021, the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT can tackle ice and snow, as well as sandy, rocky and mountainous topography. Its advanced amphibious capabilities allow it to float and swim while maintaining its full payload capacity. Weighing in at 2,217 kg, this powerful A-UGV can carry a 1000 kg payload, allowing troops to transport special equipment to hard-to-reach locations. The diesel-powered engine allows it to travel 750 km without refuelling, while internal batteries enable up to 6 hours of silent watch operations. Another key feature of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is its high-performance continuous tyre inflation system, which adjusts the tire pressure according to the terrain.

Like other platforms in the Rheinmetall Mission Master family, the XT vehicle is driven by Rheinmetall PATH, an AI-powered navigation system that can be installed on any vehicle. This agnostic suite of advanced sensors and perception algorithms enables Mission Master vehicles to navigate autonomously through challenging environments, while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.

The Rheinmetall Canada team took part in the Norwegian Army Technology Days 2023 on August 23 and 24, where it has delivered a presentation on “How to speed up the adoption of and trust towards UGVs”.

For more information on the family of Rheinmetall Mission Master UGVs, please visit rheinmetall.ca.

Posted in Contracts, International, Mobility, Press Release | Comments Off on Rheinmetall Supplies Norway with a Mission Master XT After Demonstrating Its Capabilities in Hostile Nordic Conditions

USSOCOM Awards Accrete Contract for AI Agent Argus to Detect Disinformation Threats from Social Media

Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

Anomaly detection AI software, Argus, analyzes social media data to predict emergent narratives and generate intelligence reports at a speed and scale that empowers military forces to neutralize viral disinformation threats.

New York, NY, August 29, 2023 – Accrete AI, a leading dual-use enterprise AI company, deployed its AI software for open-source threat detection, Argus, with the U.S. Department of Defense in 2022. Today, Accrete is excited to announce that it has been awarded a new contract by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to deploy Argus to enable intelligence analysts and special operators in USSOCOM to predict real time disinformation threats from social media.

“Synthetic media, including AI-generated viral narratives, deep fakes, and other harmful social media-based applications of AI, pose a serious threat to U.S national security and civil society,” said Prashant Bhuyan, Founder and CEO of Accrete. “Social media is widely recognized as an unregulated environment where adversaries routinely exploit reasoning vulnerabilities and manipulate behavior through the intentional spread of disinformation. USSOCOM is at the tip of the spear in recognizing the critical need to identify and analytically predict social media narratives at an embryonic stage before those narratives evolve and gain traction. Accrete is proud to support USSOCOM’s mission.”

Argus Social, An Interactive AI Agent for Disinformation Threat Detection

Accrete will also launch an enterprise version of Argus Social for disinformation threat detection later this year called Nebula Social. Nebula Social will address urgent customer pain points pertaining to AI-generated synthetic media, including heightened risk from viral disinformation and deep fakes. Managing AI-generated synthetic media risk requires an AI agent capable of autonomously learning what is most important to an enterprise and predicting the most relevant emergent social media narratives across modalities, including language, image, video, and audio, before they influence behavior.

Nebula Social not only aims to help enterprise customers manage synthetic media risk, such as AI-generated smear campaigns from competitors, but also to autonomously generate timely and relevant content that matches the most influential emergent narratives with authentically engaged audiences to drive more efficient product innovation and go-to-market strategies. Nebula Social has the potential to significantly expand the traditional social listening market by satiating latent enterprise demand for more intelligent and predictive social media tools for a variety of use cases, including crisis management, product innovation, recruiting, marketing, and political strategy.

According to Bhuyan, “Government agencies and enterprises alike have an urgent need to manage a plethora of risks and opportunities posed by AI-generated synthetic media.” Bhuyan goes on to say, “Companies are already experiencing significant economic damage caused by the spread of AI-generated viral disinformation and deep fakes manufactured by competitors, disgruntled employees, and other types of adversaries. We believe that the market for AI that can predict and neutralize malign AI-generated synthetic media is about to explode.”

?Contact Accrete to learn more about our latest social media AI solutions.

Posted in AI / ML, Contracts, Cyber, Information Warfare, Press Release, SOF | 4 Comments »

DAF Selects JetZero to Develop Blended Wing Body Aircraft Prototype

Sunday, September 3rd, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —

The Department of the Air Force selected JetZero for the next phase of a blended wing body prototype aircraft project Aug. 16.

The effort aims to mature BWB technology and demonstrate its capabilities, giving the department and commercial industry more options for future air platforms.

With a design that differs from a traditional tube-and-wing aircraft, the BWB blends the aircraft body into its high-aspect-ratio wing, decreasing aerodynamic drag by at least 30% and providing additional lift. This increased efficiency will enable extended range, more loiter time, and increased payload delivery efficiencies, capabilities that are vital to mitigating logistics risks.

“Blended wing body aircraft have the potential to significantly reduce fuel demand and increase global reach,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. “Moving forces and cargo quickly, efficiently, and over long distance is a critical capability to enable national security strategy.”

Several military transport configurations are possible with the BWB. Together, these aircraft types account for approximately 60% of the Air Force’s total annual jet fuel consumption.

As outlined in the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the Department of Defense plans to invest $235 million over the next four years to fast-track the development of this transformational dual-use technology, with additional private investment expected. The effort is the result of collaboration between the Department of the Air Force, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Defense Innovation Unit, with assistance from the DoD’s Office of Strategic Capital.

“It’s been a little over a hundred years since a few brave Airmen took to the skies and proved the first aerial refueling capability, extending the global reach of our Air Force. This announcement marks another game-changing milestone for the Air Force in our efforts to maintain the advantage of airpower effectiveness against any future competitors,” said Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment. A former C-17 Globemaster III pilot and engineer, Chaudhary is leading efforts to ensure efficiencies in operational energy to build greater agility for theater commanders.

While the BWB concept has been around for decades, more recent technology advancements in structural design, materials technology, manufacturing, and other areas have made large-scale production achievable.

The commercial industry, including passenger airlines and air freight companies, stand to benefit from development of this technology as well, increasing available cabin or cargo space while decreasing operational fuel costs.

The Air Force Operational Energy Office expects completion of initial flight testing as early as 2027.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Contracts, Guest Post | Comments Off on DAF Selects JetZero to Develop Blended Wing Body Aircraft Prototype