SaabTech Electronics has won a SKr135 million ($13 million) contract from the UK's Flight Refuelling to supply 300 BOL chaff and flare countermeasures dispensers for the Eurofighter electronic warfare system. Options could raise the total to 1,200 units. Israel's Elbit Systems has won an order from the Romanian defence ministry for upgrading Mikoyan MiG-21UM two-seater fighter/trainers to Lancer standard. Elbit, with Romanian partner Aerostar, has already upgraded more than 90 MiG-21 single- and two-seat MiG-21s to Lancer standard. Also included in the new contract is an additional Lancer full mission simulator. The US Department of Defense says Kuwait plans to purchase 16 Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters worth $640 million and four Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transports and two KC-130J tankers valued at $400 million. United Industrial's AAI subsidiary has won a $7.5 million order from Romania for its Shadow 600 unmanned air vehicle system. The deal includes "multiple air vehicles", a ground station, a ground data terminal and other support equipment. AAI completed a similar contract last year. The Swedish defence material administration has awarded Ericsson Saab Avionics a further SKr49 million contract to develop electronic warfare technologies. Four companies have been selected to compete to provide launch services under the US Air Force's sounding rocket follow-on programme (SRP-2). Coleman Research, Lockheed Martin, Orbital Sciences and Space Vector will compete for contracts totalling $96 million. The programme covers ballistic flight tests with ranges less than 5,500km. The UK Ministry of Defence has selected Nortel Networks as preferred bidder for a £100 million ($140 million) contract to supply the UK Joint Rapid Reaction Force with the Cormorant secure communications network.
Source: Flight International
