Northrop Grumman has received a revised contract to produce three X-47B air vehicles, three mission control systems and a common operating system and conduct an operational assessment under the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Joint Unmanned Combat Air System programme. Raytheon is to build 2,135 Tomahawk Block 4 ship and submarine-launched cruise missiles for the US Navy and 65 for use from UK Royal Navy submarines under a five-year contract worth $1.6 billion. CMC Electronics will supply head-up and head-down displays for six Pilatus PC-9M trainers being built for the Bulgarian air force. The Canadian company will also supply dual GPS-based flight management systems for Pilatus's new PC-21 trainer. Orbital Sciences and Space Vector have each received US Air Force contracts potentially worth $50 million to launch sounding rockets. Stork Aerospace subsidiary Fokker Services has received a five-year contract worth €30 million ($37 million) for the maintenance and modification of Royal Netherlands Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters. Goodrich is to provide the integrated vehicle health management system for the US Army's upgraded Sikorsky UH-60M utility helicopters. EADS Defence Electronics is to protect German army Sikorsky CH-53 transport helicopters from missile attack in Afghanistan by equipping the aircraft with its AAR-60 missile launch detection system. The deal covers modifications to an initial six aircraft. BAE Systems is to supply digital autopilots to upgrade 120 US Navy Lockheed Martin P-3 maritime-patrol aircraft under a $42 million contract. TAT Industries is to provide logistics and maintenance support for three French air force EADS Casa CN-235 transport aircraft based in Martinique. The work will take place under a four-year deal placed by the French defence ministry. Spain's Indra has received a €28 million ($34.6 million) contract to supply the Portuguese air force with one 3D air defence radar in 2008. The system will form part of a Portuguese air command-and-control system scheduled for completion by 2011. AAI has received a $16 million contract to provide logistics support for the US Army's Shadow unmanned air vehicles until 31 July 2005. The Greek army's fleet of Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are to be equipped with BAE Systems Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids System under a foreign military sales contract signed with the US Army earlier this month.
Source: Flight International
