October 30, 2019 | International, Aerospace
By Jen DiMascio
The U.S. Air Force's plan for acquiring future fighter aircraft may crimp the service's ability to grow in the future, a study of the USAF's force structure plans indicates.
The study, “The Air Force of the Future,” compares the service's force structure plans during times of peak budgets—in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 1985. In fiscal 2020, a budget of $205 billion could support 5,300 aircraft. This is a little more than half of the number that the same amount of money, adjusted for inflation, could support in 1985—9,400. The same holds true for the number of personnel, the report says. It was released Oct. 29 by Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which examined three different studies of the size of the future force.
As part of the report, Harrison drills further into the Air Force's spending habits to find that one factor underlying the inability to afford a larger force is the increase over time in operation and maintenance costs.
“The average O&M cost per plane is 74% higher today in real terms than in fiscal 2001,” the report says.
Looking more closely at maintenance costs, he finds that the most expensive aircraft to operate are the smallest fleets, such as the Boeing E-4 Advanced Airborne Command Post aircraft, the Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System and Northrop's B-2 bomber.
“This is because the fixed costs of operating the fleet are distributed across more aircraft in large fleets, which brings down the overall ownership cost per plane,” the report says. “The data suggest that the Air Force could reduce operating costs by divesting aircraft that are maintained in small numbers in the current inventory and consolidating the capabilities they provide into common multimission platforms.”
Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper is recommending an acquisition strategy dubbed the “digital century series.” It aims to build new fighter aircraft designed to last 3,500 flight hours in batches of hundreds, rather than the current model of pursuing advanced technology for an aircraft type that will last for decades.
But Harrison estimates that the operation and sustainment cost of sustaining five different aircraft types of 72 aircraft, or 360 total aircraft, would cost about the same as sustaining 1,800 aircraft of the same type.
“That's something the Air Force has got to consider,” Harrison said. “With the digital century series approach, they may end up with a bunch of small fleets and may limit the ability of the Air Force to grow in the future.”
https://aviationweek.com/defense/usaf-s-future-fighter-plan-may-limit-growth-study-says
September 4, 2020 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
By Garrett Reim Northrop Grumman's Embedded Global Positioning System and Inertial Navigation System-Modernization (EGI-M) programme recently finished its critical design review. https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/m-code-gps-and-inertial-navigation-for-f-22-and-e-2d-finishes-critical-design-review/140015.article
December 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
By: Martin Banks BRUSSELS – The Dutch chief of defense says it would be “stupid” if the UK did not continue to be closely involved in EU-funded defense projects even when it is no longer a member of the bloc. But British future involvement in EU-led initiatives such as the European Defence Fund and PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) remains unclear, with EU member states yet to decide on a legal framework for third-party participation. With Brexit, the UK will technically become an outsider to the European Union's push for greater defense autonomy. That means London will no longer take part in EU decision-making or operational entities, and any British contribution to an EU operation will be subject to the rules that apply to third countries. Adm. Rob Bauer, chief of defense in The Netherlands, told Defense News he believes it is “imperative” that the UK remains “very closely” involved in such projects. Speaking at the sidelines of the annual European Defence Agency conference in Brussels on Thursday, Bauer said, “Remember, from a military point of view, the UK, even after Brexit, will still be a member of NATO and part of Europe. It is leaving the EU, not Europe. If the focus in Europe is on security then the UK should be part of that. To do otherwise would be stupid.” The PESCO initiative aims to develop and deploy forces at the EU level. Nearly 50 projects have been unveiled to date with the aim of pushing member states to work more closely together in the area of security and defense. So far, €13 billion has been allocated to the EDF which seeks to promote cross-border collaboration on defense research and technology projects, plus another €6.5 billion in the pipeline to upgrade roads, bridges, rail lines, ports and airports for military mobility, and €16 billion on space programs. Formal rules on third-party access to PESCO projects and the EDF are still being decided. Discussions are continuing at EU member state level, and no final decision is expected until the UK formally exits the EU, officials here said. London's departure has been delayed for the third time until Jan. 31, 2020. Bauer said, “I have spoken to the Brits about this and they have told me how difficult these discussions have been and continue to be. It is clear that agreement on access is certainly not a done deal.” “But we need to be pragmatic about this and continue to work together in the future.” His comments were broadly echoed by Lieutenant General Franz Leitgeb, Austria's Military Representative to the EU and NATO, another attendee at the EDA summit who told Defense News, “After Brexit, the UK will have third-party status, so third-party partnership rules will apply regarding its contribution to and participation in EU-funded projects like PESCO. “We still need to decide what precisely this means in the UK case but, whatever transpires, the UK has to realise this is a two-way street. That means that if the UK and its defense industry is to have access to EU-funded schemes and projects it has to contribute to these.” “Whatever happens we're going to need the current close relations on defense between the two sides to continue.” Further comment came from Benedikt Zimmer, state secretary at the German defense ministry, who took part in a session on PESCO and the EDF and said, “The more open cooperation is after Brexit, the better.” In a keynote address, Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, warned that UK involvement in EU defense and security would only become clearer once discussions start, probably at the start of 2020, on a political agreement between the two sides. Barnier told the packed audience, comprising senior military officials and personnel, that reaching agreement will be an “enormous challenge,” adding, “I do not want to interfere in the current UK election campaign but I am sure the Brits will still have an appetite for continued cooperation in the defense field. But, even so, they have to realize it will no longer be business as normal. I hope that UK defense companies, providing the rules are met, will still participate in European defense. We have the tools to make it happen but we still need to find a new framework for future cooperation.” More than 50 non-EU states have participated in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations since its first mission in 2003, including four regional powers – namely Turkey, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. The official British position on security and defense is ambitious about the possible scope of the UK-EU relationship post-Brexit, talking about a “deep and special partnership” that would go “beyond existing third country arrangements.” However, little in the recent past suggests the UK would seek much CSDP involvement once no longer a member: the UK has not been the most enthusiastic supporter of the EU's defense agenda thus far, and it's questionable if this would change after Brexit. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/11/29/britains-defense-ties-to-the-eu-are-still-up-in-the-air-post-brexit/
August 27, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence
AIR FORCE Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc., Houston, Texas, has been awarded a ceiling $974,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) base operating support. This contract provides day-to-day base operations and maintenance services throughout locations within USAFE-AFAFRICA. Work will be performed at Morón Air Base (AB), Spain; Incirlik AB, Turkey; Izmir Air Station, Turkey; Office of Defense Cooperation-Turkey; and Ankara Support Facility, Turkey, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 27, 2028. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,000,000 will be obligated via the first two task orders, which will be awarded immediately after the basic contract. Air Force Installation Contracting Command, Ramstein AB, Germany, is the contracting activity (FA5641-20-D-0009). Cape Environmental Management Inc., Irvine, California, has been award a ceiling $90,300,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for Base Realignment and Closure environmental construction optimization services to support the Air Force Civil Engineer Center installations directorate. This contract supports a variety of environmental restoration services and construction necessary to maintain regulatory selected remedies, implement optimization to enhance remedial progress, and advance sites to completion in a cost effective manner. Work will be performed at former Castle, Mather and McClellan Air Force Bases, California, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 25, 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2020 Base Realignment and Closure funds in the amount of $1,689,937 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8903-20-D-0002). Hamilton Enterprises LLC, Greenbelt, Maryland, has been awarded a $21,676,458 firm-fixed-price contract for third party collections program support services. The purpose of this contract is to perform other health insurance billing and collection activities for the Defense Health Agency medical treatment facilities, using a government-provided medical billing program referred to as the Government Billing Solution (GBS). Billing and collection activities include identification and verification of other health insurance (OHI) provided on the paper or electronic form DD 2569, update of collected OHI information in the GBS, direct billing of third-party payers, ongoing follow-up actions for unpaid claims to include denials management processes, posting payments, conducting valid write-offs and referral of delinquent claims. Work will be performed in Greenbelt, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 8, 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $4,082,860 are being obligated at the time of award. The 773rd Enterprising Sourcing Squadron/Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8052-20-F-0031). University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, has been awarded a $7,953,698 cost-reimbursement contract for research in the area of developing capabilities to predict performance of aerospace materials in the manufacturing environment as well as when subjugated to extreme thermomechanical influences. Work will be performed in Storrs, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 7, 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-20-C-5206). NAVY Mechworks Mechanical Contractors Inc.,* Beaufort, North Carolina (N40085-20-D-0076); North State Mechanical Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-20-D-0077); R&W Construction Co. Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-20-D-0078); and Siler Excavating LLC,* Clairfield, Tennessee (N40085-20-D-0079), are awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract for various construction projects primarily in Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and the surrounding area. The maximum dollar value for all four contracts combined is $240,000,000. The work to be performed provides for a range of new construction, renovation, alteration and repair for mechanical, electrical and plumbing projects. Types of buildings and facilities include administrative, industrial, warehouses, maintenance, communications, schools/training/education, personnel support, recreational, food services, training areas/ranges, roads, systems and utility infrastructure. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, design, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation, to perform all of the services described in the plans and specifications for each task order. All work on this contract will be performed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and the surrounding area. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of August 2025. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Marine Corps). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 11 proposals received. These four contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Woodland Hills, California, is awarded a $44,550,267 modification (P00005) to previously awarded, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-19-D-0025. This modification increases the ceiling of the contract for the production and delivery of an additional 228 H-1 Tech Refresh Mission Computers, increasing the quantity from 545 to 773 in support of domestic and Foreign Military Sales UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircraft. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (55%); Baltimore, Maryland (25%); and Woodland Hills, California (20%), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DRS Laurel Technologies, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $24,036,708 firm-fixed-price contract for programmable power supply MK 179 Mod 0 production in support of the Vertical Launch System. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $73,100,086. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be complete by June 2022. If all options are exercised, work will continue through February 2025. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) (67%); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) (33%) funding in the combined amount of $24,036,708 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 beta.sam.gov with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N63394-20-C-0008). Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $10,242,679 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0672) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-15-G-0003. This order provides non-recurring engineering in support of integration and testing of the modified Cryptographic Modernization Tactical Air Command Network 1.0 data link radio onto the air-to-ground missile 154C-1 Joint Standoff Weapon. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed in August 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,242,679 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. S2 Corp., Bozeman, Montana, is awarded a $9,003,679 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N65236-20-C-8019) for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) project to prototype and demonstrate a broadband, electro-magnetic spectrum receiver system. The contract includes an 18-month base period and an 18-month option period. The option period, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $20,964,010. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,501,840 will be obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed in Bozeman, Montana (85%); Goleta, California (9%); Boulder, Colorado (4%); and Clarksville, Maryland (2%), and is expected to be completed in February 2022. If the option is exercised, work could continue until August 2023. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured by full and open competition via DARPA broad agency announcement HR0011-20-S-0005, posted on the beta.sam.gov (formerly Federal Business Opportunities) website, with 24 timely offers received. Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, Charleston, South Carolina, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $7,469,472 modification (P00001) to firm-fixed-price order N00019-20-F-0022 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0008. This order exercises options to procure Intel Diminishing Manufacturing Sources parts that have reached end of life in support of the F-35 program future aircraft production and deliveries for the Air Force and Navy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $4,987,522; and fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,481,950 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY Weston-ER Federal Services LLC, West Chester, Pennsylvania, was awarded an $80,000,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price) contract for rapid response environmental remediation services. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 26, 2027. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (W9128F-20-D-0050). Atlantic Diving Supply Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia, was awarded a $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the Cold Weather Glove System. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 25, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QY-20-D-0032). HDR Architects and Engineers P.C., Lawrenceville, New Jersey, was awarded a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide planning, engineering design services and consulting services in support of the planning, design and assistance during construction for a new research facility and greenhouse. Bids were solicited via the internet with 25 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 6, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-D-0033). Helping Hands of Goodwill, Kansas City, Missouri, was awarded a $13,113,289 firm-fixed-price contract for custodial services at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. 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 30, 2024. U.S. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W91QF4-20-D-0004). Toyal America Inc., Lockport, Illinois, was awarded a $12,715,574 firm-fixed-price contract to provide aluminum powder in support of production at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Oklahoma. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 25, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-20-D-3014). Alutiiq General Contractors, Tacoma, Washington, was awarded a $9,367,399 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance, repair and minor construction work on vehicle roadways and airfield paving projects at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2025. U.S. Army 418th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity (W911S8-20-D-0012). DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY Military Produce Group LLC, Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $51,205,744 requirements type contract for fresh fruits and vegetable products for various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The requirements type contract is for a 24-month base period beginning Sept. 6, 2020. The requirements type contract includes three one-year option periods. If all three option periods are exercised, the requirements type contract will be completed by Aug. 30, 2025. Offers were solicited on Contract Opportunities and two offers were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Fort Lee, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HDEC02-20-D-0003). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sonosim Inc., Santa Monica, California, has been awarded a maximum $14,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency electronic catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 129 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with an Aug. 25, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-20-D-0047). Alliance Technical Services Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $10,021,402 modification (P00010) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SP3300-18-C-5001) with four one-year option periods for third party logistics hazmat support services. This is a firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement contract. Locations of performance are Virginia and Texas, with an Aug. 26, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2326327/