Canada accelerates uncrewed aerial system procurement for NATO and Arctic forces
Canada plans to acquire at least 120 uncrewed aerial systems through two competitions with combined funding ceilings of C$32 million.
BAE Systems is to produce lightweight combat helmets for the US Marine Corps (USMC) following the award of a $28 million order. The order is an option on an existing contract issued in 2010, bringing the cumulative value of the contract to approximately $56 million.
BAE Systems first produced the lightweight combat helmet in 2012. The lightweight helmet is fully certified to meet rigorous standards for ballistic, structural and non-ballistic impact testing set by the US Army’s Aberdeen Test Center. It represents the latest model in USMC helmets since the Personnel Armor System Ground Troops helmet was replaced in 2003.
Eric Gavelda, director of Warfighter Protection at BAE Systems Protection Systems, said: ‘This lightweight helmet is a sophisticated design engineered to meet the Corps’ protection requirements for bullets and fragmentation.’
Canada plans to acquire at least 120 uncrewed aerial systems through two competitions with combined funding ceilings of C$32 million.
New counter-drone technologies, autonomous launchers and manufacturing modernisation initiatives highlighted emerging opportunities for defence suppliers, while the UK advanced a major military vehicle procurement programme.
Non-US companies are increasingly looking to establish subsidiary and partnerships to access the potential billions of dollars of vehicle and land systems contracts and there has already been some success.
Pearson Engineering has provided equipment and engineering expertise to the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. The British company is now working to deepen engagement with the Ukrainian defence industry, expanding its support for the country’s population and laying the foundations for future technological innovation.
Rather than developing entirely new weapons, defence companies are looking to build on existing weapons and systems to deliver greater capability, control costs and accelerate fielding.
With a production rate of more than 10 million vehicles annually, the US commercial car and vehicle manufacturing base is second only to China. Defence companies are looking at how the vehicles, technology and manufacturing capability can support programmes.