Aerosystems International (Ael) has been awarded a £7 million ($10 million) UK Ministry of Defence contract to equip eight of the Royal Air Force's air-to-air tanker fleet with tactical data links. Ael will fit Rockwell Collins URC-138(V) terminals, which are significantly smaller than the "small fridge" size and significantly heavier systems fitted by Ael as a temporary measure at the start of the war in Afghanistan, during which six RAF tankers deployed to refuel US Navy fighters The Colombian defence ministry has signed a deal with the Andean Group - a Siemens/Thales ATM joint venture - to supply communications systems for new air bases in the Latin American country. The contract includes VCS-C voice communications and consoles for six bases and upgrades for previously-supplied Thales equipment at 11 other bases Magellan Aerospace has received a two-year, C$60 million ($37 million) contract extension for repair and overhaul of General Electric F404s powering Canadian Forces' Boeing CF-18s. The deal reduces costs by consolidating previously separate contracts with Magellan's Bristol Aerospace and Orenda The Italian subsidiary of newly formed European missile house MBDA has received an Italian air force contract for logistics support of the ASA (Aspide Sparrow Auxiliary System) from Lockheed F-104ASMStarfighters Innovative Solutions & Support will supply reduced vertical separation minimum-compliant air data instrumentation for the US Air Force's Boeing KC-135 tanker fleet under a $5.4 million contract Finmeccanica's avionics arm, Galileo Avionica, has received a €30 million ($26.5 million) contract to supply and maintain Mirach 100/5 aerial targets from the French defence ministry. Options could increase the deal's value to €75 million. The targets are to be employed at the Centre d'Essai des Landes and Centre d'Essai de la Mediterranée ranges from the second half of next year.
Source: Flight International
