LM JLTV Undergoes Successful Design Review

Lockheed Martin's family of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles successfully completed a top-to-bottom government design review in late December, well ahead of the first Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) JLTVs That Will begin rolling off the assembly line this spring.

Understanding the Design Review, Which was Held December 18 through 20, all items of Assessed Lockheed Martin's JLTV design and overall maturity and Confirmed icts Requirements Compliance.

"We are focused on our servicemen and Ensuring That women get the very best equipment for the mission," Said Scott Greene, vice president of Ground Vehicles for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Our JLTV is affordable to buy and to Both operate. It Provides proven performance with room to upgrade capabilities as required and is ready for production. "

In refining icts EMD design, the Lockheed Martin JLTV team has optimized model Already proven in government testing. The production-enhanced JLTV Maintains the proven force protection, reliability and transportability of the Technology Demonstration Earlier model, while Significantly Reducing weight and cost. Lockheed Martin's JLTV design improvements from more than Reflects 160.000 combined testing miles.

Improved ALPS battery on way

Advanced Lithium Power Source batteries are to be improved for use with the U.S. Army's Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System.

Improvements under the $1.2 million contract from the Defense Logistics Agency to high-tech battery maker Saft, will include quicker recharging, decrease in battery weight and longer life cycle.

"The ALPS battery will provide greater power capacity, speed and efficiencies in the field which are crucial to mission success for our military personnel," said Thomas Alcide, general manager of Saft's Specialty Battery Group. "Saft is proud that this contract and our partnership with the Defense Logistics Agency will result in manufacturing improvements that will meet additional tactical needs in the future."

The ALPS battery is a compact energy storage unit with integrated charger and Saft it will adapt components of its Lithium Battery Box for the Improved Target Acquisition System Lithium Battery Box developed for the TOW missile system. The ALPS integrated charger version will offer 24 to 28V and consist of a 100 Amp hour energy storage unit compatible with military vehicle batteries and AC generators.

Kaman receives $35M bomb fuse order

The Kaman Corp. of Connecticut has received a $35.5 million purchase order for bomb fuses from an unidentified customer.

The number of Joint Programmable Fuses to be supplied in the commercial order was also not disclosed. Kaman, however, said the fuses would be delivered to the customer this year and next.

"This order is an endorsement of the functionality and reliability of the JPF and we are pleased to expand the relationship with our current customer base," said Kaman Aerospace Group President, Greg Steiner.

Kaman's Joint Programmable Fuse allows the weapon to be programmed for detonation on-wing and in-flight. It's used by the U.S. Air Force and by the militaries of 23 other countries.

Sagem book to the first 150 French Army Binoculars Infrared Mutifonction JIM LR 2 program JIR-TTA-NG

Sagem (Safran) delivered on 5 December the first 150 multifunction infrared binoculars JIM LR 2 in the French Army, in accordance with market JIR TTA NG (1) and its schedule. Involving a total of 1175 twins, this program has been notified by the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) awarded Sagem, contractor, in December 2010.

In a single handheld device, the JIM LR 2 includes the following features: day vision and thermal telemetry, laser pointer, compass, GPS and data transmission. It is compatible with the integrated combat system FELIN the dismounted soldier.

JIM LR 2 provides several major improvements over the earlier versions of Sagem JIM LR:

    improved performance in detecting,

    a pointer to more long-range fire support,

    independence gained more than 30%

    a recording capacity of image and video-product.

    Associated with a new terminal operating distance, the JIM LR 2 is true optronic surveillance zone, information or support, landed mode or from a vehicle.

The delivery follows a state qualifying campaign led by the DGA centers from February to June 2012 in order to validate the performance of the JIM LR 2, the operational evaluation was conducted by the armed forces.

Produced by Sagem in the establishment of Poitiers, the JIM LR is used by several NATO countries for the infantry, artillery, intelligence, special forces, support of troops in contact, border protection and the coast. To date, 5,000 JIM LR are in service or on order worldwide, including 2,000 for all French armies.

(1) Infrared Binoculars - All Weapons New Generation. 150 JIM LR 2 were received by the 2nd Regiment Hardware (Bruz) at the end of the recipe handed down by the DGA.

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USMC Shop for Hand-Held Target Acquisition Devices

In November 2012 the US Marine Corps has awarded development contracts worth $12 million to four companies to come up with hand-held integrated laser rangefinders (LRF) for the Common Laser Range Finder Integrated Capability (CLRF IC) system.

The companies selected for this preliminary phase are Raytheon Co. EO Innovations business unit, Elbit Systems of America, Jenoptik Defense Inc. and BAE Systems OASYS. CLRF IC is expected to weigh no more than three pounds – light enough for one Marie infantryman to carry – it will provide improved integrated night-vision capability, internal selective availability anti-spoofing module (SAASM) GPS, and non-magnetic azimuth capability. The contracts span over 19 months. By summer 2014 the Marines plan to select one of the four systems and field the first units a year later. Overall, the corps plans to spend about $45 million in the acquisition of up to 2,200 light and medium weight systems.The new system will integrate different elements currently fielded with separate devices into a single, lightweight hand-held system. Some of the companies contracted for the development phase already have systems addressing most of the requirements – for example, Jenoptics’ NYXUS BIRD and Elbit Systems’ MARS system are already available, providing all the essential requirements. The current version of the MARS exceeds the CLRF IC weight threshold by about one pound. A similar laser designating system from Elbit Systems, the Serpent-M (JTAC LTD) has already entered service with the Marine Corps in 2011, supporting Joint Tactical Air Control (JTAC) teams offering markedly reduced weight of their gear.

In a press release issued yesterday Jenoptik said it intends to use the ‘NYXUS BIRD’ as the baseline system for its CLRF IC offering. At a gross weight of 1.5 kg it meets the weight weight goal, and the current elements already comprise a day and night observation device aimed to combine a thermal imaging device, a range finder, GPS and a digital compass in a compact package. In addition to the direct view channel with seven-times magnification, an infrared channel is available to the user for observation during the night.

Harris Receives $7 M for Falcon Tactical Radios from USSOCOM

Wideband manpack radio systems modernize USSOCOM tactical communications.
    Radios provide Type-1 secure tactical communications for voice, video and wideband data.
    Upgradeable software-defined platform supports existing and emerging mission requirements.

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has received $7 million in orders to supply the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) with additional Falcon multiband manpack radios and accessories.

The combat-proven Falcon III® AN/PRC-117G allows operators to communicate by Type-1 secure voice, video, and wideband data and support a growing number of network-enabled missions, including intelligence reporting and analysis, collaborative chat, e-mail, biometric enrollments and more.

"The AN/PRC-117G's software-defined and upgradeable platform enables Special Operations Forces to use high-speed data, voice and real-time video to address its Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance requirements," said George Helm, president, Department of Defense business, Harris RF Communications. "Widely deployed across all branches of the U.S. Department of Defense, the AN/PRC-117G meets emerging mission requirements by providing unprecedented situational awareness for dismounted and vehicular warfighters."

Robotics and Nexter created!

Robotics is undoubtedly one of the major technological breakthroughs in the field land currently is becoming an issue for sizing the army. The advocacy group has understood French land and is engulfed, with the robot Nerva (photo) during the last Eurosatory. Today, Nexter formalizes its ambitions and create a new structure, a subsidiary owned 100% independent, with its own premises and means, like other units Nexter (Munitions, Electronics, Systems ...) and named " Nexter Robotics. "

Equipped with a capital of 2.5 million, the new company is based in Satory and already has a small team of 4 people, almost 6, recruiting profiles technicians. "His work ranges from design to marketing mini-robots military and public safety adapted to hostile environments, including manufacturing and support, and has its own means of production," says the new CEO of the entity, Joel Morillon, robotics specialist, formerly Thales.

"Our goal is to have a structure very responsive," says the new CEO, "to enjoy a short loop at the same time with the client to adapt to their needs, but also with the academic world (laboratory , SMEs, schools ...) to set to music that need. "The means of production therefore cover various trades, mechanics, electronics, through the construction of hulls ...

This is an innovative SME that Nexter created with a spirit of "start-up" oriented responsiveness. "The two major axes Nexter Robotics offer a robust, that is reliable and secure, both in its design but also in its operation (with automated features such as a return on its traces when the robot loses the radio signal to the operator is not exposed to danger for recovery ...). Second line of effort: aggressive prices. "Knowing that the price range for a mini-robot starts today from 100 million euros ...

The product range is based on Nerva, which will change and decline. An "XL" version should be released, including a 6-wheel version with a payload greater, view the army, but also a lighter version at low cost.Marketing of Nerva begin in the first half of this year, a technical evaluation is now underway by the 2nd REI (Foreign Infantry Regiment) de Nîmes that tests multiple devices.