The Head Mounted Display, also known by its company product name Remote Eyepiece Display Imager, or RED-I, is compatible with military night sensors such as thermal weapon sights, and can support a variety of mission requirements by providing the user with an easily configurable private viewing display that can mount to eyeglass frames or fit under visors.

“The unique capabilities of our Head Mounted Display, coupled with a thermal imager, significantly enhance the warfighter’s operational effectiveness,” said Vadim Plotsker, president of BAE Systems OASYS. “Our Head Mounted Display is one of the smallest and most versatile remote display imagers available on the market today. It is lightweight, low-power, and has a patented design that allows simultaneous see-through viewing with a forgiving eye-box.”

More than 3,000 RED-I devices have been fielded to date. BAE Systems has the largest quantity contract ever awarded by the U.S. Army for this type of device, which supports a variety of missions, night vision sensors, and weapon systems.

BAE Systems OASYS employs about 80 people in Manchester, New Hampshire. The electro-optical company has expertise in thermal imaging technology, optical assembly design and manufacture, precision optical components, and rapid product development.

The contract expands upon BAE Systems’ role as an industry leader in systems development and integration for the Navy, having performed the work for more than 30 years. The company has so far provided the onboard communications for 62 destroyers and 27 cruisers equipped with the Aegis combat system.

“This award continues our strong legacy of support to the Navy’s DDG program,” said Mark Keeler, vice president and general manager for Land and Electronic Systems at BAE Systems Support Solutions. “Our employees have a long and proud history of providing critical communications systems.”

The contract was awarded by the Naval Air Warfare Center – Aircraft Division at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Southern Maryland. It includes a one-year base, plus four option years. If all of the options are exercised, the total value could reach approximately $37 million.

The work will be conducted primarily at Navy facilities in St. Inigoes, Md. and at nearby BAE Systems offices. The systems will be installed at other shipbuilder sites including Pascagoula, Miss. and Bath, Maine.

BAE Systems Support Solutions, based in Rockville, Md., provides a range of services to meet needs in readiness and sustainment and operational support across the land, aviation, maritime and C4ISR domains, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense and federal agencies. Support Solutions is also a leading non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion company, serving the U.S. Navy and other maritime customers.

Earlier this year, the company successfully executed in San Diego, Calif. the first Aegis Destroyer modernization on the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), followed by the first East Coast DDG modernization on the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) in Norfolk, Va. BAE Systems has also modernized the USS Benfold (DDG 65) in San Diego and is in the process of simultaneously modernizing the USS Stout (DDG 55) and the USS Barry (DDG 52) in Norfolk.

The new contract follows the successful upgrade of HMAS Perth earlier this year which was completed on time and budget with completion of sea trials and acceptance taking place in June.

The new contract will be completed through the ANZAC Ship Integrated Material Support Program Alliance comprising BAE Systems, Saab Systems and the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).

BAE Systems Australia Director Maritime, Harry Bradford said project management and planning for ship two would begin immediately with fabrication set to begin early June next year and installation to commence in the fourth quarter of 2012.

He said the scope of the project included ship integration of the leading edge CEA Phased Array Radar (PAR), the Vampir NG Infrared Search & Track (IRST) system, the Sharpeye Navigation Radar System (NRS), and an upgraded Saab Combat Management System (CMS) including an improved operations room layout.

“The platform integration of these systems will require significant structural modifications however having undertaken this already on HMAS Perth we will be able to implement process improvements gained from that project.

“Like the work carried out on HMAS Perth we will again replace the forward and aft masts on all ships.”

Mr Bradford said the facilities available at the company’s Henderson yard in Western Australia meant that BAE Systems had the capability to carry out this large project to its completion in 2017.

“Our Henderson shipyard has the ability to dry-dock two ships simultaneously and this enables the fleet upgrade program to be accelerated with operational and cost benefits to the Commonwealth.

Mr Bradford said the ASMD project would also be a boost for the local economy with an additional 240 jobs created by this project with 90 per cent of those based at Henderson in WA. The remainder will be at BAE Systems Williamstown yard.

“BAE Systems is continuing to invest in its Henderson yard and winning this contract demonstrates the Government’s confidence in our capacity to again deliver a successful result on ASMD and upgrade the rest of the ANZAC fleet.”

The successful shots, which took place at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, California, Sept. 9-13, mark the start of APKWS testing on the UH-1Y, and are part of the program’s low-rate initial production phase.

Developed by BAE Systems in partnership with the U.S. government, the APKWS semi-active laser guidance section integrates with existing 2.75-inch rocket motors and warheads, giving aviators a highly precise weapon that is effective against soft and lightly armored targets while minimizing collateral damage. BAE Systems designed the system’s laser guidance and control section.

During the tests, Marine pilots fired a total of six shots from a UH-1Y against stationary targets with ranges varying from 1.5 to 5 kilometers. The initial shots from UH-1Y mark the first time a MK152 warhead has been fired from any aircraft, allowing safer operation aboard ships than the previous M151 warhead.

"I am very excited to bring this new capability to our Marines in combat,” said Captain Brian Corey, Program Manager, PMA-242. “This highly effective weapon will allow aviators to complete their missions while minimizing the risk of harm to allies and non-combatants."

APKWS brings three essential operational benefits to those in combat. First, the BAE Systems guidance section is designed for compatibility with current 2.75-inch rocket motors, warheads, and fuzes, enhancing the capability of the existing 100,000-unit inventory of unguided rockets. Second, the system provides the lowest collateral damage for precision engagement, while at the same time giving the military greater flexibility to engage the enemy. Finally, the unit cost is on track to meet the Navy’s objective against lower value targets.

“BAE Systems is focused on getting APKWS to the warfighter next year,” said John Watkins, director of Missile & Munitions Solutions in Nashua, where the system’s laser guidance and control section is built. "APKWS will provide an evolutionary step in the lethality and utility of the UH-1Y. For the first time, the UH-1Y will have the ability to autonomously provide precision guided munitions, dramatically increasing its effectiveness against armored and reinforced targets while decreasing collateral damage."

The Navy assumed acquisition oversight of the APKWS program in 2008. In addition to its planned use on rotary-wing platforms, the Navy has entered into a Joint Concept Technology Demonstration program with the U.S. Air Force to evaluate the suitability of APKWS for fixed-wing platforms.

APKWS entered the first phase of production testing at China Lake’s facility last month. A launcher successfully fired two laser-guided rockets and hit a stationary target. The test firings initiated a sequence of tests that allow the Navy to accept the guidance sections for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, the final test phase prior to fielding the system.

Initial Operating Capability of APKWS on the Marine Corps AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters is scheduled for the spring of year 2012.

Exactly two years since her launch on 21 October 2009, Defender will spend approximately three weeks at sea, during which she will undergo platform trials to test her speed, manoeuvrability, power and propulsion. She will also undertake weapons trials and tests to demonstrate her auxiliary and domestic services.

Paul Rafferty, Type 45 Programme Director at BAE Systems' Surface Ships business, said: "Defender's trials period will be the shortest yet of the Type 45 destroyers, as we have incorporated lessons learned from the build and in-service support of previous ships in the class. This is a major achievement and these latest sea trials will give us the opportunity to continue to build on this success and prove the outstanding capability of the latest Type 45 destroyer."

Defender Senior Naval Officer, Commander Nicholas Boyd Royal Navy, said: "The Ship's Company are excited about taking Defender to sea for the first time. These are the first steps in getting her awesome capability into service and deploying her in the support of UK interests worldwide. Our remaining time in Glasgow will be busy; primarily working with BAE Systems in getting the ship ready for acceptance but will also allow us to further deepen and broaden our formal affiliation to the cities of Glasgow and Exeter; a link that will endure for the next 35 years."

Following her sea trials, Defender will return to the Clyde for ongoing integration and testing. She will head to sea for her second stage trials in early 2012, ahead of hand over to the Royal Navy in the latter half of the year. The ship's departure for trials comes only seven weeks after her sister ship, Dragon, left the Clyde for the final time for formal hand over to the Royal Navy.

As Class Output Manager for the fleet, BAE Systems also provides in-service support to the Type 45 destroyers. Working alongside the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Naval Base, the company's engineers coordinate all aspects of repair, maintenance and support to the fleet. Recently, the company has supported HMS Dauntless, the second of class, during her warm weather trials off the US coast, with the first of class, HMS Daring, receiving a capability upgrade.

The Type 45s will provide the backbone of the UK's naval air defences for the next 30 years and beyond. The destroyers will be capable of carrying out a wide range of operations, including anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities, disaster relief work and surveillance operations as well as high intensity war fighting.

Each destroyer can engage a large number of targets simultaneously, and defend aircraft carriers or groups of ships, such as an amphibious landing force, against the strongest future threats from the air. The vessels will contribute a specialist air warfare capability to worldwide maritime and joint operations.

The NVG HMD will incorporate the latest Q-SIGHT waveguide display and feature detachable Night Vision Goggles for night operations. It will also incorporate an optical Head Tracking System for precise weapons delivery and carrier and land-based operations. The highly accurate optical head trackers allow the HMD to achieve traditional Head-Up Display (HUD) accuracies and Primary Flight Reference criteria.

BAE Systems will begin delivery of test assets in 2012 to support the F-35 development and integration laboratories, flight simulators, and flight-test platforms.

The F-35 JSF is revolutionising the way information is collected and presented to the pilot and the NVG HMD is planned to integrate with development work to date. The precise optics and head tracker combination enables F-35 weapons delivery, navigation, landing and aircraft management under all flight regimes. The HMD’s modular design will allow for a path to binocular visor-projected displays, alternate image sources and Night Vision Cameras, depending on customer requirements and program needs.

”BAE Systems Electronic Systems is proud to be a part of the Lockheed Martin team for the F-35 HMD,” said Jim Garceau, vice president and general manager of defence avionics for BAE Systems. “The NVG HMD will enable all aspects of flight operations and it allows us to build on our long history of successful development programs with Lockheed Martin on the F-35, F-16 and F-22 programs.”

BAE Systems is a world leader in Helmet-Mounted Display Systems, a position gained through continuous investment in HMD technology and innovation. The company is proud to support the F-35 program with the next generation of Helmet Mounted Displays. BAE Systems provides a range of display products including Q-SIGHT monocular helmets, binocular visor-projected helmets and digital HUDs.

The company will use the acquired items to upgrade the vehicles to have improved situational awareness ability, which highlights BAE Systems’ robust support and technical services capabilities in supporting customers’ requirements.

“As one of the most survivable vehicles in theater, the Bradley has remained a vital asset to our armed forces for several decades,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of Combat Vehicles at BAE Systems. “The items purchased through this contract will help ensure that our soldiers are operating a vehicle that has updated technological enhancements and capabilities.”

The Bradley ODS-SA vehicle features the latest digitized electronics for optimum situational awareness, network connectivity and communication within the Heavy Brigade Combat Team. Bradley ODS-SA’s proven durability and commonality of design reduces the logistics burden, while enhancing battlefield performance to meet a variety of mission requirements.

The contract for material procurement has been awarded in advance of the Bradley ODS-SA vehicle conversions effort, anticipated to take place at the beginning of 2012.

The work will be performed by the existing workforce at BAE Systems facilities in York and Fayette, Pa., and is anticipated to be complete in April 2014 if all options are exercised. A portion of the vehicle teardown efforts will be performed at the Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas.

Bradley Fighting Vehicles continue to provide outstanding survivability, mobility and lethality to U.S. soldiers in various urban combat situations. The Bradley fulfills five critical mission roles – infantry fighting vehicle, cavalry fighting vehicle, fire support vehicle, command vehicle and engineer squad vehicle – for the U.S. Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams.

BAE Systems will display the Bradley Fighting Vehicle at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C., Oct. 10-12.

“The howitzers will provide the Chilean Army artillery units with a significant capability increase to deliver precise and effective artillery support to the Chilean Army,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of Combat Vehicles at BAE Systems. “The M109 family of vehicles has a rich history of providing high performance and reliability. It is a combat-proven system that has played a vital role in providing fire support during various military operations with both the U.S. Army and its allies.”

The M109A5 Self-Propelled Howitzer provides an affordable increase in fire power, as a new production vehicle or an upgrade to earlier configurations of the M109 howitzer. The howitzers’ M284 cannon and M182 mount extend the firing range by 25 percent more than previous versions of the M109 howitzers. The M109A5 is easily customized to specific mission requirements, including increased ammunition stowage, improved ammunition handling, position and navigation systems, and automated fire control and communication systems. The M109A5 also offers improvements in critical areas such as reliability, maintainability and crew safety.

Under this contract, the U.S. Government will provide the howitzers to the Chilean Government and BAE Systems will perform the refurbishment and upgrade work. Refurbishment of the vehicles includes replacing obsolete equipment and restoring the vehicle to a “like new” condition. The company will also incorporate digital data connectivity and gun positioning and navigation systems to provide faster emplacement time, swifter response time to calls for fire and improved survivability.

“The work on this contract not only supports the Chilean Army’s modernization program, but it also strengthens the cooperative relationship between the United States and Chilean Armed Forces. We look forward to providing continued support to Chile’s Armed Forces in the future,” said McCarthy.

In addition to the recent M109A5 contract, BAE Systems assisted Chile with a program to refurbish the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier from 2003 to 2005.

Work on this M109A5 contract will be performed by the existing workforce at BAE Systems facilities in York and Fayette, Pennsylvania and Aiken, South Carolina. The work will begin in August 2011 and is anticipated to be complete in October 2012.

The dive, known to engineers as ‘the Trim and Inclining Experiment’, proves the boat’s safety and stability in the water and measures the submarine’s performance at a depth of 16 metres. The maiden dive took place over two days and involved more than 70 people including BAE Systems’ engineers, Ministry of Defence personnel and Royal Navy Ship’s Staff.

Commander Peter Green, Commanding Officer of Ambush, stated: “This is a major milestone for Ambush and shows she is firmly on track to exit Barrow early next year in order to commence her sea trials. Nuclear submarines are some of the most complex machines on earth and therefore to see everything come together in order to dive the boat for the first time is very satisfying. It has been a superb team effort between BAE Systems Submarine Solutions, the Ministry of Defence Submarine Project Team and Ambush Ship’s Company”

The ‘‘Trim and Inclining Experiment’ proves the safety and stability of the submarine and sets the standards of operation for Ambush’s performance. Meticulous measurements are taken at every stage of the dive. These include ‘trim draught’ - gauging how far the boat sits underwater to achieve the correct balance, assessment of the boat’s centre of gravity and the stability of the boat intact and in the event of damage.

The experiment takes place in a dedicated deep area of the dock at Barrow-in-Furness known as the ‘basin’ or ‘dive hole’. A set sequence of preparations is made, including diving the submarine on its main ballast tanks, fine tuning the submarine using her trim and compensation tanks, ‘heeling’ or inclining the submarine and surfacing the boat recording draughts.

Prior to Ambush’s sea trials in 2012 a final major commissioning activity, known as Power Range Testing, will take place towards the end of this year. In this test the full propulsion system is put through its paces for the first time.

Background Information on Astute-Class SSNs:

• First-of-class, HMS Astute, was formally handed over to the Royal Navy in November 2010 and is undergoing sea trials.
• Boat 3, Artful: key equipment and systems have been commissioned in the Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH), most recently the boat’s diesel generators commissioned 18 days ahead of schedule.
• Boat 4, Audacious: all the pressure hull units are now in the DDH and unit outfit and combination is well under way.
• Boat 5, Anson: the keel laying ceremony takes places on Thursday 13 October and will be marked by the first unit of the submarine moved out of fabrication and into full construction and outfit in the hall.
• Boat 6: long lead procurement has begun and first steel cut is due in 2012.

The Hawk Advanced Jet Training System (AJTS) is the most technologically sophisticated version of the successful trainer. More than 900 Hawk aircraft have been sold to date across 18 countries and the aircraft is currently helping produce highly trained pilots around the world. The Hawk has been selected to be the future lead-in advanced jet trainer for the F-35 for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, the UK, Canada, and Australia. USAF Hawk AJTS aircraft will be manufactured and delivered in the United States.

“We look forward to demonstrating the combined capabilities of the Hawk aircraft and associated ground based training systems to the U.S. Air Force and the public at large,” said Robert Wood, Vice President and lead of the U.S. Hawk Advanced Jet Training System Program. “Our Hawk AJTS offering for the U.S. Air Force will be a new variant of the aircraft with avionics and capabilities uniquely tailored to meet future USAF requirements. The current design continues to be the most capable and cost-effective advanced jet trainer – in service, in production and in demand, teaching modern air combat skills for today and tomorrow.”

The aircraft will complement the Hawk AJTS National Road Show, a travelling exhibit that includes video, simulations and interactive demonstrations illustrating the unique features of the integrated training system.

BAE Systems, Inc. is offering the Hawk AJTS as the replacement for the aging T-38 trainer, as part of the U.S. Air Force’s T-X program. BAE Systems, Inc. announced last week that it will prime this pursuit and Northrop Grumman will serve as the manufacturing partner for the new Hawk aircraft.

Bringing the planes to the United States will allow U.S. Air Force personnel to experience hands-on the sophisticated capabilities of the Hawk AJTS and underlines BAE Systems, Inc.’s commitment to meeting the U.S. Air Force’s training objectives. The Hawk aerial display demonstrates the off-the-shelf availability of a proven Advanced Jet Training System.

The Hawk AJTS cost-effectively trains pilots of next generation aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, and the Typhoon. Using synthetic avionics the Hawk can emulate expensive sensor suites and cockpit displays, such as a fully-functioning radar. The system provides pilots unmatched airborne situational awareness and a suite of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons training tools.

The Hawks also feature advanced data-link systems, night vision imaging capability, and 8G turning performance, and can have an air-to-air refueling capability. A proven, safe, trainer that is ready now, the Hawk AJTS is a perfect fit for the U.S. Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Advanced Phase Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals.

The two Hawk aircraft and the Hawk Advanced Jet Training System Demonstration Trailer will be on display at the following locations on the following dates:

• Oct. 1-2: Sheppard AFB Air Show (Wichita Falls, Texas)
• Oct. 8: Holloman AFB Air Show (Alamogordo, N.M.)
• Oct. 15-16: Wings over Houston Air Show 2011 – Flight Demonstration (Houston, Texas)
• Oct. 22-23: Fort Worth Alliance Air Show – Flight Demonstration (Fort Worth, Texas)
• Oct. 29-30: Randolph AFB Air Show – Flight Demonstration (San Antonio, Texas)