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November 17, 2020 | International, Land

Hanwha, Kongsberg team up to bolster Australia’s K9 howitzers

SEOUL — Hanwha Defense Australia has announced a partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia to integrate command, control, communication and computing technology into the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle.

The announcement came two months after the Australian branch of Hanwha Defense, a defense company in South Korea, was selected as the preferred supplier for Australia's self-propelled howitzer acquisition project, code-named Land 8116 Phase 1

Under the project, the Australian Army is to acquire 30 155mm, 52-caliber K9 “Huntsman” howitzers and 15 K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles, both of which are built by Hanwha.

“The selection of KONGSBERG as a central part of our Land 8116 Phase 1 industry team will make a very important contribution to Hanwha's capacity to deliver effective capability for the [Australian Defence Force] while fulfilling our extensive Australian Industry Capability commitments,” Richard Cho, managing director of Hanwha's branch Down Under, said in a statement.

The partnership has already proven to be successful, he added, citing their recent involvement in Norway's Vidar program for K9 and K10 procurement, and pointing to their delivery of K9s to Finland and Estonia.

Under the partnership, Kongsberg is responsible for the integration of tactical communication systems and battle management systems.

“Together with Hanwha Defence Australia, KONGSBERG is committed to the establishment of a sovereign industry capability to support the Australian Protected Mobile Fires capability throughout its service life,” said Joh Fry, general manager of Kongsberg Defence Australia. “We'll continue to source as much C4 hardware as possible through Australian and New Zealand-based suppliers.”

Developed by South Korea's Agency for Defense Development and Samsung Techwin in 1998, the K9 Thunder is touted as one of the world's most advanced self-propelled howitzers. It's designed to provide effective and deep fire support across theaters. The howitzer is now manufactured by Hanwha Defense, a defense contractor of Hanwha Group that acquired Samsung Techwin in 2017.

The main weapon is the 155mm, 52-caliber gun with a burst rate of fire of three rounds per 15 seconds, and a maximum rate of fire of six rounds a minute for three minutes. It has a firing range of 40 kilometers and is capable of “multiple rounds simultaneous impact” firing.

On Nov. 13, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that the completion of deliveries of K9s to the South Korean military. The announcement came about two decades after the first K9 fleet was deployed on the western border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong

An upgraded variant, the K9A1, is in production with improvements in fire control and power systems. DAPA and Hanwha Defense plan to continue to improve the K9′s capabilities to add automatic loading and unmanned maneuvering functions.

The K9 has been exported to several countries, including Turkey, Poland, India, Norway and Estonia. About 1,700 units are in service around the world, according to Hanwha.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2020/11/13/hanwha-kongsberg-team-up-to-bolster-australias-k9-howitzers

On the same subject

  • The defense industry remains in dire straits. Congress must pass another relief package.

    August 19, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    The defense industry remains in dire straits. Congress must pass another relief package.

    By: Mackenzie Eaglen House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, recently wrote in an op-ed on Defense News that Congress “cannot panic and hand out blank checks to defense contractors.” They were concerned with a “lack of detail” in the Pentagon's stimulus funding request. Pentagon officials have responded with said requested detail. It's clear the defense, shipbuilding and aerospace industrial base — an “essential” workforce as designated by the Department of Homeland Security — is indeed in need of help. These critical firms need financial support to the tune of about $11 billion to support more than 100,000 direct jobs. Nor should the military have to take it out of hide, as suggested by some. According to the Defense Department, the data from industry is showing 30-40 percent inefficiency across the defense industrial base, but certain sectors like shipbuilding are experiencing 50-60 percent inefficiency. At shipyards, for example, blue-collar worker attendance ranges from just half to 70 percent. Other short-term sectors at risk include textile manufacturers, body armor suppliers and small business electronics suppliers, who feed guidance systems and wiring harnesses in Army vehicles and aircraft. A sampling of specific reasons for inefficiency include: Confirmed cases or quarantines Government facility closure/standdown test delays Telework Closures due to travel restrictions Logistic implications caused by travel restrictions requiring commercial freight Availability of parts and supplies High absentee rates Local and state lockdowns Foreign government lockdowns Supplier shutdowns Pentagon leaders are worried about the near term, but also permanent damage. Officials are “concerned with a potential loss of critical labor skills,” such as welders. Shipbuilders are in dire straits given the “significant touch labor” required to build a ship and “greater facility impact from social distancing.” The potential shutdown of one of the “big seven” private shipyards is a real risk right now. The Virginia-class attack submarine is currently experiencing delays in its production line, as Newport News Shipbuilding has “prioritized its available workforce on supporting maintenance for in-service submarines and aircraft carriers.” If electricians, engineers and solderers shift from the Virginia assembly line elsewhere, the work is slowed and “the opportunity for the cost to come down on each successive submarine hull is diminished.” Congress has repeatedly supported this program above recent budget requests and presumably cares greatly about this unanticipated cost overrun through no fault of nor negligence by the contractor. The Air Force is experiencing major program delays due to the impact on the aerospace industrial base — both primes and suppliers. Programs impacted include the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and KC-46 tanker due to facility shutdowns in the U.S., England, Italy and Japan. These two aircraft programs will likely miss major milestones — therefore delaying the time when they become available to the war fighter. Aircraft engine-maker GE Aviation is a “fragility concern” across the armed forces. For the Air Force, the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile are “being impacted by reduced workforce and facility availability.” The Small Diameter Bomb motor supplier is being pulled to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency with motors for hospital beds. Aerospace firms with commercial work are reporting problems given the massive decline in commercial demand, which affects defense. Contrary to the assertion that the Pentagon doesn't need more stimulus money to support contractors, the services are “concerned about large commercial companies, like Boeing and GE that are critical to our defense industrial base facing negative cash flow and other associated impacts from COVID-19.” Small businesses and subcontractors are particularly vulnerable as they have far less slack to respond to crises. Many live contract to contract, as indicated by a 2018 Pentagon report. According to the Defense Department, “small businesses ... have been the hit the hardest due to unfamiliarity that [the] defense industrial base is exempt from most local shelter-in-place orders.” The Pentagon's request for more stimulus money is not a case of pork for primes. This industry has “a notably high rate of subcontracted work flow and systems with high component volumes, driving job loss directly to program partners and the supply chain.” So while virtually all of the Pentagon's missiles are built by two primes, 98 percent of the subcontractors making parts for U.S. munitions are the only source for these items. If these unique businesses fail, there may not be any replacements. A study last year by George Mason University found “contractor workforce challenges have a direct impact on the government's ability to ramp up quickly.” Budget fluctuations are particularly hard on small companies that “do not have large enough portfolios to shift people between projects. The contractor workforce loses skills or move on.” These firms operate with “thin margins and low lines of credit.” The additional costs to respond to COVID-19 were not part of the original contracts the companies are currently performing, and warrant stimulus money. Hopefully, Chairman Smith and Sen. Durbin now agree. https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/08/18/the-defense-industry-remains-in-dire-straits-congress-must-pass-another-relief-package/

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 14, 2019

    August 15, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 14, 2019

    NAVY Advanced Technology International, Summerville, South Carolina, is awarded a $99,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Navy Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Center for Innovative Naval Shipbuilding and Advanced Manufacturing. Work will be performed in Summerville, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed August 2024. Two task orders will be awarded upon award of the contract obligating fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $450,000. No funds will expire at end of current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under N00014-18-R-0006, with two proposals received in response to the solicitation. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-19-D-7001). Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California, is awarded a maximum amount $49,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for commercial and institutional building construction alterations, renovations, and repair projects at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. Projects will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task order with minimal design effort (e.g., shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, alterations, repairs, and construction of administration buildings, maintenance/repair facilities, aircraft control towers, hangars, fire stations, office buildings, laboratories, dining facilities and related structures. Work will be performed in Oceanside, California. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of August 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with six proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2632). Sabre Systems Inc., Warrington, Pennsylvania, is awarded $42,999,468 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N68335-19-F-0533 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N68335-16-G-0022). This delivery order provides for the research and development of cyber resilient and full spectrum cyber warfare capabilities in support of the Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test Department, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Infrastructure Division. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in August 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solutions, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $31,133,702 for modification P00013 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N61340-17-C-0014). This modification provides for one E-2D Hawkeye Integrated Training System III Weapons Systems Trainer and one Aircrew Procedures Trainer, including technical data. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in April 2024. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $31,133,702 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. Diversified Maintenance Systems Inc.,* Sandy, Utah, is awarded a maximum amount $25,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for electrical systems construction alterations, renovations and repair projects at Naval Base Ventura County. Projects will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task order with minimal design effort (e.g., shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, alterations, repairs and construction of electrical systems projects. Work will be performed in Port Hueneme, California (50%); and Point Mugu, California (50%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of August 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with two proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2628). G-W Management Services LLC,* Rockville, Maryland, is awarded $12,742,282 for firm-fixed-price task order N40080-19-F-4870 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40080-19-D-0015) for construction of an Ammunition Supply Point Upgrade, located at the Marine Corps Base Quantico. The work to be performed provides for the construction of six new, standard design, high explosive concrete magazines, and the associated site work. The site work associated with this project includes an extension of an asphalt roadway to magazines and related site utility improvements to serve the new magazines. Additional site improvements include the demolition of three existing high explosive concrete magazines and incidental related work. Work will be performed in Quantico, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $12,742,282 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Six proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ARMY KBRwyle Technical Solutions LLC, Columbia, Maryland, was awarded a $45,452,730 modification (0002 55) to contract W52P1J-12-G-0061 for maintenance, supply, transportation and other logistics functions for the Army Prepositioned Stock-3. Work will be performed in Goose Creek, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 14, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $24,706,865 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Inland Dredging Co. LLC, Dyersburg, Tennessee, was awarded a $24,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the rental of 20-24 inch Cutterhead Pipeline Dredge and Attendant Plant for dredging in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 14, 2020. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-19-D-0039). Raytheon Lockheed Martin Javelin JV, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded an $11,100,544 modification (P00017) to contract W31P4Q-19-C-0038 for engineering services for the Spiral 3 Test and Evaluation Plan, Spiral 3 System Hardware Qualification, and Worldwide Ammunition Reporting System requirements to support the Javelin Missile System. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2021. Fiscal 2019 missile procurement, Army funds in the amount of $11,100,544 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Leading Technology Composites Inc., doing business as LTC Inc., Wichita, Kansas, has been awarded a maximum $26,382,656 modification (P00005) exercising the first one-year option period to a one-year contract (SPE1C1-18-D-1073) with three one-year option periods for enhanced side ballistic inserts. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Kansas, with an Aug. 15, 2020, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona, has been awarded a maximum $12,973,184 firm-fixed-price contract for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2 system. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 41 U.S. Code 1903, as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a one-time procurement contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Arizona, with a Feb. 9, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland (SPRBL1-19-P-0047). Alliance Technical Services Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $9,760,579 modification (P00005) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SP3300-18-C-5001) with four one-year option periods for third party logistics hazmat support services. This is a firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement contract. This was a competitive acquisition with three offers received. Locations of performance are Virginia and Texas, with an Aug. 26, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. United Technologies Corp., doing business as Pratt & Whitney Military Engines Division, East Hartford, Connecticut, has been awarded a maximum $7,114,128 firm-fixed-price contract for aircraft engine combustion chamber ducts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.301-1. This is a two-year, ten-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Connecticut, with an Oct. 31, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (SPRTA1-19-F-0406). AIR FORCE Alloy Surfaces Co. Inc., Chester Township, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $25,000,000, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for MJU-52 A/B aircraft decoy flares. This contract provides a highly specialized decoy with the capability to protect military aircraft from Man Portable Air Defense Systems and air-to-air missiles. Work will be performed at Chester Township, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by August 2025. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 ammunition procurement funds in the amount of $5,280,860 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-19-D-0011). Verdis-Takisaki JV, Coeur d-Alene, Idaho (FA4620-19-D-A007); National Native American Construction Inc., Coeur d-Alene, Idaho (FA4620-19-D-A010); Imperial Construction NW LLC, Wapato, Washington (FA4620-19-D-A012); and Sealaska Construction Solutions LLC, Seattle, Washington (FA4620-19-D-A013), have been awarded a combined, not-to-exceed $23,000,000 indefinite-quantity, multiple award, task order contract for design-build construction efforts. Work will be performed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, and is to be expected to be complete by July 31, 2024. These awards are the result of a competitive acquisition in which eight offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $500 are being obligated to each company at the time of award. The 92d Contracting Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Co., doing business as Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $15,555,158 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00150) to previously awarded contract FA8810-13-C-0002 for Space-Based Infrared System contractor logistics support for fiscal 2019 projects. This contract will provide an in-scope bilateral supplemental agreement executed in accordance with the terms of special clause requirement H00005. Work will be performed at Peterson Air Force Base, Buckley AFB, Greeley Air National Guard Station, and Boulder, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 3400 funds are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $1,500,933,962. The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Aug. 13, 2019) Phase Sensitive Innovations, Newark, Delaware, has been awarded a $10,553,397 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development. This contract will design, develop and demonstrate RF-photonic systems, sub-systems, components and devices for the Coherent Homodyne Integrated RF-Photonic System. Work will be performed at Newark, Delaware, and is to be completed by Nov. 15, 2023. This award is the result of a Small Business Innovation Research III request for proposal acquisition with one offer received. Fiscal 2018 research and development funds in the amount of $10,553,397 are being obligated at time of award for the effort. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-C-1027). DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp., Cambridge, Massachusetts, was awarded a $13,130,426 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research project. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Columbia, Maryland, with an expected completion date of August 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,653,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition under an open broad agency announcement and nine offers were received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR001119C0102). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1934626/source/GovDelivery/

  • Rohde and Schwarz to supply SOVERON®HR for the Portuguese Army

    October 14, 2022 | International, C4ISR

    Rohde and Schwarz to supply SOVERON®HR for the Portuguese Army

    Both companies will enhance their cooperation by supplying the SOVERON®HR handheld software defined radio as part of the Dismounted Soldier Communications System

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