Back to news

May 2, 2022 | International, C4ISR

How 5G factors in the Army's future | C4ISRNET Conference Highlight

Two top Army officials talk about they need to faster data speeds in a modern fighting force, and say resiliency and cybersecurity are critical to the service.

https://www.defensenews.com/video/2022/05/02/how-5g-factors-in-the-armys-future-c4isrnet-conference-highlight/

On the same subject

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 16, 2020

    March 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 16, 2020

    NAVY United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a $319,792,357 modification (P00018) to a previously awarded, firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable contract (N00019-18-C-1021). This modification exercises an option for the production and delivery of 20 F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the Navy, six F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the Air Force, and six F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the government of Japan. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (67%); Indianapolis, Indiana (26.5%); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5%), and is expected to be complete by December 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $193,331,533; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $73,835,550; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $52,625,274 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded $46,100,000 for the second increment of the firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction replacement of Pier 8, Naval Base San Diego, California. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be complete by October 2021. The work to be performed will provide for the design and construction of a new single-deck pile, and a supported and reinforced concrete pier to replace the existing Pier 8. Utilities include potable water, sanitary sewer, compressed air, oily waste and compensating ballast water collection systems. Electrical utilities include underground distribution lines from shore side to pier including switching station, primary and secondary distribution systems, telephone, fire alarm systems, coaxial and fiber optic communications, supervisory control and data acquisitions systems for energy monitoring and control. The pier includes primary and secondary fenders, and new load out ramp cradles on the quay wall on each side. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $46,100,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-C-1208). Patriot Contract Services LLC, Concord, California, is awarded a $33,411,234 modification for the fixed price portion of a previously awarded contract (N00033-14-C-3210) to fund the operation and maintenance of eight government-owned, contractor operated Watson-class large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships. Work will be performed at sea worldwide beginning April 2020 and is expected to be complete by September 2020. This modification awards a bridge that includes a six-month base period, and one six-month option period. The ships will continue to support Military Sealift Command's worldwide prepositioning requirements. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $33,411,234 are obligated for fiscal 2020, covering the six-month base period's daily operating hire and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This bridge was not competitively procured and was prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 and 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(1). The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00033-14-C-3210). Naval Systems Inc.,* Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded a $28,181,538 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides program management, lifecycle logistics, business process improvement, functional assessment, data and gap analysis, engineering requirements as well as management and requirements analysis in support of the Aviation Logistics Environment. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (70%); Patuxent River, Maryland (28%); and San Diego, California (2%), and is expected to be complete by March 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 a small business set-aside, competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal. Three offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0019). Raytheon Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded $18,189,730 for a ceiling-priced delivery order (N00383-20-F-N700) under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-18-G-N701 for the repair of the APG 65/73 radar systems in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be complete by March 2022. Fiscal 2020 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $8,912,968 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One firm was solicited for this sole-source requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. West Point-Granite JV LLC,* Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $14,990,280 firm-fixed-price task order (N62473-20-F-4216) under a multiple award construction contract for the design and construction of water treatment plant repairs to Basins 343-348 and 352-353 Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, El Centro, California. Work will be performed in El Centro, California, and is expected to be complete by September 2021. The contract amount provides for all labor, materials, equipment, transportation, supervision and incidental related work. Work to be performed provides for the construction, procurement and installation services for replacement of six existing damaged and degraded million-gallon, reinforced concrete sedimentation basins; two existing damaged and degraded 200,000-gallon decant basins; and their associated piping and infrastructure replacement within the existing water treatment plant at NAF El Centro. Work includes demolition and replacement with a new million-gallon reinforced concrete sedimentation basin to be constructed in its original size, footprint and volume. Structural repairs include replacement of structural slabs, reinforced concrete grade beams and helical anchorage of the reinforced concrete basins to address buoyancy. The existing source water intake channel will be replaced with a new intake system, including a screening vault, a flow metering vault, a mixing vault and distribution pipes. Cross-basin transfer piping will be replaced with new pipes, overflow weirs and slide gates to maintain existing basin operations. A chemical storage building will be included to replace the existing chemical storage shed. Mechanical repairs include the replacement of valves and pumps, replacement of waste water piping and replacement of the existing eye-wash station for code compliance. Electrical repairs include replacing electrical panels, service for mechanical pumps and providing site lighting for code compliance. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $14,990,280 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 (N62473-19-D-1206). Mustang Technology Group LP, doing business as L3 Mustang Technology, Plano, Texas, is awarded a $14,849,324 fixed-price-incentive-firm-target modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-5313 for 808 rounds of 57mm MK 332 high explosive-4 bolt guided (HE-4G) cartridge ammunition. Work will be performed in Plano, Texas (78%); and Cincinnati, Ohio (22%); and is expected to be complete by March 2021. This contract action is for the delivery of 808 rounds of 57mm MK 332 HE-4G cartridge ammunition leveraging the long lead materials procured at time of award. The HE-4G cartridge is a 57mm electrically-primed cartridge which is designed to function in the 57mm MK 110 GM and is intended for combating surface and air targets. Fiscal 2019 procurement of ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funding in the amount of $14,849,324 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, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Archbald, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $14,686,324 modification (P00009) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-17-C-0022). This modification provides for the procurement of 4,001 laser guided training rounds BDU-59B/B. Work will be performed in Archbald, Pennsylvania (45%); Marlton, New Jersey (10%); Vaudreuil-dorion, Canada (6.5%); Rochester, New York (5.5%); Westford, Massachusetts (3%); Plainville, Connecticut (2.75%); Joplin, Missouri (2.75%); Hauppage, New York (1.5%); Quakertown, Pennsylvania (1.5%); San Jose, California (1.5%); Laconia, New Hampshire (1.5%); Dunedin, Florida (1%); Clifton, New Jersey (1%); Londonderry, New Hampshire (1%); Canton, Pennsylvania (1%); Honesdale, Pennsylvania (1%); Mount Laurel, New Jersey (1%); Medford, New Jersey (1%); Irvine, California (0.5%) and various locations within the continental U.S. (11%). Work is expected to be complete by July 2021. Fiscal 2020 procurement of ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $14,686,324 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, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $13,107,282 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-2120 for additional fiscal 2020 development studies and design efforts for Virginia Class Submarines. Work will be performed in McLeansville, North Carolina, and is expected to be complete by September 2020. This contract modification provides additional development studies and design efforts related to Virginia class submarine improvements. The contractor will continue development studies and design efforts required to fully evaluate new technologies for Virginia class submarines. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,500,000 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, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Blaine Warren Advertising LLC, Las Vegas, Nevada, has been awarded a $20,057,674 modification (P00007) to previously awarded contract FA6643‐17‐D‐0001 for Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Recruiting Service advertising. This modification exercises Option III under a requirements contract for all necessary management, supervision, labor, material and equipment required to plan, create, design, produce, place, evaluate and measure the effectiveness of advertising and special events in support of AFRC national, regional, and local recruiting marketing. Work will be performed in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2021. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $78,339,534. Headquarters AFRC, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. L3 Technologies Inc., Link Training and Simulation Division, Arlington, Texas, has been awarded a $10,863,740 firm-fixed-price modification (P00029) to previously awarded task order FA8621-19-F-6251 for F-16 aircraft simulator training program services. This modification will provide contractor logistics support to manage, maintain, and support the F-16 Simulators Training Program to include all training devices, software, firmware, spares and the Training System Support Center. Work will be performed in various locations within the continental U.S. and outside continental U.S. locations. Work is expected to be complete by March 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance; and research, test, development and evaluation funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $51,180,238. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8621-19-F-6251). ARMY Maersk Line Ltd., Norfolk, Virginia, was awarded a $13,419,452 modification (000182) to contract W52P1J-14-G-0023 for logistics support services for the Enhanced Army Global Logistics Enterprise (EAGLE) program. Work will be performed in Yokohama, Japan, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 16, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, defense funds in the amount of $13,419,452 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Rae Management Services LLC,* North Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded a $10,100,516 firm-fixed price contract for laundry services supporting organizational linens, sleeping systems and blankets for 60 military locations. 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 March 11, 2025. The 419th Combat Support Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W9124-C-20-D0001). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2113905/source/GovDelivery/

  • F-35 inventory soars in new Pentagon spending bill

    September 17, 2018 | International, Aerospace

    F-35 inventory soars in new Pentagon spending bill

    By: Joe Gould WASHINGTON — Beyond the 77 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters authorized by the 2019 defense policy bill, congressional appropriators are adding another 16 for a total of 93. Congressional conferees on Thursday finalized a $674.4 billion defense spending bill for next year packaged with funding for the departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, or Labor-HHS — and a continuing resolution through Dec. 7 for some other parts of the government. As usual, appropriators used their annual defense spending bill to offer tweaks to the existing shopping list for military hardware from the previous version, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month. The new compromise spending bill, which trumps the authorization bill, buys three littoral combat ships instead of two and 13 Bell-Boeing V-22 Ospreys instead of seven — among other differences. The Navy and Marine Corps continue to invest in vertical takeoff aircraft and announced a $4.2 billion contract for dozens of new V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft just weeks ago. Full article: https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2018/09/14/f-35-inventory-soars-in-new-pentagon-spending-bill

  • Army chooses Raytheon, Lockheed to mature new missile defense radars

    October 5, 2018 | International, C4ISR

    Army chooses Raytheon, Lockheed to mature new missile defense radars

    By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has picked Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to continue on the path to develop a next-generation air and missile defense radar following a concept design phase that looked at four different companies' technology, according to company representatives. The Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium awarded contracts to four companies to come up with designs to help inform the Army's requirements for the Patriot AMD radar replacement a year ago. Because of their previous involvement, it came as no shock both Raytheon and Lockheed received contracts for the Lower Tier Air-and-Missile Defense Sensor. Northrop Grumman and dark horse Technovative Applications, based in Brea, California, were also awarded contracts. Raytheon is the manufacturer of the legacy Patriot system, and Lockheed Martin spent years developing a system to replace Patriot, from which the Army ultimately walked away. That system — the Medium Extended Air Defense Systems — is still in development with Germany. After spending years debating when and how it would replace its current Patriot system's radar with one that can detect threats coming from any direction, the Army decided to hold a competition for a brand-new 360-degree, lower-tier AMD sensor in early 2017. Replacing the radar becomes evermore critical as the Army looks at dealing with different threats: ones that fly slower, faster or maneuver differently. According to the Army's Air and Missile Defense Cross-Functional Team lead, Brig. Gen. Randall McIntire, the service is trying to move quickly to procure a radar more capable than the current one; any future radar must fit into the future Integrated Air and Missile Defense framework. The AMD CFT is part of the Army's new four-star organization — Army Futures Command — tasked to get after the service's top six modernization priorities. AMD is fifth on that list ahead of soldier lethality and behind the network. Each priority has an assigned CFT to manage modernization efforts. The concept design contracts were given a period of performance of 15 months, so the downselect to Raytheon and Lockheed came slightly early. Congress has mandated that the Army by 2025 find a way to produce a 360-degree radar, accelerating the service's effort to bring something online. The Army will get a capable radar over time, McIntire told Defense News in an Oct. 1 interview, but it might be worth quickly fielding a radar and then building capability into the system over time. McIntire noted that while a 360-degree capability is a top priority, there might be some key performance parameters that rank higher such as more efficiency and better range. “We are proud to be selected as one of the companies to move forward to the Technical Maturation and Risk Reduction phase for the Lower Tier and Air Missile Defense Sensor that will provide the United States Army the ability to detect, identify, track and report aircraft and missiles,” a Lockheed spokesperson said in an Oct. 3 statement to Defense News. Raytheon spokesman Mike Nachshen told Defense News that the company is entering the technology-maturation and risk-reduction phase of the program with a brand-new radar, rather than an upgraded Patriot radar. The capability was designed from the ground up using gallium nitride technology and a staring array, rather than a rotating one, to provide constant 360-degree coverage, according to Nachshen. The company has its own GaN foundry. Raytheon expects to begin discussions with the Army over the next few weeks to determine how the radar's performance will be evaluated, the timeline of the phase and how much the Army plans to invest. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/10/04/army-chooses-raytheon-lockheed-to-mature-new-missile-defense-radars

All news