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February 18, 2019 | International, Aerospace

Viola Amherd veut toujours les avions de combat

Christine Talos/ats

Suisse: La nouvelle cheffe de l'armée entend poursuivre l'acquisition de nouveaux jets et d'un système de défense sol-air. Mais elle demande un avis externe supplémentaire.

La nouvelle cheffe du département de la Défense, Viola Amherd, ne tire pas un trait sur les futurs avions de combat et le système de défense sol-air de longue portée. Un chantier lancé par son prédecesseur Guy Parmelin. Elle ne veut toutefois pas trancher trop vite.

Dans un communiqué, son département fait savoir que la Valaisanne entend poursuivre l'acquisition de nouveaux jets. Néanmoins, est-il précisé, avant de soumettre au Conseil fédéral une proposition concrète, elle souhaite se faire une «image complète» du projet. Raison pour laquelle elle sollicite un avis externe supplémentaire sur le rapport d'experts «Avenir de la défense aérienne» paru en mai 2017. Elle poursuit par ailleurs les entretiens avec des spécialistes de son département.

Nouvelle analyse des menaces

La ministre demande en outre une nouvelle analyse interne actualisée des menaces pour la comparer aux évaluations précédentes et en tirer toutes les conséquences utiles pour le programme Air2030. Une fois la situation éclaircie, le Conseil fédéral se penchera à nouveau sur le renouvellement des moyens de protection de l'espace aérien. Cela devrait être le cas au cours du premier semestre 2019, précise le département.

Il s'agira de déterminer comment répondre à la demande du Parlement, qui veut que le peuple puisse trancher dès que possible sur le principe de l'acquisition de nouveaux avions de combat. La question devrait être tranchée indépendamment du type d'avion et l'achat s'effectuer dans le cadre du budget de l'armée.

Projet critiqué

L'année dernière, le Conseil fédéral avait opté pour un arrêté de planification pouvant être combattu par référendum. Celui-ci porte sur l'achat de nouveaux jets mais aussi de moyens de défense sol-air de longue portée. Le renouvellement devrait être achevé d'ici à fin 2030.

Plusieurs conditions devraient être remplies. La facture totale ne devrait pas dépasser 8 milliards de francs. Les entreprises étrangères avec lesquelles des contrats seront signés devraient compenser le 100% de la valeur des contrats par des affaires compensatoires en Suisse.

Lors de la consultation, le projet a été diversement accueilli. Le PLR et le PDC l'ont rejeté. Ils ont notamment critiqué l'idée de lier dans un même paquet l'achat de jets et le renouvellement de la défense sol-air.

Les Verts n'apprécient quant à eux pas que l'on se prononce sans connaître encore le type, la quantité ou le coût du matériel qui sera choisi. Pour le PS, les 8 milliards prévus sont trop élevés. La moitié suffirait. L'UDC veut au moins 9 milliards.

Chantier ouvert

Guy Parmelin a laissé le chantier en passant au Département de l'économie. Il n'en a pas moins déjà fixé les exigences pour le nouveau paquet d'acquisitions. Cinq jets seront évalués. De ce côté-ci de l'Atlantique, on retrouve le Gripen E suédois (Saab), le Rafale français (Dassault) et l'européen Eurofighter (Airbus).

S'y ajoutent deux avions américains: le successeur du FA-18, le Super Hornet de Boeing, et le F-35A de Lockheed-Martin. Pour la défense sol-air, trois systèmes sont dans la course: le SAMP/T français (eurosam), l'israélien David's Sling (Rafael) et l'américain Patriot (Raytheon). (nxp)

https://www.24heures.ch/suisse/Viola-Amherd-veut-toujours-les-avions-de-combat/story/29101849

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 04, 2020

    August 5, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 04, 2020

    NAVY Bethel-Tech Pacific JV,* Anchorage, Alaska (N62473-20-D-1113); ECC Environmental,* Burlingame, California (N62473-20-D-1114); and CAPE-Weston,* Irvine, California (N62473-20-D-1115), are awarded a $240,000,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for environmental remediation projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility (AOR). This includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and other locations nationwide. The maximum dollar value for all three contracts combined is $240,000,000. Bethel-Tech Pacific JV is being awarded an initial task order at $189,037 to evaluate land use controls at Marine Corps Logistic Base, Barstow, California. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by July 2023. All work on this contract will be performed primarily within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR which includes California (95%); Arizona (2%); Nevada (2%); and the remainder of the U.S. (1%). The work to be performed provides for environmental remediation actions; removal actions; remedial design; expedited and emergency response actions; pilot and treatability studies; remedial systems operation and maintenance; corrective actions; and groundwater monitoring and other related activities associated with returning sites to safe and acceptable levels of contamination. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months. Work is expected to be completed by August 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance Navy (OM, N) contract funds in the amount of $189,037 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by OM, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and18 proposals were received. These three contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is awarded an $181,744,524 modification (P00016) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-19-C-0013. This modification provides for the production, delivery and integration of 24 Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) for the government of India; eight ALFS for the Navy and seven ALFS for the government of Denmark, into MH-60R Seahawk aircraft. Work will be performed in Brest, France (77%); Portsmouth, Rhode Island (15%); and Owego, New York (8%), and is expected to be completed by December 2024. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $37,280,928 and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $144,463,596 will be obligated at time of award, $37,280,928 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Krempp Construction Inc.,* Jasper, Indiana, is awarded an $35,000,000 maximum amount, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for magazine and inert building maintenance and repairs at the Naval Support Activity Crane, Indiana. No task orders are being issued at this time. All work on this contract will be performed in Crane, Indiana. The work to be performed provides for magazine and inert building maintenance, repairs and construction services including but not limited to, concrete installation and removal, replacement of entire or portions of concrete docks, wing walls, steel doors, lead paint removal, replacement of dead lights, dome repair, grounding, seeding, mulching, removal and installation of bumper blocks, excavation, backfilling and incidental related work. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months and work is expected to be completed by August 2025. Fiscal 2020 working capital (Army) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by working capital (Army) and working capital (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Contract Opportunities website and three proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-D-0080). Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $30,400,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0162) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0012. This order provides non-recurring engineering and integrated logistics support to produce and qualify the structural improvement and electrical power upgrade solution for the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (70.4%); Grand Rapids, Michigan (26.3%); and Phoenix, Arizona (3.3%). This order provides for the integration of structural improvements and power upgrades, as well as the development of technical data and supporting documentation as it pertains to reliability, maintainability, damage limits and tolerances. Additionally, this order provides for the manufacture and delivery of two drives system accessory power quills, one modified combining gearbox, one test stand upgrade, as well as associated component qualification testing. Work is expected to be completed by December 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,503,510; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,659,045; and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,237,445, will be obligated at time of award and $17,503,510 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (M67854-20-D-5127); and Vizocom Government Services, El Cajon, California (M67854-20-D-5128) are awarded a $17,000,000 maximum amount, multiple award, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of soft wall shelters and shelter repair parts. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Virginia; and El Cajon, California, and is expected to be completed by July 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $151,483 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award. Funds will expire the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a competitively procured via beta.SAM.gov website and two offers were received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting agency. Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Northridge, California, is awarded a $12,190,753 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides depot sustainment support, guidance section and control section repair and common munitions built-in test/reprogramming equipment box 4 and 5 test and inspection in support of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile weapon system for the Navy; the governments of Italy and Australia; and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Northridge, California (62%); Ridgecrest, California (31%); and Fusaro, Italy (7%). Work is expected to be completed by August 2023. 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 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-D-0106). United States Marine Inc.,* Gulfport, Mississippi, is awarded a $7,572,364 firm-fixed-price delivery order to previously awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract N00024-16-D-2215 in support of the government of the Azerbaijan for 15 9-meter Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Multi-Use EOD Response Craft. Work will be performed in Gulfport, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed by April 2022. Foreign Military Sales funding in the amount of $7,572,364 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. ARMY Aecom Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California (W91278-20-D-0041); Arcadis U.S. Inc., Highlands Ranch, Colorado (W91278-20-D-0042); Atkins North America Inc., Dallas, Texas (W91278-20-D-0043); Cardno GS Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia (W91278-20-D-0044); HDR Environmental Operations and Construction Inc., Englewood, Colorado (W91278-20-D-0045); Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Dallas, Texas (W91278-20-D-0046); Leido Inc., Reston, Virginia (W91278-20-D-0047); WSP USA Solutions Inc., Washington, DC (W91278-20-D-0048); Tetra Tech Inc., Pasadena, California (W91278-20-D-0053); and Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions Inc., Blue Bell, Pennsylvania (W91278-20-D-0055), will compete for each order of the $209,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering services to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division. 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 Aug. 3, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AHTNA Construction,* Anchorage, Alaska (W912BV-20-D-0039); APC Construction LLC,* Harvey, Louisiana (W912BV-20-D-0040); Gideon Contracting LLC,* San Antonio, Texas (W912BV-20-D-0041); Pontchartrain Partners LLC,* New Orleans, Louisiana (W912BV-20-D-0042); and Southwind Construction,* Edmond, Oklahoma (W912BV-20-D-0043), will compete for each order of the $49,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for civil works construction projects in support of various military and civil works projects within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District's boundaries. Bids were solicited via the internet with 15 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 3, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. PHE-Baker JV2 LLC,* Rockville, Maryland (W91278-20-D-0050); Stell Environmental Enterprises Inc.,* Exton, Pennsylvania (W91278-20-D-0051); Swift River Vesar SB JV,* Anchorage, Alaska (W91278-20-D-0052); and Vernadero Group Inc.,* Phoenix, Arizona (W91278-20-D-0053), will compete for each order of the $40,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering services to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division Mobile District's planning and environmental division. 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 Aug. 3, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Radiant Mission Solutions Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, was awarded a $12,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide the Army Geospatial Center with remote ground terminal 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 Aug. 4, 2023. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W5J9CQ-20-D-0006). Lockheed Martin Global Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $9,958,534 modification (P00019) to contract W31P4Q-17-C-0173 for field support technicians. 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 Feb. 28, 2021. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Martin Baker, Uxbridge, United Kingdom, has been awarded a maximum $150,000,000 five-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for T-6 and T-38 Sustainment. This contract provides for T-6 and T-38 replenishment spares. Work will be performed in Uxbridge, United Kingdom, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2026. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 munitions procurement funds; NASA funds; Army funds; and Foreign Military Sales funds, in the total amount of $13,316, 027 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-20-D-0004). DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY Northrup Grumman Systems Corp. (HDTRA1-20-C-0063) is being awarded a single-award services contract for the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program. The mission of the CTR Program is to partner with willing countries to reduce threat from Weapons of Mass Destruction and related materials, technologies, facilities and expertise. The maximum dollar ceiling including the base period and option period for the contract is $24,775,693. Work will be performed at various locations throughout the world. The base period for this contract is two years with three one-year option periods. $4,000,000 has been incrementally funded for the base period and the contract will continue to be incrementally funded with current funding. This requirement was solicited as a sole-source award with supporting justification and approval document via solicitation HDTRA1-20-R-0015 and was approved by the Head of Contracting Activity. The government received one timely offer. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), CTR Contracting Office/DTRA/AL-ACC, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2300395/source/GovDelivery/

  • UK orders first three Protector drones from General Atomics

    July 16, 2020 | International, Aerospace

    UK orders first three Protector drones from General Atomics

    By: Andrew Chuter LONDON – Britain's Ministry of Defence has signed a deal with General Atomics for the first three Protector remotely piloted air vehicles destined to equip the Royal Air Force with a replacement for its Reaper drone force. A £65 million (U.S. $80 million) contract for three Protectors, the British version of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian was announced by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace during a virtual air power conference held by the RAF July 15. Protector will fly further, hit harder and, crucially, be able to fly in unsegregated civilian airspace compared with the Reaper vehicles widely used by the British in Afghanistan and the Middle East over the last several years. Three ground stations and other associated support equipment are also included in an initial deal that will see the first vehicle delivered to the British next year. The initial vehicle will remain in the United States for test and evaluation until 2023, ahead of deploying to its UK base at RAF Waddington, eastern England. Able to fly for up to 40 hours Protector is expected to enter service in 2024. The aircraft will be armed with MBDA's Brimstone missile and Raytheon UK's Paveway IV precision-guided bomb, enhanced data links and detect-and-avoid technology. The deal for Protector production includes an option on a further purchase of 13 drones. A contract firming up the options is planned for April next year. An MoD spokesperson denied that breaking up the order into two parts was related to balancing the over-stretched budget for this year. The cost of purchasing the remaining drones is put at around £180 million, or $230 million. The MoD spokesperson said consideration is also being given to an additional acquisition of drones over and above the 16 vehicles already envisaged. A total force of more than 20 Protectors was envisaged in the Conservative government's 2015 strategic defence and security review. Now, the final numbers will likely be subject to the outcome of an integrated defense, foreign policy and security review now underway by the Conservatives. Many people here think the already cash-strapped MoD will be a post-Covid-19 target for capability cuts as the government shifts its emphasis on defense equipment spending away from more conventional technologies into areas like space, cyber and artificial intelligence. Protector has already been a victim of MoD financial pressures. Sir Simon Bollom, the CEO of the Defence Equipment and Support arm of the MoD, alluded to the difficulties saying in an MoD statement his organization had "overcome considerable challenges" to keep the program on track. The vehicle was originally slated to enter service with the RAF in 2018 but that was then put back until 2021 before the new date was agreed. In announcing the deal defence secretary Ben Wallace said, „Protector will provide the RAF with vast global reach, meeting the UK's defense and security needs for decades to come, and provide another increase to the unmanned inventory for the armed forces.“ https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/07/15/uk-orders-first-three-protector-drones-from-general-atomics/

  • Australia secures additional F-35 support work

    February 18, 2019 | International, Aerospace

    Australia secures additional F-35 support work

    Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - Jane's Defence Industry Australia has been selected to provide additional support for Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, Defence Minister Christopher Pyne announced on 14 February. The additional work features the provision of maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade (MRO&U) services for avionics, composites, electric components, hydraulics, and other systems on board the F-35. In a statement, Pyne said, “Australian companies have been awarded 343 out of a possible 388 components in the latest tranche of assignments – a significant achievement and a major boost for our economy.” The additional work was assigned by the United States' F-35 Joint Program Office and follows its announcement in 2014 to assign Australia as provider of support services for F-35s operating in the South Pacific region. https://www.janes.com/article/86377/australia-secures-additional-f-35-support-work

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