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Rheinmetall Stepping Up Delivery of Combat Helmets to the Bundeswehr: Quality Inspection Successfully Concluded

Thursday, December 15th, 2022

Rheinmetall has reached another milestone on the road to equipping the German military with a new combat helmet. On 6 December 2022, Christine Lambrecht, the German defence minister, took official delivery of the first items of military clothing and personal equipment ordered by the Bundeswehr in response to the abruptly changed security situation in Europe. The equipment includes the new combat helmet being supplied by Rheinmetall. Quick off the mark, Rheinmetall had already successfully concluded formal qualification of the tactical headgear as well as quality inspection of the first three lots of subsequent procurements.

In November 2020 the Bundeswehr placed an initial order with Rheinmetall for an advanced combat helmet. The framework agreement encompassed delivery of up to 20,000 “Combat Helmet, Special Forces, Heavy”. A first call-off of 5,000 helmets came the same month. The helmets were initially earmarked for special operations forces and specialized troops with an expanded basic capability for conducting special operations, as well as for equipping NATO’s VJTF 2023 spearhead force. In March 2022, spurred by the dramatic turn of events in Europe, the Bundeswehr significantly expanded its order. The new helmet model would now be known as the “Combat Helmet, Armed Forces”. In all, the follow-up order encompasses some 300,000 helmets, which will be supplied to the German military during the period 2022-2025. Rheinmetall is cooperating in this programme with two strategic partners. Total order volume exceeds €200 million.
Providing improved protection and more comfortable to wear, the new combat helmets feature decibel-independent hearing protection and a night observation device. They will substantially enhance the combat effectiveness of German infantry forces.

Since 2020, nearly 34,000 helmets have been supplied. By the end of the year, a further 11,000 will reach the troops. The order was won by Rheinmetall Soldier Electronics of Stockach, Germany. A specialist supplier of laser light modules, the company is extremely well-connected in the soldier systems segment.

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The iMUGS Consortium Demonstrates Autonomous Missions with Robotic Systems

Thursday, December 15th, 2022

The integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (iMUGS) project Consortium showcased the usage of autonomous unmanned ground systems for various defence missions, including intelligence gathering, casualty evacuation and last mile re-supply at the projects penultimate demonstration in Versailles, France. The event was led by Safran and Nexter and supported by other consortium members.

All the partners met in the premises of Nexter Robotics, made available during the weeks of integration and validation preceding the demonstration.

During the demonstration, three Milrem Robotics’ THeMIS UGVs equipped with payloads from the consortium members and cooperation partners fulfilled several autonomous missions to demonstrate the ability of the complete iMUGS system. These included autonomous mission planning from the operator’s point of view, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) with object detection and recognition, autonomous re-supply and casualty evacuation and cyber threat response.

The missions, performed by the French armed forces, presented how manned units can utilize unmanned systems to conduct missions more safely and effectively. “Unmanned systems increase stand-off distance from the enemy and, thanks to various sensors and effectors, provide soldiers the means to gather a higher quantity and much more precise information about their operation area than humans are capable of,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics, the iMUGS Consortium lead.

“Autonomous unmanned assets are a game changer for armed forces as they allow the allocation of soldiers to more important tasks,” Väärsi added.

The UGV’s autonomous functionality that includes follow-me, waypoint navigation and obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities was developed by consortium members Diehl Defence, Milrem Robotics, Nexter and Safran. ISR was provided by OTEOS, the Escribano Mechanical & Engineering’s Electro Optic System, SAAB Grintek’s Laser Warning System (LWS) and Metravib Defence’s PEARL acoustic shot detection. Radio communication was provided by Bittium’s software defined radios.

The command and control (C2) and tactical C2ISR by GMV and sol.one were setup in the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann’s Boxer Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) with a C2 mission module and a static command centre. Cyber threat response was provided by Talgen. dotOcean and Insta showcased, via video, global and local swarming capabilities, respectively, in their in-house simulator.

The demonstration organized in France was the fifth of a total of six demonstrations held during the iMUGS project. The previous demonstrations were held in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Belgium. The last will be held in December in Germany.

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Galvion Wins Major NSPA Contract to Supply Ballistic Combat Helmets to NATO

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Galvion, a world leader in innovative head protection systems and power and data management solutions, has been awarded a framework contract by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to supply its flagship Batlskin Caiman® ballistic helmet system. This announcement places Galvion as a major supplier of higher performance helmet systems, typically used by Special Operations Forces (SOF), to any NATO country wishing to purchase through NSPA.

The contract was awarded following extensive user trials conducted by the lead user nation under the supervision of the NSPA. The contract duration is three years with options to be extended to a maximum of seven years.

Selected by NSPA to meet the higher performance bracket of four specified helmet categories, Galvion’s flagship Batlskin Caiman® helmet comes in five sizes and is equipped with the very latest APEX lining system, an intuitively adjustable design that enables a customized fit for users. The Caiman helmet is scalable for highly dynamic operations, with mission-specific accessories (visor, mandible and helmet cover) also available through the framework contract. The helmet system has been tried and tested on operations and is already in service across multiple countries, primarily for SOF use, delivering unmatched levels of weight and comfort, and is expressly designed to incorporate electronics, communications headsets, and other critical equipment needs, now and into the future.

Jonathan Blanshay, CEO at Galvion said: I’m particularly proud to announce this contract award today. The Caiman system was developed over a number of years with extensive SOF operator collaboration and feedback, specifically with an eye to the future needs of users. It is a platform with a unique combination of agility, protection, weight reduction, and scalability, built to meet the real-world demands of the modern battlefield. Added Blanshay, This framework contract presents an exciting opportunity to get this class-leading helmet to a vast cross-section of those it was designed to serve, and we look forward to working through NSPA to outfit operators across NATO for years to come.

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Slovakia Signs $1.37 Billion Deal for 152 CV90s under Government-to-Government Agreement

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Dec. 12, 2022 – As part of a government-to-government agreement between Sweden and the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic has signed a $1.37 billion (€1.3 billion) agreement for the delivery of 152 CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) from BAE Systems. The CV90s will be produced and delivered in several configurations with the full cooperation of Slovak industry including ZTS – ŠPECIÁL as the main industry partner to BAE Systems. Other Slovak state-owned and private companies will take critical roles in producing the vehicles and supporting the program in the longer term.

The Slovak Army will receive the newest iteration of the CV9035, known as the CV90MkIV, with the latest advanced capabilities and digital technology. The vehicle combines improved battlefield speeds and handling with an upgraded electronic architecture to support future growth and meet the needs of the evolving battlefield.

The Slovak CV90s will be equipped with the new state-of-the-art D-series turret with a 35 mm gun. The turret provides CV9035 crews with improved protection and amplified combat efficiency through the latest generation of sensors, artificial intelligence and augmented reality software, increasing the CV9035s multi-domain capabilities on the battlefield. The Slovak CV9035 will also be equipped with Elbit Systems’ “Iron Fist” active protection system (APS) solution and an integrated, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ SPIKE-LR, an advanced anti-tank guided missile.

Of the 152 vehicles, 122 will be delivered in the infantry fighting vehicle variant. Twelve IFVs will be built in a new configuration for the Anti-Material Rifles and Grenade Launcher Squad. The remaining vehicles will include Command & Control, Reconnaissance and Engineer and Recovery variants, aimed at providing specialist combat logistics support. The contract also covers training and education systems, as well as tactical simulators.

“I am excited for another major modernization project for our land forces. With these vehicles, we are fulfilling our commitment from a few years ago – to build a heavy mechanized brigade. I am looking forward to close cooperation with our partners who are already using the Swedish vehicles,” said Minister of Defence Jaroslav Na?.

“The Swedish IFV CV90 meets the criteria of the Slovak Armed Forces. Today, we upgraded the cooperation not only between our armed forces, but also between our countries. I am glad that modernisation of the Slovak Armed Forces is rapidly moving forward. In the last two years, the pace of our army’s modernization achieved levels that have not been seen in decades,” said Marian Majer, State Secretary of Defence.

“The collaboration between Sweden and Slovakia will further strengthen the relationship between the nations. CV90 has been the backbone of the Swedish Armed Forces for decades,” said Pål Jonson, Minister for Defence for Sweden. “Sweden now looks forward to supporting Slovakia in introducing the CV90, the leading infantry fighting vehicle, as a key capability also for the Slovak Army.”

“We are committed to delivering an infantry fighting vehicle that meets the Slovak Army’s requirements now and in the future,” said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, which designs and produces the CV90.

“This is an important moment in our nations’ relations and we are honored to be part of this alongside our Slovak industry partners. We look forward to cooperating with Slovakia and we are building the program to deliver these vehicles on a proven industrial cooperation approach,” added Gustafsson-Rask.

The contract will provide Slovak industry with a significant opportunity to invest in its skills and capabilities for many years to come. Strategic collaboration with local suppliers enables them to play a high-value role throughout the production and lifecycle of the CV9035 and all its variants.

The Slovak Republic joins the CV90 User Club as the 8th member. The organization currently consists of seven countries, four of them members of NATO: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

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Rampart Range Day & Expo 2023

Tuesday, December 13th, 2022

The 2023 Rampart Range Day & Expo is coming up on 30 May, 2023 at the Stittsville Range near Ottawa, Ontario in Canada.

To sign up, visit rampartcorp.com/rampart-range-day.

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Conlog Group Receives Finnish Defence Force Communications Contract

Tuesday, December 13th, 2022

Monday 12 December, 2022: Conlog Group announces that it has been selected by the Finnish Defence Forces for the design, implementation, documentation, use and maintenance of containerised communication stations.

The self-contained stations will allow Finnish forces to maintain communications in challenging environments.

Over the lifetime of the contact if all options are exercised the value of the project will amount to €39.1 million. In terms of workload, it will equate to 113 person-years per annum to the company.

Announcing the contract CEO of Conlog Group, Juha Moisio, said: “This is a major contract for Conlog Group and shows that when it comes to building transportable installations that can meet the most challenging of environments then it is Conlog that the Finnish Defence Forces trust.”

“One of the advantages we have is that our engineers all know the type of environments in which military personnel need to deploy as nearly all of us have undertaken military service at some point. That means that we can combine real world experience of operations to ensure that each and every solution we design meets those real-world requirements,” he added.

The solution being developed for the Finnish Defence Forces is based on one of Conlog Group’s main product lines – its containerised communications installations – but will be further developed to meet the specific requirements of the Finnish Defence Forces.

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NP Aerospace & Supacat Deliver Training Vehicles to UK MOD

Monday, December 12th, 2022

NP Aerospace and Supacat have repurposed a number of IED damaged High Mobility Truck Variant (HMTV) vehicles for UK Ministry of Defence training under the Protected Mobility Engineering & Technical Support (PMETS) Contract.

The vehicles have been repurposed by NP Aerospace and Supacat engineering teams for the Defence School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME) in Lyneham. Effectively introducing a simulated training aid that will improve MOD vehicle knowledge and contribute to continued safety improvements.

The initiative has enabled two HMTV Platforms, previously used for training to be returned field Army for operational use and increasing the number of in-service vehicles. The project involved the collection, strip-down, refurbishment and rebuild of three HMTV vehicles to provide five training aids including four static and one mobile skeletonised module. These will be used to assist apprentices and qualified technicians on various courses run by DSEME.

David Petheram, Chief Operating Officer, NP Aerospace, said: “The objective of the UK MOD PMETS Protected Mobility Engineering & Technical Support Contract is to deliver vehicle upgrades and improvements that drive enhancements in safety and performance capability across the fleet, whilst introducing new innovations and sustaining proven platforms. The new HMTV training aids developed with Supacat are a great example of vehicle reuse and engineering innovation for the benefit of improving expertise and knowledge.”

Phil Applegarth, Director of Supacat, commented: “The HMTV platform is a proven platform for use in harsh environments. By refurbishing damaged vehicles and upgrading them with the latest improvements for training, we are able to demonstrate our commitment to ensuring MOD teams are knowledgeable about their equipment, which ultimately keeps crew safe and maximises training or operational availability.”

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DEFTEX Announces New Distribution Partnership with Qore Performance, Inc. for Germany

Sunday, December 11th, 2022

USA and Germany: Defence Textile is a young German company specializing in the Military and Law Enforcement sectors. Their focus is providing innovative and high-quality equipment for professional end-users. DEFTEX is happy to announce that they are now an official distributor of the Qore Performance IceAge Ecosystem of thermoregulation/hydration performance-enhancing tools for Germany. “We can offer now our German customers outstanding products such as IcePlate Curve thermoregulation/hydration systems and IceVents Ultralight Ventilated Padding. Another advantage for our customers is the fast in-stock availability and low shipping costs. We look forward to future cooperation with Qore Performance,” said Florian Fenkes of DEFTEX.

www.deftex.info

www.QorePerformance.com

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