September 21, 2023 | International, Aerospace
The Canadian Army has dozens of older troop carriers it plans to send to the scrapheap this year — even though a private company has offered to refurbish them for use in Ukraine.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/armoured-vehicles-armatec-ukraine-dnd-1.6973154
April 3, 2023 | International, Aerospace
These capabilities will further enhance the data and communications connectivity the KC-46A provides to joint and allied forces for battlespace situational awareness
April 24, 2020 | International, Aerospace
By: Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem (ret.) and Douglas Birkey The nation faces a bomber crisis, and it is time to openly acknowledge the scale and scope of the problem. Tasked with deterrence and, if necessary, striking targets around the globe, Air Force crews operating these aircraft afford the nation's security leaders unique options best embodied in the phrase: anytime, anyplace. Despite the criticality of this mission, the Air Force currently operates the smallest, oldest fleet of bombers since its 1947 founding. No other service or ally has this capability, which places an imperative on this finite force. The service's recent announcement that it will be ending its continuous bomber presence in Guam further amplifies the precarious state of bombers. It is a stark warning to senior leaders in the Pentagon, in the executive branch and on Capitol Hill that the Air Force is “out of Schlitz” when it comes to the critical missions they perform. Bombers are unique instruments of power. They can strike targets with large volumes of kinetic firepower without requiring access to foreign bases and without projecting the vulnerability associated with regionally based land or sea forces. The striking power of a single bomber is immense. In fact, B-1Bs flying missions against ISIS in the opening days of Operation Inherent Resolve were able to carry more munitions than that delivered by an entire carrier air wing. Stealth bombers can penetrate enemy air defenses, depriving mobile targets of sanctuary. They can also carry large bunker-buster munitions required to eliminate deeply buried and hardened facilities. Bomber aircraft are also cheaper to operate on a per-mission basis when compared to alternate options, like ships, large packages of smaller strike aircraft or standoff missiles. The erosion of the bomber force is no secret. At the end of the Cold War, the U.S. Air Force possessed 400 bombers arrayed to fight the Soviet Union. Today, it has just 157, with a plan to cut a further 17 in the fiscal 2021 budget submission. Air Force efforts to modernize the bomber force a decade ago were thwarted within the Department of Defense by an excessive near-term focus on counterinsurgency operations. Bombers are requested by combatant commands on a continual basis given the concurrent threats posed by peer adversaries, mid-tier nations like Iran and North Korea, and hostile nonstate actors. The Air Force knows this mission area is stretched too thin, and that is precisely why in 2018 leaders called for an additional five bomber squadrons in “The Air Force We Need” force structure assessment. Well-understood risk exists with operating a high-demand, low-density inventory for too long. The B-1B force, which makes up over one-third of America's bomber capacity, offers a highly cautionary tale in this regard. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the service retired 26 of these aircraft to free up modernization funds, which subsequently were snatched away from the bomber mission area for other uses. For the next two decades, the Air Force flew the B-1B in a nearly continuous string of intense combat deployments. Sustainment funding was under-resourced, which further wore down the B-1B force. Last summer, B-1B readiness rates plummeted below 10 percent — effectively putting them out of commission. As Air Force Global Strike Command Commander Gen. Tim Ray explained: “We overextended the B-1Bs.” It was a toxic formula of too much mission demand and too few airplanes. Air Force leaders continually signaled concern, but their calls for help went unanswered. The normal solution to this sort of a challenge would be straight-forward: Go buy more airplanes. However, operational B-21s will not be in production until the latter 2020s. The Air Force is asking to retire 17 B-1s to free up resources to nurse the remaining aircraft along as a stopgap measure. COVID-19 emergency spending and corresponding downward pressure on future defense spending are only going to aggravate the complexity of this juggling act with mission demand, available force structure and readiness. Whether world events will align with these circumstances is yet to be seen. It was in this context that the Air Force decided to end its continuous bomber presence on Guam. Launched in 2004 to deter adversaries like China and North Korea and to reassure regional allies, the mission has been a tremendous success. It clearly communicated U.S. readiness to act decisively when U.S. and allied interests were challenged. Ending continuous bomber presence in the Pacific now sends the opposite message, just as the region grows more dangerous. This is a decision with significant risk, yet it is an outcome compelled by past choices resulting in a bomber force on the edge. The path forward begins with admitting the nation has a bomber shortfall. Retiring more aircraft exacerbates the problem. Nor is this just an Air Force problem. Bombers are national assets essential to our security strategy and must be prioritized accordingly. If other services have excess funds to invest in ideas like a 1,000-mile-range cannon when thousands of strike aircraft, various munitions and remotely piloted aircraft can fill the exact same mission requirements, it is time for a roles and missions review to direct funding toward the most effective, efficient options. Bombers would compete well in such an assessment. Ultimately, the solution demands doubling down on the B-21 program. There comes a point where you cannot do more with less. Given the importance of bombers to the nation, rebuilding the bomber force is not an option — it is an imperative. Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem served as a fighter pilot and held various command positions. He concluded his service as the director of plans, policy and strategy at North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. He is currently the director of studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, where Douglas Birkey is the executive director. Birkey researches issues relating to the future of aerospace and national security, and he previously served as the Air Force Association's director of government relations. https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/04/23/americas-bomber-force-is-facing-a-crisis/
May 10, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence
AIR FORCE United Launch Services, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded a $149,376,775 firm-fixed-price modification (P00002) to previously awarded contract FA8811-19-C-0002 for National Security Space Launch Delta IV heavy launch services. This modification provides for launch vehicle production services for National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Launch Mission Two, the second of three planned NRO launch missions under this contract. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; Decatur, Alabama; and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and is expected to be complete by December 2022. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $449,813,010. Fiscal 2019 missile procurement funds in the amount of $139,028,436 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. Systems & Technology Research,* Woburn, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $28,680,552 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research, development, operations and maintenance. This contract provides for the Dynamic Exploitation Modeling for Operational Systems (DEMOS) program, with an objective to implement automated tools for generating indications and warning and transition prototype systems to operational end users for a variety of missions. Work will be performed in Woburn, Massachusetts, and is expected to be complete by July 26, 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 (Office of the Secretary of Defense) research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,955,000; and fiscal 2019 (Defense Intelligence Agency) operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $700,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-C-1030). UPDATE: An $18,300,000 contract announced on March 28, 2019, to Merex Aircraft Co. Inc., Camarillo, California (FA8212-19-D-0001), for the acquisition of A-10 flap assemblies has been terminated due to a bid protest. CORRECTION: The contract announced on May 2, 2019, for Engility Corp., Andover, Massachusetts (FA8650-19-C-6024), for research and development, included an incorrect award amount, as did a subsequent correction. The correct award amount is $58,296,527. DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Engility Corp., Chantilly, Virginia was awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (HHM402-19-D-0003) with a maximum ceiling value of $106,000,000 for exploitation management support services to the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) National Media Exploitation Center (NMEC), Bethesda, Maryland. This contract has a five-year base ordering period and five one-year options, with a June 1, 2019, start date and a potential completion date of May 31, 2029. Through this award, DIA will procure document and media management, program support, and related intelligence support services for NMEC. Work is to be performed in the National Capital Region. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,474,490 are being obligated for a cost-plus fixed-fee task order at the time of award. This was a competitive unrestricted acquisition and four offers were received. The Virginia Contracting Activity, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. NAVY Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. LLC, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded $55,611,547 for modification P00018 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursable contract (N00019-15-D-0026). This modification exercises the fourth option year in support of the Contracted Air Services program. This modification provides contractor-owned and operated Type III high subsonic and Type IV supersonic aircraft to Navy fleet customers for a wide variety of airborne threat simulation capabilities. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia (44 percent); Point Mugu, California (37 percent); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (19 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2020. No funds are being obligated at time of award, funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. B3 Enterprises LLC,* Woodbridge, Virginia (N44255-17-D-4011); Iron Mike - Bristol JV, LLC,* Centennial, Colorado (N44255-17-D-4012); Macnak Construction LLC,* Lakewood, Washington (N44255-17-D-4013); Tompco Inc.,* Seabeck, Washington (N44255-17-D-4014); and Veterans Northwest Construction LLC,* Seattle, Washington (N44255-17-D-4015), are awarded a firm-fixed-price modification under previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to increase the maximum not-to-exceed amount by $50,000,000 for design-build or design-bid-build construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest (NW) area of operations (AO). The work to be performed provides for new construction, renovation, alteration, demolition and repair work by design-build or design-bid-build of facilities. Types of projects include, but are not limited to administrative and industrial facilities, housing renovation, child care centers, lodges, recreation/fitness centers, retail complexes, warehouses, housing offices, community centers, commercial and institutional buildings, manufacturing and industrial buildings and other similar facilities. With the award of this modification, the value of this contract is now $149,000,000. All work on this contract will be performed primarily within the NAVFAC NW AO which includes Washington (92 percent); Alaska (2 percent); Oregon (2 percent); Idaho (1 percent); Montana (1 percent); Wyoming (1 percent); and work for this contract may also be performed in the remainder of the U.S. (1 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of April 2022. No funds will be obligated at the time of award and no funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued. Task orders have been and will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with 16 proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. NAVFAC NW, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity. DAV-Force Inc.,* Norman, Oklahoma (N0003919D0026); GLOTECH Inc.,* Rockville, Maryland (N0003919D0027); INDUS Technology Inc.,* San Diego, California (N0003919D0028); and North American Consulting Services Inc.,* Point Pleasant, West Virginia (N0003919D0029), are each awarded a $40,433,013 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, hybrid, firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable-type, multiple award contract for communications security accounting and special inventory manager support services in support of U.S. security assistance and security cooperation programs. Work will be performed in various overseas locations based on the requirement for each task order placed. The ordering period is five years with an expected completion date of May 2024. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of a minimum of $5,000 per awardee will be obligated at the time of award via a task order to each awardee. Funds in the amount of $10,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with small business proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website, with seven offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Great Eastern Group Inc.,* Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is awarded a $12,220,564 firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements, for logistic support of SBX-1 by the Offshore Support Vessel MV Hercules. This contract includes a one-year base period with three one-year option periods and an 11-month option period, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $48,189,426. Work will be performed in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and is expected to be completed by July 2020. If all options are exercised, work will continue through June 25, 2024. Research development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,734,457 are obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited as a small business set-aside with more than 50 companies solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website and six offers received. The Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220519C3500). Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded an $8,622,670 firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00019-17-C-0081. This modification is for the procurement of 10 MT7 marine turbine installation parts kit shipsets for the Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 100 Class craft. This procurement is in support of the Ship-to-Shore Connector Program. An MT7 installation parts kit is one “shipset” (craft) consisting of four engine intakes, two right-hand engine exhausts and two left-hand engine exhausts. Work to be performed includes production of the installation parts kit shipsets and delivery to Textron Marine and Land Systems for the assembly of the LCAC 100 Class craft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by January 2021. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,724,534; and fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $6,898,136 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, working in conjunction with the Naval Air Systems Command. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Woodland Hills, California, was awarded $7,203,829 for modification P00001 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0001919D0025). This modification provides for the procurement of up to 42 additional technical refresh mission computers for AH-1Z aircraft, including trainer units and spare units for the government of Bahrain under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (55 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (25 percent); and Woodland Hills, California (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 29, 2019) ARMY Ripple Effect Communications Inc.,* Rockville, Maryland, was awarded a $38,513,810 modification (P00005) to contract W81XWH-17-D-0003 for program administration and technical support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 18 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 22, 2022. U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity. IronMountain Solutions Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $22,705,832 time-and-materials Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Thailand, Taiwan, Sweden, Egypt, Jordan, Latvia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Slovakia) contract for technical support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of May 8, 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation; operations and maintenance, Army; and other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $22,705,832 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-17- R-0001). Tocci Building Corp, Woburn, Massachusetts, was awarded a $20,612,338 firm-fixed-price contract for replacement family housing design and build. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Natick, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of May 10, 2021. Fiscal 2015 and 2018 Army family housing construction funds in the amount of $20,612,338 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Concord, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (W912WJ-18-R-0006). Tsay/Ferguson-Williams LLC,* San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, was awarded a $17,982,082 cost-plus-award-fee contract for operations and maintenance services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 13 received. Work will be performed in Fort Stewart, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $4,579,182 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Stewart, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912WJ-19-C-0011). Quantitech Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $16,026,683 time-and-materials Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Thailand, Taiwan, Sweden, Egypt, Jordan, Latvia, Mexico, and Slovakia) contract for support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of May 8, 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation; operations and maintenance, Army; and other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $16,026,683 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-16-R-0010). WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Cherokee Nation Environmental Solutions LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been awarded a $15,100,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The contract expands existing mission critical chilled water distribution to provide mission critical cooling to mission critical rooms and equipment. The contract acquires design-build construction of a redundant chilled water loop in the Pentagon A-ring tunnels, risers for lateral distribution of chilled water, and a new secondary distribution pump. Work performance will take place at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. Fiscal 2015 military construction funds in the amount of $15,100,000 are being awarded. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. The expected completion date is June 10, 2021. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-19-C-0043). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1843457/source/GovDelivery/