Deals this week: Airbus Helicopters, iXblue, eMARINE Global

A consortium comprising Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters has been awarded a contract by the French Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) to develop the first demonstrator of a rotary-wing drone, which is intended for deployment on a French Navy warship.

The consortium is set to conduct de-risking studies prior to the manufacturing of the future tactical helicopter drone demonstrator as part of the deal.

Additionally, the companies will identify, deploy and test various technologies needed for the incorporation of a tactical unmanned helicopter on-board a heavily armed naval ship.

iXblue has received a contract from Naval Group to install its Marins inertial navigation systems on-board five of the French Navy’s 4,000t frigates.

The Marins system is designed to deliver precise information regarding a ship’s position, heading, roll, pitch and speed.

iXblue will also be responsible for the installation of Netans data distribution and processing units on-board the vessels under the arrangement.

eMARINE Global has secured a deal to maintain the Republic of Korea Navy’s anti-submarine warfare tactical training (ASWTT) simulator.

The ASWTT simulator was originally installed by Italian firm ECA Sindel in 2007 / 2008.

ECA Sindel has been sub-contracted by eMARINE Global to provide technical support for the simulator in support of the agreement.

Lockheed Martin has placed a contract with Gibbs & Cox for support work on the Royal Saudi Navy’s Freedom-class multi-mission surface combatant (MMSC) vessel.

The deal will see Gibbs & Cox support the functional design of the MMSC, which is intended to fulfil the various multi-mission surface combatant needs of the Royal Saudi Navy.

The MMSC will be built based on the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship’s 118m-long hull.

It is expected to be able to attain a speed of 30kt and a maximum range of 5,000 nautical miles (nmi).