Europe’s naval contractors benefit from growing refit and upgrade demand
Rheinmetall’s order to modernise the German Navy frigate Bayern points to a wider European shift towards extending warship service life as new-build programmes face delay.
Selex to provide Seaspray 5000E radar to Australia
Selex has been awarded a contract from Cobham Aviation Services in Australia for the supply of its Seaspray 5000E Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) surveillance radars, as announced on 16 April.
Cobham will use the radar to equip the Challenger CL-604 aircraft which will perform search and rescue (SAR) services for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
The Seaspray 5000E is ideally suited for SAR operations. In addition to its high reliability, compact size and ease of use, the radar’s AESA technology-enables small target detection capability.
Cobham’s AMSA SAR contract will run for 12 years from August 2016, when the current contract expires. Under the contract, the company will acquire, modify, commission, operate and maintain four Challenger CL-604 aircraft from bases in Cairns, Melbourne and Perth to provide SAR capabilities over land and at sea. The aircraft will be available for SAR missions by AMSA at short notice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Seaspray 5000E airborne surveillance AESA radar has already been delivered to another customer for SAR operations on Challenger aircraft, and it is in service with a third customer on the Sikorsky S-92 SAR helicopter. The larger Seaspray 7500E is in service on SAR duties with the US Coast Guard’s fleet of C-130 long range maritime patrol aircraft.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Europe’s naval contractors benefit from growing refit and upgrade demand]()
-
![The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement]()
The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement
The UK will spend an estimated US$3.89 billion over the next decade in joint naval programmes, a lot of which will be in cooperation with Norway.
-
![Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?]()
Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?
Rheinmetall has unveiled its first next-generation frigate design, showing ambitions to compete as a surface combatant prime contractor. While the company is targeting North America, analysts believe the concept may be better positioned for future European programmes.
-
![US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production]()
US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production
The US Department of War’s US$76.6 billion Columbia-and Virginia-class submarine contract gives industry demand certainty as Washington seeks to rebuild its shipbuilding base.
-
![Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity]()
Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity
The UK government’s £8.4 billion Dreadnought Phase 4 investment sets aside £2.5 billion for the wider submarine supply chain, opening new work beyond BAE Systems’ prime contract.
-
![US Navy begins SPY-6(V)4 radar testing ahead of first Arleigh Burke destroyer backfit]()
US Navy begins SPY-6(V)4 radar testing ahead of first Arleigh Burke destroyer backfit
Wallops Island trials will validate the next-generation radar's combat system integration before its installation aboard USS Pinckney, the first Flight IIA destroyer to receive the SPY-6(V)4 upgrade.
