Joint venture with Ukrainian partner: Rheinmetall to produce artillery ammunition in Ukraine

On the same subject

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  July 19, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Esper: F-35 Won’t Hit 80% Readiness, Cites Stealth Parts

  By COLIN CLARK WASHINGTON: Presumptive Defense Secretary Mark Esper says flatly the F-35 “is not expected” to meet the 80 percent readiness goal set for it this year because of problems with a cockpit part that improves stealth performance. “Transparency (canopy) supply shortages continue to be the main obstacle to achieving this. We are seeking additional sources to fix unserviceable canopies,” Esper said in response to written questions from the Senate Armed Services Committe (SASC). The Government Accountability Office (GAO) mentioned the canopy issue in a recent report, calling it a “special coating on the F-35 canopy that enables the aircraft to maintain its stealth.” That, the congressional watchdog said. “failed more frequently than expected” so F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin went looking for more manufactures to produce enough canopies to meet demands. GAO also said the F-35 program was considering a new design. This is all apiece with the general problem the F-35 program has had with obtaining new and spare parts. “A key contributor to spare parts shortages is the F-35 program's limited capacity to repair broken parts,” the GAO says in its April report. “The average time to repair an F-35 part was more than 6 months, or about 188 days for repairs completed between September and November 2018—more than twice that of the program's objective of 60-90 days.” Lockheed late last night sent comments on the transparency and its general efforts to improve F-35 readiness. UPDATE BEGINS “We are working closely with our F-35 transparency provider to build production and repair capacity and we are standing up a second source of supply. As these actions deliver results, we expect to improve supply availability and overall fleet readiness,” F-35 program spokesman Mike Friedman said, “We continue to see improvements in F-35 readiness rates and are receiving positive feedback from our customers, most recently from the Air Force who have several squadrons simultaneously deployed in the Middle East and across Europe for joint exercises and operations,” Friedman added. “Newer F-35 aircraft are averaging greater than 60 percent mission capable rates, with some operational squadrons consistently at or above 70 percent. We're taking aggressive action across the full F-35 enterprise to achieve the 80 percent mission capable rate target as soon as possible.”UPDATE ENDS As the SASC noted, former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis ordered the Air Force and Navy to increase mission capable rates for the F-35, F-22, F-16, and F-18 inventories to above 80 percent by the end of September 2019. “What progress,” the committee asked in the written questions, “has the Department made in increasing mission capable rates and decreasing costs for all four platforms?” The good news for the Air Force is that F-16 rates are better because the service has been able to increase parts supplies and add maintenance shifts. The F-16 fleet is expected to meet the 80 percent goal this year, Esper wrote. Not so, the F-22. It too faces stealth maintenance issue, made worse, Esper noted, “by the extreme damage at Tyndall Air Force Base from the effects of Hurricane Michael.” The F-22 fleet rates are improving but it probably won't make 80 percent this year. Oh, and Congress: “Improving mission capable rates for both fleets required additional funding investment for this fiscal year.” The Navy's fleet of F-18 is on track to meet the goal by September 2019. The Navy created a Maintenance Operations Center (MOC) to coordinate maintenance activities and optimize resources and reformed its depot and front-line maintenance process, thus improving regular inspections. Among a host of other changes, the Navy implemented supply chain reform that made it easier to track data across multiple sources. In the meantime, to address the gap in part repair capabilities at the military depots, the prime contractor Boeing has begun incentivizing manufacturers to increase their capacity to repair spare parts by establishing performance-based repair agreements. As of October 2018, according to program documentation, Boeing had established seven such agreements, with six more planned by May 2019. I contacted Lockheed and the F-35 Joint Program Office for comment and will add it when it arrives. https://breakingdefense.com/2019/07/esper-f-35-wont-hit-80-readiness-cites-stealth-parts/

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  June 25, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 23, 2020

  DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Steris Corp., Mentor, Ohio, has been awarded a maximum $225,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for patient monitoring and capital equipment systems and accessories. This was a competitive acquisition with 41 offers received. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Location of performance is Ohio, with a June 22, 2025, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1-20-D-0008). Thales Defense & Security Inc., Clarksburg, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $81,800,432 firm-fixed-price contract for Airborne Low Frequency Sonar spare parts. 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 five-year one-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Maryland, with a July 30, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-20-C-Y043). Simmonds Precision Sensors & Integrated Systems, Vergennes, Vermont, has been awarded a maximum $9,052,524 firm-fixed-price contract for vehicle flight system management spare parts. 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 two-year one-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Vermont, with a July 30, 2022, performance completion date. Using customers are Navy and Danish military forces. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2022 Navy working capital funds and Foreign Military Sales. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-20-E-F02). NAVY Jacobs/B&V JV (Federal Services), Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded $85,000,000 for an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $85,000,000 for architect-engineer services for various projects primarily under the cognizance of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Hawaii. Work will be performed at various Navy, Marine Corp and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Hawaii area of responsibility, including Hawaii (95%); and other South Pacific Islands (5%). The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but are not limited to, utility projects; the execution and delivery of military construction (MILCON) project documentation; functional analysis and concept development workshops, design charrettes; design-build request for proposal solicitation documents; design-bid-build design contract documents; cost estimates; technical surveys and reports including concept studies, site engineering investigations and surveys; collateral equipment buy packages; comprehensive interior design, to include structural interior design; furniture, fixtures and equipment packages; and post construction award services. Work is expected to be completed by June 2025, and the term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months. No task orders are being issued at this time. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds for the minimum guarantee in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by MILCON planning and design funds. This contract was competitively procured via the beta SAM website, and four proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-20-D-5036). Lockheed Martin Corp., Liverpool, New York, is awarded a $22,433,508 modification (P00001) to firm-fixed-price order N00019-20-F-0535 against basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0029. This order exercises options to procure 12 retrofit advanced radar processor systems for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (54%); and Andover, Massachusetts (46%), and is expected to be completed by November 2023. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,738,918; and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of 18,694,590 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. Mercury Defense Systems Inc., Cypress, California, is awarded an $11,734,623 firm-fixed-price order N68335-20-F-0243 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N683350-17-G-0017. This order provides for non-recurring engineering associated with the hardware and software design and development of the Type II Advanced Digital Radio Frequency Memories (DRFM) as well as the production and delivery of 22 DRFMs for the Navy and the Air Force under Small Business Innovation Research Topic N06-036 titled, “Advanced Techniques for Digital Radio Frequency Memories (DRFM).” Work will be performed in Cypress, California (73%); and West Caldwell, New Jersey (27%), and is expected to be completed by November 2021. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $4,800,528; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluations (Navy) funds in the amount of $$4,267,136; and fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,666,960 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. ARMY Hardwire LLC,* Pocomoke, Maryland (W91CRB-20-D-0026); Leading Technology Composites Inc.,* Wichita, Kansas (W91CRB-20-D-0027); and Point Blank Enterprises Inc., Pompano Beach, Florida (W91CRB-20-D-0028), will compete for each order of the $57,914,467 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of small arms protective inserts. 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 June 22, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Avon Protection Systems Inc., Cadillac, Michigan, was awarded a $49,621,502 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of the Joint Service General Purpose Mask systems and spare components. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 22, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-D-0078). CORRECTION: The multiple award task order contract issued on April 22, 2020, listed eight contractors. In addition to them, CES-RESCON LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-20-D-0016), will compete for each order of the $140,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract. AIR FORCE Advanced Electronics Co. Ltd., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been awarded a $12,374,760 firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursable modification (P00030) to contract FA8730-16-C-0019 for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15SA Cyber Protection System (CPS) and Related Facilities program. This modification provides for implementation and delivery of end-user training for the CPS for two years. The scope of this contract effort will include custom contractor-developed training and original equipment manufacturer training. This is a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) acquisition between the U.S. government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This FMS is for the total package of acquisition and fielding of 84 F-15A aircraft; the upgrade of 70 F-15SA aircraft to the F-154SA configuration; the procurement of associated equipment, weapons and spares; and the construction, refurbishment and infrastructure improvements of support facilities for the F-15SA in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Work will be performed at RSAF facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is expected to be completed by June 1, 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and FMS funds in the full amount will be obligated at the time of the award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $165,863,230. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. Compunetix Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $9,600,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for equipment to upgrade mission control rooms (MCR) at the Ridley Mission Control Center, the Birk Flight Test Facility and MCRs at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Work will be performed at Edwards AFB, California; and Eglin AFB, and is expected to be completed June 30, 2025. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $50,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, is the contracting activity (FA9302-20-D-0010). The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; San Antonio, Texas; and Hamamatsu, Japan, has been awarded an $8,471,689 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-plus-incentive-fee modification (P00005) to contract FA8730-18-C-0001 for the Japan Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) mission computing upgrade (MCU) installation and checkout (I&CO) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out). The contract modification is to upgrade its fleet of four aircraft with the ADS-B Out capability. ADS-B Out is a software and hardware update to the Raytheon APX-119 transponder that includes the addition of a Global Positioning System (GPS) card. Under the E-767 AWACS I&CO program, the GPS card is to be installed within the four aircraft and updating the three ground support facilities. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; San Antonio, Texas; and Hamamatsu, Japan, and is expected to be completed Dec. 23, 2023. This modification involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. FMS funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $227,688,995. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. CORRECTION: The following contract numbers were omitted from a June 19, 2020, announcement of a multiple-award contract to provide equipment, training and product support to approximately 3,500 Air Force Special Warfare operators, as well as authorized users in support of Special Warfare mission requirements: Federal Resources, Stevensville, Maryland (FA8629-20-D-5003); W.S. Darley & Co., Itasca, Illinois (FA8629-20-D-5052); US21 Inc., Fairfax, Virginia (FA8629-20-D-5053); Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (FA8629-20-D-5054); and Tactical & Survival Specialties Inc., Harrisonburg, Virginia (FA8629-20-D-5055). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2229945/source/GovDelivery/

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  June 2, 2023 | International, Other Defence

  Trudeau and Polish PM discuss plugging the gaps in Russia sanctions ahead of NATO summit | CBC News

  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Polish counterpart talked sanctions enforcement and confiscation of Russian assets on Friday as the two leaders mapped out a common strategy ahead of next month's NATO summit.