January 28, 2019 | International, Aerospace
Par : Nicolas Gros-Verheyde | EURACTIV France
La Slovaquie, la Roumanie, et bientôt la Bulgarie et la Croatie : les avions de chasse américains séduisent toute l'Europe.
Pour les armées européennes, voler non américain se fait rare. Seuls six pays n'ont pas équipé leur flotte aérienne de chasse avec du matériel américain. La Suède et la France s'équipent uniquement en national (respectivement le Gripen et le Rafale), et l'Allemagne avec du matériel européen certes (Eurofigther), mais fabriqué sur son sol. Tandis que l'Autriche, la République tchèque et la Hongrie se sont équipées, le premier, en Eurofighter, les deux autres, en Gripen suédois.
Un équipement made in US ou panaché
Plusieurs pays, notamment dans le sud de l'Europe (Espagne, Grèce, Italie) ont choisi de panacher, prenant un produit européen (Eurofighter ou Mirage) et un produit américain (F-16 ou/et F-35). Un exemple suivi par le Royaume-Uni. Bien que fervente défenseure du lien transatlantique, la Royal Air Force équilibre ses achats entre le made in USA (F-35) et le made in Europa (l'Eurofighter renommé Typhoon outre-Manche). Un pragmatisme qui a un fondement très industriel. Une partie de ces avions sont fabriqués dans les usines britanniques.
Les pays d'Europe centrale ou orientale, proches de la Russie sont plus monogames. Sauf les trois exceptions mentionnées (Autriche, Hongrie, Tchéquie), ils s'équipent exclusivement en matériel américain, en général avec des avions F-16 (Lockheed Martin). Il en est de même des pays du nord de l'Europe (Norvège, Danemark, Pays-Bas, Belgique) tous équipés en matériel américain.
La tendance ne s'inverse pas
Aucun signe ne montre une inversion de tendance. Au contraire ! Les derniers pays qui viennent de s'équiper (Belgique, Roumanie, Slovaquie) l'ont fait avec du matériel américain. Et les Bulgares et Croates s'apprêtent à suivre ce chemin. Tandis que les Grecs qui vont devoir renouveler leur flotte se t'tent pour déterminer leur choix, qui sera largement guidé par le poids économique de l'investissement. Même les Suisses, équipés actuellement de F-18 de chez Boeing,, se demandent s'ils ne vont pas reprendre américain à nouveau.
Cette prééminence américaine pose un défi à l'industrie européenne, et à la velléité d'autonomie stratégique et industrielle des « 27 ».
L'équipement en avion de chasse est, en effet, un investissement lourd. Le renouvellement n'intervient que tous les 20 ans en cas d'achat d'occasion, et à 40 ans en cas d'achat en neuf.
Autant dire que les acquisitions prévues aujourd'hui vont réduire d'autant les capacités de l'industrie européenne jusqu'à 2060 minimum ! D'autant que l'arrivée de l'avion américain de nouvelle génération F-35 dans la flotte de plusieurs États (Belgique, Danemark, Italie, Pays-Bas, Royaume-Uni) risque de « siphonner » durablement les budgets de ces pays. Le futur avion franco-allemand-espagnol prévu pour 2035-2040 risque d'avoir un marché « bouché » et réduit à l'espace de ses pays constructeurs.
Cette inconséquence européenne est troublante. Mais plutôt que d'accuser les États-Unis d'interventionnisme industriel, les Européens devraient se regarder dans le miroir. L'industrie aéronautique européenne est aujourd'hui éclatée entre trois constructeurs (Airbus, Dassault, Saab). Ce qui l'empêche d'avoir un modèle unique et donc de faire des économies d'échelle. Elle ne dispose pas d'une offre de « second choix », les fameux F-16 d'occasion, qui permet de s'équiper à moindre coût. Et les pays européens sont incapables de proposer une offre complète, politique, économique, académique et opérationnelle, comme le font les Américains. Offre qui va de l'accueil des stagiaires officiers dans les écoles militaires aux facilités financières pour l'équipement, à la présence militaire, parfois permanente, dans le pays, à titre de réassurance politique.
Or, acheter un avion de chasse est une décision éminemment stratégique. Il ne s'agit pas seulement d'acquérir un véhicule aérien avec des capacités. On achète une « assurance-vie » et une protection militaire. Et on assure ainsi à cet allié un « retour » sur l'investissement politique et militaire. On bénéficie d'une culture stratégique et d'un réseau académique puissant. Tant que les Européens ne pourront offrir l'équivalent, l'avion de chasse, made in US, a de beaux jours devant lui.
November 21, 2023 | International, Security
In Episode 27 of The Pilot Project Podcast, Goddard shares his experiences as a CH-149 Cormorant pilot conducting SAR missions and rescues.
May 8, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence
NAVY Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $84,925,824 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-13-C-5116 for AEGIS combat system engineering, architecture, development, integration and test; Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air integration and test; and training, studies and computer program maintenance. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by December 2019. Fiscal 2014 and 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $58,414,159 will be obligated at the time of award and funding in the amount of $4,217,275 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. G2 Software Systems Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $83,493,639 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to provide command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities in the areas of innovative science and technology research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, testing, configuration management, quality assurance, and implementation and support of C2 net-centric military operations. This is one of six contracts awarded. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes four two-year options which, if exercised, would bring the overall, cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $93,030,165. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2021. If the options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2029. Fiscal 2019 working capital (Navy) funds in a guaranteed amount of $10,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire by the end of the current fiscal year. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); shipbuilding construction (Navy); and working capital fund (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via a request for proposal (N66001-18-R-0002) and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Fourteen offers were received and six were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0059). Geocent,* Metairie, Louisiana, is awarded a $83,338,808 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to provide command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities in the areas of innovative science and technology research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, testing, configuration management, quality assurance, and implementation and support of C2 net-centric military operations. This is one of six contracts awarded. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes four two-year options which, if exercised, would bring the overall, cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $93,030,165. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2021. If the options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2029. A guarantee of $10,000 using fiscal 2019 working capital (Navy) funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); shipbuilding construction (Navy); and working capital fund (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via a request for proposal (N66001-18-R-0002) and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Fourteen offers were received and six were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0060). Forward Slope Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $76,903,173 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to provide command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities in the areas of innovative science and technology research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, testing, configuration management, quality assurance, and implementation and support of C2 net-centric military operations. This is one of six contracts awarded. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes four two-year options which, if exercised, would bring the overall, cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $93,030,165. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2021. If the options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2029. A guarantee of $10,000 using fiscal 2019 working capital (Navy) funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); shipbuilding construction (Navy); and working capital fund (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via a request for proposal (N66001-18-R-0002) and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Fourteen offers were received and six were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0058). Advanced Sciences and Technologies LLC (AS&T),* Berlin, New Jersey, is awarded a $68,106,416 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to provide command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities in the areas of innovative science and technology research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, testing, configuration management, quality assurance, and implementation and support of C2 net-centric military operations. This is one of six contracts awarded. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes four two-year options which, if exercised, would bring the overall, cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $93,030,165. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2021. If the options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2029. A guarantee of $10,000 using fiscal 2019 working capital (Navy) funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); shipbuilding construction (Navy); and working capital fund (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via a Request for Proposal (N66001-18-R-0002) and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Fourteen offers were received and six were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0056). Solute Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $55,891,672 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to provide command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities in the areas of innovative science and technology research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, testing, configuration management, quality assurance, and implementation and support of C2 net-centric military operations. This is one of six contracts awarded. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes four two-year options which, if exercised, would bring the overall, cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $93,030,165. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2021. If the options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2029. A guarantee of $10,000 using fiscal 2019 working capital (Navy) funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); shipbuilding construction (Navy); and working capital fund (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via a request for proposal (N66001-18-R-0002) and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Fourteen offers were received and six were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0061). United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded $55,675,476 for modification P00005 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1021). This modification provides additional funding for F135 long lead items to support the production delivery schedule, exercises an option for additional initial spare parts, and provides program administrative labor for the global spares pool in support the Navy; Air Force, and Marine Corps, non-U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (67 percent); Indianapolis, Indiana (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2022. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps); non-U.S. DoD participant and FMS funds in the amount of $55,675,476 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This effort combines purchases for the Navy ($4,161,749; 7.5 percent); Air Force ($3,116,792; 5.6 percent); Marine Corps ($556,570; 1.0 percent); non-U.S. DoD participants ($24,899,106; 44.7 percent); and FMS Customers ($22,941,259; 41.2 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Data Intelligence LLC,* Marlton, New Jersey, is awarded a $48,103,672 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to provide command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities in the areas of innovative science and technology research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, testing, configuration management, quality assurance, and implementation and support of C2 net-centric military operations. This is one of six contracts awarded. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes four two-year options which, if exercised, would bring the overall, cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $93,030,165. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2021. If the options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2029. A guarantee of $10,000 using fiscal 2019 working capital (Navy) funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy), shipbuilding construction (Navy); and working capital fund (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via a request for proposal (N66001-18-R-0002) and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Fourteen offers were received and six were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0057). Black Construction/MACE International JV, Harmon, Guam, is awarded a $29,877,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a three-megawatt photovoltaic electrical generation system at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Diego Garcia. The work to be performed provides for the construction (design-bid-build) of a three-megawatt photovoltaic electrical generation system and the supporting electrical distribution system upgrades required to interconnect the photovoltaic array with the existing NSF Diego Garcia. The project will also include site preparation, fencing, perimeter lighting and a ground cover system. Work will be performed in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territories and is expected to be completed by June 2021. Fiscal 2015 military construction (Department of Defense) contract funds in the amount of $29,877,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with one proposal received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-19-C-1324). Nathan Kunes Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $13,681,778 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for development, implementation and testing of computer network defense measures; development of wireless computing security, cross-domain solutions, and vulnerability assessments; and system and security engineering to evaluate commercial information assurance products. This two-year contract includes one three-year option which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $35,236,186. All work will be performed in San Diego, California. The period of performance of the base award is from May 7, 2019, through May 6, 2021. If the option is exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and research, development, test and evaluation (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0351 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Two offers were received and one was selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0089). BAE Systems, Information and Electronics Systems Integration Inc., Hudson, New Hampshire, is awarded $10,853,462 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N0001919F0019 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0021) for the upgrade of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guidance section. This delivery order provides for non-recurring tasks to combine the Rotary Wing APKWS II and the Fixed Wing APKWS II Guidance Sections into one hardware and software solution. Work will be performed in Hudson, New Hampshire (93 percent); and Austin, Texas (7 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 procurement of ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $10,853,462 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind,** San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $11,295,446 modification (P000013) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-17-D-B024) with two one-year option periods for flame resistant, operational camouflage pattern, intermediate weather outer layer trousers. This is a firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Texas, with an Oct. 31, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. UPDATE: Federal Contracts Corp., Tampa, Florida (SPE8EC-19-D-0040), has been added as an awardee to the multiple-award contract supplying felling trailers for commercial trucks and trailers, issued against solicitation SPE8EC-17-R-0008, announced April 20, 2017. *Small business **Mandatory source https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1840893/source/GovDelivery/
September 21, 2022 | International, Land
DARPA began the second round of off-road testing for its autonomous vehicle program, this time turning to the steep hills and trees of central California.