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AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a $1,687,359,008 modification (P00166) to contract FA8625-11-C-6600 for Lot Six production of KC-46 aircraft, subscriptions and licenses, and G081 flat file. The contract modification provides for the exercise of an option for an additional quantity of 12 KC-46 aircraft, data, subscriptions and licenses, and G081 flat file being produced under the basic contract. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be completed April 30, 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds in the full amount 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. AchieveIt Online LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (FA8612-21-D-0101); Aerocine Ventures Inc., Jackson Heights, New York (FA8612-21-D-0102); Aerovation Inc., Tucson, Arizona (FA8612-21-D-0103); AI.Reverie Inc., New York, New York (FA8612-21-D-0104); All Vision Technologies Inc., New York, New York (FA8612-21-D-0105); Allied Associates International Inc., Gainesville, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0106); Aptima Inc., Woburn, Massachusetts (FA8612-21-D-0108); A-Tech Corp., Albuquerque, New Mexico (FA8612-21-D-0109); BlackHorse Solutions Inc., Herndon, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0110); Charles River Analytics Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (FA8612-21-D-0111); CIS Secure Computing Inc., Ashburn, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0112); Cognitive Space Inc., Manvel, Texas (FA8612-21-D-0113); TeleCommunication Systems Inc., Annapolis, Maryland (FA8612-21-D-0114); Concept Solutions LLC, Reston, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0115); Crunchy Data Solutions Inc., Charleston, South Carolina (FA8612-21-D-0116); CrowdAI Inc., Mountain View, California (FA8612-21-D-0117); Danbury Enterprises LLC, Arlington, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0118); Data Machines Corp., Ashburn, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0119); Defense Architecture Systems Inc., Fulton, Maryland (FA8612-21-D-0120); DTC Communications Inc., Herndon, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0121); Forcepoint Federal LLC, Herndon, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0122); Intelligent Waves LLC, Reston, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0123); Iron Bow Technologies LLC, Herndon, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0124); KeyW Corp., Hanover, Maryland (FA8612-21-D-0125); Modus Operandi Inc., Melbourne, Florida (FA8612-21-D-0126); Sentenai Inc., Boston, Massachusetts (FA8612-21-D-0128); The Stratagem Group Inc., Aurora, Colorado (FA8612-21-D-0129); Technergetics LLC, Utica, New York (FA8612-21-D-0130); Technica Corp, Sterling, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0131); RAFT LLC, Reston, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0132); Enveil Inc., Fulton, Maryland (FA8612-21-D-0133); Sherpa LLC, St. Louis, Missouri (FA8612-21-D-0134); KIHOMAC Inc., Reston, Virginia (FA8612-21-D-0135); Kinnami Software Corpo., Braintree, Massachusetts (FA8612-21-D-0136); KPMG LLP, McLean, Virginia (FA8621-21-D-0137); and Perspecta Labs Inc., Basking Ridge, New Jersey (FA8612-21-D-0138), have collectively been awarded a ceiling $950,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract 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 (JADC2). 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 completed May 28, 2025. These awards are the result of fair and open competition. The initial delivery orders will be fully funded by fiscal year research, development, test and evaluation funds. The Air Force Life Cycle Management, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. ARMY H&L Contracting LLC, Bay Shore, New York, was awarded a $30,628,978 firm-fixed-price contract to perform construction/rehabilitation of the seawall system at Montauk Point Lighthouse, Suffolk County, New York. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Montauk, New York, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 1, 2023. Fiscal 2014 and 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $30,628,978 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-21-C-0004). NAVY WR Systems Ltd., Fairfax, Virginia, is awarded a $19,191,662 non-commercial, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for engineering and program support services in support of the Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar Life Cycle Management Department at the Forces Surveillance Support Center, Chesapeake, Virginia. The contract will include a 48-month ordering period with no options. The ordering period is expected to begin April 2021 and be completed by March 2025. Work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia (42%); Fairfax, Virginia (39%); New Kent, Virginia (6%); Corpus Christi, Texas (3%); San Juan, Puerto Rico (3%); Adelaide, Australia (1%); San Diego, California (1%); Dayton, Ohio (1%); Colorado Springs, Colorado (1%); Washington, D.C. (1%); Arlington, Virginia (1%); and Key West, Florida (1%). Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,000 will be obligated to fund the contract's minimum amount and funds will expire at the end of the fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive, sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, with one offer received. The Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Center, Norfolk Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00189-21-D-Z015). Container Research Corp.,* Aston, Pennsylvania, is awarded an $11,539,383 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for the procurement of up to a maximum quantity of 275 V-22 Mission Auxiliary Tank System storage containers for the Navy, Marines, Air Force and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Aston, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed in January 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-21-D-0006). Advanced Computer Learning Co. LLC,* Fayetteville, North Carolina, is being awarded an $8,207,152 single-award, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the development of curriculum material and the instruction on the use of unique networks in the Joint Staff Joint Tactical Operations Interface Training Program and the U.S. Message Text Formatting Training Program in support of the Joint Staff, Joint Interoperability Division at the Joint Multi-Tactical School. The contract will include an 11-month base ordering period with an additional three consecutive one-year ordering period options, which if exercised, will bring the total value to $33,207,839. The base ordering period is expected to begin in January 2021 and be completed by December 2021. If the option is exercised, the ordering period will be completed by December 2024. All work will be performed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance defense-wide funds in the amount of $10,000 will be obligated to fund the contract's minimum amount and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with the solicitation posted on Navy Electronic Commerce Online and beta.SAM.gov as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside, with nine offers received. The Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00189-21-D-Z014). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Alamo Strategic Manufacturing,** San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $8,700,000 modification (P00008) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-19-D-1122) with two one-year option periods for knee and elbow pads. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Puerto Rico and Texas, with a Jan. 16, 2022, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. *Small business ** Small disadvantaged business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2469624/source/GovDelivery/

Pascal Samama Le 12/01/2021 à 15:08 Les armées commandent des centaines de micro-drones au fabricant français Parrot. La DGA a passé une première commande de 300 micro-drones qui seront livrés en juin prochain. C'est finalement Parrot qui fournira aux trois armées (terre, air, mer) des micro-drones de reconnaissance et de surveillance. La DGA (direction général de l'armement) vient d'annoncer qu'elle a sélectionné le modèle Anafi. Conçu en France, il est fabriqué aux Etats-Unis, mais "aucun composant ne provient de Chine", précise Parrot dans un communiqué. Parrot est une société historique de la French Tech. Elle a été fondé en 1994 par Henri Seydoux. Parrot est aujourd'hui le premier groupe de drone Européen. Une première commande de 300 appareils a été passée et seront livrés dès le mois de juin. Le contrat, qui comprend aussi des équipements complémentaires et la formation de pilotes, s'étend sur 5 ans a indiqué le ministère des Armées sans préciser le nombre total de la commande, ni le nombre de livraison annuelle, ni le montant du contrat. Il a seulement précisé que 60% de la commande ira à l'armée de Terre, 28% pour la Marine nationale et 12% pour l'armée de l'Air et de l'Espace. Un véritable espion volant L'Anafi ne pèse que 500 grammes ce qui permet de le transporter facilement dans un paquetage. Il est équipé de deux caméras 4K de 21 mégapixels avec un zoom 32x. Cette puissance optique lui permet de détecter de jour comme de nuit des cibles de taille humaine jusqu'à deux kilomètres de distance. Son point fort est aussi la sécurité des informations recueillies et de la liaison. Une signature numérique protège son logiciel de modification malveillante. De plus, l'enregistrement est réalisé au sol par une connexion sécurisée. Le drone permet d'enregistrer les données de la mission uniquement sur le segment sol, et non dans le vecteur aérien, puis de les extraire pour analyse, par connexion physique. Le drone dispose d'une connexion WPA2 sécurisée et de protocoles ouverts qui garantissent la confiance dans l'interopérabilité des données enregistrées pour des missions sensibles. https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/parrot-equipera-l-armee-francaise-de-ses-micro-drones-de-reconnaissance-et-de-renseignements_AN-202101120234.html

Safran Electronics & Defense et Sodern offrent à la France une technologie inédite, applicable à plusieurs domaines stratégiques. Un nouveau potentiel de croissance économique pour les industriels. Un projet innovant Nous avions présenté en juin 2020 le projet de système de navigation innovant qui vise les étoiles en plein jour, et est capable de fonctionner sur avion, malgré le Soleil et au travers de l'atmosphère. Le projet est développé depuis 2016 par Safran Electronics & Defense (responsable du projet et de la fonction navigation) et Sodern (responsable de la fonction de visée stellaire), à la demande de la Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) et de l'Agence de l'innovation de défense (AID). Désormais appelé Vision, le démonstrateur de visée stellaire diurne a été testé pour la première fois en novembre-décembre dernier à bord d'un banc d'essais volant. Embarquement sur banc d'essai volant Quatre vols d'essais (trois de jour et un de nuit) ont été réalisés par la DGA Maîtrise de l'information (DGA MI), l'expert technique du Ministère des Armées pour les systèmes d'information et de communication, la cybersécurité, la guerre électronique et les systèmes de missiles tactiques et stratégiques. Les vols ont duré une dizaine d'heures au total, à différentes altitudes. Tout au long des trajectoires de chaque vol, de nombreuses étoilées ont été accrochées et poursuivies de manière fine par le démonstrateur. Vers une production en série La France se retrouve ainsi pionnière sur cette technologie d'avant-garde, tandis que Sodern y voit un fort potentiel de croissance. Le concept désormais prouvé, l'industriel prévoit de développer un prototype raffiné cette année, puis préparer la production en série du produit d'ici 2025, d'abord pour les Armées, puis éventuellement pour le marché civil. C'est un grand nombre d'appareils qui pourrait bénéficier de ces nouveaux viseurs d'étoiles : aéronefs de transport et de ravitaillement, drones longue endurance, avions d'arme, navires, voire même, selon l'AID, des missiles à long terme. Sodern se réjouit que sa technologie puisse ainsi profiter à d'autres technologies et être essaimée dans d'autres secteurs. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/la-dga-officialise-la-russite-des-premiers-essais-en-vol-du-viseur-dtoiles-diurne-vision-24060

Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A long-awaited seaborne defensive laser weapon system known as HELIOS was delivered to the U.S. Navy for testing, builder Lockheed Martin announced on Monday. The Navy is scheduled to test the 60kw High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance, or HELIOS later this year, and will go to sea aboard an unnamed guided missile destroyer assigned to the Pacific Fleet. HELIOS, designed in a $150 million contract with Lockheed Martin, is designed to "burn the boats," or unmanned drones, with a high-energy laser beam. It follows a 2019 demonstration of laser power, although with half the wattage of the device announced on Monday, aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Ponce. The scalable laser design architecture combines multiple kilowatt fiber lasers to attain high beam quality at various power levels, according to Lockheed officials. HELIOS was designed as a weapon capable of burning small speed boats, notably of the type the Iranian military deploys in armed groups, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. It can also merely "dazzle" a UAV's electro-optical sensors, damaging them and preventing them from performing their missions. The system can be used as an alternative to firing missiles or other projectiles at enemy craft, and can theoretically fire an unlimited number of laser blasts at targets. HELIOS is one of a number of laser weapons the Navy is currently working to develop. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/01/11/Lockheed-Martin-delivers-HELIOS-laser-weapon-to-US-Navy/2291610385689/

by Robin Hughes The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded MBDA in the United Kingdom a seven-year demonstration and manufacture contract for production of the SPEAR network-enabled stand-off air-to-surface weapon system. Designated SPEAR3 in UK service, the effector will be the primary medium-to-long-range strike weapon of the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) F-35B Lightning variant multirole combat aircraft, enabling them to engage and defeat challenging targets such as mobile long-range air defence systems at over-the-horizon ranges in all weathers and in highly contested environments. The placement of the demonstration and manufacture contract in late 2020 follows the successful implementation of the GBP411 million (USD536 million) four-year SPEAR Cap 3 Development Phase contract awarded to MBDA in March 2016, and the funding contract to BAE Systems from F-35 programme prime contractor Lockheed Martin in March 2019 for integration of SPEAR and MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile on the UK F-35B. UK Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Lightweight and Medium Attack Systems (LMAS) team leader Colonel Martin French said, “The placement of this contract marks the next major stage of the SPEAR3 weapon system's development and is a result of months of detailed negotiations between MBDA and the LMAS project team. “Building on the successes and technology achievements of the previous four years' work with MBDA, we now enter the exciting and challenging demonstration phase where we start to prove the system against the UK's requirements and ramp up activities to integrate this highly-capable weapon system onto the F-35B aircraft.” https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/update-uk-orders-production-of-spear3-for-f-35

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Beacon Point Associates LLC, Cape Coral, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $49,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical and surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 65 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no options. Location of performance is Florida, with a Feb. 28, 2026, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-21-D-0002). Unimex Corp.,** Sterling, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $12,000,000 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for environmental controllers. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with a Jan. 10, 2022, ordering period end date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8EG-21-D-0127). AIR FORCE Haight Bey & Associates, West Haven, Utah, has been awarded a $35,888,778 firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for AN/TMQ-53 Tactical Meteorological Observing System contractor logistics support. This contract provides spares, repairs, obsolescence management, engineering change proposals and special projects in support of the TMQ-53 system. Work will be performed in West Haven, Utah, and is expected to be completed July 2027. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $578,060 are being obligated with the first delivery order at the time of contract award. The Aerospace Management Systems Division, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-21-D-0003). Merrill Corp., doing business as Mission Support Inc., Clearfield, Utah, has been awarded a $10,123,784 firm-fixed-price contract for B-52 strut repair. Work will be performed in Clearfield, Utah, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 28, 2021. The award is the result of a sole-source solicitation. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,885,422 are being obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8119-21-C-0001). WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Boston Consulting Group, Bethesda, Maryland (HQ0034-16-A-0003), has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum amount of $29,978,698. This contract is to provide Marine Corps programs and resources support for their organizational requirements, resourcing, risk and reporting requirements (similar to a 10-K). Work performance will take place at the Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia. Appropriate fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds will be obligated at time of the award. The expected completion date is Jan. 10, 2022. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. NAVY American Superconductor Corp.,* Devens, Massachusetts, is awarded a $14,940,659 hybrid firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract in support of the supplies and services required to deliver a high temperature superconducting degaussing system (HTS). This procurement is for the delivery of an HTS, in accordance with the landing platform docks-class configuration. This includes the fabrication, testing and delivery of a ship's set of components/materials; the analysis of configuration based engineering change proposals; and vendor representative support during installation. The HTS degaussing system components/materials include a control unit, power modules, junction boxes, cryo-coolers, accumulation tanks, HTS degaussing cable assemblies and cold gas lines. Work will be performed in Ayer, Massachusetts (95%); and Pascagoula, Mississippi (5%), and is expected to be completed by September 2023. Fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,497,232 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-21-D-4011). Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded an $8,520,414 cost-type undefinitized contract for procurement of long lead material in support of Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) production requirements to include all up rounds, instrumental kits, engineering services and spares. This contract involves FMS to Korea, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Taiwan and Japan. Work will be performed in Hengelo Overijssel, Netherlands (51%); McKinney, Texas (32%); and Tucson, Arizona (17%), and is expected to be completed by March 2023. FMS Korea funding in the amount of $1,807,362 (42%); FMS Denmark funding in the amount of $1,073,800 (25%); Memorandum of Understanding Netherlands funding in the amount of $494,872 (12%); FMS Spain funding in the amount of $451,840 (11%); FMS Taiwan funding in the amount of $344,259 (8%); and FMS Japan funding in the amount of $86,064 (2%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with the authority from 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c) (4) (international agreement). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-C-5411). ARMY Eastman Aggregate Enterprises LLC,* Lake Worth, Florida, was awarded an $11,013,889 firm-fixed-price contract for shore protection and beach renourishment. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2022. Fiscal 2018 flood control and coastal emergencies funds in the amount of $11,013,889 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (W912EP-21-C-0004). *Small business **Women-owned small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2468302/source/GovDelivery/

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY US Foods Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $377,791,948 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for full-line food distribution. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a two-year base contract with one one-year option period and one two-year option period. Locations of performance are Virginia and North Carolina, with a Jan. 7, 2023, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-21-D-3313). Science Applications International Corp., Fairfield, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $95,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for facilities maintenance, repair and operation supplies. 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 one-year bridge contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., with a Jan. 8, 2022, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E3-21-D-0005). Dispensers Optical Services Corp.,* Louisville, Kentucky, has been awarded a maximum $18,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for optical lenses. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a three-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is Kentucky, with a Jan. 7, 2024, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-21-D-0012). NAVY Alberici-Mortenson JV, St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $359,738,706 fixed-price-award-fee modification to exercise the first and second options under previously awarded contract N69450-20-C-0016 for design-bid-build recapitalization of the dry dock at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. The work to be performed provides for concrete repairs in various locations throughout the dry dock; overhauling and repairing the steel caisson; and upgrading power distribution, chilled water and fire detection and alarm systems. The project will also repair corroded steel members of the dry dock superstructure, re-coat the entire superstructure and replace roof and wall panels. The project will remove one bridge crane and overhaul two other bridge cranes. The scope also includes rebuilding/replacing sluice gates and actuators, roller gate rails, flap valves and frames and all piping. This project will also upgrade control systems and electronic components and upgrade the auxiliary seawater system. This award increases the total cumulative value of the contract to $554,465,051. Work will be performed in Kings Bay, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by October 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $359,738,706 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. Oceaneering International Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia, is awarded a $56,878,408 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-18-C-6413 for configuration changes, engineering services, material, maintenance and repair. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $131,895,943. Work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Atlantic Signal LLC,* Topeka, Kansas, is awarded a $45,128,388 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of up to a combined maximum quantity of 233,736 units inclusive of hearing enhancement devices, cables, push-to-talks, hygiene kits and helmet adapters. Work will be performed in Topeka, Kansas, and is expected to be complete by September 2025. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $9,999,420 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and funds will expire on March 19, 2021. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website, with seven offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-21-D-1809). Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded $7,825,657 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00383-21-F-PF03) under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-19-G-PF01 for the repair of 10 line items associated with the APY-10 radar system used in support of the P-8A aircraft. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (70%); and McKinney, Texas (30%). Work is expected to be completed by May 2023. Annual working capital funds (Navy) in the full amount of $7,825,657 will be obligated at time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One firm was solicited for this non-competitive requirement in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. The Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Hardwood Products Co., LP, Guilford, Maine, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $110,085,000 firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract as a commercial contract for industrial base expansion of U.S. domestic production capacity for medical foam tip swabs. This contract is for the procurement of equipment and machinery to enable expanded production of foam tip nasal swabs. Work will initially be performed in Pittsfield, Maine, and is expected to be completed by October 2021. Fiscal 2021 other procurement funds in the amount of $34,220,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-21-C-0019). M1 Support Services, Denton, Texas, has been awarded a $77,369,924 firm-fixed-price contract for the back-shop and flight-line maintenance of multiple aircraft types. Work will be performed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2027, if all options are exercised. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $37,094,520 are being obligated at the time of award. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Langley-Eustis AFB, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-21-C-0002). iGov Technologies Inc., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a $30,906,705 firm-fixed-price modification (P00015) to contract FA8730-18-F-0061 to exercise options for Tactical Air Control Party - Mobile Communications System Block Two kits, training and support of the system. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for an additional quantity of 142 production kits, along with the associated training Lot Two and second generation anti-jam tactical ultra-high frequency radio for the NATO licenses Lot One and Lot Two being produced under the basic contract. Work will be performed at various locations across the U.S., and is expected to be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement funds in the amount of $1,189,383; and fiscal 2021 other procurement funds in the amount of $29,717,322, are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $81,006,838. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, is being awarded a $58,905,062 modification (P00006) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HR0011-20-C-0038 to exercise the contract line item number 0003 option for development of the integrated OpFires system. This includes risk reduction testing to achieve a system-level critical design maturity. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 research and development funds in the amount of $18,505,167 will be obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas (57%); Huntsville, Alabama (11%); and Elkton, Maryland (32%), with an estimated completion date of January 2022. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Pollock Research & Design Inc., Reading, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract modification (P00007) on contract HTC711-19-CR001 in the amount of $7,954,311. This modification provides continued crane maintenance for the U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. Services provide maintenance to ship-to-shore and rail mounted gantry cranes. Requirements include scheduled maintenance and on-call unscheduled maintenance. Work will be performed at the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, Southport, North Carolina; the Military Ocean Terminal Concord, Concord, California; and Naval Magazine Indian Island, Port Hadlock, Washington. The period of performance is from Jan. 9, 2021, to Jan. 8, 2022. Fiscal 2021 defense working capital funds were obligated at award. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2466843/

By: Ben Wallace The Estonian town of Tapa sits less than 100 miles from the Russian border, and in December I was there to visit some of the 900 British troops that have been stationed there since 2017 — our largest land deployment outside of the U.K. This is not just a useful training exercise with our Danish and, in a few months' time, French allies, but rather a strategic defensive presence in a region that is vital for global security. Our Estonian allies are bolstered and reassured by having us there. A more active, more deployed armed forces, such as those in Tapa, is a sign of things to come for U.K. defense. Like Estonia, we meet the 2 percent commitment to NATO, and in the U.K.'s latest spending review, the Ministry of Defence secured a record settlement of £16.5 billion (U.S. $22.4 billion) of funding above our election manifesto commitment over a four-year period. The prime minister and I share a vision for how that funding will transform U.K. defense. It is crucial to putting our defense spending on a sustainable footing — living within our means, addressing the underfunding of previous years and paving the way for a modernization that is much overdue. It means being an even greater and ever-reliable defense ally to our friends around the world. It means adopting a more proactive posture with our forces more forward, more present and more assertive. It means remaining a leader in NATO, spending above 2 percent of gross domestic product, making the largest single commitment to the Readiness Initiative and helping drive the modernization of an organization that has kept us safe for more than 70 years. And, of course, it means remaining the United States' most reliable, capable and committed ally. It is not just a coincidence that this is the biggest defense investment since the end of the Cold War. Estonians know this only too keenly — and with an increase in Russian presence in the U.K., we have felt this too. Our Quick Reaction Alert forces have seen their busiest period in a decade, with our Royal Air Force fighters scrambling 11 times to intercept Russian warplanes. Meanwhile, the Kremlin's activity in U.K. waters has risen by 26 percent since last year, with Royal Navy vessels escorting each and every one of them. From our airspace to cyberspace, the North Sea to the High North, we know the threat they pose. So in an age of 21st century challenges, it's more important than ever that we work together. That's why, following our departure from the European Union, we are opening up fresh opportunities to strengthen our global relationships and stay ahead of the curve. The integrated review that we will publish in 2021 will make the most of new technologies, improve integration across the domains and demonstrate that we remain the international partner of choice: a burden-sharing, self-confident and active nation, stepping up to our responsibilities in an ever more contested world. Ben Wallace is Britain's secretary of state for defense. https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/2021/01/11/uk-defense-secretary-britain-is-paving-a-path-for-modernization-and-appropriate-funding/

By: Jackson Schneider While I'm writing this article, the world is facing the greatest global crisis of our generation. It is worth asking what a globalized world means after the COVID-19 pandemic, and mainly in the context of the defense industry. Will it feature, as it did until recently, dynamic international trade and financial flows, globally integrated production chains, and an unprecedented flow of people and goods? Or, as many have speculated, will we see more protectionism, with countries protecting their markets and jobs, being more self-absorbed and less integrated? And how will the effects of geopolitical trends, accelerated by the current crisis, unfold in the decision-making of the military segment in a review of strategic plans? Nonstate actors, unconventional wars, terrorism, nationalism, the connection of organized crime with paramilitary movements, radicalism and rogue states are some of the topics with which we are commonly presented. Entirely unpredictable in nature, these trends have the capacity to cause even more damage, marked by new space and cyber weapons. Perhaps we will move from open partnerships, shared defense solutions and industrial integration to a more suspicious environment, where countries will develop individual defense responses, only using partnerships that supplement their ability to succeed. New technologies, communications formats, relationships, economic flows, environmental concerns and geopolitical trends will have significant consequences in our lives. And the repercussions are uncertain. In this environment, the defense sector will face new threats, such as the even more intensive use of cyber and space technology, autonomous applications, and artificial intelligence to attack, threaten, influence, or defend countries, companies and citizens. The prospect of cyber conflicts is worrisome. Software overtakes hardware, and the product is an internet of solutions that we can't truly understand. This is the new world that the defense industry must understand and ultimately act upon. Industry must seek solutions far beyond the conventional, sometimes even distant from our natural comfort zones, either by doctrine or generational conflict. This challenge also sparks opportunity, as it enables countries to form programs to protect their critical infrastructure and sensitive data by encouraging unique solutions, using complementary and controlled partnerships when necessary. This can foster the digital economy and technology of the future. To make it happen, however, a fundamental change to the definition of “defense” is necessary. If we consider the defense realm to be exclusive to the military, these advancements will be limited. The most obvious vector of the defense environment is certainly the military, but the requirements of the post-pandemic world are larger. The public and private sectors must be coordinated. The integrated efforts of various companies are necessary for supporting the implementation of a cyber protection program. Universities and research centers will also be necessary for fostering knowledge and developing critical thinking throughout countries. Nations usually define their defense investment priorities based on military policies and geopolitical strategies — considering eventual threats or interests. They should defend their convictions, territory and population. The defense industry must interact with the world in general, either regionally or globally. Even if we imagine a less globalized world following the pandemic, defense challenges are increasingly global. Outlining regional defense visions and coordinating scientific and technological efforts — involving public and private agents — around the same strategic purpose can ensure the sustainability of our defense industry. Jackson Schneider is the president and CEO of Embraer's Defense and Security division. This essay was first published for Forte de Copacabana 2020. https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/2021/01/11/embraer-defense-executive-will-protectionism-define-the-post-pandemic-defense-industry