Rolls-Royce opened its first around-the-clock support center in the United States to provide its US defense customers with quick technical assistance, announced the company on Oct. 9. The $2 million operations center is located in the company’s new Rolls-Royce Meridian Center in Indianapolis. It will host a team of 50 technical and engineering experts that can provide support in areas ranging from fleet engine data to hardware inspections, states the company’s release. “Our military customers in the field need a fast, effective response they can rely on when issues arise,” said Rolls-Royce President for Defense Services Paul Craig. He added, “Our new Defense Operations Center demonstrates that we are focused on our customers’ needs and providing the level of expert service they require and expect.”
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc. and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems matching $17.7 million contracts for an "Off-Board Sensing Station,” which is an unmanned aircraft that would extend a manned fighter’s sensing range and also potentially carry additional weapons for that aircraft. The cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts…