Defense

TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Israel is to buy Italy's M-346 Master advanced jet trainer for its air force, with the Italian plane beating South Korea's T-50 Golden Eagle after a hotly contested competition for the $1 billion contract.

Italy's Alenia Aermacchi clinched the deal for 30 combat trainers even though Seoul had dangled an offer to buy Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' ground-breaking Iron Dome counter-rocket system and other Israel-made military hardware.

The T-50 was jointly developed by Korea Aerospace Industries with Lockheed Martin of the United States.

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has ordered more TIM 1500 thermal imagers from BAE Systems to support the service's Stryker and Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station programs.

The TIM 1500 is an uncooled, extended-range thermal system in the 7.5-14 mm spectrum band used for day and night surveillance, target acquisition and situational awareness for troops in a vehicle. It is designed for use with vehicle-mounted weapons.

PHOENIX, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Advanced survivability seats for U.S. Army Bradley Fighting Vehicles are to be provided by BAE Systems through a $10.8 million contract.

BAE's energy-absorbing seats, the Survivor Post Mount 1000 and Survivor Modular Troop 3000, will be produced at BAE's facility in Phoenix.

"This technology helps decrease the potential for spinal injuries that may result from the shock of a blast," said Frank Crispino, director of vehicle protection programs at BAE Systems Support Solutions.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Two U.S. military commands are to receive information technology support and services from ITT Exelis through a $160 million award.

The re-compete contract from the U.S. Army is for a six-month base performance period with four one-year options.

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Systems engineering support to the U.S. Naval Warfare Center will be provided by CSC under a $38 contract task order, the company announced. The order, under a 2010 award, has a one-year base performance period and two one-year options. During this period, Virginia's CSC will provide emerging threat studies and analysis and conduct and develop prototype systems for the NWC's Joint Electronic Warfare Effects Laboratory and Electronic Warfare Arena product area.