French vehicle maker Arquus sets its sights on new European battle tank

On the same subject

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  June 18, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Israel’s Rafael integrates artificial intelligence into Spice bombs

  By: Seth J. Frantzman and Kelsey D. Atherton Rafael Advanced Defense System's Spice bombs now have a new technological breakthrough as the Israeli company enables its Spice 250 with artificial intelligence alongside automatic target recognition to be used with scene-matching technology. The Spice 250, which can be deployed on quad racks under the wings of warplanes like the F-16, has a 75-kilogram warhead and a maximum range of 100 kilometers with its deployable wings. Its electro-optic scene-matching technology — which involves uploading terrain data onto the bomb and combining it with real-time electro-optic imagery — allows the weapon to work in GPS-denied environments. And the bomb can use this autonomous capability to navigate and correct its location, according to Gideon Weiss, Rafael's deputy general manager of marketing and business development at the company's air and C4I division. With its AI and “deep learning” technologies, the weapon has the ability to identity moving ground targets and distinguish them from other objects and terrain. This is based on 3D models uploaded to the bomb as well as algorithms. As the weapon identifies and homes in on its target, such as a convoy of vehicles, it separates the convoy of interest from other vehicles it has “learned” to ignore. “The deep-learning algorithm is indifferent to the actual data fed to it for modeling targets of interest and embedding their pertaining characteristics into the system," Weiss said. "However, the more the data used for modeling is representative of the target of interest, the more robust the recognition probability will be in real life.” Rafael has completed the development and testing phase of the Spice 250, including flight tests, which have “proven the robustness of the ATA and ATR, so it is mature for delivery,” Weiss said, using acronyms for automatic target acquisition and recognition. Asked if the ATR algorithm will select a secondary target if the computer cannot find the initial human-selected target, Weiss said: “This goes into the area of user-defined policies and rules of engagement, and it is up to the users to decide on how to apply the weapon, when and where to use it, and how to define target recognition probabilities and its eventuality.” Automatically selecting a secondary target may eventually become part of the upgrade profile for the munition, if customers express significant interest in the feature. With a two-way data link and a video-streaming capability, the bomb can be aborted or told to re-target up until a “few second before the weapon hits its target,” Weiss explained. That two-way data-link, enabled by the weapon's mounting on a Smart Quad Rack, or SQR, will enable future deep learning to be based on data extracted from earlier launches. Data recorded will include either live-streaming video or a burst of still images of the entire homing phase up until impact. “These are automatically and simultaneously recorded on the SQR — enabling two functions: (a) real-time and post-mission BDI (Bomb Damage Indication); (b) post-mission target data extraction for intel updates, etc.," Weiss said. "The ATR capability, including its deep learning updates, must be more agile than the enemy's ability to conceal and/or change its battlefield footprint, tactics, appearance or anything else which might impede the ATR from accurately recognizing and destroying targets.” The Spice family of weapons is operational with the Israeli Air Force and international customers. https://www.defensenews.com/artificial-intelligence/2019/06/17/israels-rafael-integrates-artificial-intelligence-into-spice-bombs/

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  August 22, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 21, 2019

  AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $999,000,000 (ceiling) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for A-10 wing replacements. This contract provides for up to 112 new A-10 wing assemblies and up to 15 wing kits. Work will be performed at multiple subcontractor locations in the U.S. and one subcontractor location in South Korea and is expected to be complete by Aug. 23, 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $239,578,025 and are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8202-19-D-0004). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, is being awarded a $20,000,000 (estimated) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for engineering services. This contract provides for engineering services on all of Northrop designed platforms managed by the 424th Supply Chain Management Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base. The location of performance is Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and the ordering period will end August 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. No funds will be obligated at time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8119-19-D-0002). NAVY Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $190,523,870 fixed-price-incentive firm and firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-19-C-5418 for materials and spares in support of fiscal 2019 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 low-rate initial production requirements. This contract will procure the remaining materials in support of the ESSM fiscal 2019 low-rate initial production Lots One through Three all-up rounds and spares requirements. The ESSM program is an international cooperative effort to design, develop, test and procure ESSM missiles. The ESSM provides enhanced ship defense. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (50%); Richmond, Australia (6%); Raufoss, Norway (6%); Andover, Massachusetts (5%); Mississauga, Canada (4%); Ottobrunn, Germany (3%); Hengelo Ov, Netherlands (3%); Grand Rapids, Michigan (3%); San Jose, California (2%); Ottawa, Canada (2%); Aranjuez, Spain (2%); San Diego, California (2%); Koropi Attica, Greece (2%); Hopewell Junction, New York (1%); Ankara, Turkey (1%); Westlake Village, California (1%); Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane, Australia (1%); Grenaa, Denmark (1%); Torrance, California (1%); Canton, New York (1%); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1%); and other locations below one percent (2%), and is expected to be completed by March 2023. Non-expiring other funds; fiscal 2019 and 2018 weapons procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2018 and 2017 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $200,620,992 will be obligated at time of award, and funding in the amount of $105,890 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., Williston, Vermont, is awarded a $20,780,430 modification P00005 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1023). This modification provides for procurement of 66 M61A2 20 MM Gun Systems in support of F/A-18E/F aircraft production for the Navy (34); and the government of Kuwait (32). Work will be performed in Saco, Maine (41%); Westfield, Massachusetts (7%); Lyndonville, Vermont (6%); Miami, Florida (6%); Charlotte, North Carolina (6%); Chicago, Illinois (5%); Jacksonville, Florida (4%); St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin (3%); Saint Laurent, Canada (2%); Port Hueneme, California (2%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (18%), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $20,780,430 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 ($10,703,798; 52%); and the government of Kuwait ($10,076,632; 48%) under the FMS program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Charlottesville, Virginia, is awarded $15,750,807 for firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N00024-19-F-5201 on previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00024-15-D-5208 to exercise a one-year option for the production Ring Laser Gyro Navigation (RLGN) System, provisioned items and associated technical program support of the Navy's WSN-7 navigation system. The AN/WSN-7(V) RLGN system is a self-contained inertial navigator designed for Navy surface ships. Work will be performed in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by July 2021. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2019 and 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $15,750,807 will be obligated at time of award, and $3,885,984 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. HII Mission Driven Innovative Solutions Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, is awarded a $15,604,482 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to exercise Option Period Two under previously awarded contract M95494-17-F-0021. The work to be performed provides Headquarters Marine Corps, Plans, Policies and Operations; and Marine Corps Installations Command with technical and engineering support for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive Consequence Management Program. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, and is expected to be completed August 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $2,786,006 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Installations Command Headquarters Contracting Office, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Sonalysts Inc., Waterford, Connecticut, is awarded a $9,440,639 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to the German navy for the maintenance of the Dangerous Waters Naval Simulator to meet its simulation and training requirements, including proper levels of integration and interoperability. This contract includes purchases to Federal Republic of Germany under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Wilhelmshaven, Germany (50%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (25%); and San Diego, California (25%); and is expected to be complete by August 2023. Foreign Military Sales Federal Republic of Germany funding in the amount of $1,173,145 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-19-D-4500). ARMY The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $145,892,870 modification (P00037) to Foreign Military Sales (Netherlands) contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for the remanufacture of 11 aircraft and new build Longbow Crew Trainer and spares. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of March 29, 2024. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $145,892,870 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $101,102,078 modification (P00037) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0014 for contractor logistics support services. Work will be performed in Herndon, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $34,036,607 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. 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 locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 20, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912P9-19-D-0012). MW Builder's Inc., Pflugerville, Texas, was awarded a $28,777,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design build construction and renovation to barracks. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work will be performed in Fort Riley, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $28,777,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-C-4015). Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, was awarded a $23,995,308 modification (P00005) to contract W31P4Q-19-C-0021 for acquisition of a production contract for signal data processor kits for Sentinel A3 radars. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $23,995,308 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. 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 Aug. 20, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912P9-19-D-0013). Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, was awarded a $14,052,864 modification (P00025) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0070 for engineering services labor, travel, and material. Work will be performed in Marlborough, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 24, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Land and Armaments, San Jose, California, was awarded a $13,688,402 modification (P00108) to contract W56HZV15-C-0099 for active protection system integration and urgent material release in support of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Work will be performed in San Jose, California, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $13,688,402 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Ameresco Inc., Washington, District of Columbia, was awarded a $7,140,290 firm-fixed-price contract for the installation of a natural gas driven reciprocating engine combined heat and power system, associated pumps, controls, interconnect fees and civil mechanical electrical upgrades. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2020. Fiscal 2017 military construction funds in the amount of $7,140,290 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-C-4014). CORRECTION: A $32,753,836 contract announced on Aug. 20, 2019, to DynCorp International LLC, McLean, Virginia (W560MY-19-C-0002), to train, advise and assist, was not awarded on that date. It will be awarded today, Aug. 21, 2019, with an adjusted estimated completion date of Aug. 18, 2020. All other information in the announcement is correct. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1940606/source/GovDelivery/

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  July 23, 2024 | International, Land

  Pentagon creates regional partnerships to sustain gear far from home

  The Pentagon has signed off on a regional sustainment framework to maintain equipment forward in theaters around the world, starting with the Indo-Pacific.