Global Hawk drones: A look at Nato's new spy tool

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  October 2, 2018 | International, C4ISR

  Happy new (fiscal) year! Feds want more electronic warfare and cybersecurity tools

  By: Justin Lynch As the new federal fiscal year begins, cybersecurity analysts and industry leaders predict that electronic warfare and managed services will top the U.S. government's priority list to improve cybersecurity during the next fiscal cycle. Lockheed Martin, one of the five major cybersecurity contractors for the federal government, told Fifth Domain that they are focusing on signals intelligence and electronic warfare in the new year, which began Oct. 1. Cybersecurity and electronic warfare “can disrupt, deny, degrade, deceive and destroy adversaries' electronic systems,” Deon Viergutz, vice president of Lockheed Martin's cyber division told Fifth Domain in an email. “The ability to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum allows militaries to not only establish control, but also keep soldiers out of harm's way by providing offensive and defensive techniques from remote locations.” Russia's use of electronic warfare during its 2015 invasion of Ukraine exposed how the Department of Defense needs to boost its own digital combat tools, Brad Curran, an analyst at Front & Sullivan previously told Fifth Domain. The White House's new cybersecurity strategy states that the federal government will boost efforts to lawfully gather evidence of criminal activity and disrupt criminal networks through new legislation. It could translate into a greater need for tools that can manage large amounts of data, such as artificial intelligence. But along with the expected increase in electronic warfare, analysts and firms are predicting a rise in managed and cloud based services. Raytheon, another of the five major cybersecurity U.S. government contractors, said they expected the federal government to need more managed security operations. “Concepts like security operations center-as-a-service, and others are gaining momentum due to the desire for scalability. Federal agencies will continue to look to contracted service providers for expertise and support,” John DeSimone, a vice president for cybersecurity and special missions at Raytheon told Fifth Domain in an email. Curran said he expects the federal government to save money by using more cloud-based services, such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft's Azure. The Trump administration has seen an increased in shared services, said Suzanne Spaulding, a former undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security who now works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Which services they will ultimately centralize is hard to see,” Spaulding said. She added the decision-space is “is tricky because at the end of the day, cabinet secretaries also need to be accountable for their own cybersecurity.” Distributed cloud-based communications is a key priority of the Department of Homeland Security, according to the agency's 2017 industry guide. The department also said they were looking to invest in metrics for cybersecurity effectiveness and data capture of networked devices. https://www.fifthdomain.com/industry/2018/10/01/happy-new-fiscal-year-feds-want-more-electronic-warfare-and-cybersecurity-tools

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  February 13, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 12, 2019

  AIR FORCE Tecolote Research Inc., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $36,668,258 firm-fixed-price contract for Space and Missile Systems Center acquisition and financial support services. This contract provides the Remote Sensing Systems Directorate with a broad range of acquisition, strategic communication, and administrative capabilities to execute effective and responsive integrated program management of space-related research, development, production, sustainment, and lifecycle acquisition activities. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 17, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. Fiscal 2019 space procurement in the amount of $974,326; and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,137,759 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center Remote Sensing Systems Contracting Division, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8810-19-F-0002). Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $19,900,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission-Capability (ATTAM) Phase I. The mission of the ATTAM Phase I program is to develop, demonstrate and transition advanced turbine propulsion power and thermal technologies that provides improvement in affordable mission capability. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 12, 2027. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 54 offers were received. The first task order will be initially funded with fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds in the amount of $45,000; and fiscal 2019 RDT&E funds in the amount of $315,000 at the time award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-D-2059). AAR Manufacturing Inc., Cadillac, Michigan, has been awarded a $10,864,605 delivery order (FA8534-19-F-0023) to contract FA8519-14-D-0002 for the production of 463L cargo pallets. Work will be performed in Cadillac, Michigan, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2017 other procurement funds in the amount of $6,345,157; and fiscal 2019 other procurement funds in the amount of $4,519,448 are being obligated at time of award. Total face value of the delivery order is $10,864,605. This delivery order brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $181,551,615. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. 22nd Century Technologies Inc., Somerset, New Jersey, has been awarded a $8,344,625 firm-fixed-price contract to exercise Option III to support the 33rd Network Warfare Squadron (NWS) at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, in conducting its mission of Defense Cyber Operations (DCO). The contractor will provide plans and implantation in executing the 33rd NWS managed DCO mission. Work will be performed on Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed Feb. 28, 2020. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition and eight offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,344,625 will be obligated at the time of award. The 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8773-15-C-0067). ARMY Tiber Creek Consulting Inc.,* Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a $33,549,985 firm-fixed-price contract for mission essential core information system for operations and sustainment with periodic modernization life cycle phases. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 7, 2024. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K04-19-D-0007). Osborn Consulting / MGE Engineering / Natural System,* Bellevue, Washington, was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for miscellaneous water resource civil works engineering, design, and engineering. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 10, 2021. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington, is the contracting activity (W912DW-19-D-1011). Fortis Nova A Joint Venture LLC,* Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded a $9,050,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of two new truck fill stands. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 3, 2020. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $9,050,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, California, is the contracting activity (W912PL-19-C-0006). NAVY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is awarded a $27,291,319 fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for integration, testing, delivery, and performance as the lead systems integrator for the AN/AAQ-24 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System and the ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management System. These services are in support of Lot 9 and 10 P-8A production aircraft for the Navy and various Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, including the governments of Australia and the U.K. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and is expected to be completed in February 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy), and FMS funds in the amount of $11,751,506 are obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-19-D-0023). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., St. Augustine, Florida, is awarded $16,883,718 for modification P00012 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-14-D-0022). This contract modification extends the period of performance and provides depot maintenance for 44 Navy and Marine Corps Reserve F-5N/F aircraft. In addition to depot maintenance, this modification provides for aircraft inspections, repairs, overhauls, emergency repairs, modifications, engineering support and procurement of structural components required for the operation and sustainment of the F-5N/F aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Augustine, Florida (96 percent); Springville, Utah (3 percent); and Emmen, Switzerland (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2019. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Moran Towing Corp., New Canaan, Connecticut, is awarded a $14,350,538 firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements to support PM4 service support program for the time charter services of eight tugboats. The tugboats will be capable of ship handling, docking and undocking in the Norfolk, Virginia, harbor and surrounding waters. The contract includes a 12-month base period, three 12-month option periods, and one 11-month option which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $74,005,396. Work will be in Norfolk, Virginia, and surrounding waters, and is expected to be completed by February 2020. If all options are exercised, work will continue through Jan. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,371,147 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The United States Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220519C3503). Cardno-Amec Foster Wheeler Joint Venture, Charlottesville, Virginia, is awarded $8,440,405 for firm-fixed-price task order N6247319F4047 under an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for building condition assessments at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton, California; Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton, California; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California; MCAS Miramar, California; Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California; Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California; MCAS Yuma, Arizona, and MCB Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan. Work will be performed in Oceanside, California (47 percent); Twentynine Palms, California (16 percent); Miramar, California (13 percent); Barstow, California (8 percent); San Diego, California (7 percent); Yuma, Arizona (7 percent); and Okinawa, Japan (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by February 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $8,440,405 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-16-D-1866). U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Raytheon Company Space and Airborne Systems, McKinney, Texas, was awarded a $15,000,000 modification (P00002) to an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (H92222-18-D-0003) with cost-plus-fixed-fee contract line items. This action increases the ceiling from $30,000,000 to $45,000,000 for Silent Knight Radar Operational Flight Program (OFP) development, field service representative support and engineering services in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) fixed wing aircraft. This action completes OFP software delivery for the CV-22. Development work will continue to take place at the Raytheon facility in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be complete by December 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,450,390 are being obligated at the time of award. USSOCOM Headquarters, Tampa, Florida, is the contacting activity. DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY Artel, LLC, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract modification (P00019) to exercise Option Period Four on task order GS-35F-5151H / HC101315F0009 for commercial satellite communications service. The face value of this action is $12,560,172 funded by fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds. The total cumulative face value of the task order is $71,314,976. Performance directly supports the U.S. Central Command Southwest Asia area of responsibility and Europe Communications Network Architecture and Contingency Support. Quotations were solicited via the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Schedule, Information Technology Schedule 70, and two quotations were received from 22 offers solicited. The period of performance for Option Period Four is Feb. 16, 2019, through Feb. 15, 2020, and there are no remaining option periods for this task order. The Defense Information Technology Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1755709/

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  September 12, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  L'Italie embarque à bord du Tempest

  Helen Chachaty A trois, on y va. L'Italie a officiellement rejoint le programme d'aviation de combat du futur, mené par le Royaume-Uni. Un secret de polichinelle qui a pris la forme de la signature de deux accords distincts, le premier impliquant les autorités politiques, le second établissant les bases pour la coopération industrielle à venir entre les deux pays. Les documents ratifiés cette semaine prévoient aussi bien un partenariat renforcé sur les plateformes actuelles, Eurofighter et F-35, qu'un développement conjoint du prochain aéronef de combat, au sein du programme Tempest. La déclaration d'intention signée entre le chef du Defence Equipment & Support (l'équivalent britannique de la DGA), Sir Simon Bollom, et le Lieutenant général Nicolò Falsaperna, vice-secrétaire général à la Défense italien, couvre cinq aspects de coopération : un rapprochement des deux gouvernements sur les capacités futures de l'Eurofighter ; la définition conjointe des besoins militaires concernant le Tempest, le développement d'une feuille de route pour l'aviation de combat, avec le transfert de technologies de l'Eurofighter au Tempest ; la mise en place d'un cadre de coopération industrielle ; le lancement d'études pour de nouvelles voies de « travail collaboratif ». Cette annonce politique a été suivie le lendemain par la signature d'un accord de coopération entre les principaux industriels britanniques et italiens, à l'occasion du salon DSEI, qui se tient jusqu'au 13 septembre à Londres. Il s'agira de « travailler ensemble pour définir un concept innovant et un modèle de partenariat qui inclura le partage de connaissances, la conception et le développement de technologies en vue d'un développement conjoint des systèmes de combat aérien futurs », selon le communiqué officiel. Côté britannique, on retrouve BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, Rolls Royce et MBDA UK, tandis que la partie italienne va impliquer Leonardo - évidemment - Elettronica, Avio Aero et la MBDA Italy. L'Italie devient ainsi le troisième acteur impliqué dans le programme de développement du système de combat aérien du futur lancé et dirigé par le Royaume-Uni, le deuxième au sein du programme Tempest. La Suède s'est pour sa part contentée de signer un accord de coopération pour l'aviation de combat de nouvelle génération lors du salon aéronautique de Farnborough, sans toutefois rejoindre le programme Tempest en lui-même. Selon Jane's, la décision formelle est attendue pour la fin de l'année 2020. Le paysage européen de l'aviation de combat du futur se répartit à présent comme suit : France, Allemagne et Espagne coopèrent sur le SCAF, tandis que le Royaume-Uni, l'Italie - et peut-être la Suède - s'engagent sur le Tempest, chacun avec ses industriels dédiés. Certains, tels que MBDA ou encore Safran (qui figurent tous deux dans la liste « team Tempest »), tirent cependant leur épingle du jeu, en étant impliqués dans les deux programmes. https://www.journal-aviation.com/actualites/43040-l-italie-embarque-a-bord-du-tempest