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July 19, 2019 | International, Land, Other Defence

Army Eyeing Navy's High-Powered Laser to Fight Enemy Drone Swarms

By Matthew Cox

Army modernization officials are getting help from the Navy to make the service's High Energy Laser program more than twice as powerful for fending off aerial attacks from swarms of enemy drones.

Currently, the Army's High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL TVD) features a 100-kilowatt laser designed to fit on Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) trucks. The service plans to conduct a demonstrationof the system's target acquisition, tracking and other capabilities against a range of targets in 2022.

Meanwhile, the Army's Rapid Capabilities Office plans to take advantage of the Navy's 250-kilowatt laser program, a system that could be adapted to fit on the FMTV platform, Army Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski told an audience Tuesday at an Association of the United States Army Institute of Land Warfare breakfast.

"The intent is to work with the Navy, and we are doing that right now, in order to increase the power of that laser system from beyond 100-kilowatt up to maybe the 250-kilowatt mark," said Ostrowski, the military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology.

The Army's 100-kilowatt HEL TVD is being designed to provide air and missile support to forward operating bases and airfields, Ostrowski said. The service also plans to field a platoon of four 50-kilowatt lasers, known as Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) that will be mounted on a Stryker combat vehicle in fiscal 2022.

The advantage of the laser is having an "unlimited magazine" for unmanned aerial systems, as well as rockets, artillery and mortars, instead of "shooting $100,000 missiles at $7,000" unmanned aerial systems, Ostrowski said, adding that the Army hopes to expand the potential use of lasers on the battlefield beyond air defense.

"We want to be able to put that capability on our tanks to potentially get after targets that our combat vehicles can go after, so this is just the beginning ... of where we see lasers going in the future," he said.

One of the challenges of working with lasers, Ostrowski said, is controlling the heat buildup generated by the power source.

"It's not just the ability to create the energy to fire the laser, but it's also to dissipate the heat," he said.

It's still uncertain whether the Navy's 250-kilowatt laser program will work for the Army, but "we are not going to ignore" its potential for dealing with more complex enemy air attacks, Ostrowski said.

"The power piece is extremely important. If you don't have the power, you don't have that unlimited magazine, and that unlimited magazine makes a difference in a swarm environment where you have multiple targets and you have to be able to ... recharge quickly and be able to shoot them all down," he said.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/07/16/army-eyeing-navys-high-powered-laser-fight-enemy-drone-swarms.html

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - July 06, 2020

    July 7, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - July 06, 2020

    DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Raytheon Co., Andover, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $6,000,000,000 modification (P00102) to six-year base contract SPRBL1-15-D-0017 with one four-year option period, to add an additional year of performance and increase funding for depot-level repairables and consumable spare parts, as well as repair and engineering services for multiple weapon systems. This modification increases the contract ceiling from $2,000,000,000 to $8,000,000,000. 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 an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with both fixed-price and cost elements. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a Sept. 27, 2021, ordering period end date. Using customer is the Department of Defense. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 Army working capital funds and other procurement funds as necessary. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Federal Prison Industries,** doing business as UNICOR, Washington, D.C., has been awarded a maximum $14,220,050 modification (P00006) exercising the second one-year option period of one-year base contract SPE1C1-18-D-1069 with two one-year option periods for physical fitness uniform trunks. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Washington, D.C.; Minnesota; Colorado; Louisiana; Kentucky; and New Jersey, with a July 11, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Melton Sales & Service,* Columbus, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $10,093,553 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for transfer transmissions. 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 three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with a July 6, 2023, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-D-0117). Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC, doing business as GCR Tire Service, Phoenix, Arizona, has been awarded a maximum $8,709,450 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for M870 series low bed semitrailer wheel pneumatic tires. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Arizona, with a July 5, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-D-0096). NAVY Vigor Marine LLC, Portland, Oregon, is awarded a $133,406,869 firm-fixed-price contract to prepare for and accomplish repair and alteration requirements for USS McCampbell (DDG 85) chief of naval operations scheduled depot maintenance availability. This contract includes options which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $155,621,173. Work will be performed in Portland, Oregon. USS McCampbell will receive comprehensive modernization for DDG 51 class ships to ensure a mission relevant service life. These improvements will include hull, mechanical and electrical technology insertion; as well as provide critical warfighting improvements, such as upgraded machinery control system, integrated bridge and navigation system (to include physical throttles); advanced galley upgrade; wireless communications and digital video surveillance system upgrade; upgrade to a fiber optic local area network backbone; AEGIS baseline 9 upgrade (that includes updated guns weapons system); enhanced Vertical Launching System; multi-mission signal processor; and Ballistic Missile Defense 5.0 upgrade. Work is expected to be completed by November 2021. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $154,319,412 will be obligated at time of award. Funds in the amount of $21,166,210 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. In accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(3), this contract was not competitively procured. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington, is the contracting activity (N4523A-20-D-0550). Cubic Defense Applications Inc., Orlando, Florida, is awarded a $99,100,000 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract supports the Surface Training Immersive Gaming and Simulations effort and provides for the development, delivery and total life cycle support of a new virtual environment training system. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida. Life cycle support of the new training systems includes updates, maintenance, upgrades and modifications to surface ship trainers and associated courseware to maintain fleet operational readiness. This system will be one of the pillars under the overall Surface Training Advanced Virtual Environment Program. Work is expected to be completed by July 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award, but will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal and six offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61340-20-D-0018). Jacobs/B&M JV, Pasadena, California, is awarded a $99,000,000 maximum amount, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineer contract for architect-engineer services. This includes the design, engineering, specification writing, cost estimating and related services at various locations under the cognizance of then Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed at various Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Pacific area of operations, including but not limited to, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (75%); Australia (15%); Hawaii (5%); and Diego Garcia (5%). The work to be performed provides for the preparation of region/Facilities Engineering Command team; DD Form 1391 project documentation; engineering studies; specifications utilizing the Department of Defense SpecsIntact program; cost estimates utilizing the micro-computer aided cost estimating system (second generation); design and engineering services for functional analysis and concept development; request for proposal (RFP) documentation for design-build projects; and RFP documentation, plans and specifications for design-bid-build projects. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months and is expected to be completed by July 2025. Fiscal 2018 military construction (planning and design) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (planning and design). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and two proposals were received. The NAVFAC Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-20-D-0002). HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction Inc., Englewood, Colorado, is awarded a $75,000,000 maximum amount, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to conduct marine species monitoring services and implement components of the Navy's Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program. No task orders are being issued at this time. The primary geographic area covered by this contract encompasses the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic and Pacific areas of operations. Additionally, tasks associated with this contract may be assigned anywhere in the world. The work to be performed will obtain services for performance of marine resources monitoring and program management in support of Navy environmental compliance and reporting requirements. Services may include, but are not limited to, literature review and data searches; aerial, shipboard, and/or underwater visual surveys; passive acoustic monitoring; assessments to determine potential impacts from military activities; behavioral studies and controlled exposure experiments; biopsy sampling; tagging and tracking; analysis of data and technical assistance to ensure legal compliance; preparation of necessary reports, consultation packages and permit applications; and management and coordination of complex projects with other Federal agencies, institutions and organizations spanning a wide range of geographic locations. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of July 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website, and two proposals were received. The NAVFAC Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-20-D-0016). Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $34,749,670 modification (P00011) to previously-awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract N00019-18-C-1068. This modification provides for the production and delivery of 58 additional Lot 20 AIM-9X Block II all up round tactical missiles (29 for the Navy and 29 for the Air Force); an additional 61 Block II Captive Air Training Missiles (one for the Navy and 60 for the Air Force); an additional 35 all up round containers (12 for the Navy and 23 for the Air Force); and one lot of spares assets for the governments of Finland, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Turkey and Poland. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (31%); Andover, Massachusetts (10%); Keyser, West Virginia (9%); Santa Clarita, California (8%); Hillsboro, Oregon (5%); Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (5%); Goleta, California (4%); Cheshire, Connecticut (4%); Heilbronn, Germany (3%); Simsbury, Connecticut (2%); San Jose, California (2%); Valencia, California (2%); Anaheim, California (2%); Cajon, California (2%); Cincinnati, Ohio (1%); Anniston, Alabama (1%); San Diego, California (1%); Chatsworth, California (1%); Amesbury, Massachusetts (1%); Claremont, California (1%); Sumner, Washington (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (4%), and is expected to be completed by July 2023. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $23,081,565; fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,021,806; fiscal 2019 missile procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $135,020; fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $40,506; fiscal 2018 missile procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $40,506; fiscal 2018 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,502; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $416,765 will be obligated at the time of award, $54,008 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Avian-Precise Co.,* Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded a $19,700,000 modification (P00006) to previously-awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00421-18-D-0016. This modification provides sustainment engineering, training and tools in support of the Naval Air Systems Command engineering group. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (91%); and Jacksonville, Florida (9%), and is expected to be completed by April 2023. No funds are being obligated at time of award, funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Signal Systems Corp.,* Millersville, Maryland, is awarded a $13,467,258 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N68335-20-F-0324) against previously-issued basic ordering agreement N68335-20-G-1062. This order provides for advanced Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) products for airborne anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and undersea warfare continued research and development efforts under SBIR Topic N04-007, "Continuous Active Sonar Signal Processing;" Topic N093-168, "Target Localization Using Multi-Static Sonar with Drifting Sonobuoys;" and Topic N101-005, "Spread Spectrum Techniques for Sonar Ping Technology." Work will be performed in Millersville, Maryland (83%); and Lexington Park, Maryland (17%). The applications to be further developed include acoustic ASW sensors and systems; telemetry and recording systems; signal and data processing; algorithm development; mathematical modeling; system and application prototyping; active and passive display enhancements; information assurance, anti-tampering and cybersecurity concepts; and techniques and analysis to predict the performance of the associated ASW systems. Work is expected to be completed by July 2025. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $683,000 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 Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded a $12,805,321 not to exceed, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for materials and engineering services required to develop and integrate technological improvements for the DDG-51 hull; mechanical and electrical machinery control systems (MCS); Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Freedom class MCS; and Landing Helicopter Dock/A (LHD/A) MCS installed onboard current Navy ships in support of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (65%); the remaining (35%) will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; Norfolk, Virginia; and Mayport, Florida, as determined by the individual task orders. The services under this contract will support the development, implementation, execution and life cycle sustainment of shipboard MCS for LCS class, LHD/A class and DDG class surface ship machinery control equipment and systems, as well as serve the Logistics Management Branch of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division. This statement of work requests highly specialized services that only Lockheed Martin can support. As such, Lockheed Martin has developed proprietary test scripts and test equipment to provide for delivery and support of MCS systems and components. Work is expected to be completed by July 2026. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $500 ($500 minimum guarantee for contract) will be obligated at time of award via an individual task order and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities. In accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), this contract was not competitively procured; there was one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-20-D-0009). ARMY General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $10,260,921 modification (P00110) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0067 for Abrams systems technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales (Taiwan) funds in the amount of $10,260,921 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. *Small Business **Mandatory Sour https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2261436/source/GovDelivery/

  • NATO to increase targets for ammunition stockpiles as war depletes reserves

    February 13, 2023 | International, Other Defence

    NATO to increase targets for ammunition stockpiles as war depletes reserves

    NATO said on Monday it will increase targets for stockpiling ammunition as Kyiv is burning through shells much faster than Western countries can produce them and after a year of conflict in Ukraine has left allied stocks badly depleted.

  • Raytheon plows ahead to build US Army’s future radar

    March 18, 2020 | International, C4ISR

    Raytheon plows ahead to build US Army’s future radar

    By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — The first antenna array for the U.S. Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor passed through initial testing at Raytheon's Massachusetts-based facility, and it will embark on future testing at an outdoor range in the short term, a company official told Defense News. The antenna array went into an indoor, climate-controlled test range, and its performance was evaluated against simulated targets, Bob Kelley, Raytheon's director of domestic integrated air and missile defense programs for business development and strategy, said during a March 16 interview. The technology “came out fantastic on the other side,” he added. Now the array will be mounted on a precision-machined enclosure for integration, Kelley said, and then it will head to a range for testing with real-world targets such as air traffic coming in and out of Boston's Logan International Airport. Raytheon is plowing ahead with an aggressive schedule to deliver the first LTAMDS radar to the Army next year. So far it's on track and on schedule. The company finished building the first radar antenna array in less than 120 days after being selected for the job, following a competition to replace the service's Patriot air and missile defense system sensor. The radar will become a part of the service's future Integrated Air and Missile Defense System that will replace the entire Patriot system. Raytheon also manufactures the Patriot. Raytheon has taken its years of experience refining gallium nitride technology at its Massachusetts-based foundry to help design a new radar system that will provide the Army 360-degree threat detection capability in a configuration that includes one large array in the front and two smaller arrays in the back. The contract is worth roughly $384 million to deliver six production-representative units of the LTAMDS. The Army is working to rapidly deliver initial capability under an urgent materiel release. The service in 2019 held a “sense-off” at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, between three working radars from Raytheon, a Lockheed Martin and Elta Systems team, and Northrop Grumman. https://www.defensenews.com/smr/army-modernization/2020/03/17/raytheon-plows-ahead-to-build-us-armys-future-radar/

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