Opinion: What’s In A Defense Budget Cut?

On the same subject

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  June 14, 2018 | International, C4ISR

  Saab’s sPAD is a tablet for the battlefield

  The smartphone is such an integral part of modern life that it's only natural to see battlefield adaptations. Today's novelty comes from Swedish defense giant Saab, and goes by “Soldier sPAD,” to give the convenience and utility of a small touch-screen computer, but make sure it can actually work in the kind of situations where soldiers might find iPhones or Androids lacking. The phone itself weighs just about six ounces, and the whole system, including battery, handheld tablet, cables between them, and pouches, clocks in at just under two pounds. The 3.7 inch pressure-sensitive screen of the sPAD is built to be used “with gloves, pens or any other item by putting pressure on the touch film.” The screen can both reflect light around it and be back-lit when ambient light is lacking. The sPAD is built to work in temperatures as cool as -22 degrees and as hot as 140 Fahrenheit, and can be safely stored in temperatures more extreme than those use parameters. There's an option of a non-rechargeable battery with 16 hours of power, rechargeable batteries, and hot-swapping of batteries so the tablet can remain in use even while changing out its power supply. As to what the tablet might actually be used for? App proliferation will invariably be constrained compared to commercial markets, but the present of a useful, touchable screen in the hands of troops means the possibilities are many and likely to be discovered through real-world use. Maps and communications are obvious. Displaying drone footage to an entire company through the tablet instead of just the drone operator could allow the formation to take advantage of real-time surveillance. Maybe tablets could even issue simple commands to mostly autonomous vehicles, allowing hunkered-down troops to play a bit of minesweeper in real life. https://www.c4isrnet.com/c2-comms/2018/06/13/saabs-spad-is-a-tablet-for-the-battlefield/

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  December 19, 2018 | International, Land

  Turkey cleared by US for $3.5 billion Patriot missile deal, despite S-400 row

  By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — Amidst an ongoing row concerning Turkey's decision to buy a Russian air defense system, the U.S. State Department has cleared Ankara to purchase a package of Patriot systems, with an estimated price tag of $3.5 billion. The announcement, posted late Tuesday evening on the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, would cover the procurement of 80 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced and 60 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles, as well as associated equipment. Turkey has twice passed over the Patriot — in 2013 when it chose a Chinese system that it later dropped out of, and in 2017 when it said it finalized the S-400 deal. In both cases, Turkey insisted on a transfer of missile technology regarding the Patriot before it would consider the system, something the U.S. declined to do. The DSCA solicit said industrial offsets of some kind are required with the deal, but “at this time offset agreements are undetermined and will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and contractors;" whether that offset will include tech transfer remains to be seen. The S-400 is a major sticking point in the military relationship between the U.S. and Turkey. Pentagon officials and NATO leadership have been vocal that Turkey cannot be allowed to plug the S-400 into allied systems, such as integrating it with the F-35. Turkey is a member of NATO. The two systems are different in capabilities. The S-400 is a mobile system, designed for deployment behind the lines to protect critical infrastructure, with a very long range. The Patriot, meanwhile, is a medium-range system. A department spokesperson, speaking on background ahead of the announcement, said Turkey “will use Patriot to improve its air and missile defense capability, defend its territorial integrity, and deter regional threats. The proposed sale will increase the defensive capabilities of the Turkish military to guard against hostile aggression and shield NATO allies who might train and operate within Turkey's borders.” In addition to the missiles, the package includes four AN/MPQ-65 Radar Sets, four Engagement Control Stations, 10 Antenna Mast Groups, 20 M903 Launching Stations, and five Electrical Power Plant III systems. As with all DSCA announcements, dollar values and quantities may vary at the end of the day; the Senate must OK a sale before the customer and the U.S. government enter contract negotiations. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/12/19/turkey-cleared-by-us-for-35-billion-patriot-missile-deal-despite-s-400-row

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  September 23, 2020 | International, Naval

  BAE shipyard sues Navy over extra work on USS Bataan

  DAVE RESS BAE Systems' Norfolk shipyard is suing the Navy's Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, claiming the yard is owed nearly $1.1 million for work it did on USS Bataan. The lawsuit contends that the Navy is refusing to pay for extra work that BAE and its subcontractors had to perform because the Navy didn't provide necessary supplies or complete needed work while Bataan was in the BAE shipyard. BAE won a $51.6 million, fixed-price contract to repair and modernize Bataan in September 2017. It was originally supposed to complete the work in July 2018, but that was extended to November 2018. When the ship was not delivered by then, the Navy declared BAE in default of the contract. BAE continued to work on the ship until March 2019. The lawsuit alleges that the Navy's challenges securing funds for additional work delayed completion. In addition, the lawsuit says the Navy's continued dumping of liquids into the bilge spaces prevented BAE from completing cleaning and pumping work. It also alleges that the Navy also expanded the work required, as when it directed the yard to add multiple pendant and wire installations on the Flight Deck Safety Nets. BAE said most of its claims for payment for the additional work were denied by the Navy's Contracting Officer in a formal final decision, prompting the shipyard to sue for the funds it claims it is owed. The Navy maintenance center has not yet filed a formal response to the BAE complaint. A spokesman was not immediately available for comment. https://www.pilotonline.com/business/shipyards/dp-nw-bae-bataan-20200922-3gangsit5zgtljyo2mgdvorcx4-story.html