BAE produces helmet-mounted display

BAE Systems has begun production of the head equipment assembly (HEA) for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and deliveries are scheduled to begin early in 2009.

The Typhoon HEA is the first binocular, visor-projected, night-vision-capable helmet-mounted display developed for a fighter aircraft. The helmet's fully integrated design ensures compatibility of the electro-optics with head protection and life support, and also incorporates a respirator for protection in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare environments.

"The Typhoon HEA is the most technologically advanced helmet in the defence avionics market," said Clark Freise, VP of Defence Avionics for BAE Systems. "We believe it is the safest, most sustainable, and most accurate helmet-mounted display developed to date."

Boeing Australia has been named the prime contractor of an industry panel that will support on-site IT systems at defence sites throughout Australia.

Under the three-year Networks: Bases and Sites contract, Boeing Australia will deliver comprehensive project and task-based IT services in three regions: Queensland and northern New South Wales; Sydney; and Victoria and Tasmania. The company is a secondary panel provider in the Australian Capital Territory as well as western, southern and northern Australia.

The project, valued at approximately AUD$12 million, includes a pair of two-year extensions and is scheduled to begin 1 July.

The Lockheed Martin-led team developing the Department of Defence's next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system, known as the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), has successfully completed a series of production readiness reviews with the US Navy ahead of schedule.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, prime contractor and systems engineering lead for the MUOS programme, is under contract to design, build and deploy the first two MUOS satellites and the associated MUOS ground system. 

The contract also provides for options on three additional spacecraft. With all options exercised, the contract for up to five satellites has a total potential value of $3.26 billion.

Computer Sciences Corporation has won a blanket purchase agreement to provide technical support and consulting services at Defence Finance and Accounting Service centres across the United States. CSC estimates the value of the contract to be $250 million over five years.

This BPA follows and is separate from a similar agreement signed in January 2002.

Under the terms of the new agreement, CSC will continue providing a comprehensive range of IT and technical support services to help the DFAS achieve its transformation objectives. Services include project management; equipment maintenance; software development and maintenance; data warehouse development and management; systems integration; and financial management and economic analysis.