Defense news from April/May 2024

Mobix Labs establishes technical advisory board

Mobix Labs Inc. created a technical advisory board to assess existing and new technologies, corporate strategy, and potential acquisitions.

Led by Jim Aralis, the company’s chief technology officer, inaugural board members include Greg Winner, VP of product development and GM for cellular infrastructure at InnoPhase Inc., a fabless semiconductor company; Jay Standiford, a long-time engineering executive and consultant; and Frank Thiel, founder of Kolvenier Solutions, a business and technology consulting company.

FOR MORE: https://mobixlabs.com

Clearspeed appoints Blersch SVP of Government Innovation

Clearspeed appointed Donald (Don) J. Blersch to SVP of Government Innovation. Blersch will lead delivering Clearspeed’s artificial intelligence-powered (AI-powered) risk assessment solutions across agencies, drive strategic development to meet stakeholder needs, and empower a team of government relations experts.

Blersch brings more than 35 years of public sector experience in developing, implementing, and advising on technology-led programs to address the nation’s top global security challenges. With multi-agency experience, including NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Blersch led the implementation of technology innovation while advising the executive leadership bench on security disciplines, enabling the department to meet vital national security responsibilities with a well-vetted and trusted workforce, hyperfocused on the protection of sensitive, classified information.

Blersch’s successes with the U.S. government align with Clearspeed’s commitment to helping organizations modernize vetting and build trust faster, by assessing risk quickly and accurately, with unbiased technology that can be used anywhere throughout the vetting process.

FOR MORE: https://www.clearspeed.com

Contracts

BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP, Sterling Heights, Michigan, is awarded a $181,888,089 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract for Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV). The total cumulative face value of the contract is $2,732,764,209. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania (60%); Aiken, South Carolina (15%); San Jose, California (15%); Sterling Heights, Michigan (5%); and Stafford, Virginia (5%), with an expected completion date of July 2026.

FOR MORE: https://www.baesystems.com

Teledyne FLIR, North Billerica, Massachusetts, was awarded a $14,968,625 firm-fixed-price contract for clip-on thermal weapon sights. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in North Billerica, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2025.

FOR MORE: https://www.flir.com

Columbia Helicopters appoints Balevic as president & CEO

Columbia Helicopters appointed David Balevic to president & CEO. Balevic will succeed Michael Tremlett, who is departing the company to pursue other opportunities.

Columbia Helicopters is a leader in heavy and super heavy-lift helicopters and manufactures, provides sustainment services for, and operates the Model 234, CH-47D Chinook, and Model 107-II tandem-rotor helicopters. Their principal customers include the U.S. military, foreign allied militaries, and U.S. and foreign civil protection agencies.

Balevic brings more than 35 years of leadership experience across the aviation industry to Columbia. He previously spent eight years at CHC Helicopter, where he served as the senior vice president for Engineering & Operations before being promoted to president & CEO in August 2019.

FOR MORE: https://www.colheli.com

Ammunition market

The ammunition market is estimated to grow by $5.17 billion during 2022-2027. The growth will accelerate at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.29% during the forecast period. The escalation of geopolitical tensions and cross-border issues is significantly propelling market expansion within the ammunition industry. Increasing military budgets and personnel bolstering, particularly in regions impacted by conflicts such as the Middle East and Asia, including South Korea, Russia, and Japan, are driving the demand for large-caliber ammunition. Heightened R&D investments and technological advancements are further fueling revenue growth. The surge in demand for small and medium-caliber weapons is attributed to regional unrest and conflicts. Ukraine’s recent announcement to boost military spending by $8.3 billion amid the Russia-Ukraine war underscores the market’s trajectory toward sustained growth, fueled by heightened demand for ammunition.

FOR MORE: https://www.technavio.com

Iten Defense appoints Damon Walsh as CEO

Iten Defense announced Damon Walsh as its new CEO. Walsh succeeds CEO and co-founder, Lex Watson, who’ll remain on the company’s board of directors and in an active advisor role.

Walsh is a defense industry executive with more than 40 years of cross-functional leadership experience. His background includes 25 years of service in the U.S. Army, including 12 years as an Infantry and Special Forces officer at multiple levels of command and staff. He was then selected for duty in the Army Acquisition Corps and served his final 13 years in uniform in a wide variety of contract and program management assignments including Rock Island Arsenal; DCMC-Haiti; U.S. Special Operations Command; DCMA Iraq; and as the commanding officer of the Lima Army Tank Plant/DCMA-GDLS. Following his time as an Army officer, Walsh served in senior roles at several companies including Force Protection, Jet Hot – High Performance Coatings, and SYNNEXUS. He recently served as chairman of the Board and co-founder of Mission Solutions Group.

FOR MORE: https://www.itendefense.com