September 12, 2024 | International, Aerospace
August 30, 2018 | International, C4ISR
Northrop Grumman gets a start on next-gen missile warning satellites
By: Daniel Cebul
WASHINGTON — The Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a contract worth as much as $47 million for an analysis of system and payload requirements for a new missile warning satellite system in polar orbit.
Specifically, the contract will be used for the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar (OPIR) space vehicles 1 and 2.
Work will be performed in Redondo Beach, California, and is expected to be completed by June 25, 2020, according to a contract announcement.
The OPIR polar space vehicles will be part of a five-satellite constellation that will augment the legacy Space-based Infrared Satellite (SBIRS), which operates as the U.S. military's early warning missile system. During the fiscal year 2019 budget release, the Air Force announced its plans to cancel the 7th and 8th SBIRS satellites in favor or reallocating funds towards OPIR systems.
In May 2018, the Air Force released a notice of intent to sole-source contracts to Lockheed Martin and Northrop for the new program. Lockheed Martin will produce three geosynchronous orbiting satellites and Northrop Grumman is responsible for two polar orbiting satellites. The first geosynchronous OPIR satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2023, and the first polar satellite is scheduled to launch in 2027. The Air Force wants the entire “block O” architecture to be operational by FY 2029.
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor on the SBIRS satellites. Northrop Grumman provides the sensors, a scanner and a starer, on those satellites.
Full article: https://www.c4isrnet.com/c2-comms/satellites/2018/08/29/northrop-grumman-gets-a-start-next-gen-missile-warning-satellites
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October 6, 2020 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
F-15EX Radar Win Buoys Raytheon Market Hopes
THERESA HITCHENS "There's definitely a big future for the export version of the AN/APG-82," says Michelle Styczynski, F-15 Senior Product Line Director for Raytheon Intelligence & Space WASHINGTON: Raytheon hopes its new contract with Boeing for an initial eight radar systems for the F-15EX is only a first step and its AN/APG-82 radar gets tapped for the entire future fleet, says Michelle Styczynski, F-15 senior product line director for Raytheon Intelligence & Space. The award, announced last Thursday, is a one-time deal for an unspecified amount, Styczynski told Breaking D today, but “obviously we would love to continue to partner with Boeing and the US Air Force to continue bringing them AN/APG-82.” Boeing was awarded a 10-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract July 13 for at least 144 F-15EXs with a ceiling of $22.9 billion that includes 15 years of support. The contract includes options for up to 200 aircraft. Raytheon's APG-82(V)1 radar is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) that equips the Air Force's current F-15E Strike Eagle fleet, with the company in June winning a contract worth up to $202.6 million to sustain the system through 2024. Raytheon delivered its first APG-82(V)1 radar to Boeing for integration with the F-15E way back in 20210. Styczynski said that the only upgrades required for the new F-15EX are software changes to integrate the radar with the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS). EPAWSS, by BAE Systems, is an integrated digital avionics system designed to protect the F-15E against enemy air defense systems. The Air Force in April started testing EPAWSS at Edwards AFB. Part of that testing is to “establish and provide verification of the interoperability and RF (radio frequency) compatibility among the EPAWSS, the AN/APG-82 radar and various existing avionics at the installed system level on the aircraft, as it would fly versus in a system lab,” Ed Sabat, Project Development Lead and Civilian Director of Operations, 772nd Test Squadron. said in April. But, Styczynski explained, Raytheon is also pitching the Air Force options for to ensure that the venerable AN/APG-82 can be made interoperable with not only other on-board sensors, but also those of other aircraft as part of a future hyper-connected battle management network. https://breakingdefense.com/2020/10/f-15ex-radar-win-buoys-raytheon-market-hopes/
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June 26, 2019 | International, Land
U.S. Marine Corps awards BAE Systems team a contract to develop ACV family of vehicles
BAE Systems, along with teammate Iveco Defence Vehicles, has been awarded a $67 million contract modification by the U.S. Marine Corps to develop new variants for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Family of Vehicles program for enhancing battlefield situational awareness and firepower. “The ACV has proven to be a versatile platform capable of numerous configurations to meet current and future mission requirements,” said John Swift, director of amphibious programs at BAE Systems. “With this award, BAE Systems will be able to develop a family of vehicles that will deliver the technology and capability the Marines require to accomplish their mission in support of our national security.” The contract calls for the design and development of the command (ACV-C) and the 30mm medium caliber cannon (ACV-30) variants. The ACV-C incorporates seven work stations to provide situational awareness and control of the battle space. The ACV-30 integrates a 30mm cannon to provide the lethality and protection the Marines need while leaving ample room for troop capacity and payload. BAE Systems was previously awarded a low-rate initial production contract in June 2018 for the personnel variant (ACV-P). The Marine Corps announced the ACV had successfully completed anticipated requirements testing and would no longer be pursuing an envisioned incremental ACV 1.1 and ACV 1.2 development approach. The program is now known as the ACV Family of Vehicles, which encompasses the breadth and depth of the vehicle's capabilities and multiple variants. BAE Systems has a long legacy of designing and building amphibious vehicles and is a leading provider of combat vehicles, having produced more than 100,000 systems for customers worldwide. Iveco Defence Vehicles brings additional proven experience, having designed and built more than 30,000 multi-purpose, protected, and armored military vehicles in service today. The development of the ACV variants will take place in Stafford, Virginia; San Jose, California; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Aiken, South Carolina; and York, Pennsylvania. https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/us-marine-corps-awards-bae-systems-team-a-contract-to-develop-acv-family-of-vehicles