January 11, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Airbus executive: What will be most important this year?

By: Dirk Hoke

This year will show how much the commitments of European governments to a stronger and more autonomous defense capability are worth. The expected discussions on budgets in connection with the heavily burdening COVID-19 pandemic will also test the assertiveness of those who play a role in defense policy.

The year 2021 is one of decisive course-setting for the most important future programs of military aviation.

We expect Germany, France, Italy and Spain to sign the contract for the European drone in the first half of the year. By creating a European alternative, and even founding a new generation of drones, these four nations are establishing a first, stable cornerstone for the Future Combat Air System.

In FCAS, however, not only the medium-altitude, long-endurance segment will play a role, but also several variants of remote carriers, whose technology we intend to test in live demonstrations this year.

For this, as well as the other four pillars of the FCAS project, a commissioning of the demonstrator phase 1B by the middle of the year is of utmost importance. FCAS is the most ambitious European defense project in history, and we are all proud to be part of it. But FCAS also has a very ambitious timetable that must be met. If we want to achieve it by 2040, this requires disciplined work from European industry and a realistic assessment of everyone's capabilities. At the same time, political leaders should push the project forward in a pragmatic way. Pragmatism also includes the acceptance of different speeds in joint armament projects.

Furthermore, it will be important to open up the concept of defense widely. In a project dedicated to the middle of the century, it must not happen that we leave out the elements of space, networking, data processing and cybersecurity. As comprehensive and multidimensional as the threats are, so must be the options for our countermeasures.

This year will also see a winner in two large European fighter aircraft tenders, namely Switzerland and Finland. It will reveal if the time has come for nations to choose industrial and political partnerships within their close neighborhood, or if they still strive for partnerships elsewhere like they did 30 years ago. The Eurofighter jet is the truly European solution and would fit perfectly into both air forces. In particular, its long-term evolution will make it the aircraft of choice for air defense beyond 2060, and also a fully integrated part of FCAS.

Another important decision will be made on how Germany and France want to proceed with the future maritime airborne warfare system. The MAWS program, initiated in 2018 by the two ministries of defense, is an important international cooperative project that will add new capabilities and preserve existing ones for Europe's mission readiness.

Last year taught us all what matters in the end. This year is when we'll draw the right conclusions.

https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/2021/01/11/airbus-executive-what-will-be-most-important-this-year

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January 30, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 28, 2019
ARMY Syracuse Research Corp., Syracuse, New York, was awarded a $108,209,591 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Vehicle Integrated Defeat System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; operations and maintenance, Army; and other procurement, Army funds in the combined amount of $53,022,699 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0005). NAVY The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $56,755,269 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract that provides program management support as well as engineering and integrated logistics support by the original equipment manufacturer for the post-production support phase of the T-45 aircraft lifecycle. This contract includes special tooling and test equipment, data accessibility and obsolescence identification, and resolution in addition to field services support that will provide subject matter expertise in the areas of environmental control systems, cockpit pressurization and On-Board Oxygen Generation Systems integration. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (96.1 percent); Meridian, Mississippi (1.3 percent); Kingsville, Texas (1.3 percent); and Pensacola, Florida (1.3 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2022. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61340-19-D-0003). Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $31,335,203 for modification P00044 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0004) for sustainment services for F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial production Lot X aircraft for the government of Australia. Work will be performed in Williamtown, Australia, and is expected to be completed in January 2021. Non-U.S. Department of Defense participant funds in the amount of $31,335,203 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Archbald, Pennsylvania, is awarded $16,089,088 for modification P00005 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-17-C-0022). This modification provides for the procurement of 4,320 Laser Guided Training Rounds BDU-59B/B. Work will be performed in Archbald, Pennsylvania (45 percent); Marlton, New Jersey (10 percent); Vaudreuil-Dorion, Canada (6.5 percent); Rochester, New York (5.5 percent); Westford, Massachusetts (3 percent); Plainville, Connecticut (2.75 percent); Joplin, Missouri (2.75 percent); Hauppage, New York (1.5 percent); Quakertown, Pennsylvania (1.5 percent); San Jose, California (1.5 percent); Laconia, New Hampshire (1.5 percent); Dunedin, Florida (1 percent); Clifton, New Jersey (1 percent); Londonderry, New Hampshire (1 percent); Canton, Pennsylvania (1 percent); Honesdale, Pennsylvania (1 percent); Mount Laurel, New Jersey (1 percent); Medford, New Jersey (1 percent); Irvine, California (.5 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (11 percent). Work is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 procurement of ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $16,089,088 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $10,930,390 fixed-price incentive (firm target) modification to previously awarded contract N00024-14-C-5106 to exercise options for AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) 4.0.2 equipment for Shipset 23 and BMD spares. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (54 percent); and Clearwater, Florida (46 percent), and is expected to be complete by November 2020. Fiscal 2019 Defense Wide Procurement funding in the amount of $10,339,481; and fiscal 2013 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $590,909 will be obligated at time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $9,998,560 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-14-C-2104 for digital voltage regulator system material. The contractor will be providing five ship sets of material and one ship set ready for ship installation. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by December 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $9,998,560 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Multibeam Corp., Santa Clara, California, has been awarded a $22,900,000 firm-fixed-price modification to contract FA9453-17-C-0015 for the Electron-Beam Direct Write subsystems. This contract is to continue demonstration of the advanced lithography tool for government integrated circuits developed under the basic contract. Work will be performed in Santa Clara, California, and is expected to be completed May 19, 2021. Fiscal 2017 Defense Production Act Title III funds in the amount of $22,900,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $32,300,000. Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND SeaCube Container Leasing International, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey (HTC71119DR008); Textainer Equipment Management, San Francisco, California (HTC71119DR009); and Triton Container International, Hamilton, Bermuda (HTC71119DR010), have been awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contracts for leasing and transportation of intermodal container equipment, in the amount of $16,227,246 (estimated) for the base year. Performance is from March 1, 2019, to Feb. 29, 2020. Work will be performed at multiple continental U.S. and outside continental U.S. locations. The contracts utilize fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funding. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Schuyler Line Navigation Co. LLC, Annapolis, Maryland, has been awarded a fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract (HTC71119DW001) in the amount of $7,101,934. The contract provides ocean liner service between Jacksonville/Blount Island, Florida, and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. The contract base period of performance is from March 1, 2019, to Feb. 29, 2020. Fiscal 2019 Transportation Working Capital Funds were obligated at award. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1742153/source/GovDelivery/
April 1, 2024 | International, Land

The RCAF wants you: An appeal for all trades - Skies Mag
RCAF is adopting creative ways to attract a new generation — including highlighting its future as it celebrates its past.
February 4, 2019 | International, Aerospace

Industry bids are in for Finland’s $13 billion fighter race
By: Gerard O'Dwyer HELSINKI – Finland's HX-FP multirole fighter replacement program has advanced to the next stage as five aircraft manufacturers have tendered their proposals to the Finnish Defence Forces' (FDF) Logistics Command office. The proposals include preliminary quotations on cost. The air force plans to retire its fleet of F/A-18 C/D Hornet jets between 2025 and 2029. The HX-FP carries an estimated price tag of €11.4 billion, a cost that includes life cycle service and maintenance overheads on a fleet of 64 multirole aircraft. The government received proposals from four countries, including the United States, Sweden, France and Britain. The aircraft types covered in the proposals are Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin's F-35, France's Dassault Rafale, the British-made Eurofighter and the Swedish Saab Gripen. The Saab proposal includes both the single-seat Gripen E and the dual-seat Gripen F versions. Request for Quotation (RFQ) documents were dispatched by the Logistics Command to the governments of France, the United States, Britain and Sweden in April 2018. The petitions were then forwarded to the five participating manufacturers. The deadline for acceptance of responses was Jan. 31, 2019. The proposals received by the Logistics Command include information pertaining to technical systems requirements for operating a fleet of 64 aircraft, as well as support documentation dealing with training systems, essential maintenance tools, testing equipment, spare parts, weapons systems and sensors. The next stage in the HX-FP program will be an analysis of the various proposals. This is expected to be completed during the first half of 2019. At that point, the procurement program will enter the first phase of a negotiations process during which a more forensic examination of the quotations tendered will be conducted in consultation with the five bidding manufacturers. The Logistics Command will forward a more detailed RFQ to manufacturers during the second half of 2019. This will precede the second phase of negotiations. Participating manufacturers will be required to submit final tender documents to the government during the second stage process which is slated to end in 2020. The Finnish government plans to bring its final decision to the national parliament for approval in 2021. The proposal presented by Saab sets out the basis for a broad, long-term industrial cooperation between Finland and Sweden framed around any deal. The proposal covers the production of military aircraft in Finland. It also includes the transfer of maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities to local industry in Finland. Moreover, Saab is proposing to establish a Gripen sustainment and development center in Finland. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/02/01/industry-bids-are-in-for-finlands-13-billion-fighter-race

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Airbus executive: What will be most important this year?

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The RCAF wants you: An appeal for all trades - Skies Mag RCAF is adopting creative ways to attract a new generation — including highlighting its future as it celebrates its past.

The RCAF wants you: An appeal for all trades - Skies Mag
RCAF is adopting creative ways to attract a new generation — including highlighting its future as it celebrates its past.