Here’s a look at the military firepower the US is providing to Israel

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  September 20, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Security

  Drones are now a permanent part of the LAPD’s arsenal

  By CINDY CHANG Drones became a permanent part of the Los Angeles Police Department's crime-fighting arsenal Tuesday, despite opposition from privacy advocates who fear the remote-controlled aircraft will be used to spy on people. In a yearlong trial, the LAPD's SWAT team deployed drones four times, mostly when suspects were barricaded and the device provided a bird's eye view of the property's nooks and crannies. On Tuesday, the five-member civilian Police Commission unanimously approved new regulations that enshrine the drones' use in specific situations, including active shooters, barricaded suspects and search warrants. The drones will not be equipped with weapons or facial recognition software, according to the regulations, which are similar to those governing the trial program. In July, at Chief Michel Moore's recommendation, the use of drones was expanded beyond SWAT to include the bomb squad in neutralizing explosives and sweeping large public events for radioactive devices. Drones “provide invaluable information to decision makers while decreasing the risk to human life,” Moore wrote in a July 3 report, noting that everyone is safer when the devices check out a dangerous situation instead of officers going in blind. The LAPD joins about 600 other law enforcement agencies around the country that use drones, according to a 2018 report by Bard College's Center For the Study of the Drone. The new regulations will ensure that the drones are not “being used in a flippant manner,” Asst. Chief Horace Frank, who runs the department's counter-terrorism and special operations bureau, told the Police Commission on Tuesday. The LAPD's drone regulations are more restrictive than those of many other agencies, Frank said. Each drone deployment must be approved by a commander and a deputy chief, and the Police Commission will receive an annual report. Asked by Commissioner Eileen Decker whether drones can help de-escalate volatile situations, Frank cited a June 15 incident when a drone flew near a man who had barricaded himself in a trucking yard. “The minute we deployed the device at the entrance to the trailer and he saw it, he gave up,” Frank said. Activists said the LAPD and Police Commission have disregarded citizens who expressed reservations about the drones in community meetings and online surveys. One activist, Michael Novick, predicted that the LAPD would expand drone usage and infringe on civil liberties. “We're witnessing the exact definition of mission creep,” Novick said. “Now you're upgrading. You approved a temporary pilot project. You're going to normalize it with this step. ... The next step will be they'll come back and say, ‘We actually need the ability to have facial recognition.'” The LAPD's drone fleet will remain at four strong, Frank said. But the DJI Spark devices used in the pilot program will be replaced by DJI Mavics, which have better indoor flying capabilities, extended flight time and lights for navigating in the dark. The models are similar to those used by hobbyists. The Police Commission accepted a $6,645 donation from the Los Angeles Police Foundation to purchase the Mavics, as well as a donation of drone flight tracking software from Measure Aerial Intelligence. As the commission approved the drone regulations and donations, the audience broke into chants of “Shame! Shame!” Moore said he is mindful of “concerns of Big Brother and invasion of privacy and civil liberties.” “We're committed to striking the right balance that ... protects all of our community — their rights of privacy but also their public safety and their right to exist without threats of dangers that this tool can be used in some instances to mitigate,” he told reporters after the meeting. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-10/drones-are-now-a-permanent-part-of-the-lapds-arsenal

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  November 5, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 04, 2020

  AIR FORCE Altamira Technologies Corp., McLean, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0076); Amergint Technologies Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado (FA8612-21-D-0077); Carahsoft Technology Corp., Reston, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0078); Geosite Inc., Stanford, California (FA8612-21-D-0079); Lyteworx Automation Systems LLC, Alexandria, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0080); MarkLogic Corp., San Carlos, California (FA8612-21-D-0081); Rebellion Defense Inc., Washington, D.C. (FA8612-21-D-0082); Rhombus Power Inc., Moffett Field, California (FA8612-21-D-0083); Soar Technology Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan (FA8612-21-D-0084); Vidrovr Inc., New York, New York (FA8612-21-D-0085); Advanced Simulation Research Inc., Orlando, Florida (FA8612-21-D-0086); Borsight Inc., Ogden, Utah (FA8612-21-D-0087); Datanchor Inc., Columbus, Ohio (FA8612-21-D-0088); Digital Mobilizations Inc., Warrenton, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0089); EFW Inc., Fort Worth, Texas (FA8612-21-D-0090); F9 Teams Inc., Snohomish, Washington (FA8612-21-D-0091); Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Reston, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0092); ); Infinity Labs LLC, Xenia, Ohio (FA8612-21-D-0093); Radiant Mission Solutions Inc., Chantilly, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0095); Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Washington (FA8612-21-D-0096); Ortman Consulting LLC, Alexandria, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0097); Peraton Inc., Herndon, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0098); R2 Space Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan (FA8612-21-D-0099); and Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada (FA8612-21-D-0100), have collectively been awarded $950,000,000 ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to compete for future efforts associated with the maturation, demonstration and proliferation of capability across platforms and domains, leveraging open systems design, modern software and algorithm development in order to enable Joint All Domain Command and Control. These contracts provide for the development and operation of systems as a unified force across all domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber and electromagnetic spectrum) in an open architecture family of systems that enables capabilities via multiple integrated platforms. The locations of performance are to be determined at the contract direct order level and are expected to be complete by May 28, 2025. These awards are the result of fair and open competition. Initial deliver orders will be funded with fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds. The Air Force Life Cycle Management, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. STS Systems Support LLC, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $21,040,702 firm-fixed-price contract for 67th Cyberspace Wing operations support services. Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) - Lackland, Texas, and is expected to be completed Nov. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,897,325 are being obligated at the time of award. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, JBSA-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA7037-21-F-0003). Raytheon Co., Dulles, Virginia, has been awarded a $20,887,884 firm-fixed-price modification (P00007) to contract FA7022-17-D-0001 for mobile sensors operations and maintenance. This contract modification is for continued non‐personal services for operations and maintenance for mobile sensors. Work will be performed at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, and on board two vessels operating in Indo-Pacific Command and Central Command area of responsibility and is expected to be completed Oct. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds will be obligated on individual task orders. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $165,000,000. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Patrick AFB, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Oct. 30, 2020) NAVY Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. LLC, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $441,583,013 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides contractor-owned and operated Type III high subsonic and Type IV supersonic aircraft to Navy fleet customers for a wide variety of airborne threat simulation capabilities in support of the Specialized and Proven Aircraft program, Contracted Air Services. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia (44%); Point Mugu, California (37%); Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (14%); and Atsugi, Japan (5%), and is expected to be completed in November 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-21-D-0008). General Dynamics Mission Systems, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was awarded a $42,568,219 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-only modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-20-C-5603 to exercise options for the sustainment of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS) and associated combat system elements. The work executed under this contract includes maintenance and evolution of the LCS ICMS and associated combat system (CS) elements in support of the operational LCS ships; development, integration, test and delivery of future CS baseline upgrades for in-service ships; supporting ship integration, installation and checkout; developmental test/operational test; developing training and logistics products; providing field technical support for the CS; providing hardware engineering and equipment procurement; providing life-cycle supportability engineering; and providing fleet support for fielded baselines. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (85%); San Diego, California (14%); and Mobile, Alabama (1%), and is expected to be completed by October 2021. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2020 research, development test and evaluation (Navy), funding in the amount of $1,210,480 was obligated at time of award and $471,299 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Oct. 30, 2020) Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $24,814,227 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-5407 for procurement of fiscal 2021 Navy Standard Missile-2 intermediate level provisioned items ordered spares; and to exercise one-year options for fiscal 2021 Standard Missile-2 and Standard Missile-6 repairs and maintenance. Work will be performed in Camden, Arkansas (72%); Tucson, Arizona (19%); Anaheim, California (6%); and San Diego, California (3%), and is expected to be completed by July 2024. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $24,814,227 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 2, 2020) Systems Application and Technologies Inc.,* Largo, Maryland, is awarded a $15,586,076 modification (P00010) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00421-19-C-0023. This modification exercises an option to provide continued support services to the Air Vehicle Modification and Instrumentation Department. These services include designing, developing, procuring, building, installing, testing and evaluating, calibrating, modifying, operating and maintaining instrumentation on aircraft and engines for the Navy and other government and commercial customers. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in November 2021. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,185,000 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, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Sedna Digital Solutions LLC,* Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $9,783,087 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-6264 to exercise and fund options for Navy engineering services and required material. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by December 2021. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) (96%); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) (4%) funding in the amount of $2,293,000 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, D.C., is the contracting activity. Sterling Computer Corp.,* North Sioux City, South Dakota, is awarded an $8,632,074 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract procures various information technology equipment and associated accessories for continuing effective and efficient business operations as the workforce is required to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic in support of the Digital Engineering Division. Work will be performed in North Sioux City, South Dakota, and is expected to be completed in November 2022. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; 12 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-21-D-0004). ARMY Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $47,970,000 modification (P00150) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0009 for UH-60M aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $5,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY IntelliDyne LLC, Falls Church, Virginia, has been awarded a $14,313,136 extension for services under an existing contract to support non-classified and classified services, facilities and miscellaneous material that encompass the information technology (IT) support services for the Defense Health Agency IT Infrastructure and Operations End User Support Services (EUSS) Network Support Services (NSS) Activity. The extension will be funded with fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funding in amount of $14,313,136. The Defense Health Agency, Professional Services Contracting Division, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HT0011-20-F-0004). (Awarded Oct. 29, 2020) *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2405436/source/GovDelivery/

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  June 23, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  NATO’s new surveillance drone begins test flights over the Mediterranean

  By: Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany — The first of five new NATO surveillance drones began test flights over the Mediterranean Sea this month, nudging the alliance toward a new capability meant to relieve the demand for U.S. equipment. The flights took off from Sigonella air base in Sicily, Italy, the future headquarters of the Northrop Grumman-made Global Hawks of the Alliance Ground Surveillance program. The planes are owned by a collective of 15 NATO members. The alliance's supreme allied commander for Europe, a job currently filled by U.S. Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, has tasking authority over the new capability. The North Atlantic Council also gets a say in cases of missions outside of NATO territory. The first two drones arrived late last year. Officials expect the rest of the fleet to make the trip from the manufacturer's facilities in Palmdale, California, throughout the summer. Earlier this spring, travel restrictions spurred by the spread of the novel coronavirus had raised the possibility of a delay in getting the initial plane approved for its flight schedule. But the Italian government allowed a team of Northrop specialists into Italy in late May for acceptance testing, a key step in obtaining an airworthiness certificate for the drone. “COVID-related delays ended up only being a few weeks, but nothing that significant,” Camille Grand, NATO's assistant secretary general for defense investment, told Defense News in an interview, referring to the coronavirus disease. “We are now moving to a pattern of regular flight to enable the force to use the drone.” Officials have been tight-lipped about exactly where they intend to use the aircraft once they are fully operational. “You can imagine missions of looking into the situation on NATO's borders,” Grand said. “Both in the south, in the Middle East or the east. The drones enable you to collect intelligence beyond your airspace.” While the initial aircraft has already completed at least one nine-hour flight over the Mediterranean Sea, it remains to be seen if the the aircraft can get clearance from Italian regulators to fly over land, where air traffic is more crowded and a mishap could be catastrophic. The general idea is to use the Italian airworthiness approval to fly anywhere. “The beauty of the European airspace is that once your are certified in Italy, you can fly across the European airspace,” Grand said. He noted that the certification currently in effect is provisional, and that the scope of the process is “likely to expand over time.” For now, high-flying military surveillance drones traversing the continent must obtain permission from national airspace authorities for a restricted flight corridor to protect nearby civilian traffic. Such is the case, for example, when U.S. unmanned aircraft fly reconnaissance missions close to the Baltics. The Alliance Ground Surveillance program's ambition is to “lift any limitations,” Grand said. “It is a very interesting and fascinating challenge because it is the first time ever that we are incorporating those Global Hawks in what is usually a crowded airspace on a permanent basis.” https://www.defensenews.com/smr/transatlantic-partnerships/2020/06/22/natos-new-surveillance-drone-begins-test-flights-over-the-mediterranean/