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March 18, 2022 | International, Aerospace

Air Force aims to sharpen vision for teaming pilots with drones

"We are poised to go ahead and take a significant step forward" in teaming autonomous drones up with piloted fighters and bombers, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said March 9.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/03/18/air-force-aims-to-sharpen-vision-for-teaming-pilots-with-drones/

On the same subject

  • Le budget défense 2021 adopté par le Sénat

    December 4, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Le budget défense 2021 adopté par le Sénat

    Par Le Figaro avec AFP Publié hier à 19:55 Le Sénat a adopté ce jeudi le budget 2021 des Armées, en hausse pour la troisième année consécutive (+4,5% sur un an) à 39,2 milliards d'euros. Ce budget «pour la troisième année consécutive respecte à la lettre les engagements et la trajectoire financière de la loi de programmation militaire» (LPM) 2019-2025, a fait valoir devant les sénateurs la ministre des Armées Florence Parly. «Nous le faisons malgré la crise sanitaire et malgré la crise économique qui prévaut actuellement. Donc c'est à la fois de la continuité, de la confiance par la visibilité donnée et de la relance», a-t-elle affirmé à l'AFP peu avant le vote des sénateurs. Lors du débat, la ministre a été interrogée sur le coût du remplacement de 12 avions Rafale prélevés sur l'inventaire de l'armée de l'Air au profit de la Grèce. Athènes a annoncé mi-septembre son intention d'acquérir six Rafale neufs et douze d'occasion, pour un montant compris «entre un et deux milliards d'euros», selon le cabinet de la ministre. «Les discussions pourraient aboutir d'ici la fin de l'année», selon Florence Parly. «Si ce contrat aboutit, alors le produit de la vente des Rafale d'occasion reviendra bien au ministère des Armées» et non au budget général de l'Etat, a-t-elle déclaré. «Nous avons eu toutes les assurances du ministère de l'Economie et des Finances à ce sujet.» Pour remplacer les 12 avions d'occasion vendus à la Grèce, Paris doit commander en parallèle 12 Rafale neufs pour les besoins de l'armée de l'Air française. Florence Parly a par ailleurs indiqué aux sénateurs que les surcoûts des opérations extérieures (Opex) et intérieures s'élevaient en 2020 à 1,46 milliard d'euros. Ils «sont couverts en 2020 à la fois par la provision constituée en loi de finances initiale (1,1 milliard, NDR), ainsi que par des contributions internationales et des redéploiements internes inférieurs à 60 millions d'euros et enfin par des ouvertures de crédits (...) pour 200 millions d'euros», a-t-elle détaillé. La ministre a toutefois indiqué avoir renoncé à ce dernier financement en raison du «contexte sanitaire» et «par solidarité interministérielle». Sur le milliard d'euros de crédits gelés en début d'année au titre de «réserve de précaution», «800 millions d'euros qui étaient gelés ont été dégelés dès la mi-novembre», a-t-elle plaidé auprès de l'AFP. Le budget 2021 doit faire l'objet d'une adoption définitive par le Parlement au plus tard le 18 décembre. https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/le-budget-defense-2021-adopte-par-le-senat-20201203

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 05, 2019

    November 6, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 05, 2019

    DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Dynetics Inc., Hunstville, Alabama (HHM402-19-D-0023), was awarded a five-year base with possible five-year option, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling value of $737,992,267. This contract will provide support services for the Missile and Space Intelligence Center. Work will be performed at Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville, Alabama, with an expected completion date of Oct. 31, 2029. The contract was awarded through a full and open solicitation, and one offer was received. The Virginia Contracting Activity, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY AGENCY METIS/Celestar JV, Tampa, Florida, was awarded a $100,000,000 single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). The contract provides administrative support services to support DCSA. Work locations under this contract will be determined at the individual task order level. Most work will be performed at DCSA Headquarters at the Russell-Knox Building, Quantico, Virginia, and at various DCSA field offices as directed. No funds will be obligated on the base contract award. Due to a small business size protest on Sept. 24, 2019, fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,200,000 are being obligated on the first task order within the next two days. The anticipated delivery schedule includes a five year base period. The request for proposal was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website on June 27, 2019. Forty proposals were received. The DCSA Contracting Office, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HS0021-20-D-0002). AIR FORCE Mission Essential Personnel LLC, New Albany, Ohio, has been awarded a $95,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for advisory and assistance services. This contract provides for technical and analytical services to support and improve policy development, decision making, management, administration and systems operation. Work will be performed primarily at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE); USAFE bases; USAFE geographically separated units; U.S. European Command; U.S. Africa Command; and U.S. Army in Europe, including Installation Management Command, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 12, 2026. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition, and 11 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,500 are being obligated at the time of the award. The 764th Specialized Contracting Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is the contracting activity (FA5641-20-D-0001). NAVY CH2M Hill Constructors Inc., Englewood, Colorado (N62470-13-D-6019); Environmental Chemical Corp., Burlingame, California (N62470-13-D-6020); Kellogg, Brown, & Root Services Inc., Arlington, Virginia (N62470-13-D-6021); and URS Group Inc., Morrisville, North Carolina (N62470-13-D-6022), are being awarded an $80,000,000 modification to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for global contingency construction projects worldwide. The work to be performed provides for the Navy, the Navy on behalf of the Department of Defense, and the Navy on behalf of other federal agencies when authorized, an immediate response for construction services. The construction and related engineering services would respond to natural disasters, humanitarian assistance, conflict or projects with similar characteristics. Work will be predominately construction. The contractor, in support of the construction effort, may be required to provide initial base operating support services, which will be incidental to construction efforts. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $966,000,000, raising the contract value from $886,000,000. The contract completion date was May 2019. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on subsequent modifications for work on existing individual task orders. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Jacobs-Ewingcole JV, Pasadena, California, is awarded a $15,313,983 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of task order N62473-19-F-4996 under an architect-engineer indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for China Lake Conceptual Master Planning Site Payout and Development at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake. The work to be performed is to provide design and engineering services in support of the NAWS China Lake earthquake restoration program. Work will include project definitions for the following: air operations facility and air traffic control tower, Michelson Mission Systems Integration Laboratory, magazines and inert storage facility, aircraft rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) station and community support facilities. Additionally, work will include design build request for proposal development for the following: Hangar 3 replacement, apron, taxiway and utilities, the integration lab, air operations facility and air traffic control tower, the Michelson Mission Systems Integration Laboratory, aircraft parking apron in support of Hangar 2 replacement, the advanced weapons hangar, magazines and inert storage facility, ARFF station and the community support facilities. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the request for proposal. After award of this modification, the total cumulative task order value will be $21,822,789. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 military construction, (Navy) contract funds for $15,313,983 will be obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-18-D-5801). ARMY Chinook Systems Inc.,* Arlington, Virginia (W912DY-20-D-0008); Exp Federal, Chicago, Illinois (W912DY-20-D-0009); Shearer and Associates,* Huntsville, Alabama (W912DY-20-D-0010); and HDR Engineering, Omaha, Nebraska (W912DY-20-D-0011), will compete for each order of the $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architectural and engineering services for cyber in support of the various divisions and programs. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 18, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. The Ross Group Construction Corp., Tulsa, Oklahoma, was awarded a $35,042,773 firm-fixed-price contract for construction, repairs, new roofing system, metal wall panel repair, demolition and deconstruction of existing materials and renovations of office space, conference rooms, server rooms, a dock and receiving area and information technology-related activities. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $35,042,773 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (W912BV-20-C-0001). J.F. Brennan Company Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin, was awarded a $12,828,650 firm-fixed-price contract for construction and installation of lock chamber bulkhead recesses. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Morris, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 20, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $12,828,650 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W912EK-20-C-0011). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Biomet 3I LLC, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $49,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for dental equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 100 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a Nov. 4, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-20-D-0021) Aptiv Services 3 US LLC, Irvine, California, has been awarded a maximum $28,370,372 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for F-15 aircraft electrical special purpose cable assemblies. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Nov. 5, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia (SPE4A6-20-D-0016). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2009294/source/GovDelivery/

  • Defence cooperation: 23 member states sign joint notification on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)

    November 13, 2017 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Defence cooperation: 23 member states sign joint notification on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)

    On 13 November 2017 ministers from 23 member states signed a joint notification on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and handed it over to the High Representative and the Council. The possibility of the Permanent Structured Cooperation in the area of defence security and defence policy was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty. It foresees the possibility of a number of EU member states working more closely together in the area of security and defence. This permanent framework for defence cooperation will allow those member states willing and able to jointly develop defence capabilities, invest in shared projects, or enhance the operational readiness and contribution of their armed forces. The member states who signed the joint notification are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. It is possible for other member states to join at a later stage. The joint notification is the first formal step to set up the PESCO. It sets out: the principles of the PESCO, in particular underlining that the "PESCO is an ambitious, binding and inclusive European legal framework for investments in the security and defence of the EU's territory and its citizens" the list of "ambitious and more binding common commitments" the member states have agreed to undertake, including "regularly increasing defence budgets in real terms in order to reach agreed objectives", proposals on PESCO governance, with an overarching level maintaining the coherence and the ambition of the PESCO, complemented by specific governance procedures at projects level. Joint notification by member states to the High Representative and to the Council on PESCO Next steps The Council now has to adopt a decision establishing PESCO by reinforced qualified majority. This could take place at the next Foreign Affairs Council (11 December). A first list of projects to be undertaken within the PESCO framework should be agreed by the participating member states once PESCO has been established. These could cover areas such as training, capabilities development and operational readiness in the field of defence. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/11/13/defence-cooperation-23-member-states-sign-joint-notification-on-pesco/ Factsheet: https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/pesco_factsheet_13-12-2017_final.pdf

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