ORBIT Communications was established in 1950, with an initial focus on radio communications and since then, morphing into a company focused on three primary areas, namely Satellite Communications, Tracking & Telemetry and Communications & Management Systems. The company has been through several shifts in strategy as the company places greater emphasis on improving the reliability and quality of its products as well as targeting emerging opportunities with new products and capabilities. While ORBIT does not purport to develop specific military solutions, the company has regularly provided products into the defense sector.

As we have noted in previous reports the move towards Ka-band is driving a lot of new development (see Strategy Analytics report, Military Satellite Trends and Outlook) in the area of satcoms, and ORBIT Communications is also reacting to this trend. However the company is seeing a number of challenges that, while not necessarily slowing down the adoption of Ka-band, is necessitating additional development work;

• At a customer level, there is a perceived hesitancy in moving wholesale on to a new technology so ORBIT is seeing demand for multi-band solutions that incorporate existing capabilities alongside Ka-band to give customers the assurance of a known technology as back-up.
• ORBIT is developing solutions that incorporate C/Ka, X/Ka and Ku/Ka band solutions in a single package. This in turn presents technical challenges as tracking becomes more complex.
• Higher quality RF solutions are needed to counteract the impact of attenuation due to weather effects.
• Attenuation effects are also impacted by use of Ka-band in conventional geostationary earth orbits (GEO) and ORBIT sees the industry looking more closely at low earth orbits (LEO), driving a move towards smaller ground units, especially as small satellite usage continues to gain ground.

ORBIT is also developing standalone Ka-band solutions, which brings its own challenges in terms of antennas becoming smaller. RF design changes include different packaging requirements for low noise blocks (LNBs) and the need for more expensive waveguides. Other factors impacting the move towards Ka-band include a more than doubling in weight (up to 13kg) for Ka-band block up-converters (BUCs), as compared to Ku-band BUCs (5 to 6kg). Finally there is a need to improve modem performance capabilities in re-acquiring signals during trade-off at Ka-band.

The company has an in-house antenna team that provides parabolic antennas, featuring an offset design. ORBIT has looked at phased arrays, but efficiencies have yet to improve to the point where ORBIT will shift away from conventional designs. For other system components such as receivers and RF components, ORBIT works with external partners but is increasingly exploring the possibility of leveraging those existing relationships to offer complete systems direct to customers. These systems would incorporate receivers, antennas, control boxes, optical cameras, as well as ORBIT’s own capabilities in the area of positioners and feeds.

Outside of satellite communications, ORBIT Communications is seeing earth observation as a growth area for the company’s Tracking & Telemetry business, with customers transitioning from L-band to X-band to enable higher resolutions at wider bandwidths. The company has been involved in a number of large projects, supplying antennas in the 10m range. The Communications & Management Systems business line includes the Orion system, which is designed for inbound, outbound and intercom airborne platform crew communication. Featuring increased computing power in a smaller form factor, the system offers the pilot the ability to receive multi-dimensional sound and other advancements through the Three-Dimension Audio Management System (3D-AMS). This technology allows sound to be heard from different virtual locations, allowing the pilot to discern multiple inputs more clearly as well as gauge the directionality of threats.

For more information on trends in the satellite communications sector see the Strategy Analytics report Military Satellite Trends and Outlook. This will also be the basis for a webinar later this month. You can register for the webinar directly on the Strategy Analytics website.

Don’t miss our regular column in Microwave Journal’s Military Microwaves.

See Defence iQ for more analysis on the defense industry, related news and events.

Asif

The beginning of 2013 started to see revenue results for companies. Most companies reported results that were essentially stable with minor increases or declines year-on-year. Boeing was the exception with revenues growing 19% year-on-year on the back of the company's commercial business. Company results reflected a slowing defense market, but contract activity was surprisingly good in January with new contracts across all sectors including radar, communications and EW.

There were a number of international shows in February providing the stage for companies to establish strategic relationships, form joint ventures and highlight their capabilities as well as signing major contracts. Saab is partnering with Tawazun to create a new UAE-based radar company. Amongst the UAS related developments, Northrop Grumman successfully flew a RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft for the first time using open architecture-based command and control software and hardware developed by the company. Other business activity included Boeing and Elbit Systems signing a MoU to support joint pursuit of opportunities for self-defense solutions and the O'Gara Group, completing its purchase agreement to acquire BAE Systems Commercial Armored Vehicles.

Clients of the ADS service can read the full reports:

Defense Electronics Industry Review: January 2013

Defense Electronics Industry Review: February 2013

Also, don’t miss our regular column in Microwave Journal’s Military Microwaves.

See Defence iQ for more analysis on the defense industry, related news and events.

Asif

Phased array technology featured heavily in radar contracts and other activities during September. Platforms ranged from large ground-based early warning radar (EWR) systems to scaled-down AESAs for incorporation into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology dominated a host of radar contract announcements during September including news of Northrop Grumman completing tests of its Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) S-band radar system as well as demonstrating technologies for the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) program. Raytheon was also actively involved in the supply of AESA-based systems, receiving a second contract for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar systems for the U.S. Air Force F-15E Radar Modernization Program.

In other areas, Harris, L-3 Communications and Selex Elsag were supplying communications systems, Boeing received further contracts for Laser JDAM kits and ITT Exelis announced another successful demonstration of its Advanced Defensive Electronic Warfare System (AIDEWS). The use of laser technology was also being demonstrated. MBDA Germany achieved a power of 40 kW using its high-energy laser demonstrator during a laser firing campaign while ITT Exelis is partnering with Innovative Technical Solutions to develop a laser communications system for the US Navy and Marine Corps.

Business news for the month was dominated by the discussions between Europe's largest defense corporations, BAE Systems and EADS. The deal has been shelved primarily as a result of the respective UK, France and German governments not being able to agree on terms. BAE Systems-EADS Merger Dead in the Water provides some more thoughts on this news.

Clients of the ADS service can read the full report Defense Electronics Industry Review: September 2012 which details significant defense industry news, including product announcements, milestones, contract activity and defense industry financial performance.

Asif

Despite the ongoing uncertainty with defense expenditure facing challenges and the threat of sequestration hanging over US companies there was positive news on the financial front as companies finished releasing results for the second quarter of the calendar year. Taking a snapshot of financial results and looking at quarterly revenue growth over the second and first quarters shows a turnaround with companies growing revenue as opposed to the quarter-to-quarter revenue declines observed after the first quarter of 2012.

There was also plenty of activity in August including new product launches, technology demonstrations and contracts as well as business acquisitions.

Amongst the business deals concluded in August, Mercury Computer Systems completed its acquisition of Micronetics, allowing the company to continue solidifying a portfolio of offerings that will now include RF capabilities. Meanwhile, BAE Systems signed a MoU with MASS to work on EW systems for the export market. The partnership is designed to offer customers electronic warfare training and data management, operational analysis, countermeasure development, mission data validation and mission evaluation.

There were also a number of announcements in the area of UAVs, with for example, an emphasis on developing secure communications. Northrop Grumman awarded Cubic Communications a contract to produce a new multiband digital data link system for the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter which will feature the ability to transmit Ku- and C-band transmissions at the same time. Expanding the role of UAVs with the addition of weapons is also being actively pursued and Raytheon completed a successful warhead and guidance system test of its Pyros small tactical munition to validate the weapon's semi-active laser and GPS guidance modes.

In July one of the notable events was NETMA issuing a RfP to Eurofighter GmbH for the development of an AESA Radar (E-scan). Officials said the target is to have a contract by the middle of next year and to have an E-Scan entering into service by 2015. The contract would mean development of the radar would come early next year with Eurofighter and Euroradar, the Selex Galileo-led consortium supplying radars for the Typhoon. The other European fighter, the Saab Gripen NG aircraft is now flying with a SELEX Galileo Raven ES-05 AESA fire control radar installed.

In August, there was considerable activity for naval radar platforms that included Lockheed Martin submitting its final proposal to the US Navy to design, build, integrate and test the new Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) S-band radar and radar suite controller for the future DDG-51 Flight III class destroyer.

At the component level, Northrop Grumman demonstrated an 850 GHz integrated receiver under Phase 2 of the DARPA Terahertz Electronics program, setting a new performance record. Under Phase 1, the company had already developed a Terahertz Monolithic Integrated Circuit that operated at 670 GHz in 2010. In addition to demonstrating low-noise integrated receivers, the company also developed and tested LNAs and PAs. Meanwhile, M/A-COM introduced a 40W GaN-on-SiC transistor suitable for S-band military radar. Perhaps more importantly, M/A-COM was suggesting that the MAGX-002735-040L00 will provide an MTTF of 600 years or better based on HTOL RF accelerated life testing.

In conclusion, the summer period was arguably quite upbeat for the defense industry with financials looking positive and plenty of activity in terms of new product launches, technology demonstrations, contracts as well as mergers and acquisitions. Whether this momentum can be maintained as the year draws to a close will be dependent on how well companies are able or perhaps in some cases allowed to adapt to a changing environment and proactively seek out opportunities away from their traditional territories.

Clients of the ADS service can read the full reports:

Defense Electronics Industry Review: July 2012

Defense Electronics Industry Review: August 2012

Also, don’t miss our regular column in Microwave Journal’s Military Microwaves.

See Defence iQ for more analysis on the defense industry, related news and events.

Asif

Eurosatory is held in Paris on a biannual basis with Eurosatory 2012 continuing to focus as an event centered on land and air platforms. The event boasted over 53,000 attendees and included a new focus on security this year including cyber. There were a range of technologies showcased at Eurosatory 2012 emphasizing the importance of enhancing capabilities and meeting the needs of SwaP-constrained platforms.

The growing use of COTS-based platforms was also highlighted by both DRS Technologies and Harris with the introduction of ruggedized, Military-grade Android-based handheld computer and tablet products. Elektrobit’s Counter-RCIED platform was demonstrated as a potential tool for convoy mission planning. Rohde & Schwarz was emphasizing the use of IP technologies for radio communication platforms. Finally, there was a range of radar technologies on show with Cassidian, FLIR and Camero showing solutions targeting applications from border surveillance to through-wall imaging.

IMS 2012 was held in Montreal, Canada for the first time in its 60 year history and a strong industrial program was complimented with a good mix of technical sessions and social events. While attendance was flat, there was an overall increase of around 40% year-on-year in the number of paper submissions.

Main themes that came out of the technical sessions centered on low cost millimeter-wave technologies based on Si CMOS. Terahertz technologies also continued to be a key topic with new concepts and a look towards integrated devices. Finally, nanotechnology was discussed in technical sessions with tunable devices including MEMS-based switches looking to commercial markets. Other areas of interest identified included energy harvesting, wireless energy transmission and the use of RF technologies in biomedical applications as well as the role RF will play in the “Internet of Everything”.

On the show floor, there was a positive atmosphere with companies focused on both commercial and defense markets. Strategy Analytics was also on the show floor to kick off a series of Richardson RFPD Supplier presentations where we outlined our thoughts on how GaN is becoming a pivotal technology in the defense sector. Strategy Analytics’ breakfast session at IMS 2012 was held in conjunction with Microwave Journal this year and included participation from Cree, Nitronex, NXP, RFMD, TriQuint and UMS with the presentations serving as a platform to confirm the applicability of GaN to addressing communications, electronic warfare, and radar applications.

The need for wideband communications including demand from the UAV and SATCOM sector at Ku-band and the need to address Ka-band requirements from SOTM, missile seekers and other communications applications is also driving opportunities for GaN device suppliers. However, while GaN technology hits a lot of the parameters being asked for by military system designers, other technologies including TWTs, LDMOS and SiC will also continue to play a role in future defense system design.

Finally, the Farnborough International Airshow 2012 took place in July acting as a conduit for the trade, with orders and commitments covering a total of 758 aircraft and worth $72 billion. More impressive, given the current economic uncertainty was the fact that the order value represented a 53 percent increase on 2010.

Attendance was equally impressive with just over 107,000 trade visitors and over 1500 exhibitors with representation right across the supply chain. Over 70 military delegations from 46 countries attended with a further 13 delegations from the civil sector. The UK Prime Minister opened the show, and other UK Cabinet members made keynote speeches, with other senior ministers visiting from the UK and overseas.

Over 140 aircraft took part in the static and flying displays at the Farnborough Aerodrome in Hampshire. While the Airbus A400M was unable to fly (again!) due to mechanical issues, the Airbus A380 was in attendance and other flying display highlights included the Korean T50 jet trainer, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Saab Gripen Fighter.

Perhaps surprisingly, the continuing requirement for a range of technologies was emphasized during meetings at Farnborough. TMD Technologies was showcasing its S-band TWT solutions as well as highlighting the capabilities of the company’s X-band 8kW PAMs which can be combined with up to 12 units to enable land-based radar solutions and provide the graceful degradation typically associated with GaAs and GaN-based AESA systems. On the GaAs front, Plextek’s Blighter B400 FMCW/Doppler Ku-band PESA radar was being demonstrated and Eletronnica was also showcasing GaAs-based solutions with the Virgilius EW system which provides both ESM and jamming functionality based around an AESA RF front-end.

In conclusion, there were a range of technologies showcased at all the shows with radar, communications and electronic warfare capabilities and requirements driving demand for technologies that can enhance the capabilities of existing platforms as well as meet the ever growing need to optimize SWaP parameters across both existing and emerging platforms.

Clients of the ADS service can read the full reports on the Eurosatory, IMS and Farnborough shows:

Defense Technology Highlights from Eurosatory 2012

RF Technologies for Defense at IMS 2012 Centered on GaN

Satellites, UAVs, Radar and Travelling Wave Tubes at Farnborough 2012

Also, don’t miss our regular column in Microwave Journal’s Military Microwaves.

See Defence iQ for more analysis on the defense industry, related news and events.

Asif

Recent defense industry developments center around future platforms with the US Navy looking ahead to the 2030s for a new fighter that could be unmanned. Other areas of focus included next generation systems underpinned by new technologies. The Strategy Analytics Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) service report, “Defense Electronics Industry Review: May 2012,” reviews significant defense industry news, including product announcements, milestones, contract activity and defense industry financial performance.

Even though the JSF has yet to make its operational debut, the US Navy is already looking ahead, issuing a Request for Information (RfI) for a new fighter, which could be manned or unmanned, to replace the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler in the 2030s. In the short term, unmanned platforms remain in focus also with Northrop Grumman announcing a deal for NATO's Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system which includes five Block 40 Global Hawk UAS. Elbit Systems was also active in Europe with a contract that will see the company supply UAS platforms over the next two years. Also in Europe, BAE Systems has begun testing technology to enable conventional aircraft to fly safely without pilots, including weather-avoidance and emergency landing systems.

New technologies will underpin these new platforms and the capabilities that they bring. For example, the Block 40 UAS platforms for the AGS program will utilize the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) ground surveillance radar sensor which uses active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology based using compound semiconductors like gallium arsenide (GaAs).  In other radar related news, Selex Galileo will begin delivering a new version of its Raven ES-05 AESA radar for integration with Saab's two-seat demonstrator for the next-generation Gripen E/F. Progress is also being made on the Euroradar Captor-E AESA for Eurofighter Typhoon where Cassidian is acting as design authority.

Other examples of semiconductor technologies underpinning the next generation of systems include the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) electronic warfare program, which is providing opportunities for companies such as ITT Exelis. It will utilize AESA technology based around gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors. Cassidian is also using GaN technology for the electronic components that will be used for the German Armed Forces' new software-defined radio communications system (KommSysBw).

On the research front, TriQuint has been selected by DARPA to lead a development program focused on ultra-fast GaN switch technology for the Microscale Power Conversion (MPC) program. TriQuint is teamed with Rockwell Collins, the University of Colorado at Boulder and Northrop Grumman to create a new generation of RF power amplifiers that use contour modulation for very high efficiency performance that exceeds the capabilities of devices currently available.

GaN continues to play a large part in future defense systems and is also gaining traction in the commercial world. Strategy Analytics explored this technology in detail last week during IMS 2012 in Montreal, Canada. Our special panel session, “Where are the emerging RF market opportunities for GaN?” attracted over 130 participants and provided a great overview of where this technology is going. Thanks to Microwave Journal for working with Strategy Analytics to set up the event and a special thank you to Cree, Nitronex, NXP, RFMD, TriQuint and UMS and Nitronex for presenting such great insightful content.

Finally, laser weapons appeared to be once again in vogue. Northrop Grumman test fired the first product in its next-generation FIRESTRIKE™ family of high-energy, solid-state lasers demonstrating that the laser could burn through the skin and critical components of a target drone. Meanwhile, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is looking to develop a solid-state laser weapon prototype for multi-mission capabilities aboard a ship.

Clients of the ADS service can read the full report here.

Also, don’t miss this month’s column in the Microwave Journal’s Military Microwaves.

Finally, I’ll be attending IQPC’s Military Satellites 2012 conference this week including a site visit to the headquarters of Surrey Satellite Technology to learn about micro and nano-satellite development from a leader in the global satellite market.

See Defence iQ for more analysis on the defense industry, related news and events.

Asif

The Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) service has just released, “Defense Electronics Industry Review: April 2012,” covering defense industry news including business events, product announcements, milestones and contract activity for the month of April.

With budget cuts continuing to threaten the outlook for the defense industry, a snapshot of some of the financials, from companies including General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin and United Technologies released in April, comparing fourth quarter 2011 revenues with revenues achieved in the first quarter of 2012 shows negative quarterly growth with an average decline of 9 percent. On a positive note, the companies considered in this snapshot all achieved positive net income for the quarter. The challenge will be maintaining profitability especially if quarterly revenues continue on the same trend.

On the other hand, contract activity across platforms, systems and component technologies appeared to be robust. Examples included Textron winning the competitive MEUAS (Mid-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems) II award and BAE Systems upgrading Royal Saudi Air Force F-15S electronic warfare capabilities.

Other highlights in April included the continuing development of GaN technology capabilities for use in military systems leading to contract awards to Raytheon, Rockwell Collins and TriQuint. ELTA Systems successfully demonstrating its new wideband LTE Tactical Communication Network, the TAC4G, while Herley Industries received an order for the production and supply of specialty microwave products for a new missile platform.

Clients of the ADS service can read the full report here

Also, don’t miss my monthly column in the Microwave Journal’s Military Microwaves.

See Defence iQ for more analysis on the defense industry, related news and event.

Asif

Strategy Analytics is at the Electronic Warfare 2012 Conference & Exhibition this week in Rome, Italy where this year’s theme is "Electromagnetic Operations in a Complex Environment", so the topic for this blog focuses on our thoughts for land-based EW system trends.

When the US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 the Army had very little capability to jam RCIEDs, and the first jammers to arrive on the battlefield were frequency-specific and thus easily defeated. Similar problems continued in Iraq for several years after the March 2003 invasion.

The proliferation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan and Iraq created a sense of tactical urgency, leading to a greater allocation of resources to counter this weapon.  The Pentagon responded with a multitude of stop-gap jammers designed for specific threats.

At the same time, the growing importance of land EW led to a strategic future-oriented focus. The Army Chief of Staff established the Army IED Task Force in October 2003. Then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz later transformed this into the Joint IED Task Force, and in February 2006 it was converted into the permanent Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO – www.jieddo.dod.mil).

While the first generation of stop-gap jammers were developed and delivered to the battlefield relatively quickly, they could not be easily (or at all) modified to counter the evolving RCIEDs and enemy tactics. The second generation of jammers could cover a broad range of frequencies, had more sophisticated signal response techniques, and caused less interference with other jammers and the Army’s communications gear.

An example of this is the Counter-Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (CREW 2.1) from ITT Electronic Systems Force Protection Systems group, also known as the CREW 2.1 Vehicle Receiver Jammer (CVRJ). In 2008, development and testing emphasized the spiral enhancements approach for mounted and dismounted systems, including the Combined Vehicle Radio Jammer (CVRJ). Over 8000 CVRJs were manufactured by the end of FY08, and 5600 were installed on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and other deployed vehicles.

The spiral development model recognized that the RCEID-intensive irregular warfare in Afghanistan and Iraq required an iterative development process with fielding of Version 1 while requirements were defined and developments planned for Version 2. This has resulted in the the development of Joint CREW (JCREW) 3.X, for which JIEDDO funded development and testing of three initiatives:

• 3.1 is a man-portable system manufactured by Sierra Nevada Corp.
• 3.2 is vehicle-mounted (i.e., HMMWV, MRAP) and manufactured by ITT Advanced Engineering & Sciences
• 3.3 is a system-of-systems of mounted, man-portable, and fixed-installation versions from ITT Electronic Systems Force Protection Systems group. These share a common open architecture and are designed to be networked and communicate over the Army’s wireless battlefield networks.

DARPA also takes a long-term approach, and several of its offices are conducting research that could be applied in future land EW systems. For example, the Strategic Technology Office’s Precision Electronic Warfare Program mission is to develop and demonstrate low cost, small (size, weight, and power) distributed EW platforms for precise communications jamming. The Information Innovation Office’s Behavioral Learning for Adaptive Electronic Warfare Program is developing new machine learning algorithms and techniques for the rapid detection and characterization of new radio threats, dynamic synthesis of countermeasures, and accurate EA battle damage assessment.

Going forward, military forces will need to be demand flexibility, power, modularity, and portability for land EW digital receivers and other systems and components. This will become increasingly important in the network-centric environment, resulting in a greater emphasis on tools to enhance situational awareness and survivability. The trends toward asymmetric conflict and the hybridization of conventional warfare and asymmetric conflict, especially when it occurs in foot soldier intensive urban combat, will further drive this requirement. The decentralized control of ISR and EW assets is also a central tenet of COIN (counter-insurgency) doctrine, which itself depends on modular, flexible, portable, and integrated forces.

The effective deployment of counter-IED systems is particular challenging because while soldiers and vehicles are on the move, IEDs are either in fixed positions and thus not always a nearby threat, or mobile and thus difficult to predict when they will be nearby and quickly become a threat. In other words, the jammer may not always be where (and when) it is needed. One possible solution, being investigated by Sky Industries in Canada, is real time in-situ estimation of counter-IED ECM protection range so the ECM protection bubble (jammer) is always where it is needed (and not where it is not needed). This approach requires networked interaction between the protected asset and the ECM system.

Roke Manor Research received the Queen's Awards for Enterprise and Innovation in 2011 for the company’s modular man-pack EW system, RESOLVE. The company has emphasized the need to maintain a holistic approach to EW while optimizing systems for dismounted, close support operations. Synchronization with ISTAR assets as part of the “Sensor – Decider – Shooter” chain is also a priority.

SELEX Galileo also demonstrates the prominence of modularity and integration with its Mobile Electronic Warfare Platform (MEWP). An integrated solution for communications and non-communications tactical EW, it can be configured for EA or ES roles. It is a self-contained unit with integral EW sub-systems, communications, power, and environmental control.

Underpinning these trends for future EW systems will be RF technologies such as GaN to meet the requirements of wideband, high power capabilities. This will enable further digitization of the RF chain by allowing a “no-channel” concept to be realised, in which the systems can look at the complete frequency range. As has been mentioned in previous columns, Strategy Analytics believes phased arrays will also play a growing part in future EW systems potentially allowing both COMINT and radar capabilities to be combined. At the digital interface, ADCs will need to provide higher sample rates and higher dynamic range which will in turn drive demand for FPGAs as the demands on digital processing increase.

It will be interesting to see whether these trends are reflected at the conference...watch this space!

Asif

A review of defense industry activity in February included Israel’s Ministry of Defense opting to buy the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 jet trainer for the Israel Air Force in a deal worth around $1 billion. The contract involves Thor, the joint venture set up by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (IAI) and Elbit Systems Ltd, buying the thirty aircraft, maintaining them and then selling air time to the IAF.

This platform was chosen over the T-50 Golden Eagle, jointly developed by Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd (KAI) and Lockheed Martin with the IAF citing performance as one of the underlying factors. Perhaps another "minor" factor could be the rumoured expectation that there will be reciprocal procurements from Italy to include IAI AEW&C platforms as well as joint development of a new reconnaissance satellite.

Meanwhile with defense spending and budgets in the spotlight, Boeing announced that the company has completed delivery of 257 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to the U.S. Navy. Boeing was keen to emphasize that each aircraft was delivered ahead of schedule and within the contract budget over the 2007 through 2011 timeframe.

Boeing has also started production of the new Distributed Targeting System (DTS) for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter as part of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Network Centric Warfare Upgrades program. Other upgrades to the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G platforms are underway with Honeywell Defense & Space Electronic Systems set to provide 124 full rate production advanced multi-purpose displays for the Lot 35 F/A-18F and EA-18G aircraft. On the sensors front, Raytheon will be providing sensor system software and hardware support in order to update, improve, and enhance tactical capabilities while a separate contract calls for Raytheon to supply AN/APG-79 AESA radars.

Moving across the spectrum from platforms to components, Auriga Microwave was on the receiving end for SBIR funding from both the US Air Force and NASA. The former wants Auriga Microwave to develop a 20GHz SSPA for Satcom downlinks while NASA is looking for efficient GaN amplifiers for operation at X- and Ka-band.

If you are a clients of the ADS service, please click on the link to access the full report, "Defense Electronics Industry Review: February 2012"