October 29, 2019 | International, Naval
By: Martin Banks
BRUSSELS — As militaries around the world invest in advanced technology, the need to test the capabilities of new systems for military operations is critical — both to ensure the training of personnel as well as the effective integration with existing platforms.
Dozens of unmanned underwater, surface and air vehicles from NATO countries gathered in Portugal in September for Exercise REP (MUS) 19 to do just that: test technological advances in unmanned maritime systems networks.
Defense News recently received details about the exercise from a NATO official.
In a nutshell, what is Exercise REP (MUS) 19?
REP (MUS) 19 was built on the 10th annual Portuguese underwater exercise Recognised Environmental Picture (REP), with support from NATO's Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) initiative, the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation, and the University of Porto's Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technology.
The NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative (MUSI) was launched in October 2018 to promote capability development and interoperability in the field of maritime unmanned systems.
What did NATO hope to learn from this exercise?
The focus of REP (MUS) 19 was on technological and procedural interoperability. Participating nations tested the integration and coordination of activities between multiple unmanned systems from allied nations in the three domains — above the water, on the water and underwater.
This was the first time that so many NATO nations had the opportunity to test together the effectiveness of systems, concepts, techniques and procedures related to maritime unmanned systems, ensuring they can work seamlessly together, bringing together dozens of unmanned underwater, surface and air vehicles for maritime operations.
Who participated?
The systems were from the Portuguese Navy, as well as from the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation, from Belgium, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. During REP (MUS) 19, participants from naval forces, from industry and from academia jointly contributed assets to the operational demonstrations and worked together to test new technological advances and procedures for maritime unmanned systems in real-life operational scenarios.
What is the potential for unmanned systems among allies?
New maritime unmanned systems technologies can be a game-changer in countering multiple threats in the maritime domain. Using maritime unmanned vehicles can help effectively counter new submarines armed with more powerful weapons. They can also prevent military personnel from moving into risky situations in countering threats like sea mines.
https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2019/10/28/4-questions-with-nato-on-its-unmanned-tech-test/
December 19, 2024 | International, C4ISR, Security
In a poignant and impactful moment at a recent USCIS naturalization ceremony, CISA Region 3’s Cybersecurity Coordinator, Chris Ramos, shared heartfelt words and
August 20, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
ARMY Norfolk Dredging Co., Chesapeake, Virginia, was awarded a $133,162,809 firm-fixed-price contract for Savannah inner harbor dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Savannah, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 6, 2021. Fiscal 2019 civil construction; operations and maintenance civil; and river and harbor contributed funds in the amount of $133,162,809 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-19-C-5004). Norfolk Dredging Co., Chesapeake, Virginia, was awarded a $124,460,600 firm-fixed-price contract for Charleston harbor dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of July 5, 2022. Fiscal 2019 civil construction funds in the amount of $124,460,600 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston, South Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912HP-19-C-0003). WHH Nisqually-Garco JV 2,* Olympia, Washington, was awarded a $22,252,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a hot refueling system at Gray Army Airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 22, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $22,252,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington, is the contracting activity (W912DW-19-C-0017). L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, was awarded a $7,868,630 firm-fixed-price contract for the production of Dual Output Battery Eliminator retrofits and Ku Band Directional Antennas On the Move upgrades. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $7,868,630 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-19-F-0636). AIR FORCE Radiance Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Alabama,* has been awarded a $99,997,251 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for distributed, automated and intelligent hardware and software security. The scope of this effort is the design, development, integration and delivery of an adaptable set of models and tools, which can be used to provide next-generation detailed, comprehensive and automated cyber vulnerability assessment capabilities, which can also be tailored towards multiple application spaces and Department of Defense missions. This set of models and tools will provide optimized system configurations and countermeasure placement in order to perform vulnerability assessments on complex, distributed systems, which include Internet of Things components in an automated fashion. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 19, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-1508). Flatter Inc., Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Washington, District of Columbia, has been awarded a $39,559,613 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Air Force Senior Leadership Development Program (AFSLDP). This contract provides for the full range of technical, functional and managerial expertise to further support the continual development, enhancement, sustainment and facilitation of the AFSLDP by providing analysis, subject matter expertise, guidance and support to the Force Development and Senior Leadership trainings as well as systems. Work will be performed in the National Capital Region and the estimated completion date is Aug. 16, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $136,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The contracting directorate is Air Force, District of Washington, Acquisitions, and the contracting activity is Joint Base Andrews, Maryland (FA701419DA003). BAE Systems, Nashua, New Hampshire, has been awarded a $19,197,676 cost-plus-fixed-fee for sustainment services associated with the AN/ALQ-239 Digital Electronics Warfare Systems (DEWS) and AN/AAR-57A(V) Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) hardware/software. This contract provides for the repair and return indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity in support of DEWS/CMWS line replaceable units and line replaceable modules for the Foreign Military Sales customer. Work will be performed at Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 13, 2022. This contract involves foreign military sales to the Royal Saudi Air Force. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $9,054,261 are being obligated at the time of the award via order FA8523-19-F-0056. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8523-19-D-0001). CORRECTION: The Aug. 8, 2019, announcement that BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, was awarded a $369,000,000 ceiling increase modification (P00013) to contract FA2521-16-D-0010 for serviceable components and subsystems for instrumentation tracking systems is incorrect. The correct award amount was $90,500,000. All other information in the announcement is correct. NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $32,111,547 for modification P00005 to delivery order N00019-19-F-2512 under previously issued against basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This award procures modification kits and special tooling for modification and retrofit of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in June 2025. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy); non-DoD partners; and FMS funds in the amount of $32,111,547 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($16,510,522; 51%); Marine Corps ($7,693,130; 24%); Navy ($275,849; 1%); non-DoD participants ($4,698,676; 15%); and FMS customers ($2,933,370; 9%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Detyens Shipyards Inc., North Charleston, South Carolina, is awarded a $21,316,067 firm-fixed-price contract for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry-docking of USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2). The contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $21,942,075. Work will be performed in North Charleston, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 20, 2019. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $21,942,075 will be obligated in fiscal 2020. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N32205-19-C-6006). Reyes Construction Inc., Pomona, California, is awarded $20,368,000 for firm-fixed-price task order N62473-19-F-4995 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-18-D-5862) for the design-bid-build construction of missile magazines at Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach. The work to be performed provides for new magazines that are needed to provide adequate storage for vertical launch missile systems, missile variants and for assembled missile storage. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, materials and equipment to perform all work described in the request for proposal. The task order also contains five unexercised options, which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative task order value to $20,479,300. Work will be performed in Seal Beach, California, and is expected to be completed by April 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $20,368,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. The Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Mitchel Field, New York, is awarded $13,350,351 for cost-plus-incentive-fee modification P00008 for new scope under previously awarded contract N-00030-19-C-0045 to provide U.S. Trident II (D5) Strategic Weapon System efforts for the navigation subsystem. Work will be performed in Mitchel Field, New York, with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,350,351 are being obligated on this award. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $12,031,145 for modification P00001 to delivery order 5503 under previously issued against basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This award procures modification kits for modification and retrofit of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force and Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $12,031,145 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($6,927,023; 58%); and the Marine Corps ($5,104,122; 42%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Unified Business Technologies Inc.,* Troy, Michigan, is awarded $7,379,877 for firm-fixed-price task order N40085-19-F-3500 under a previously awarded SeaPort Next Generation contract for engineering and program management for capital improvement requirements with various design and construction periods at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina; and Marine Base Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina. The work to be performed provides for various construction engineering disciplines and administrative support services to assist in completing various capital improvement projects. The task order also contains four unexercised options, which, if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $37,651,276. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina (67%); and Havelock, North Carolina (33%), and is expected to be completed by August 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $7,379,877 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-19-D-8762). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Bremen-Bowdon Investments Co., Bowdon, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $7,966,345 modification (P00008) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-17-D-1085) with four one-year option periods for men's blue trousers. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. Location of performance is Georgia, with an Aug. 23, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1938044/source/GovDelivery/
June 14, 2019 | International, Aerospace
By: Stephen Losey New designs will be required to fix some of the issues with the refueling boom and the remote vision system on the Air Force's new KC-46 Pegasus tanker, and that could take years to fix, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Wednesday. The refueling boom on the Pegasus could inadvertently scratch fighter jets' stealth coatings, or otherwise damage aircraft, according to the GAO. The good news is that the cost of delivering all 179 KC-46 tankers is now expected to come in at $43 billion, or nearly $9 billion cheaper than originally estimated in 2011, GAO said in the report. More, the KC-46 is ultimately expected to meet all 21 of its performance goals. But delays in the program mean that Boeing will not be able to make good on its most significant delivery requirement — delivering nine sets of wing aerial refueling pods — until mid-2020, or nearly three years later than originally expected. In addition to previously reported foreign object debris problems, the GAO report details deficiencies with the tanker's remote vision system and refueling boom — which could damage aircraft, especially stealth coatings. As has been previously reported, the remote vision system's cameras sometimes had problems with glare when the sun shone at certain angles, GAO said. This caused the display screens to be washed out or blacked out during some test flights, and the aerial refueling operators had a hard time seeing the receiving aircraft's receptacles to guide in the boom. The system also doesn't provide enough depth perception in some lighting conditions, GAO said. Boeing said it has already made changes, such as adjusting the contrast on the display screen and allowing operators to more quickly switch between different viewing options. However, GAO responded that those changes didn't fix the underlying problem: KC-46 operators need to be able to refuel aircraft in all conditions, with sufficient visual clarity in all lighting conditions. Boeing has agreed to redesign the vision system to do so, but the redesign could take three or four years, plus several more years to install it in the planes. That vision problem also caused the boom nozzle to bump into the receiving aircraft, without the knowledge of the refueling operators. This could damage the antenna or other structures near the refueling receptacle, GAO said. This especially presents a problem for low-observable planes such as the F-22 fighter, because inadvertent boom nozzle contact could scratch or damage special stealth coatings, and make them visible to radar. GAO also said the Pegasus' telescoping boom is stiffer than expected, which means lighter aircraft — such as the A-10 and F-16 — must use more power to move the boom forward while in contact to compress it and stay in refueling position. The need for additional force can create a problem when the receiving planes disconnect from the boom. When they disconnect, their additional power can cause them to lunge forward back into the boom, which could damage the plane and the boom itself. For the A-10, because the receptacle is located on its nose, a collision with the boom could damage the windshield and put the pilot at a greater risk. Boeing said that fixing that problem will require a hardware change, which could take three or four years to be designed and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. But because the contract didn't specify how much force should be needed to compress the boom, and because the Air Force signed off on Boeing's original proposed specifications, program officials said the Air Force will have to foot the bill. The total cost for designing and retrofitting roughly 106 KC-46s? More than $300 million, GAO said. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/06/13/kc-46-refueling-system-flaws-will-take-years-to-fix-and-cost-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-gao-says/