The Kuwait Low Altitude Surveillance System is seen during a visit by Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah in January 2021. (Kuwait News Agency)

US Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) is carrying out market research to see if there are contractors other than TCOM that can operate the Kuwait Low Altitude Surveillance System (KLASS).

In a request for information released on 13 June MARCORSYSCOM said the KLASS consists of a TCOM 71M tethered aerostat that carries a TPS-63 solid-state radar, as well as associated ground equipment and systems.

The KLASS is currently operated by US aerostat manufacturer TCOM on behalf of the Kuwait Air Force under a non-competitive contract awarded in 2015.

Companies that are interested in taking over the contract will have to show they are capable of operating the KLASS 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, which requires personnel qualified to fly the 71M and with experience of doing so in Southwest Asian weather conditions. It will also need personnel capable of operating and maintaining the TPS-63 radar, other onboard electronic systems, and all the ground equipment, which includes a weather radar and a wind profiler.

BAE Systems will support radars on UK Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, such as HMS Dauntless . (Derek Fox)

BAE Systems has received a GBP270 million (USD338.71 million) contract to support the radars on Royal Navy (RN) Type 23 and Type 26 frigates, Type 45 destroyers, and the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

The company will upgrade, maintain, and provide in-service support for the BAE Systems Sampson multifunction radar and Advanced Radar Target Indication Situational Awareness and Navigation (ARTISAN) 3D solution equipped on the ships as well as other “long-range radars”, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) announced on 9 June.

The 10-year contract, expected to run until 2032, was placed by the DE&S Maritime Anti-Air Weapons Systems (MAWS) team.

ARTISAN is an S-band (2–4 GHz) 3D air and surface surveillance radar equipped on various RN ships including the Type 23 and Type 26 and Queen Elizabeth and Albion classes. The system has a maximum detection range of 108 n mile. In total, 21 units have been ordered by the RN.

The 4GD stand at DSET 2023 – one of the members of the Alliance team headed by Lockheed Martin UK that is competing for the MoD STP CTTP contract. (Janes/James Rands)

The competition for the Strategic Training Partner (STP) under the British Army's Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP) has been delayed, Janes learnt at the 2023 Defence Simulation Education & Training (DSET) exhibition, held in Bristol from June 5 to 8.

Initially, the competition was scheduled to be announced in January 2023, but it was then delayed until April, and is now expected in September. The delay is said to be due to a reshuffle in the Cabinet Office team overseeing the competition and because of an unknown issue with the original documentation, Janes understands.

A lot of time has subsequently been lost, which some delegates believe may result in a shortened downselection period. Competitors think this timeframe may now be too short and may cause issues when the downselection of companies (from seven to two) is finalised.