Back to news

November 8, 2023 | International, Land

US Army eyes $3.1 billion ammo production boost in new spending ask

The service wants to more than triple its stateside 155mm munition production, with infrastructure upgrades planned across the country.

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/11/08/us-army-eyes-31-billion-ammo-production-boost-in-new-spending-ask/

On the same subject

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 13, 2019

    December 16, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 13, 2019

    ARMY BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP, York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $249,152,760 modification (P00042) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0001 for the Self-Propelled Howitzer and carrier, ammunition, tracked vehicles and their associated support under the production contract to build and deliver M109A7s and M992A3s. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $249,152,760 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Palantir USG Inc., Palo Alto, California, was awarded an $110,814,893 other transaction agreement contract for numerous databases across the Army enterprise integrated on one platform. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 15, 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $32,545,300 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-9-P001). Conco Inc.,* Louisville, Kentucky (W15QKN-20-D-0003); and Delfasco LLC,* Afton, Tennessee (W15QKN-20-D-0004), will compete for each order of the $46,200,000 firm-fixed-price contract for manufacture, inspect, test, and deliver metal containers and covers for the M231 and M232 series for the Modular Artillery Charge Systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 12, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Alabama Department of Rehabilitation, Montgomery, Alabama, was awarded a $32,150,000 firm-fixed-price contract for full food service operations of an Army dining facility, receiving, storing, preparing, requisitioning, and serving food. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 13, 2025. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9124J-20-D-0005). Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $15,547,894 modification (P00084) to contract W31P4Q-15-C-0102 for the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile production line for a rate ramp increase of 50 to 100 missiles per month. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2022. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 procurement of ammunition, Army funds in the amount of $15,547,894 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AM General LLC, South Bend, Indiana, was awarded a $15,118,831 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Jordan) contract for hardware support to reset and upgrade a fleet of 200 M998 High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Amman, Jordan, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 13, 2020. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $15,118,831 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-C-0037). Primus, Beltsville, Maryland, was awarded an $8,782,763 firm-fixed-price contract for cold and hot aviation refuel and defuel services, personnel, management, parts, supplies, transportation and vehicles/trucks. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Daleville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of June 16, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $5,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W9124G-20-C-0004). NAVY Noresco LLC, Westborough, Massachusetts, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order (N3943020F9905) at $169,331,394, under a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for energy conservation measures at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut. The work to be performed provides for the construction, operations, and maintenance of energy conservations to improve energy efficiency and reliability, which include energy management control system upgrades, combined heat power and micro-grid expansion, lighting upgrades, and steam distribution improvements. Work will be performed at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in 21 years by December 2040. No funds will be obligated with this award, as private financing obtained by the contractor will be used for the 36-month construction (i.e. implementation) phase of the project. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity for the task order. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Golden, Colorado, is the contracting activity for the basic contract (DE-AM36-09GO29039). Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $123,532,573 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-19-C-5112) to exercise options for fiscal 2020 production of AEGIS Weapon System Fire Control System (FCS) MK 99 equipment, AEGIS modernization production requirements, and associated engineering services. These services are in support of DDG 51 Class Flight III destroyers and the Spanish navy's F-110 program. This modification also covers the production of the AEGIS BMD Kill Assessment Ordnance Alteration (ORDALT) Kits and Solid State Switch Assembly (SSSA) Special Test Equipment (STE). The AMOD program fields combat system upgrades that will enhance the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) and Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capabilities of AEGIS equipped DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Work will be performed in Andover, Massachusetts (81%); Marlborough, Massachusetts (10%); Chesapeake, Virginia (3 %); Portsmouth, Rhode Island (3%); San Diego, California (2%); and Burlington, Massachusetts (1%), and is expected to be completed by April 2023. Foreign Military Sales; fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2020 defense wide procurement funding in the amount of $123,532,573 will be obligated at the 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. Anchor Innovation, Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0001); Auxiliary Systems Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0002); Colonna's Shipyard Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0003); Fairlead Boatworks Inc.,* Newport News, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0004); Gryphon Technologies LC, Washington, District of Columbia (N00167-20-D-0005); Q.E.D. Systems Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0006); and United States Marine Inc.,* Gulfport, Mississippi (N00167-20-D-0007), are awarded a combined maximum $43,109,222 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contract for watercraft industrial services and supplies in support covering all phases of watercraft total life cycle to include construction, proof of design, model development and realization, fabrication, modernization, repair, overhaul quality assurance, and testing of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division Detachment Norfolk, Combatant Craft Division. The contractor shall perform in a wide variety of locations both within the continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS). The expected work distribution by performance location includes Mid Atlantic U.S. (60%); Southwest U.S. (15%); U.S. Gulf Coast (2%); Northwest U.S. (2%); Northeast U.S. (1%); other/OCONUS (20%). OCONUS locations typically include, but are not limited to Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Italy, Horn of Africa, Guam, Japan, Hawaii and Alaska. Work is expected to be complete by December 2022. Fiscal 2020 service cost center (Navy) funding in the total amount of $12,000 will be obligated at time of award to meet the minimum guarantee under each contract and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with seven offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Detachment Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. John C. Grimberg Co. Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $27,830,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction repair of a solid state electronic devices laboratory at Naval Research Laboratory. The work to be performed will repair Building 74, including conversion of existing high bay storage into laboratory spaces, and will repair Building 81. Repair work in Building 74 includes replacement and repair of structural and architectural systems including steel framing, second floor assembly, roof, windows, doors, exterior finishes, exterior egress stairs, elevator, partitions, interior finished, laboratory facilities and abatement of hazardous materials. The renovation also includes replacement of mechanical and electrical systems including controls, chilled water system, air handling system, fire protection, clean room and laboratory systems (water, gas, ventilation, pressurization, and filtration), lighting, power and electrical distribution. Repairs in Building 81 will replace deteriorated components while additional construction will alter the building height to accommodate specialized equipment. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be completed by January 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $27,830,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N40080-20-C-0004). Arete Associates Inc.,* Northridge, California, is awarded a $17,561,860 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously-awarded contract (N61331-18-D-0012) to exercise Option 2, to provide Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) Block I systems. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (35%); Destin, Florida (35%); and Santa Rosa, California (30%), and is expected to be completed by July 2022. No funding will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Florida, is the contracting activity. Noresco LLC, Westborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $16,988,494 firm-fixed-price task order (N3943020F9903) under a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, energy savings performance contract at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia. The work to be performed provides for the design, construction, and installation of energy conservation measures for boiler plant improvements, water and sewer conservation systems and water resiliency. The work also provides for performance period services consisting of measurement and verification, operations and maintenance, and repair and replacement services. Work will be performed at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in 22 years by December 2041. No funds will be obligated with this award, as private financing obtained by the contractor will be used for the 24-month construction (i.e. implementation) phase of the project. Nine proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity for the task order. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden, Colorado, is the contracting activity for the basic contract (DE-AM36-90GO29039). AIR FORCE Pinnacle Solutions Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, has been awarded a $21,395,866 modification (P00049) to previously awarded FA8621-16-C-6281 for support of the KC-10 training system. This contract modification provides for the exercise of Option Year Four. Work will be performed at Travis Air Force Base, California; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; and the Training System Support Center in Fairfield, California, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $105,964,368. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $14,965,279 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Edaptive Computing Inc., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a $14,865,271 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development of the Joint Federated Assurance Center Trust Lab Enterprise effort. This effort seeks to enhance, deploy, transition, and support decision-aiding tools for the Air Force Research Laboratory Joint Federated Assurance Center trust laboratory research and development of analysis, design and verification tools to promote trusted systems engineering for integrated circuits electronics. Work will be performed at Dayton, Ohio, and the work is expected to be completed by March 13, 2024. This award is the result of a non-competitive acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research and development funds in the amount of $12,500,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-20-F-1956). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Ultrax Aerospace Inc., Lees Summit, Montana, has been awarded a maximum $13,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for spares/repairs in support of the UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter Automated Flight Control line replaceable units. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Montana, with a Dec. 12, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-20-D-0004). DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE Kearney and Company PC, Alexandria, Virginia, is being awarded a labor-hour contract option with a maximum value of $10,721,966 for audit services of the Defense Health Program (DHP). Work will be performed in various locations including the DHP headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia, as well as other federal locations in Texas, Ohio, Indianapolis, Maryland, Colorado, New York, and Maine, with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition in which two bids were received. This award brings the total cumulative value of the contract to $36,598,260. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, defense wide funds in the amount of $10,721,966 are being obligated at the time of this option award. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Contract Services Directorate, Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity (HQ0423-17-F-0096). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2040280/source/GovDelivery/

  • Indian Air Force chief defends Rafale fighter deal against claims of crony capitalism

    October 4, 2018 | International, Aerospace

    Indian Air Force chief defends Rafale fighter deal against claims of crony capitalism

    By: Pierre Tran and Vivek Raghuvanshi NEW DELHI and PARIS — Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa defended the decision of India's ruling National Democratic Alliance to buy 36 Rafale fightersfrom France, calling it “a game changer" even as the opposition party criticizes the deal. Addressing annual news conference, Dhanoha said: "At the appropriate level, the Indian Air Force was consulted, but it is for the government to choose. It was decided to buy two squadrons through a government to-government deal, to meet up emergency requirements.” India and France signed the €7.8 billion (U.S. $8.99 billion) inter-governmental agreement Sept. 23, under which 36 Rafale fighter aircraft will be procured from Dassault Aviation for Indian Air Force (IAF) in fly away condition. France will invest 30 percent of the total contract value in India's military aeronautics-related research programs and 20 percent into local production of Rafale components to fulfil the mandatory offsets under the deal. The deliveries of Rafale fighters will start this month. India's main opposition party, Indian National Congress, has claimed on several occasions that the Rafale deal is grossly overvalued and tainted by crony capitalism. The Congress said the Modi government had failed to answer several questions on why public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had lost the manufacting deal to industrialist Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Ltd. “The earlier deal for 126 medium multirole combat aircraft reached an impasse during negotiations," Dhanoa said,, referring to a $12 billion medium, multi-role combat aircraft program that was launchced in 2007 but scrapped 10 years later. "We had three options: wait for something good to happen, withdraw the global tender and start over again, or do an emergency purchase. We did an emergency purchase.” Dhanoa called the cost of 36 Rafale was “reasonable and adequate." The latest comments from Dhanoa come after Indian defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman called baseless congressional allegations of a reduction in the number of Rafale jets being purchased from France. Congress has demanded the government explain why instead of 126 Rafale fighter jets, only 36 are being purchased if they were cheaper under the NDA deal than the prior deal. Sitharaman is expected to hold the first annual defence ministers dialogue with her counterpart Florence Parly in Paris Oct. 12-13, as the two countries seek to expand bilateral defense and strategic ties. In France, Dassault said the company had picked Reliance as its Indian partner to meet requirements for local offset established by the Indian Defense Procurement Procedure and Make in India policy. The statement followed controversy sparked by remarks by former French president François Hollande, who said the Indian government selected Reliance as the local partner and that the company "had nothing to say on the subject, we had no choice, we took the partner which was presented.” Dassault put out its statement on the deal for 36 Rafale to India Sept, 21 statement, stating that, in accordance with the policy of Make in India, Dassault Aviation decided to make a partnership with India's Reliance Group. https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2018/10/03/indian-air-force-chief-defends-rafale-fighter-deal-against-claims-of-crony-capitalism

  • Japan Self-Defense Force Accepts Delivery of First V-22 Osprey

    July 15, 2020 | International, Aerospace

    Japan Self-Defense Force Accepts Delivery of First V-22 Osprey

    By: Megan Eckstein July 14, 2020 3:45 PM A V-22 Osprey aircraft bound for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force based at Camp Kisarazu prepares to depart Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, July 6, 2020. The ferry flight from MCAS Iwakuni marked the delivery of the first V-22 to the Japan Self-Defense Force. US Marine Corps photo. Japan accepted delivery of its first Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey on Friday, making it the first nation outside the U.S. to own and operate the tiltrotor aircraft. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) took delivery of the aircraft at Camp Kisarazu, across the Tokyo Bay from Yokosuka, according to news releases from Bell and Boeing, who collaborate on the aircraft program. “Congratulations to Japan on becoming the first international operator of the Osprey,” Kurt Fuller, Bell Boeing program director, said in a release. “The delivery of the Japanese V-22 represents a milestone for revolutionary aircraft capabilities for the Government of Japan and is a testament to our enduring friendship. The Osprey will provide Japan a tremendous advantage, unlike ever before, to respond to a broad range of challenges throughout the Asia Pacific region.” The Japanese V-22 variant has a unique configuration with a Japanese-specific communication system, according to the news releases. Despite the different communication system, JGSDF personnel have been working with U.S. Marines since May to learn how to operate the aircraft ahead of accepting delivery of their own Osprey. “This is an exciting moment in our partnership with the JGSDF; we have had the pleasure of working with them state-side to produce, develop, train and maintain their initial fleet of aircraft,” Marine Corps Col. Matthew Kelly, program manager for the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275), said in the news release. “This arrival marks a key step in standing up its V-22 fleet, and more importantly, the continued collaboration between our nations.” The start of Japan's V-22 fleet comes shortly after the U.S. Navy also accepted its first V-22 – called the CMV-22 – to carry out the carrier onboard delivery (COD) mission once the aging C-2A Greyhound propeller planes retire. Bell Boeing delivered the first aircraft to the “Black Jacks” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 in February, and the first operational aircraft arrived at Naval Air Station North Island in California last month to begin building up the inventory of the “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30. Marine Corps pilots and maintainers have also helped train their Navy counterparts on the aircraft, much like they have been doing in Japan. The Navy variant has extended range due to additional fuel tanks, a beyond-line-of-sight high-frequency radio, a public address system for passengers and an improved lighting system for cargo loading, all to assist in the COD mission ferrying people, supplies and mail across a carrier strike group at sea. Unlike the C-2, which could only fly from shore to the aircraft carrier, the V-22 will be able to reach the surface combatants in the CSG directly, thanks to its ability to land and take off vertically like a helicopter. Prior to Japan deciding to buy the V-22 in 2015, Japanese citizens long had concerns about American V-22s operating out of Japanese bases, particularly Okinawa, due to the aircraft's early safety record. Even as recently as 2018, after the V-22 had established itself as a safe and reliable aircraft, Defense News reported that safety concerns from residents near Camp Kisarazu delayed the delivery of Bell Boeing's first aircraft to Japan. https://news.usni.org/2020/07/14/japan-self-defense-force-accepts-delivery-of-first-v-22-osprey

All news