EADS and a consortium led by Snecma have received a g1.3 billion ($1.3 billion) French defence ministry contract to continue development of the M51 ballistic missile, which will be deployed on France's submarines beginning in 2010. ITT Industries, Northrop Grumman, Mission Research and Voss Scientific have each received $16.3 million US Air Force Research Laboratory contracts to investigate the lethality of high-power microwave (HPM) devices and the susceptibility of US systems to HPM threats. Israel Military Industries is to produce an additional 140 improved tactical air-launched decoys for the US Navy under a $21.6 million contract. Northrop Grumman has received a $50.8 million US Air Force contract to produce directed infrared countermeasures systems for two Boeing C-17s and seven Lockheed Martin C-130s. The company has received $18.7 million to provide Litening II targeting pods for US Marine Corps Boeing AV-8Bs. Saab Avionics is to develop and produce a self-protection electronic-warfare suite for Swedish NH Industries NH90 helicopters under an SKr122 million ($14 million) contract. The suite, developed in co-operation with South Africa's Avitronics, includes radar, laser and missile warning and a countermeasures dispensing system. Lockheed Martin has received a $32 million US Air Force contract to provide a C-130J cockpit systems trainer and cockpit procedures trainer for Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, The company has received a $30 million US Navy contract to install developmental organic airborne mine-countermeasures systems on five US Navy Sikorsky MH-60S helicopters. BAE Systems is to provide in-service support for the UK's Joint Force Harrier fleet under a Ministry of Defence contract potentially worth £70 million ($112 million) over 10 years. Boeing has received $28.7 million to produce 18 Harpoon anti-ship missiles for South Korea, five for Taiwan and two for the United Arab Emirates, plus 10 containers for Japan.
Source: Flight International
