Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool
Nomad can provide militaries with real-time intelligence, saving critical time on the battlefield.
An example of the DB-110 pod. (Photo: Collins Aerospace)
Collins Aerospace has obtained a $805.74 million contract modification from the USAF to continue work on the DB-110 Tactical Reconnaissance Pod programme.
Work is expected to be completed by 17 February 2027, the DoD announced on 6 May.
The original deal was awarded in December 2017. The modification raises the total cumulative face value of the contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to $1.02 billion.
Shephard Defence Insight describes the DB-110 as a dual-band 110-inch focal length reconnaissance system that is capable of producing high-resolution imagery from nadir to a stand-off range of 80nmi or beyond, by day or night.
Derived from the strategic Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System sensor on the U-2, the DB-110 can collect more than 10,000 square miles of high-resolution imagery per hour.
The Tactical Reconnaissance Pod programme sees FMS customers and other US allies receive dual-band DB-110 EO pods and airborne data link terminals for installation on fighter aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16, as well as the P-3 maritime surveillance platform. It has also been demonstrated on the MQ-9 Reaper.
FMS operators of the DB-110 include Egypt, Greece, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Turkey and the UK. It was also approved for sale to Taiwan in October 2020.
Nomad can provide militaries with real-time intelligence, saving critical time on the battlefield.
Taurus operates alongside the Israel Defense Forces’ Orion system which supports mission management across tens of thousands of manoeuvring forces, from squad leaders to battalion commanders.
The plan for the new displays follows fresh investment in Kopin’s European facilities by Theon and an order for head-up displays in fielded aircraft, with funding from the US Department of Defense.
Persistent Systems received its largest ever single order for its MPU5 devices and other systems earlier this month and has already delivered the 50 units to the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division.
Turkey has joined the family of countries attempting to establish a multilayered air defence system with government approval in August 2024 for the effort landed by Aselsan. Dubbed Steel Dome, the programme joins Israel’s Iron Dome, the US Golden Dome, India’s Mission Sudarshan Chakra and South Korea’s low-altitude missile defence system.
MARSS’ NiDAR system has been deployed using sensors from static platforms to provide detection and protection for static sights, such as critical infrastructure, ports and military bases.