Saab Secures £60M UK MoD Live Simulation Contract
Saab has secured an initial three-year contract worth £60 million with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide support for Instrumented Live Training (ILT-D) systems, replacing the previous Direct Fire Weapon Effect Simulator (DFWES) contract. ILT-D utilizes advanced laser and geometric pairing technology to simulate direct and indirect fire effects, improving training realism for the British Army.
The contract includes a significant investment to modernize the capability, ensuring its relevance to the evolving training needs of the British Army and addressing obsolescence issues. The system will also maintain interoperability with partner nations through the latest generation of Saab hardware and software.
Support will be provided across various permanent Collective Training locations in the UK and Germany, as well as at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, Infantry Battle School in Brecon, and the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
Simon Pearce, Training and Simulation Systems Portfolio Leader for Defence Equipment & Support, the contracting authority, added, “Our collaboration with Saab UK builds on the long-standing relationship and represents the dedication DE&S and the British Army have to providing the best training possible for our dedicated soldiers. ILT-D will ensure that the British Army has access to a training capability that can keep pace with the training needs brought about by an increasingly complex strategic context and rapidly evolving character of warfare.”
Saab, headquartered in Sweden, is a leading defence and security company with major operations worldwide. The company designs, manufactures, and maintains advanced systems in various sectors including aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors, and underwater systems.
BAE Systems to Maintain L119 Light Guns for Ukraine
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded BAE Systems a contract to service and repair the gifted L119 Light Guns in Ukraine. This initiative aims to bolster frontline operations by ensuring the quick maintenance and deployment of these preferred artillery systems.
The contract, announced during a recent UK Government-led trade mission to Kyiv, allows for in-country servicing of the L119 Light Guns, which were donated by the UK to Ukraine. This will enable the guns to be swiftly returned to the frontline, enhancing the efficiency of Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian troops have shown a preference for the L119 Light Gun due to its accuracy, lightweight design, and high mobility, making it a valuable asset in combat situations. As the original manufacturer of the Light Gun, BAE Systems has been collaborating with allied governments since the conflict began, providing training and support.
The L119 contract further solidifies a teaming agreement signed with British company AMS in December. Together, BAE Systems and AMS will offer maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services from facilities within Ukraine.
In addition to supporting the L119 Light Guns, BAE Systems has been actively involved in delivering key components of the UK Government’s cybersecurity support to Ukraine. The company’s expertise aids in detecting, blocking, and countering cyber-attacks and espionage directed at military targets and critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
UK MoD Funds VRAIs VR Tech for RAF Pilot Training
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has granted a £544k Defence Innovation Loan to VRAI, a Newcastle-based SME, to advance the commercialisation of its virtual reality (VR) technology aimed at improving Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot training.
The funding from the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is set to revolutionise pilot training by providing more personalised experiences and objective feedback. VRAI’s technology aims to streamline the training of future military pilots, addressing the RAF’s reported backlog in fast-jet training.
With the loan, VRAI plans to leverage machine learning algorithms to extract enhanced insights from training data. This innovation is expected to elevate training outcomes and allow instructors to concentrate on more valuable tasks. The MoD highlighted that the funding will aid in creating customised dashboard metrics focused on airmanship, crucial for aerial navigation and safety.
Initially backed by DASA, VRAI’s tech combines VR with advanced data analysis to assess and forecast trainee pilots’ performance. This method aims to overcome limitations of traditional pilot training, often restricted by instructor availability.
This initiative is part of DASA and Innovate UK’s broader strategy to bolster SMEs in the defence sector. Defence Innovation Loans are tailored to assist businesses in the advanced stages of technology development, aiming to bridge the innovation-to-commercialisation gap.
TT Electronics Wins Kongsberg Contract for Naval Strike Missiles
TT Electronics’ Fairford UK division has been awarded a contract by Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (Kongsberg) to manufacture intricate cable harness solutions.
Kongsberg, renowned for delivering high-performance solutions in extreme conditions, has tasked TT Electronics with the engineering and production of cable harness and housing assemblies for its Naval Strike Missiles (NSM). The contract is set to run until the end of 2026.
“We’re proud of our longstanding relationship with Kongsberg, supporting critical military programmes across land, air, sea, and munitions,” said a spokesperson from TT Electronics.
This contract marks the latest in a string of new agreements for TT Electronics in both the UK and North America, reflecting a rising demand for aerospace and defence platform production. Recent announcements include the RBSL Challenger 3 Award for cable assembly at TT’s Abercynon facility and a multi-year contract.
That’s a wrap, hope the weather is getting better where you are! Until next week..