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April 24, 2018 | International, Land, C4ISR

How the Army plans to improve its friendly force tracking

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The Army is upgrading how it tracks friendly forces to increase readiness.

During the fiscal 2019 budget roll out in February, Army officials at the Pentagon indicated that the service would be accelerating its Joint Battle Command-Platform, which provides friendly forces awareness information known as blue force tracking, as well as encrypted data and faster satellite network connectivity. The change is intended to solve mounted mission command problems across all formations.

The new budget request shows the service is serious about the issue. The Army asked for $431 million for the program in FY2019. That's up from a total of $283 million during the FY2018 budget. Moreover, the Army plans to procure 26,355 systems as opposed to 16,552 from the FY2018 budget.

However, officials in the program office were careful to note this was not a “plus-up, so to speak,” but an effort to accelerate the fielding of the tracking systems.

C4ISRNET's Mark Pomerleau recently spoke about the program's modernization efforts with Col. Troy Crosby, project manager for Mission Command, alongside Lt. Col. Shane Sims, product manager for JBC-P, assigned to Project Mission Command.

C4ISRNET: How should we interpret the FY2019 budget request for this program?

COL. TROY CROSBY: It's important to understand that there wasn't necessarily a plus-up.

Really what happened is we shifted already approved authorizations to the left. We're just expediting sooner.

The Army asked us what we could do to modernize faster ... essentially, we went back to them and said give us the funding and the resources to move a lot of those units to the left because every year the G-3/5/7 comes out with this priority list and we weren't able to get down to that priority list because of funding.

That's really what you're seeing with that movement of money from the out years closer in to the left.

C4ISRNET: What led to the decision to baseline the program across formations?

CROSBY: The Army's looking to standardize their baselines not only on the platforms like JBC-P, but also a similar effort in the command post with software baseline reduction.

Moving to the standard baseline on the platform-side helps with training, readiness and the physical constraints as we can depreciate the older versions of FBCB2/BFT [Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below/Blue Force Tracking] out of sustainment.

C4ISRNET: How does standardization help the Army?

CROSBY: Any time you're greatly standardized in a organization the size of the Army, you're going to get easier interoperability down at the tactical level.

If Lt. Col. Sims is Sgt. Sims and he is in a unit at Fort Stewart and we were trained on the current systems in the force and then he gets [a permanent change of station] out to Fort Riley, he already has a base of knowledge when he hits the ground on what those systems are because they're the same across the force. So, the training burden for his new units greatly reduced.

I think it also helps in readiness as units and soldiers move around the battlespace.

The other reason the Army really wants to standardize on JBC-P is, like with all systems in the tactical network, we're always looking to improve cyber posture, and there were multiple improvements in our cyber posturing that the department felt were relevant to try to accelerate so we could get that capability to the entire force as quickly as possible.

C4ISRNET: In terms of cyber, what are some modernization efforts you're undertaking to help this platform perform in the more dynamic environments?

CROSBY: I think the best way that we can characterize it is looking to ... achieve a cyber posture that allows us to operate both in a counter-insurgency/counterterrorism role and a near-peer adversary role. We're looking to answer both sides of that coin. Yes, current fight, but we're also looking to make sure we're cyber postured for a near-peer.

LT. COL. SHANE SIMS: You can probably draw some conclusions from what you know on the commercial side. Imagine having a computer that's over 20 years old — that's where some of our platforms are right now when you're talking about the FBCB2 that was fielded almost two decades ago.

C4ISRNET: In terms of your FY19 funding, could it be characterized as investing in standards to help increase readiness and lethality?

CROSBY: Very much so. The plus-up kind of touched a couple of areas. On the research and development side, the plus-up helps us in looking at ways to modernize and bring new capability for the blue force tracking network side. We're really looking to expedite that fielding for better cyber posture.

C4ISRNET: It sounds like standardization is very important from an Army readiness and lethality perspective.

SIMS: When talking JBC-P, there are really three components: the software, the hardware and then the network.

Really, what we're doing on a couple fronts [is] we're expediting the fielding to get the hardware out there but that's going to set the conditions for what we're doing in the command post with the infrastructure. That same infrastructure is going to reside on our hardware that's in the platform.

The commanders are in environments where they experience something completely different in the command post than you experience on the platforms.

You hear repeatedly from the commanders, “Can I have the same type of user experience?” Data's really what we're addressing with the modernization of the command post and the mounted computing environment. That user experience is going to be one and the same for the commander when he or she is in the command post and then when they get in the vehicle.

That is really what we're doing with modernization for JBC-P.

C4ISRNET: The National Defense Strategy has stressed prioritization on great power competition. How does JBC-P modernization and standardization fit into that strategy?

CROSBY: The first one is looking to modernize JBC-P mission command on the move at the platform level. How we continue to modernize and field as fast as we can so that we can maintain both that counter-insurgency/counterterrorism fight and near-peer adversaries is one piece of this.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/thought-leadership/2018/04/13/how-the-army-plans-to-improve-its-friendly-force-tracking/

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 12, 2019

    March 15, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

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

    NAVY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. - Marine Systems, Sunnyvale, California, is awarded a $273,053,534 cost-plus incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for technical engineering services, design and development engineering, component and full scale test and evaluation engineering, and tactical underwater launcher hardware production to support the development and production of the Common Missile Compartment. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (55 percent); Ridgecrest, California (20 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (10 percent); Bangor, Washington (5 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (5 percent); Barrow-In-Furness, England (2 percent); New London, Connecticut (1 percent); Quonset Point, Rhode Island (1 percent); and Arlington, Virginia (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2024. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $39,631,234 will be obligated on this award. Fiscal 2019 United Kingdom Common funding in the amount of $24,369,442 will be obligated on this award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively solicited pursuant to 10 U.S. Code. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00030-19-C-0015). Lockheed Martin Corp. Missile and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, is awarded an $84,108,050 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to perform design and development studies, technology demonstrations and engineering services for rapid technology development for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, Joint Air-to-Ground Missile and Hellfire baseline weapon systems. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed in March 2024. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,584,507 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N68936-19-D-0020). Smartronix Inc., Hollywood, Maryland, is awarded a $72,374,593 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides information management and information technology support services to sustain the analysis, design, development, integration, test, deployment and operations of information technology systems and services. This contract includes help desk, software engineering, financial and business application, server operations, application hosting, desktop, audiovisual and video teleconferencing support services. Work will be performed in China Lake, California (80 percent); and Point Mugu, California (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2024. 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; six offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N68936-19-D-0027). Ch2m Hill Inc., Englewood, Colorado, is awarded a $68,000,000 cost-plus-award-fee modification to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for comprehensive long-term environmental architect-engineering services on Navy and Marine Corps installations at sites in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic area of responsibility. The work to be performed provides for architectural and engineering services to provide program management and technical environmental services in support of the Department of the Navy's Environmental Restoration Program, Munitions Response Program, and other similar programs at any Navy and Marine Corps activity in the area of responsibility covered by NAVFAC Atlantic. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $308,000,000. Work will be performed primarily in Puerto Rico (35 percent); California (18 percent); Virginia (15 percent); Washington (12 percent), North Carolina (8 percent); Maryland (7 percent); Mississippi (3 percent); and Washington, District of Columbia (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by environmental restoration, (Navy). The contractor was chosen using federal acquisition regulation Part 36, Architect-Engineer Services on an unrestricted basis. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (contract number N62470-16-D-9000). Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded a $64,993,500 firm-fixed-price contract for P-704 Sewer Lift Station and Relief Sewer Lines, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The work to be performed provides for two major components. The first component is a new wastewater pump station to replace existing pump station SY-001. The second component is a new gravity sewer main along South Avenue that replaces an existing gravity trunk sewer. A new pump station and gravity sewer line are required to accommodate the anticipated increase in wastewater flows from proposed shore activities within the existing pump station SY-001 collection area and to accommodate peak wet-weather flows with the required level of redundancy. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by June 2021. Fiscal 2017 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $64,993,500 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-19-C-1515). Joyce & Associates Construction Inc.,* Newport, North Carolina (N40085-19-D-8044); Olympic Enterprises Inc.,* Hubert, North Carolina (N40085-19-D-8045); Owens Construction Inc.,* Beaufort, North Carolina (N40085-19-D-8046); Pyramid Contracting LLC,* Irmo, South Carolina (N40085-19-D-8047); and TE Davis Construction Co.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-19-D-8048), are being awarded a $40,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract for maintenance and repair project. Work will be performed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and the surrounding area. Joyce & Associates Construction Inc. is being awarded an initial task order of $498 for the head repairs at Building 1747 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Work is expected to be completed by July 2019. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of March 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, (Marine Corps) (O&M,MC) contract funds in the amount of $498 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of fiscal 2019. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M,MC. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 12 proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, is awarded a maximum amount $20,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract for architect-engineer (AE) services for various fire protection projects at various locations in all areas under the cognizance of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Pacific. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer fire protection services with associated multi-discipline architect-engineer support services. AE fire protection services include, but are not limited to, design and engineering services for preparation of technical reports including conducting engineering investigations and concept studies; fire protection design features including life safety analysis, building and fire code analysis, including water supply analysis at proposed project sites, etc.; design-build request for proposal documents; design-bid-build construction documents; construction estimates; operations and maintenance manuals; record drawings; shop drawing reviews and other construction submittal review; technical review of design plans and specification prepared by architecture/engineering firms and government forces; water flow testing; final acceptance testing of all types of installed fire protection systems; post construction award services; and other miscellaneous services. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed at various Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Pacific area of responsibility including but not limited to Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands (70 percent); Australia (20 percent); and Hawaii (10 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of March 2024. Fiscal 2017 military construction (MILCON), (planning and design) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by MILCON. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-19-D-0006). NCS/EML SB JV LLC,* Louisville, Kentucky, is awarded an $11,981,174 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operations support services at Naval Air Station Whiting Field and outlying areas. The work to be performed to include facility investment, pest control, other (swimming pools), grounds maintenance and landscaping, pavement clearance, utilities management, electrical, wastewater, water, base support vehicles and equipment, and other related services. The maximum dollar value including the base period and seven option years is $96,721,878. Work will be performed in Milton, Florida (67 percent); and outlying areas (33 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy); fiscal 2019 Defense Health Program; and fiscal 2019 family housing operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,359,610 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-D-1740). DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE iWorks Corp., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $48,980,260.80 firm-fixed-price contract for the Defense Security Service (DSS) Vetting Risk Operations Center (VROC) and Consolidated Adjudications Facility (CAF) Personnel Security Support Services. The contract provides for the Personnel Security Support Services to assist in successfully executing the vetting mission for the Defense Vetting Directorate. Work will be performed at the DSS VROC office located in Hanover, Maryland; and the Department of Defense CAF office in Ft. Meade, Maryland, with an expected completion date of Feb. 4, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $7,310,770 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition and multiple proposals were solicited on government-wide point of entry (https://www.fbo.gov) and four proposals were received. The Defense Security Service Office of Acquisitions, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HS0021-19-C-0001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Honeywell International Inc., Clearwater, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $12,788,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Inertial Navigation Systems. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a one-year contract with one one-year option period. The option is being exercised at time of award. Location of performance is Florida, with a June 22, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-C-0116). Honeywell International Inc., Clearwater, Florida, has been awarded a $7,724,728 firm-fixed-price contract for Inertial Navigation Kits. This is a 22-month base contract with one one-year option period. The option was exercised at time of award. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. Location of performance is Florida, with a Jan. 2, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-C-0099). (Awarded March 8, 2019) R. B. Allen Co., Inc., North Hampton, New Hampshire, has been awarded a maximum $7,531,007 requirements contract for casualty control communication systems to include technical data, training, testing, and shipping. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is New Hampshire, with a March 18, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Navy capital improvement program funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia (SPE4A8-18-D-0001). UPDATE: Globe Trailer Manufacturing Inc., Bradenton, Florida (SPE8EC-19-D-0039) has been added as an awardee to the multiple-award contract for commercial trucks and trailers, issued against solicitation SPE8EC-17-R-0008, announced April 20, 2017. ARMY ExpFederal Inc., Chicago, Illinois, was awarded an $11,254,947 firm-fixed-price contract for electrical safety assessments, repairs program, materials management and control services for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. Bids were solicited via the internet with 12 received. Work will be performed in Bagram, Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of March 11, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $11,254,947 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W912DY-19-C-0008). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1783465/

  • Pourquoi les Européens n’arrivent pas à convaincre lors de l’achat d’équipements militaires

    May 22, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

    Pourquoi les Européens n’arrivent pas à convaincre lors de l’achat d’équipements militaires

    Nicolas Gros-Verheyde (B2) Mois après mois, les résultats tombent. Quand ils ont le choix, certains Européens préfèrent acheter américain plutôt qu'européen. Pourquoi ? Un achat de défense n'est pas uniquement un achat En matière de défense, un pays n'achète pas seulement un matériel, il répond à une histoire — tradition maritime, terrestre, etc. —, une géopolitique intérieure — neutralité, non aligné, aligné, autonome —, une affirmation de soi — volonté de prouver au peuple, à ses voisins sa puissance —, un contexte géopolitique — proximité ou non d'adversaires ressentis ou réelle —. La volonté d'avoir une autonomie d'équipements, ou non, découle de tous ces facteurs. La meilleure défense face à un adversaire ... Face à la Russie, nombre de pays européens estiment que la meilleure défense reste les États-Unis. Il ne s'agit donc pas de desserrer les liens qui existent avec les USA, mais de les resserrer. Et le meilleur moyen reste alors les achats d'équipement, qui solidifient de façon claire ce lien euro-atlantique. La duplicité de l'appel à dépenser plus C'est toute la duplicité de l'appel à dépenser davantage pour la défense. Appel largement soutenu par les Américains. Au-delà de l'objectif, justifié, de partage du fardeau entre Européens et Américains, la pression a un objectif purement économique : favoriser l'industrie américaine qui est la seule à répondre à la fois aux objectifs industriel (les matériels), opérationnel (l'interopérabilité), économique (le moins disant) et politique. La panoplie complète des Américains La fourniture des équipements militaires s'accompagne de la logistique, des armements et de la formation. Un ‘package' ordinaire pour ce type d'armements. Mais les Américains ont une panoplie beaucoup plus complète, qui va de l'outil de financement à crédit au soutien logistique dans les opérations extérieures, en passant par la présence de troupes ou de matériels dans les pays concernés, destinés à les rassurer face à des voisins inquiétants, un forcing permanent de leurs politiques, sans oublier l'accueil de jeunes ou moins jeunes officiers ou sous-officiers stagiaires dans leurs écoles. Un effort notable américain de formation Rien que pour la Roumanie, par exemple, pays qui préside actuellement aux destinées de l'Union européenne, ce sont 700 officiers qui franchissent le seuil d'une des écoles militaires US, des écoles de guerre réputées aux simples écoles de gardes nationaux. Cela forge des réflexes, une culture commune, des camaraderies, une solidarité... et l'habitude d'utiliser certains matériels. Peu étonnant ensuite que chacun soit convaincu dans l'armée roumaine qu'il faille acheter ces équipements. Une réflexion à engager Si les Européens veulent un tant soit peu défendre leurs équipements, il va falloir réfléchir sérieusement à se doter de ces cinq outils : les échanges et l'accueil dans les écoles européennes — l'Erasmus militaire prôné dans la fin des années 2000 est un peu tombé dans l'oubli (1) —, le financement croisé, la présence dans les pays (qui ne soit pas dispersée). (Nicolas Gros-Verheyde) https://www.bruxelles2.eu/2019/05/17/pourquoi-les-europeens-narrivent-pas-a-convaincre-lors-de-lachat-dequipements-militaires/

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    September 12, 2023 | International, Naval

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