Lockheed Martin’s [LMT] offering to the Navy for the follow-on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) to meet the small surface combatant requirement could remove one of two MH-60 helicopters currently meant to operate off the ship to make room for a vertical launch system, a company executive said June 9.

The Lockheed Martin variant of the LCS known as the Freedom does not have a vertical launch system for firing missiles. As part of the Navy’s review of the LCS program, the company responded to an April request for information (RFI) that included the option of adding anywhere from four to 32 launch cells to the ship to increase firepower.

Joe North, the vice president of Lockheed Martin littoral ship systems, told reporters that if all 32 cells are added to the aft portion of the ship, it would require the subtraction of one of the helicopters for performing anti-submarine and anti-sea mine missions. He added, however, that shifting at least eight cells to the front end would allow the Navy to keep both helicopters on the vessel.

The scenarios apply if the Navy sticks with the Freedom hull at its current length of 118 meters, but North pointed out that Lockheed Martin also presented the Navy with the option of lengthening the mono-hulled Freedom variant.

The Navy on April 30 asked companies to submit ideas for a small surface combatant follow-on to LCS after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s decision to reduce the LCS buys from the planned 52 to 32. Hagel questioned the survivability and lethality of the ship-class and instructed the Navy to examine alternatives to meet the small warship requirement.

Hagel’s directive also applied to the trimaran Independence variant built by Austal USA, which along with Lockheed Martin and other companies replied in late May to the Navy’s two RFIs. Austal USA proposed a host of ways to increase the firepower on the vessel, including a vertical launch capability as well.

Both companies have been contracted to deliver a combined 24 ships, evenly split between the two variants.

The Navy has set up a task force that is due to reach a recommendation for the small surface combatant by July 31, and sought input from throughout the industry through the RFIs. General Dynamics [GD] , Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] and Raytheon [RTN] were among the other companies that submitted ideas for either hull designs or combat systems-or both.

AeroVironment [AVAV] June 10 said BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., selected the company to provide mapping, Geographic Information System (GIS) and other commercial information services at its Prudhoe Bay oil field, the largest oil field in North America, for five-years.

The contract marks the first time unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will be performing routine commercial services over land in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, the company said in a statement. Commercial UAS operations began on June 8.

AeroVironment deployed a comprehensive information solution incorporating its proven Puma AE UAS, equipped with either a custom integrated LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) or its standard electro-optical and infrared sensor payload. The sensor payloads produce imagery and data for processing into 3D computerized models of roads, pads and pipelines, and other actionable information, including precision volumetric measurement and topographic analysis of gravel pits at the North Slope field.

“Thanks to the FAA’s rigorous, safety-focused certification process for UAS, BP and AeroVironment have launched a safer, better and more cost-effective solution for managing critical infrastructure and resources,” said Tim Conver, AeroVironment chairman and CEO.

In one application, surveying the 200 miles of roadways built to support North Slope activities is critical to the effective operation of the Prudhoe Bay field. Drill rigs that traverse the roadways span up to 28 feet wide, 132 feet long and weigh up to 3.5 million pounds, with a driver at each end. The highly accurate LiDAR-produced maps delivered by AeroVironment’s Puma AE, along with precision GPS guidance systems, assist drivers in keeping moving drill rigs centered on the roadways, even in low visibility conditions.

Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland and Turkey’s Havelsan said June 3 they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and jointly market and sell their complementary training products and capabilities.

Witnessed by the Turkish Undersecretary for Defense Industry, Ismail Demir, the MoU was signed by Sadik Yamac CEO of Havelsan and Ross Kelly, AgustaWestland Head of Region for Turkey.

“Havelsan wishes to provide simulation and synthetic training systems, including information management solutions, in support of the various rotorcraft platforms purchased by the Turkish Government and International Defence and Government Customers,” Yamac said. “This MoU is an important step towards achieving our aims in the rotorcraft training systems market.”

Havelsan is an established supplier of simulation and synthetic training systems and information management solutions to customers around the world. Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of advanced rotorcraft and supplier of rotorcraft training and support solutions. This MoU will allow both parties to collaborate and enhance their businesses through the joint development of training solutions, including training systems and training centers, for a wide range of customers.

The Swiss Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports DDPS has chosen the Israeli Elbit Systems Hermes 900 HFE over the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Super Heron as its new unmanned aerial system in a program likely to cost some $278 million.

The Hermes 900 HFE will replace the ADS 95 Ranger reconnaissance drone system, produced by RUAG Aerospace, Emmen. As of October 2013, there were 15 of the systems operating. The Swiss armed forces have operated the ADS 95 Ranger since 2001, and the Hermes will replace it by 2020.

Under the 2015 arms procurement program, efforts are under way to replace the ADS UAV system, which is reaching the end of its life cycle, the DDPS said in a statement last month. The choice of the new Hermes system allows the procurement process to get under way.

The Hermes 900 HFE was chosen over the Super Heron because it delivered the better overall result in all assessed criteria, the ministry statement said. Earlier, the two systems were chosen as the best of choices in meeting the stated requirements.

The Hermes 900 HFE system is an all-weather unarmed reconnaissance drone system that is more flexible, has longer endurance in the air and a wider operational range than the current system.

The new UAVs are unarmed. Currently, combat drones are not an option for the DDPS.

The use of the UAV will be extensively explained in the dispatch on procurement, the Armed Forces Development Program and the Security Policy Report. The decision to procure the new reconnaissance drone system (ADS 15) will likely be submitted for Parliamentary approval with the 2015 armaments program.