Electronic Protection for Saudi Air Force
A major electronic protection system will be supplied to the Saudi Air Force after negotiations conducted under the umbrella of Sofresa. Sofresa is a tool established to boost the export sales of the French defense industry. The air defense protection system, known as Al Madhallah, comprises an electronic warfare center with six regional hubs as well as mobile centers. The centers will be used to train missile battery personnel such as Crotale, Shahine, Patriot and Hawk involved in electronic warfare. The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Defense and Aviation awarded the $179 million (125 million euros) contract to Thales. The company’s Saudi Arabian branch Thalisa will carry out the installation of equipment, training and life support. In the past, Thales has provided Saudi Arabian customers with full system and logistic support for Crotale and Shahine radars as well as through-life development of those systems.
 
Smart Personal Computer Display for Airborne Radar
A powerful Smart Personal Computer (PC) display system is being developed for airborne radar applications. Under the agreement, a high-brightness liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with an integrated processor will be created to enable location software applications to run directly behind the display. The panel PC technology introduces new opportunities to users who otherwise have to certify both a computer and a display along with the associated power and cabling requirements into the aircraft. With the Smart PC Panel, installation is simplified and users can run the display for traditional video applications, or they can combine local software applications as and when they need them. SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems U.K. awarded the contract for the work to Skyquest Aviation. Skyquest will deliver initial units to the customer in the fourth quarter of 2007. The company anticipates full production in early 2008.
 
French Order Mobile Satellite Communications
The French Ministry of Defense has contracted for mobile satellite communications systems from 2008-2010. The deal includes Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya services for use at various sites worldwide including dedicated interconnection solutions to meet the Ministry of Defense’s needs for communication, quality and security. Vizada won the contract and has put in place an Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN)-based solution for the French military health department. BGAN terminals are deployed at remote bases, enabling military surgeons to transmit images via videoconference to medical staff at a different site or in a different country. The surgeons can benefit in real time from advice from specialists. Two simultaneous Internet protocol BGAN links make this possible. One link is a 256-kilobytes-per-second streaming connection to perform videoconferencing and to relay images from the operating table to the medical staff in France. The second link is a background Internet protocol connection for sending medical files, analysis reports, X-rays, photos and scans.
 
Research and Technology Protection
The U.S. Army will receive research and technology protection expertise and support for all of its research and engineering centers and acquisition programs. The Army awarded a $35.8-million, five-year, firm-fixed-price contract to the Security and Intelligence Business Unit of QinetiQ North America’s Mission Solutions Group to operate the Army Research and Technology Protection Center (ARTPC). The company received a contract in 2002 to establish and operate the center under the oversight of the Army G-2, and since then the ARTPC has been identified as a pioneer in research and technology protection process development and a model for planning and executing technology protection of sensitive defense programs. That original contract was re-competed in summer 2007.
 
Australian Air Warfare Destroyer Build Begins
Construction of Australia’s Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) is scheduled to commence. The AWDs will deliver air defense for accompanying ships, land forces and infrastructure in proximate coastal areas and for self-protection against attacking missiles and aircraft. The AWD Alliance, which includes the Commonwealth of Australia, Raytheon Australia and ASC Shipbuilding, signed the phase three contract. The AWD Alliance will operate as an integrated team to deliver the Royal Australian Navy's next-generation Hobart-class AWDs. Raytheon Australia will serve as the mission systems integrator. The contract covers the design, development and procurement of the “Australianized” combat system and is valued at $1.2 billion for the company.