Rapid Reaction Corps C²
Raytheon Systems Limited, the U.K.-based subsidiary of Raytheon Company, Lexington, Massachusetts, has won a subcontract from Thales UK to participate in the assessment of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps’ command and control information system. The system is envisioned to provide integrated command and control tools for the NATO High Readiness Force headquarters. Raytheon will contribute its capabilities in system architecture design and advance system software development. A demonstration laboratory will be established in Rheindahlen, Germany.
 
FALCON Tactical System
Moving forward with the first increment of the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s next-generation tactical information system, BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies has been down-selected to help prepare the business case for the main production program of FALCON, an Internet-protocol-based tactical system. FALCON will operate in conjunction with Skynet 5, Cormorant and Bowman. It will replace Ptarmigan, Euromux and the Royal Air Force’s tactical trunk system/deployed local area network. The new system will provide the British armed forces with a high-capacity, secure information systems infrastructure for both operational and tactical use. Teaming with BAE Systems on the project are Thales Defence UK, Thales e-Security, Cisco, General Dynamics UK, Flagship Training and Dytecna.
 
Airbus-M Navigation
The A400M military transport aircraft made by Airbus Military S.L., Toulouse, France, will be equipped with digital map generator systems (DMGS) supplied by EADS Defence Electronics. The DMGS contract includes installation on the 188 transport aircraft that already have been ordered as well as in the A400Ms purchased subsequently in international contracts. The system generates colored topographic maps and superimposes specific images over them in real time, allowing pilots to react quickly and precisely during operations. EADS is headquartered in Paris.
 
MOD Intelligence Change Program
The development and analysis support contract for the concept phase of the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MOD) DABNETT program has been awarded to LogicaCMG and QinetiQ. DABINETT entails a long-term change program covering a broad range of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) issues at the heart of MOD future doctrine, including coherent information management, tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination as well as the provision of deep and persistent ISTAR.
 
Fly-by-Light Interfaces
C-MAC MicroTechnology will be supplying high-speed microelectronic and electro-optical modules for the Eurofighter Typhoon under a five-year £8 million ($10 million) contract from Galileo Avionica. C-MAC components will provide the interface between critical components of the aircraft’s advanced fly-by-light control system, including radio communications, altimeter, cockpit control and munitions computers. The optical system safeguards against jamming and other electromagnetic interference that can affect conventional fly-by-wire systems. C-MAC will address the challenge of implementing the electro-optical interface in an application where tolerance to extremes of temperature and shock and the elimination of electromagnetic interference within the system are critical.
 
Submit information about international contracts to the associate editor.