Along ENVC-Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo SA, another Portuguese company will be at DSEI 2009 (Defence Systems & Equipment International) trading event.

The company, EID-Empresade Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Electrónica SA, will show and promote its ICCS (Integrated Communications Control System) internat communications management system for surface vessels and submarines.

In the land field, EID SA will display the ICC-201 intercom suite for armoured vehicles with CC-201 and CC-202 terminals, the PRC-525 combat net radios and its MT-525 and DS-101 docking stations for double mounts, the CD-116 field digital switchboard, the BLC-201 field telephone, the TMC media converter and as well the MA-250 antenna multi-coupler.

At DSEI 2009 (Defence Systems & Equipment International) trading event to be held from September 8 to 11 in London, Portuguese shipbuilding company ENVC-Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo SA will exhibit a model of its NPO (Navio de Patrulha Oceânico) ocean patrol vessel.

One of the most important and useful systems on a naval vessel is the EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infra-Red) device because when fitted on the ship, the crew can have a vision of what is happening close to the vessel at both day/night times. In the particular case of the Portuguese Navy NPO (Navio de Patrulha Oceânico), the 1600 Tonnes P-360 NRP Viana do Castelo patrol vessel manufactured by ENVC SA for the Portuguese Navy, is fitted with the Sagem Défense Sécurité VIGY 10 MkIII surveillance system.

The system is modular, remote controlled, stabilized, compact and easy to operate and integrate and feature protection against water and salt spray, panoramic stabilized line of sight, 24 hours surveillance, navigation and piloting aid, surveillance of sensitive areas, improved navigation safety and assistance in search-and-rescue operations

The two Portuguese Navy U209PN submarines is being fitted with a Saab Avitronics Pty Ltd and Medav GmbH combined tactical Electronic Support Measures/Electronic INTelligence (ESM/ELINT), SIGINT (SIGnal INTelligence) and COMmunications INTelligence (COMINT) system described as the most complex submarine Electronic Warfare (EW) suite developed to date.

South African company Saab Avitronics Pty Ltd is also supplying a derivative of its UME-200 system to meet the U209PN ESM requirement, a laser warning sensor and the threat data management software system. The U209PN COMINT LF/MF/HF and VHF/UHF bands (300 kHz to 3 GHz) processor is based on the MEDAV GmbH CRS-8000 system. The ESM/COMINT solution feature multiple antennas distributed across three masts of the submarine.

German Howaldswerke Deutsche Werft GmbH (part of Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems AG) is manufacturing two AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) powered submarines NRP Tridente and NRP Arpão to be delivered in 2010 and 2011 respectively and operated by the 5º Esquadrilla de Submarinos (5th Submarines Squadron).

The Portuguese Ministry of Defence procurement agency DGAED (Direcção Geral de Armamento e Equipamentos de Defesa) is planning to launch a procurement programme for the construction of a single LPD (Landing Platform Dock) type vessel called NPL (Navio Polivalente Logístico). The vessel construction is included on the 2009 LPM (Lei de Programação Militar) procurement law revision planned to be released before the end of the year by the new Portuguese Government to be elected in September 27. Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft GmbH (part of Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems AG) already delivered the vessel design project under the two U209PN submarines procurement offset package.

The NPL is a 10.500 Tonnes joint vessel to be operated on joint armed forces operations like strategic lift, troop transport, medical aid and humanitarian lift. At 162 Meters long, the NPL is planned to be fitted with a air defense system (probably a CIWS), 20mm guns, an electronic warfare suite, SATCOM and INMARSAT communication systems.

The ship will have a range of 6000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 kt and can reach a maximum speed of 20 kt. With a crew of 150 the NPL can sail for up to 30 days without replenishment and accommodation is provided for component of up to 650. The vessel can operate four medium transport helicopters or six light helicopters, six LCM´s and transport wheeled and armoured vehicles and 53 light rigid boats.

Under a EUR 25 Million contract, the Portuguese Ministry of Interior has awarded INDRA Sistemas Portugal SA (part of Spanish INDRA Sistemas SA) the development and integration of the SIVICC (Sistema Integrado de Vigilância de Comando e Controlo) coastal surveillance system to be installed across the Portuguese coast. SIVICC will replace the LAOS system from Elbit Systems Ltd. The SIVICC will be managed and operated by the GNR´s (Guarda Nacional Republicana) UCC (Unidade de Controlo Costeiro) coastal intervention force and cover the installation of mobile and fixed radars, surveillance cameras and thermal observation systems along the utilization of light patrol and rapid intervention vessels.  INDRA Sistemas SA has been selected over solutions submitted by Advanced Resources/Amper SA, EADS/Critical Software SA, Finmecanica´s Selex Sistemi Integrati, Thales/Thales Security Solutions & Services SA and GlobalEDA. The LAOS system is based on OPAL-P thermal observation and recording systems manufactured by Elop Ltd (part of Elbit Systems Ltd). The SIVICC can integrate data’s received by the VTS (Vessel Traffic System) system and share information with national military and security organizations. The system will can be linked to the Spanish SIVE (Sistema Integrado de Vigilância Exterior) surveillance system deployed on the Mediterranean coast.

According Portuguese news agency LUSA, the Portuguese Army day ceremony will be held this year in the Northern city of Braga from October 24 to 25. The event include a military parade and the display of weaponry used by Portugal´s land forces.

Along with other European partners, Portuguese company Skysoft Portugal – Software e Tecnologias de Informação SA (part of Spanish GMV Group) is involved on the development of the MUSAS (Multi Sensor Anti Sniper System) project managed by the European Defense Agency (EDA). The MUSAS main goal is to research about technologies on acoustic, radar sensors, image processing, data fusion, intelligence information, human machine interface fields in order to real-time reliable estimation of the sniper position before the first shot and disseminate this information in a properly manner for neutralization

In May, French armoured and tactical vehicles manufacturer Renaults Trucks Defense (part of Volvo Group) has trialed its SHERPA 2 patrol carrier and SHERPA 3 FS (Forces Spéciales) rapid intervention vehicle in Portugal at three Army and Navy facilities (BrigMec, OGME facilities in Lisbon and at the Fuzileiros base).

The company has also trialed the vehicles in Spain on a demonstration for the Spanish Navy Infanteria de Marina.

With its SHERPA´s, Renaults Trucks Defense is looking to place its light vehicle as the winner of the Portuguese Ministry of Defence procurement agency DGAED (Direcção Geral de Armamento e Equipamentos de Defesa) VTLB (Viatura Táctica Ligeira com Blindagem) 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicle programme. A RFP (Request For Proposals) is expected to be launched before the end of 2009 or during early 2010. The MoD first planned to launch the RFP in March 2008 but the decision has since been delayed. The procurement will can be made in several batches rather than a contract for all the 150 vehicles in several configurations.

(All pictures courtesy of Renault Trucks Defense).

The VTLB programme call for the procurement of 101 protected vehicles for the Portuguese Army BRR (Brigada de Reação Rápida) special forces brigade, 33 for Navy Corpo de Fuzileiros da Armada marine corp and 16 for the Portuguese Air Force military police in order to replace the CONDOR 4×4 armoured carrier.

Other possible contenders includes vehicles from URO Vehículos Especiales SA, BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa, Iveco DV SpA, AM General LLC, Mowag GmbH and Panhard General Defense.

The Air Command and Control System Level of Operational Capability 1 (ACCS LOC1) project, a NATO C2 programme will be implemented by ACSI Air Command Systems International (a ThalesRaytheonSystems company) at the Portuguese Air Force Monsanto command and control site.