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Japanese Robot Is Powered by Fuel Cells Asia Pulse Pte Ltd. TOKYO, June 28 Asia Pulse - Robot development firm Speecys Corp. has developed a small bipedal walking robot powered by fuel cells. Capitalizing on the fact that fuel cells do not emit carbon dioxide or need to be charged, the company developed the Speecys FC for use in research and at special events. It is 50cm tall, weights 4.2kg and is operated by a personal computer via a wireless local area network. The robot is powered by five fuel cell stacks located in its arms. A 16-liter canister of compressed hydrogen is inserted near the robot's neck and provides enough fuel for around one hour of operation. The company will begin manufacturing it on a build-to-order basis for universities, research institutions and companies in July, with the robot to be priced at 2.5 million yen (US$22,850). U.S. Army Awards Raytheon a $22 Million Contract for Excalibur Early Fielding Raytheon TUCSON, Ariz., -- The U.S. Army awarded Raytheon Company a $22.1 million contract for initial production and early fielding of Excalibur, a cooperative effort between Raytheon Missile Systems and Bofors Defence of Sweden. Excalibur is an artillery projectile that uses satellite guidance to provide precision accuracy at extended ranges for all current and future 155mm howitzers. Raytheon will provide Excalibur projectiles, testing, manufacturing tooling, test and inspection equipment, projectile shipping/storage containers, and training support necessary to provide initial capability to the Army in fiscal year 2006, more than 3 years ahead of when full operational capability will be achieved. Excalibur will conclude developmental testing, and the first production rounds will be delivered by the end of 2005. The Excalibur rounds will be delivered as part of a system which includes an AFATDS (Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System) update for Excalibur and approximately 14 stand-alone fuze setters to be fielded to Paladin units serving in Iraq. Excalibur will also be compatible with the Army and Marine M777 light weight howitzer. The Marines have recently begun M777 fielding, and the U.S. Army will field M777 next year in conjunction with forming the Stryker Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division. "The decision to pursue this early fielding reflects the Army's urgent need for organic precision-guided artillery munitions and is a sign that Raytheon Missile Systems and Bofors Defence have reached technical maturity in their design," said Lt. Col. William Cole, the Army's Excalibur product manager at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. This contract follows on the heels of months of successful testing. In November 2004, the contractor and Army Excalibur team successfully fired the world's first global positioning satellite-guided 155mm artillery projectile, which navigated to a target 20 kilometers down range, impacting 3.4 meters from the aim point. In December 2004, the program proved reliability by repeating the test and impacting within 6.9 meters. Both were well within the Excalibur performance specification. The program is a key element of the transformation of cannon artillery to provide responsive precision strike capability for the U.S. Army's modular force. Ceradyne, Inc. Receives $75.5 Million Ceramic Body Armor Contract Ceradyne, Inc. COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Ceradyne, Inc. announced the receipt of a $75.5 million delivery order for its lightweight ceramic body armor. This is the third delivery order received under the $461 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract announced on August 20, 2004. Including this delivery order, orders received under this contract total approximately $179 million with approximately $282 million in unplaced options. The contract was awarded to Ceradyne by the U.S. Army Unique Missions Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Joel Moskowitz, Ceradyne chief executive officer, commented: "We expect to receive additional delivery orders against this ID/IQ contract later this year and throughout the remaining 25 months of this contract. The acquisition in 2004 of ESK, our supplier of the raw material boron carbide, coupled with additional armor capacity coming on stream in our new Lexington, Kentucky, plant and Irvine, California, facility are anticipated to allow Ceradyne to meet these as well as other projected requirements." "Under an ID/IQ type contract, the government is obligated to purchase only certain minimum quantities," Moskowitz noted. "Each delivery order is issued as a release against a maximum amount, which for this contract is $461 million. Therefore, our projections of follow-on business under this contract anticipate receipt of additional delivery orders. Ceradyne includes delivery orders as backlog only when there is a firm delivery schedule." Moskowitz added: "Ceradyne is proud to have been awarded this contract and is confident that the Ceradyne armor systems that will be fielded in large quantities will help to save American lives." Ceradyne develops, manufactures and markets advanced technical ceramic products and components for defense, industrial, automotive/diesel and commercial applications. New Contract to Save MoD J29 Million and Support AS90 Guns UK Ministry of Defence British soldiers will get even better logistics support for their AS90 guns and the MOD will save some J29 million over the next five years, thanks to a new partnering arrangement between the MOD and BAE Systems, Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson announced today. Levels of spares availability for the AS90, a 155mm self-propelled gun, will also be significantly improved as the result of the J60 million contract awarded by MOD`s Defence Logistics Organisation. The announcement was made at the official opening of Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2005, one of the largest defence vehicle shows in Europe, where the defence sector can see at first hand the latest products and developments in military, commercial and emergency vehicles. Lord Drayson, said: "DVD is important for both MOD and industry as it represents a unique opportunity for exhibiting and demonstrating, both on and off road, industry`s latest military, specialist, commercial and emergency vehicles. It brings together all those involved in producing, procuring and providing logistics support to a vast array of vehicles that helps ensure our Armed Forces continue to have the very best vehicles available to them. "The partnering contract demonstrates the innovative way MOD and industry are working together to produce new cost effective support solutions. Industry has greater flexibility to provide the required support in the most efficient way, ensuring our Armed Forces continue to have the best support available. The new arrangements are expected to produce some J29 million in savings, representing excellent value to British taxpayers." Now in its fifth year, DVD features a vast and diverse range of vehicles and support services, from emergency `blue light` vehicles to the latest combat support vehicles used in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. BACKGROUND NOTES: 1. DVD is organised by MOD`s Specialist and Utility Vehicles Integrated Project Team (SUV IPT). The theme for this year`s events is `Through Life` reflecting SUV IPT`s prominence within the Defence Logistics Organisation and Defence Procurement Agency as a truly Through Life IPT. DVD also gives visitors, of which thousands have pre-registered to attend, a rare chance to try many of the vehicles themselves in a realistic environment, including a high-speed ring and the extensive off-road section, complete with infamous one-in-one hill. 2. AS90 is a 155mm self-propelled gun that equips six Field Regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery. Fitted with a standard barrel, AS90 can fire the NATO L15 unassisted 155mm projectile (96lbs) 24. 7 km. With a long (52 Calibre) barrel the gun can reach out to 30 km using standard ammunition, and 60-80 km with Extended Range (ERA). AS90 is equipped with an autonomous Navigation and Gun Laying system (AGLS) based on the vehicles inertial navigation system, the Dynamic Reference Unit (DRU). (ends) BAE Systems Wins New, Innovative Support Contract for AS90 (Source: BAE Systems; issued June 29, 2005) British soldiers will get even better logistics support for their AS90 guns and the MoD will save some J29 million over the next five years, thanks to a new partnering arrangement between the MoD and BAE Systems, Minister for Defence Procurement Lord Drayson announced today. Levels of spares availability for the AS90, a 155mm self-propelled gun, will also be significantly improved as the result of the J60 million contract awarded by MoD??™s Defence Logistics Organisation to BAE Systems. The announcement was made at the official opening of DVD 2005, one of the largest defence vehicle shows in Europe which is taking place at Millbrook near Bedford, UK. Lord Drayson said: ???The partnering contract demonstrates the innovative way MoD and industry are working together to produce new cost effective support solutions. Industry has greater flexibility to provide the required support in the most efficient way, ensuring our Armed Forces continue to have the best support available. The new arrangements are expected to produce some J29 million in savings, representing excellent value to British taxpayers.??? Andrew Davies, Managing Director of BAE Systems Land Systems, said, ???The AS90 equipment support agreement is the first incentivised platform support contract in Land. Valuable lessons have been learnt from the air and naval sectors that we have been able to bring to the table on this support contract. The partnering approach to delivery and the good working relationship between the DLO and BAE Systems will hopefully signify the new approach to support contracting of Land Systems platforms in the future???. BACKGROUND NOTES: -- AS90 is a 155mm self-propelled gun that equips six field regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery. Fitted with a standard barrel, AS90 can fire the NATO L15 unassisted 155mm projectile (96lbs) 24.7 km. AS90 is equipped with an autonomous Navigation and Gun Laying system (AGLS) based on the vehicles inertial navigation system, the Dynamic Reference Unit (DRU). --146 AS90 guns are in service with the British Army. BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs nearly 100,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately $25 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations. General Dynamics Awarded $23 Million for Abrams Tank Systems Technical Support GDLS STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. -- The U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, a $22.7 million contract modification for Abrams tank systems technical support (STS). STS funds engineering studies and investigations on Abrams tanks with the purpose of identifying improvements and change-out of obsolete parts, while keeping Abrams tanks current to their base configuration. The STS program's objective is to maintain Abrams tanks at high operational readiness rates. Work will be performed at General Dynamics Land Systems headquarters here and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2006. The contract was initially awarded Nov. 23, 2001. |
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