Dutch shipbuilding company Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding has secured a contract for the construction of a JSS (Joint Logistics Support Ship) vessel for the country RNLN (Royal Netherlands Navy).

Delivery of the 28,000 Tonnes and 205 Meters long vessel is scheduled to be held in July of 2014 to replace Poolster Class tanker A832 HrMs Zuiderkruis.

The construction of the vessel will largely take place at Damen Shipyard Galati (Romania) under supervision of DSNS, whereas the complete engineering, purchasing of material packages, final systems outfitting, commissioning and testing of the vessel and all of her systems will take place at DSNS’s premises in Vlissingen.

The Brazilian Army Leopard 1A5BR battle tank during trials.                                              (Hèlio Higuchi).

(Luciano Lopes de Souza).

(Luciano Lopes de Souza).

(Luciano Lopes de Souza).

The South American country is receiving 220 vehicles armed with a 105mm main gun from German Army stocks and being retrofitted by Krauss Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG prior delivery.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation was awarded on December 22, a $171 Million contract to produce fourteen UH-60M Black Hawk medium tactical transport helicopters for the United Arab Emirates.

Oshkosh Defense will produce 207 M983A4 and 110 M977A4 HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) heavy tactical trucks. Both fleets will be delivered to the US Army before September 2012.

Turkish company Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ will deliver KALKAN (Shield) air defence early warning radar systems to the Turkish Land Forces (Türk Kara Kuvvetleri) for TL70.9 Million. The contract has been awarded on December 24.

The KALKAN is a 3D short-to-medium range search and track radar for fast and accurate detection of low altitude air targets, ideal for the protection of critical military and industrial assets, such as bases, harbours and factories.

For and amount close to EUR11 Million, Swedish SAAB has signed a contract with South Korean company LIG Nex1 Ltd to integrate parts of the SAAB Avitronics Pty Ltd UME ESM (Electronic Support Measures) system on the country Navy second batch of Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft GmbH U214 submarines.

After intent to sell Leclerc battle tanks to Morocco, the French Government is looking now to Colombia as a possible customer for French Army surplus tanks out of the operational service waiting for a buyer and used as spares parts to keep vehicles in operational status.

Only 254 tanks and 20 DCL (Dépanneur de Chars Leclerc) recovery vehicles will remain in service with French Army.

The South American country showed in the past an interest to procure Spanish Army AMX-30B2 tanks but the Iberian country denied the deal.

DGA (Délégation Générale de l´Armement) and DCMAT (Direction Centrale du Matériel de l’Armée de Terre) recently awarded Nexter Systems and sub-contractors a contract to support the 254 Leclerc´s fitted with the 120mm main gun. The project is called SSPP-XL (Leclerc tank Post-Production In-Service Support).

(Philippe Wodka Gallien).

Nexter Systems, the original Leclerc manufacturer will deliver next year 20 LG-1 MKIII towed howitzers to the Colombian Army. A batch of 13 General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas SIAC (Sistema Integrado de Artilleria de Campana) 155mm towed howitzers has been also procured. Both systems are fitted with inertial navigation and command and control devices.

Textron Textron Marine & Land Systems will deliver 39 M1117 4×4 armoured vehicles to Colombia.

On December 23, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp has been awarded a $163,8 FMS (Foreign Military Sale) contract to deliver four S-70B anti-submarine warfare/anti-surface warfare helicopters to the Brazilian Navy.

In 2008, the Brazilian Navy ordered four S-70B Seahawks in order to replace the SH-3A/B Sea King helicopters. Last year, the navy ordered eight Kongsberg AGM-119B Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 anti-ship missiles.

In Brazil, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp is traded by Powerpack Representações e Comércio Ltda.

Brazilian Helibras-Helicópteros do Brasil SA has been awarded an R$375.8 Million contract by the Brazilian Army to upgrade 34 Aeroespatiale AS 365K Pantera (called HM-1) tactical support helicopters operated by the Aviação do Exército (AvEx).

(Helibras SA).

The contract includes “on the job training” courses for army technicians, the integration of avionics and communication systems along ARRIEL 2C2-CG engines ordered for R$113.2 Million under a separate contract awarded to Turbomeca do Brasil Indústria e Comercio Ltda.

(Helibras SA).

Under a four year contract valued of EUR53 Million awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Defence, Indra Sistemas SA will provide technological support to guarantee maximum performance and efficacy of the early warning and surveillance systems operated by the the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire).