Defense

Babcock and the UK’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) have agreed a full cost recovery contract worth an estimated £560 million to undertake the planned deep maintenance and life extension program for HMS Victorious, one of the UK’s Vanguard Class nuclear submarines.

The first CAPTAS-4 variable-depth sonar transmitter has been delivered to the US Navy's Constellation Frigate Program (FFG-62). This delivery, ahead of schedule, demonstrates the effectiveness of Thales as a trusted partner to worldwide navies. The US Navy will benefit from the demonstrated reliability and performance of the CAPTAS-4, the undisputed market leader in underwater variable depth active systems.

Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have successfully tested new methods developed by UK industry to remove unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the seabed in a way that is considerably less harmful to marine life. The study compared newly developed methods for ordnance disposal with existing techniques and its findings have published in the latest edition of the journal, Marine Pollution Bulletin.

BAE Systems has signed a framework agreement with the Danish Ministry of Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) to provide repair and maintenance services for the Danish Army’s CV90s over a period of 15 years.

Kraken Robotics Inc. (Kraken) is pleased to announce the completion of all deliveries and the successful sea acceptance of all systems for its mine-hunting sonar equipment under the Royal Danish Navy Minehunting sonar upgrade program. This contract was signed in September 2020, following a competitive bidding process. Under the contract with the Danish Ministry of Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), Kraken has delivered four complete turnkey mine-hunting systems, with each system consisting of a KATFISH™ towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar, Tentacle^® Winch and Autonomous Launch and Recovery System (ALARS), topside command and control equipment, and remote operation and monitoring capability for standoff mine-hunting operations.

Damen Shipyards Group has unveiled a new ship design based on modern defense and security requirements. The Multi-Purpose Support Ship (MPSS) has been co-developed with the Portuguese Navy, the vessel’s launching customer. It is a solution for the increasing use of drone technology in combat and surveillance. In addition to its primary function, the MPSS is designed to fulfil a wide range of additional tasks, including auxiliary roles.

HII announced that Virginia-class submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798) was launched into the James River at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.

Austal Limited is pleased to announce that Austal Australia has been awarded a contract extension for the construction of two additional Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy.

The Royal Navy’s Office for the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) supported experts from the University of Birmingham and Dstl to run quantum experiments that could pave the way for advanced positioning and navigation tools at sea.

EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defense groups, and Fincantieri, one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world, have entered into a term sheet aimed at creating a joint venture (JV) to capitalize on global shipbuilding opportunities with a focus on the manufacturing of a broad range of sophisticated naval vessels. EDGE will hold a 51% stake in the venture, which has a commercial pipeline valued at approximately 30 billion euros, with management direction provided by Fincantieri. The Abu Dhabi-based JV will be awarded prime rights to non-NATO orders, especially leveraging on the attractiveness of UAE G2G arrangements and export credit financing packages, along with a number of strategic orders placed by select NATO member countries.

Oceaneering International, Inc. announces that its Aerospace and Defense Technologies (ADTech) business segment has been awarded a contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), a US Department of Defense organization, for the development and testing of the Freedom™ autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) as a potential large displacement unmanned undersea vehicle (LDUUV) prototype for the US Navy’s Program Office for Advanced Undersea Systems.

Naval Group completed the modernization of the third and last La Fayette frigate (FLF), the Aconit, after six months of work followed by a series of dockside and sea trials.