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On the same subject

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  March 4, 2021 | International, Aerospace

  Former Air Force acquisition boss joins drone maker Volansi

  Roper will help the Volansi grow its business in the defense market, the company said.

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  July 13, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  La défense, planche de salut de la filière aéronautique

  HASSAN MEDDAH RAFALE , COVID-19 , L'USINE AÉRO , AÉRONAUTIQUE , HAUTS-DE-SEINE PUBLIÉ LE 10/07/2020 À 11H06 Quand l'activité civile flanche, le marché militaire peut prendre le relais. À condition d'avoir déjà un pied dans la place et une vision à long terme. A Villeneuve-la-Garenne (Hauts-de-Seine), la vingtaine de compagnons de la PME Rafaut ne chôme pas. Dans leur atelier de mécanique et d'intégration, ils assemblent des emports, d'imposantes pièces mécaniques destinées à Dassault Aviation. Ces pièces qui se placent sous les ailes des Rafale servent à transporter soit des bombes, soit des réservoirs d'appoint. "Notre dualité est un facteur de robustesse, particulièrement appréciable dans cette crise du secteur aéronautique", se réjouit Bruno Berthet, le président de Rafaut. Les activités de défense ont représenté un véritable amortisseur pour cette PME de 400 salariés, dont les commandes pour Airbus (palonnier, freins de rotors...) se sont écroulées avec la crise du secteur aérien. Rafaut présente le profil quasi parfait de l'entreprise dite duale, avec ses 93 millions d'euros de chiffre d'affaires, répartis équitablement entre les activités civiles et militaires. Le groupe a, certes, fait appel à des mesures de chômage technique, mais de manière modérée en mettant 30 % de son personnel en activité partielle pour deux tiers de leur temps de travail. Pour les autres PME du secteur aéronautique, la défense peut-elle constituer une bouée de sauvetage ? Le ministère des Armées veut y croire et met la main à la poche. À l'occasion de l'annonce du plan de sauvetage de la filière aéronautique, début juin, Florence Parly, la ministre des Armées, a annoncé l'accélération de 600 millions d'euros de commandes militaires. L'armée de l'air a commandé trois long-courriers A 330 qui seront transformés en avions ravitailleurs MRTT. Initialement prévus en 2026, ils seront livrés à partir de l'an prochain. Le troisième exemplaire de l'avion léger de surveillance et de reconnaissance qui devait être livré en 2027 le sera en 2023. Les hélicoptéristes ne sont pas oubliés. L'armée va acheter par anticipation huit hélicoptères Caracal. Ils sont destinés à remplacer les Puma dès 2023, soit avec cinq ans d'avance. Enfin, les PME devraient être les principales bénéficiaires d'une commande de drones de surveillance pour la marine à livrer dès 2022. Des accréditations spécifiques "L'ensemble de ces commandes répond à un besoin opérationnel existant de nos forces armées. Nous allons simplement aller plus vite. Cette anticipation nous permettra de sauvegarder plus de 1 200 emplois pendant trois ans, et cela, partout en France", a précisé Florence Parly. L'initiative n'est pas totalement désintéressée. Le ministère ne voudrait surtout pas voir disparaître des fournisseurs stratégiques emportés par la crise économique. Depuis plusieurs semaines, ses équipes pilotent une task force interministérielle forte d'une centaine de personnes. À charge pour elles de quadriller le territoire, visiter les usines et les bureaux d'études, et d'identifier les entrepreneurs et les domaines à risque. Au total, près de 1 500 entreprises seront visitées. Les entreprises tentées de se diversifier vers la défense doivent impérativement avoir une vision de long terme... comme celles des armées qui s'appuient sur une loi de programmation militaire pluriannuelle. Sur la période 2019-2025, le ministère a consacré la part du lion de son budget à l'aéronautique pour renouveler ses flottes d'appareils, d'hélicoptères, de drones. Soit un montant de 19 milliards d'euros ! Toutefois, il serait illusoire de croire que toutes les PME de l'aéronautique pourront en bénéficier d'un simple claquement de doigts. "Pour servir les armées, les fournisseurs doivent passer par des dispositifs d'accréditation. C'est un long processus. Par ailleurs, ce n'est pas simple d'intégrer comme fournisseur un programme d'armement déjà lancé comme le Rafale ou l'A400M. Les tickets d'entrée sont chers", avertit Matthieu Lemasson, expert des questions aéronautiques et défense pour le cabinet PWC. Le cluster Normandie AeroEspace (NAE), qui regroupe plus d'une centaine de PME de l'aéronautique, est bien conscient de la difficulté. Il a lancé des actions tous azimuts pour accélérer leur diversification et notamment une formation pour obtenir une habilitation et une accréditation défense, sésames indispensables pour travailler dans le domaine de l'armement. Le cluster monte également des rencontres avec des représentants du ministère des Armées, de la Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), des grands industriels de l'armement pour connaître les opportunités à saisir... Avec un exemple à suivre : la PME Gauthier Connectique, fabricant de raccords électriques. Cette société (40 salariés, 5 millions d'euros de chiffres d'affaires) était, il y a dix ans encore, exclusivement positionnée sur l'aéronautique. Déjà présents sur le Rafale, ses raccords électriques sont en passe d'être homologués pour monter sur le M51, le missile stratégique de la dissuasion nucléaire. L'entreprise s'est également diversifiée dans le secteur spatial qui représente un tiers de son activité. "Entre la décision de se diversifier, et les premières commandes, il faut compter environ trois ans. Le fait d'avoir déjà comme clients Dassault Aviation, Safran et Thales nous a beaucoup aidés", souligne son président Luc Sevestre. La PME ne compte pas s'arrêter en si bon chemin. L'entreprise adapte sa technologie au milieu marin et terrestre et tente de séduire Naval Group, de même que Nexter, le fabricant du char Leclerc. Boeing mieux armé qu'Airbus pour traverser la crise ? Airbus va-t-il souffrir plus que son concurrent Boeing pour traverser la crise actuelle ? Si l'avionneur américain traîne le boulet du 737MAX, il a un atout considérable par rapport à son concurrent européen : le soutien du Pentagone, le premier acheteur au niveau mondial d'équipements militaires. Pour les forces armées américaines, Boeing livre à foison des avions de combats (F15 et F18) et des ravitailleurs (KC 46), des hélicoptères d'attaque et de transport de troupe (Chinook, Apache), des missiles... Au total, les activités de la branche défense, sécurité et espace ont pesé pour 34 % de son chiffre d'affaires en 2019, soit 76 milliards de dollars. Pour Airbus, l'activité défense pèse moins de 15 % des activités du groupe, soit 10 milliards d'euros de chiffres d'affaires en 2019. Le groupe avait raté l'occasion historique en 2012 de fusionner avec le britannique BAE Systems. Une telle opération aurait permis d'équilibrer les activités civiles et militaires de l'avionneur, le rêve de Louis Gallois, le président du groupe Airbus (alors EADS) entre 2007 et 2012. « À l'époque, les mauvaises langues disaient qu'il n'y avait pas d'intérêt et peu de synergies à cette opération. Cela aurait probablement constitué un ensemble plus robuste pour traverser la crise actuelle et permis de trouver des synergies utiles aussi bien en matière de gestion des effectifs que des programmes », souligne Matthieu Lemasson, expert des questions aéronautiques et défense pour PWC. https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/la-defense-planche-de-salut-de-la-filiere-aeronautique.N982761

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  July 19, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - July 18, 2019

  NAVY ERAPSCO, Joint Venture of Sparton and USSI, Columbia City, Indiana, is awarded a not-to-exceed $1,041,042,690 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the manufacture and delivery of a maximum quantity of 37,500 AN/SSQ-36B, 685,000 AN/SSQ-53G, 120,000 AN/SSQ-62F, and 90,000 AN/SSQ-101B production sonobuoys for fiscal years 2019-2023. Sonobuoys are air launched expendable, electro-mechanical anti-submarine warfare acoustic sensors designed to relay underwater sounds associated with ships and submarines. Work will be performed in De Leon Spring, Florida (51%); and Columbia City, Indiana (49%), and is expected to be completed in September 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-D-0032). MW Services Inc.,* Temecula, California, is awarded a maximum amount $99,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for commercial and institutional building construction alterations, renovations and repair projects at Naval Bases Coronado, Point Loma, and San Diego; and Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. Projects will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task order with minimal design effort (e.g. shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, alterations, repairs, and construction of administration buildings, maintenance/repair facilities, aircraft control towers, hangars, fire stations, office buildings, laboratories, dining facilities and related structures. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, with the term of the contract not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of July 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 18 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2625). Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $77,708,000 modification (P00019) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target advanced acquisition contract (N00019-17-C-0001). This modification provides for the procurement of software data loads as well as long lead material and parts for the delivery of F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial production Lots 12, 13 and 14. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30%); El Segundo, California (25%); Warton, United Kingdom (20%); Orlando, Florida (10%); Nashua, New Hampshire (5%); Nagoya, Japan (5%); and Baltimore, Maryland (5%), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. International partner funds in the amount of $77,708,000 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. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $34,670,000 undefinitized cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to develop and deliver an engineering change proposal to enable the production cut-in of the Fuselage Station 425 Bulkhead structural modification required for F-35A and F-35C to allow full-envelope internal carriage of aft heavy weaponry. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in July 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps); and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participant funds in the amount of $9,953,400 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 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). This undefinitized contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($13,787,219; 39.77%); Navy ($6,893,610; 19.88%); Marine Corps ($6,893,609; 19.88%); and non-U.S. DoD participants ($7,095,562; 20.46%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0010). Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $22,558,157 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-5102 to exercise options for AEGIS Baseline 9 integration and delivery, Aegis Baseline 5.4 and 9A2A post-certification support. This contract provides for the completion of the development and fielding of the AEGIS Baseline 9 AEGIS Weapon System and integrated AEGIS Combat System on the remaining AEGIS Technical Insertion (TI) 12 configured destroyers as well as TI 12 and TI 08 configured cruisers. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by July 2020. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Missile Defense Agency); and fiscal 2014 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,925,765 will be obligated at time of award and funding in the amount of $2,456,011 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. R.A. Burch Construction Co. Inc., Ramona, California, is awarded $17,521,988 for firm-fixed-price task order N62473-19-F-4738 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-18-D-5852) for the construction of a forklift rework facility at Naval Base Coronado. The work to be performed provides for implementation of site improvements such as vehicle parking, storage and laydown yard, landscaping, and low-impact design storm water features as well as incidental related work. The facility is required in order to relocate existing tenants away from a separate project site area to make a complete and useable airfield facility. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by December 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds for $17,521,988 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) Co., a public utility company regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, San Diego, California, is awarded $13,509,411 for firm-fixed-price task order N62473-19-F-4704 under the basic ordering agreement (BOA) N62473-18-G-5615 for energy conservation measures at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. The work to be performed provides for energy conservation and resiliency that includes light emitted diode retrofits, replacement of cooling towers and water source heat pumps, and installation of variable frequency drives. This project will utilize the installation's reclaimed water source to provide reliability, resource reduction, and lower costs. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by December 2020. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. This project will utilize third party financing through the utility company in the amount of $13,509,411. The energy conservation project will be amortized for a term of 20 years with an annual rate of 3.123% and the payment will be included as a separate utility bill submitted annually based upon the amortization schedule for a grand total cost of $18,970,106.57. This task order falls under the terms and conditions of the BOA with SDG&E. The BOA allows for services without full and open competition pursuant to the statutory authorities of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(5) and 10 U.S. Code 2913. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-18-G-5615). International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), Yorktown, New York, is awarded a $12,000,000 cost-type contract to provide research and development of computational models that mimic core cognitive capabilities of children to include machines with the general-purpose common sense of an 18-month old to advance scientific “reverse-engineering” accounts of a child's mind. This is a four-year contract with no option periods. Work will be performed in Yorktown, New York, and work is expected to be completed July 17, 2023. Research, development, test and evaluation (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) funds in the amount of $2,042,919 will be obligated at the time of award. This contract was competitively procured via Broad Agency Announcement and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 42 proposals submitted and nine selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-C-4027). Lockheed Martin Aculight Corp., Bothell, Washington, is awarded an $8,184,205 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-5392 to exercise options for technical and field engineering services and a cost-only line item for travel in support of Surface Navy Laser Weapon System Increment 1, High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler with Surveillance (HELIOS) system. Work will be performed in Bothell, Washington, and is expected to be complete by July 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $249,882 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, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Alliance Steel Construction Inc.,* Superior, Wisconsin, is awarded a $7,600,000 firm-fixed-price contract to demolish the central heating plant, steam piping and steam pits at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), New River. The work to be performed provides the complete demolition of building 1700, which is approximately 42,000 square feet at MCB, Camp Lejeune, and the demolition of steam piping, steam pits and the central steam plant at MCAS, New River. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by October 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $7,600,000 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 three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-19-C-8087). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Point Blank Enterprises, Pompano Beach, Florida, has been awarded a $63,491,328 firm-fixed-price contract for medium size enhanced small arms protective inserts. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a 15-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a May 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-C-0010). Leading Technology Composites, Wichita, Kansas, has been awarded a $41,888,000 firm-fixed-price contract for medium sized enhanced small arms protective inserts. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a one-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Kansas, with an April 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-C-0011). Gossner Foods Inc.,** Logan, Utah, has been awarded a maximum $30,319,835 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for ultra-high temperature milk. This contract was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Utah, with a July 26, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE3S1-19-D-Z210). ARMY Crowley Holdings LLC,* New Orleans, Louisiana, was awarded a $21,053,340 firm-fixed-price contract for shot rock to support the temporary repair of levees at Mill Creek and Big Tarkio in Missouri. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Craig, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 19, 2019. Fiscal 2019 civil flood control and coastal emergencies funds in the amount of $21,053,340 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-C-1082). Advanced Technology Systems Co. Inc.,* McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $17,896,404 firm-fixed-price contract for helicopter maintenance. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work will be performed in Fort Benning, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of June 27, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $400,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Benning, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W911SF-19-C-0019). Buchanan & Edwards Inc., Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $9,283,593 time-and-materials contract for data frameworks initiative information technology support. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Fairfield, California, with an estimated completion date of July 17, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $1,384,778 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-19-F-1264). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., McLean, Virginia, was awarded an $8,665,561 modification (P00002) to contract W91RUS-14-D-0002 for non-personal information technology support services for the U.S. Army Regional Cyber Center-Europe. Work will be performed in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, Germany, with an estimated completion date of July 18, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $5,837,950 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC, Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded a $7,689,500 firm-fixed-price contract for Cape May beach fill. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Cape May, New Jersey, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2020. Fiscal 2019 civil construction funds in the amount of $7,689,500 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (W912BU-19-C-0026). InfoScitex Corp., Littleton, Massachusetts, was awarded a $7,011,545 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop and demonstrate advanced teaming of manned and unmanned aviation assets to execute tactical missions with minimal human intervention, while operating as part of a combined arms team in a complex operating environment. Bids were solicited via the internet with 46 received. Work will be performed in Littleton, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of March 17, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,545,576 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W911W6-19-C-0067). *Small Business **Small Woman-owned Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1909668/source/GovDelivery/