02 August 2021
by Carlo Munoz
Programme engineers at BAE Systems are preparing for a series of operational evaluations on the company's Common GPS Modules (CGMs) under the Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 1 initiative, designed to further integrate Military Code (M-Code)-enabled GPS capabilities into the US armed forces.
MGUE Increment 1 began as a technology development programme for BAE Systems, and the core technology that powered those early variants is now being integrated across the company's family of GPS products, said Jade Groen, a programme director with the company's navigation and sensor systems directorate.
“We have weapons programmes that are preparing for field readiness [evaluations] this year”, fielding elements of that Increment 1 technology, Groen said. Development of the Miniature Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver Engine – M-Code (MPETM-M) receiver and its Micro GPS Receiver Application Module – M-Code (MicroGRAM-M) programmes also leaned heavily on the MGUE Increment 1 capability. MPE-M and MicroGRAM-M are both heading into full rate production, she said.
“We have a number of platforms that are doing integration testing and operational testing with ground [based] embedded products ... and we are seeing many of those operational tests occurring over the next year-and-a-half,” she said.
24 April 2024
by Michael Fabey
US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said the country needs more blue-collar workers to meet navy shipbuilding needs at yards like Newport News Shipbuilding, shown here. (Janes/Michael Fabey)
To address the shortage of workers needed to build the number of ships needed to meet US Navy (USN) fleet plans, the country should seek to bring in more legal immigrants from foreign shores, according to US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro.
While acknowledging the impact of Covid-related issues on USN shipbuilding schedules on 23 April during an event at the Stimson Center, Del Toro said, “The bigger problem is the lack of blue-collar workers.”
Del Toro called on US lawmakers to “increase the amount of legal immigration” and work visas for potential shipbuilding work to come into country, despite the political divisions preventing such bipartisanship.
“We need to open up the spigot on legal immigration and allow blue-collar works to come here,” he said.
He underscored the need for retraining the new workforce for shipyard trades needed to build USN ships.
24 April 2024
by Giles Ebbutt
The XR Training consortium's USMC Amphibious Combat Vehicle driver simulator in its seat configuration with two DoF motion platform. The Vive HTC Elite headset is on the seat. The Instructor station laptop is on the table behind. (XR Training)
A consortium led by XR Training has been awarded a contract by the US Marine Corps (USMC) under an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to produce a driver training simulator for the new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). The value of the contract was not disclosed but Neil Levin, XR Training CEO, told Janes that it was “in the high seven-figure area”.
The consortium, which also includes Talon Simulations (hardware), 302 Interactive (software development), and Theory Studios (modelling and visuals), will deliver 81 simulators by the end of 2024, followed by a two-year training and sustainment period. Most simulators will be deployed to Camps Pendleton and Lejeune, with some for use for “schoolhouse” training and some for deploying units.
23 April 2024
by Zach Rosenberg
The BT-67 is no stranger to Antarctica's harsh climate. This picture displays a Basler BT-67 (re-engined DC-3) in polar configuration equipped with snow skids. (Basler)
The US Department of State has approved Argentina's request to purchase Basler BT-67s, support equipment, and training for up to USD143 million, the department announced on 18 April.
“The proposed sale will … [provide] additional capacity for airdrop and airlift operations to service Antarctica during the winter season,” the announcement read. “This will reduce the burden on other airlift assets in Argentina.”
The number of aircraft to be purchased is unknown, but the deal includes spare engines, ground handling equipment, transport, and personnel training. Basler and the Argentine Ministry of Defense had not responded to Janes questions at the time of publication.
Argentina maintains nearly a dozen research bases on Antarctica, according to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship. Argentina's air force operates several aircraft types capable of operating in Antarctica, including four Lockheed Martin C-130Hs and seven de Havilland DHC-6s.
Programme engineers at BAE Systems are preparing for a series of operational evaluations on the comp...
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