December 25, 2024 | International, Aerospace
Italy places order for up to 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets
The new Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets will replace Italian Tranche 1 versions that are currently in service.
November 18, 2019 | International, Aerospace
An entrepreneurial space race could benefit Space Command
By: Nathan Strout
Officials at the newly re-established U.S. Space Command are structuring the organization to take better advantage of commercial space innovations, said Maj. Gen. Stephen Whiting, one of the command's leaders.
The Combined Force Space Component Command, which plans space operations, has been working on creating so called “combat development divisions” to seek out and integrate new commercial technologies. Two weeks ago, U.S. Space Command dedicated a full-time position at its Combined Space Operations Center to foster greater cooperation between the military and commercial businesses on space operations.
The move is necessary because the reality facing the Department of Defense is that funding for space ventures is increasingly taking place in the private sector, Whiting said.
In response to this shift, military space leaders have been tasked with increasing information sharing and collaboration with commercial space operators. That effort started with the establishment of a commercial integration cell, a special group within the Combined Space Operations Center focused on maintaining strong interaction with commercial satellite owner/operators who provide services to the military.
Inspired by the success of the cell, U.S. Space Command established a full-time position that will work with companies to make follow-on agreements, codify procedures and explore creating additional CIC-like groups to encompass other areas of space operations such as space situational awareness.
Whiting serves as the head of the Combined Force Space Component Command and as the deputy commander of Air Force Space Command and spoke at the Mitchell Space Breakfast Series Nov. 15.
U.S. Space Command has also had to adapt to new acquisition models designed to harness commercial innovation, Whiting said. The command is working to form small teams focused on scouting for new technologies, based on the Combat Development Divisions pioneered by Special Operations Command. Brig. Gen. Wolf Davidson, who is Whiting's No. 2 and the head of 14th Air Force, is leading the effort to adapt those models to space operations.
These efforts are already bearing fruit. The Combat Development Divisions have helped stand up the DoD's first development platform for building and hosting cloud-native military software applications. The Combat Development Divisions have also been working with the Space and Missile Systems Center and the Air Force Research Laboratory to conduct the Air Force Space Pitch Days, an attempt to bring venture capital-style funding to space acquisitions.
“I believe they will not only improve CFSCC's ability to innovate, they will also help our enterprise navigate through the uncertainty and technology disruption of the entrepreneurial space race, bringing down costs, schedule and performance risk to our enterprise along the way,” Whiting said. “We consider this to be a critical task and priority for U.S. Space Command and I think it will continue to be a strategic imperative for our future."
These changes are fueled by a shift in space innovation from the government sector to the private sector, explained Whiting.
“Since the launch of Sputnik up until the beginning of the last decade, research and development for space technology was almost exclusively funded by nation-states,” said Whiting. "This pattern was not only true for the United States, but for foreign nations as well. But in the past 10 years alone, the number of space companies receiving private, non-government funding has grown from 24 to more than 375.”
That's an increase of 1,500 percent in privately funded space organizations, and Whiting said that trend would continue. That means that unlike in the past, innovation for space technologies will happen more in the commercial sector than within the government.
“This explosion of innovation also means the calm, predictable environment we enjoyed after the Cold War is decisively over. We have entered a new space race ― an entrepreneurial space race ― and it will pull our enterprise out of its predictable and comfortable state into one that's ambiguous, complex and highly unpredictable," Whiting said.
In order to harness that innovation, the military needs to be more open, responsive and collaborative with commercial companies.
“It's not going to be enough for countries to outpace each other with exclusively state-sponsored campaigns anymore. Instead, nations will gain the upper hand by harvesting the emergent capabilities of their commercial industry, by unlocking the asymmetric advantage of commercial space operations seamlessly integrated with military space operations. Nations that do not do this run the risk of being left behind, of not being able to capitalize on their indigenous talent," said Whiting.
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March 26, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 21, 2019
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Federal Resources Supply Co.,* Stevensville, Maryland (SPE8EH-19-D-0014); L.N. Curtis & Sons,* Oakland, California (SPE8EH-19-D-0015); Mallory Safety and Supply,* Longview, Washington (SPE8EH-19-D-0016); Noble Supply & Logistics,* Rockland, Massachusetts (SPE8EH-19-D-0017); Quantico Tactical Inc.,* Aberdeen, North Carolina (SPE8EH-19-D-0018); and W.S. Darley & Co.,* Itasca, Illinois (SPE8EH-19-D-0019), are sharing a maximum $985,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE8EH-16-R-0001 for fire and emergency services equipment. This was a competitive acquisition with 13 offers received. These are two-year base contracts with three one-year option periods. Locations of performance are California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Washington, with a March 20, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Government Scientific Source,* Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $475,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for laboratory supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with a March 20, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-19-D-0004). SND Manufacturing,* Dallas, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,997,485 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Navy and Marine Corps running suit jackets. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year options. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. Location of performance is Texas, with a March 17, 2020, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-5038). Viasat Inc., Carlsbad, California, has been awarded a maximum $7,133,760 firm-fixed-price contract for radio receivers for the P-8 aircraft. 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 nine-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Dec. 19, 2019, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-19-C-V037). NAVY General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.-Bremerton, Bremerton, Washington, is awarded a maximum value $465,150,000 cost-cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for aircraft carrier (CVN) shipyard availabilities. The primary purpose of this contract is to execute work required to support the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in accomplishing repair, maintenance, and modernization of closely scheduled maintenance availabilities, including non-nuclear boundary control efforts. This contract includes five ordering periods which, if executed, would make the maximum value of this contract $465,150,000. Work will be performed in Bremerton, Washington, and is expected to be completed by March 2024 when all five ordering periods have been executed. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $928,336 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-D-4310). BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California, is awarded a $41,895,897 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS Anchorage (LPD 23) fiscal 2019 selected restricted availability. This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of USS Anchorage. This is a “long-term” availability and was competed on a coast-wide (West Coast) basis without limiting the place of performance to the vessel's homeport. BAE will provide the facilities and human resources capable of completing, coordinating, and integrating multiple areas of ship maintenance, repair, and modernization. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $48,428,791. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by July 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) in the amount of $41,895,901 will be obligated at time of award, and contract funds in the amount of $34,002,448 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, with two offers received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-18-R-4411. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-4407). United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Engines, Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded $18,434,122 for modification P00003 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1021). This modification provides additional funding for F-135 long lead items in support of non-U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. DoD) participants. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (67 percent); Indianapolis, Indiana (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Non-U.S. DoD participant funds in the amount of $18,434,122 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. JJLL LLC, Austin, Texas, is awarded $18,353,983 under a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N62742-17-C-3580) to exercise the second option period to provide services for Philippines operations support for the Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and Pacific Command Augmentation Team, the Republic of Philippines. The work to be performed provides services for management and administration; commercial telephones, cable television and other services; security; airfield facilities; passenger terminal and cargo handling; ordnance; material management; supply services; morale, welfare and recreation support; galley; billeting; facility management; facility investment; facility services; utilities; base support vehicles and equipment; and environmental services. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $99,551,165. Work will be performed in the Republic of the Philippines, and this option period is from April 2019 to March 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,370,311 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE L3 Technologies Systems Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a $131,780,189 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Cockpit-Selectable Height-of-Burst Sensor. This contract provides for the replacement of the current DSU-33D/B height-of-burst sensor and will address obsolescence issues, improve performance and add functionality. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by April 2027. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $513,244 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-19-D-0006). General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $123,293,911 undefinitized contract action for MQ-9 Block 5 procurement. This contract provides for four MQ-9 unmanned air vehicles, four Mobile Ground Control Stations, spares, and support equipment. Work will be performed predominately in Poway, California, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the Netherlands. Foreign military sales funds in amount of $38,928,607 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-F-2310). MAG Aerospace, Newport News, Virginia, has been awarded an $11,386,672 predominantly firm-fixed-price contract for the UK MQ-9 Reaper Operations Center. This contract provides for ongoing sustainment, management, development and network administration of the United Kingdom MQ-9 Reaper Operations Centers. Work will be performed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada; and Royal Air Force Waddington, United Kingdom, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the government of the United Kingdom. Air Force Life Cycle Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-C-2002). Call Henry Inc., Titusville, Florida, has been awarded a $10,200,000 predominantly fixed-price incentive modification (P00051) to previously awarded contract FA4610-18-C-0005 for the exercise of Option Year Two. This modification provides management and support, maintenance and repair, operations, other services and minor alteration related to launch operations support. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $55,975,903. Work will be performed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award. The 30th Contracting Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY Whitesell-Green Inc., Pensacola, Florida, was awarded a $26,376,465 firm-fixed-price contract to design and build student dorms. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, with an estimated completion date of March 21, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $26,376,465 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-19-C-0012). SAP National Security Services Inc., Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $16,014,307 time and materials contract for consulting services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia; and Aberdeen, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of March 21, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $4,011,556 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-19-C-0020). Valiant Global Defense Services Inc., San Diego, California, was awarded an $8,717,022 modification (P00086) to contract W91QVN-14-C-0033 for operations support services for the Korea Battlefield Simulation Center. Work will be performed in Seoul, South Korea, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,474,936 were obligated at the time of the award. 411th Combat Support Battalion, Korea, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1792112/
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January 30, 2024 | International, Aerospace
German air force sends fighter jets to escort Russian military plane over Baltic Sea