BAE Systems wins £5.5m infra red shell contract from UK MoD
BAE Systems has won a contract worth £5.5 million for the 105mm infra-red artillery shell Luma IR from the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Series production starts immediately and the 4000 rounds will be delivered during 2010 and 2011. Final assembly will be at BAE Systems' Weapons business facilities in Karlskoga, Sweden. Orders for further quantities could follow.
Luma IR can be fired from the 105mm Light Gun, currently in service with UK forces in Afghanistan.
The order is separate from the long-term partnering contract for the supply of munitions signed between BAE Systems' UK Munitions business and the MoD in August 2008. However, a 155mm carrier round is being developed under this agreement and the Luma IR payload could form part of that family. The first carrier payloads, which will include white light, smoke, and potentially sensor payloads, will be ready for qualification in early 2012.
BAE Systems already supplies an 81mm mortar infra-red round to the UK MoD.
Source: BAE Systems
More from Land Warfare
-
Germany signs multi-billion-dollar deals for 6x6 CAVS and GDELS Eagle vehicles
The order is a further boost for the Common Armoured Vehicles System programme which has notched notable successes in the past 12 months. The first vehicle, made in Finland, will be delivered next year with local production expected to ramp up in 2027.
-
Rheinmetall and KNDS tank tie-up narrows trans-European options
The French and German governments signed an agreement in June 2018 to cooperate on the development of a new main battle tank under the Main Ground Combat System programme but the effort has struggled. This new agreement may damage it further.
-
Hungary set to begin using Hero 400 loitering munitions
Developed by Israel's Uvision and with systems being sold in the thousands to multiple European NATO countries and the US, the Hero family of loitering systems is also in production in the US and Italy, the latter through Rheinmetall.
-
Light Reconnaissance Strike – enabling a vital mission set (Studio)
A new system-of-systems concept will unlock digital integration of sensors and weapons for Light Forces, allowing them to shape the battlefield environment on their own terms and upgrade legacy platforms.