Detecting targets from 70,000 feet above Earth

On the same subject

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  January 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 16, 2020

  AIR FORCE Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $442,265,464 cost-plus-incentive-fee undefinitized contract action for the force element terminal (FET) development effort. This contract provides for the design, development, testing, integration, and logistical support of a FET system that will transition the B-52 and RC-135 hardened communication terminals from the Military Strategic Tactical Relay satellite communications satellite constellation to the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite constellation. The majority of the work will be performed at Raytheon's facilities in Marlborough, Massachusetts; and Largo, Florida, and is expected to be completed by August 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation 3600 funds, in the amount of $5,812,581, are being obligated at the time of contract award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8735-20-C-0003). Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $36,848,806 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00152) for the software encryption platform (SEP) engineering change effort, under the Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) production contract. The contract action will develop and deliver an updated National Security Agency approved SEP. Work will be performed at Marlborough, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by March 2023. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $1,000,000 is being obligated at the time of award. The FAB-T Contracting Office, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8705-13-C-0005). ARMY LOC Performance Products,* Plymouth, Michigan, was awarded a $41,439,129 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of manufactured T-161 double pin track which is comprised of molded track pads, rubberized pins and forged track shoe bodies with bonded rubber backings to be used on the Army's Bradley family of vehicles, armored multi-purpose vehicle and Paladin family of vehicles. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Plymouth, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 12, 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $41,439,129 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-C-0052). Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $9,829,327 modification (P00013) to contract W31P4Q-19-C-0071 for engineering services in support of the Hellfire Missile and Joint Air-to-Ground Missile. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 15, 2021. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement, Army funds in the amount of $9,829,327 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Carter Enterprises,** Brooklyn, New York, has been awarded a maximum $21,105,765 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for coats and trousers. This was a competitive acquisition with six responses received. This is a one-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a Jan. 15, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-1206). NAVY Crowley Government Services, Jacksonville, Florida (N62387-15-C-2505), is awarded a $20,771,542 firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements extension by invoking Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.217-8 “option to extend services” to continue the operation and maintenance of five Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance (T-AGOS) vessels; and two missile range instrumentation ships (T-AGM). This option includes a 365-day base period of performance, four one-year option periods, and a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.217-8 “option to extend services” option period for up to six months, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $375,202,948. Work will be performed at sea worldwide and is expected to be completed by July 21, 2020. Fiscal 2020 Navy operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $20,771,542 will be awarded at time of award and will expire at the end of fiscal year. This contract extension was not competitively procured. The contract was prepared under the provisions of 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62387-15-C-2505). MAC LLC, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is awarded a $9,998,493 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of up to a maximum of 2,400,000 MK323 Mod 0 polymer cased .50 caliber linked cartridges, and .50 caliber armor piercing/armor piercing incendiary polymer cased linked cartridges. Work will be performed in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed by January 2024. Fiscal 2019 procurement ammunition (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $3,051,359 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and funds will expire the end of fiscal 2021. The contract was awarded on a sole source basis in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1.The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-20-D-5200). *Small Business **Small Business in Historically Underutilized Business Zone https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2059429/source/GovDelivery/

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  September 6, 2018 | International, Aerospace

  Bell collaborates on Micro-Unmanned Aerial Systems

  Researchers from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Bell Helicopter met in June 2018 to focus on the development of micro unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The project surrounds what Bell describes as miniature, lightweight reconnaissance vehicles that soldiers can carry onto the battlefield and deploy in a confined space. The collaboration began after Bell representatives travelled to Adelphi, Maryland, to attend an open campus event at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in November 2016. After a year and a half of information sharing, the two parties signed a five-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) in March 2018. “We're trying to get data on the fundamental level, to build up a knowledge base of vehicles, because their expertise is in designing the vehicles, whereas our expertise is the fundamentals of them,” said Dr. John Hrynuk, a mechanical engineer in ARL's Vehicle Technology Directorate (VTD). “We want new technology; they want new vehicles. Together, we want to enhance technologies for the soldiers – that's what makes it the absolute perfect collaboration.” Bell engineers Dakota Easley and Levi Hefner recently visited ARL to perform experiments on micro UAS using the facility's wind tunnel. Bell explains the visit was prompted by vehicle control challenges its researchers had observed in early flight testing. With the help of ARL scientists and equipment, according to Bell, the engineers were able to isolate their earlier challenges and improve the performance of the aerial vehicle. “The wind tunnel here at ARL has been beneficial in providing data that explains why certain things are happening on the control side. Now we're able to better analyze our tests to enhance the performance of our vehicles,” Hefner said. “This collaboration is great because we're heading into a new design space with these small vehicles.” https://www.wingsmagazine.com/news/bell-micro-uas-15855

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  May 2, 2024 | International, Land

  Polish president submits law to step up defence preparation