News

AIR FORCE Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $355,493,640 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM)/Replacement Exchange In-Kind (REIK) for HARM Control Section Modification (HCSM). This contract provides for the refurbishment of live AGM-88Bs and conversion of AGM-88B into Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM-88B) for approved Foreign Military Sales countries. Work will be performed in Tuscon, Arizona, and is expected to be complete by 2027. This contract involves foreign military sales to Qatar, Taiwan, and Bahrain. Additional countries may be added after contract award. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $76,074,315 is being obligated on a delivery order at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Warner Robins, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8520-19-D-0002). Pride Industries, Roseville, California, has been awarded a $19,902,284 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract FA4484-17-D-0005 for base operations services. This modification provides for the exercise of the second option period out of four. Work will be performed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2020. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $59,441,361, and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds are being obligated on individual task orders. The 87th Contracting Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $16,387,853 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00061) to previously awarded contract FA8615-12-C-6016 for a variety of support to the Taiwan F-16 Peace Phoenix Rising program. This contract modification provides for miscellaneous support work identified during performance of the in-country aircraft modification program, use and maintenance of product support aircraft, and additional support necessary for the successful completion of modification installs. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas; and Taiwan, and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2023. This modification involves 100 percent foreign military sales to Taiwan, and Foreign Military Sales funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Central Coast Water Authority, Buellton, California, has been awarded a $7,929,102 delivery order (FA4610-19-FA038) under previously awarded contract F04684-92-D-0013 for California State Water. This delivery order provides Vandenberg Air Force Base and outlying municipalities with potable water. Work will be performed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be complete by 2032. This delivery order brings the total cumulate face value of the contract to $157,514,286. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The 30th Contracting Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, California, is the contracting activity. NAVY BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded an $84,341,597 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for up to 898,320 man-hours of direct labor engineering services. These services are in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Special Communications Mission Solutions Division to perform projects for Special Operations Forces command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. Services include requirements definition, solution definition, integration, installation verification and validation, and operation and sustainment. Work will be performed in California, Maryland (70 percent); St. Inigoes, Maryland (13 percent); Fayetteville, North Carolina (6 percent); Little Creek, Virginia (5 percent); Coronado, California (4 percent); and Tampa, Florida (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2024. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; three offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0055). Deloitte Consulting LLP, Arlington, Virginia, is awarded $63,701,527 for a cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price ordering provisions for business and technology management support services required to facilitate the overall Transformation Management Support Services effort in support of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPTE), OPNAV N1, and subordinate commands. The contract is a five-year base ordering period with no options. All work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia. The ordering period is expected to be completed by May 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds (Navy) 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 current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with the solicitation posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00189-19-D-Z023). C.E.R. Inc.,* Baltimore, Maryland (N40080-18-D-0016); EGI HSU JV LLC,* Gaithersburg, Maryland (N40080-18-D-0017); G-W Management Services LLC,* Rockville, Maryland (N40080-18-D-0018); Huang-Gaghan JV Inc.,* Alexandria, Virginia (N40080-18-D-0019); Kunj Construction Corp.,* Mechanicsville, Virginia (N40080-18-D-0020); Ocean Construction Services Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N40080-18-D-0021), are awarded Option One under a previously awarded, firm-fixed-price, multiple award construction contract for construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington, District of Columbia, area of operations (AO). The combined total value of all six contractors is $49,500,000. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $99,000,000. Work will be performed at various administrative facilities within the NAVFAC Washington, District of Columbia AO, including but not limited to, Maryland; Washington, District of Columbia; and Virginia, and is expected to be completed May 29, 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps); and Navy working capital funds. NAVFAC Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors LLC,* Lockport, Louisiana, is awarded an $11,638,510 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase and conversion of one existing offshore supply vessel into an Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center range support vessel (ARSV). The ARSV will perform ocean engineering and range support in the launch, recovery and deep ocean mooring installation and maintenance of remote operated vehicles, unmanned underwater vehicles, and autonomous underwater vehicles. The ARSV will be operated for multiple days at sea, which will permit researchers onboard to remain on station at remote locations for multiple days to collect data, deploy scientific equipment, and perform scientific calculations. Work will be performed in Lockport, Louisiana, and is expected to be completed by January 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $11,638,510 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 the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-2205). Diversified Maintenance Systems Inc.,* Sandy, Utah, is awarded a maximum amount $10,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for other specialty trade contractors construction alterations, renovations, and repair projects at Naval Air Facility El Centro. Projects will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task order with minimal design effort (e.g. shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, alterations, repairs, and construction of electrical, mechanical, painting, engineering/design, paving (asphaltic and concrete), flooring (tile work/carpeting), roofing, structural repair, fencing, HVAC, and fire suppression/protection system installation projects. Work will be performed in El Centro, California. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of May 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2623). Detyens Shipyards Inc., North Charleston, South Carolina, is awarded an $8,929,671 firm-fixed-price contract for a 50-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability of USNS Lenthall (T-AO 189). Work will include general services, diesel fuel marine contaminated tank bottom replacement, vent plenum steel replacement and preservation, main engine intercooler cleaning, switchboard and motor control center cleaning, recondition air conditioning motors, cable bulkhead collar magna rock replacement, diesel fuel marine cargo piping repairs, armory air conditioning replacement, constant tension winch No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 overhaul, fire and aqueous film forming foam piping replacement, fire damper inspection and repairs, steel replacement and recoating. The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $9,004,671. Funds will be obligated on May 23, 2019. Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina, and is expected to begin on July 15, 2019, and be completed by Sept. 2, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,929,671, are obligated at the time of award. Funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220519C4014). BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota, is awarded an $8,924,330 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for engineering services and waterfront services in support of the MK 45gun mount providing engineering, technical, logistics services and technical data to support the MK 45 5” Gun system design, development, fabrication, production, operation and integration. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $35,058,494. Work will be performed in Navy fleet concentration areas (various locations) (70 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (15 percent); and Louisville, Kentucky (15 percent), and is expected to be completed by May 2020. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2022. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2013 and 2014 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $3,178,794 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 Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-5301). ARMY Aura Technologies LLC,* Raleigh, North Carolina, was awarded a $49,997,256 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for Small Business Innovation Research in support of advanced manufacturing environments. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 22, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911NF-19-D-0004). B.L. Harbert International LLC, Birmingham, Alabama, was awarded an $18,481,835 firm-fixed-price contract for to construct Secure Compartmental Information Facility at Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Pyongtaek, Republic of Korea, with an estimated completion date of July 30, 2021. Fiscal 2018 host nation (Korea) funds in the amount of $18,481,835 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, is the contracting activity (W912UM-19-C-0002). Tribalco LLC, Bethesda, Maryland, was awarded a $14,425,217 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Iraq) contract for computer hardware, services and MEMEX software. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Bethesda, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of May 22, 2020. Fiscal 2019 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $14,425,217 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-19-C-5024). IDSC Holdings LLC, Snap-On Industrial, a division of IDSC Holdings LLC, Kenosha, Wisconsin, was awarded an $11,434,752 firm-fixed-price contract for the General Mechanic's Tool Kit. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds in the amount of $11,434,752 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-18-D-0079). Howard W. Pence Inc.,* Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was awarded an $8,825,159 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a Special Operations Forces air-and-ground integration urban live fire range. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 18, 2020. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $8,825,159 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W91Q2R-19-C-0017). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY General Dynamics, Williston, Vermont, has been awarded a maximum $42,443,476 firm-fixed-price contract for gun barrels. 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 three-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Vermont and Maine, with a May 22, 2022, performance completion date. Using military services are Air Force and Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-19-D-0133). Real-Time Laboratories LLC, Boca Raton, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $10,776,057 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for linear direct valves. 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 a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a May 29, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-D-0074). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1856970/source/GovDelivery/

By: Mark Pomerleau The Navy has awarded $27 million in contract extensions to two companies working to demonstrate a proof of concept for the service's next phase of its premier airborne electronic warfare system. Northrop Grumman and L3 were awarded $13.5 million and $13.6 million, respectively, to continue working on the Next Generation Jammer Low Band program, according to a May 8 Department of Defense announcement. The funds will expand the analysis and design of the Navy's Next Generation Jammer low band pod. The Next Generation Jammer is the Navy's plan to update the legacy jamming pods aboard EA-18 Growlers, serving as the joint force's premier stand off electronic attack platform. The Navy is breaking the program into three pods: mid band, which was awarded to Raytheon in 2016, low band and high band. Adversaries can both hide and attack certain systems within the entirety of the electromagnetic spectrum and to combat that threat the military needs systems that can operate the across that spectrum. National security experts have said the spectrum is too expansive for a single pod to handle, which results in high, mid and low pods. Navy budget documents released in March call for $6.2 million in fiscal year 2020 for mid band from the procurement budget with $524.2 million coming from the research and development budget. Additionally, over the next five years, the Navy plans to spend $4.8 billion for procurement and $3.9 billion in R&D for mid band projects. Northrop — whose team consists of Harris, Comtech PST — and L3 were selected to separately demonstrate solutions for the low band to help the Navy refine requirements for the final program and reduce risk. Each were awarded a 20-month contract in October 2018. Funding for the high band program does not appear in the Navy's fiscal 2020 budget documents. “Northrop Grumman is pleased to have been selected by the U.S. Navy in October 2018 for the Next Generation Jammer Low Band Demonstration of Existing Technologies (DET) program. The additional funding awarded on May 8, will allow the Northrop Grumman-led industry team to continue to work closely with the Navy to continue to reduce risk and support requirements for this fast-paced program,” Curtis Pearson, director of Advanced Programs at Northrop Grumman, said. An L3 spokesperson told C4ISRNET in a statement: “With this week's development funding, L3 Technologies will be able to accelerate delivery of new and much needed capabilities to the fleet through the U.S. Navy's Next Generation Jammer Low Band program. As the spectrum converges between Communications and Electronic Warfare, we saw that we could addresses current, advanced, and emerging threats with an innovative approach. We have a mature, low-risk, affordable solution, and we are confident in our ability to perform for our Navy customer.” The Navy issued a request for information to industry for low band to refine the program's requirements May 15. What's next for low band? According to budget documents, the Navy requested $111 million for low band research and development funds in fiscal 2020 and a total of $3.4 billion over the next five years. Today, the military has identified potential targets that exist within certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. But as adversaries become more sophisticated, the military has to adjust its approach for exploiting these vulnerabilities. “We've all been writing and reading about how traditional radar targets, communication targets, network targets, they're all collapsing into one,” John Thompson, director of business development for airborne C4ISR at Northrop Grumman, told C4ISRNET in a February interview. “As we move into this networked world, that becomes more and more ways for enemy forces to attack, opposing forces to attack each other and to defend these same areas or vulnerabilities back and forth.” Thompson said Northrop Grumman hopes to help the military find new ways to attack these targets. The low end of the spectrum, which the low band jammer addresses, is of interest because of the intersection of networks, communication devices and radars within it, he said. These systems have more capability against stealth-shaped airframes, Thompson said. As a standoff jammer, the Growler's role is to attack radars and other systems that can detect or thwart friendly aircraft and systems, allowing them to penetrate enemy airspace. While the Growler has the reputation of being a “loud” jammer, meaning it used brute force rather than a more stealthy approach, which can alert enemies to its presence, Thompson noted that in the future there will be more nuanced approaches to jamming rather than just shoving raw jamming power toward a radar. In finding new ways of jamming, Thompson said, maybe the individual networks and communication devices that make it up can be isolated and jammed creating confusion. Joint airborne electronic attack According to Navy budget documents, the Navy has been tasked with the airborne electronic attack mission in various theaters over the last few decades. While the Pentagon relied on the Growler, it also used the EA-6B Prowlers, operated by both the Navy and Marine Corps. The Prowlers have now been officially retired. The Next Gen Jammer will “provide the ability to effectively engage enemy threats from increased stand-off distances, employ increased capacity (number of jamming assignments) against enemy targets, and support agile employment by operators,” according to the documents. Moreover, the Air Force, following the divestment of many of its electronic attack aircraft following the Cold War, does not have a comparable asset. Air Force pilots often integrate with Navy pilots flying Growlers. A May 2019 Congressional Research Service report notes that DoD has three primary manned electronic attack aircraft. These include the Navy's Growler, the Air Force's EC-130H Compass Call and the Air Force's EC-37B Compass Call Re-Host. The report does note, however that the F-35 has “extensive, integrated EW capabilities.” The Compass Call disrupts enemy communications as well as command and control systems. Air Force leaders have acknowledged that the service has taken its eye off the high-end fight involving electronic warfare. During the counterterrorism fight of recent years, the Compass Call was used to jam terrorists' communications. According to Air Force budget documents, the Compass Call overhaul will allow the Air Force to “effectively conduct Electronic Attack (EA) in an Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2AD) environment,” which applies to more complex operating environments against near-peer adversaries. The Air Force recently finished a year-long study to identify ways the service can improve electronic warfare capabilities and posture. One item in the Air Force's research and development budget for airborne electronic attack seeks to address and resolve gaps across the EW enterprise. Specifically, in fiscal 2020, two items look to support and field systems identified from the year-long study. The entire effort, however, is only asking for $2,000. Meanwhile, the Congressional Research Service noted two areas that Congress should look for in terms of oversight of the airborne electronic attack enterprise across the joint force. One is whether DoD is properly prioritizing airborne electronic warfare programs in its planning and budgeting relative to other U.S. military EW programs for ground forces and surface ships. The report points to hardened enemy airspace fortified by so-called anti-access/area denial capabilities that use radars and long range missiles to keep forces far away preventing them from penetrating. Second, the report notes that Congress may want to look into the Pentagon's proposed mix of airborne EW capabilities and investments. https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-warfare/2019/05/23/the-navy-wants-a-jammer-that-will-help-when-flying-into-enemy-airspace/

Char, avion de combat du futur: Paris et Berlin travaillent sur d'ambitieux projets industriels communs dans la défense, mais les rapports restent teintés de méfiance et marqués par des divergences de vue autour de la question des exportations d'armement. Face au Brexit, au rel'chement des liens transatlantiques sous l'ère Trump, et malgré une mauvaise passe dans la relation franco-allemande, Emmanuel Macron a fait de l'Europe de la défense l'un de ses grands chevaux de bataille, qui figure en bonne place dans le programme des candidats de son camp aux élections européennes de dimanche. Réunis par un même besoin de renouveler leurs capacités militaires à horizon 2035-2040, Français et Allemands ont convenu à l'été 2017 de développer main dans la main deux programmes d'équipements majeurs: le système de combat aérien du futur (SCAF), sous leadership du français Dassault, pour remplacer les Rafale et les Typhoon, et le char de combat du futur ayant vocation à remplacer les Leclerc et les Lepoard, sous leadership allemand. Concernant le SCAF, dont le premier contrat d'architecture a été notifié à Dassault et Airbus en janvier, Paris et Berlin comptent annoncer "cet été" le lancement des études de recherche et développement destinées à jeter les bases des démonstrateurs, pour un montant de 150 millions d'euros sur deux ans, selon des sources concordantes. - pas d'annonce au Bourget? - Il n'est toutefois pas certain que l'annonce soit faite mi-juin au salon aéronautique du Bourget comme initialement prévu, admet Paris. Objectif: développer un démonstrateur d'ici 2026 -- pour un coût estimé entre 2 et 3 milliards d'euros -- avant une entrée en service en 2040 de ce système associant avion de combat, drones, futurs missiles de croisière et drones évoluant en essaim. Pour le char, "les industriels préparent une offre pour l'étude d'architecture à horizon de l'été", indique-t-on de source gouvernementale française. Pour continuer à avancer, reste à venir à bout des inquiétudes et grincements de dents de part et d'autre du Rhin. Parmi les motifs de friction figure le partage des compétences de pointe censées alimenter ces grands programmes communs d'armement. En France, où le groupe Dassault a conduit seul le programme-phare du Rafale, certains ne cachent pas leur méfiance. "Il ne faudrait pas que les Allemands profitent de cette coopération pour chiper notre savoir-faire stratégique", glisse-t-on de source proche du dossier. En Allemagne, des parlementaires de la coalition au pouvoir reprochent au gouvernement d'Angela Merkel d'avoir mal négocié la répartition industrielle du projet SCAF et critiquent les exigences françaises en matière de propriété intellectuelle, affirme jeudi le quotidien allemand Die Welt. "Au regard des enjeux industriels et économiques du projet, j'attends de Mme Merkel et de Mme von der Leyen (ministre allemande de la Défense) qu'elles prennent en main ce dossier et en fassent une priorité, comme l'a fait le président Macron", déclare au journal le responsable défense du parti social-démocrate allemand (SPD), Thomas Hitschler. - ventes d'armes aux Saoudiens - "Des débats sur le partage des technologies, les questions de propriété intellectuelle peuvent exister mais ils sont en train de se résoudre. C'est normal que ça tiraille, derrière il y a des enjeux financiers et de compétences industrielles", relativise-t-on à Paris, où l'on préfère vanter "la rapidité" avec laquelle un projet de cette ampleur s'est mis en route. Autre obstacle à franchir: la question des conditions d'exportation des armements, objet de frictions ouvertes entre Paris et Berlin. Depuis l'assassinat fin 2018 du journaliste saoudien Jamal Khashoggi à Istanbul, le gouvernement allemand a décidé de geler les exports d?armes à destination de l'Arabie Saoudite, client controversé de l'industrie française de défense. Une décision vertement critiquée par Emmanuel Macron, puis par l'ambassadrice de France en Allemagne, qui a déploré fin mars "la politisation croissante du débat allemand sur les exportations d'armements", susceptible selon elle de "faire peser un risque sur la coopération de défense européenne". "On ne peut pas se mettre d'accord sur des projets d'une telle envergure sans trouver une position commune sur les conditions d'exportation", renchérit un haut responsable français. Or le sujet est politiquement ultra-sensible en Allemagne. "L'opinion publique allemande est vent debout contre les exports d'armement. Quel est l'homme politique allemand qui se risquera à aller contre ça?", souligne Gaëlle Winter, chercheuse associée à la Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS). Paris accuse en outre Berlin de pratiquer un double jeu en feignant d'ignorer la livraison d'armement à Ryad par l'industriel allemand Rheinmetall, via ses filiales à l'étranger. "J'entends dans certaines capitales les protestations de vertus offusquées lorsqu'il s'agit d'exportations françaises, mais j'observe que les mêmes responsables ignorent volontiers ce que font les filiales ou les joint ventures de leurs champions nationaux de l'armement", s'est récemment agacée la ministre française des Armées Florence Parly. Sollicité par l'AFP, le ministère allemand de la Défense n'a pas donné suite. https://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/europe-de-la-defense-entre-paris-et-berlin-des-ambitions-et-de-la-mefiance.afp.com.20190523.doc.1gt4y7.xml

Par Frédéric Dubois Dans les airs, sur terre ou sur mer, l'industrie européenne de la Défense vit actuellement de profondes transformations. Français, Italiens, Allemands, Britanniques, Espagnols... tous ces acteurs cherchent de nouvelles alliances dans un secteur de plus en plus concurrentiel. Mariages de raison ou de passion, les rapprochements entre grands groupes industriels sont devenus, depuis quinze ans, un passage obligé pour les entreprises qui veulent survivre sur ce marché hyper concurrentiel. Et les cas sont nombreux. Dans les airs, l'exemple le plus connu est certainement l'Eurofighter Typhoon, avion de combat bi-réacteur mis en service en 2004 par l'entreprise européenne Eurofighter GmbH. Aux manettes, quatre pays : la Grande-Bretagne, l'Allemagne, l'Espagne et l'Italie. Ce projet d'avion européen était sur la table depuis les années 70. Finalement, ces quatre pays ont uni leurs savoir-faire, laissant les Français sur la touche, car ces derniers préféraient faire cavalier seul avec le Rafale de Dassault. Entre les deux camps, les résultats commerciaux sont sans appel. En quinze ans, Eurofighter GmbH a vendu 538 exemplaires de son chasseur ; en quelques années de plus, Dassault a écoulé – seulement – 176 avions, en dépit d'une carrière opérationnelle nettement plus prestigieuse. Cette situation a poussé les Européens à revoir leur copie. En 2014, Français et Britanniques se mettent à plancher sur un projet – baptisé FCAS pour Future Combat Air System – afin de produire un avion de 6e génération. Trois ans plus tard, ils sont rejoints par les Allemands. Finalement, en 2018, Dassault annonce officiellement son partenariat avec Airbus Defence and Space dans le cadre du projet FCAS : l'Europe va ainsi se doter d'un nouveau système de défense aérienne avec l'héritier du Rafale, de l'Eurofighter Typhoon européen et de l'Hornet espagnol. Son nom (provisoire) : New Generation Fighter. Dans les airs, les Européens ont enfin compris qu'il valait mieux parler une seule et même langue face au Sukhoi Su-57 russe, et autres F-35 américain ou J-20 chinois. Des concurrents aux dents longues Quel que soit le secteur en Europe, les industries nationales jouent aujourd'hui leur survie face à des concurrents aux moyens nettement plus importants qu'auparavant, gr'ce à des marchés domestiques en forte dynamique et au soutien politique et financier d'états puissants. Après les airs, prenons la direction des océans. Le secteur de l'industrie navale a pris quelques longueurs de retard. En 2017, le quotidien français Le Mondetitrait : « Naval : le serpent de mer de la consolidation européenne ». Dans ce secteur comme dans les autres, le principe de « consolidation » est sur toutes les lèvres, la concurrence étant très sévère entre pays exportateurs. Deux géants se dressent face aux Européens : les Russes et surtout les Chinois, devenus la première puissance mondiale en la matière. En seulement dix ans. « Les groupes européens se sont trop souvent livré une guerre fratricide sur les appels d'offres internationaux, remarque Bertrand Gueynard, directeur du pôle Défense et sécurité du cabinet de conseil en stratégie CEIS dans les colonnes du Monde. Ils sont confrontés à la montée en puissance des arsenaux chinois, russes et même aujourd'hui japonais. Pour rester dans la classe mondiale, les rapprochements sont indispensables. Dans cette industrie, la taille est déterminante car elle permet d'offrir une large gamme de produits et de financer les investissements en recherche et développement nécessaires pour maintenir une avance technologique. Il faut toujours avoir un coup d'avance. » Motivées par le risque de disparition de certaines industries (les exemples sont nombreux hors défense), certaines entreprises européennes de l'industrie navale ont décidé de réagir avant qu'il ne soit trop tard. Des fleurons high-tech en Europe C'est le cas du Français Naval Group et de l'Italien Fincantieri. En 2017, Fincantieri a décidé de se lier à la France à travers deux projets : le rachat des Chantiers de l'Atlantique de Saint-Nazaire (les Sud-Coréens ayant jeté l'éponge) et l'alliance avec son homologue Naval Group. Ces deux entreprises étaient à la fois concurrentes lors d'appels d'offre internationaux et partenaires sur différents projets depuis trente ans, comme avec les frégates Horizon, un projet impulsé en 1991 par Hervé Guillou... devenu PDG de l'entreprise française en 2014. Lors de l'annonce de son alliance avec le PDG de Fincantieri Giuseppe Bono, Guillou a expliqué leur vision commune : « C'est une double ambition – à la fois d'offrir à nos deux pays les meilleures technologies au meilleur prix avec les meilleurs programmes pour garantir la supériorité de nos marines, mais aussi d'être capables d'avoir une présence mondiale suffisante pour assurer notre compétitivité et notre présence sur le marché – qui justifie notre rapprochement. » Cette volonté de la France et de l'Italie part d'un constat sans ambiguïté : l'Europe, et ses divers budgets de défense nationaux, n'a plus les moyens de faire vivre ni de maintenir toutes les compétences de l'ensemble des industriels de la construction navale. Les marchés commencent à opérer une sélection naturelle douloureuse, certains acteurs historiques commençant à connaitre de graves difficultés, notamment en Allemagne, aux Pays-Bas ou encore en Espagne. C'est une course pour la survie qui s'engage désormais. Les Européens ont donc tout intérêt à faire vite, d'autant qu'ils jouissent d'un savoir-faire et de technologies que le reste de la planète leur envie, avec des fleurons high-tech comme Leonardo, Thalès ou Safran. Car si la concurrence est aujourd'hui féroce, les atouts des Européens sont évidents et constituent de réelles opportunités pour les acteurs du Vieux continent. Encore faut-il qu'ils arrêtent de se mettre – trop souvent – des b'tons dans les roues. https://www.econostrum.info/Concentration-industrielle-en-Europe-une-necessite-autant-qu-une-opportunite-pour-la-Defense_a25636.html

QUÉBEC, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Canadians across the country rely on the Canadian Coast Guard to protect mariners and our environment, and to ensure the safe and efficient movement of ships that are key to our vibrant economy. Following an announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Québec, visited Quai de la Reine in Québec to highlight the Government of Canada's new investments to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and to provide up to 18 new large ships to be built in Canadian shipyards. These new vessels will help the Coast Guard continue to deliver its important services for Canadians. Canada's partners for large ship construction under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), Irving Shipbuilding of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards in British Columbia, will build the new ships. Irving Shipbuilding will build two new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, which will be adapted for the Coast Guard to perform a range of critical missions, including Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization patrols. Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards will build up to 16 Multi-Purpose Vessels to support a variety of missions, including light icebreaking, environmental response, and offshore search and rescue. In addition, the Government of Canada is investing in vessel life extensions, refits and maintenance work at shipyards throughout Canada, including in Quebec, so the current Coast Guard fleet can continue delivering critical search and rescue and environmental response services while the new ships are being built. Even with investments in maintenance, Coast Guard ships will eventually reach the end of their service lives, and more ships will be needed to fully renew the Coast Guard fleet. To support future shipbuilding requirements, and attract more talent and good jobs to our communities, the Government of Canada intends to add a third Canadian shipyard as a partner under the NSS. The Government of Canada will move forward with a competitive process to select the third shipyard in the coming months. Quotes "The Canadian Coast Guard saves lives at sea, maintains safe shipping, enables an otherwise ice-choked economy, protects the marine environment and supports Canadian sovereignty and security. With increasing shipping trade and the impacts of climate change already upon us, demands on Canada's Coast Guard will continue to grow. A renewed Coast Guard fleet ensures the confidence of Canadians and the confidence of industries that rely on Coast Guard services to remain competitive." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard "The National Shipbuilding Strategy is the right approach to ensure our Coast Guard, Navy and marine activities are supported by modern vessels. In addition to adapting to meet evolving federal shipbuilding requirements, the Strategy is creating jobs, generating benefits and prosperity in communities across Canada, and supporting a sustainable marine sector. We remain firmly committed to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and will continue to work closely with our shipbuilding partners to continue its success into the future." The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility "The Canadian Coast Guard offers vital services while ensuring safety in the navigation of our waterways, particularly the St. Lawrence River and the Saguenay Fjord. Today's announcement is especially important since the government recognizes that we must add a third shipyard to the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This is a major change that will allow Chantier Davie to participate in the process of selecting a third shipyard in the coming months. Also, the announcement of $2 billion to prolong the life, refit and maintenance of ships is excellent news for shipyards in Quebec, allowing them to obtain numerous contracts." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Quick facts The Canadian Coast Guard provides critical search and rescue, environmental response, and icebreaking services in the Central and Arctic region, with more than 1,400 employees, a fleet of 18 ships, as well as 6 helicopters. Search and rescue command centres in the Central and Arctic region (St. Lawrence and Great Lakes sectors) receive more than 5,600 calls annually. In 2018, the Coast Guard's Central and Arctic Environmental Response Program received 1,370 pollution reports, mainly cases of pollution from a vessel. The Canadian Coast Guard also oversees icebreaking operations in the winter along the St. Lawrence River and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the spring, the Coast Guard helps to clear ice on the seaway between Montréal and the Great Lakes, an operation that allows commercial vessels to enter and exit ports in a safe and efficient manner. Its hovercraft help with spring icebreaking on about 15 rivers, mainly in Quebec. Total funding for the 18 new large ships is $15.7 billion, which represents early estimates of project budgets, including construction, logistics and support, contingency, project management and infrastructure costs. The costs of each ship will be announced following contract negotiations. The government will also proceed through a competitive process with the design of a new class of smaller ships, the Mid-Shore Multi-Mission Ship, which will complement the work of the large fleet in shallow areas and deliver mid-shore science activities. Repairs, refits and vessel life extension work will be carried out on the existing fleet until the new ships are delivered, with more than $2 billion to be invested on a competitive basis for this purpose. In addition to funding for shipbuilding, the Government of Canada is also providing $351.3 million to support ongoing Canadian Coast Guard capacity enhancements, such as strengthening management oversight and promoting green innovation. To date, the Government of Canada has awarded more than $11 billion in NSS-related contracts across the country. Of this value, approximately $1.6 billion, or 16%, has been awarded to companies in Quebec. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/renewing-canadian-coast-guard-fleet-and-delivering-important-services-for-canadians-862623694.html

NAVY Raytheon Co., Fullerton, California, is awarded a $234,640,402 fixed-price-incentive, firm-target contract for the low-rate initial production of 23 Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems. In addition, this contract procures three production and installation engineering development model unit upgrade kits, engineering change proposals, and associated data. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California (68 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (22 percent); and Indianapolis, Indiana (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2023. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $49,134,484 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 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 (N00019-19-C-0020). Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $151,468,431 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for integrated logistics support and repairs for the sustainment of the AIM-9X Block II and Block II+ missiles. These services are in support of the Navy, Air Force, and the governments of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Turkey under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (90.7 percent); Cheshire, Connecticut (7 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (0.7 percent); Burlington, Massachusetts (0.6 percent); Heilbronn, Germany (0.5 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (0.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2022. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as 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 (N00019-19-D-0023). Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $11,336,274 for modification P00003 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-19-C-0004). This modification exercises an option for deployment and operation of test aircraft in support of the F-35 Lightning II development, production, and sustainment for the Air Force, Navy, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants. Work will be performed in Lakehurst, New Jersey (70 percent); and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force and Navy); and non-U.S. DoD participant funds in the amount of $11,336,274 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This option combines purchases for the Air Force ($8,791,728; 78 percent); Navy ($224,464; 2 percent) and non-U.S. DoD participants ($2,320,082; 20 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Fullerton, California, is awarded $8,997,334 for modification P00030 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0052) to design, prototype, and test a replacement Joint Precision Approach and Landing System Ship Global Positioning System Sensor Unit (SGSU). This resolves obsolescence driven by part shortages in the Digital Integrated Global Positioning System Anti-Jam Receiver, a major subassembly of the SGSU. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (59.4 percent); Fullerton, California (40.4 percent); and Indianapolis, Indiana (0.2 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,997,334 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. Computer Systems Center Inc.,* Springfield, Virginia, is awarded a $7,474,901 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to perform up to 51,180 hours of concept and requirements development and system engineering services for the F-35 Lightning II Offboard Mission Support Integrated Product Team. Work will be performed in Springfield, Virginia (60 percent); China Lake, California (20 percent); Arlington, Virginia (10 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2024. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $205,572 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($4,858,686; 65 percent); and the Foreign Military Sales customers ($2,616,215; 35 percent). This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N68936-19-D-0035). AIR FORCE Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, has been awarded a $74,902,132 definitive C-type contract for installation of a Degraded Visual Environment System (DVES), which improves situational awareness to pilots and aircrew operating in DVE conditions by adding new functional capabilities to the HH-60G. This contract provides for the procurement, installation, and integration of the DVES solution on 85 HH-60G helicopter aircraft. Work will be performed in Sparks, Nevada, and is expected to be complete by May 21, 2024. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition resulting in three offers received. Fiscal 2019 other procurement funds in the amount of $19,155,984 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Material Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8552-19-C-0002). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $40,974,754 firm-fixed-price modification (P00026) to previously awarded contract FA8621-16-C-6397 for F-15C and F-15E Mission Training Center Services contractor-furnished, high-fidelity simulation equipment to provide simulation capability to train pilots and weapons system operators. This modification provides four additional pilot/weapon systems officer crew stations devices and their associated equipment in support of aircrew training requirements. Work will be performed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and is expected to be complete by Feb. 15, 2021. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $229,428,492. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, has been awarded a $7,758,301 delivery order (FA2521-19-F0139) against previously awarded contract FA2521-16-D-0010 for serviceable components and subsystems for Instrumentation Tracking Systems (ITS). This delivery order provides for a 5.5 KVDC transmitter power upgrade for AN/FPS-8a5 Phased Array Radar. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and is expected to be complete by March 17, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The 45th Contracting Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Awarded May 16, 2019) ARMY Caelum Research Corp.,* Rockville, Maryland, was awarded a $22,639,066 hybrid (cost-no-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for data and information management support services. Twenty five bids were solicited with three bids received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $3,694,966 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-F-0324). Sentar Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $10,426,896 hybrid (cost-no-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for cyber security and information management support services. Twenty five bids were solicited with six bids received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army and Army working capital funds in the amount of $1,683,982 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-F-0323). CAT Island Conservancy LLC,* Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was awarded an $8,121,750 firm-fixed-price contract to purchase Bottomland Hardwood Impacts mitigation bank credits/acres from approved mitigation bank(s) in the Lake Pontchartrain and/or Mississippi River basins. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of June 3, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Army Corps of Engineers civil construction funds in the amount of $8,121,750 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W912P8-19-C-0037). DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Galois Inc., Portland, Oregon, was awarded a $16,479,920 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a research project under the Safe Documents (SafeDocs) program. The SafeDocs program aims to develop novel verified programming methodologies for building high assurance parsers for extant electronic data formats, and novel methodologies for comprehending, simplifying, and reducing these formats to their safe, unambiguous, verification-friendly subsets (safe sub-setting). SafeDocs will address the ambiguity and complexity obstacles to the application of verified programming posed by extant electronic data formats. Work will be performed in Portland, Oregon, with an expected completion date of May 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $2,326,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition under an open broad agency announcement and 23 offers were received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR001119C0073). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1855659/source/GovDelivery/

Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt has announced £22 million in funding for Army cyber operations centres Speaking this evening at the NATO Cyber Defence Pledge Conference in London, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt will address the need for the UK and NATO members to recognise offensive cyber as central to modern warfare. As the UK has already demonstrated against Daesh in the Middle East, it can be a vital tool to keep people in the UK and overseas safe from virtual and physical threats. The military continues to develop its cyber capabilities as part of the £1.9 billion investment into the National Cyber Security Strategy, focused on boosting the UK's cyber security. Recent UK innovations have included the creation of the National Cyber Security Centre which brings together government, intelligence agencies and the private sector into one organisation. The state-of-the-art Defence Cyber School, which marked its first anniversary in March this year, is also training the next generation of cyber experts. The Defence Secretary will today expand that commitment, announcing £22 million in funding to stand up new Army cyber operations centres across the UK. Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt will say: We know all about the dangers. Whether the attacks come from Russia, China or North Korea. Whether they come from hacktivists, criminals or extremists. Whether its malware or fake news. Cyber can bring down our national infrastructure and undermine our democracy. It's time to pay more than lip service to cyber. We must convince our adversaries their advances simply aren't worth the cost. Cyber enemies think they can act with impunity. We must show them they can't. That we are ready to respond at a time and place of our choosing in any domain, not just the virtual world. We need coherent cyber offense as well as defence. So today I can announce we will be investing £22m to create new cyber operations centres. Putting the Army at the forefront of information warfare, the centres will draw together cyber capability from a range of sources – including both national intelligence and open source data – to give the Army the competitive edge across all environments. The cyber centres will provide the Army with 24/7 information and analysis, dispel misinformation and give the UK Armed Forces and our allies the upper hand on emerging digital threats. The centres are likely to be used to support overseas operations, humanitarian missions, and efforts to protect UK digital communications on home soil. The centres will work with existing Army capabilities, such as 77 Brigade – a modern and information-focused British Army unit – but will also have regular contact with joint and other national security organisations. Major General Tom Copinger-Symes, General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command: These new cyber centres will allow the Army and Defence to transform the way we use data, at speed, so that we can compete with our adversaries in a way fit for the 21st Century. Combining artificial intelligence with our military analysts will help us better understand threats and exploit opportunities, in turn enabling us to get the truth out much more rapidly, quashing the noise of disinformation from our enemies. While details on locations are yet to be confirmed, building in support of the centres is due to begin next year, with operations expected to commence in the early 2020s. The MOD is embracing transformation at an ever-faster rate and investments in truly high-tech innovation, such as in the provision of cutting-edge cyber centres, that will develop the Armed Forces of the future. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cyber-innovation-at-the-forefront-of-uks-approach-to-modern-warfare

(B2) L'Union européenne doit reconsidérer sa relation avec les Etats-Unis et l'OTAN pour faire émerger une stratégie de défense européenne. C'est ce qu'a défendu Jolyon Howorth, professeur émérite à la Harvard Kennedy School, durant les seconds entretiens européens de la défense à Paris jeudi (16 mai) Face à la création d'une armée européenne, trois obstacles... Les Américains s'inquiètent des conséquences d'une défense européenne pour leur leadership. Les Britanniques jouent l'ambivalence pour ne pas froisser les États-Unis. Les Européens peinent à se mettre d'accord sur la marche à suivre. Trois obstacles qui ont fait « échouer » les deux premières tentatives de forger une armée européenne, la Communauté Européenne de Défense (CED) dans les années 1950 et la première version de la politique de défense (la PESD ou politique européenne de sécurité et de défense) à la fin des années 1990 début 2000, et qui continuent à freiner les nouvelles initiatives. Les Américains, d'accord sur le principe d'une défense européenne Les Américains, souvent critiqués pour le retard que prennent les initiatives européennes en matière de défense, n'étaient pas toujours défavorables à l'idée et ne s'y « opposent pas par principe, au contraire ». Mais une question les taraude, celle des « conséquences pour le leadership de l'Alliance, voire pour son avenir » si une défense européenne crédible devait se former. D'où l'ambivalence des États-Unis sur cette idée que Eisenhower regardait pourtant en 1951 comme un des objectifs de l'Alliance, idée légitimée par les multiples injonctions américaines à augmenter les budgets européens de défense. Cette position confuse s'inscrit dans le débat existentiel qu'est la définition de la prochaine « grand strategyaméricaine », explique Jolyon Howorth. ... mais des inquiétudes subsistent sur leur leadership au sein de l'Alliance Après « quarante ans de leadership incontesté des alliés européens », le courant « liberal hegemon » qui définit la politique des Etats-Unis depuis longtemps se voit contester par les partisans de « l'offshore balancing ». Lesquels prônent un repli américain sur « un nombre fort limité de bases stratégiques » et un « transfert aux Européens de la responsabilité principale de leur propre sécurité ». La question reste ouverte alors que Donald Trump « semble s'y associer », sans toutefois « comprendre un instant le sens profond de ce débat stratégique ». Les Britanniques, réfractaires à toute intégration européenne Les Britanniques ont été, eux, « beaucoup plus réfractaires que les Américains au projet dès le début ». Et ils continueront de « freiner l'avancée des Européens vers une autonomie stratégique », rendant l'axe Paris-Berlin « d'autant plus urgent ». La vision britannique est celle d'une sécurité européenne b'tie sur une « clé de voûte » : l'OTAN. Les Européens étant simplement relégués à un rôle « complémentaire ». C'est pourquoi « Londres a bloqué toute avancée » qui aurait pu mener à une armée européenne tout en réclamant pourtant « à cor et à cri » un « engagement inconditionnel » à la sécurité européenne, selon le professeur, lui-même British. Pourtant fermement soutenue par Winston Churchill dès le début, la défense européenne a vite inquiété outre-Manche, le Royaume-Uni anxieux de « préserver le partenariat avec les États-Unis ». Le pays avait par exemple refusé la CED dès 1953, craignant que « le succès de l'armée européenne n'entraîne le désengagement américain ». Les Européens indécis et divisés Mais au final, les Européens sont leurs propres ennemis. Les divisions nationales sur la manière de construire l'Europe persistent et se retrouvent, « de façon profonde, au sein des familles politiques ». Mais avec le nouveau contexte géostratégique, de plus en plus complexe et multidimensionnel, « l'Union européenne ne peut plus se permettre le luxe de ses divisions internes ». Il faut repenser notre stratégie pour « passer de l'Europe de la défense, à la défense de l'Europe ». Ces divisions cristallisent l'opposition entre « l'intégrationnisme » prôné par Monnet et « l'intergouvernementalisme », selon le modèle gaullien. La politique de sécurité et de défense commune (PSDC) a, depuis Saint-Malo, et la déclaration franco-britannique de 1998, été développée dans le cadre de ce dernier, un modèle « de plus en plus mis en question ». Les dernières évolutions en matière de défense nous placent à nouveau « face à la confrontation de ces deux méthodologies contradictoires ». Trois défis majeurs aujourd'hui Définir une stratégie européenne propre Il faut développer une « grand strategy » à l'européenne martèle Jolyon Howorth. L'un des problèmes fondamentaux de la première version de la PSDC fut son « manque d'ambition » par « crainte de froisser » les Américains. Pourtant, « la seule ambition qui vaille pour l'Union européenne est d'assumer sa propre défense collective ». Et donc d'arrêter de penser qu'il est impossible pour l'Europe de se défendre sans le soutien américain. Et il faut « pouvoir s'adapter à la nouvelle donne planétaire ». « Après Trump, il n'y aura pas de retour à la case départ ». À quel prix « L'armée européenne ne s'achètera pas parmi les soldes de chez Tati ». Les États membres de l'OTAN ont dépensé « 264 milliards de dollars » sur les questions de défense en 2018. Si tous les pays avaient atteint l'objectif fixé par l'OTAN de 2% du PIB, cela aurait majoré la somme de « près de 102 milliards de dollars ». Mais une armée européenne autonome pourrait représenter jusqu'à « 467 milliards de dollars supplémentaires » rappelle l'universitaire, se basant sur une étude récente du International Institute for Security Studies (IISS) qui fait l'hypothèse d'un retrait américain d'Europe. Un engagement conséquent donc. Et avec qui ? Si beaucoup pensent que l'armée européenne sera forgée « à l'extérieur de l'OTAN, sans les Américains, voire contre », Jolyon Howorth n'en est pas persuadé. Une armée européenne ne doit pas être construite contre les Américains, mais « en bonne intelligence avec eux ». Car l'Alliance ne va pas se dissoudre de sitôt. Et elle peut avoir un rôle moteur alors qu'il existe actuellement « quatre-vingt projets de coopération » entre l'OTAN et l'UE, et que les Américains « n'arrêtent pas de nous demander des efforts accrus, de nous encourager à assumer le leadership stratégique dans notre voisinage ». Il faudrait plutôt revenir au scénario initial : une alliance « rééquilibrée » dans laquelle les Européens « prennent graduellement la part du lion » et les Américains jouent « le rôle de facilitateurs ». Pour former une alliance qui ne soit pas « structurée par la dépendance, encore moins par la servitude ». (Coline Traverson st.) https://www.bruxelles2.eu/2019/05/23/entretiens-europeens-de-la-defense-2019-une-grand-strategy-pour-leurope-j-howorth/

By BARRY ROSENBERG Can artificial intelligence, machine learning, and agile development help clear the massive backlog? WASHINGTON: The Pentagon hopes that a newly announced $75 million, 24-month contract will clear up its chronically backlogged security clearance system. The plan: develop prototype software that uses artificial intelligence to analyze routine data instead of humans running laborious background checks, freeing investigators to concentrate on the genuinely critical cases. How big is the mess? Hundreds of thousands of would-be federal employees and defense contractors wait an average of 221 days for a Secret clearance and 534 days for a Top Secret clearance, according to the National Background Investigations Bureau. The clearance backlog makes a day in line at the DMV look fast. It's a problem that costs the government millions of dollars and, in many ways, wastes the talent of countless individuals who give up and seek employment elsewhere. “The bottom line is we need to get cleared people to work in their job faster; we're not doing that job well,” said Terry Carpenter, the Program Executive Officer for the National Background Investigation Service, part of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). “Whether you're in an agency, the federal government, or an industry partner .... we need to make sure those companies and agencies can get those people to work because they have their clearance.” The DoD's Defense Security Service (DSS), which runs the clearance process, and DISA, which runs much of the military's networks, jointly awarded the contract to Perspecta Enterprise Solutions of Herndon, VA, using the Other Transaction Authority process to bypass much of the traditional acquisition bureaucracy. Perspecta was formed in 2018 through the merger of the public sector business of DXC Technology, Vencore, and KeyPoint Government Solutions. Over the next 24 months, Perspecta will create a prototype “architecture” that can be scaled up to a full-sized security-check system, with two main features: Data ingestion and analytics using techniques like machine learning and natural language processing, which are both subsets of artificial intelligence; and A “software factory” to develop new vetting capabilities as needed. This will employ a software methodology called DevSecOps (Development-Security-Operations) that quickly delivers functionality that is then constantly improved through user feedback, while injecting security into all interactive phases of development, so usable software is delivered in weeks instead of months or years. Software development will be guided by a framework known as SAFe, which is an online knowledge base made available by an organization called Scaled Agile. The “factory” will continually develop, test, secure, and deploy new software in a government-run cloud, using what's called continuous authority to operate so its products can be used immediately, without a laborious certification process. The new architecture is being designed to transform three mission areas in the clearance process: initiation, investigation, and adjudication. Explained Carpenter: “There are several activities around the initiation part. [For example], you're a new employee coming in or a transfer coming in from a different agency. The initiation process engages with the subject and collects their information in a standard form that feeds the process. Then there's the investigation process. Under the old process, a full investigative package was prepared, which took a lot of time and labor. That was handed over for adjudication to an appropriate business function with the credentials to do the adjudication, and they would make the decision on that clearance. “What we are looking at today is continuous vetting as a way to use data to minimize the amount of labor force that has to knock on doors to get information. The more we can get done with data, the more effective we are at delivering the capability of a clearance, the more confidence we have in it, and the less it costs.” Data analytics will also facilitate continuous vetting throughout the work life of cleared individuals to address possible insider threats. “With this data-driven model, we can get into a continuous evaluation model rather than the current model, which is periodic investigation that looks at somebody every 5 or 10 years,” said Patricia Stokes, director, Defense Vetting Service, DSS. “We can utilize technology available today to initiate processes and capabilities to (gather) information on a real-time basis (to determine) your need for access and your risk.” https://breakingdefense.com/2019/05/dod-awards-contract-to-break-its-security-clearance-logjam