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November 27, 2023 | International, Aerospace

KONGSBERG, Norway and Germany to develop new “Super Missile”

Today's NSM was developed in the early 2000s and delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces from 2011 to 2015

https://www.epicos.com/article/781830/kongsberg-norway-and-germany-develop-new-super-missile

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 18, 2020

    December 21, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 18, 2020

    ARMY General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $4,620,000,000 fixed-price-incentive contract to produce Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tanks. 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 17, 2028. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-21-D-0001). STS International Inc., Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was awarded a $49,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for combat field service equipment team services. 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 Dec. 17, 2025. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QY-21-D-0001). Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Ontario, was awarded a $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the removal of existing excitation equipment and replacement of solid-state excitation equipment/systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 17, 2030. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (W912P5-21-D-0002). NAVY Koa Lani JV LLC,* Orlando, Florida, is awarded an $854,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed price, cost-plus incentive fee and cost-reimbursement contract line items for range operations support and base operations support services. This contract includes a 60-month base period with one 60-month option period. Work will be performed at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Island of Kauai, Hawaii. Work is expected to be completed by December 2025; if the option is exercised, work will be completed by December 2030. Subject to the availability of funds, fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds (Navy) in the amount of $20,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award to fund the contract's minimum amount and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The requirement was posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website as a 100% 8(a) set-aside requirement, with three offers received. The Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N00604-21-D-4000). L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, is awarded a $495,530,542 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. This contract provides for the production and delivery of 10 pod simulators, eight operational prototype pods, four jettison mass model pods, two captive mass models, two mission system prototypes and two technique development systems in support of engineering and manufacturing development for the Next Generation Jammer Low Band program. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (66%); Boulder, Colorado (10%); Carlsbad, California (9%); Stuart, Florida (7%); Indianapolis, Indiana (4%); St. George, Utah (2%); and Guthrie, Oklahoma (2%), and is expected to be completed in September 2025. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $20,377,862 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; two offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-21-C-0021). Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $145,101,510 modification (P00003) to previously issued fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price contract N00019-20-C-0030. This modification exercises an option for the production and delivery of 90 full rate production Lot 17 Block V Tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM) All Up Round (AUR) Vertical Launch System missiles, including related hardware and services for the Navy. Additionally, this modification procures TACTOM AUR recertification AGR-4 spares. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (40.6%); Walled Lake, Michigan (11.4%); Gainesville, Virginia (9.7%); El Segundo, California (5.1%); Clearwater, Florida (3.3%); Glenrothes, Scotland (3.1%); Spanish Fork, Utah (3%); Middletown, Connecticut (2.7%); Berryville, Arkansas (2.5%); Midland, Ontario, Canada (2.4%); Ontario, California (2%); Camden, Arkansas (1.8%); Vergennes, Vermont (1.7%); Anniston, Alabama (1.2%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (9.5%), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. Fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $140,686,082; and fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,415,428 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. Progeny Systems Corp.,* Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $41,716,025 fixed-price-incentive (firm target), cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-6410 to exercise options for the production of MK54 MOD 1 lightweight torpedo kits, associated production support material, spares and engineering and hardware support services. This modification is in support of the MK54 MOD 1 Lightweight and MK48 Heavyweight torpedo programs. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (99%); and the governments of Australia, Canada, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium (1% combined), under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Charleroi, Pennsylvania (70%); Salt Lake City, Utah (26%); and Manassas, Virginia (4%), and is expected to be completed by December 2023. Fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $41,210,110 (99%); and FMS funds in the amount of $505,915 (1%) 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. CFM International Inc., West Chester, Ohio, is awarded a $28,529,246 modification (P00006) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-18-C-1071. This modification adds scope to procure two P-8A Poseidon CFM56-7B27AE engines for the governments of Australia and New Zealand. Work will be performed in Villaroche, France (53%); Durham, North Carolina (43%); Singapore (3%); and Bromont, Canada (1%), and is expected to be completed in November 2021. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $14,264,623; and foreign cooperative project funds in the amount of $14,264,623 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. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is awarded a $23,852,562 cost-plus-award-fee and cost modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-2322 to exercise options for the accomplishment of planning yard efforts such as engineering, technical, planning, ship configuration, data and logistics efforts for DDG-1000 class destroyers post-delivery and in-service life-cycle support. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine (95%); and San Diego, California (5%), and is expected to be completed by December 2021. Fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) $1,659,554 funding will be obligated at the 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 (N00024-19-C-2322). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $22,320,161 modification (P00006) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-20-C-0025. This modification exercises options to procure software and engineering sustainment services, software support, logistics, cyber security and program related engineering in support of MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned air systems. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,452,295; fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) in the amount of $3,982,259; and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $139,877 will be obligated at time of award, of which $3,982,259 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Platforms & Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is awarded an $18,000,057 fixed-price contract action for Virginia class submarine propulsors. The services under this contract include the engineering and support for the construction of fixed assemblies for the Virginia class propulsor. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $98,152,185. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky (90%); and Minneapolis, Minnesota (10%), and is expected to be completed by February 2027. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) $18,000,057 funding will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-C-4106). Daniels & Daniels Construction Co., Inc., Goldsboro, North Carolina, is awarded a $13,437,820 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of the Marine Raider Regiment Headquarters, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The work to be performed constructs a headquarters facilities and includes miscellaneous supporting structures, utilities, parking, roadways, sidewalks, running trails and site work. The structures will be single-story steel frame buildings with brick veneer over metal studs, standing seam metal roofs, metal soffits and translucent wall panels. Work will be performed at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by December 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $13,437,820 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-19-R-9148). DRS Systems Inc., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $10,121,768 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable delivery order (N00019-21-F-0238) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0030. This order provides non-recurring engineering for the design, development and integration of the AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure system, including associated weapons replaceable assemblies in support of the HH-60W aircraft for the Air Force. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas (80%); San Diego, California (11%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (8%); and Melbourne, Florida (1%), and is expected to be completed in January 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $10,121,768 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Mitchel Field, New York, is awarded a $9,273,205 cost-plus-incentive fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00012) to previously awarded and announced contract N00030-20-C-0045 for the U.S. and United Kingdom (U.K.) to provide strategic weapon system Trident fleet support, Trident II SSP Shipboard Integration (SSI) Increment 8, SSI Increment 16, Columbia class and U.K. Dreadnought class navigation subsystem development efforts. Work will be performed in Mitchel Field, New York (47%); Huntington Beach, California (36%); Clearwater, Florida (9%); Cambridge, Massachusetts (6%); and Hingham, Massachusetts (2%), with an expected completion date of Nov. 30, 2023. Fiscal 2021 other procurement Navy funds in the amount of $9,273,205 will be obligated. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and (4). The Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded an $8,400,868 firm-fixed-price order (N68335-21-F-0102) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N68335-20-G-1043. This order provides non-recurring engineering for the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) software deficiency corrections, design and integration of four turret unit sensors and two electronics unit circuit card assemblies to address system obsolescence and provide a standard definition compatible system to multiple systems on various aircraft that utilize the MTS for the governments of India and Australia. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas (85%); Patuxent River, Maryland (10%); and Owego, New York (5%), and is expected to be completed in September 2022. Foreign cooperative project funds in the amount of $6,853,795; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $1,547,073 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. Edison Chouest Offshore, Cut Off, Louisiana, is awarded a $7,740,555 modification (P00021) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N32205-17-C-3513 to exercise a third 12-month option with reimbursable elements for one maritime support vessel MV Carolyn Chouest. This vessel will be utilized to launch, recover, refuel and resupply of various size crafts in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's (USINDOPACOM) area of responsibility (AOR). This contract includes a 12-month base period, three 12-month option periods and one 11-month option period. Work will be performed in the USINDOPACOM AOR, and is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised by Nov. 21, 2022. The option will be funded by fiscal 2021 (Navy) working capital funds in the amount of $6,001,581 that will expire at the end of the fiscal year; and fiscal 2022 (Navy) working capital funds in the amount of $1,738,974 that will expire at the end of fiscal 2022. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded a $400,000,000 modification (P00014) to contract FA8107-19-D-0001 for B-1 and B-52 bomber engineering services. This modification is for recurring and non-recurring engineering services to B-1 and B-52 aircraft. Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Edwards AFB, California; Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2022. The total cumulative value of the contract is $1,200,000,000. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $33,903,201 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8107-19-D-0001). Kegman Inc., Melbourne, Florida, has been awarded a $98,700,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cost-reimbursable line items for travel and material purchases as needed and approved by the government. This contract provides non-personal advisory and assistance services in support of the Air Force Technical Applications Center's (AFTAC) mission that will include, but not be limited, to technical, programmatic, acquisition, expert panel, analyses, engineering, logistical and consultation support on a task order basis. Work will be performed on Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Subject to the availability of funding, fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,267,485; fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,194,720; and fiscal 2021 other procurement funds in the amount of $256,955 are being obligated at the time of award. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA7022-21-D-0002). Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $48,634,855 855 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00017) to contract FA8682-18-C-0009 for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Group One development. This contract modification provides risk reduction testing, cyber testing and coatings to support the Group One development effort. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed June 28, 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and funds in the amount of $5,338,074; and fiscal 2019 other procurement funds in the amount of $3,100,060 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $258,029,572. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $36,246,974 modification (P00009) to contract FA8620-20-C-2009 for France contractor logistics support MQ-9 Block Five and Block One aircraft. The contractor will provide an additional period of contractor logistics support for the French Air Force. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2021. This contract involves 100% Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to France. FMS funds in the amount in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $73,305,690. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-20-C-2009). DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $14,761,791 firm-fixed-price modification (P000012) to contract FA2860-19-C-0005 for rotary wing maintenance. This contract provides helicopter maintenance of aircraft assigned to the 316th Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. This modification exercises Option Period Two and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $75,020,715. The 316th Contracting Squadron, Services Flight, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $10,873,024 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the sustainment of the Enhanced Integrator Sensor Suite (EISS) for the RQ-4 Global Hawk program. This contract provides for contractor logistics support and sustainment of the EISS on the RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2025. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $923,333 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8577-21-C-0002). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY SupplyCore, Inc.,* Rockford, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $80,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for facilities maintenance, repair and operations supplies. 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 bridge contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota and South Dakota, with a Dec. 18, 2021, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E3-21-D-0004). FreshPack Produce Inc., Denver, Colorado, has been awarded a maximum $41,500,000 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for fresh fruits and vegetables. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Colorado, with a Feb. 28, 2026, ordering period end date. Using customers are Department of Agriculture schools and reservations. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-21-D-S748). TMG OpCon LLLP, Ellijay, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $27,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency electronic catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 135 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Georgia, with a Dec. 17, 2025, performance completion date. - Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-21-D-0054). Crown Clothing Co.,* Vineland, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $8,541,763 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for men's coats, belts and keepers. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with a Dec. 17, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military service is Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-21-D1432). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2452534/source/GovDelivery/

  • To maintain tech edge, US seeks export controls on AI

    November 21, 2018 | International, C4ISR

    To maintain tech edge, US seeks export controls on AI

    By: Kelsey D. Atherton In just two words, the phrase “artificial intelligence” captures a deep techno-utopian promise, the notion that through craftsmanship humans can create learning and thinking machines outside the processes of organic life. AI is typically the realm of technologists and science fiction writers. Now it is also in the world of export controls prohibitions and restrictions on technologies as overseen by the Department of Commerce. In a proposed rule announced Nov. 19, the Bureau of Industry and Security wants to set out guidelines establishing “criteria for identifying emerging technologies that are essential to U.S. national security.” The stated goals of such controls are tied to both security and protectionism for existing American industry, especially the science, technology, engineering and manufacturing sectors. The proposed rules encompass 14 technologies, covering brain-computer interfaces to advanced surveillance technology. Nestled in that list of technologies is “artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology,” which is further broken into 11 related tools. Here is a list of all the kinds of AI that the new rules seek to put under Commerce export controls: Neural networks and deep learning (e.g., brain modelling, time series prediction, classification) Evolution and genetic computation (e.g., genetic algorithms, genetic programming) Reinforcement learning Computer vision (e.g., object recognition, image understanding) Expert systems (e.g., decision support systems, teaching systems) Speech and audio processing (e.g., speech recognition and production) Natural language processing ( e.g., machine translation) Planning (e.g., scheduling, game playing) Audio and video manipulation technologies (e.g., voice cloning, deepfakes) AI cloud technologies AI chipsets Several of these are as much mathematical concepts, or processes, as they are distinct, controllable technologies. Others, like AI cloud technologies, suggest always-online servers, which by the very nature of the internet, are difficult to control within borders. Tackling an entire technological field, especially one with as low a barrier to entry as coding, is a tricky proposition, even in the instances where the technology is clearly defined. Why might the White House go through all this trouble? “These revisions could compose an important element of a strategy of targeted countermeasures against the near-term threat posed by China's tactics for tech transfer and the long-term challenge of China's emergence as a powerhouse in innovation,” said Elsa B. Kania, adjunct fellow at the Center for New American Security. “However, the revision of this traditional mechanism for today's challenges is inherently challenging, particularly when development is driven by commercial technologies.” Unlike, say, controlling the components and designs of missiles in the Cold War, many of the technologies covered under these proposed rules have both commercial and military applications. We need not look abroad to find this. Project Maven, the tool Google created to process images collected from drones, was built on top of an open-source library. Identifying objects in images is hardly a military-specific task. Should companies within the United States be restricted in how they create, sell and share those same tools with researchers and commercial companies outside American borders? “China's national strategy of military-civil fusion, which seeks to create and leverage synergies among defense, academic, and commercial technological developments in dual-use technologies, increases the ambiguity and uncertainty of tech transfer and collaboration,” Kania said. “That is, the boundaries between defense and commercial technologies can become quite blurred as a result of the nature of these technologies and the Chinese government's strategy for their integrated development.” Putting in place controls to hinder the free flow of AI between American companies and businesses abroad may mitigate that risk somewhat, but countries set on acquiring the tools can pursue research by other means, including technology transfers, espionage, theft through hacking, or even straightforward investment and acquisition. Staying ahead in artificial intelligence likely cannot be done through commerce restrictions alone. “The U.S. must recognize that such controls may slow and hinder China's advances in these emerging technologies, but China's emergence as a powerhouse and would-be superpower in such emerging technologies will remain a critical long-term challenge,” Kania said. “We must not only pursue such defensive countermeasures, but also undertake a more offensive approach to ensuring future American competitiveness through investing in our own innovation ecosystem.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2018/11/20/to-maintain-tech-edge-us-seeks-export-controls-on-ai

  • US Army discontinues Rapid Equipping Force

    October 5, 2020 | International, Land, C4ISR, Security

    US Army discontinues Rapid Equipping Force

    Jen Judson WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has discontinued its Rapid Equipping Force stood up during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to get urgently needed capabilities into the field in 180 days or less. As the Army shifts from a focus on counterinsurgency operations to going up against near-peer adversaries like Russia and China across air, land, sea, cyberspace and space domains in large-scale operations, the REF's utility and mission has been in question. The service is also disbanding its Asymmetric Warfare Group. “As our focus changes to great power competition and large-scale combat operations, Army analysis indicated that the personnel and resources could best be utilized in building the operational fighting force,” an Oct. 2 Army statement read. “To ensure the value of organization's work over the past 14 years is not lost, all lessons learned will be maintained by the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, via the Center for Army Lessons Learned, Centers of Excellence and other [Training and Doctrine Command] enterprise stakeholders.” The discontinuation won't happen overnight. Both organizations will be fully deactivated by the end of fiscal 2021 “and will transition the mission of providing immediate support to other organizations,” the statement noted. Over the past several years, the REF hung on to certain missions and continued to advocate for its relevancy. A year ago, Defense News sat down with the REF's director in a new, smaller office space at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in a conference room surrounded by small counter-unmanned aircraft systems that it was rapidly fielded to units and considered one of its success stories. In 2017, the REF was focused on counter-drone technologies; dismounted electronic warfare equipment; tethered intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities; and urban operations equipment including up-armored commercial vehicles. But many of those technologies have found other homes within the Army. As the service stood up its new security force assistance brigades, the REF expected a surge in work to support the needs of those units in the field as they deployed. The REF played a small role at the time, providing the first SFAB with a few items it needed ahead of deployment such as communications gear and an item that assisted the unit with indirect fires. Last year, the REF was highlighting its nearly 10-year-old Expeditionary Lab, a 3D-printing trailer that can be deployed downrange to solve problems for units operating in austere environments. Col. Joe Bookard, who is still the REF's director, told Defense News at the time that the REF would continue to fill the niche of urgently supplying soldiers with capabilities to meet immediate needs while they are deployed. He said that, in a way, the REF has been doing what Army Futures Command is doing now, but on a smaller scale: providing capabilities that are rapidly procured to a small number of soldiers for evaluation, and then refining those capabilities as needed. In 2019, the REF addressed 400 requirements sent from combatant commanders to address operational capability gaps, Bookard said. Among some of the recent success stories is the tiny Black Hornet, an unmanned aircraft system that is now a program of record and was fielded as the Soldier Borne Sensor. The REF was also working to transition two hand-held counter-UAS capabilities — the DroneBuster and the Drone Defender — to the larger force as official programs. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/10/02/army-discontinues-rapid-equipping-force/

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