July 30, 2024 | International, Aerospace
Boeing’s KC-46 has a new top-tier deficiency
The latest Category 1 deficiency, discovered this spring, involves a faulty fuel pump.
February 16, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Spain to double its military spending
By Alejandro López
8 February 2018
Defence spending will double by 2024, Defence Minister María Dolores de Cospedal has told Spain's parliamentary Defence Committee. The defence budget will increase from 0.8 percent of GDP (€8.7 billion) to 1.53 percent (€18.47 billion).
To limit popular opposition to war and anger against increased military expenditure, while austerity has decimated public services and made life more precarious for millions of workers and youth, Cospedal refused to publish the letter addressed to NATO outlining the increase, as she had initially promised. She claimed that part of the content was classified as secret.
Secrecy also surrounds the real level of current military spending. According to the pacifist organisation Centre Delàs d'Estudis per la Pau, there is a whole swathe of military related expenditure that is excluded from the defence budget. If social security, pensions and insurance for the military, missions abroad, state aid for military research and development at private companies, the budget of the militarised Civil Guards and NATO fees were included, then the true figure would stand at around €18.8 billion. By 2024, it will really be “the implausible figure of €28 billion a year,” the Centre declared.
Spain's increase in military expenditure is in response to the agreement made at last May's NATO summit, under intense pressure from the Trump administration, for all NATO members to increase defence spending by 2024 to 2 percent of GDP.
Cospedal admitted that the increase to 1.53 percent fell short of NATO's objective, but insisted it would “facilitate the achievement of that horizon in future years” and was in line with targets set by other European countries.
An idea of the scale of the upgrade and renewal of the military can be gathered from the list of new equipment that will be purchased. Included are 348 new Piranha 5 armoured infantry vehicles, which are designed for close combat situations, five F-110 frigates, four S-80 submarines, three Multi Role Tanker Transport refuelling aircraft, 23 NH-90 helicopters, a Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a new training aircraft. In addition, the army will acquire a new Command and Control System and the renovation of its barracks, 17 Chinook helicopters will be modernized, and Spain will contribute funds towards the replacement for the F-18 fighter jet.
Cospedal confirmed that the military spending in Spain's participation in 17 military missions around the globe last year was €835 million, 8.2 percent more than the previous year. Spain will participate in the European Union's (EU) Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) on security and defence and will head the Command and Control System for EU Missions and Operations. PESCO was agreed last November by 23 of the EU's 28 member states “to jointly develop defence capabilities and make them available for EU military operations.”
Spain's commitment to PESCO reflects the attempt by the ruling elite in Spain and in Europe to defend their economic and military positions vis-a-vis actual and potential competitors, in a situation threatened by Brexit and the Trump administration's “America First” policy.
The Spanish government is attempting to straddle the contradictions of supporting both the German-led PESCO and the US-led NATO, two militarist projects that are incompatible in the long term. This was reflected in a resolution proposed by the government to be debated in an upcoming parliamentary session, which calls for improvements to EU-US relations in the sphere of defence, while concluding that “Europeans must assume more than ever before the responsibility of our own security.”
The growth of Spanish militarism, as elsewhere globally, is the response of the ruling class to rising inequality, the deepening economic crisis and the growing conflicts between the major powers. Its aim, as recently expressed in the new US National Security Strategy, is the conquest of new spheres of influence, markets and raw materials—above all in conflict with Russia and China—and to deflect social tensions outwards.
The main obstacle for the Spanish ruling class is the population's traditional hostility towards the military. This was recently revealed in the attempt to open a debate to re-impose conscription, following the example of France under President Emmanuel Macron. All the main dailies published articles and opinion pieces bemoaning the population's hostility to such a measure.
The pro-militarist senior researcher for the Real Instituto Elcano, Félix Arteaga, complained to El Mundo, “Raising it [conscription] here would be political suicide, first because there is no military need to justify it, and second, because the concept of obligation is not liked by Spanish society. There is no mentality or culture of national identity and, of course, no one believes that you should lose your life for the defence of the country.”
The ability of Spain's ruling elite to pursue its military ambitions is to a large extent due to the role of the pseudo-left Podemos, which has been virtually silent on these developments or has openly endorsed them. Last month Podemos covered up for increased Spanish intervention in Mali, where an EU “Training Mission” still continues five years after jihadist groups overran the north of the country in 2012, prompting a wave of refugees. Thousands attempted to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, and many drowned.
On January 24, Cospedal appeared before the Defence Commission to get belated authorisation for approving Spain's taking over control of the mission and sending in more troops on January 9. She warned the commission that increased involvement in the EU intervention was “fundamental” and that North Africa was “a strategic place” for Spain.
Juan Antonio Delgado, the Podemos spokesperson for military affairs, complained that Cospedal had “broken the law” by sending in the troops before parliamentary approval. He revealed, “I was in Mali three months ago and I learned that Spain would take over the operation,” before asking Cospedal, “In that time has there not been time to ask for authorization?”
The obvious question is why Delgado himself did not pursue the issue... and when it came to the vote [on authorisation] at the commission he merely abstained.
Even more explicit was Podemos General Secretary Pablo Iglesias, who attacked Cospedal from the right over the death of a pilot killed in a jet crash last October. He told her, “Patriotism is defending the rights of the professionals of our Armed Forces. It is shameful that in this country some who fill their mouths talking about our homeland do not respect the rights of workers who are here to protect us all and whose lives cannot be endangered.”
Such statements prove Podemos is a pro-war party, offering itself as a reliable political platform for Spanish militarism. Since its foundation, Podemos has created branches in the army and made an explicit effort to articulate its main demands. Former Chief of the Defence Staff Julio Rodríguez Fernández has stood as a Podemos candidate in recent parliamentary elections and is the general secretary of Podemos in the municipality of Madrid, where he will be the party's main candidate in next year's elections.
On the same subject
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September 6, 2019 | International, Naval
New tropical boots coming by the end of 2019
By: Shawn Snow The Corps' new tropical boots may be on the feet of some Marines by the end of 2019, according to Marine officials. The Corps awarded two contracts on Aug. 29 for up to 140,000 total pairs of two styles of tropical boots, according to Maj. Ken Kunze, a spokesman for Marine Corps Systems Command. Kunze said one contract was awarded to ADS Inc. for a maximum order of 70,000 pairs of the Rocky brand tropical boot. That contract award was valued at $11.1 million dollars, Kunze said. Another contract was awarded to Provengo LLC for 70,000 pairs of the Danner brand tropical boot, with a contract valued at $13.7 million, according to Kunze. Kunze said the initial order for the new tropical boots is being procured in September and they should start arriving in 60 days to 90 days. The boots have gone through rigorous training during the past several years. In 2017, Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, evaluated three tropical boot prototypes from boot manufacturers Danner, Bates and Rocky while training in a jungle environment. The new boots will not be part of a Marine's general seabag issue. The boots are headed for the for the Consolidated Storage Program, and will be issued to Marines in predeployment training before heading to a hot or tropical climate, Manny Pacheco, a spokesman for Marine Corps Systems Command, previously told Marine Corps Times. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/09/05/new-tropical-boots-coming-by-the-end-of-2019
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December 7, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 4, 2018
NAVY Astro Mechanical Contractors Inc.,* El Cajon, California (N62473-19-D-2416); Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California (N62473-19-D-2417); Public Works Contractor Inc., doing business as PWC Inc.,* Spring Valley, California (N62473-19-D-2418); Souza Construction Inc.,* Farmersville, California (N62473-19-D-2419); Ja'nus Ventilation and Mechanical Inc.,* Lakeside, California (N62473-19-D-2420); and Able Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.,* Chula Vista, California (N62473-19-D-2421), are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract for new construction, renovation, and repair by design-bid, of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system projects at various government installations located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The maximum dollar value including a two-year base period and one three-year option period for all six contracts combined is $200,000,000. The work to be performed provides for new construction, renovation, and repair within the North American Industry Classification System code 238220, by design-build, of HVAC system projects. Types of projects may include, but are not limited to: boiler/chiller plants; digital direct controls or energy management control system; HVAC equipment energy optimization; commissioning and retro commissioning; distribution systems including, supply and return air systems, ventilation and exhaust systems, steam, glycol, medical gas, refrigerant, heating hot water and chilled water distribution, associated terminal devices, heat recovery equipment, heat exchangers, sound attenuation, insulation, and associated appurtenances; energy supply including oil, gas, steam, heating hot and chilled water distribution systems and equipment including special cooling and humidity control, dust and fume collectors, air purifiers, paint booth ventilation systems; and system testing and balancing. Astro Mechanical Contractors Inc., is being awarded the initial project task order at $1,618,230 to repair HVAC system in H60 Simulator Facility, Naval Base Coronado (NBC) Building 352 at NBC, San Diego. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by Dec. 19, 2019. All work on these contracts will be performed at various government installations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility including, but not limited to, California (90 percent); Arizona (6 percent); Nevada (1 percent); Utah (1 percent); Colorado (1 percent), and New Mexico (1 percent). The terms of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of November 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $1,618,230 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps); and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside procurement via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 19 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. The NAVFAC Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $46,167,531 cost-plus-fixed- fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-4321) for non-nuclear repair services required to support submarine maintenance. The services under this contract are for non-nuclear repair services required to support submarine overhauls, maintenance, repair and modernization upgrades; ship alterations, temporary modifications and field changes; supplies and/or ancillary services and corrective and preventative maintenance. Work will be performed in New London, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by December 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $10,100,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity. Rockwell Collins Government Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $10,815,536 for modification P00002 to a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N0042118F0891) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00421-17-G-0003). This delivery order provides fiscal 2019 funding for the Modern Transmission Security and Tactical Secure Voice Suite B, Cryptographic Equipment Application integration for the ARC-210 RT-1939A(C), RT-1990A(C) and RT-2036(C) radios in support of multiple aircraft platforms. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,815,536 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $10,782,772 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-12-C-4323 for long lead time material procurement and management services for CG-65 and CG-69. Huntington Ingalls provides necessary engineering, technical, planning, ship configuration, data, and logistics efforts for lifetime support of both maintenance and modernization. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is expected to be complete by August 2019. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $10,782,772 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair, Gulf Coast, Pascagoula, Mississippi, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Liverpool, New York, is awarded a $7,078,327 firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-14-C-6227 to exercise options for the production of low-cost conformal arrays. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (90 percent); Marion, Massachusetts (8 percent); and Owego, New York (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2020. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $6,778,327; and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $300,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ARMY AAI Corp., doing business as Textron, Hunt Valley, Maryland, was awarded a $152,707,618 modification (P00080) to contract W911QY-17-C-0013 for logistics services. Work will be performed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of May 29, 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $27,935,533 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $26,718,824 option (002620) to a previously awarded contract (FA8620-15-G-4040) for MQ-9 contractor logistics support phase three. The contractor will provide an additional period of contractor logistics support for the French Air Force. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2019. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to France. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contract activity. General Electric (GE) Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded an $11,116,525 firm-fixed-price contract for engineering and technical services in support of the following engines: F-16 F110-GE-100, A-10 TF-34, KC-135 F-108, B-1 F118, E-6B F108, T700-401C, J85-21B, F110, F16 C/D, F/A-18 and F110-GE-129. This contract provides for on-site proficiency training and advice to elevate the technical skill and abilities of personnel responsible for the operation and maintenance of the GE Aviation equipment/systems to the level of self-sufficiency. Work will be performed at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado; Baltimore, Maryland; Springfield, Illinois; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Naval Air Station North Island, California; Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California; Isa Air Base, Bahrain; Cairo West AB, Egypt; Engine Depot, Israel; Ahmed al Jaber AB; Kuwait and Daegu AB, South Korea, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2020. This contract is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This contract involves 41.6 percent foreign military sales (FMS) to Israel; Egypt; Bahrain; South Korea, and Kuwait. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,000,000; and fiscal 2019 FMS funds in the amount of $1,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8604-19-D-8004). L-3 Technologies Inc., Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $7,795,473 firm-fixed price requirements contract for E-3 sustainment. This contract provides for repair and overhaul of E-3 electron tubes. Work will be performed in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by June 5, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated upon issuance of delivery orders. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8117-19-D-0008). DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY Yellowfin Transportation, Shawnee, Kansas (HE1254-19-D-2001), is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for daily commute and special needs student transportation services in the amount of $8,570,866. The location of performance is Fort Benning, Georgia. The award is for a four-year and seven-month base period ending July 31, 2023; and a five-year option period ending July 31, 2028. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be used to fund the initial task order. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal HE1254-18-R-2016, with two offers received. The contracting activity is the Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Virginia. (Awarded Dec. 3, 2018) CG Logistics, Ridgeland, Mississippi (HE1254-19-D-2002); is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for daily commute and special needs student transportation services in the amounts of $8,848,772. The location of performance is Fort Benning, Georgia. The award is for a four-year and seven month base period ending July 31, 2023; and a five-year option period ending July 31, 2028. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be used to fund the initial task order. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal HE1254-18-R-2016, with two offers received. The contracting activity is the Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Virginia. (Awarded Dec. 3, 2018) WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES NetCentrics Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded an $8,156,810 time and material, labor-hours, and firm-fixed-price contract modification. The contract was to obtain Joint Service Provider information technology service delivery support services for Washington Headquarters Services (WHS); the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Pentagon Force Protection Agency; and the WHS-supported organizations. Work performance will take place in the National Capital Region, including the Pentagon, Mark Center and Crystal City, Virginia. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,156,810 are being obligated on this award. The expected completion date is May 30, 2019. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-19-C-0008). (Awarded Nov. 29, 2018) *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1705364/