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June 25, 2020 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR

Senate bill would add $120M for hypersonic tracking satellites

The Senate's annual defense policy bill would authorize an additional $120 million toward a space-based sensor layer capable of tracking hypersonic weapons, despite the fact the Department of Defense did not seek more funding for the project in its fiscal 2021 budget requests.

The Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor is DoD's answer to the growing threat posed by hypersonic weapons being developed by China and Russia. Hypersonic weapons present a significant challenge to the United States' current missile warning architecture. Not only can these weapons maneuver around ground based sensors, they're too dim to be picked up and tracked by space-based sensors in higher orbits.

HBTSS theoretically solves this problem via a proliferated constellation of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) sensors operating in low earth orbit. At that lower orbit, the sensors will be able to pick up and track the otherwise dim objects. But because the satellites are closer to the earth and have a limited field of view, the system will need to pass off custody responsibility from sensor to sensor as the weapons traverse the globe. Hence the need for a proliferated constellation.

HBTSS will plug into the Space Development Agency's National Defense Space Architecture, a new system of satellites operating in low earth orbit.

The Missile Defense Agency awarded $20 million contracts to four companies in October to develop HBTSS prototypes: Northrop Grumman, Leidos, Harris Corporation and Raytheon.

The Senate's version of the National Defense Authorization Act would authorize the Missile Defense Agency $120 million in research, development, testing and engineering funds for HBTSS.

If passed, this would be the second consecutive year the department did not include money for HBTSS in its annual budget request, but Congress allocated money for the project anyway. In 2019, MDA put the program at the top of its unfunded priority list, seeking $108 million for that effort. Congress fully funded that request in the legislation that passed in December.

The decision to give the HBTSS funding to the Missile Defense Agency in fiscal year 2021 continues a 2019 battle between the administration and Congress over which agency should lead the program's development effort. While lawmakers wanted to place MDA firmly in charge of the effort, the White House argued that it was too soon to put one agency in charge. Ultimately, Congress included a provision putting primary responsibility for the development and deployment of the system in MDA's hands.

Just three months after that legislation passed, lawmakers expressed frustration and confusion over MDA's FY2021 budget request, which sought to transfer HBTSS funding responsibility to SDA. While MDA Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill tried to assure legislators at the March hearing that his agency was fully in charge of developing the sensor for HBTSS, skepticism has continued. According to Hill, funding for the effort would be allocated to SDA, who would in turn provide the funding to MDA. As currently drafted, the legislation de facto rejects DoD's request to transfer funding responsibility to SDA.

Furthermore, it specifically assigns principal responsibility for the development and deployment of HBTSS through the end of FY2022, after which it may be transferred over to the U.S. Space Force.

It's not the only legislative proposal emphasizing Congress' desire for MDA to be in charge of the system.

The House version of the FY2021 defense bill made public in June asks for the Secretary of Defense to certify that MDA is indeed in charge of HBTSS. According to a defense official, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin sent a letter signed May 29 certifying that MDA was in charge of payload development. Griffin has since resigned, stating that he has received an opportunity to work in the private sector.

The Senate version requires on orbit testing of HBTSS to begin by December 31, 2022, with full operational deployment as soon as technically feasible.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2020/06/24/senate-bill-adds-120m-for-hypersonic-tracking-satellites/

On the same subject

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 12, 2021

    February 15, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 12, 2021

    AIR FORCE AECOM Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California (FA8903-21-D-0002); APTIM Federal Services LLC, Alexandria, Virginia (FA8903-21-D-0001); Atkins Black & Veatch FSB JV, Denver, Colorado (FA8903-21-D-0003); Benham – Mead & Hunt, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (FA8903-21-D-0005); Burns & McDonnell Inc., Kansas City, Missouri (FA8903-21-D-0006); HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction Inc. Spring Branch, Texas (FA8903-21-D-007); Jacobs Government Services Co., San Antonio, Texas (FA8903-21-D-0008); OTIE-Merrick JV, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (FA8903-21-D-0010); Michael Baker International Inc., Moon Township, Pennsylvania (FA8903-21-D-0004); Parsons Government Services Inc., Pasadena, California (FA8903-21-D-0011); Leo A Daly Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota (FA8903-21-D-0009); Pond-CDM Smith JV LP, Peachtree Corners, Georgia (FA8903-21-D-0012); Tetra Tech Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts (FA8903-21-D-0013); TransSystems GHD JV, Berkeley, California (FA8903-21-D-0014); Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions Inc., Blue Bell, Pennsylvania (FA8903-21-D-015); Woolpert RS&H LLC, Dayton, Ohio (FA8903-21-D-0016); and WSP Mason Hanger JV, Washington, D.C. (FA8903-21-D-0017), have collectively been awarded a $2,000,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award task order contract for architect and engineering services. This contract supports the Air Force worldwide infrastructure design and construction missions, specifically for the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and Army Installation Management Command directorates. Work is expected to be completed by February 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $51,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The 772nd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. SURVICE Engineering Co. LLC, Belcamp, Maryland, has been awarded an $87,800,749 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Department of Defense (DOD) Information Analysis Center (IAC) Basic Center of Operations. This contract provides for the acquisition, storage, retrieval, synthesis, analysis and dissemination of 22 technical focus areas and scientific technical information for the DOD IAC mission. Work will be performed in Belcamp, Maryland, and is expected to be completed February 2027. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. No specific funds are being obligated on the basic contract. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $147,340 will be obligated shortly after award on a separate task order. Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (FA8075-21-D-0001). (This contract was originally announced May 19, 2020, but was not awarded until Feb. 12, 2021) Ampex Data Systems, Hayward, California, has been awarded a $9,999,999 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for telemetric electrical system-supplies and ancillary services. The contractor will furnish all personnel, equipment, labor, tools, materials and other items necessary to provide recorders, parts, technical engineering support, upgrades and the ability for maintenance sustainment of airborne data recorders and ground data recorders for the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California; Eglin AFB, Florida; and other Department of Defense and National Aeronautics and Space Administration continental U.S. activities. Work will be performed at Edwards AFB, California, and is expected to be completed Feb. 11, 2026, and if option is exercised, Feb 11, 2031. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $140,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, California, is the contracting activity (FA9302-21-D-0003). Acierto LLC, Farr West, Utah (FA4686-21-D-0001); Amplified Industrial Inc., Sacramento, California (FA4686-21-D-0002); Polu Kai Tidewater JV, Falls Church, Virginia (FA4686-21-D-0003); Trinity Builders LLC, Plumas Lake, California (FA4686-21-D-0004); and V Lopez Jr & Sons, Santa Maria, California (FA4686-21-D-0005), will compete for each order of a $9,200,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for infrastructure repair requirements. Work will consist of multiple disciplines in general construction categories for the military base facilities of Beale Air Force Base, California. Bids were solicited via the government-wide point of entry via solicitation and 10 bids were received. Exact work location and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated contract completion date of Feb. 11, 2029. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds will be used with no funds being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Beale Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. Serco Inc., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $7,681,160 modification (P00002) to contract FA2517-20-C-0003 for Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance system support. Work will be performed in Socorro, New Mexico; Maui, Hawaii; and Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be completed April 30, 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the full amount will be obligated the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $57,097,418. The 21st Contracting Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity. ARMY Moderna US, Cambridge, Massachusetts, was awarded a $1,650,000,000 modification (P00004) to contract W911QY-20-C-0100 for an additional 100 million doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 Moderna vaccine. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $1,650,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Feb. 11, 2021) General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Garland, Texas, was awarded an $111,853,284 firm-fixed-price contract for MK80 series general purpose tritonal bomb components. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Garland, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 aircraft procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $111,853,284 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-21-F-0104). Armtec Countermeasures Co., Coachella, California, was awarded a $24,953,504 firm-fixed-price contract for Flare Aircraft Countermeasure M206 and Flare Aircraft Countermeasure MJU-7A/B. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Camden, Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2026. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 aircraft procurement appropriations funds in the amount of $24,953,504 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-21-F-0101). NAVY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum, Maryland, is awarded a $236,941,008 modification for the firm-fixed-price portion of previously awarded contract M67854-19-C-0043. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $686,355,923. This modification provides for the exercise of three option contract line items to procure eight Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar Gallium Nitride full rate production systems with associated travel and one lot of the initial provisioning package (spares) in support of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. Work will be performed in Linthicum, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by Feb. 28, 2024. Fiscal 2021 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $236,941,008 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract modification was not competitively procured. The base contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 and 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(1). The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-19-C-0043). Association of Consultants and Engineers,* Leonardtown, Maryland, is awarded a maximum amount $30,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for multi-media environmental compliance services, with an emphasis on storm water, wastewater and drinking water for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), Washington, D.C., area of operations (AO) and U.S. territories. All work on this contract will be performed in the Washington, D.C., AO and U.S. territories. The term of the contract is not to exceed 66 months with an expected completion date of August 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) (OM,N) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 for guaranteed minimum are obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by OM,N. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with eight proposals received. NAVFAC Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-21-D-0013). Cianbro Corp., Pittsfield, Maine, is awarded a $20,850,000 firm-fixed-price contract modification for dredging requirements to support multi-mission Dry Dock #1 extension located at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $197,615,254. Work will be performed in Kittery, Maine, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2021 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $20,850,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-C-8500). EPS Corp., Tinton Falls, New Jersey, is awarded a $10,017,166 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed price modification to previously awarded indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract N00174-17-D-0026 to exercise an option for technical expertise in the development and testing of underwater weapons and underwater weapons systems components. Work will be performed in Tinton Falls, New Jersey (95%); and Cagliari, Italy (5%), and is expected to be completed by February 2022. No additional funds are being obligated at the time of this action. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. L3 Harris Technologies Inc. Anaheim, California, is awarded an $8,203,414 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00038) for options under previously awarded and announced contract N00030-18-C-0001. The work will provide services and support for Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) systems. Work will be performed in Anaheim, California (60 %); Cape Canaveral, Florida (25 %); and Washington, D.C. (15%), with an expected completion date of Oct. 12, 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,021,941 will be obligated at time of this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,423,298; fiscal 2021 weapons (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,814,175; and fiscal 2021 United Kingdom funds in the amount of $944,000, are being obligated at time of this award and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract modification is being awarded to the contractor on a sole-source basis under 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (now beta.SAM.gov) website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. Poway, California, was awarded a $9,037,064 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Longshot Phase One. This contract provides for the research, development, and demonstration of the Longshot. Work will be performed in Poway, California (71%); Orlando Florida (14%); Buffalo, New York (7%); Kirkland, Washington (5%); and Pontiac, Michigan (3%), with an estimated completion date of February 2022. Research and development funds in the amount of $2,141,687 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract is a limited sources competitive acquisition in accordance with the original broad agency announcement, HR0011-20-S-0037. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-21-C-0023). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Cayce, South Carolina, has been awarded a $10,758,408 modification (P00009) to 50‐year contract SP0600‐18‐C‐8326, with no option periods for the ownership, operation and maintenance of the natural gas distribution utility systems at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. This is a fixed‐price with economic‐price‐adjustment contract. Location of performance is South Carolina, with a Nov. 18, 2069, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2070 Army operation and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Energy, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Lovell Government Services LLC, Pensacola, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $9,653,838 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical and surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 41 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no options. Location of performance is Florida, with a Feb. 11, 2026, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-21-D-0013). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2503055/source/GovDelivery/

  • KC-46: What's Happened So Far?

    October 17, 2019 | International, Aerospace

    KC-46: What's Happened So Far?

    The KC-46 Pegasus is a U.S. air-refueling tanker that is expected to reach initial operating capability (IOC) around 2017. It is produced by Boeing. The KC-46 is intended to replace the first third of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) KC-135 fleet in the primary role of air-refueling, as well as in secondary roles of transport and aeromedical evacuation. Compared to the KC-135, the new aircraft can deliver more fuel at all ranges; operate from shorter runways; and carry three times as many cargo pallets, twice the number of passengers and over 30% more aeromedical evacuation patients. https://aviationweek.com/kc-46-whats-happened-so-far

  • RTX jet engine problem ripples across global aerospace industry | Reuters

    September 12, 2023 | International, Aerospace

    RTX jet engine problem ripples across global aerospace industry | Reuters

    Aerospace suppliers and airlines around the world warned of rising costs and a squeeze on plane capacity after U.S. engine maker RTX disclosed that a rare manufacturing flaw could ground hundreds of Airbus jets in coming years.

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