SASC Frets DoD Missile Warning Satellite Efforts May Be Flailing

On the same subject

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  July 11, 2018 | International, C4ISR

  To update key databases, NGA looks at $1.5B in contracts

  By: Maddy Longwell   The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has awarded contracts worth as much as $1.5 billion for companies for work on a comprehensive content database that would accelerate decision-making for analysts throughout the next decade. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contracts, awarded to 14 companies, are the JANUS program, an NGA initiative that provides geography, aeronautical and elevation information. JANUS is an unclassified cloud environment that updates and maintains geospatial databases, which can then be accessed by NGA's data partners including the intelligence community and military. JANUS includes: - a geography portion, with contracts worth as much as $920 million, - an elevation program, worth about $250 million, and - a program that features aeronautical data, worth about $320 million., “Janus, will enable near-real time access to commercially-created and enriched content (including crowd- and community-sourced data) in a cost-effective manner that improves decision-making timelines,” NGA Director Robert Cardillo said at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Intelligence in September 2016. For the geography program, Altamira Technologies Corporation, Hexagon US Federal, Inc., Centra Technology, Inc., MDA Information Systems, LLC, CACI, Inc. - Federal, Harris Corp., BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc., Boeing Intelligence & Analytics, Vencore, Inc., and Leidos, Inc. will be eligible for task orders. Those companies will compete to manage and disseminate geospatial intelligence information. They will also use predictive analytic technology to evaluate NGA databases, correct data and improve data acquisition and creation. For the elevation program, Raytheon, Hexagon, Continental Mapping Consultants, BAE, Leidos, Boeing and Harris will compete for task orders. Continental Mapping Consultants, T-Kartor USA, and Lowe Engineers could win task orders related to aeronautical feature data, according to a posting on the Federal Business Opportunities web site. “Our analytics technology provides NGA with fit-for-purpose data, reduced production costs and cloud-based access to geospatial products and content,” Bill Gattle, president of Harris Space and Intelligence Systems, said in a July 11 press release. https://www.c4isrnet.com/intel-geoint/2018/07/10/to-update-key-databases-nga-looks-at-15b-in-contracts/

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  September 24, 2018 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR

  Here’s how Air Mobility Command will improve aircraft survivability

  By: Charlsy Panzino In a great power conflict, mobility aircraft will be essential to deliver fuel and supplies to the warfighters. But increasing concern over anti-access/area denial threats from potential foes, and the fact that big bodied mobility aircraft present inviting, in fact, critical targets has the attention and concern of Air Force leadership. The new head of Air Mobility Command is focusing on four key areas to improve the survivability of mobility aircraft and gain persistence over the battlefield. Gen. Maryanne Miller, who took the controls Sept. 7 when Gen. Carlton Everhart retired, told reporters at the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference that the Illinois-based command is looking at four categories of survivability improvements: Situational awareness of the battlefield New countermeasures to operate in a combat environment Self-defense systems Disciplined signature management “Looking at each one of these categories will help advance the survivability for our platforms in the threat environment,” Miller said Tuesday. Miller is carrying forward work that was done under her predecessor. Early this year, AMC completed an assessment about how to improve the survivability of aircraft in contested environments. The “High Value Airborne Asset” study recommended improvements to communications, situational awareness and self-protection systems. There are many different technologies to consider and develop for self-protection. including light armor, signature management tech and high-energy lasers. Former AMC commander Gen. Carlton Everhart often talked about his desire to put lasers on mobility aircraft, beginning with the KC-135, and the command has also been working to improve secure communications, notably on the C-17. The service needs integrated situational awareness capabilities that provide all aspects of pertinent battlefield information. New sensors will help the command better understand everything that's happening within the battlefield. As Air Mobility Command looks at how best to build that situational awareness, it could mean building sensors onto the aircraft or new air frames to meet those requirements. “Given the threat environment, it's probably a little bit of both,” Miller said. With signature management, or detection avoidance, Miller said AMC is looking at new air frames that will have common cockpits, advanced propulsion systems, payload, offload, range, speed and fuel efficiency. Miller said the command is figuring out if modifications can be made on current air frames or if new ones need to be built. “We're really trying to take advantage of signature management properties associated with each air frame itself,” she said. Meanwhile, U.S. Transportation Command and the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation organization within the Office of the Secretary of Defense have been assessing the number of tanker aircraft, airlift aircraft and sealift ships needed to meet future combatant commander requirements. The study, known as the Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study, is expected to be completed this fall. “America's air refueling fleet is the most stressed of our air mobility forces," Gen. Darren McDew, commander of USTRANSCOM, told the House Armed Services Committee earlier this year. “The combination of an aging fleet, increasing demand, and global tanker distribution puts a significant strain on this scarce national resource.” “Our ability to deploy decisive force is foundational to the National Defense Strategy. The size and lethality of the force is of little consequence if we can't get it where it needs to go when we want it there,” said McDew. The rate of change in technology requires quick innovation to overcome threats, Miller said. The force needs aircraft that are “able to survive, integrate and operate in DoD forces in current and future threat environments.” Miller said the key is understanding the threats of the future and modifying or building a plane that allows the Air Force to operate through that threat environment. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/09/22/heres-how-air-mobility-command-will-improve-aircraft-survivability

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  February 11, 2022 | International, Aerospace

  Indonesia to buy 42 Rafale jets as it boosts ties with France

  Paris looking to expand geopolitical relations in Indo-Pacific after Australia scrapped a multibillion-dollar deal.