July 12, 2018 | International, Aerospace
By: Jen Judson
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin is planning to double its most advanced Patriot missile's production in the coming years to deal with exploding orders of the weapon from the U.S. Army and its allies, according to a company executive.
The U.S. Army has dramatically increased its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, or PAC-3 MSE, orders to not just account for full-rate production of the missile but to increase the stockpile on hand as operations overseas continue to eat up the inventory.
The MSE version has a larger, dual-pulse solid-rocket motor and larger control fins that double the missile's reach and improve performance against evolving ballistic and cruise missiles.
Meanwhile, several new customers abroad have joined the ranks of Patriot air and missile defense owners to include Poland, Romania and Sweden this year. This includes the purchase of a number of the MSE missiles as part of the initial order.
For example, Lockheed would build 576 PAC-3 MSEs just for the three European countries that recently signed on to buy Patriot.
Romania plans to buy 168 PAC-3 MSEs for its Patriot system as part of its order. Poland wants to buy 208 of them. Sweden intends to buy 200.
The reason for such an explosion in PAC-3 MSE buys is due to the proliferating threat both in the Middle East and in Europe as the U.S. and its allies remain embroiled in conflict in the Gulf region, and as European countries work to build up robust air defenses to deter Russia.
By: Aaron Mehta
A comparison of the U.S. Army's fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019 budget justification documents show the service drastically increased its planned buys — in some cases more than doubling — across FY18 through FY22.
The Army had planned to buy roughly 95 missiles per year from FY18 through FY22, but a year later the service increased the 2018 order from 93 to 240 to include those bought with overseas contingency operations funds. In FY19, the Army asked for 240 missiles again. And the base orders for the missile in FY21 and FY22 total 160 each year.
The Army's plans to dramatically increase its PAC-3 MSE production going forward has seen unanimous congressional approval, although the final FY19 defense appropriations bill has yet to become law. House and Senate appropriators are fully funding the production of 179 MSE missiles in FY19 in the base budget.
Lockheed is no longer selling its original PAC-3 missiles, but it is still producing them for one customer, according to Bob Delgado, director of international business development for integrated air and missile defense at Lockheed Martin, who spoke to Defense News in a recent interview at the defense conference Eurosatory in Paris.
This means Lockheed can make room for PAC-3 MSE production, which received the go-ahead to move into full-rate production by the U.S. Army in April.
“There is a lot of interest in [PAC-3 MSE], so much so we are doubling our capacity,” which equates to up to 500 of the missiles per year, Delgado said. This will likely mean adding an extra production line, he added.
Lockheed is currently meeting the demand, Delgado said, “however, it is getting more difficult as more orders come in, and that is why we are foreseeing, along with the U.S. government, a point where we need to increase our capacity.”
June 15, 2021 | International, Naval
Fincantieri’s Marinette Marine announced a leadership change at the Wisconsin shipyard, with retired U.S. Navy captain Mark Vandroff set to take over as CEO in July.
July 3, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence
NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $348,223,161 for modification P00019 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-17-C-0001). This modification is for production non-recurring, special tooling and special test equipment in support of low-rate initial production Lot 12 F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) partners and foreign military sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (23.80%); El Segundo, California (23.86%); San Diego, California (17.03%); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (7.65%); Orlando, Florida (6.63%); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (3.44%); Nashua, New Hampshire (2.71%); Clearfield, Utah (2.15%); Marietta, Georgia (1.77%); East Aurora, New York (1.59%); Palmdale, California (1.40%); Cheltenham, United Kingdom (0.96%); Turin, Italy (0.81%); Clearwater, Florida (0.79%); Melbourne, Florida (0.60%); Irvine, California (0.58%); Kongsberg, Norway (0.53%); Arlington, Texas (0.48%); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (0.46%); Tempe, Arizona (0.38%); Inglewood, California (0.33%); Papendrecht, Netherlands (0.28); Garden Grove, California (0.21%); Montmorency, Australia (0.20%); Marion, Virginia (0.17%); Independence, Ohio (0.14%); Amesbury, Massachusetts (0.13%); Rome, New York (0.13%); Los Angeles, California (0.10%); Hot Springs, Arkansas (0.10%); Lystrup, Denmark (0.09%); Grand Rapids, Michigan (0.09%); Owego, New York (0.07%); Sharon, Massachusetts (0.06%); Wichita, Kansas (0.06%); Boulder, Colorado (0.05%); Carlsbad, California (0.04%); Ontario, California (0.04%); Delta, British Columbia, Canada (0.03%); Long Beach, California (0.01%); Lindenhurst, New York (0.01%); Eskisehr, Turkey (0.01%); Saint Peters, Missouri (0.01%); Santa Fe Springs, California (0.01%); and Rancho Cucamonga, California (0.01%). Work is expected to be completed in August 2022. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy and Marine Corps); fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps); non-U.S. DoD partner and FMS funds in the amount of $348,223,161 are being obligated at time of award, $17,899,115 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($129,642,270; 38%); Navy ($69,738,685; 20%); Marine Corps ($61,001,500; 17%); non-U.S. DoD partners ($60,840,706; 17%) and FMS customers ($27,000,000; 8%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Anchor Innovation Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1901); Beach Marine Services Inc.,* Portsmouth, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1902); Colonna's Shipyard Inc.,* Norfolk Virginia (N50054-19-D-1903); East Coast Repair & Fabrication LLC,* Norfolk, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1904); Fairlead Boatworks Inc.,* Newport News, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1905); Lyon Shipyard Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1906); Q.E.D. Systems, Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1907); United States Marine Inc.,* Gulfport, Mississippi (N50054-19-D-1908); and Willard Marine Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1909) for Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center Marine Boatyard and Industrial Support for Lot I, and Colonna's Shipyard Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1910); East Coast Repair and Fabrication LLC,* Norfolk, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1911); Fairlead Boatworks Inc.,* Newport News, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1912); and Lyon Shipyard Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N50054-19-D-1913) for Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center Marine Boatyard and Industrial Support for Lot II, are each awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contracts to furnish the management, material support services, labor, supplies and equipment deemed necessary to provide marine boatyard and industrial support which includes modifications, upgrades, service life extension and repairs to non-commissioned boats, crafts, lighterage and service craft and/or their associated systems and periodic maintenance. These contracts include options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative ceiling value to $216,979,810. These nine small businesses will have the opportunity to provide offers for individual delivery orders. Work will be performed in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, area and is expected to be complete by July 2020, and work is expected to be completed by July 2024, if all options are exercised. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $32,500 ($2,500 minimum guarantee per contract) was obligated under each contract's initial delivery order and expires at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with nine offers received. The Navy's Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a maximum $99,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, single award task order contract for aerospace medical and environmental health research support services at the Naval Medical Research Unit-Dayton. Work will be performed in Dayton, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by July 7, 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, testing and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,000,000 will be obligated upon award under an initial incrementally funded task order and the funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with six offers received. The Naval Medical Logistics Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N62645-19-D-5005). RWG (Repair & Overhauls) USA Inc., Houston, Texas (N64498-19-D-4019); and the Canadian Commercial Corp. representing Standard Aero Energy Co. (SAE) Winnipeg, Manitoba (N64498-19-D-4020) are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for depot level overhaul of Navy 501-K34 marine gas turbine engines for a program cumulative value of $70,000,000. The 501-K34 marine gas turbine engines are used on the Navy ship class DDG-51. Orders will be competed between both offerors. Work under N64498-19-D-4019 will be performed in Houston, Texas, and work under N64498-19-D-4020 will be performed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is expected to be completed by March 2024. No funding will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated as individual orders are issued. These contracts were not competitively procured, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), Limited Number of Responsible Sources. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a $21,689,142 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N00019-19-F-2972) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-19-G-0029). This order procures the CH-53K Data Transfer Unit and Defensive Electronic Countermeasure System Replacement program and includes necessary Non Recurring Engineering (NRE) to replace existing subsystems within the CH-53K production aircraft. NRE tasks include investigation, systems engineering support, risk analysis, integration development, weight impact and publication updates. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (44.02%); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (41.74%); Fort Worth, Texas (7.41%); Vergennes, Vermont (2.81%); City of Industry, California (1.9%); Costa Mesa, California (1.18%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (.94%), and is expected to be completed in January 2021. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $21,689,142 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. Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc.,* Portsmouth, Virginia, is awarded a $14,589,487 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the repair, restoration, overhaul, assembly and test services of the Naval Submarine Universal Modular Mast (UMM). The UMM systems will be completely overhauled off-hull at the vendor's facility to a ready-for-issue status to support the fleet during maintenance availabilities. Required services will be determined on an individual task order level. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by July 2024. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $566,676 will be obligated at time of award via the first task order and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-19-D-4027). Frequentis Defense Inc., Columbia, Maryland, is awarded an $8,454,481 firm-fixed-price contract for non-recurring engineering and logistics for the design, development, test, manufacture and repair of the MD-5A Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System, which will support the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned air vehicle. The integrated computer system will transport voice communications from carrier-based air vehicle operators to local audio switches, local radio terminals and remote radio terminals. Work will be performed in Columbia, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,454,481 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-19-C-0276). Tompco Inc.,* Seabeck, Washington, is awarded $8,221,449 for firm-fixed-price task order N44255-19-F-4283 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N44255-17-D-4014) for the RM #19-0166 asbestos abatement and replacement of steam condensate and high pressure drain systems, Naval Base Kitsap, Puget Sound, Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington. Scope of work includes the abatement of asbestos and replacement of systems throughout the steam distribution system to improve worker safety. This project consists of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuuming all surfaces, wet wiping, scraping, shoveling, scrubbing and/or mopping where HEPA vacuuming is inadequate to containment and removal of any mud, sand, soil and dust/debris from surfaces including floors, abandoned piping removal and replacement of piping and insulation. The project area is DD5 service gallery and all connected laterals, trenches, utilidors, etc. The work will be performed in Bremerton, Washington, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 3, 2020. Fiscal 2019 working capital contract funds in the amount of $8,221,449 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five solicitation emails were sent and four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity for the basic contract and the NAVFAC Bremerton Field Engineering, Acquisition Department is the contracting activity for the task order. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded $7,103,403 for cost-plus-fixed-fee order N00019-19-F-2555 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0029. This order procures non-recurring engineering, development, tooling, manufacturing, qualification, reporting and delivery of the nose, main, intermediate and tail gearbox gears in support of the low rate initial production of the CH-53K aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in October 2020. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,103,403 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. ARMY Yulista Support Services,* Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $226,911,155 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for maintenance and modifications of C5ISR flight activity platforms. Bids were solicited via the internet with zero received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 19, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGU-19-D-0002). Cornforth Consultants Inc.,* Portland, Oregon (W91237-19-D-0016); K S Ware & Associates LLC,* Nashville, Tennessee (W91237-19-D-0017); and Aterra-Schnabel JV,* Ambler, Pennsylvania (W91237-19-D-0015), will compete for each order of the $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for national dam safety engineering and design services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 1, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, West Virginia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a $66,752,500 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for rapid technology development and demonstrations. This contract provides for the development of new/novel concepts for sensor and systems of sensor systems across the multiple domains and spectrums that aid in command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and battlespace awareness. Work will performed in Reston, Virginia, with base support at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by June 12, 2024. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $546,050 are being obligated at the time of award. Contracting activity is the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (FA8650-19-C-1941). Engility Corp., Andover, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $40,000,000 firm-fixed-price/cost reimbursement/cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for services supporting the Space and Missile Systems Center, Advanced Systems and Development Directorate, Ground Systems and Space Operations Division at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. This contract provides engineering, development, integration and sustainment services supporting the current ground system enterprise throughout its evolution, including the transition to and buildout of enterprise ground services. Work will be performed at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; Schriever AFB, Colorado; Buckley AFB, Colorado; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Space Based Infrared Radar Payload On-Orbit Test Station facility, Azusa, California; the Space Management Battle Lab, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Vandenberg AFB, California, as well as future sites at Naval Research Laboratory, Blossom Point, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 20, 2019. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Space and Missile Systems Center, Advanced Systems & Development Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (FA8818-19-D-0004). General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., doing business as General Dynamics Mission Systems, Fairfax, Virginia, have been awarded a $35,683,952, cost-plus-incentive-fee modification (P00015) to previously awarded FA8307-17-F-0004 for next generation GEO overhead persistent infrared (NGG-OPIR). The contract modification provides for additional Medium/LargeSat Common Solutions (MLCS) variants for the NGG-OPIR program, additional MLCS engineering development modules, increased tempest testing and to fund an overrun. Work will be performed at General Dynamics Mission System, Scottsdale, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $12,726,494.04 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Cryptologic Systems Division, Contracting Division, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Valley Apparel, LLC,* Knoxville, Tennessee, has been awarded a maximum $10,794,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Navy working uniform parkas. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is Tennessee, with a July 1, 2020 performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1172). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1895053/source/GovDelivery/
July 22, 2020 | International, Land
July 16, 2020 - Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (Marshall ADG) signed an exclusive agreement with QinetiQ to market, sell and install the latest generation of lightweight armour (LAST Armor® LWA) for the C-130 Hercules. The new armour is half the weight and offers air crew the same threat protection as the previous LAST Armor. It also saves fuel, reduces the impact on the aircraft's centre of gravity and allows the C-130-30 variant its full cargo carrying capacity. Marshall ADG will be the first company to certify the new lightweight armour on the C -130 aircraft. Marshall ADG's Sales Director, Matthew Harvey said: “Being able to offer C-130 operators a lightweight armour solution that provides the same level of threat protection as the current LAST Armor demonstrates our commitment to protecting people in critical situations, “Crew safety is paramount and critical to mission success and we're pleased to be able to provide this capability to customers through this partnership with QinetiQ." This increased operational capability allows air forces around the world to operate in hostile environments with the confidence that their crews are protected against small arms fire. Vice President of QinetiQ Inc., Dan Deguire, said: “Since 1995, LAST Armor has provided critical protection from small arms fire on hundreds of C-130J, C-130E/H, C-5, and C-17s, as well as several other aircraft platforms. We are excited to have this opportunity to partner with Marshall ADG to launch our next generation of improved lightweight armor products worldwide.” The armour is manufactured from high tenacity polyethylene, making it extremely robust, and approximately 380kg (840lbs) lighter than the current LAST Armor solution specifically on the C -130J. This, combined with its environmental coatings ensures that the armour remains relatively inert throughout its service life, even when operating within the harshest of environments. The armour can be quickly and easily installed during scheduled maintenance or as a standalone activity, thus ensuring optimum aircraft mission availability. View source version on Marshall ADG: https://marshalladg.com/insights-news/marshall-signs-exclusive-partnership-with-qinetiq-for-c-130-armour