March 20, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

UK should rethink deadline for defense, foreign policy review, says former national security adviser

By: Andrew Chuter

LONDON — Former British national security adviser Peter Ricketts has urged the government to put the brakes on its plan to complete an integrated review of defense, security, foreign policy and development by July. The new coronavirus pandemic is partly to blame, he said.

“I do not see how a deep, thorough and integrated review covering the entire spectrum [of requirements] can now be done by July,“ Ricketts told a March 17 parliamentary Defence Select Committee hearing on the government's plan.

Conservative Party Prime Minister Boris Johnson initiated the review following his general election win in early December. Johnson promised it would be the most fundamental review of its kind since the end of the Cold War.

Analysts and others have been concerned that the review will be fudged in the rush to complete the promised deep dive into defense, foreign policy and security strategy reform.

The defense committee already called for a delay, and it has questions about how the review is being run.

Tobias Elwood, the recently appointed committee chairman, said the panel is “not impressed” by the initial way the review is progressing. Elwood said at the March 17 hearing that the Army had been told to submit their requirements by Mar 20, before they had been informed by the government what its new foreign policy will look like. The committee met with Army chiefs last week.

The Foreign Office has produced five separate essays on its view of Britain's role in the world, and the Army had not seen the documents, said Elwood.

One government lobbyist said that Elwood's remarks showed that Dominic Cummins, Boris Johnson's special adviser and one of the main proponents for radical change in the defense sector, had settled on an answer even before the review questions had been asked.

“He's not listening and doesn't appear to care much how he gets the outcome he wants, particularly around areas like technology and procurement,” he said.

Ricketts told the committee the already tight timescale had been further jeopardized by the government's concentration on the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.

“I do not see how you could possibly complete the review over the [coming] months, not least because of the bandwidth available for senior ministers and the government more generally [as a result of the virus],” he said.

COVID-19′s influence on defense matters was further illustrated March 19 when the Ministry of Defence announced that thousands of regular and reserve troops are being put on standby to assist public services as part of a new support force.

Ricketts, who led the Conservative government's 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, said that given the situation, it is possible Johnson might want to put off the review as well as the comprehensive spending review that's running in parallel.

The spending review sets the level of departmental spending across government for several years ahead.

Alex Ashbourne-Walmsley of Ashbourne Strategic Consulting also believes the defense and funding reviews should be postponed.

“It makes no sense to me that the U.K. should continue with either the defense review process or the comprehensive spending review when it is still too soon to determine the long-term economic and social impacts of coronavirus. It would be more sensible to defer everything for at least a year,” she said.

Ricketts has suggested the government could come up with baseline foreign policy principles and some initial military priorities while leaving the more detailed work until later.

Both he and Jock Stirupp, the former chief of the Defence Staff, told the committee that it is important the defense review and the comprehensive spending review are done in tandem to ensure the money and military requirements went hand-in-hand.

The MoD is facing a serious funding shortfall, which is likely to lead to further cancellations or delays to major programs.

A recent report by the National Audit Office, the government financial watchdog, said the MoD's 10-year defense equipment plan shows there is a potential funding shortfall of up to £13 billion (U.S. $15 billion).

The funding gap is shrinking, but this is the third year in a row the National Audit Office has deemed the plan unaffordable.

Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin told Parliament during a session on defense questions March 16 that the government had every intention of continuing with the review. “It's important we get on with it," he said. "We need to take firm decisions, and the swifter, the better.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was quizzed about the integrated review timetable in the March 16 session. He said the government is regularly reviewing the decision on timing.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/03/19/uk-should-rethink-deadline-for-defense-foreign-policy-review-says-former-national-security-adviser/

On the same subject

February 15, 2020 | International, Aerospace

Demonstrator phase launched: Future Combat Air System takes major step forward
Paris/Munich, February 12, 2020 – The governments of France and Germany have awarded Dassault Aviation, Airbus, together with their partners MTU Aero Engines, Safran, MBDA and Thales, the initial framework contract (Phase 1A), which launches the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). This framework contract covers a first period of 18 months and initiates work on developing the demonstrators and maturing cutting-edge technologies, with the ambition to begin flight tests as soon as 2026. Since early 2019, the industrial partners have been working on the future architecture as part of the programme's so called Joint Concept Study. Now, the FCAS programme enters into another decisive phase with the launch of the demonstrator phase. This phase will, in a first step, focus on the main technological challenges per domains: Next Generation Fighter (NGF), with Dassault Aviation as prime contractor and Airbus as main partner, to be the core element of Future Combat Air System, Unmanned systems Remote Carrier (RC) with Airbus as prime contractor and MBDA as main partner, Combat Cloud (CC) with Airbus as prime contractor and Thales as main partner, Engine with Safran and MTU as main partner. A Simulation Environment will be jointly developed between the involved companies to ensure the consistency between demonstrators. The launch of the Demonstrator Phase underlines the political confidence and determination of the FCAS partner nations and the associated industry to move forward and cooperate in a fair and balanced manner. The increased momentum enables industry to deploy the necessary resources and best capabilities to develop this decisive European defence project. FCAS will be the cornerstone project guaranteeing Europe's future operational, industrial and technological sovereignty. The next important step in the FCAS programme will be the onboarding of Spain and the involvement of additional suppliers from Phase 1B onwards, which will succeed Phase 1A after its successful conclusion. * * * About Airbus Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018 it generated revenues of € 64 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. Media contacts Martin Agüera martin.aguera@airbus.com +49 175 227 4369 Florian Taitsch florian.taitsch@airbus.com +49 151 168 31052 This and other press releases and high resolution photos are available on: AirbusMedia About Dassault Aviation With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones. In 2018, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €5.1 billion. The company has 12 750 employees. Media contact Nathalie Bakhos Nathalie-Beatrice.Bakhos@dassault-aviation.com +33 (0)1 47 11 92 75 About MBDA MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2018 MBDA achieved revenue of 3.2 billion euros with an order book of 17.4 billion euros. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems. In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development. MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%). Media contact Jean Dupont jean.dupont@mbda-systems.com +33 (0) 633 37 64 66 About MTU Aero Engines MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany's leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today's active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector the company ranks among the top 3 service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country's military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2018, the company had a workforce of some 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of approximately 4.6 billion euros. Media contact Eckhard Zanger eckhard.zanger@mtu.de +49 176 1000 6158 About Thales Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader shaping the world of tomorrow today. The Group provides solutions, services and products to customers in the aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security, and defence markets. With 80,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of €19 billion in 2018 (on a pro forma basis including Gemalto). Thales is investing in particular in digital innovations — connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — technologies that support businesses, organisations and governments in their decisive moments. Media contact Maria Mellouli maria.mellouli@thalesgroup.com +33 (0)1 57 77 84 57 About Safran Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aircraft propulsion and equipment, space and defense markets. Safran has a global presence, with more than 95,000 employees and sales of 21 billion euros in 2018. Working alone or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes Research & Development programs to meet fast-changing market requirements, with total R&D expenditures of around 1.5 billion euros in 2018. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices. For more information: www.safran-group.com / Follow @Safran on Twitter Media contacts Catherine MALEK catherine.malek@safrangroup.com +33 (0)6 47 88 03 17 Charles SORET charles.soret@safrangroup.com +33 (0)6 31 60 96 79 Attachment EN-Dassault Aviation-Airbus-Press-Release-FCAS-Demo-contract View source version on GlobeNewswire: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/12/1984219/0/en/Demonstrator-phase-launched-Future-Combat-Air-System-takes-major-step-forward.html
November 5, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 04, 2020
AIR FORCE Altamira Technologies Corp., McLean, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0076); Amergint Technologies Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado (FA8612-21-D-0077); Carahsoft Technology Corp., Reston, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0078); Geosite Inc., Stanford, California (FA8612-21-D-0079); Lyteworx Automation Systems LLC, Alexandria, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0080); MarkLogic Corp., San Carlos, California (FA8612-21-D-0081); Rebellion Defense Inc., Washington, D.C. (FA8612-21-D-0082); Rhombus Power Inc., Moffett Field, California (FA8612-21-D-0083); Soar Technology Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan (FA8612-21-D-0084); Vidrovr Inc., New York, New York (FA8612-21-D-0085); Advanced Simulation Research Inc., Orlando, Florida (FA8612-21-D-0086); Borsight Inc., Ogden, Utah (FA8612-21-D-0087); Datanchor Inc., Columbus, Ohio (FA8612-21-D-0088); Digital Mobilizations Inc., Warrenton, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0089); EFW Inc., Fort Worth, Texas (FA8612-21-D-0090); F9 Teams Inc., Snohomish, Washington (FA8612-21-D-0091); Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Reston, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0092); ); Infinity Labs LLC, Xenia, Ohio (FA8612-21-D-0093); Radiant Mission Solutions Inc., Chantilly, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0095); Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Washington (FA8612-21-D-0096); Ortman Consulting LLC, Alexandria, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0097); Peraton Inc., Herndon, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0098); R2 Space Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan (FA8612-21-D-0099); and Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada (FA8612-21-D-0100), have collectively been awarded $950,000,000 ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to compete for future efforts associated with the maturation, demonstration and proliferation of capability across platforms and domains, leveraging open systems design, modern software and algorithm development in order to enable Joint All Domain Command and Control. These contracts provide for the development and operation of systems as a unified force across all domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber and electromagnetic spectrum) in an open architecture family of systems that enables capabilities via multiple integrated platforms. The locations of performance are to be determined at the contract direct order level and are expected to be complete by May 28, 2025. These awards are the result of fair and open competition. Initial deliver orders will be funded with fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds. The Air Force Life Cycle Management, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. STS Systems Support LLC, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $21,040,702 firm-fixed-price contract for 67th Cyberspace Wing operations support services. Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) - Lackland, Texas, and is expected to be completed Nov. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,897,325 are being obligated at the time of award. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, JBSA-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA7037-21-F-0003). Raytheon Co., Dulles, Virginia, has been awarded a $20,887,884 firm-fixed-price modification (P00007) to contract FA7022-17-D-0001 for mobile sensors operations and maintenance. This contract modification is for continued non‐personal services for operations and maintenance for mobile sensors. Work will be performed at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, and on board two vessels operating in Indo-Pacific Command and Central Command area of responsibility and is expected to be completed Oct. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds will be obligated on individual task orders. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $165,000,000. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Patrick AFB, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Oct. 30, 2020) NAVY Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. LLC, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $441,583,013 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides contractor-owned and operated Type III high subsonic and Type IV supersonic aircraft to Navy fleet customers for a wide variety of airborne threat simulation capabilities in support of the Specialized and Proven Aircraft program, Contracted Air Services. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia (44%); Point Mugu, California (37%); Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (14%); and Atsugi, Japan (5%), and is expected to be completed in November 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 competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-21-D-0008). General Dynamics Mission Systems, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was awarded a $42,568,219 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-only modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-20-C-5603 to exercise options for the sustainment of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS) and associated combat system elements. The work executed under this contract includes maintenance and evolution of the LCS ICMS and associated combat system (CS) elements in support of the operational LCS ships; development, integration, test and delivery of future CS baseline upgrades for in-service ships; supporting ship integration, installation and checkout; developmental test/operational test; developing training and logistics products; providing field technical support for the CS; providing hardware engineering and equipment procurement; providing life-cycle supportability engineering; and providing fleet support for fielded baselines. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (85%); San Diego, California (14%); and Mobile, Alabama (1%), and is expected to be completed by October 2021. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2020 research, development test and evaluation (Navy), funding in the amount of $1,210,480 was obligated at time of award and $471,299 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Oct. 30, 2020) Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $24,814,227 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-5407 for procurement of fiscal 2021 Navy Standard Missile-2 intermediate level provisioned items ordered spares; and to exercise one-year options for fiscal 2021 Standard Missile-2 and Standard Missile-6 repairs and maintenance. Work will be performed in Camden, Arkansas (72%); Tucson, Arizona (19%); Anaheim, California (6%); and San Diego, California (3%), and is expected to be completed by July 2024. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $24,814,227 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 2, 2020) Systems Application and Technologies Inc.,* Largo, Maryland, is awarded a $15,586,076 modification (P00010) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00421-19-C-0023. This modification exercises an option to provide continued support services to the Air Vehicle Modification and Instrumentation Department. These services include designing, developing, procuring, building, installing, testing and evaluating, calibrating, modifying, operating and maintaining instrumentation on aircraft and engines for the Navy and other government and commercial customers. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in November 2021. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,185,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Sedna Digital Solutions LLC,* Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $9,783,087 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-6264 to exercise and fund options for Navy engineering services and required material. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by December 2021. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) (96%); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) (4%) funding in the amount of $2,293,000 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, D.C., is the contracting activity. Sterling Computer Corp.,* North Sioux City, South Dakota, is awarded an $8,632,074 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract procures various information technology equipment and associated accessories for continuing effective and efficient business operations as the workforce is required to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic in support of the Digital Engineering Division. Work will be performed in North Sioux City, South Dakota, and is expected to be completed in November 2022. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; 12 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-21-D-0004). ARMY Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $47,970,000 modification (P00150) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0009 for UH-60M aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $5,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY IntelliDyne LLC, Falls Church, Virginia, has been awarded a $14,313,136 extension for services under an existing contract to support non-classified and classified services, facilities and miscellaneous material that encompass the information technology (IT) support services for the Defense Health Agency IT Infrastructure and Operations End User Support Services (EUSS) Network Support Services (NSS) Activity. The extension will be funded with fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funding in amount of $14,313,136. The Defense Health Agency, Professional Services Contracting Division, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HT0011-20-F-0004). (Awarded Oct. 29, 2020) *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2405436/source/GovDelivery/
July 18, 2023 | International, C4ISR

House-passed US 2024 defense bill contains $13.5 billion for cyberspace activities
The just-passed House version of the annual must-pass National Defense Authorization Act contains a host of cybersecurity provisions, including new authorization for Cyber Command to analyze dark web information and work with Taiwan on defensive cybersecurity.

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