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The Dutch Armed Forces and Rheinmetall Renew long-term Framework Agreement for Ammunition – Potential Aggregate Value of €500 Million

Friday, September 25th, 2020

Rheinmetall and the Dutch procurement agency Defence Materiel Organization (DMO) have renewed and expanded their longstanding framework agreement for the supply of various types of ammunition for a period of at least ten years. The framework agreement envisages annual call-offs of around €50 million, meaning that total volume could come to €500 million. The customer is already preparing for the first call-offs.

The framework agreement encompasses the supply of 35mm medium-calibre ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles, 40mm ROSY smoke/obscurant cartridges, and a family of state-of-the-art 155mm artillery ammunition.
Major General Ivo de Jong, Deputy Director of the DMO, and Roman Köhne, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH, signed the contract on 30 July 2020. This is another good example of the fruitful, longstanding cooperation between the DMO and the Düsseldorf-based weapon and ammunition specialist. The framework agreement follows a partnership agreement signed by the two parties just over a year ago and further underscores the customer’s strong confidence in Rheinmetall’s ammunition expertise.

By means of this agreement, the DMO wants to source safe, state-of-the-art ammunition for the Dutch armed forces – both today and tomorrow.

Under the aforementioned partnership agreement, Rheinmetall has already assumed full responsibility for the complete 155mm portfolio, which extends from the Assegai ammunition family to modular charges and fuses.

www.rheinmetall.com

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CBP Awards Contract for Agent Body Cameras

Friday, September 25th, 2020

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs & Border Protection has signed a $13 million contract with Axon Enterprises Inc. to equip 3,800 U.S. Border Patrol agents with body cameras and connection to a cloud-based digital evidence platform.

This Incident-Driven Video Recording System (IDVRS) will enhance transparency and accountability with the public, while providing additional documentation during enforcement incidents. Beginning next spring, the IDVRS will be deployed in phases to the following USBP sectors: San Diego, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, Big Bend, Del Rio, Rio Grande Valley, and Swanton sector on the northern border.

As part of CBP’s strategic focus, this effort will enhance transparency and accountability while strengthening the safety of our agents in the field. New and emerging technologies allow CBP to be more efficient and better serve the American public.

Policies guiding the use of the IDVRS are in their early stages, and specific details regarding the rollout of the system will be forthcoming in spring 2021.

By CBP

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FN Awarded US Army Contract for M249

Thursday, September 24th, 2020

(McLean, VA – September 24, 2020) FN America, LLC is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract to supply the U.S. Army with M249 Squad Automatic Weapons, also known as the M249 SAW. The contract is expected to be completed by 2025.

The FN M249 SAW has been a mainstay throughout the U.S. military since 1986 and is currently in service in more than 30 countries globally. FN has been the sole source manufacturer of the 5.56-chambered belt-fed lightweight machine gun. Designed for front line applications delivering crucial support at the infantry squad/fire team level, the FN M249 SAW provides highly accurate fire from a highly maneuverable light machine gun. The ergonomic polymer buttstock contains a hydraulic buffer that allows SAW gunners to maintain a high rate of fire with accuracy and effect.

“We are honored to continue our dedication as a critical partner to the U.S. military and pleased to announce this latest Army contract award for the FN M249 SAW, a flagship design for FN, in service for more than 30 years. The proven design has served the U.S. military, reliably and without fail,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO for FN America, LLC. “We look forward to building these machine guns at our production facility in Columbia, South Carolina.”

Throughout its history, FN has been one of the largest suppliers of small arms to the U.S. military. In addition to the M249 and its variants, the company currently holds contracts for the FN M240 medium machine gun and its variants; the FN MK 46, MK 48, MK 17 and MK 20 SSR for USSOCOM, and various other contracts.

For more information about FN’s military product line or current U.S. military contracts, please visit www.fnamerica.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, weapons | 4 Comments »

Kongsberg Awarded Contract to Deliver XM914 Remote Weapon Stations to the US Marine Corps for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System

Monday, September 21st, 2020

JOHNSTOWN, Penn. – Sept. 21, 2020 – Kongsberg Protech Systems USA has been awarded a contract to qualify an XM914 (30mmx113mm) remote weapon station (RWS) in support of the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) Program Manager Ground Based Air Defense Office. The systems will be integrated on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and will include a number of specialized counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and air defense capabilities. Kongsberg USA will deliver test articles and assist the USMC in performing Design Verification Testing (DVT) toward future production deliveries.

The Kongsberg XM914 RWS is the first 30mm remote weapon station to be qualified on the JLTV platform. It includes the XM914E1 30mmx113mm DC driven cannon with a co-axial M240 (7.62mm) machine gun, an integration kit for the Stinger Air-To-Air Launcher (ATAL) and provisions for future C-UAS defeat systems. The XM914 RWS leverages a significant number of components, Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), and capabilities from other Kongsberg RWS and Medium Caliber Turrets already delivered to both the USMC and the United States Army to bring logistical support efficiencies and overall commonality.

“Although a new class of weapon and station, it is based on a proven design and previously qualified components to provide the Marine Corps with a low-risk system that reduces the burden of provisioning and training across the service,” said Jeff Wood, general manager, Kongsberg Protech Systems USA. “We are very excited to have been selected once again by the Marine Corps for a challenging RWS program. We look forward to helping them meet an aggressive delivery schedule and provide Marines with a critical lethality capability.”

Kongsberg was recently selected to design and manufacture the remote Medium Caliber Turret (MCT) for the United States Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)-30 program. Kongsberg also provides all medium weight RWS for the Corps’ ACV and AAV platforms.

Kongsberg is the world’s leading manufacturer of RWS, delivering nearly 20,000 RWS units to more than 20 countries worldwide. All RWS systems – including turrets – bound for U.S. customers are manufactured in Kongsberg’s Johnstown, Penn. facility with significant support from a U.S. supply base.

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Quantico Tactical Announces a $950,000,000 Award for Air Force Special Warfare

Tuesday, September 15th, 2020

Aberdeen, North Carolina – September 2, 2020 – Quantico Tactical is pleased to announce the award of up to $950,000,000 as part of the United States Air Force Special Warfare – Multiple Award Contract, SW-MAC, for the Special Warfare Acquisition Group and Refresh (SWAGR) program. The contract was approved by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to provide a convenient contract vehicle for Air Force Special Warfare.

“We have an extensive history of supporting the U.S. Air Force with our rapid and simplified procurement processes,” said Sam Lerman, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “This contract award demonstrates our unwavering customer commitment and support for the varying mission requirements within Air Force Special Warfare.”

“This contract award is a result of the reputation Quantico Tactical has developed throughout the U.S. Military and federal agencies for providing on-time worldwide delivery of high-quality products from leading manufacturers. We value our relationships with customers, suppliers, and contracting professionals,” said David Hensley, Founder and CEO.

The contract is a 10-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award to provide equipment, training, and product support to approximately 3,500 Air Force Special Warfare operators, as well as authorized users in support of Special Warfare mission requirements. The contract’s overall objective is to rapidly procure supplies, provide supply chain management, product training, and support, and integrate into larger systems in support of mission requirements.

This contract provides support in the following areas:

Assault Zones (AZ): Capabilities supporting tactical zones of action, including drop zones and fixed-wing and rotary-wing landing zones supporting the forward projection of a force by air. AZ capabilities to be equipped under this contract include survey equipment for data collection and analysis, assessment of runway surface distress, and airfield geometrics to include obstacles and approach paths. Also required is airfield control equipment, including airfield markings/lighting, signaling devices, airspace de-confliction tools, and navigational aids.

Fires: Equipping operators for close air support, surface-based and air-to-surface fires, communications architecture, weapons data, digital fire support, and target designation and marking. For the contract’s purposes, this may include support to ACC-assigned Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)s.

Weather: Equipping operators to collect, analyze, tailor, and report critical meteorological and oceanographic information. Additional capabilities include environment analysis and forecasting, vertical atmospheric data collection, processing externally produced weather data, portable environmental observation, and unattended ground-based weather collection.

Personnel Recovery (PR): Equipping Pararescue Jumpers to prepare, recover, and reintegrate isolated personnel. PR capabilities include, but are not limited to, PR information management, locating survivors, rescue and recovery tools, analyzing environmental conditions, mass casualty management, recovery support, and reintegration. For the contract’s purposes, this includes the Guardian Angle Mission.

Enabling Capabilities: Common across all mission sets and career fields; include mission management, friendly force detection, geo-locating and range finding, visual augmentation, communications, unmanned capabilities, infiltration/exfiltration, and enhanced training.

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Farm to Feet Finds Success Supporting the US Military

Tuesday, September 15th, 2020

100% American sock brand wins large DLA contract

Mt. Airy, North Carolina (September 15, 2020)— Farm to Feet, makers of 100% American socks, announced today that it has been awarded a significant order from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for its US merino wool Kodiak and Fayetteville styles. This order is in support of the U.S. Army’s need for technically advanced socks for the warfighter.

“We design, develop, and manufacture the very best socks using only U.S. sourced materials,” said Kelly Nester, Farm to Feet CEO. “Those who serve in the armed services require socks that support their mission without fail. As a result, servicemembers are some of the most discerning critics, as they require socks that can stand up to the rigors of deployment. Receiving this contract further solidifies our belief in our products and Farm to Feet is honored to support our soldiers’ need for American-made socks.”

Named after the home of the Naval Special Warfare Cold Weather Detachment Kodiak, the Kodiak is a heavy weight sock knit with the traditional sock construction that produces classic heather textures with nylon plaiting and stretch yarns in the outer layers and U.S. merino wool body yarns on the inside. The nylon reinforcing yarns knit into the stretch shell increase durability, while the wool fibers that sit closer to the skin provide maximum comfort and insulation.

The Fayetteville is adapted from Farm to Feet’s most technically advanced hiking sock, the Damascus. Made with ultra-soft 19.5 micron U.S. merino wool on an advanced 200 needle knitting machine, the Fayetteville provides the comfort of a thicker sock in a lightweight package. The Fayetteville also feature micro-channel circumferential ventilation, targeted hexagonal reinforcement, and an improved comfort compression with LYCRA® fiber for reduced fatigue and added comfort.

To assist with the development of its military business, Farm to Feet recently engaged Rising Tide Associates, a boutique public affairs firm specializing in government affairs based in Marblehead, MA.

“At a time when there is an increasing focus on the need to support manufacturing in the United States, Rising Tide Associates is delighted to work with Farm to Feet on their strategic effort to grow business with the federal government,” said David Costello, Principal of Rising Tide Associates. “Farm to Feet offers a compelling proposition for the armed services – every pair of socks manufactured by Farm to Feet is Berry Compliant, using a completely domestic supply chain to ensure that from the sheep in the field to the sock on the foot, all materials and manufacturing are 100% domestic – offering a array of top performing socks that meets the needs of any military application.”

To learn more about Farm to Feet and its 100% American and Berry Compliant socks visit www.farmtofeet.com.

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HSI Awarded $1 million DND IDEaS Contract to Develop the Citadel Respirator Prototype

Monday, September 14th, 2020

Guelph, Ontario, Canada, September 2020 – HumanSystems® Incorporated has been awarded $1,000,000 through the Department of National Defence’s (DND) Innovation For Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program to continue its development of the CitadelTM (Pat. Pending) respirator designed to better protect soldiers in hazardous chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) environments.

This project follows a previous IDEaS contract to HumanSystems® Incorporated in 2019 to develop a proof of concept design. Working with the DND’s science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the goal of this twelve-month project is to further develop the CitadelTM respirator design to the point where it can be tested in realistic operational environments.

“Recent changes to Canadian Armed Forces policies allow for short beards and longer hairstyles. This funding will bring the novel CitadelTM respirator concept closer to commercialization and to providing a more protective CBRN Respirator/Mask for individuals with various face/head shapes, hairstyles, and/or facial hair,” says Harry Angel, the HSI® CitadelTM project technical lead.

The proof of concept CitadelTM respirator was designed to mitigate any leakage of contaminants into the respirator mask caused by various face shapes and/or beards or facial stubble. In preliminary user testing, individuals with beards or facial stubble could not achieve an acceptable fit factor with the standard protective mask, meaning that they were susceptible to contaminants entering the mask. The CitadelTM respirator design was able to achieve an acceptable fit factor well above the minimum acceptable standard. These promising results showed that people with beards and facial stubble would be significantly less vulnerable to contaminants entering the respirator mask.

The HSI® technical team, Harry Angel and Jordan Bray-Miners, bring over 30 years of experience in human factors for personal protective equipment, biomechanics and instrumentation design.

“The HSI® team is proud to work with DRDC and to advance the HSI® CitadelTM respirator concept to better protect people in the armed forces and wherever such protection might be needed,” says Jordan Bray-Miners, Senior Consultant at HSI .

www.humansys.com

For more than 35 years, with clients in Canada, the U.S. and other countries, HSI® has been a leader in human factors and human system integration support. We work in sectors including defence, emergency responders, health care, occupational safety and utilities. Individually and for teams, HSI® helps integrate people, performance and technology so systems work effectively, efficiently and safely. HSI® services include research, design, validation and training management. We focus on user fit between the abilities of the people and the technologies that together make up any system. In this way, HSI® supports product and system developers as well as procurement decision makers to reduce risks, lower life cycle costs and benefit return on investment.

IDEaS supports the development of solutions from their conceptual stage, through prototype testing and capability development. The program includes several elements that promote collaboration between innovators, provides developmental resources and provides opportunities to interact with DND’s science and military members. Through which all innovators are on an even playing field to solve specific defence and security challenges. For more about the program, see here: www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas

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German Bundeswehr Selects CG Haenel’s MK556 Carbine to Replace H&K G36

Monday, September 14th, 2020

According to the German language publication Soldat und Technik, the German Army has selected the CG Haenel MK556 carbine to replace the G36. The MK556 is a short-stroke piston design in 5.56mm NATO.

This ends the service’s multi-year search for a G36 replacement. The program to purchase around 120,000 new rifles began in 2017 and suffered a slight set back in 2019 when testing had to be reaccomplished. The G36 entered service in 1997 and underwent two upgrades during its service.

The MK556 beat out the new Heckler & Koch HK433 which was developed specifically for this tender after the German government told H&K that their existing HK416 (adopted by the German Kommando Spezialkräfte or, Special Forces) was too expensive.

Interestingly enough, Haenel part of the Merkel Group, which is under Tawazun Holding (United Arab Emirates) (Caracal). So the Bundeswehr is essentially getting a lower cost HK416.

Posted in Contracts, International, weapons | 19 Comments »