US Navy and Boeing score another MQ-25 first with E-2D refuelling

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  September 9, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Jumping into algorithmic warfare: US Army aviation tightens kill chain with networked architecture

  By: Jen Judson NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA LAKE, Calif. — In the skies above China Lake, California, from the back of an MH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter, an operator with a tablet takes control of a Gray Eagle drone and tasks it with firing a small, precision-glide munition at an enemy target located on the ground. But at the last second, a higher level threat is detected and the munition is rapidly redirected toward a different threat, eliminating it within seconds. This was made possible through the architecture, automation, autonomy and interfaces capability, or A3I, built by the Army's Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team under Army Futures Command. The demonstration showed the ability to nimbly pass control between operators of unmanned systems and munitions through a networked architecture of systems also receiving and filtering real-time, pertinent information to aid in operational decision-making. “It was our first jump into algorithmic warfare,” Brig. Gen. Wally Rugen, who is in charge of the Army's FVL modernization effort, told Defense News following the demonstration. “We definitely didn't jump into the deep end of the pool, but we jumped in and, again, we are into pursuing that as far as we can take it to help soldiers be lethal.” The Aug. 26 demonstration sought to tighten the kill chain and allow for more advanced teaming between air assets and troops on the ground using a resilient network. “When you talk about our kill chain, we are trying to take seconds out of our kill chain,” Rugen said. “We feel like we understand the reverse kill chain — the enemy coming to get us. Our kill chain is going to get them, and we want our decision-making to be as precise and as expeditious as possible,” using automation and autonomy, he added. AI3 was developed over the course of nine months and culminated in the demonstration at China Lake. "Going from a concept, and in a matter of months putting it into an experiment: That was probably the most impressive thing, particularly if you look back at the history of how we do these,” James McPherson, the official performing the duties of the undersecretary of the Army, told Defense News. McPherson attended the demonstration to emphasize the importance to senior Army leadership of modernization efforts within the service. The FVL effort in particular includes ensuring manned, unmanned, munition and other air-launched effects are all seamlessly networked together to fight in advanced formations in a congested environment, such as an urban area, and that they are prepared to fight across multiple domains. Using an interface called Arbitrator, the service networked together a variety of targeting identification and rapid automated processing, exploitation and distribution, or PED, capabilities as well as real-time weather information and several other features and capabilities to help operators of unmanned systems penetrate, in the case of the demonstration, an urban environment. AI3 in action During the demo, one of the systems integrated into the network tied to a ground sensor detected a possible threat on the ground. Seeing the threat detected in the system, a helicopter pilot then gained control of an extended-range Gray Eagle and tasked it to perform reconnaissance of the possible target. Using the UAS, the pilot identified the threat as an enemy surface-to-air missile system. The pilot then ordered the UAS to fire a Dynetics GBU-69 small glide munition to defeat the target, marking the first time the munition had been fired from a Gray Eagle. But as the munition closed in on the target, the system picks up on another threat deemed more important for elimination. The information for this decision came from the integrated PED systems that use machine-learning algorithms to accurately identify items of interest. Another operator then redirected the munition during its final seconds of flight to hit the new, more pressing threat. Why does the Army need A31 capability? To build the system, the government took the lead integration role, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Cory Anderson, the UAS branch chief for Army Special Operations Aviation Command, said at the demonstration. This ensured the service's ability to get the right levels of interoperability between subsystems. But almost all of the capabilities tied into the government's black box came from small businesses and academia. Much of the initial development has come from the special operations side of the house. The demonstration was viewed from a tactical operations center, with screens lining the walls of a large air-conditioned trailer, but the system has a scalable control interface and can be remotely accessed from a cockpit or even a tablet used by a soldier on the ground. This breaks the Army free from having to use a ground control station, Anderson said, meaning the footprint and logistics tail can be drastically reduced. To put together the tactical operations center and ground control station, it took roughly seven C-17 planes to move heavy equipment into China Lake. “We can't sustain that,” Anderson said. “We believe we can get it down to a two C-17 load-out just by minimizing the generational requirements alone.” By integrating PED systems that use machine learning into A3I, the Army no longer requires a large number of people — roughly 30 at a time — to conduct PED from full-motion video. The Arbitrator system allows for operators to pass control of various systems back and forth at different levels of control, from just receiving information from a sensor or UAS to controlling a payload to the entire system. The system is also under development to improve its automation levels. The utility of passing control to a relevant operator not tied to a ground station means taking out the middle man that doesn't have the same advantageous access to the tactical edge another possible operator might have. Rugen said that if there's an operator on the ground close to the action, it's much easier to take control of systems rather than try to direct someone far away to the right location to get eyes on a possible point of interest or target in order to make an actionable decision. “What if the squad leader could just grab the sensor because we have the hierarchy?” Rugen noted. While the capability was developed and demonstrated by the FVL Cross-Functional Team, the system has applications for almost everything on the battlefield, from applications to long-range precision fires targeting capabilities to next-generation combat vehicle teaming to soldier systems. Both directors for the Long-Range Precision Fires and the Network cross-functional teams were present at the demonstration. While the unclassified version of the demo didn't show capability, the classified version addresses the architecture's capability to protect itself against threat-representative electronic attack. “We want to make sure we have a resilient network,” Rugen said. The next step is to move the Arbitrator system onto an airborne platform, which would completely eliminate the ground control station. That will be demonstrated in roughly a year. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/09/05/jumping-into-algorithmic-warfare-army-aviation-tightens-kill-chain-with-networked-architecture/

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  March 18, 2024 | International, Aerospace

  Brazil's Embraer sees supply chain bottlenecks hampering 2024 deliveries

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  December 18, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 17, 2020

  ARMY Honeywell International, Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded a $1,105,100,580 modification (P00002) to contract W56HZV-20-D-0062 for the Automotive Gas Turbine 1500 engine program. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2025. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $40,717,442 modification (P00054) to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for a Longbow Crew Trainer and spares. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2025. Fiscal 2010 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $40,717,442 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, was awarded a $29,197,837 firm-fixed-price contract for the manned/unmanned teaming hardware, as well as technical and engineering support, for the Apache helicopter. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2023. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Army) funds; and 2022 Foreign Military Sales (Morocco, Netherlands, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom) funds in the amount of $29,197,837 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-21-F-0144). CORRECTION: The $837,591,519 multiple award contract announced on Dec. 16, 2020, to Central Lake Armor Express,* Central Lake, Michigan (W91CRB-21-D-0004); Bethel Industries Inc.,* Jersey City, New Jersey (W91CRB-21-D-0005); Carter Enterprises LLC,* Brooklyn, New York (W91CRB-21-D-0006); Point Blank Enterprises Inc., Pompano Beach, Florida (W91CRB-21-D-0007); and Slate Solutions Inc.,* Sunrise, Florida (W91CRB-21-D-0008), for the Soldier Protection System was actually awarded today, Dec. 17, 2020. NAVY Perspecta Enterprise Solutions LLC, Herndon, Virginia, is awarded a $797,344,313 modification to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00039-13-D-0013 for the existing Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN). The total cumulative value of this contract is an estimated $6,661,441,247. The contract modification is for services provided under NGEN support for approximately 400,000 seats representing more than 650,000 Navy and Marine Corps users at more than 2,500 locations. NGEN provides net centric data and information technology services for comprehensive, end-to-end information services through a common computing and communication environment to Navy and Marine Corps military, civilian and contractor users. The services provided under NGEN are enterprise services; network services; voice, video and data services; information security services; support services; and testing services. Work will be performed throughout the U.S. with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. No additional funding will be placed on contract or obligated at the time of modification award. Contract funds will be obligated on individual task orders and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract modification will add four option periods under the base NGEN contract with a potential period of performance of nine months if all options are exercised. This contract modification was not competitively procured because it is a sole-source acquisition pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), one source or limited sources (Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 6.302-1). The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems Inc., Braintree, Massachusetts, is awarded a $186,411,242 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for the AN/SLQ-25E ‘NIXIE' electro-acoustic towed torpedo countermeasure system. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $268,514,278. Work will be performed in Braintree, Massachusetts (58%); Manchester, New Hampshire (25%); Lititz, Pennsylvania (13%); and Huntington Beach, California (4%), and is expected to be completed by December 2026. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) $2,200,000 funding will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport, Keyport, Washington, is the contracting activity (N00253-20-D-0002). Blue Rock Structures Inc.,* Pollocksville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6300); Daniels & Daniels Construction Co., Inc.,* Goldsboro, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6301); Joyce & Associates Construction Inc.,* Newport, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6302); Military & Federal Construction Co., Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6303); Quadrant Construction Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6304); and TE Davis Construction Co.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6305), are awarded a $90,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contracts for general construction services within the Marine Corps Installations East area of responsibility. The work to be performed provides for general construction services including new construction, demolition, repair, total/partial interior/exterior alteration/renovation of buildings, systems and infrastructure and may include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, communication systems, installation of new or extensions to existing high voltage electrical distribution systems, extensions to the existing high pressure steam distribution systems, extensions to the potable water distribution systems, extensions to the sanitary sewer systems, additional storm water control systems, painting, removal of asbestos materials and lead paint, and incidental related work. After award of this modification, the total maximum dollar value for all six contracts combined will be $429,000,000. Work will be performed at Navy and Marine Corps installations at various locations including, but not limited to, North Carolina (90%); Georgia (3%); South Carolina (3%); Virginia (3%); and other areas of the U.S. (1%), and is expected to be completed by September 2021. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Marine Corps); and military construction funds. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order N62473-21-F-4212 at $53,611,262 under a multiple award construction contract for design and construction of a mess hall and consolidated warehouse at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP), California. Work will be performed in MCBCP, California, and is expected to be completed by February 2025. The work to be performed provides for constructing a dining facility and a consolidated regimental supply warehouse and the project includes cybersecurity features, paving and site improvements including parking areas, roadways, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, landscaping, trash enclosures and signs. Demolition includes the removal of nine buildings. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $53,611,262 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-18-D-5858). BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair LLC, Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $24,681,208 cost-plus-award-fee modification to exercise an option on previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-2320 for the accomplishment of post shakedown availability (PSA). The PSA is for one Freedom variant Littoral Combat Ship. Work will be performed in Mayport, Florida, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) ($942,895; 57%); and 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) ($711,306; 43%) funding will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. CACI Inc.-Federal, Chantilly, Virginia, is awarded a $20,317,601 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract action in support of acquisition and integrated logistics for the Program Executive Office (PEO), Integrated Warfare Systems (IWS), Front Office (FO). Tasking includes support to the broad areas of acquisition and integrated logistics for the current and future programs and their variants assigned to PEO IWS. Support includes the development and management of cross-program and cross-organization policies and practices for the full range of acquisition and integrated logistics support (ILS). The tasking is integral to the execution of legacy, current and future integrated combat systems, above water sensors, surface ship weapons, air and missile defense systems, undersea warfare systems, command and control systems, unmanned vehicles, navigation systems and human systems integration, as well as training, open architecture, interoperability and joint and coalition initiatives. Tasking includes professional support to PEO IWS FO and IWS directorates for acquisition support and ILS. Work will be performed at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. Work is expected to be completed on April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,003,490 (33%); fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,036,21 (34%); fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,045,541 (12%); fiscal 2020 research development test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,556,168 (17%); and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $378,842 (4%) will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the 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, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-21-C-B002). Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order N62478-21-F-4021 at $12,849,000 under a multiple award construction contract for constructing an annex and renovating Building 4100H at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The annex work to be performed provides for constructing a two-story annex to Building 4100H and the work includes foundations, concrete beams, slabs, walls and footings; metal decking and roofing; and mechanical, electrical and communications management systems. The renovation work includes reconfiguring the interior and includes renovation of restroom spaces, replacing all interior finishes throughout the building to include new flooring, ceiling systems and painting interior walls and upgrading the electrical systems. The task order also contains two line items, which, if awarded, would increase cumulative task order value to $13,870,618. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by July 2022. Fiscal 2018 military construction (Air Force Reserve) contracts funds in the amount of $8,552,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Air Force Reserve) contract funds in the amount of $4,297,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Seven proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-20-D-4003). Viasat Inc., Duluth, Georgia, is awarded a $10,882,119 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides technical support, non-warranty hardware repair or replacement, obsolescence management, on-site maintenance, preventative maintenance, spare parts and replacement pedestals in support of the pedestal improvement project for the Atlantic Test Range Aircraft Signature and Avionics Measurement branch. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in December 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 Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-21-D-0012). Alan Shintani Inc.,* Waipahu, Hawaii, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order N62478-21-F-4042 at $8,964,485 under a multiple award construction contract for a Navigation, Seamanship and Shiphandling Trainer (NSST) at Ford Island, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The work to be performed provides for the construction of an NSST and its supporting complement of rooms within an existing hangar building and includes electrical, mechanical, architectural, control system and fire protection work. The task order also contains one line item, which if awarded, would increase the cumulative task order value to $9,040,255. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by February 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,964,485 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Seven proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-18-D-4028). AIR FORCE Raytheon Co., Largo, Florida, has been awarded a ceiling of $611,500,000, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable-no-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for command and control switching systems (CCSS). This contract provides electronic digital telecommunications system developed for military command and control. The CCSS is the key component of the Defense Red Switch Network, enabling secure and non-secure voice and data telecommunications at multiple levels, large scale voice conferencing capabilities and is inter-operable with other secure devices. CCSS switches are accredited by the Defense Intelligence Agency for top secret/sensitive compartmentalized information multi-level security. The life-cycle logistics support for operational CCSS provide program management, product configuration management, data management, quality control and assurance, contractor logistics support, spare parts replenishment and management, hardware and software support and engineering and technical services. Work will be performed at multiple government facilities and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2032. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of at least $452,034 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8218-20-D-0001). The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory LLC, Laurel, Maryland, has been awarded a $300,000,000 bilateral modification (P00006) to contract FA8819-18-D-0009 for additional engineering support services, systems engineering for complex systems, specialized research and development and other support functions. This modification increases the ceiling of the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract from the previously awarded amount of $186,000,000 to $486,000,000. Work will be performed at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed May 10, 2025. The total ceiling of the contract is $486,000,000. Fiscals 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds are being used with no funds being obligated at the time of award. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, California, is the contracting activity. Shenandoah Fleet Maintenance and Management LLC, Warrenton, Virginia, has been awarded a $9,384,408 cost-reimbursable definitive contract for Logistics Readiness Squadron/Logistics Readiness Vehicles. This contract provides 866 fleet management and analysis services and scheduled/unscheduled maintenance for approximately 639 vehicles assigned to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and perform roadside services within the permissible operating distance of 100 miles. Work will be performed at Robins AFB, Georgia, is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 12 offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,283,488 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins AFB, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8501-21-C-0004). (Awarded Dec. 14, 2020) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Terma North America Inc., Warner Robins, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $306,480,755 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production, repair and engineering support of various types of aircraft electronic countermeasure systems. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a ten-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Georgia, with a Dec. 17, 2030, ordering period end date. Using customers are Air Force and various foreign customers. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2031 defense working capital funds and Foreign Military Sales funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Warner Robins, Georgia (SPRWA1-21-D-0003). Oro Manufacturing Co., Monroe, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $10,608,476 indefinite-quantity, long-term contract for aircraft seat aviation life support equipment. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is North Carolina, with a Nov. 29, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia (SPE4A7-21-D-0037). (Awarded Dec. 4, 2020) DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE Ernst & Young LLP, Washington, D.C., is being awarded a labor-hour contract option with a maximum value of $33,128,772 for audit services of the Department of the Air Force General Fund and Working Capital Fund financial statements and examination. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., with an expected completion date of Dec 31, 2021. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition for which one quote was received. The contract had a 16-month base period plus three individual one-year option periods with a maximum value of $135,006,112. This award brings the total cumulative value of the contract to $125,830,971. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $33,128,772 are being obligated at the time of this option award. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Contract Services Directorate, Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity (HQ0423-17-F-0148). KPMG LLP, McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a fixed-price contract option with a maximum value of $12,097,714 for audit services of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works (CW) and Sub-allotted Funds financial statements. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2021. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition for which three quotes were received. The contract had a 12-month base period plus four individual one-year option periods, with a maximum value of $57,693,820. This award brings the total cumulative value of the contract to $45,358,627. Fiscal 2021 USACE CW revolving funds in the amount of $12,097,714 are being obligated at the time of this option award. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Contract Services Directorate, Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity (HQ0423-18-F-0039). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2450931/source/GovDelivery/