August 23, 2018 | International, C4ISR
By: Mark Pomerleau
Both Army leadership and adversaries are recognizing the importance of the network as the foundational weapon system that enables most other functions.
“Bottom line, if I could have just one thing, I need a network,” Lt. Gen. Theodore Martin, deputy commanding general of Training and Doctrine Command, said Aug. 21 at TechNet Augusta.
“A network that is defended 24/7, around the clock under conditions of adversity, in contact, in the rain with the battlefield.”
The head of Army Cyber Command, Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, noted during the same conference that the Russians have figured out the Army's “secret sauce” is the network, along with the data that rides on it and the other weapon systems that leverage it.
The Russians understand the capability the network provides after observing the U.S. operate since 1991 and they've developed a strategy to attack it, Fogarty said.
As such, Martin noted that the network must be constantly defended from being jammed, interdicted or spoofed.
Martin also explained that it can't just be a one-off solution as in years past. The pace of change in technology today is iterating so rapidly that “we can't get into the cumbersome business of getting a server stack and then fielding it to units of action only to find out they're obsolete by the time the third set is issued,” Martin said.
Full article: https://www.c4isrnet.com/show-reporter/technet-augusta/2018/08/22/army-leaders-say-this-is-the-services-secret-sauce
October 16, 2024 | International, Naval
Today, the crew of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa bid farewell to their families and loved ones at a departure ceremony held at His Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard Esquimalt, British Columbia.
September 18, 2019 | International, Aerospace
During Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in conjunction with Defence Science and Technology (DST) and the Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA) successfully validated ChipCHECK, a state of the art instrument that provides equipment maintenance crews with immediate, automated chip analyses onsite (either at base or deployed). ChipCHECK, designed and manufactured by Gastops, provides a capability not previously available to the ADF — the ability for operators and maintenance staff to accurately assess the health of an aircraft's propulsion system via wear debris analysis while the aircraft is operating. Exercise Talisman Sabre is a biennial combined Australian and United States training activity that in 2019 involved more than 34,000 personnel from 18 countries, including Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. Designed to practise the respective military services and associated agencies in planning and conducting combined and joint task force operations, Exercise Talisman Sabre improves combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and U.S. Forces, and is a platform to improve upon capabilities by introducing state of the art technologies such as ChipCHECK. “ChipCHECK is one of our newest product offerings and is a great example of how Gastops continues to provide the market with new and cutting-edge technologies that solve real market pains,” said Shaun Horning, president and CEO of Gastops. The trial and deployment of ChipCHECK into Talisman Sabre proved the capability of the instrument and the significant value it provides. “We are very excited that ChipCHECK is being trialed by the Australian Defence Force. Already deployed globally for both fixed wing and rotor wing aircraft, ChipCHECK continues to maximize equipment readiness, improve on maintenance efficiency and reduce cost and time,” added Ryan Millar, ChipCHECK product manager. Exercise Talisman Sabre successfully trialed ChipCHECK in a deployed ship-based application. The ADF plans to continue using ChipCHECK in additional applications and environments; the next of which being at an operational land base. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/chipcheck-successfully-validated-at-talisman-sabre-2019/
October 21, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence
ARMY Brockington and Associates,* Atlanta, Georgia (W912P9-21-D-0001); New South Associates Inc.,* Stone Mountain, Georgia (W912P9-21-D-0002); Southeastern Archaeological Research Inc.,* Orlando, Florida (W912P9-21-D-0003); and Environmental Solutions and Innovations Inc.,* Cincinnati, Ohio (W912P9-21-D-0004), will compete for each order of the $83,000,000 hybrid (firm-fixed-price, labor-hours) contract for providing multidisciplinary cultural resource-related services for projects undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 21, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, Missouri, is the contracting activity. NAVY Yahata Marine K.K., Yokohama, Japan, is awarded an estimated $61,000,000 under previously awarded Request for Proposal N68171-20-R-0001 multiple award of firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to provide husbanding, management and integration services consisting of general charter and hire, utilities, force protection, communications and land transportation services to support maritime forces of the Department of Defense, other U.S. government agencies, and other nations to include Navy ships, Marine Corps, Military Sealift Command (MSC), Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and other foreign vessels participating in U.S. military or NATO exercises and missions. The contracts on the multiple award will run concurrently and will include a five-year base ordering period with one five-year option with individual requirements performed under task orders when specific dates and locations are identified. If the option period is exercised, the total estimated value of the contracts combined will have a ceiling value of $2,122,000,000. The ordering period of the contract is expected to be completed by October 2025; if all options are exercised, the ordering period will be completed by October 2030. This company will perform work in three geographic regions: Southeastern Asia 1 (49%); Oceania (26%); and Japan (25%). Due to the fact that the specific requirements for husbanding support cannot be predicted at this time, more specific information about where the work will be performed cannot be currently provided. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,000 will be obligated to fund the contract's minimum amount, and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Additional funds will be obligated at the task order level with the appropriate fiscal year funding as issued by the main type commanders for each area of responsibility. Typical funding issued by each of the customers include operations and maintenance (Navy) funds from U.S. Fleet Forces Command; and working capital funds (Navy) from MSC. The requirement was competitively procured for the award of multiple contracts with the solicitation posted on beta.SAM.gov, Navy Electronic Commerce Online (NECO) and Euro NECO with 36 offers received. The Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center, Sigonella, Naples Detachment, Italy, is the contracting activity (N68171-21-D-0036). Alabama Shipyard LLC, Mobile, Alabama, is awarded a $17,902,644 firm-fixed-price contract (N32205-21-C-4010) for a 76-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry-docking of USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11). The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $19,278,302. Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by March 20, 2021. Funds in the amount of $17,902,644 are obligated in fiscal 2021 using working capital funds (Navy). This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the beta.SAM.gov website and two offers were received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY The National Industries for the Blind,** Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $8,728,339 modification (P00008) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-19-D-B043) with four one-year option periods for moisture wicking t-shirts. This is an indefinite-delivery contract. Locations of performance are Virginia, North Carolina, and Arkansas, with an Oct. 30, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. *Small business **Mandatory source https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2386753/source/GovDelivery/