Defense Innovation Unit awards funding for sea-based launch pad

On the same subject

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  June 26, 2019 | International, Other Defence

  AECOM wins contract with U.S. Department of State to provide Diplomatic Platform Support Services

  GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AECOM (NYSE:ACM), a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm, has been awarded a Multiple Award, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract by the U.S. Department of State for Diplomatic Platform Support Services. The contract ceiling is $6 billion over a five-year period and provides an opportunity for AECOM to expand its proven global logistical and operations and maintenance capabilities. “This is a significant program of work with the Department of State and expands our market share in providing logistical and mission support for many branches of the U.S. Government,” said John Vollmer, AECOM's president of its Management Services group. “We have made significant investments in asset management solutions which are paying dividends in our growth in this market.” The contract requires Program Management, Procurement of Critical Items, Life Support Services, Logistics Services, Operation and Maintenance Services, and Construction and Renovation Projects for U.S. Department of State facilities, and other U.S. Government facilities overseas, with a focus on high-threat contingency environments. “We look forward to the opportunity to deliver these key services to the Department of State, partnering with them to provide world-class support for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy,” said Dr. Karl Spinnenweber, AECOM's executive vice president and general manager of its Mission Readiness business. For over 100 years, AECOM and its legacy companies have worked with governments around the world, providing cost-effective and innovative solutions to help them achieve mission success. AECOM leverages its global defense, civilian and commercial expertise to deliver services across the entire life cycle for clients' most challenging projects – from concept design, development, construction, acquisition, management and operation to testing, training, sustainment and supply chain management. About AECOM AECOM is built to deliver a better world. We design, build, finance and operate critical infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organizations. As a fully integrated firm, we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM had revenue of approximately $20.2 billion during fiscal year 2018. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM. Forward-Looking Statements: All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including the future term, price, performance and financial impact of the Department of State support service agreement as well as other future business and economic conditions. Actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are set forth in AECOM's periodic report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. AECOM does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190626005114/en

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  September 28, 2018 | International, Aerospace

  Boeing-Leonardo Team Scoops Up $2.38B UH-1N Replacement Deal

  By COLIN CLARK The head of Strategic Command must be very happy this evening, having learned that the Air Force is finally buying a new helicopter to guard America's ICBM fields. The Boeing-Leonardo team won the contract to supply 84 helicopters. WASHINGTON: The head of Strategic Command must be very happy this evening, having learned that the Air Force is finally buying a new helicopter to guard America's ICBM fields. The Boeing-Leonardo team won the contract to supply 84 helicopters. UPDATE BEGINS “The award of this contract is great news; today is a good day,” Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command said in a statement. “I've been vocal about the need to quickly replace the UH-1N, which is an important part of our multi-layered ICBM defense system. Awarding this contract is a huge step in the right direction in ensuring our Nation's nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, effective, and ready. I'm grateful to the Air Force and Congress for prioritizing the UH-1N replacement.” UPDATE ENDS Here's how strongly Hyten felt: “Of all the things in my portfolio, I can't even describe how upset I get about the helicopter replacement program,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee in April 2017. “It's a helicopter, for gosh sakes. We ought to be able to go out and buy a helicopter and put it in the hands of the people that need it. And we should be able to do that quickly.” The helicopters will execute a range of missions, including moving security crews in the event of threats to our nation's ICBM fields, escorting convoys moving nuclear weapons, flying senior government officials out of the capital in the event of an emergency and providing support to the US Embassy in Japan. The Air Force, clearly happy to be putting this tortured acquisition behind them, quoted Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson claiming the deal saved taxpayers $1.7 billion over the service's original estimate of $4.1 billion, thanks to “strong competition.” When Boeing, the prime on the program, showed the helicopter off to reporters last year executives stressed it would save the US taxpayer $1 billion. Lockheed Martin also bid for the program, offering its HH-60U. This evening's contract award of $375 million is for the first four helicopters and includes the integration of non-developmental items. The fixed price contract pays for up to “84 MH-139 helicopters, training devices, and associated support equipment.” The MH-139 has five rotor blades, which, with their tapered ends, significantly reduce the amount of vibration. The helicopter was also noticeably quieter than most of its conventional military competitors. We flew up to 150 knots and it felt as smooth as a large Mercedes sedan on the highway. The helicopters, based on Leonardo's commercial AW139 helicopter, will be assembled by the Italian company at its northeast Philadelphia plant. Boeing will integrate military components at its facility south of Philly. https://breakingdefense.com/2018/09/boeing-leonardo-team-scoops-up-2-38b-uh-1n-replacement-deal/

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  December 24, 2018 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR

  SpaceX launches Air Force’s best GPS yet, ends banner year

  By: The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX has launched the U.S. Air Force's most powerful GPS satellite ever built. A Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday, hoisting the satellite toward orbit. The satellite was supposed to soar Tuesday but rocket concerns and then weather delayed the flight. Heather Wilson, secretary of the Air Force, says this next-generation GPS satellite is three times more accurate than previous versions and eight times better at anti-jamming. It's the first in a series and nicknamed Vespucci after the 15th-century Italian explorer who calculated Earth's circumference to within 50 miles (80 kilometers). It was SpaceX's 21st and final launch of the year, a company record. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/12/23/spacex-launches-air-forces-best-gps-yet-ends-banner-year