October 8, 2024 | International, C4ISR, Security
Pro-Ukrainian Hackers Strike Russian State TV on Putin's Birthday
Ukraine claims cyber attack on Russian state media VGTRK, disrupting operations and wiping server data.
March 13, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Could a commercial drone replace the MQ-9 Reaper? The Air Force is considering it.
By: Valerie Insinna
WASHINGTON — The Air Force is looking for a replacement to the stalwart MQ-9 Reaper and intends to explore options ranging from commercial drones built by emerging tech firms to high-end unmanned aircraft, the service's top acquisition official said Tuesday.
Will Roper, the Air Force's assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, said the service is working on a study that will inform the fiscal 2022 budget and lay out a path for replacing the MQ-9 Reaper made by General Atomics.
"The Reaper has been a great platform for us. Four million flight hours, just undeniable overmatch in a low-end uncontested fight, and it is certainly saving lives,” Roper told lawmakers at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. “But as we look to the high end fight, we just can't take them into the battlefield. They are easily shot down.”
The MQ-9 Reaper and its precursor, the MQ-1 Predator, have been the Air Force's workhorse drones in the Middle East over the past two decades, providing both real-time video surveillance and the ability to strike targets. But looking forward, the Reaper is ill-suited to a war with Russia and China while at the same time seen by the Air Force as requiring too much money and manpower to sustain for continued operations in low-threat environments.
There likely won't be a single, one-size fits all solution for replacing the MQ-9, Roper said. The Air Force may need drones that “are more high-end, military-unique” systems, and “they'll likely be expensive,” he acknowledged. There may also be room for unmanned attritable aircraft, which are reusable but are cheap enough that they can be shot down in battle without incurring massive financial losses.
For lower-end missions, the Air Force sees promise in the emerging unmanned systems market, where new entrants have begun creating long-loiter drones for applications in agriculture, communications and the oil and gas sector.
“A lot of companies are targeting that market, not thinking about defense because we've been buying Reapers forever,” Roper said, who added that by buying from promising commercial drone makers, Air Force may be able to influence those companies to keep their supply chains out of China and to incorporate military-specific features — potentially even weapons.
“I think if we do the program right on the commercial side, we might be able to bring a new entrant into defense without making them a defense prime,” he said, adding that funding from the Air Force could help a commercial company move from making prototypes to building up a stable production line that could further be grown to manufacture drones on a more massive scale.
“Working with the Defense Department, you don't need the kind of production capacity that the globe does. So, we're a pretty good first stop,” he said.
However, the Air Force may face an uphill battle in getting Congress to support a plan to replace the Reaper. The service in its FY21 budget request has asked for 24 more MQ-9s before ending the programs of record — a move that would curtail the program from 363 to 337 Reapers.
The early shutdown of the line would have major financial implications for General Atomics, said Chris Pehrson, the company's vice president of strategic development, in a February interview with Air Force Magazine.
“We're actually going out about 22 months ahead of delivery and procuring the long-lead item parts, ... whether it's [satellite communication] equipment or engines ... to negotiate the best prices and get the best deals for the government,” Pehrson said. “Having the rug pulled out from under your feet at the last minute kind of disrupts all your supply chain investments that you're making.”
Top generals in the Middle East and Africa have also raised concerns about the demands for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and privately helped stave off retirements of the MQ-9 by the Air Force in FY21. In its unfunded wish list, U.S. Central Command included additional contractor-flown MQ-9 hours as its number one priority, at a cost of $238 million.
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February 13, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 11, 2019
NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $211,996,197 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-18-C-5105 for incorporation of remaining Baseline J7 scope for new-construction DDG Aegis Weapon System J7 Baseline development and integration in support of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). This modification will provide for continued JMSDF Aegis Combat System J7 Baseline development and integration. These efforts include full operational capability at the development test sites, execution of J7 Baseline development and integration activities, integration of Japanese domestic ship systems, in-country integrated test team support and provision of technical manuals, logistics and staging activities. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (73 percent); Yokohama, Japan (11 percent); Mount Laurel, New Jersey (6 percent); Kawasaki, Japan (3 percent); Nasu, Japan (3 percent); Nagoya, Japan (2 percent); Tokyo, Japan (1 percent); and Washington, District of Columbia (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2021. Foreign Military Sales funding in the amount of $211,996,197 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. The Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, is awarded an $88,443,303 cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the modification and upgrade of the sensor system software and hardware for the F/A-18/EA-18G aircraft to incorporate updates, improvements, and enhancements of tactical capabilities. Services to be provided include technical support for hardware and software anomaly investigation, design, development, documentation, integration, test, and evaluation of systems and support equipment. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed in February 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,399,824 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 Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N6893619D0001). Amee Bay LLC,* Hanahan, South Carolina (N64498-19-D-4013); Aviation Maritime Support Services LLC,* Chesapeake, Virginia (N64498-19-D-4014); and Thermcor Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N64498-19-D-4015), were each awarded a cost-plus-fixed fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity multiple award contract with firm-fixed-priced ordering provisions for engineering and technical services to support the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division's (NSWCPD) Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) modernization programs. Amee Bay LLC is awarded $57,337,423; Aviation Maritime Support Services LLC is awarded $63,775,817; and Thermcor Inc. is awarded $63,795,441. The mission of NSWCPD is to transition hull, mechanical and electrical machinery technology to the Navy active/reserve fleet, and support various sponsors for Navy modernization programs. This requires development and execution of various ship changes and ship alterations to upgrade and maintain in a more cost-effective and timely manner the system/equipment readiness of various Navy HM&E and electronic systems. The engineering and technical support services for this requirement are primarily small, minimally intrusive, turn-key equipment level modernization projects that are generally accomplished pierside at the various homeports outside of Chief Naval Operations availabilities. The installation process consists of several phases, including advance planning, ship check, assessments, fabrication, prototype evaluation and installation, final design shipboard installation, testing and completion. Work will be performed at various Navy bases, shipyards, repair facilities and contractor facilities in the continental U.S. and is expected to be completed by January 2024. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $520,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $108,000 will also 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 five offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Feb. 8, 2019) McKinsey & Co. Inc., Washington, District of Columbia, is awarded $15,730,560 for modification P00002 to a firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-price delivery order N6833518F0362 previously issued against blanket purchase agreement (N68335-18-A-0042) in support of the F-35 Lightning II affordability campaign for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. The modification provides for maturation of the current effort through expansion and refinement of existing scope, including strategic sourcing, senior leadership team offsite, and major contract actions. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in June 2019. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Marine Corps and Air Force) funds in the amount of $15,730,560 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($6,001,250; 38 percent); Marine Corps ($6,001,250; 38 percent), and Air Force ($3,728,060; 24 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE CACI Inc. Federal, Chantilly, Virginia, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $11,530,702 modification (P00010) to previously awarded contract HQ0423-15-F-5001 for comptroller mission systems support for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). This modification exercises Option Year 4 with a period of performance of Feb. 16, 2019, through Feb. 15, 2020. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $51,604,376 from $40,073,674. Work will be performed at the Pentagon and in remote locations within the National Capital Region with an expected completion date of Feb. 15, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Defense-wide funds in the amount of $11,530,702 are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1754592/
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August 10, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Opinion: Can The Pentagon Spend More Smartly?
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (left) spoke to Ranking Member Mac Thornberry during a hearing in July. Credit: Greg Nash/Getty Images I am surprised by the vigorous hand-wringing this summer over the prospects for defense spending in a Democratic-dominated government beginning in January 2021. There's every indication that the... https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/opinion-can-pentagon-spend-more-smartly