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July 31, 2020 | International, Naval

Logos Technologies Awarded $6.7 Million Navy Contract for Infrared Wide-Area Sensor

Fairfax, Va.— July 28, 2020 — Logos Technologies recently received approval to disclose that it has been awarded a $6.7 million contract from the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to develop, deliver, and perform proof-of-concept flight tests on a wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) sensor.

The sensor system will be called Cardcounter and is being developed to integrate onto the Navy and Marine Corps RQ-21A small tactical unmanned aircraft system (UAS).

Cardcounter will be a missionized capability derived from Logos Technologies' BlackKite sensor. BlackKite is an ultra-lightweight WAMI prototype with infrared capability.

“We see this contract as a major step for us, the Navy/Marines, and the warfighter in general,” said Doug Rombough, VP for Business Development at Logos Technologies. “In embracing miniaturized wide-area motion imagery systems for tactical UAS, the Department of Defense is taking a technology that has already proven itself on the battlefield with aerostats and providing the tactical commander with guardian angel-like overwatch.”

BlackKite, upon which Cardcounter will be based, weighs fewer than 28 pounds, yet is powerful enough to image an area of more than 12 square kilometers (about 5 square miles) in coverage. Within that vast coverage area, sensor operators can detect and track all vehicles in real time.

“There's nothing like BlackKite out there in the market today,” said Rombough. “It is a force multiplier in terms of enhanced situational awareness. The system catches and records the entire area in real time and streams multiple video ‘chip-outs' down to handheld devices on the ground.”

Cardcounter will leverage BlackKite's high-performance, multi-modal edge processor, which can store six or more hours of mission data. With this technology, users can forensically analyze the recorded imagery to better contextualize what is currently unfolding in the real-time imagery, drawing connections between people, places and events.

The initial $6.7 million award from NAVAIR will cover the development of two Cardcounter prototypes, with a planned delivery by the end of September 2020 and ready to begin flight testing on the RQ-21A Blackjack.

NAVAIR Public Release 2020-514. Distribution Statement A – “Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited”

About Logos Technologies

Founded in 1996, Logos Technologies LLC is a diversified science, engineering and technology company specializing in the fields of advanced sensors, wide-area motion imagery, advanced analytics and processing of large, multisource datasets. Logos serves government customers, including the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community and Department of Homeland Security, as well as a range of customers in commercial and international markets. Learn more at www.logos-technologies.com.

MEDIA CONTACT FOR LOGOS TECHNOLOGIES
Susan Kerin, Director of Communications
+1 703-237-6550 |

View source version on Logos Technologies: https://www.logostech.net/logos-awarded-7-million-navy-contract-ir-wami-rq-21a/

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 28, 2019

    March 29, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 28, 2019

    ARMY Architects Pacific Inc.,* Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0006); Bowers + Kubota Management Inc., Waipahu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0007); Burns & McDonnell + Group 70 Ho'ohui'ia JV, Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0008); Fung Associates Inc.,* Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0009); Ink Arch LLC,* Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0010); Jacobs and Architects Hawaii JV, Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0011); RIM/DPI JV LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0012); and RMA-SA JV LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0013), will compete for each order of the $150,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineer services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 16 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 27, 2026. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Martin UAV LLC,* Plano, Maryland (W911QY-19-D-0032); and Textron, AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland (W911QY-19-D-0033), will compete for each order of the $99,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of non-developmental tactical unmanned aerial systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 27, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Tysons Corner, Virginia, was awarded a $71,528,710 firm-fixed-price contract for East Campus Building 3 construction project at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of March 27, 2023. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $71,528,710 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-19-C-0013). AECOM Energy and Construction Inc., Greenwood Village, Colorado, was awarded a $59,639,368 modification (P00007) to contract W912P5-17-C-0007 for Chickamauga Lock Chamber replacement. Work will be performed in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 14, 2020. Fiscal 2019 general construction funds in the amount of $59,639,368 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville, Tennessee, is the contracting activity. Edmond Scientific Co.,* Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a $46,750,681 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for scientific services. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 27, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911NF-19-D-0005). General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $46,249,658 modification (P00078) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0067 for Abrams systems technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $46,249,658 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Palomar Display Products Inc.,* was awarded a $40,714,894 modification (P00007) to contract W909MY-15-D-0003 for repairs, engineering support and technical services of the Binocular Image Control Units. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 13, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Kiple Acquisition Science Technology Logistics & Engineering,* Forest Hill, Maryland, was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide technical and analytical expertise, and administrative assistance. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 27, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QY-19-D-0031). CORRECTION: A $1,135,410,156 contract modification announced on March 27, 2019, for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas (P00010) to contract W31P4Q-18-C-0049, stated that it was a Foreign Military Sales (Poland, Bahrain and Romania) contract, however the contract also includes domestic procurement supporting the Army and Marine Corps. All other information in the announcement is correct. NAVY The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $71,345,504 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide engineering and integrated logistics support to maintain the T/AV-8B Harrier during the aircraft's Post-Production Support Phase. Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri (75 percent); Warton, Lancashire, United Kingdom (11 percent); Cherry Point, North Carolina (10 percent); Yuma, Arizona (3 percent); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001919D0004). BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Armament Systems Division, Louisville, Kentucky, is awarded a $70,672,462 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for five overhauled/upgraded Mk 45 Mod 4 gun mounts and their associated components, to include Mk 63 Mod 1 weather shields, Mod 4 manufacture kits, and Mod 4 machine parts kits. The 5-inch Mk 45 Light Weight Gun Mount System provides an effective weapon for anti-surface, naval surface fire support, and anti-air warfare missions, and is installed aboard DDG 51- and CG 47-class ships. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky, and is expected to be completed by July 2023. Fiscal 2016, 2017 and 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $70,672,462 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current 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 Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00174-19-C-0004). Helix Electric Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded a $32,740,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of the Harbor Drive switching station at Naval Base San Diego, California. The work to be performed provides for relocations and upgrades to the primary and secondary switching stations. Electrical components include switchgears with medium voltage circuit breakers, busses, underground primary and secondary cabling, protective relaying, power system automation communication line, communication line for supervisory control and data acquisition system connected to the head-end equipment, smart meters, lighting and other associated electrical appurtenances. The contract also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised would increase the cumulative contract value to $36,500,000. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by August 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $32,740,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-C-1209). Joseph J. Henderson & Son Inc., Gurnee, Illinois, is awarded a $30,700,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the repair of the wastewater treatment plant at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. The work to be performed provides for substantial upgrade of domestic and industrial wastewater treatment facilities to be completed while maintaining continuous operation. Demolition includes major structures including equipment in the structures, utility connections to the structures, and small ancillary facilities. Additionally, rehabilitation of structures for process and architectural upgrades, removal of two interior doors with hazardous levels of lead based paint, and remediation in three structures to remove asbestos containing material are required. New major facilities and ancillary systems, such as site electrical power, utilities, and paving and grading are required. Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, Texas, and is expected to be completed by February 2021. Fiscal 2019 Navy working capital contract funds in the amount of $30,700,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-C-0912). Support Services LLC, Cape Canaveral, Florida, is awarded $22,977,890 for a modification under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N69450-18-D-2013) to exercise Option One for base operations support services at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, and outlying areas Saufley Field, Corry Station, and Bronson Field. The work to be performed provides for all management, supervision, labor, equipment, materials, supplies, and tools necessary to perform facilities management, facilities investment, facility maintenance services (non-family housing), utility plant and distribution system operations and maintenance (chiller, electrical, gas, wastewater, steam and water), environmental services, and base support vehicles and equipment. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $45,863,832. Work will be performed in Pensacola, Florida, and work for this option period is expected to be completed March 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, (Navy); fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds; and fiscal 2019 Defense Health Program funds in the amount of $18,442,613 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia, is awarded $18,143,171 for modification P00007 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost delivery order contract. This modification provides for additional technical, analytical and managerial services in support of the Naval Aviation Enterprise. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in February 2022. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,124,508 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Archer Western Construction LLC, Chicago, Illinois, is awarded $17,820,000 for firm-fixed-price task order N6945019F0708 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N69450-12-D-1267) for the design and construction of P426 Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) parking garage at Naval Station, Mayport, Florida. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of a five-story, 1,355-vehicle structured parking facility. The facility shall be fully handicapped accessible and be an open “public” parking structure. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be completed by April 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $17,820,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $16,187,822 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for engineering services in support of the development of the T/AV-8B aircraft, including system configuration set updates, avionics and weapons integration, and avionics obsolescence mitigation. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in March 2024. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,000,000 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 Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N689361919D0010). Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $14,824,692 for delivery order N0001919F0012 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0021) in support of the E-6B Mercury aircraft. This order provides for non-recurring engineering for development of the facilities, equipment, and material required to implement the Block II Sustainment and Support System. Work will be performed in Richardson, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,824,692 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Assurance Technology Corp., Carlisle, Massachusetts, is awarded a $13,959,231 modification to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00173-18-C-6007 for research and development for the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) System for Naval Research Laboratory Space Systems Development Department. After award of this modification, the total cumulative value of this contract is $25,470,666. Work will be performed at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, and work is expected to be completed Sept. 28, 2019. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $230,000 will be obligated at the time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00173-18-C-6007). General Dynamics Mission Systems, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is awarded a $10,070,668 cost-with-no-fee contract (N00030-19-C-0024) for capital maintenance of the Navy Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed March 31, 2022. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,725,000; and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,345,668 will be obligated at time of award. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is awarded on a sole-source basis in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) and was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunity website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE FlightSafety Services Corp., Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $29,496,514 modification (P00029) to previously awarded contract FA8621-13-C-6247 for the exercise of the KC-46 Aircrew Training System production year four options. The contract modification is for the exercise of option contract line item numbers for an additional weapon system trainer, boom operator trainer, fuselage trainer, pilot part task trainer, boom operator part task trainer, additional learning management workstations, support equipment, McGuire Air Force Base and Altus AFB site activations, systems engineering and program management, summative evaluation, visual database airfield models, new refresher training scenarios, and one Aerial Refueling Airplane Simulator Qualification certification. Work will be performed in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and is expected to be complete by February 2021. Fiscal 2018 purchasing and procurement funds in the amount of $14,453,292 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Merex Aircraft Co., Inc., Camarillo, California, has been awarded an $18,300,000 estimated ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the acquisition of A-10 flap assemblies. This contract provides for the acquisition of left and right outboard flap assemblies (NSNs 1560-01-591-4392FJ and 1560-01-591-4394FJ); and left and right inboard flap assemblies (NSNs 1560-01-591-8913FJ and 1560-01-591-5806FJ). Work will be performed in Camarillo, California, and is expected to be complete by March 27, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Consolidated Sustainment Activity Group working capital funds in the amount of $4,887,547 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8212-19-D-0001). Telephonics Corp., Farmingdale, New York, has been awarded a $12,623,588 firm-fixed-price contract for the Royal Saudi Air Force Airborne Warning and Control System (RSAF AWACS) Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe. This contract provides for manufacture, test, and delivery of Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe AN/UPX-40 Interrogator shipsets and installation kits for the RSAF AWACS fleet. Work will be performed in Farmingdale, New York, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2021. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Saudi Arabian Letter of Offer and Acceptance case funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-19-C-0010). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Truman Arnold Companies, doing business as TAC Air, Amarillo, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $13,775,007 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 148 responses received. This is a 47-month contract with one six-month option period. Location of performance is Texas, with a March 31, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE607-19-D-0013). Hamilton Sundstrand Corp., Windsor Locks, Connecticut, has been awarded a maximum $13,099,996 firm-fixed-priced delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-L305) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-13-G-001X) with no option periods for spare parts in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Location of performance is Connecticut, with a June 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY L3 Applied Technologies Inc. (L3 ATI), San Leandro, California, was awarded an $8,272,568 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for modeling and experimentation of laser interaction with plasma. The contract award includes a base period in the amount of $4,036,518 and an option period in the amount of $4,236,050. L3 ATI will investigate, model, and execute proof-of-principle and scaled ground-test demonstrations to assess the ability of a laser to enhance and impart effects on plasma. The work will be performed in San Leandro, California. The period of performance for the base period is eight months, from March 2019 through November 2019. The period of performance for the option period is five months, from December 2019 through April 2020. This contract was competitively procured through publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website under the Missile Defense Agency's broad agency announcement for advanced technology innovation, HQ0147-17-S-0001. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,586,824 are being obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-C-6504). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1799365/

  • B-21 Bomber Critical Design Review by End of Year

    June 26, 2018 | International, Aerospace

    B-21 Bomber Critical Design Review by End of Year

    JOHN A. TIRPAK The secret B-21 bomber will progress to a major milestone—critical design review—by the end of this year, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director Randall Walden said Monday. Walden also revealed that the B-21 is merely one of 28 programs being managed by the RCO, which he noted is funded at about $30 billion over the five-year future year defense plan. Walden, speaking at an AFA Mitchell Institute event in Arlington, Va., said the B-21 has already passed its preliminary design review, and noted that the release of drawings for the bomber is progressing well. As for critical design review, "we haven't done it, but we're on our way," and he predicted it would happen by the end of December. Major design work on the bomber is taking place at Northrop Grumman's Melbourne, Fla., facility. He acknowledged that subscale models of the aircraft have been tested in wind tunnels, but said no full-size version has yet been fabricated. "Component testing" is moving along at an "appropriate" speed, he said. "We're looking forward to ... an 'on-time' start of production," Walden said. Walden has spoken publicly about the RCO in a number of venues, but was more forthcoming than usual about the organization and its products at the Mitchell event. Of the 28 projects in the RCO's portfolio, 13 are "ACAT 1," he noted, meaning they are major defense acquisition programs, which usually means a major platform, like an aircraft, missile, or command and control system. While Walden would only identify the B-21 and X-37 orbital vehicle among those that the RCO is working on, he said the majority of the rest could best be characterized as "family of systems" projects. Interestingly, Walden said the RCO has not been called on to undertake any hypersonics programs. The Air Force is pursuing hypersonics projects with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the other services are conducting independent research in the field. Walden said the RCO has about 220 people, who are headquartered at JB Anacostia-Bolling, in Washington, D.C. Among them are experts from the line Air Force who are "embedded" with programs to offer operator advice on design and development. Four bomber pilots are attached to the RCO to advise on the B-21's development, he noted. The B-21 program manager—who Walden did not name—has had experience with management of the F-22 and F-35 programs, he said. The B-21 program has long been scheduled to produce a "usable asset" in the 2024 timeframe, according to comments offered by Air Force officials for the last three years. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), chair of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces panel, revealed in March that problems had arisen with airflow to the B-21's engines, and Walden said Monday that these had been resolved. "Complex weapon systems, especially engine integrations, ... you've got to get throat sizes done right, prior to anything being built" he said, referring to the serpentine tunnels by which air reaches the B-21's engines, which are buried in the fuselage. The RCO obtained "insight from actual lab testing" and found the optimal solution, he said. The RCO has been asked to help with the set-up of a dedicated "Space RCO" at the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., and Walden said he has recommended veterans of his own shop to run it, especially those who have worked on space systems, and they have been hired, he said. Walden resisted allowing his own people to be hired away for the new organization, he said. Walden was asked whether the RCO is working on a successor platform to the X-37, and although he did not reply directly, he did say that it is "no different from any other system, ... it starts to get old," and there begin to emerge problems with vanishing vendors and parts obsolescence. However, he forecast no "big change" in that program in the near future. The X-37 tends to fly two-year missions, and various agencies that use the data collected from it are very happy with its activities, he said. Walden told Air Force Magazine he is not experiencing trouble obtaining the workforce he requires, but he said he's aware that major vendors are experiencing difficulties hiring all the engineering and especially software talent needed to execute the Air Force's array of high-tech projects. He also reported that the RCO's experience with protests—wherein a contractor not selected for a program complains that the judging was not fair—is no worse, and probably somewhat better, than that experienced by the Air Force in its "white world," or non-secret programs. Commenting on the "culture" of the RCO, Walden said it is largely based on the Lockheed "Skunk Works" model of small teams with tightly defined objectives and a vastly shortened reporting chain. Where the RCO saves time and money is usually in the area of "deciding to do" something and not going into endless coordination efforts. The RCO can save two to three years on a project simply by having the authority to make decisions, Walden said, avoiding "the tyranny of consensus." It reports to an executive committee comprised of the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the service's acquisition executive, and the Pentagon's acquisition chief. It's not possible to rush the development of, say, an aircraft, he said, noting that basic design must be gotten right or problems are inevitable later on. It takes about three years at a minimum to develop a design, he said. Asked whether the RCO can provide a model to the overall acquisition system, Walden said it can be applied to a degree, but there is the risk that the organization could get too big. "There is a knee in the curve. I can't tell you" what it is, he said, but at a certain size, an RCO-like acquisition agency would no longer be able to do things rapidly. The value of something of constrained size, like the RCO, is to "make a decision, get on contract," Walden said. The mainstream acquisition system takes "an inordinate amount of time" on those two steps. An analysis of alternatives can take up to three years and "sometimes no one makes a decision," Walden said. Walden insisted the RCO is fully observant of the 5000-series of acquisition regulations, but makes a careful review of them on all its efforts and works to "avoid" the ones that don't really affect its programs. He also said the organization turns away many people who want to be involved in overseeing or getting briefed on RCO activities unless they are required under regulations. Even so, he said the RCO has a good relationship with Congress because it tries to be transparent with members, and even when it runs into problems, people on Capitol Hill "want to help." He added that the Pentagon's "risk-averse" acquisition process took many years to get that way and reversing that mindset to one of risk-taking and experimentation will not happen quickly. http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2018/June%202018/B-21-Bomber-Critical-Design-Review-by-End-of-Year.aspx

  • Bell 360 Invictus chosen to continue in U.S Army’s new scout rotorcraft competition

    March 27, 2020 | International, Aerospace

    Bell 360 Invictus chosen to continue in U.S Army’s new scout rotorcraft competition

    Fort Worth, Texas, March 25, 2020 – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been selected to continue its work on the U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. As part of the selection, Bell is designing, manufacturing, and testing the Bell 360 Invictus, a prototype rotorcraft designed to provide improved lethality, survivability, and extended reach for Army Aviation. This selection follows almost a full year of design and risk-reduction work by the Bell team as part of the initial contract phase. "The selection of the Bell 360 Invictus to continue in the FARA program builds on our decades-long legacy as an innovator in reconnaissance rotorcraft supporting the maneuver force," said Mitch Snyder, president and CEO of Bell. "Our team has applied innovative thinking with tested technology to give the Army a low-risk option to fulfill its requirements on an aggressive schedule." As part of the U.S. government's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) family of programs, the FARA competition seeks to test and acquire a next-generation attack reconnaissance aircraft to fill a critical capability gap identified by the Army on a rapid schedule. The Bell 360 addresses the requirements with a design optimized to achieve the performance, connectivity, sustainability, and reliability for soldiers to fight and operate in multi-domain operations. The aircraft is expected to meet or exceed the Army's requirements, using proven Bell technologies such as fly-by-wire flight controls, a proven articulated rotor design, and an innovative blade design to name a few. Additionally, Bell is partnered with industry leader Collins Aerospace to integrate a new generation of avionics hardware and software featuring cyber-hardened and digital backbone solutions to provide MOSA compliance in accordance with US Army FARA objectives. To ensure the team stays on schedule and on budget, Bell is using a digital design-as-built process. The team is able to connect and collaborate in a real-time digital environment to ensure alignment among all trades to facilitate smoother manufacturing, improve sustainability characteristics, and mitigate schedule risks. This process has been used and refined on Bell commercial projects, as well as during the recent U.S. Army Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator program that produced the Bell V-280 Valor. "The Bell 360 Invictus will help the Army achieve and sustain overmatch against competitors with its new attack and reconnaissance capabilities," said Keith Flail, vice president of Advanced Vertical Lift Systems at Bell. "Our aircraft builds on Bell's legacy of providing ultra-reliable scout rotorcraft by keeping our aircraft affordable with an emphasis on simplifying processes to achieve a sustainable and maintainable aircraft for the warfighters." Initiated following contract award in 2019, the Bell 360 program is producing an advanced, scout aircraft to fulfill requirements set out by the Army FARA program. The Bell 360 design was revealed last October. The next generation design highlights Bell's intent to deliver exceptional performance using proven technologies to preserve schedule and control cost. To learn more about Bell 360 Invictus and FVL, please visit the Bell 360 Invictus website, and follow us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. This research was partially funded by the Government under Agreement No. No. W911W6-19-9-0002. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Government purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Aviation Development Directorate, or the U.S. Government. ABOUT BELL Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 80 years, we've been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us. We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were aboard NASA's first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we're defining the future of on-demand mobility. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront. ABOUT TEXTRON INC. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com. Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the risk that the U.S. Army will not choose Bell's solution for the FARA program; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses or delays in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to military operations in foreign countries; changes in worldwide economic or political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates or foreign exchange rates; our ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; the U.S. Government's ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with us for the U.S. Government's convenience or for our failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, or, under certain circumstances, to withhold payment or suspend or debar us as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget constraints and determinations, or changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; and performance issues with key suppliers, subcontractors or business partners. 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