October 21, 2020 | International, Land

MPF: Light Tank Competitors BAE & GD Head For Soldier Tests

BAE and General Dynamics are vying to build 504 Mobile Protected Firepower vehicles to support light infantry units, especially in places the massive M1 Abrams cannot go.

WASHINGTON: After 24 years without a light tank in Army service, soldiers will climb aboard brand-new Mobile Protected Firepower prototypes this January.

“It's not just PowerPoint” anymore, Maj. Gen. Bryan Cummings, the Army's Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems (PEO-GCS), told me in an interview. “On Jan. 4th, we will have ... vehicles arriving at Fort Bragg.”

Army experts have already started safety testing on prototype MPF vehicles, officials told me. Actual combat soldiers will start training on two platoons of prototypes in January – four MPFs from BAE, four from rival General Dynamics – with field tests scheduled to begin in April. A formal Limited User Test will start in August or September, with the Army choosing the winning design in 2022 and the first operational unit of MPF entering active service in 2025.

A General Dynamics spokesperson told me they've already delivered five MPF prototypes to the Army, with two more in final checkouts and another five being built for delivery by the end of the year. BAE Systems is also building 12 prototypes, but they declined to say whether they'd delivered vehicles yet or not.

While the Army can't comment on either contractor while the competition is ongoing, Cummings said, “both are on track to meet the major milestones” – despite the disruptions of COVID-19.

After three months of training, the troops will start what's being called the Soldier Vehicle Assessment (SVA): four to five months of intensive field testing, including force-on-force wargames. It's all part of the Army's new emphasis on getting real soldiers' feedback on new weapons early and often.

“The soldiers actually get to drive the vehicles around, shoot them, train with them,” BAE business developer James Miller told me. “Their feedback [is] likely to be the most critical factor ... in the decision the Army's going to make about who wins this contract.”

The soldier assessment isn't just testing out the vehicles, however, Cummings told me: It's also a test of the Army. Specifically, how can light infantry brigades, which today have few vehicles or mechanics, sustain and operate a 20-plus-ton tank?

The crucial distinction: MPF is not going to the Army's heavy brigades, which have lots of support troops and specialized equipment to take care of tracked armored vehicles. Instead, 14 MPFs per brigade will go to airborne and other light infantry units, which haven't had tracked armor since the M551 Sheridan was retired and its replacement cancelled in 1990s.

Now, MPF won't be as fuel-hungry or maintenance-intensive as the massive M1 Abrams, America's mainstay main battle tank. Even with add-on armor kits for high-threat deployments, it'll be less than half as heavy as the M1. That's because MPF isn't meant to take on enemy tanks, at least not modern ones. Instead, it's designed to be light enough to deploy rapidly by air, simple enough to sustain at the end of a long and tenuous supply line, but potent enough to take on enemy light armored vehicles, bunkers, dug-in machineguns, and the like.

That's a tricky balance to strike. In fact, the Army has never found a light tank it really liked despite decades of trying. Only six M22 Locusts actually fought in World War II, the M41 Walker Bulldog was too heavy for airborne units, the M551 Sheridan was plagued by technical problems throughout its service from Vietnam to Panama, the M8 Armored Gun System and the Future Combat System were both cancelled.

So how do BAE and General Dynamics plan to square this circle?

General Dynamics emphasized lethality in their interview with me. Their Lima tank plant builds the M1 Abrams, and while the MPF is smaller – though the company didn't divulge details, GD's version reportedly has a 105mm cannon, compared to the Abrams' 120mm – it will have the same fire controls and electronics as the latest model of its big brother.

“If you sat in a Mobile Protected Firepower turret, you would think you were sitting in a [M1] SEPV3 turret,” a GD spokesperson told me. “It's all the same displays, architectures, power distribution, etc.”

GD's design evolved from their Griffin demonstrators, prominently displayed for several years at AUSA annual meetings. It's got automotive components derived from the ASCOD/Ajax family widely used in Europe and an 800 horsepower engine. GD didn't tell me how much their vehicle weighed, but, depending on the armor package installed, the demonstrators ranged from 28 tons to 50 tons. Those figures would give horsepower/weight ratios ranging from 28 hp/ton, better than any model of the Abrams, to 16, which would make MPF much more sluggish.

BAE, by contrast, emphasized their design's compactness and ease of maintenance – considerations as critical as firepower for a light infantry unit. BAE actually built the M8 AGS cancelled in the '90s drawdown, and while they've thoroughly overhauled that design for MPS with a new engine, new electronics, and underbody blast-proofing against roadside bombs, they've tried to preserve its airborne-friendly qualities.

“The old M8 fit inside a C-130; in fact, it was air droppable,” Miller told me. “There's no requirement for that in the current MPF program, but we decided to stick with that as a design constraint: [Our MPF can] fit inside a C-130; we can do three on a C-17.”

BAE's engine is less potent than GD's, with only 550 horsepower. With the base configuration coming in at under 30 tons, that equates to over 18 hp/ton, with heavier armor packages reducing performance from there.

But the big selling point of the engine is ease of access, Miller argued. Engine maintenance on a tank requires a crane and partially disassembling the armor, but a mechanic can slide the BAE MPF's engine in and out of the chassis with a hand crank. If the MPF breaks down or gets stuck, it can be towed away by a truck, without requiring a special heavy recovery vehicle as an M1 does.

“The infantry brigades are light. They don't have long logistics tails. They don't have a ton of mechanics and recovery vehicles,” Miller emphasized. “The vehicle has to be as mobile as them and fit inside their organization.”

The Army estimates the life-cycle cost of MPF, from development to procurement to maintenance and retirement, at $16 billion. Whichever vehicle wins the Army contract will have an edge in sales worldwide – including, potentially, to the Marine Corps, which is retiring its M1s as too heavy for modern amphibious warfare.

https://breakingdefense.com/2020/10/mpf-light-tank-competitors-bae-gd-head-for-soldier-tests/

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August 7, 2020 | International, Aerospace

Eastern European NATO allies ramp up drone buys to protect their borders
By: Jaroslaw Adamowski WARSAW, Poland — As Russia's military activities in the Baltic and Black seas are mounting pressure on NATO's eastern flank, a number of Eastern European countries are developing programs to acquire unmanned aerial vehicles for their militaries. In Romania, local analysts say the country's Ministry of National Defence aims to boost the military's surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence (SRI) capabilities by acquiring new drones, ensuring the country's armed forces can efficiently monitor Romanian borders. “Romania wants to increase its SRI capacity in the Black Sea, taking into account that the militarization of the region by Russia is intensively continuing,” George Scutaru, head of the Bucharest-based New Strategy Center think tank and a former member of parliament and government adviser, told Defense News. “At the end of last April, the joint Defense Committees of the Romanian parliament adopted the request of the Ministry of National Defence to start the procurement procedures for five new programs, including the acquisition of UAV systems. Within this program, an acquisition of seven tactical-operative UAV systems is to be carried out.” Romania's previous attempt at purchasing drones for its military came in 2018 under a procedure to buy tactical UAVs for some 250 million lei (U.S. $56 million). The bidders included American firm AAI Corporation, Israel's Aeronautics Limited, BlueBird Aero Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as Romanian company Ymens Teamnet. However, a Romanian court canceled the tender after some bidders filed complaints. George Visan, the coordinator of the Black Sea Security Program at the Bucharest-based think tank Romania Energy Center, told Defense News it was “known that Romania would like to acquire at least six medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs as well as a number of smaller tactical UAVs.” Similarly to the failed drone tender from 2018, the new competition is expected to attract bids from the United States, Israeli and Romanian companies. Anticipating the forthcoming procedure, last May, Israel's Elbit Systems signed a memorandum of understanding with local state-run aircraft companies Avioane Craiova and Romaero. “Elbit Systems can easily sell in Romania what it manufactures in Israel, but depending on the order, it is willing to integrate and transfer production here. Avioane Craiova used to produce trainers, IAR-99 aircraft and aero-structures for various manufacturers,” Visan said. The analyst says that, in parallel to its drone procurement programs, the ministry is also funding the development of two UAVs, the medium-range Ultra-20 VTOL and the combat Ultra-20 V drone, by the state-run Research Agency for Military Hardware and Technologies, hoping to secure foreign partners and ensure transfer of technology. “This doesn't preclude other acquisitions,” Visan said. Poland eyes combat, surveillance drones Meanwhile, Poland's Ministry of Defence is developing several acquisition programs to acquire UAVs. To date, the ministry has ordered short-range drones and mini drones, with more programs to procure surveillance and combat drones underway. “In the long-term, the Polish Armed Forces are planning to acquire about a dozen sets of mid-range UAVs under the Gryf program, several MALE combat-reconnaissance UAVs under the Zefir program, and vertical take-off and landing short-range UAVs for the navy under the Albatros program,” a spokesperson for the Polish ministry told Defense News. In 2018 and 2019, Polish privately-owned defense company WB Group secured two orders to deliver a total of 48 mini-drones to the Territorial Defense Forces (TDF), a military branch which comprises volunteers. “We have supplied two types of drones to the Polish military. The first one is FlyEye which, in addition to the TDF, is also used by the artillery forces and special forces in Poland. It can be used in a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, artillery guidance, search and resuce, but also to extend the range of battle management systems. This drone can guide missiles, becoming the heart of an anti-tank system. We have developed FlyEye for more than ten years, and new variants continue to be designed,” company spokesman Remigiusz Wilk told Defense News. “The second one is Warmate which combines reconnaissance capabilities and combat capacities as loitering munition, owing to which it's a highly precise weapon system.” WB Group is also exporting its drones, with Warmate's deliveries to four allies carried out through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. Most recently, the manufacturer established a subsidiary in Ukraine where its UAVs have been operated by the country's military. “Our drones are combat-proven, and to date, not a single one has been lost over Ukrainian skies carrying out hundreds of challenging missions,” Wilk said. Other countries in the region that plan to acquire drones include the Czech Republic. Last November, Czech President Milos Zeman spurred controversy when he called on the government to buy Israeli UAVs for the armed forces. Combat drones are to be acquired under the country's military modernization program 2027, worth 100 billion koruna (U.S. $4.25 billion). https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/08/06/eastern-european-nato-allies-ramp-up-drone-buys-to-protect-their-borders/
November 1, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - October 31, 2018
NAVY Millennium Corp.,* Arlington, Virginia, is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide program management support services for the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). This contract is an additional award against a previously announced multiple award contract, with an estimated aggregate ceiling for all contracts of $960,000,000, with the companies having an opportunity to compete for individual orders. Services to be provided include leading, facilitating, and ensuring the strategic planning, implementation, coordination, integration, and evaluation of programmatic activities and administrative systems for NAVAIR managed programs' program executive offices. Work will be performed at various locations within the NAVAIR Patuxent River, Maryland, commuting area and is expected to be completed in June 2023. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals as a 100 percent small business set-aside, with 84 offers received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0003). Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $64,290,305 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1048) that exercises an option to procure one lot of F-35 training devices for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (47 percent); Sterling, Virginia (28 percent); Wilsonville, Oregon (7 percent); Cleveland, Ohio (4 percent); Reston, Virginia (4 percent); Alameda, California (3 percent); London, United Kingdom (3 percent); Bristol, United Kingdom (2 percent); and Tampa, Florida (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $64,290,305 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. Dyncorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $54,411,494 for modification P00015 to exercise an option to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable contract (N6893617C0052). This option provides for aircraft maintenance, modification and aircrew support for the Naval Test Wing Pacific. Support to be provided includes organizational-level aircraft maintenance and logistics support on aircraft, systems/subsystems aircrew systems, search and rescue equipment, and support equipment for P-3 Orion, C-130 Hercules, F/A-18 Hornet, EA-18G Growler, AV-8B Harrier II, and H-60 Black Hawk aircraft. Work will be performed in China Lake, California (50 percent); Point Mugu, California (40 percent); Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii (2 percent); Lemoore, California (2 percent); Patrick AFB, Florida (1 percent); Holloman AFB, New Mexico (1 percent); Patuxent River, Maryland (1 percent); Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Yuma, Arizona (1 percent); MCAS Miramar, California (1 percent); and North Island, California (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2023. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $30,123,601 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is awarded a $34,068,452 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-5145 to exercise options for DDG 1000 ship class integrated logistics support and engineering services. The DDG 1000 ship class is a multi-mission surface combatant designed to fulfill volume firepower and precision strike requirements. DDG 1000 combat systems provide offensive, distributed, and precision firepower and long ranges in support of forces ashore, while incorporating signature reduction, active, and passive self-defense system and enhanced survivability features. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (52 percent); Tewksbury, Massachusetts (24 percent); San Diego, California (10 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (6 percent); Bath, Maine (5 percent); Marlboro, Massachusetts (1 percent); Ft. Wayne, Indiana (1 percent); and St. Petersburg, Florida (1 percent); and is expected to be completed by September 2019. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $9,118,286 will be obligated at time of award, and funding in the amount of $3,498,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Boston Consulting Group, Bethesda, Maryland, was awarded $21,195,935 for firm-fixed-price order N0042119F0106 against a previously issued General Services Administration, Federal Supply Schedule contract (GS-10-F-0253V). This order provides for the implementation of a new Naval Sustainment System (NSS) to include the development of governance, coordination, and accountability mechanisms across the Naval Aviation Enterprise. The commander for the Fleet Readiness Center's contribution to the NSS will deploy commercial maintenance best practices, tailored to the Navy's operational requirements and starting position, in order to reduce component repair and heavy maintenance periodic maintenance inspection turnaround times and better enable aviation readiness recovery. Work will be performed in North Island, California (20 percent); Oceana, Virginia (15 percent); Whidbey Island, Washington (15 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (10 percent); Cherry Point, North Carolina (10 percent); Lemoore, California (10 percent); Dallas, Texas (5 percent); Bethesda, Maryland (5 percent); Miramar, California (4 percent); Patuxent River, Maryland (3 percent); Washington, District of Columbia (2 percent); and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2019. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $21,195,935 will be obligated at time of award, none 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. (Awarded Oct. 30, 2018) The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded $20,243,066 for modification P00004 to delivery order N61340-18-F-0001 previously placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001 in support of the T-45 aircraft Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). This modification exercises an option for the production and delivery of SLEP retrofit kits and support equipment/special tooling, as well as retrofit engineering and logistics to support the installation of associated technical directives. This modification contains both cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract line items. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in October 2019. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $20,243,066 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. DRS Network & Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, is being awarded an $18,906,754 modification (P00010) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-16-C-0015) for the procurement of 121 distributed aperture infrared countermeasure sensors and 30 processors for the Navy for MH-60, AH-1Z, and UH-1Y aircraft. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas, and is expected to be completed in February 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $18,906,754 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. T&E Technologies LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded a $16,943,111 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for technical, environmental, and encroachment services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division's Range Sustainability Office. Services to be provided include encroachment analysis, environmental studies and documentation, natural resources documentation, geospatial analysis for resource management and land use planning and geophysical resources analysis. Work will be performed in China Lake, California (80 percent); Pt. Mugu, California (15 percent); and Patuxent River, Maryland (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2023. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $100,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals as a 100 percent small business set-aside, with two offers received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N6893619D0009). (Awarded Oct. 29, 2018) Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. - Marine Systems, Sunnyvale, California, was awarded $10,851,494 for cost-plus incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00020 to a previously awarded contract (N00030-16-C-0015) to provide support for technical engineering services, design and development engineering, component and full scale test and evaluation engineering, and tactical underwater launcher hardware production supporting the development and production of the Common Missile Compartment. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (55 percent); Ridgecrest, California (20 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (10 percent); Bangor, Washington (5 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (5 percent); Barrow-In-Furness, England (2 percent); New London, Connecticut (1 percent); Quonset Point, Rhode Island (1 percent); and Arlington, Virginia (1 percent), with an expected completion date of Oct. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,293,546; and United Kingdom funding in the amount of $2,679,700 are being obligated on this award. Funds in the amount of $2,293,546 expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Subject to the availability of funding, fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; and United Kingdom funding in the amount of $5,878,248 will be obligated on this award. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Oct. 30, 2018) AIR FORCE General Electric Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a $273,509,940 firm-fixed-price requirements type contract for Service Life Extension Program conversion kits to upgrade Egyptian Air Force F-16, F110-GE-100 engines. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 30, 2023. This contract involves foreign military sales to Egypt and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8122-19-D-0001). ENSCO Inc., Springfield, Virginia, has been awarded a $34,987,670 modification (P00048) to contract FA8806-17-C-0001 for range and network division system engineering and integration. The modification provides for the continued support in engineering, architectural and integration efforts. Work will be performed at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California; and Peterson AFB, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Air Force space funds in the amount of $7,984,682; fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,035,870; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,975,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $97,783,871. Space and Missile Center, Los Angeles AFB, California, is the contracting activity. Sierra Nevada Corp., Hagerstown, Maryland, has been awarded a $23,813,528 definitization modification (PZ0013) to contract FA8620-16-C-4003 for the Saudi King Air 350 program. This contract provides for the modification of two King Air 350 extended range aircraft with intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance/synthetic aperture radar capability; one transportable ground station; one fixed ground station; and one mission system trainer. Work will be performed in Hagerstown, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by May 2020. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and one offer was received. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $99,779,067. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-16-C-4003). CORRECTION: The following contract was awarded on Oct. 16, 2018, instead of Sept. 28, 2018, as indicated in the original posting: Webb Electric Co. of Florida Inc., Pensacola, Florida, has been awarded a $16,460,695 firm-fixed-price in support of the Airfield Lighting Phase 1&2 construction project (FA440719C0003). ARMY SLSCO Ltd., Galveston, Texas, was awarded a $145,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for a Department of Homeland Security border infrastructure design-build construction project. Three bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Mission, Texas, with an estimated completion date of April 27, 2020. Fiscal 2018 omnibus funds in the amount of $145,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ft. Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-19-C-0005). The Boeing Co. Huntsville Division, Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $23,700,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the manufacture, test and deliver of Avenger fire control computers. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama; and Tukwila, Washington, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2018 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $23,700,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W13P4Q-19-C-0024). Hentzen Coatings Inc.,* Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was awarded a $16,414,600 firm-fixed-price contract for chemical agent resistant coating paint products. 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 Oct. 30, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911RQ-19-D-0001). CORRECTION: An additional contractor has been added to the $249,000,000 multiple-award contract announced on Oct. 15, 2018, for providing resources in support of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense to include its headquarters, directorates and five joint project managers. Edmond Scientific Co., Alexandria, Virginia (W911QY-19-D0015), will also compete for each order of the firm-fixed-price contract. All other information in the contract announcement is correct. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, is being awarded a $129,483,864 noncompetitive, cost-plus-incentive-fee and firm-fixed-price contract under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Under this new contract, the contractor will provide maintenance and sustainment for two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Batteries for UAE. The maintenance and sustainment scope of work includes software and hardware development, contractor logistics support, engineering services, and missile field surveillance. The work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California; Dallas, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Anniston, Alabama; Troy, Alabama; Lakeland, Florida; and the United Arab Emirates, with an expected period of performance of Nov. 1, 2018, through July 2, 2021. One offer was solicited and one offer was received. UAE FMS funds in the amount of $129,483,864 will be used to fund this effort. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-C-5001) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Federal Prison Industries Inc., doing business as UNICOR,** Washington, District of Columbia, has been awarded a maximum $49,920,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various types of coats. This is a four-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Washington, District of Columbia; Texas; and Illinois, with an April 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-F015). National Industries for the Blind,** Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $8,389,705 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for moisture wicking t-shirts. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are North Carolina, Arkansas, and Virginia, with an Oct. 30, 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 (SPE1C1-19-D-B043). CORRECTION: The contract announced on April 12, 2018, for Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind Inc., doing business as IFB Solutions,** Winston Salem, North Carolina (SPE1C1-17-D-B016), for $10,620,588 has been revised with a new modification number, additional customer, additional locations of performance and an increased dollar value. The new modification number is P00018, additional military service is Air Force, additional locations of performance are Arkansas and Puerto Rico, and the modification value has increased from $10,620,588 to $19,931,088. CORRECTION: The contract announced on April 13, 2018, for San Antonio Light House for the Blind,** San Antonio, Texas (SPE1C1-17-D-B017), for $8,452,012 has been revised with a new modification number, additional customer, additional location of performance and an increased dollar value. The new modification number is P00008, additional military service is Air Force, additional location of performance is Puerto Rico, and the modification value has increased from $8,452,012 to $16,952,460. *Small Business **Mandatory source https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1678196/
July 23, 2020 | International, Land

BAE Systems, QinetiQ tasked with A2 Bradley hybrid electric drive retrofit
by Ashley Roque The US Army has awarded BAE Systems with a USD32.3 million contract to refit two A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles with hybrid electric drives (HEDs) in a bid to produce additional power for future weapons. In mid-July, the service announced the terms of the prototyping contract and said it is expecting to receive the retrofitted vehicles in two years. “By rapidly prototyping HEDs on a small scale, we can jump-start advanced electrification and hybridisation of army platforms, and encourage our industry partners to invest in these products to meet army standards,” said Lieutenant General Neil Thurgood, the director of hypersonics, directed energy, space and rapid acquisition, who is also overseeing the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). The service is eyeing the HEDs as a way to reduce fuel consumption, and increase reliability and performance without adding additional size, weight, and power (SWaP) demands. This HED effort will consist of an upgraded engine, a transmission replaced by an electric drive motor, and the addition of lithium ion batteries. As a result, the engine power can produce electricity for greater mobility and can also be used to operate additional onboard equipment. One potential power use could include directed energy weapons, such as high-powered lasers, that pose numerous SWaP challenges. “HEDs add a high-voltage generator that turns engine power into electricity for greater mobility and for operating additional equipment, both of which increase combat effectiveness,” Mike Foster, director of the RCCTO's rapid acquisition, said in the announcement. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/bae-systems-qinetiq-tasked-with-a2-bradley-hybrid-electric-drive-retrofit

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