Back to news

June 19, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval

Trump orders creation of independent space force - but Congress will still have its say

and

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday appeared to sign an executive order directing the Pentagon to create a new ”Space Force,” a move that could radically transform the U.S. military by pulling space functions variously owned by the Air Force, Navy and other military branches into a single independent service.

But while the president's support for a new military branch is notable, experts -- and a powerful member of Congress -- believe Trump still needs the support of Congress to make a space force happen.

“I am hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces,” Trump said during a meeting of the National Space Council.

“That's a big statement. We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force. Separate but equal. It is going to be something. So important,” Trump added. “General Dunford, if you would carry that assignment out, I would be very greatly honored.”

Dunford responded in the affirmative, telling Trump, “We got you.”

According to a White House pool report, the president signed the executive order establishing the Space Force at about 12:36 p.m. EST.

However, a readout issued from the White House later that day of the executive order contained no language related to the creation of a new military branch, leaving open the question of whether Trump has actually issued formal guidance to the military.

The Air Force referred all questions to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

However, a defense official, speaking on background, said “The Joint Staff will work closely with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, other DoD stakeholders and the Congress to implement the President's guidance."

Trump's support for creating a separate branch for space is a break from his own adminsitration's stance last year, as well as that of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

“At a time when we are trying to integrate the Department's joint warfighting functions, I do not wish to add a separate service that would likely present a narrower and even parochial approach to space operations vice an integrated one we're constructing under our current approach,” Mattis wrote in a 2017 letter to members of Congress.

But in recent months, Trump has signaled he was intrigued by the idea of a stand alone space force, saying in a May 1 speech that “We're actually thinking of a sixth” military branch for space.

At the time, that statement confounded Air Force leaders who had publicly opposed the creation of a separate space service, leading them to adopt a softer tone when talking about the potential for Space Force to avoid being seen as out of step with Trump.

This time, however, Trump's announcement tracks with the Pentagon's schedule for an interim report on whether to establish an independent space corps. Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said in April that it was on track to be wrapped up on June 1. The final report, which would be sent to Congress, is due in August.

Trump's announcement was characteristically vague, but experts say that any new branch would have to come through an act of Congress.

“The Congress alone has the power to establish a new branch of the military and to establish the positions of senior executive officials to lead such a department,” said Jonathan Turley, a professor at Georgetown University's law school who has studied constitutional issues relating to the military. “While the Pentagon can informally create study or working groups, it has no such authority.”

The president can have the military lay the groundwork for a future new branch, Turley said, which is close to what Trump seemed to be getting at.

By: Kelsey Atherton

“What the President can do is to order the study and proposal for a new branch, which would ultimately go to Congress of any authorization and appropriations,” he said.

Todd Harrison, an expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed, tweeting Monday that “The president can't just create a new military service on his own. It requires congressional authorization..”

“So the near-term practical effect of all this is that the president can direct DoD to come up with a plan and start preparing to create a Space Force, but he still needs congress to authorize it,” Harrison continued.

And while sources on Capitol Hill said they believe Trump does have the authority to establish the new military branch, and that their attention will now turn to funding and missions for the new Space Force, at least one Republican member of Congress made his stance clear.

“Establishing a service branch requires congressional action,” House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee chair Mike Turner, R-Ohio. “We still don't know what a Space Force would do, who is going to be in it, or how much is it going to cost.

“The congressionally mandated report evaluating a Space Force to answer those questions is due in August,” Turner added. “After we get the report that we required as a legislative body and the President signed off on, then this issue can be appropriately evaluated for what's best for national security.”

Congress reacts

Trump's announcement also left it unclear whether this new space force will rest under the Department of the Air Force — much like the Marine Corps is a component of the Department of the Navy — or whether a new “Department of the Space Force” will also be created.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the head of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, tweeted out his support for Trump's order. Rogers had previously proposed a separate space service as part of Congress' annual defense policy bill.

However, lawmakers and experts also immediately registered their opposition to the announcement.

Sen. Bill Nelson, (D-Fla.), the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee that oversees nonmilitary space programs, tweeted that now was not the right time to establish a separate space force.

Harrison noted that the infrastructure may already exist to smooth the creation of a space force.

“Creating a Space Force would not necessarily mean a huge increase in funding. We already have space forces within the military, this would just be reorganizing them under a single chain of command,” he tweeted. “Yes, there would be some extra overhead costs, but it doesn't have to be huge.”

But David Deptula, a retired Air Force lieutenant general and currently dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, questioned whether the administration had hammered down the details needed to successfully consolidate the military's space functions into a single service.

“This is another case of ready, fire, aim,” he said.

David Larter, Joe Gould, Tara Copp and Leo Shane III contributed to this report. This story is developing.

On the same subject

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 13, 2020

    January 14, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 13, 2020

    NAVY AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $176,472,608 firm-fixed-price contract for the production and delivery of 32 TH-73A aircraft, initial spares, peculiar support equipment, flyaway kits, hoists, sling loads, data in excess of commercial form fit function/operations maintenance instructional training data as well as ancillary instructor pilot and maintenance personnel training. Work will be performed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (87%); Mineral Wells, Texas (5%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (8%), and is expected to be completed in October 2021. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $176,472,608 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; five offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N61340-20-C-0007). Airbus Helicopters Inc., Grand Prairie, Texas, is awarded a $37,729,000 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides performance-based logistics support to include ground and repair maintenance of five UH-72 aircraft, sustaining engineering required to maintain UH-72 Federal Aviation Administration certification, the incorporation of U.S. Navy Test Pilot School specific modifications, and the support to provide ground and flight training for the UH-72/EC-145 aircraft. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in January 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0010). C.E.R. Inc.,* Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded a $12,886,000 firm-fixed-price task order (N4008020F4121) under a multiple award construction contract for Gambo Creek Bridge replacement at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren. The work to be performed provides for a design build project to remove and replace Gambo Creek Bridge on Tisdale Road with a reinforced concrete bridge structure that complies with the Federal Highway Administration lane widths for two way traffic. Work will be performed in Dahlgren, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $12,886,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, Public Works Department, South Potomac, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40080-19-D-0011). DRS Systems Inc., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $7,660,583 modification (P00001) to a cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable delivery order (N0001919F2730) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-19-G-0030). This modification provides program management, engineering and logistics support to mitigate identified risks to the Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure program. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas (70%); San Diego, California (27%); and Fort Walton Beach, Florida (3%), and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,670,597; and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,798,000 will be obligated at time of award, $2,670,597 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $10,593,360 modification P00001 to previously awarded contract FA8675-20-C-0033 for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Production Lot 33 spares. This contract modification provides for the production Air Force and Navy spares. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, with an expected completion date of March 31, 2022. Fiscal 2018 Air Force procurement funds in the amount of $1,730,203; and fiscal 2020 Navy procurement funds in the amount of $8,863,157 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $778,877,267. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Jan. 10, 2020) *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2056101/source/GovDelivery/

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 7, 2019

    February 11, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 7, 2019

    NAVY BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4419); Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4420); and General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4421), are each awarded firm-fixed-price modifications to exercise Option Period Three under previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contracts for complex, emergent and continuous maintenance and Chief of Naval Operations availabilities on amphibious ships. Each company will have the opportunity to provide offers for individual delivery orders during Option Period Three, with an estimated cumulative combined value of $406,853,897. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be complete by March 2020. No funding will be obligated at time of award. Funding will be provided as individual delivery orders are issued. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $240,266,448 for modification P00009 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive contract (N00019-17-C-0030) for the manufacture and delivery of 12 Lot 16 AH-1Z aircraft for the kingdom of Bahrain under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60 percent); and Amarillo, Texas (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2022. FMS funds in the amount of $240,266,448 are being obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $33,001,816 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity supply contract with cost-reimbursable services for the Digital Video Surveillance System in support of guided-missile destroyer (DDG) modernization. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division is the Navy's agent for the coordination and planning of all the engineering and technical support services for the modernization program. The modernization program provides a full spectrum of technical support encompassing all phases of the alteration installation process. Supplies are to be delivered to various Navy bases, shipyards, repair facilities and contractor facilities in the continental U.S. Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia (85 percent); and at various places below one percent (15 percent), and is expected to be completed by February 2024. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,916,500 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. (N64498-19-D-4011) The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded $23,108,547 for firm-fixed-priced delivery order N00383-19-F-0AY1 under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-18-G-AY01 for the repair of various avionics equipment used on the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in Lemoore, California (99 percent); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed by December 2021. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $23,108,547 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. URS Group Inc., Morrisville, North Carolina, is awarded a $21,000,000 modification on a firm-fixed-price task order under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62470-13-D-6022) for Phase One of Hurricane Michael repairs for stabilization and repairs to multiple buildings at Naval Support Activity Panama City, Florida. The work to be performed provides for removal of carpet, walls, windows and other unsalvageable items due to water penetration, clean-up of roofing materials and tarping of rooftops to mitigate further water intrusion. Repairs include roof replacement, roof decking, and sealing roof penetrations. The repairs also include correction of architectural, structural, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fire protection, electrical deficiencies and any other incidental related work as found due to damage from the hurricane. After award of this modification, the total task order value will be $42,510,000. Work will be performed in Panama City, Florida, and is expected to be completed by September 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $21,000,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $18,265,659 for modification P00045 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0004). This modification provides for the maintenance and operation of the Australia, Canada, United Kingdom Reprogramming Laboratory (ACURL). This effort includes support for all ACURL systems to include consumables for the F-35 aircraft in support of the governments of Australia, Canada and the U.K. Work will be performed in Valparaiso, Florida, and is expected to be completed in February 2020. Non-Department of Defense participant funds in the amount of $18,265,659 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $16,680,230 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00039-16-C-0050) to exercise options to deliver spare items for the Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT) system and to produce, test and deliver fully integrated NMT. NMT is a multiband capable satellite communications terminal that provides protected and wideband communications. NMT supports Extremely High Frequency (EHF) / Advanced EHF Low Data Rate / Medium Data Rate / Extended Data Rate, Super High Frequency, Military Ka (transmit and receive) and Global Broadcast Service receive-only communications. Work will be performed in Largo, Florida (54 percent); South Deerfield, Massachusetts (25 percent); Stow, Massachusetts (13 percent); and Marlborough, Massachusetts (8 percent), and is expected to be completed by February 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); Navy working capital funds; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $16,680,230 will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This sole-source contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is awarded a $15,637,609 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification, against previously awarded contract N00024-14-C-4313 for LCS Planning Yard Services. This modification procures waterjet assembly battle spares for the LCS-6 and follow ships (Independence Class). Work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia (99 percent); and Bath, Maine (1 percent), and is expected to be complete by March 2021. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $15,637,609 will be obligated at award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair, Bath, Maine, is the contracting activity. American Petroleum Tankers LLC, Blue Bay, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $15,111,000 firm-fixed-price option with reimbursable elements under a previously awarded contract (N3220517C3502) to exercise Option One for the vessel the M/V Evergreen State in support of the Department of Defense Logistics Agency Energy. The U.S. flagged vessel provided under the contract is employed in the worldwide transportation of petroleum products. The vessel will primarily be expected to operate in, but not limited to, the U.S. East Coast/Gulf Coast region, in accordance with the terms of this charter. Work for this option is expected to be completed February 2020. Working capital funds in the amount of $9,687,600 are obligated on this award. The cumulative value of this contract, if all options are exercised, is $81,048,250. This procurement was released under full and open competition, with an unlimited number of companies solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Mission Systems, Fairfax, Virginia, is awarded a $14,512,050 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-5352 to exercise options for Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 1B3 full-rate production. SEWIP is an evolutionary acquisition and incremental development program to upgrade the existing AN/SLQ-32(V) electronic warfare system. SEWIP provides enhanced shipboard electronic warfare for early detection, analysis, threat warning, and protection from anti-ship missiles. SEWIP Block 1 focuses on obsolescence mitigation and special signal intercept. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (55 percent); Thousand Oaks, California (25 percent); Mountain View, California (15 percent); and Fairfax, Virginia (5 percent), and is expected to be complete by May 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 and 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,512,050 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. Assurance Technology Corp., Carlisle, Massachusetts, is awarded $11,471,334 for cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00029 to task order N00173-15-F-6201 under previously awarded contract (N00173-15-F-6201). This contract action is for research, development, and integration as it relates to Software Definable/Reconfigurable Systems design. This modification provides additional level of effort to be executed under the task order. The total cumulative face value of this task order is $46,792,500. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia (93 percent); and Carlisle, Massachusetts (7 percent), and work is expected to be completed in July 2019. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,500,000 are obligated at the time of award. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ARMY The Raytheon Co., Fort Wayne, Indiana, was awarded a $406,280,000 hybrid (cost, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price and fixed-price-incentive) contract for AN/ARC-231 Multiple-Mode Aviation Radio Suite, hardware components, repair services, technical, engineering and logistical support services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56JSR-19-D-0014). Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $107,390,788 fixed-price-incentive contract for recapitalized Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks, Palletized Load System (PLS) trucks, and new PLS trailers. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 other procurement Army funds in the amount of $107,390,788 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-F-0193). Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $55,093,787 fixed-price-incentive contract for recapitalized Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks, Palletized Load System (PLS) trucks, and new PLS trailers. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 other procurement Army funds in the amount of $55,093,787 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-F-0192). Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $40,946,478 fixed-price-incentive contract for recapitalized Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement Army funds in the amount of $40,946,478 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-F-0194). Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $29,319,096 fixed-price-incentive contract for recapitalized Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2017 other procurement Army funds in the amount of $29,319,096 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-F-0195). Record Steel and Construction Inc., Boise, Idaho, was awarded a $25,393,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of an E-3G mission and flight simulator training facility at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed in Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 21, 2021. Fiscal 2017 military construction funds in the amount of $25,393,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (W912BV-19-C-0002). STANTEC Consulting Services, Raleigh, North Carolina, was awarded a $12,250,000 firm-fixed-price contract for vertical architectural and engineering. Bids were solicited via the internet with 28 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 6, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-19-D-0001). Clark Nexsen Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, was awarded a $12,250,000 firm-fixed-price contract for vertical architectural and engineering. Bids were solicited via the internet with 28 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 6, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-19-D-0002). AECOM Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California, was awarded a $12,250,000 firm-fixed-price contract for vertical architectural and engineering. Bids were solicited via the internet with 28 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 6, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-19-D-0003). Whitman, Requardt and Associates LLP, Baltimore, Maryland, was awarded a $12,250,000 firm-fixed-price contract for vertical architectural and engineering. Bids were solicited via the internet with 28 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 6, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-19-D-0004). AAI Corp. doing business as Textron Systems, Hunt Valley, Maryland, was awarded a $7,050,000 modification (0004 10) to Foreign Military Sales (Australia) contract W58RGZ-17-D-0006 for contractor logistics support of the One System Remote Video Terminal. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of May 7, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $7,050,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Parsons, Pasadena, California, has been awarded a $94,359,257 firm-fixed-price contract, for Launch Manifest Systems Integrator (LMSI). This acquisition will allow for necessary integration and manifesting services for the LMSI requirement. Work will be performed in Pasadena and Torrance, California, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 6, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal 2019 space procurement funds in the amount of $5,898,895 will be obligated at the time of award. The Contracting Division, Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-19-F-0003). https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1751801/source/GovDelivery/

  • The light amphibious warship is delayed, but the Marine Corps has a temporary solution

    May 13, 2022 | International, Naval

    The light amphibious warship is delayed, but the Marine Corps has a temporary solution

    U.S. Marines want to move quickly and discreetly, but the crowded shipbuilding budget is in the way.

All news