US Army continues CROWS production

September 12, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Contract Awards, Konsberg, Norway, U.S. Army, production program 

Kongsberg received further work under the general CROWS contract. The Crew Remotely Operated Weapon System provides a way for soldiers to work sensors and weapons while staying under armor. Kongsberg makes parts of the overall system and this is a continuation of earlier contracts. The overall CROWS contract is worth over $1 B, and this contract has a value of over $200 M.

See The Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch.com for more.

Congress protests DDG-100 cancellation

Recently the US Navy announced that it was not going to continue the DDG-100 program. Two ships are under construction by Northrop-Grumman and General Dynamics. Not unexpectedly the Senators from the affected states, mainly Massachusetts and Maine, have protested. See an article here. The major recent the Navy cites is the continued cost growth of the program. The first two were projected at under $4 B each, but now the estimates are over $5.5 B. Other than the shipbuilders, Raytheon is the most affected company as it was building the combat system of sensors for the ship. The Navy intends to continue production of the DDG-51 class instead. Read more

Looking to buy DRS

This article discusses the idea that Finmeccanica, the Italian defense conglomerate, is looking at DRS Technology for an American acquisition. Like EADS and BAE the Italian company has been expanding its presence in the US. Its helicopter arm, Augusta Westland, won the VH-71 Presidential helicopter teamed with Lockheed Martin and is also trying to win the CSAR-X recompete post-protest. DRS which makes advanced sensors and electronics while providing SETA services has long been an attractive take over target. It’s stock though has done very well recently and for Finmeccanica to buy it would require a substantial investment. Read more

BAE buys batteries for Future Combat Systems (FCS)

BAE placed an order with Saft to provide lithium-ion batteries. See the press release here. These batteries will be used by BAE in the FCS Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV). FCS is a system of systems that includes various vehicles and sensors. Saft has already provided batteries for the Non-Line of Site Cannon, the first FCS system that will be deployed. The batteries will be used in a hybrid battery power system for the vehicles. It will be interesting to see how this application of technology will work in the future.