Belgium pursue 155mm Caesar and 120mm Griffon artillery - Army Technology

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  May 22, 2020 | International, Security

  Coulson’s CU-47 is ready for the fire fight

  Posted on May 22, 2020 by Howard Slutsken Leveraging its experience with fixed-wing air tankers, Coulson Aviation has unveiled its latest aerial firefighting conversion, based on the Boeing CH-47D Chinook heavy-lift helicopter. In early March, the first Coulson-Unical CU-47 was flown from the company's Port Alberni, B.C., base to the Aerial Firefighting North American 2020 conference in Sacramento, Calif. Featuring a 3,000 gallon roll-on/roll-off internal tank and an advanced Garmin avionics suite, up to 12 CH-47Ds will be converted into next-generation heli-tankers, in a partnership with Unical Aviation that was announced a year ago. “Unical provides us with the aircraft and a vast supply of parts,” explained Britt Coulson, president and COO, in an interview with Skies. “They bought the entire Canadian Forces CH-47 parts inventory and were the largest purchaser of CH-47Ds from the U.S. Army.” The twin-rotor Chinook is well known for its speed, size and payload. While the helicopter is often deployed on fire attack missions carrying a water bucket as an external load, Coulson wanted to give the CU-47 more flexibility and capability. The company's engineers had already developed a 4,000 gallon Retardant Aerial Delivery System RADS-XXL for its Lockheed C-130 Hercules tanker conversions, and that tank was shrunk to create a 3,000 gallon RADS-L for the CH-47D conversion. “It's the same overall design as the C-130. It shares most of the same hydraulic components, the same doors and the same design of a roll-in, roll-out tank,” said Coulson. Other CH-47 internal tank systems utilize the small hook well in the centre of the helicopter as the water and retardant delivery port, but according to Coulson, that has its limitations. “The other tank designs are plagued with flow rate issues, which means they don't pack enough punch to really get through [forest] canopies or drop in heavy timber – the hook well opening just isn't big enough. “The lower the flow rate you have out of your tank, the slower and lower you have to fly. The problem with a big helicopter like a Chinook is if you fly too slow and low, your downwash is going to negatively affect the ground fire conditions and your drop is going to be ineffective.” To increase and optimize the flow rate for the RADS-L, the belly of the CH-47D was modified by cutting the helicopter's lower skin and adding structure below the floor to accommodate the tank installation and a pair of drop doors, controlled by the pilots through a state-of-the-art touchscreen controller. From the same touch panel, the pilots also control the CU-47's newly-developed retractable snorkel system to refill the RADS-L tank from water sources close to a fire's location. Installed internally, the snorkel head sits flush with the belly when retracted, so that with no additional external drag, the helicopter can maintain its fast 140-knot cruise speed. In a hover, the snorkel takes just four seconds to deploy and six seconds to retract, and the pilots and flight engineer can monitor the system's operation via a high-definition belly-mounted camera feed, displayed on the touchscreen controller. “The snorkel system has exceeded our expectations and we're filling the entire tank in under two minutes,” said Coulson. With the advanced capabilities of the Garmin avionics, the relocation of the flight engineer's panel, and the new RADS-L tank, Coulson originally believed that the CU-47 could be crewed solely by two pilots, without a flight engineer. But recent operational experience led the company to rethink that strategy. “We realized that with a helicopter of this size, going into some of the smaller dip sites, to have an additional set of eyes looking out the side or back is valuable to the pilots. So we've de-modified the helicopter and gone back to a full-time flight engineer to provide that increased safety and situational awareness.” Like Coulson's C-130 conversions, the CU-47 can also be tasked with night-time firefighting missions, thanks to the Night Vision System (NVS) certification of the helicopter's avionics suite. Wearing NVS googles, the CU-47's crew work in tandem with a fire attack “Intel” helicopter's pilots. The Intel crew uses a thermal camera to evaluate the behaviour of a fire, and if a drop is required, they take a page from military ground-attack operations. Using a laser, the Intel crew designates the target for the tanker. “With a geo-referenced lock, the Intel helicopter can orbit, and the laser beam will stay on the same spot. It illuminates an area on the ground about the size of a car,” said Coulson. The first CU-47 will soon be joined by a second RADS-L equipped helicopter, two CU-47's with upgraded avionics that will fly “bucket” missions, and a fifth, tank-equipped CU-47 that will deploy as a spare. “All of our FAA testing [on RADS-L] has finished, we're just waiting for the final Supplemental Type Certificate signature,” said Coulson. “We're doing some minor cleanup to the helicopter to make sure that it's ready to go fight fires this summer.” Howard Slutsken's lifelong passion for aviation began when he was a kid, watching TCA Super Connies, Viscounts, and early jets at Montreal's Dorval Airport. He's a pilot who loves to fly gliders and pretty much anything else with wings. Howard is based in Vancouver, B.C. https://www.skiesmag.com/features/coulsons-cu-47-fire-fight

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  May 8, 2024 | International, Aerospace

  Budget strain pauses MC-130J amphibious project for special forces

  U.S. Special Operations Command has paused an ambitious program to make its MC-130J transport plane capable of water landings and takeoff.

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  March 29, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 26, 2019

  NAVY Huntington Ingalls Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi, was awarded a $1,471,290,677 fixed-price-incentive modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-2406 for the procurement of the detail design and construction of Landing Platform Dock (LPD) 30, the first LPD 17 Flight II ship which will meet all the capabilities and capacities requirements for the Amphibious Ship Replacement. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi (82 percent); Crozet, Virginia (3 percent); Beloit, Wisconsin (2 percent); and New Orleans, Louisiana (2 percent), with other efforts performed at various sites less than one percent throughout the U.S. (11 percent), and is expected to be completed by February 2025. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,369,362,790 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. (Awarded March 25, 2019) Raytheon Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, was awarded a $49,989,867 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract in support of radar antenna system overhauls, coatings, shipboard installations and removals, and incidental technical support services for the following Radar Restoration Program systems: AN/SPS-48, AN/SPS-49, AN/SPS-67(V)1, AN/SPS-40, AN/SPS-73, AN/SPS-67(V)3/5, AN/SPQ-9B, AN/SPS-55, AN/SPS-75 and AN/SPS-77. All systems in the Radar Restoration Program are in the sustainment phase of their life cycle. The restored systems provided via this contract action are the above-deck components. The systems, subsystems, subassemblies and components are critical shipboard systems providing detect-to-engage capability to defend against incoming enemy aircraft and/or missiles. Some systems provide safe navigation processes for collision avoidance. This contract involves foreign military sales to Taiwan. Work will be performed in Odon, Indiana (75 percent); and Indianapolis, Indiana (25 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $271,807; and foreign military sales funding in the amount of $436,602 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-19-D-WP40). (Awarded March 22, 2019) The Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded $39,718,809 for modification P00036 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-15-C-0116). This modification exercises an option for the procurement of three APY-10 Radar System production kits for the Navy, four for the government of the United Kingdom, and five for the government of Norway, as well as related services in support of P-8A Poseidon Lot 10 production aircraft. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas (77.1 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (7.2 percent); Chelmsford, Massachusetts (3.4 percent); Woodland Park, New Jersey (3.3 percent); Black Mountain, North Carolina (1.8 percent); San Carlos, California (1.7 percent); Ashburn, Virginia (1.6 percent); Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada (1.4 percent); Simsbury, Connecticut (1.3 percent); and Clearwater, Florida (1.2 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2022. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $39,718,809 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($9,168,076; 23 percent); and FMS ($30,550,733; 77 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. National Institute of Building Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, is awarded a maximum amount $25,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architectural design and engineering services for the National Institute of Building Sciences, District of Columbia. The work to be performed provides for ongoing criteria preparation and shall fall under the following two categories: preparation and dissemination of emerging innovative technology source information and/or criteria, commercially supported, embedded within the whole building design guide; and make findings and advise public/private sectors of the economy with respect to the use of building science and technology in achieving nationally acceptable standards and the irregularities and inconsistencies which arise from their application to particular localities or special local conditions. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of March 2024. Fiscal 2015 Office of the Secretary of Defense contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. No task orders are being issued at this time. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction funds. This contract was a sole-source procurement under Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-5, authorized or required by statute. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-19-D-5013). BAE Systems, Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Nashua, New Hampshire, is being awarded an $18,184,174 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of nine OE-120B/UPX Identification Friend or Foe antenna groups and one retrofit kit for the Navy. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed in May 2022. Fiscal 2017, 2018, and 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $18,184,174 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0052). Noble Sales Co. Inc.,* Rockland, Massachusetts, is awarded a $14,126,593 firm-fixed-price blanket purchase agreement contract to stock, store, and issue supplies, construction materials, and hardware in support of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Oahu, Hawaii. The contract will include a 12-month base period, four one-year option periods, and a six-month extension, which if exercised, the total value of this contract will be $79,409,916. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by March 2020; if all options are exercised, work will be completed by September 2024. Fiscal 2019 working capital (Navy) funds will be provided on individual task orders as they are issued against the agreement and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited unrestricted to all General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule vendors under GSA Schedule Special Item Number 51V for maintenance, repairs, and operations with two offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Pearl Harbor, Regional Contracting Department, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N00604-19-A-4000). QRC Technologies, Fredericksburg, Virginia, is awarded a $13,748,268 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of QRC brand materials and components, hardware deliverables, and engineering services required to support design, upgrade, integration, test, and evaluation of sensor system integration projects for the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Navy. This three-year contract includes a two-year option which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $21,660,140. All work will be performed in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The period of performance of the base period is from March 27, 2019, through March 26, 2022. If the option is exercised, the period of performance would extend through March 26, 2024. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Funding will be obligated via task/delivery orders. The types of funding to be obligated include operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and research, development, test and evaluation (Navy). This sole-source procurement is issued using other than full and open competition in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 6.302-1 and 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source. The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3403). Raytheon Co., Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is awarded a $9,140,826 modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-17-C-5145 to exercise options for DDG 1000 ship class integrated logistics support and engineering services. The DDG 1000 ship class is a multi-mission surface combatant designed to fulfill volume firepower and precision strike requirements. DDG 1000 combat systems provide offensive, distributed and precision firepower and long ranges in support of forces ashore, while incorporating signature reduction, active and passive self-defense systems and enhanced survivability features. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (50 percent); and Tewksbury, Massachusetts (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $5,772,655 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. AIR FORCE Sierra Nevada Corp., Circle, Sparks, Nevada, has been awarded a $317,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Precision Strike Package program. This contract provides contractor logistics support for the Precision Strike Package in support of the AC-130W and AC-130J. Work will be performed at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico; and Hurlburt Field, Florida, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2026. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $26,784,295 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8509‐19‐D‐0001). DZYNE Technologies Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, has been awarded a $48,990,806 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Mobile Onboard Nexus for Autonomy and Radical Computation Handling (MONARCH) Small Business Innovative Research III effort. This contract provides for further development of technologies they have established under previous and current contracts, and the rapid development and maturation of novel Airborne, Space, and Terrestrial (ground) technologies and systems so that MONARCH technologies and associated capabilities can be transitioned to military markets. Work will be performed in Irvine, California, and is expected to be complete by March 27, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-C-9203). (Awarded March 25, 2019) General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $9,211,561 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the United Kingdom (UK) MQ-9 Reaper contractor logistics support effort. This contract provides for ongoing sustainment of the UK MQ-9 fleet. Work will be performed at multiple stateside and international locations, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2019. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the government of the United Kingdom. Foreign military sales funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-15-G-4040 0017 21). ARMY Valiant Global Defense Services Inc., San Diego, California, was awarded a $60,685,000 modification (P00013) to contract W91247-18-C-0001 for mission support services. Work will be performed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of March 26, 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $60,685,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Polk, Louisiana, is the contracting activity. Up-Side Management Co.,* Hubert, North Carolina, was awarded a $46,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for general construction and repair. Bids were solicited via the internet with 33 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 25, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-19-D-0017). Widman Inc.,* Godfrey, Illinois, was awarded a $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for upper-river land repair. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work will be performed in West Alton, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of March 25, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $30,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912P9-19-D-0003). Widman Inc.,* Godfrey, Illinois, was awarded a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for lower-river land repair. 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 March 25, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912P9-19-D-0004). Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, Madison, Mississippi, was awarded a $14,523,875 firm-fixed-price contract for dining facility management functions. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2024. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office for Mississippi is the contracting activity (W9127Q-19-D-0001). BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc., Kingsport, Tennessee, was awarded a $9,576,532 modification (P00681) to contract DAAA09-98-E-0006 for natural gas and fuel oil for the commissioning and emission testing of the new natural gas-fired steam plant currently under construction at Holston Army Ammunition Plant. Work will be performed in Kingsport, Tennessee, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2018 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $9,576,532 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Avion Solutions Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded an $8,656,308 modification (000006) to contract W31P4Q-18-A-0047 for logistics support. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of March 28, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army; other procurement, Army; and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $8,656,308 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, California, was awarded a $30,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00015) to a previously awarded HQ0277-18-C-0001 contract. The value of this contract is increased from $36,000,000 to $66,000,000. Under this modification, the contractor will complete their laser scaling and beam control critical design review in support of the Low Power Laser Demonstrator risk reduction. The work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California. The period of performance for this effort is Oct. 6, 2017, to Sept. 6, 2019. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $29,951,935 are being obligated on this award. The Missile Defense Agency, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. General Atomics, San Diego, California, was awarded a $29,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00017) to a previously awarded HQ0277-18-C-0002 contract. The value of this contract is increased from $33,000,000 to $62,000,000. Under this modification, the contractor will complete their laser scaling and beam control critical design review in support of the Low Power Laser Demonstrator risk reduction. The work will be performed in San Diego, California. The period of performance for this effort is Nov. 6, 2017, to Sept. 6, 2019. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $28,955,517 are being obligated on this award. The Missile Defense Agency, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. Boeing Co., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $29,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00019) to a previously awarded HQ0277-18-C-0003 contract. The value of this contract is increased from $33,000,000 to $62,000,000. Under this modification, the contractor will complete their laser scaling and beam control critical design review in support of the Low Power Laser Demonstrator risk reduction. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama. The period of performance for this effort is Dec. 8, 2017, to Sept. 6, 2019. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $28,685,504 are being obligated on this award. The Missile Defense Agency, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $11,789,305 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for diesel engines. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. This was a sole-source acquisition, using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with a March 26, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-D-0084). CACI Inc.-Federal, Chantilly, Virginia, has been awarded a $10,031,056 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for technical and functional services for the Defense Agency Initiative. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a one-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Virginia and other areas in the continental U.S., with a March 28, 2020, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds; and fiscal 2019 through 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Contracting Services Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SP4701-19-C-0009). Beaver Aerospace & Defense Inc.,* Livonia, Michigan, has been awarded a maximum $9,036,355 firm-fixed-price contract for linear electro-mechanical actuators. 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 one-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Michigan, with a July 19, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia (SPE4A6-19-C-0071). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1796426/