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August 28, 2021 | International, C4ISR, Security

2 companies win contracts to research cyber protections for military aircraft

The Air Force Research Lab awarded two $200 million contracts for cybersecurity research.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/cyber/2021/08/27/2-companies-win-contracts-to-research-cyber-protections-for-military-aircraft/

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 9, 2020

    November 10, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 9, 2020

    AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $657,200,000 undefinitized contract action modification (P00025) to contract FA8634-18-C-2701 for the F-15Q Qatar program. The contract modification provides a comprehensive sparing program and contractor logistics support for the sustainment of the F-15QA aircraft. Logistical support for training devices and administrative costs are also included in this modification. Work will be performed in Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $55,700,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $8,040,659,061. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $258,311,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Evolved Strategic Satellite Communication (ESS) contract. This contract will develop a prototype payload and conclude in a hardware and software in-the-loop, end-to-end demonstration. Work will be performed in Denver, Colorado, and is expected to be completed June 2025. This contract is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $29,447,172 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8808-21-C-0015). Raytheon Integrated Defense Solutions, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $77,639,897 fixed-price, incentive-firm contract with firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable and time and material contract line item numbers for the Qatar Air Operations Center (AOC) upgrade. The contract is to upgrade the AOC and alternate AOC (AAOC), which includes the procurement of hardware and software, engineering services, installation, integration, and testing of AOC and AAOC components, end-user training, spares and help desk support outside the continental U.S. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts; and Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and is expected to be completed March 31, 2025. This award is the result of a directed sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $77,639,897 are obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-21-C-0005). Raytheon Co., Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been awarded a $33,899,323 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Combat Identification (CID) Alpha Phase One effort. This contract upgrades the current AWACS System to meet evolving threat capabilities and to address diminishing manufacturing sources material shortages issues with the currently fielded AWACS System. Work will be performed at Raytheon in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is expected to be completed May 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds have been obligated in the amount of $4,864,480 prior to definitization. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-20-C-0016). Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded $29,643,567 in firm-fixed-price task orders under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract. These task orders provide early integration studies and fleet surveillance for non-national security space missions. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 19, 2021. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement funds in the amount of $7,307,274; and fiscal 2020 space procurement funds in the amount of $22,336,293 will be obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-21-F-0002). NAVY General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $138,545,759, firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of the USS New York (LPD 21) fiscal 2021 docking selected restricted availability (DSRA). This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair of the USS New York (LPD 21). This is a Chief of Naval Operations scheduled DSRA. The purpose is to maintain, modernize, and repair the USS New York (LPD 21). This is a “long-term” docking availability and was solicited on a coast-wide (East and Gulf coasts) basis without limiting the place of performance to the vessel's homeport. NASSCO will provide the facilities and human resources capable of completing, coordinating, and integrating multiple areas of ship maintenance, repair, and modernization for USS New York (LPD 21). This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $161,341,858. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by June 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $138,545,759 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website; two competitive proposals were received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-20-R-4417. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-C-4417). Three Wire Systems LLC, Falls Church, Virginia, is awarded a multiple-award, firm-fixed-price Department of Defense Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) blanket purchase agreement (BPA) in accordance with the firms' General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule contract GS-35F-0300T. The estimated overall value of this BPA is $74,500,000. DOD ESI is a joint DOD project to streamline the acquisition process and provide information technology (IT) products and selected services that are compliant with applicable standards and represent the best value for DOD. Under ESI, the DOD leverages aggregate buying power to establish enterprise agreements with IT manufacturers and resellers for high demand, commercial off-the-shelf IT products and services. This awardee will join the rest of the fiscal 2018 multiple awardees Carahsoft (Reston, Virginia); Immix (McLean, Virginia); and Alamo City Engineering Services (San Antonio, Texas), to provide commercially available Forescout brand-name software licenses, proprietary appliances, and maintenance support to the DOD, intelligence community, and Coast Guard. The products offered through this BPA will meet functional requirements and capabilities in the following categories: Forescout Integration Modules, CounterAct, Forescout Training and Solution Support, and ActiveCare Support Services. The ordering period will be from Nov. 9, 2020, to Dec. 20, 2022. This BPA is issued under DOD ESI in accordance with the policy and guidelines in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, Section 208.74. This BPA will not obligate funds at the time of award. Funds will be obligated via delivery orders using operation and maintenance (DOD) funds. Requirements will be competed among the awardees in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 8.403-3(c)(2), and the successful contractor will receive firm fixed-price orders. This BPA was competitively procured via the GSA E-Buy web site among 679 vendors. One offer was received and one was selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-21-A-0030). ESG Aerosystems Inc., Starke, Florida, is awarded a $64,773,941 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to develop a curriculum and facilitate training for P-3 aircrew positions including copilots, patrol plane commander, instructor pilot, flight engineer, instructor flight engineer, and flight currency training in support of Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity's applicable field units and other program offices and stakeholders. The contract includes a five-year ordering period with no options and is expected to be completed by November 2025. Work will be performed in Starke, Florida (80%); and Jacksonville, Florida (20%). This effort is 100% funded by Federal Republic of Germany funds under the Foreign Military Sales program. Funds in the amount of $2,500 will be obligated to fund the contract's minimum amount and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive requirement in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.202(a)(3) with one offer received under authority of FAR 6.302-4. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00189-21-D-Z007). AERMOR LLC,* Virginia Beach, Virginia, is awarded $44,913,739 for a firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide test and evaluation support services for Commander, Operational Test & Evaluation Force Surface Warfare Division. The contract will include a 60-month base ordering period with an additional six-month ordering period option pursuant of Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8 - option to extend services, which if exercised, will bring the total ceiling value to $49,901,968. The base ordering period is expected to be completed by November 2025. If the option is exercised, the ordering period will be completed by May 2026. All work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,500 will be obligated to fund the contract's minimum amount and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Individual task orders will be subsequently funded with appropriate fiscal year appropriations at the time of their issuance. This contract was competitively procured with the solicitation posted on beta.SAM.gov as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside, with four offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00189-21-D-G001). L-3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, is awarded a $10,364,080 modification (P00024) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1030). This modification exercises options to procure six AN/SRQ-4 kits and associated components for the MH-60 Common Data Link system for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is expected to be completed in December 2022. FMS funds in the amount of $9,560,101 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. William Marsh Rice University, Houston, Texas, is awarded an 18-month contract option valued at $9,776,246 under an existing cost-reimbursement contract (N66001-19-C-4020) for development of a high resolution neural interface that does not require surgery. The Next-Generation Non-Surgical Neurotechnology program seeks to broaden applicability of neural interfaces to facilitate multi-tasking at the speed of thought and interface with smart decision aids to achieve a neural link capable of high spatial and temporal resolution currently only possible using surgically implanted devices. Exercise of this option increases the overall value of this contract to $13,805,336. Work will be performed at the contractor's facilities in Houston, Texas (29%); Waco, Texas (33%); New York, New York (20%); New Haven, Connecticut (15%); and Durham, North Carolina (3%). The period of performance is from Nov. 9, 2020, through May 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,888,123 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency broad agency announcement solicitation published on the beta.SAM.gov website. Nineteen proposals were received and six were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-C-4020). Barnhart-Reese Construction Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a firm-fixed-price task order (N6247321F4085) at $8,061,699 under a multiple award construction contract for design-build repair/renovation of Mess Hall Building 2403 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The task order also contains two planned modifications which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative task order value to $8,120,128. The scope of work includes replacement of plumbing systems and floor finishes, reconfiguring kitchen and serving spaces to align with current serving methodologies, removing wasted storage and office areas, relocating portable refrigerated reefers to the interior of the existing facility, replacing broken heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and cooling condensers in the food preparation areas, and removing disused built-ins. The planned modifications, if issued, provide for furniture, fixtures, and equipment and audio/visual. Work will be performed in Oceanside, California, and is expected to be completed by November 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,061,699 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-17-D-4629). L-3 Electron Devices Inc., Torrance, California, is awarded a $7,860,000 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00383-21-F-NR00) under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00383-18-G-NR01) for the repair of the guided traveling wave tube in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. All work will be performed in Torrance, California and is expected to be completed by February 2021. Fiscal 2021 working capital (Navy) funds in the full amount of $7,860,000 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2410227/source/GovDelivery/

  • Gripen E/F le dernier appareil suédois ?

    December 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace

    Gripen E/F le dernier appareil suédois ?

    Yannick Smaldore Il y a douze ans, Saab annonçait la production du Gripen Demo, un démonstrateur technologique représentatif d'une nouvelle génération de chasseurs légers Gripen que le constructeur suédois entendait lancer tant sur le marché domestique qu'à l'exportation. Après un parcours parfois mouvementé, la dernière mouture de l'avion, le Gripen E/F, s'apprête à être livrée à ses deux clients. L'occasion pour DSI de revenir sur l'unique programme de chasseur de nouvelle génération actuellement en développement en Europe. En avril 2008, sur le site de Linköping, en Suède, Saab dévoile le Gripen Demo, adapté d'une cellule de Gripen D et première étape vers la prochaine génération de chasseurs légers de l'avionneur suédois. Si l'avion se rapproche extérieurement d'un Gripen biplace standard, un œil averti distingue rapidement des différences loin d'être anodines. Gripen NG, un nouvel ancien avion Le train d'atterrissage principal, qui se rétracte habituellement sous le fuselage, a été déplacé dans des logements conformes sous la voilure, permettant d'installer trois points d'emport ventraux au lieu d'un, mais aussi de combler les anciens logements de roues par des réservoirs internes supplémentaires. Les entrées d'air sont également agrandies afin d'alimenter un unique moteur F414 de General Electric, évolution 20 % plus puissante du F404 produit sous licence par Volvo pour le Gripen de base. Pour sa prochaine itération du Gripen, l'avionneur suédois propose d'intégrer dans cette cellule élargie ce qui se fait de mieux en matière de capteurs et de systèmes de combat. Le tout en respectant une enveloppe budgétaire extrêmement réduite (1) et un calendrier très serré, et en gardant comme ambition de redéfinir complètement la gestion des programmes aéronautiques militaires, rien de moins. Et une décennie plus tard, malgré quelques revers, Saab pourrait bien être en passe de tenir (presque) toutes ses promesses avec son Gripen NG (2). En 2011, la Suisse annonce son intention de commander 22 Gripen NG, ouvrant la voie à une commande de 60 exemplaires de la part de la Flygvapnet suédoise, et aux crédits de développement associés. En 2014, c'est au tour du Brésil de passer une commande ferme pour 36 appareils. Mais le programme connaît un premier coup dur, une votation populaire conduisant la Suisse à annuler sa commande d'avions de combat, ce qui force Saab à ralentir sensiblement son calendrier de développement. Avec plus d'un an de retard, en mai 2016, le premier Gripen E de présérie est dévoilé à la presse et montre immédiatement le paradoxe de ce nouvel appareil : à part une cellule plus longue de 50 cm et quelques différences extérieures, le futur de l'aviation de combat tel qu'annoncé par Saab ressemble à s'y méprendre au Gripen originel. Et pourtant, les évolutions techniques, numériques, conceptuelles et managériales sont bien là, discrètes, mais indispensables à la réussite du programme. Le Gripen E/F sur le plan technique Conserver une cellule pratiquement inchangée découle d'un choix stratégique de la part de Saab qui ne dispose pas des ressources pour développer une toute nouvelle plate-forme, et qui estime que les avancées en matière de capteurs et de travail collaboratif intra-patrouille rendent caduque la furtivité passive des avions dits de cinquième génération. Son Gripen étant déjà relativement discret et bien né, il est décidé d'en conserver l'aérodynamisme autant que possible. Avec une masse maximale passée de 14 t à 16,5 t, un emport en carburant interne augmenté de 40 % et la capacité d'emporter de nouveaux réservoirs externes plus volumineux, le Gripen NG ambitionne toutefois de s'extraire de la catégorie des chasseurs de défense légers pour marcher sur les plates-bandes des biréacteurs médians. Par rapport au Gripen C/D, les Gripen E/F voient l'intégralité de leurs systèmes évoluer vers des équipements de dernière génération. En matière de capteurs, Saab a principalement fait appel à Selex‑ES, depuis intégré à Leonardo. Ce dernier fournit le radar Raven ES‑05, variante du Vixen 1000E. Équipé d'une antenne AESA combinée à un repositionneur mécanique, le Raven possède une ouverture de 200°, contre 140° habituellement pour les radars AESA à antenne fixe. Une telle configuration permet théoriquement de continuer à illuminer une cible alors que le Gripen se trouve sur un vecteur d'éloignement, une capacité qui pourrait donc être exploitée en combat aérien à longue portée. L'IFF Mode 5 intégré au bloc radar est doté d'antennes latérales, afin de garantir une identification de la cible sur l'ensemble du champ d'action du radar, et une optronique infrarouge Skyward‑G est implantée au-dessus du radar. Cet IRST constituerait alors le principal outil de détection contre des cibles furtives. Radar, IRST et IFF sont enfin conçus pour travailler de manière collaborative, chaque équipement contribuant à construire une situation tactique unique que le pilote consulte sur son très large affichage principal, composé d'un unique écran tactile WAD (Wild Aera Display). Comme souvent avec les productions suédoises, le Gripen E/F devrait aussi se démarquer du marché par son équipement de communication et de guerre électronique. En plus des radios tactiques numériques et d'une antenne SATCOM, qui s'imposent de manière standard sur les nouveaux avions de combat, Saab propose plusieurs solutions de liaisons de données, notamment la L‑16 compatible OTAN, mais aussi son Link-TAU à grande bande passante. Fonctionnant en bande UHF, il permet aux Gripen d'une même patrouille d'échanger des données à longue distance et, dans un avenir proche, de fusionner les données issues de leurs capteurs respectifs pour affiner la qualification des pistes et la situation tactique. Pour la guerre électronique, Saab propose son système à large bande MFS-EW, dernière évolution de sa gamme AREXIS. Typique de l'état de l'art en la matière, ce système multifonction est basé sur des antennes AESA en nitrure de gallium (GaN) réparties sur la dérive et au niveau des rails lance-missiles. AREXIS s'appuie largement sur l'usage de systèmes de brouillage à mémoire de fréquence radio numérique, ou DRFM, qui analysent le signal radar adverse et émettent une onde retour modifiée. De quoi tromper l'ennemi sur sa position, sa nature ou sa vitesse, voire de disparaître complètement de certains écrans radars, en théorie. Si de tels systèmes se rencontrent déjà aujourd'hui, notamment sur le Rafale ou sur l'EA‑18G Growler, le Gripen NG innoverait par la capacité de traitement de signal offerte de ses calculateurs, sa capacité d'attaque électronique intégrée, mais aussi par la présence du système BriteCloud de Leonardo, un petit brouilleur DRFM éjecté par les lance-leurres de l'avion et spécifiquement conçu pour tromper les missiles assaillants. https://www.areion24.news/2019/11/29/gripen-e-f-le-dernier-appareil-suedois%E2%80%89/

  • Lockheed expects flat sales in 2023, growth to return in 2024

    October 18, 2022 | International, Aerospace

    Lockheed expects flat sales in 2023, growth to return in 2024

    Lockheed Martin also teased the release of more details on its drone wingman program in the next earnings call in January 2023.

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