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Metal Storm Inc. Demonstrates Less Lethal Technology in Crowd Control Scenario ARLINGTON, VA -- Metal Storm Limited is pleased to announce that Metal Storm Incorporated has successfully conducted a live fire demonstration of a Crowd Control system using Metal Storm stacked projectile technology. The demonstration was performed under a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract with the U.S. Army that began in January, 2006. The demonstration was designed to display several technical objectives which included the development of a family of Less Lethal munitions with smart round features; development of an electronic fire control system with targeting and ranging; the acquisition of a man-machine interface; and the integration of the entire system with an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV). Metal Storm met these objectives with an integrated weapon system that provides the operator with several options when responding to a domestic or Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) scenario. The system was developed by Metal Storm working with several key technology partners including iRobot who supplied their Warrior UGV platform and TeleRobotics who specializes in networked remotely operated weapons systems. Commenting on the demonstration, Peter D. Faulkner, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Metal Storm's U.S. Operations, said, "We see the Less Lethal arena as a significant growth market and one that adapts well with the Metal Storm stacked round technology. The Metal Storm system can be used with riot/crowd control, police actions or other situations where use of deadly force is unwarranted." The event was attended by representatives from the U.S. Army, the Joint Non Lethal Weapons Directorate and the Fairfax County Virginia law enforcement Civil Disturbance Unit. The Army's Program Manager for Metal Storm's SBIR Contract, Mr. Richard Joliffe, said, "I was pleased to witness the successful demonstration of the Metal Storm Crowd Control System. This demonstration prepares the way for further development, refinement and eventual commercialization of the Metal Storm Crowd Control System." Lee Finniear, CEO of Metal Storm Limited, said, "The addition of a demonstrated Metal Storm less than lethal capability has significant positive implications across our entire range of weapon systems. 3GL, Redback and our custom configured weapon systems will now be able to offer both lethal and less lethal payloads, making the weapons more versatile in the complexity of modern combat and peacekeeping operations." Metal Storm Inc. is aggressively marketing these demonstrated capabilities to the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Military and Domestic Law Enforcement agencies. Source: Metal Storm Inc. Force Protection Awarded $379 Million MRAP Contract, Additional Sales Orders to Follow LADSON, S.C. -- Force Protection, Inc. today announced it has received a delivery order for an additional 358 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category I and Category II vehicles from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), which is acting as the lead contracting agency for the Department of Defense. The total approximate value of the order is $379 million. MARCORSYSCOM also advised Force Protection that its Cheetah vehicle proposal is in the competitive range for continued development and testing and will be further evaluated with modifications as part of the ongoing MRAP II competition. “In addition to this order from the Marine Corps Systems Command, we intend to continue working with the Army to field the Cougar vehicle in a way that will meet the Army’s objective of reducing sustainment and life cycle expense,” said Gordon McGilton, CEO of Force Protection, Inc. “The MRAP vehicle program requirements are based on the very design characteristics of our Cougar and Buffalo – the most proven and effective vehicles of this kind in service, and the Army continues to be a valued customer under the MRAP Category III Buffalo program. We are in the process of finalizing a contract for the Buffalo route clearance vehicles to be part of the Ground Standoff Mine Detection System (GSTAMIDS) program of record. “We are pleased that the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force continue to select our proven Cougar MRAP for their Category I and II vehicle requirements,” said McGilton. “The Cougar JERRV variant is already meeting joint service requirements for explosive ordnance disposal teams and continues to be the gold standard in performance where it matters most—on the battlefield.” In related activities, foreign military sales have also been approved to the United Kingdom and Italy for approximately 300 Cougar and Buffalo vehicles. These contracts have a combined estimated value of $150 million, and include spare parts and sustainment items. “As U.S. requirements for MRAP vehicles rise and fall, we are pleased to see the release of orders to foreign militaries,” said McGilton. “We are aware of several other countries who have expressed additional need for these life saving vehicles, and we expect to receive approval to service them as well.” Deliveries for Cougar Category I and II vehicles in the MRAP program are executed through the company’s joint venture, Force Dynamics, LLC, with General Dynamics Land Systems. As reported at the end of November, Force Dynamics is 68 vehicles ahead of the contracted MRAP delivery schedule. Buffalo Category III vehicles are sole-sourced to Force Protection and produced independently in Ladson, SC. Source: Force Protection BAE Systems Receives Follow-On Orders Worth $1.1 B from U.S. Marine Corps for New MRAP Vehicles Arlington, Virginia -- BAE Systems has received two follow-on delivery orders worth a total of $1.1 billion under the U.S. Marine Corps' current Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) contract for 600 RG33 Category II vehicles and 668 Caiman Category I vehicles. BAE Systems is currently contracted to build three of the five MRAP variants, and is now under contract to deliver 2,730 Category I vehicles and 2,444 Category II vehicles. This award, when combined with previous contracts, brings the total value of BAE Systems' MRAP contracts to $2.24 billion. The RG33 order totals $645 million to produce 600 survivability enhanced-versions of RG33 Category II 6x6 MRAP vehicle, and to provide engineering change proposals and vehicle sustainment Integrated Logistics Support (ILS). "The enhanced version has markedly improved the RG33 and incorporates the most advanced suite of armor protection giving its crew a decided edge in combat survivability," said John Swift, BAE Systems' MRAP program manager. "We are proud to be a part of such a noble effort. Our vehicles save the lives of soldiers and Marines every day." The Caiman award, worth $458 million, calls for the delivery of 668 Category I Caiman MRAP vehicles, which are also enhanced to achieve high levels of survivability with enhanced mobility. "BAE Systems' workforce is very proud to be offered the opportunity to deliver more Caiman to our hardworking Armed Services. This follow-on order demonstrates the effectiveness of the Caiman MRAP, our ability to deliver on our promises and our focus on the benefit to the United States," said Chris Chambers, BAE Systems' vice president of Medium/Heavy Vehicles. Source : BAE Systems |
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December23, 2007 - News from Army-Guide.com >> |
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