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June 30, 2020 | International, Aerospace

Army selects eight counter-drone systems for the joint force

Following an Army-led assessment, the Defense Department will be narrowing the number of different counter-small unmanned aircraft system solutions deployed by the joint force from about 40 to eight.

In November, the defense secretary delegated the Army to lead an effort to reduce redundancy in the development and fielding of various C-sUAS solutions by the services. The Army subsequently set up the Joint C-sUAS Office to conduct that assessment, and over the last few months the office has worked to narrow down the dozens of counter-drone systems fielded by the services.

“Our goal is to align existing and future Counter-UAS technology solutions to best address operational needs while applying resources more efficiently,” Maj. Gen. Sean Gainey, the JCO's first director, said during a media call June 26, one day after the assessment results were announced. “This is really why the organization was stood up — to eliminate the redundancy that was being fielded.”

That assessment, which Defense Department leadership have approved, looked at approximately 40 systems, about 30 of which were primarily used for the C-sUAS mission, said the director. The assessment concluded that the joint force should move forward with fielding just eight different systems — a variety of fixed, mounted and dismounted solutions.

“So essentially moving forward, we will focus our investments,” Gainey said. “The services have each been assigned sponsor of each one of those systems, so as we move this forward as a joint approach, it will coordinate the future upgrades to these systems and the contracting of these systems across the joint force.”

C-sUAS systems that were not included in the final selection will be replaced by the approved systems, although JCO could not provide a timeline for how quickly this will take place, how much it will cost or how many units will need to be replaced across the services. Gainley noted that the services are currently conducting an analysis of how many systems will need to be replaced.

Of the eight approved solutions, three are fixed, one is mounted and three are dismounted.

The approved C-sUAS systems are as follows:

1) Fixed/Semi-Fixed Systems

  • Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS), sponsored by the Army
  • Negation of Improvised Non-State Joint Aerial-Threats (NINJA), sponsored by the Air Force
  • Counter-Remote Control Model Aircraft Integrated Air Defense Network (CORIAN), sponsored by the Navy

2) Mounted/Mobile System

  • Light-Mobile Air Defense Integrated System (L-MADIS), sponsored by the Marine Corps

3) Dismounted/Handheld Systems

  • Bal Chatri, sponsored by Special Operations Command
  • Dronebuster, no sponsor, commercial off-the-shelf capability
  • Smart Shooter, no sponsor, commercial off-the-shelf capability

4) Command and Control

  • Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD-C2), sponsored by the Army (includes FAAD-C2 interoperable systems like the Air Force's Air Defense System Integrator (ADSI) and the Marine Corps' Multi-Environmental Domain Unmanned Systems Application Command and Control (MEDUSA C2))

https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/06/26/army-selects-eight-counter-drone-systems-for-the-joint-force/

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 10, 2020

    March 11, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 10, 2020

    ARMY Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $525,371,067 contract modification (P00131) to exercise an option for the Army MY IX Program Year 4, Lot 44, requirement of 38 UH-60M Army aircraft, and to exercise an option for two UH-60M FMS green aircraft. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2022. Fiscal 2010 special and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $525,371,067 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-17-C-0009). Dyncorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $46,897,900 modification (P00037) to contract W58RGZ-19-C-0025 for aviation maintenance services. Work will be performed in Iraq and Afghanistan with an estimated completion date of July 15, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $46,897,900 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Vencore Labs Inc., Basking Ridge, New Jersey, was awarded a $14,547,132 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the research and development effort for Autonomous Defensive Cyber Operation, tactical networks and communications. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with an estimated completion date of March 9, 2025. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $14,547,132 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGU-20-C-0010). NAVY L3 Harris Technologies Inc., Rochester, New York, is awarded a $383,247,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of radio systems with National Security Agency certified Type 1 encryption, radio ancillaries, provisioning kits and required documentation for the procured High Frequency (HF) radio systems. Work will be performed in Rochester, New York. The proposed contract will provide for the procurement of L3 Harris portable HF receiver transmitters (RF-300H-MP man pack systems); vehicle-based HF systems (based around a RF-300H-MP); transit case HF systems (based around a RF-300H-MP); their ancillary components and instructor training for the Program Manager of Communications Systems. Work is expected to be complete by March 2025. Fiscal 2020 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $89,255,452 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award. Funds will not expire at the end of current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured and was prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2) and 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(4). The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-20-D-2029). Jacobs EwingCole JV, Pasadena, California, is awarded a $79,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for multi-discipline architect and engineering services. Funds will be used for large projects under the military construction program within Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest's area of responsibility (AOR). Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR, including but not limited to: California (87%); Arizona (5%); Nevada (5%); Colorado (1%); New Mexico (1%); and Utah (1%). The work to be performed provides for preparation of design-bid-build construction contract packages; site investigations; cost estimates; post construction award services; preparation of request for proposals for design-build projects; studies and reports related to the design of new facilities; technical reviews of government-prepared designs and design-build packages; preparation of planning and programming support documents; coordination of various technical disciplines; and identification and abatement methods for existing hazardous materials. Work is expected to be complete by November 2022. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $178,000,000. No contract funding is obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued; task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy). 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The work includes architectural and engineering services to provide program management and technical environmental services in support of the Department of the Navy's Environmental Restoration Program, Munitions Response Program and other similar programs at Navy and Marine Corps activity in the area of responsibility covered by NAVFAC Atlantic. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $278,000,000. Work is expected to be complete by July 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by environmental restoration (Navy). Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-16-D-9008). 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After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $362,000,000. Work is expected to be complete by January 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by environmental restoration (Navy). Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-16-D-9000). BAE Systems, Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Nashua, New Hampshire, is awarded a $12,697,209 modification (P00004) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-19-C-0052). This modification exercises an option to procure four OE-120B antenna groups, three retrofit kits and three delta installation and checkout kits for the Navy in support of the Air Traffic Control and Landing program office. Additionally, this modification provides for the procurement of two OE-120B antenna groups for the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed in May 2023. Fiscal 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,892,148; fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $170,058; fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $340,116; fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,676,444; fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $834,147; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $3,784,296 will be obligated at the time of award, $1,892,148 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 9, 2020) Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded a $9,460,780 modification (P00008) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N00019-18-F-0016) against basic ordering agreement N00019-17-G-0002. 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This award is the result of a 100% small business set-aside competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operational and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The 341st Contracting Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana, is the contracting activity (FA4626-20-C-0017). U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Ernst & Young LLP, New York, New York, has been awarded a firm-fixed-price and labor hour modification for task order HTC711-19-F-D015 on contract GS00F290CA in the amount of $9,236,783. This modification provides continued non-personal services to assist U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)/TCJ8 in accounting and financial operations and sustainment of audit readiness in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles as well as provide a broad spectrum of systems support across the USTRANSCOM enterprise. Work will be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. 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  • Minister Blair meets with the Republic of Korea’s Minister of National Defense, Kim Yong-Hyun

    September 11, 2024 | International, Land

    Minister Blair meets with the Republic of Korea’s Minister of National Defense, Kim Yong-Hyun

    Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, met with the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Minister of National Defense, Kim Yong-Hyun.

  • Soon to come to the Army: A high-power microwave to take out drone swarms

    August 8, 2019 | International, Land

    Soon to come to the Army: A high-power microwave to take out drone swarms

    By: Jen Judson HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — The Army is planning to field a high-power microwave capability to take out drone swarms as part of its Indirect Fires Protection Capability system in development. Through the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) the service is looking to get the capability fielded to a unit by 2024 with a demonstration of the capability planned in 2022, the RCCTO director said August 7 at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium. RCCTO's job is to serve as a bridge between the science and technology community and the program executive offices, helping bring technology out of development and into soldiers' hands, first on a small scale and then a larger scale when passed off to program offices. The RCCTO right now is focused entirely on hypersonics and directed energy weapons. The IFPC system is being developed to counter rockets, artillery and mortar, as well as cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft systems, and the means to do that would be through a system featuring multiple types of missiles and also a laser capability to take out threats. Adding lasers to the mix means decreasing the number of expensive shots that would be taken against very inexpensive weapons. The Army is working to initially field a 100-kilowatt laser capability on a Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles as part of the IFPC program with a plan to demonstrate the capability in 2022 and then field prototypes to a unit. And the RCCTO is also looking at how to field even more powerful lasers for the IFPC mission between 250 and 300 kilowatts. But the service recognizes it might be easier to disrupt the flight of multiple drones at once rather than try to take out each one with a laser. “Lasers can do things but if you are a combatant commander, there is a toolbox of things you need to be successful on the battle space,” Thurgood said. “It's not just one tool but a series of tools.” So the program is teaming with the Air Force's effort to develop a high power microwave capability, he said. The Air Force will do the research and development work, but the Army will supply them with funding to build prototypes. The goal is to demonstrate a high-power microwave capability in 2022 and then field the capability to a small unit, much like what the RCCTO will do with the IFPC high-energy laser system. If the laser and high-power microwave capability both work well in small units, then they will transition to programs of record within the IFPC program, Thurgood said. Earlier this year, the Army awarded a contract to Dynetics, who is partnered with Lockheed Martin and Rolls Royce, to build the 100-kilowatt laser system for IFPC. The Army is also rapidly fielding a 50-kilowatt laser on a Stryker. Raytheon and Northrop Grumman are competing to build the system and, in FY21, the two lasers will be tested on difficult threats. The service will choose on to build prototypes that will be fielded to a Platoon in FY22. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/smd/2019/08/07/the-armys-indirect-fires-protection-system-is-getting-a-high-power-microwave/

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