Gilday: The budget request supports future fleet vision, even if it’s a smaller fleet

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  November 13, 2019 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR

  BAE to bring advanced radar jamming tech to US Army aircraft

  By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — BAE Systems plans to demonstrate an interim advanced radar jamming technology next summer for helicopters and unmanned aircraft systems that is lighter and smaller than systems available now. The company issued a statement Nov. 12 announcing the U.S. Army awarded it a research and development contract to bring the technology to bear. The system “aims to improve air survivability and mission effectiveness” for aircraft “by detecting and defeating complex and unknown threats in electronic combat," the statement read. BAE will demonstrate the technology in July 2020. The technology is under development within BAE Systems' FAST Labs and combines adaptive radio frequency jamming and sensing capabilities into one system, a company statement noted. “Whereas today's electronic countermeasure systems are too bulky and heavy for most rotary-wing and UAS platforms, BAE Systems technology will combine multiple, software-programmable antennas into a digital phased array that will enable simultaneous functions, exceeding existing capabilities while reducing the size, weight, and power of current systems,” according to the British company's statement. As the Army looks to modernize its capabilities to fight across multiple domains in highly contested environments, the technology, the company said, will enable the aircraft to fly closer to threats and remain protected. Lighter and smaller systems are also crucial, as existing aircraft continues to be weighed down by additional capabilities for fighting near-peer threats. “With the continuously evolving threat landscape, it's critical to provide the next-generation of digital phased array technology to better defend our armed forces in electronic warfare,” Chris Rappa, product line director for radio frequency, electronic warfare and advanced electronics at FAST Labs, said in the statement. “Our technology will give the Army's rotary-wing aircraft and UAS a new, low SWaP [size, weight and power] system to securely and drastically increase their range of movements in future missions,” he added. BAE is planning flight tests within the next few years, FAST Labs Program Manager Ben McMahon told Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/11/12/bae-is-bringing-advanced-radar-jamming-tech-to-us-army-aircraft/

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  March 6, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 05, 2020

  AIR FORCE Elbit Systems of America Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $471,634,000 ceiling firm-fixed-price contract for F-16 sustainment. This contract provides for a pylon-based infrared missile warning system for the F-16 platform. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be complete by February 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account funds in the amount of $17,050,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8232-20-D-0003). (Awarded Feb. 28, 2020) Abacus Technology Corp., Chevy Chase, Maryland, has been awarded a $21,873,527 firm-fixed-price contract for support services. This contract provides for information technology sustainment support services at several locations. Work will be performed at Al Udeid Air Base (AB), Qatar; Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates; and Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Work is expected to be complete by March 2025. This contract is the result of a set-aside for small business and five offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,767,312 are being obligated at the time of award. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-19-R-A018). Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $16,249,208 firm-fixed-price contract for the C-130J center wing box replacement program. This contract provides for 14 enhanced center wing boxes and 14 component kits. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia, and is expected to be complete by March 30, 2027. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $16,249,208 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8504-20-C-0002). AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, has been awarded a $15,558,008 firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to a previously awarded contract FA4890-19-C-0002 for the exercise of Option Period Two. This modification provides for force-protection efforts at airfields located within the Air Force Central Command's area of responsibility, including a non-developmental contractor-owned and contractor-operated unmanned aerial system, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance solution to perform operational, engineering, and sustainment efforts necessary to effectively execute pre-deployment, deployment operations, post-deployment, and engineering support activities. Work will be performed at Bagram and Kandahar Airfields, Afghanistan, and is expected to be complete by March 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $114,064,396. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity. NAVY Sabel Systems Technology Solutions LLC,* Gainesville, Virginia (M95494-20-D-1001); Targeted Approach LLC,* Alexandria, Virginia (M95494-20-D-1002); CANA LLC,* doing business as CANA Advisors, Gainesville, Virginia (M95494-20-D-1003); Knowledge Management Inc.,* Tyngsboro, Massachusetts (M95494-20-D-1004); and Arrow Alliance Industries LLC,* Spotsylvania, Virginia (M95494-20-D-1005), are awarded $94,184,597 a hybrid firm-fixed-price and cost only indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract (IDIQ-MAC) to provide professional support services to the Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics, Logistics Plans, Policies and Strategic Mobility Division. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia. The IDIQ-MACs have a five year ordering period with a shared maximum value of $94,184,597. These businesses will have the opportunity to compete for individual task orders. Work is expected to be completed March 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $5,000 ($25,000 total) is being obligated under each contract's initial task order to fund the minimum guarantee and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively solicited via Federal Business Opportunities and 18 proposals were received. The Marine Corps Installations Command, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. I.E. Pacific Inc.,* Escondido, California, is awarded $19,886,020 for a firm-fixed-price task order (N62473-20-F-4330) under a multiple award construction contract for the repair and upgrade of Bachelor's Enlisted Quarters Buildings 5698 and 5697 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. The work to be performed includes the installation of new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and provides a new transformer for electrical requirements, the replacement of switchgear and a cast-in-place concrete pad as well as hazardous materials abatement and remediation. The task order also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $19,892,020. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by May 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $19,886,020 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-17-D-4628). Engility Corp., a SAIC company, Andover, Maine, is awarded an $8,484,786 modification (P00009) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable delivery order (N68936-19-F-0297) against a General Services Administration One Acquisition Solution for integrated services multiple award contract. Work will be performed in Point Mugu, California (90.6%); China Lake, California (1.9%); Fallon, Nevada (1.6%); Whidbey Island, Washington (0.94%); Washington, District of Columbia (0.94%); Laurel, Maryland (0.63%); Irvine, California (0.31%); Las Vegas, Nevada (0.31%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (1.3%). This modification exercises the option for systems engineering analysis, test and evaluation engineering, interoperability testing and analysis, threat analysis, and tactics development for the AN/ALQ-99 Next Generation jammer pod, USQ-113 communications system jammer, ALQ-218 receiver, ALQ-227 communication countermeasures set, and Intrepid Tiger Pod for the EA-6B and EA-18G aircraft. Work is expected to be completed by March 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $400,000; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $150,000 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu, California, is the contracting activity. Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp., Arlington, Virginia, is awarded a $7,460,890 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop concepts for a heterogeneous underwater network. Work will be performed at contractor facilities in California (5%); Massachusetts (75%); Rhode Island (5%); Virginia (10%); and government test facilities (5%). The work to be performed includes dynamically reconfigurable architecture that leverages advancement in undersea communications and autonomous ocean systems and demonstrate utility at sea with advanced prototypes. The period of performance of the base award is from March 5, 2020, through May 4, 2021. This 15-month contract includes two options which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to an estimated $37,399,156. The period of performance of the base award is from March 5, 2020, through May 4, 2021. If both options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Feb. 4, 2024. Funds in the amount of $499,663 will be obligated at the time of award. The type of funding to be obligated will be research, development, test and evaluation (Department of Defense). This contract was competitively procured via a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency broad agency announcement solicitation published on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Seven proposals were received and three were selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-20-C-4006). ARMY Adirondack Construction,* Glens Falls, New York (W911PT-20-D-0002); Benaka Inc.,* New Brunswick, New Jersey (W911PT-20-D-0003); Black Horse Group LLC,* Watertown, New York (W911PT-20-D-0004); Burgos Group LLC,* Medford, New Jersey (W911PT-20-D-0005); Call Associates Inc.,* Buffalo, New York (W911PT-20-D-0006); Enfield Enterprises Inc.,* Springfield, Massachusetts (W911PT-20-D-0007); Intercontinental Construction Contracting Inc.,* Passaic, New Jersey (W911PT-20-D-0008); Oddo Construction Services LLC,* East Amherst, New York (W911PT-20-D-0009); Relyant Global LLC,* Maryville, Tennessee (W911PT-20-D-0010); SAF Inc.,* Akron, Ohio (W911PT-20-D-0011); Tantara Associates Corp.,* Worcester, Massachusetts (W911PT-20-D-0012); Vedant Construction Inc.,* Dracut, Massachusetts (W911PT-20-D-0013); Iron Sword Enterprises LLC,* Wallkill, New York (W911PT-20-D-0014); Jjbrun JV LLC,* San Antonio, Texas (W911PT-20-D-0015); Mid-State Industries Ltd.,* Schenectady, New York (W911PT-20-D-0016); and Raad Construction Group LLC,* Red Bank, New Jersey (W911PT-20-D-0017), will compete for each order of the $55,173,306 firm-fixed-price contract for minor construction at Watervliet Arsenal, New York. Bids were solicited via the internet with 18 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 2, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Goodwill Industries of South Florida Inc., Miami, Florida, was awarded an $11,099,962 firm-fixed-price contract for Advanced Combat Pants. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Miami, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $11,099,962 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QY-20-C-0024). Tribalco LLC,* Bethesda, Maryland, was awarded an $8,863,183 modification (P00012) to contract W912DY-16-D-0021 to provide support and services to manage the complete life cycle of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers radio communications mission. 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 March 12, 2021. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, has been awarded a $25,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00357) under contract HQ0276-10-C-0001. This modification increases the total cumulative contract value by $25,900,000 from $3,184,013,135 to $3,209,913,135. Under this modification, the contractor will perform engineering, design support services necessary for continuation of planning efforts and risk reduction efforts required to maintain the initial operational capability schedule to support the Aegis Ashore Japan Foreign Military Sales Main Case. The work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, with an expected completion date of July 31, 2020. Funds from the government of Japan in the amount of $25,900,000 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract modification is the result of a sole-source acquisition. The Missile Defense Agency, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2103659/source/GovDelivery/

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  December 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Head of European Defence Agency: EU strategic autonomy is an opportunity, not a threat

  By: Jorge Domecq The European Union's strategic autonomy in defense is on everybody's lips since it was put forward as a long-term goal in the EU's 2016 Global Strategy. Yet, it remains unclear what it means in practice and how it would impact NATO and our trans-Atlantic relationship. This has led to a mostly academic debate about the concept's end goal, fueled by doubts and fears stoked from both sides of the pond. However, the risk of too much abstract talk is that we get distracted from the concrete action needed to bring us closer to, what in my view, is a laudable objective. It is time we approach strategic autonomy more positively and look at it as a constructive project — not something directed against NATO, the United States or anybody else. It's about putting EU member states in a position where they can autonomously develop, operate, modify and maintain the full spectrum of defense capabilities they need. It's about giving the EU the option and tools — political, operational, technological, industrial — to take military action whenever needed, either together with partners (notably NATO) wherever possible, or separately if necessary. Instead of undermining trans-Atlantic trust and security, as some fear, a more robust and autonomous European defense will ultimately lead to a stronger NATO. It is in the interest of our trans-Atlantic partners to have a more capable and efficient EU in defense. The U.S. wants Europe to take on its fair share of burden in defense? A stronger and more credible European pillar in NATO will contribute to that. The EU's ambition, as stated in the 2016 Global Strategy, is to reach “an appropriate level of strategic autonomy” in order to “ensure Europe's ability to safeguard security within and beyond its borders.” However, it takes more than ambition and political will to get there. Strategic autonomy presupposes at least two things. First, that our member states' armed forces have at their disposal the full spectrum of military assets that, taken together, could enable the EU to take military action, and on its own if necessary. Second, that the functionality and usability of these assets is not restricted by any technological or political caveats controlled by non-European actors. Today, admittedly, this is not the case yet. Hence the need to invest more, and better, in defense. The good news is that we are moving in the right direction, both in terms of “more” and “better.” But more spending does not automatically guarantee more efficiency or interoperability. To achieve that, we must invest better through cooperation: from joint priority setting to the development, procurement and deployment of cutting-edge defense capabilities. Prioritization is the foundation stone on which all subsequent steps must build. It is already in place: the Capability Development Plan, developed through the European Defence Agency and revised in 2018, lists member states' joint priorities for the years to come. One of them targets cross-domain capabilities that can contribute to strategic autonomy. Using the priorities as a compass will ensure efforts and funding are spent on assets that are really needed and contribute to making the EU more efficient in military terms. The Coordinated Annual Review on Defence, another new tool to boost joint capability planning and development, will help keep the focus on agreed priorities. To achieve strategic autonomy, the EU must also be able to master cutting-edge technologies and their integration into defense products. That's why it is so crucial that it acquires, maintains and develops the technological knowledge and industrial manufacturing skills required to produce the defense equipment it needs. Those key strategic activities have to be preserved and strengthened if we want to turn the goal of strategic autonomy into reality. EDA, which is the EU hub for defense innovation and collaborative capability development, has for years been involved in this critical work. The agency identifies critical, overarching strategic research areas and other key strategic activities underpinning the EU's strategic autonomy. The aim is to identify, and then support, must-have technologies and industrial capacities, without which strategic autonomy isn't possible. Artificial intelligence, micro- and nanotechnologies, or unmanned and autonomous systems are only a few examples of such critical disruptive technologies that are reshaping defense. It's through concrete action — not political and academic rhetoric — that we can make progress toward strategic autonomy. At the same time, we must ensure coherence and avoid any unnecessary duplication with NATO, which will continue to be the cornerstone of collective defense for its members. EU strategic autonomy isn't necessarily just around the corner, but it is attainable. The closer we get to it and the more additional defense cooperation it triggers, the better. https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/2019/12/02/head-of-european-defence-agency-eu-strategic-autonomy-is-an-opportunity-not-a-threat