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December 7, 2023 | International, Naval

Final defense policy bill advances AUKUS, Taiwan training

The compromise bill includes authorizations for AUKUS and Taiwan troop training plus a new nuclear program and special Ukraine inspector general.

https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/12/07/final-defense-policy-bill-advances-aukus-taiwan-training/

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  • The Army’s next machine gun could fire caseless ammo — and one of these companies might build it

    July 16, 2018 | International, Land

    The Army’s next machine gun could fire caseless ammo — and one of these companies might build it

    By: Todd South The replacement for the Army's 5.56mm Squad Automatic Weapon could be an entirely new type of light machine gun that fires not only a different caliber round, but caseless ammunition. That's because one of the five companies recently awarded contracts to produce a weapon prototype by this time next year has been building weapons to fire that type of ammo for the past 14 years. A notice posted Thursday included the identities of the five companies: AAI Corporation Textron Systems in Hunt Valley, Maryland. FN America LLC.in Columbia, South Carolina. General Dynamics-OTS Inc. PCP Tactical, LLC. in Vero Beach, Florida. Sig Sauer Inc. in Newington, New Hampshire. The companies were awarded a contract to provide a prototype for the Army's Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle, or NGSAR. The light machine gun is the first planned major overhaul of small arms in decades. Based on the notice, it appears that FN America has been granted an award to provide two prototypes, while the other four companies will provide a single prototype. Those prototypes will help the Army decide what's possible given their extensive requirements for the new weapon. There will then be an open competition following those submissions, where more companies can try to get in on the weapon that will utlimately replace the M249 SAW and influence the M4 replacement, as well. It is also the first weapon of its type that could mean a dramatic shift in all small arms, with follow-on changes planned for an individual carbine that will likely incorporate the machine gun changes, officials have said. Current efforts include work on a lighter machine gun that fires a government-designed 6.8mm round, which falls between the lighter 5.56mm and heavier 7.62mm used in heavy machine guns. But submissions can include other calibers, so long as they meet accuracy and lethality requirements for the new weapon, officials have said. In the Textron release, the company says the prototype will be based on their cased-telescoped weapons and ammunition portfolio. The company has designed both a carbine and light machine gun variant, which have been displayed publicly in recent years. The NGSAR will be an “intermediate caliber, high-velocity, magazine-fed system,” according to the release. It will weigh less than 12 pounds with ammunition that weighs 20 percent less than the traditional brass case ammo. The weapon will be at most 35 inches long and be able to fire 60 rounds per minute for 15 minutes without a barrel change. Accuracy matters too. A shooter must be able to hit standard targets at 50 meters while standing, with three- to five-round bursts at least 70 percent of the time. The companies also received awards for advanced weapons and fire control technologies, for the Next Generation Squad Weapons Technologies, the umbrella program for advancing small arms, and for the fire control capability. Wayne Prender, vice president of Applied Technologies & Advanced Programs at Textron Systems, told Army Times Thursday that he couldn't discuss details of their fire control submissions configuration. But he did talk about some of the capabilites they plan to provide. “We're offering up a solution set, day/night system optics with a laser range finder, integrated ballistic computer for computation of the target,” Prender said. Last year Textron unveiled a 6.5mm carbine using their ammunition. The NSGW program aims to use an intermediate caliber, likely in the 6mm range, such as their 6.8mm ammunition development. But Prender said he couldn't discuss details of the caliber submission for the weapon prototype. Army leaders have said that advancements will come in stages and initial fire controls will be a part of the first fielded system, but that improved fire controls with additional upgrades will be incorporated into the system. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/07/12/the-armys-next-machine-gun-could-fire-caseless-ammo-and-one-of-these-companies-might-build-it/

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 27, 2018

    December 31, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 27, 2018

    NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $712,482,210 for cost-plus-incentive fee, firm-fixed-price delivery order N0001919F2474 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020) for the development of advanced hardware in support of the F-35 Lightning II Technology Refresh 3 (TR3) System. Efforts include the design of the TR3 System through full flightworthy certification, production readiness review, and fleet release to support low-rate initial production Lot 15 aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Marine Corps); and non-U.S. Department of Defense participant (non-U.S. DoD) funding in the amount of $207,144,167 will be obligated at time of award, $13,000,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This delivery order combines purchases for the Marine Corps ($27,046,506; 32 percent); Navy ($24,500,000; 29 percent); and non-U.S. DoD participants ($32,506,142; 39 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $228,818,298 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-2116 for the purchase of additional long lead time material in support of Enterprise (CVN 80). The purpose of this action is to definitize efforts previously announced as an undefinitized contract action and increase the scope of the contract for additional long lead time material. Work is being performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by January 2023. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and construction (Navy) funding in the amount of $132,980,000 will be obligated at the time of award and not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Dayton T. Brown Inc.,* Bohemia, New York, is awarded an $82,595,099 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for supplies and services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Special Missions Integrated Test Facility (AIR-5.4). Supplies and services being procured are in support of the continued development of the Mobile Mission System (MMS) family of system capabilities, MMS variants, procurement of additional MMS units, prototyping and modification for rapid mission specific system reconfiguration, test and operational deployment, maintenance, repair, refurbishment, logistics support and associated material procurements in support of the complete system of systems capabilities between the MMS, the airborne component, the ground component and the required laboratory component. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (91 percent); and Bohemia, New York (9 percent), and work is expected to be completed December 2025. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Nova Group Inc., Napa, California, was awarded a $38,300,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction to update the standby power plant and the electrical distribution system at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Makaha Ridge, Kauai, Hawaii. Work will be performed in Kauai, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by July 2021. Fiscal 2017 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $38,300,000 are obligated on this award, of which $16,360,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-19-C-1320). (Awarded Dec. 26, 2018) C.E.R Inc.,* Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded $15,668,500 for firm-fixed-price task order N4008019F4101 under a previously awarded design-bid-build, small business, multiple award construction contract (N40080-18-D-0016) for the renovation of Building 2007 at Marine Corps Base, Quantico. Building renovations includes selective demolition and repairs of existing building systems and spaces. In addition, this project will convert existing classrooms and bachelor enlisted quarters living spaces into administrative spaces. The project will also provide new electrical, Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, hot and cold water plumbing, fire suppression, floor, roof systems, new non-classified internet protocol router and secret internet protocol router network lines and ports, as well as, demolish existing walls, floors, and ceilings; then construct administrative spaces for Marine Corps Combat Development Command headquarters. In addition to renovations, interior hazmat abatement will be performed; one elevator and new restrooms will be provided in order to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act regulation. Work will be performed in Quantico, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by October 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,668,500 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Six proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded a $13,340,913 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for the acquisition of 218 operational test program sets for the Navy (188); Japan (15); and various foreign military sales customers (15), including non-recurring engineering to address potential obsolescence issues. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (90 percent); and St. Louis, Missouri (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2024. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N6833519D0017). Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, is awarded $12,167,690 for firm-fixed-price delivery order N0001919F2638 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0014). This delivery order provides for the procurement of spare and sustainment parts that are required to maintain the RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft system in support of the Naval Supply Systems Command. Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington, and is expected to be completed in June 2019. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,167,690 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Nova Group Inc.-Underground Construction Co. Inc., JV, Napa, California, is awarded an $11,350,806 firm-fixed-price modification under a previously awarded contract (N40192-14-C-1300) for equitable adjustments associated with additional munitions and explosives of concern investigations for the new pipeline and pipeline repairs at various locations off base within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas area of responsibility. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $78,285,823. Work will be performed in Piti, Guam, and is expected to be completed by March 2018. Fiscal 2013 military construction (Navy); and fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds in the amount of $11,350,806 are obligated on this award. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded an $11,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-2106 for the advance planning of the refueling complex overhaul of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). This contract modification provides supplemental material identified as required subsequent to contract award. Work is being performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to complete by July 2019. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $11,000,000 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. Makai Ocean Engineering Inc.,* Waimanalo, Hawaii, is awarded $9,897,213 for cost-plus-fixed-fee task order N3943019F4018 under a previously awarded multiple award contract (N39430-18-D-2047) for design, procurement, fabrication, testing and integration of components for a lightweight seafloor cable system for use in a technology demonstration at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme. The work to be performed provides for design and procurement of a wet-plant system and deployment system, as well as in-person training for government personnel and operation and maintenance manuals. Tasking includes conducting verification testing of components, sub-systems, and delivery of the complete integrated system. Work will be performed at Waimanalo, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by March 2020. Fiscal 2019 research and development (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $9,897,213 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $64,381,000 modification (P00025) to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0008 for performance based logistics. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds in the amount of $64,381,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Georgia Power Co., Atlanta, Georgia, was awarded a $25,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for electrical distribution services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $25,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Stewart, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W9124M-19-F-0019). Longbow LLC, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $13,028,575 modification (P00009) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0027 for life cycle support to the fire control radar and unmanned aerial system tactical common data link assembly. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds in the amount of $13,028,575 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a $12,187,345 modification (P00005) to contract W81K04-18-C-0001 for specialty medical training, equipment, maintenance and administration support services. Work will be performed in Camp Parks, California; Fort Gordon, Georgia; and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $12,187,345 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. Dubuque Barge and Fleeting Service Co.,* Dubuque, Iowa, was awarded a $9,959,690 firm-fixed-price contract for Mississippi River basin. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Clinton, Iowa, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 27, 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,959,690 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W912EK-19-C-0006). BGI LLC,* Akron, Ohio, was awarded a $7,761,863 modification (P00002) to contract W9133L-18-C-0002 for weapons system simulator training and support. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 2, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,761,863 were obligated at the time of the award. National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE BAE Systems Information and Electronics Systems Integration, Nashua, New Hampshire (FA8604-19-D-4021); The Boeing Co., Defense, Space & Security, St. Louis, Missouri (FA8604-19-D-4022); General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. GS-ASI, Poway, California (FA8604-19-D-4020); Goodrich Corp., UTC Aerospace Systems, ISR Systems, Westford, Massachusetts (FA8604-19-D-4023); Harris Corp., Electronic Systems, Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems, Clifton, New Jersey (FA8604-19-D-4027); Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas (FA8604-19-D-4026); Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, Florida (FA8604-19-D-4024); and Raytheon Co., Raytheon, El Segundo, California (FA8604-19-D-40250), have been awarded $22,500,000 ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts for the formation of a collaborative working group of various industry partners to work as a single extended entity to develop, evolve, and update via pre-planned product improvement initiatives, as well as manage and provide configuration control of the Open Mission Systems and Universal Command and Control Interface standards, collectively referred to as the Open Architecture standards. These contracts provide for the development, updating and management of the above standards with the following business goals: promote adaptability, flexibility, and expandability; support a variety of missions and domains; simplify integration; reduce technical risk and overall cost of ownership of weapon system programs; enable affordable technology refresh and capability evolution; enable reuse; enable independent development and deployment of system elements; and accommodate a range of cybersecurity approaches. Work will be primarily performed in Nashua, New Hampshire; St. Louis, Missouri; Poway, California; Westford, Massachusetts; Clifton, New Hampshire; Fort Worth, Texas; and Melbourne, Florida, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Contracts awarded Dec. 14-18, 2018). Sonalysts Inc., Waterford, Connecticut, has been awarded an $11,328,749 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for standard Space Trainer sustainment and mission-specific vendor plug-in (MSVP). This modification provides for the continued sustainment for the Space Training Acquisition Office and future development of MSVPs. Work will be performed in Waterford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $678,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $9,741,897 modification (P00093) to previously awarded contract FA7014-11-C-0018 for the Very Important Person Special Air Mission contract. This contract provides for aircraft maintenance and base supply and fuels in support of aircraft assigned to the 11th Wing and 89th Wing at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, and brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to an estimated $466,547,627. Work will be performed at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,741,897 are being obligated at the time of award. The 11th Contracting Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1721774/source/GovDelivery/

  • Boeing's MQ-25 refueling drone moved to air base for flight testing

    May 1, 2019 | International, Aerospace

    Boeing's MQ-25 refueling drone moved to air base for flight testing

    By Allen Cone April 30 (UPI) -- Boeing's prototype MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling drone is so huge it needed help from government agencies in Missouri and Illinois to move 40 miles. With assistance from law enforcement in both states, a truck carried the aircraft -- which is the size of an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter -- from Boeing's technical plant at St. Louis's Lambert International Airport across the Mississippi River to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, a small regional airport next to Scott Air Force Base in rural Illinois. The semi traveled on side roads and at 5-10 mph for much of the trip Sunday night, KDSK-TV reported. Temporary road closures were in Edwardsville, Marine and Lebanon as the jet moved through. The plane arrived before 6 a.m. Monday, KMOV-TV reported. The regional airport is in less crowded airspace, which "gives us some flexibility in how we can fly," Dave Bujold, the Boeing program manager overseeing drone project, told The Drive. Boeing plans to test fly the MQ-25 Stingray, known as known as T-1 or "Tail 1," before the end of the year. But first it must pass ground taxiing tests and the Federal Aviation Administration must certify the aircraft and grant clear airspace for it to fly. Ground control stations are being installed at the airport. The Boeing test aircraft later will undergo testing on the East Coast. The Navy will also hoist it onto an aircraft carrier for deck handling testing. "By the time the Navy's assets are jumping in the air, we will already have had thousands of test hours on the ground and hundreds in the air," Bujold said. The first Navy aircraft is scheduled to fly in fiscal year 2021. Last August, Boeing was awarded a $805 million contract to build four aircraft for the U.S. Navy. The drones, which won't carry weapons, will be based on aircraft carriers to refuel other aircraft mid-flight, including the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Boeing EA-18G Growler and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters. "The MQ-25 program is vital because it will help the U.S. Navy extend the range of the carrier air wing, and Boeing and our industry team is all-in on delivering this capability," Bujold said. Curtiss-Wright's Defense Solutions, which has been a Boeing contractor for 60 years, announced last week it has been awarded a contract by Boeing to supply data technology systems for the program. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/04/30/Boeings-MQ-25-refueling-drone-moved-to-air-base-for-flight-testing/5091556634478/

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