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La DGA a annoncé une commande de trois avions de guet aérien embarqué E-2D Hawkeye à destination de la Marine Nationale. Ils viendront embarquer sur le PANG. Foreign Military Sale. Le Ministère des Armées a rapporté le 20 novembre que la Marine serait prochainement dotée d'avions de guet aérien embarqué E-2D Hawkeye, en remplacement des E-2C actuellement en service. Ce contrat, qui prend la forme d'une FMS, a été formalisé le 4 novembre entre les armées françaises et le gouvernement américain. Prévu depuis plusieurs années, cette commande était inscrite au sein de la LPM 2019-2025 et fait suite à une longue réflexion menée par la Marine nationale, accompagnée par la DGA. Les premières livraisons sont attendues dès 2028. Le retrait du service des E-2C sera corrélé à l'arrivée des E-2D. Moderniser la flotte. Les E-2D Hawkeye, de Northrop Grumman, viendront moderniser la flotte d'aéronefs de la Marine nationale et permettront de remplacer les E-2C Kawkeye, actuellement en service. De par les développements technologiques apportés par ce nouvel appareil, le MinArm parle de « saut de génération ». « Son radar à antenne active, son cockpit et ses liaisons de données sont notamment améliorées et il peut également être ravitaillé en vol », souligne ainsi le Ministère des Armées. Les E-2D seront dotés du radar AN/APY-9 à antenne électronique active, une technologie permettant d'accroître les capacités de détection de l'appareil. Par ailleurs, afin de procéder à une évaluation de la situation maritime, les E-2D emporteront un calculateur, directement développé en France par le SIAé. Enfin, la Marine nationale nous précise que « le système de communication est entièrement modernisé, ainsi que le système de pilotage avec glass-cockpit ». Porte-avions. Tout comme les E-2C qu'ils viendront remplacer, les E-2D Hawkeye seront opérés par la flottille 4F, depuis la base aéronautique navale de Lann-Bihoué. Et tout comme leurs prédécesseurs ils pourront être embarqués sur le porte-avions Charles de Gaulle ainsi que sur le PANG (porte-avions de nouvelle génération). Les travaux d'intégration ont débuté dans ce sens. « Leurs caractéristiques sont d'ores et déjà prises en compte dans la conception du futur porte-avions français. Ils seront donc nativement compatibles », nous explique la Marine, interrogée à ce sujet. MCO. Outre l'acquisition des trois E-2D Hawkeye, la FMS passée avec le gouvernement américain et Northrop Grumman comprend un volet soutien. L'industriel américain sera ainsi en charge de la maintenance des appareils sur les deux premières années. Par la suite, la DMAé prendra le relai et notifiera un nouveau contrat de soutien. Le SIAé s'occupera alors de la cellule et des équipements depuis Cuers et des moteurs depuis Bordeaux. Le montant total du contrat s'élève à 1,850 Md€. Il inclut ainsi « l'acquisition des trois E-2D Francisés, un système d'entraînement et un système de soutien, ainsi que le soutien sur deux années », nous détaille la Marine. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/e-2d-hawkeye-venir-moderniser-les-moyens-de-la-marine-nationale-23924

New radar system can also be upgraded to work with ballistic missile defence CBC News · Posted: Dec 01, 2020 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: December 1 The Canadian navy's new frigates will get a cutting-edge radar system that has never before been installed on a warship — a recent decision that quietly ended a heated debate within the $60 billion warship program. The Lockheed Martin-built AN/SPY-7 radar will be installed on the new warships despite a furious back-room lobbying campaign by elements in the defence industry to convince DND to take a pass on the new system. It was a critical decision — one on which the federal government has been silent, apart from a few scattered social media posts, despite repeatedly promising to be more open and transparent about the multi-billion-dollar decisions it makes on shipbuilding. The choice of a radar system for the frigates has important implications for the military, as well as for the taxpayers who will foot the bill for Ottawa's $60 billion plan to build 15 new surface combat ships for the navy. The BMD option It also has significant political ramifications because Lockheed Martin's AN/SPY-7 radar is easy to upgrade to a ballistic missile defence system — a defence program successive Canadian governments have resisted joining. The contract to install the radar system on the new frigates was awarded in September by the warship's prime contractor, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., and acknowledged publicly by Lockheed Martin Canada earlier this month. Japan purchased a land-based version of the radar to serve as an early warning system for North Korean ballistic missile launches. That plan was rolled back earlier this year in response to fears that the missile batteries — located near the radar installations — would pose a hazard to densely-populated surrounding areas. At the moment, Canada and Spain are the only two countries planning to put the SPY-7 on their warships, although Japan has now also signalled it might equip some of its new warships with the technology. For more than three decades, Canadian governments of both political stripes have turned down U.S. overtures to join its ballistic missile defence (BMD) network. The issue became a diplomatic lightning rod the last time it was discussed over 15 years ago. The new frigates, including their radar systems, are being designed with BMD in mind in case a future government decides to get Canada involved. The potential for a new political brawl over BMD worries leading defence expert Dave Perry less than the technical and budget issues related to the federal government's choice of radar system. New system unproven, says expert In a statement, the Department of National Defence insisted that the cost of adapting the radar to the Canadian frigate design "will be covered as part of the ($140 million) long-lead contract" signed with Irving Shipbuilding in early 2019, after Lockheed Martin was selected to design the new ships. There is another concern, though. The fact that the AN/SPY-7 "has not been marinized and deployed on a ship at sea is significant," said Perry, a defence procurement expert and vice president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. "It means on the spectrum of developmental production, it is far closer to the purely developmental end of the spectrum than something that is deployed and has been proven on a couple of different navies around the world," he said. Lockheed Martin officials dispute that assessment, saying all of the components have been used on warships in one way or another, including the cabinets used to house the electronics. "The SPY-7 radar is not in development. It was designed for use as a maritime radar and is based on mature technology that has been thoroughly tested and is being adapted and scaled for a variety of customers in both land-based and at-sea applications," said Gary Fudge, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Canada Rotary and Mission Systems. The company officials concede it will take design work to integrate the system into the new Canadian frigates, but insist that would be true of any other new radar system. There are still risks, Perry said. Canada's struggles with new technology "Canada has a lot of problems bringing development technology into service," he said, pointing to auditor general reports on the procurement fiasco involving the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter and the 16-year quest to replace the air force's fixed-wing search plane. "Part of the problem is making sure you understand what it is you actually are buying," Perry added. "So if you are structuring a process to buy something off-the-shelf, you can buy something off-the-shelf. But we generally don't do that." DND said the AN/SPY-7 was pitched as part of Lockheed Martin's bid to design and manage the frigate program, and the navy needs the most up-to-date technology in warships that will be in service for decades. The system represents the "latest generation radar, with capability that surpasses other units fielded today," said DND spokesperson Jessica Lamirande in a media statement. Canada's new frigates could take part in ballistic missile defence — if Ottawa says yes Industry briefing questions Ottawa's choice of guns, defence systems for new frigates PBO pushes up cost estimate for Canada's frigate build by $8 billion DND was targeted by a furious behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign aimed at getting it to drop Lockheed Martin's radar system. An unsolicited defence industry slide deck presentation — obtained and published last year by CBC News — made the rounds within the government and landed on the desks of senior officials and military commanders. It described the AN/SPY-7 as "unproven technology" that will be "costly to support." Lockheed Martin officials pushed back against that assertion recently, saying that the new system will be easier to maintain, relies on existing components and — importantly — doesn't have to be switched off for maintenance work. Lockheed Martin officials were less clear on whether the overall system has yet to be fully certified for use on warships at sea. "SPY-7 technology has been declared Technical Readiness Level 7 by the U.S. government, meaning it has been tested in an operationally relevant environment," said Fudge. "SPY-7 for CSC takes advantage of investments across multiple shore and sea based programs as well as internal funding for its development and testing. Canada has agreed to pay for the CSC-specific requirements and integration of SPY-7 into the CSC platform, which is required for any radar selected." https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/frigate-radar-lockheed-martin-1.5822606

P-3 Aircrew Training is set to Commence in December ESG Aerosystems is proud to be awarded a $ 64.5 M U.S. Navy Contract for which MHD-ROCKLAND is excited to be the sole-source aircraft Subcontractor. Starke, Fla., November 26th, 2020 – MHD-ROCKLAND Inc. and ESG Aerosystems, announce that ESG Aerosystems has been awarded a U.S Navy Contract valued at $64.5 million, and MHD-ROCKLAND will act as the sole-source aircraft subcontractor. As per the scope of this contract ESG Aerosystems is mandated to develop a curriculum and facilitate training for P-3 aircrew positions including co-pilots, patrol plane commanders, instructor pilots, flight engineers, instructor flight engineers, and flight currency training. This is to support Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity's (NETSAFA) applicable field units and other program offices and stakeholders. The achievement is 100% funded by Federal Republic of Germany funds under the Foreign Military Sales Program to secure the operational readiness of the German Navy P-3C Aircrew. The training is set to start in December 2020 and takes place at the ESG Aerosystems training facility within the MHD-ROCKLAND Flight Ops facilities located at Keystone Heights Airport Fla. Home to five MHD-ROCKLAND P-3 aircraft, the facility is well-equipped to host students and provide hands-on mission ready training. The duration of the training program varies with the type of aircrew position and will include both simulator and live flight training. “We are extremely excited to partner with ESG Aerosystems to deliver comprehensive training solutions for the enduring P-3 Orion platform” said Josh Miller, President, MHD-ROCKLAND. “With over 40 years of experience in legacy aircraft sustainment, our team is ready to add value and offer this unique and essen-tial service to global P-3 fleet operators who require it” he added. “We are delighted to partner with MHD-ROCKLAND,” stated Matthias Weerts, President, ESG Aerosystems, and continued, “We are looking forward to starting the training for the German Navy and then to serving the global P-3 community by delivering efficient, effective, and tailored training to sustain this incredible platform and community.” The new P-3 aircrew training program spearheaded by ESG Aerosystems and MHD-ROCKLAND fills in the gap left by the closure of VP-30. The global P-3 Orion network is extremely resilient and will continue flying their P-3 Orion fleet-many of them well into the 2030's. We are ready to support the P-3 Orion customers including Foreign Military partners and U.S. Government agencies, by providing an extensive program which perfectly matches each operator's needs and requirements. About MHD-ROCKLAND With offices in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, MHD-ROCKLAND Inc. is a privately-held aero-space company that has, for close to 40 years, supplied high-caliber services, training and support to fixed-wing aircraft for military aircraft operators around the globe, including manufacturer support through OEM and other channel partners as well as repair and overhaul within its own facilities. With more than 250,000 square feet of warehouse facilities, the company has one of the largest privately-owned P-3 and C-130 inventories in the world. It's Flight Ops Unit located in Keystone Heights, Fla. is home to five P-3 Orions and four L-188 Electras. For further infor-mation, visit mhdrockland.com. Media Contact: Amna Chishty, Marketing Communications Phone: + 1 (514) 453 1632 Ext: 1293 amna.chishty@mhdrockland.com About ESG Aerosystems ESG Aerosystems Inc. is a 100% subsidiary of the German privately owned company ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, which is one of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) most trusted and proven partners. ESG was founded in 1967 and established itself as an independent service provider, developing, integrating and operating complex, security relevant electronic and IT systems for the military, public authorities and companies. ESG is a certified aviation company for aircraft for the Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces) and an aviation engineering company in line with EASA Part 21J, EASA Part 21G and EASA Part 145. To provide excellent P-3 pilot training, ESG Aerosystems Inc. has teamed up with MHD-ROCKLAND, a world class supplier in fixed wing aircraft services and support. Media Contact: William Bushman Phone: (904) 601-9422 William.bushman@esg-aerosystems.com www.esg-aerosystems.com Press release

Jen DiMascio November 30, 2020 What does the current Pentagon leadership team want to achieve with the time it has remaining before the Biden administration takes office in January? Aviation Week Executive Editor for Defense and Space Jen DiMascio answers: Pentagon Editor Lee Hudson put this question to Ellen Lord, the Pentagon's acquisition chief, during the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Ascend conference on Nov. 18. According to Lord, she is focused on protecting the supply chain and helping the acquisition system adapt to acquire software. Lord is working to protect the supply chain in two primary ways: • One is to protect companies critical to national technologies from investment by adversaries. • The other is to protect the supply of rare metals used to make microelectronics. The Pentagon has been working with the U.S. government's Committee on Foreign Investment, which reviews foreign transactions in the U.S. for national-security implications to “block or undo a lot of transactions” in which adversaries are buying critical U.S. technologies or real estate adjacent to military installations, Lord says. Rather, the Pentagon is trying to partner with companies that can help the U.S. increase its technological and economic security. To that end, the Defense Department is building an electronic marketplace that Lord compares to a dating app—to match clean investors with companies building defense technologies. “We've practiced this in some different one-off events,” Lord says, “but we are literally just going through federal paperwork right now to launch this in December.” A related matter is lessening the U.S. dependence on countries like China for rare minerals such as those used in the microelectronics industry. “COVID has shown us that we cannot have dependencies on non-allies and partners and makes sure that we get the supplies we need when we need them,” Lord says. The Pentagon has a real need for radiation-hardened micro-electronics for its space-industrial base and nuclear enterprise. “Although we developed over 50% of the intellectual property around micro-electronics domestically, the bulk of manufacturing and almost all packaging and testing are conducted offshore. That just does not lead us in a place where we have a secure and resilient microelectronics industrial base,” she explains. And finally, Lord aims to continue to roll out tools for the acquisition workforce to incorporate iterative software development into the way it works. “We know that, if you do software correctly, it's a constant iteration of development, production and sustainment,” she adds. “We don't want to be constrained by different budgets and get into too much [of an] administrative hurdle. We've tried to be very innovative on the business side.” https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/what-do-pentagon-leaders-aim-achieve-inauguration-day

NAVY Balfour Beatty Construction LLC, Dallas, Texas (N62473-21-D-1202); B.L. Harbert International LLC, Birmingham, Alabama (N62473-21-D-1203); Clark Construction Group – California LP, Irvine, California (N62473-21-D-1204); ECC Infrastructure LLC, Burlingame, California (N62473-21-D-1205); Harper Construction Co. Inc., San Diego, California (N62473-21-D-1206); Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California (N62473-21-D-1207); Korte Construction Co., doing business as The Korte Co., St. Louis, Missouri (N62473-21-D-1208); M. A. Mortenson Co., doing business as M.A. Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis, Minnesota (N62473-21-D-1209); R. A. Burch Construction Co. Inc.,* Ramona, California (N62473-21-D-1210); RQ Construction LLC, Carlsbad, California (N62473-21-D-1211); Sundt Construction Inc., Tempe, Arizona (N62473-21-D-1212); Walsh Federal LLC, Chicago, Illinois (N62473-21-D-1213); Webcor Construction LP, doing business as Webcor Builders, Alameda, California (N62473-21-D-1214); and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Maryland (N62473-21-D-1215), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award construction contract for new construction, repair and renovation of commercial and institutional facilities at various government installations located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The maximum dollar value including the base period and one option period for all fourteen contracts combined is $2,500,000,000. The work to be performed provides for new construction, repair and renovation within the North American Industry Classification System code 236220, by design-build or design-bid-build, of commercial and institutional facilities. Types of projects may include, but are not limited to, airport buildings, office/administrative buildings, communications facilities, vehicle maintenance facilities, armories, parking garages, barracks facilities, prison facilities, fire stations, religious buildings, hotels, dining facilities, hospital/medical facilities, warehouse facilities, school facilities and/or retail facilities. No task orders are being issued at this time. All work on these contracts will be performed at various government installations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of operations including, but not limited to, California (90%); Arizona (6%); Nevada (1%); Utah (1%); Colorado (1%); and New Mexico (1%). The terms of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of November 2025. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (O&M) (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $70,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); O&M (Navy); O&M (Marine Corps); and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured as a full and open unrestricted procurement with two reserves for highly qualified small businesses via the beta.sam.gov contract opportunities website with 28 proposals received. The reserves were met by award to Heffler Contracting Group and R. A. Burch Construction Co., Inc. These fourteen contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. NAVFAC Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a $642,000,000 not-to-exceed, cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target undefinitized contract. This contract provides for the procurement of performance-based logistics activities including maintenance of support equipment, common program activities, unique and common base recurring sustainment, repair of repairables, field service representatives, common replenishment spares, conventional take-off and landing/carrier variant F135 unique maintenance services and short take-off and landing F135 unique services in support of the F-35 Lightning II F135 propulsion system for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense participants and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (73%); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (18%); Camari, Italy (3%); Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (2%); Edwards AFB, California (1%); Hill AFB, Utah (1%); Luke AFB, Arizona (1%); and Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station, South Carolina (1%), and is expected to be completed in November 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $100,999,236; fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $87,738,708; fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,757,554; and fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Air National Guard) funds in the amount of $10,991,000 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 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 (N00019-21-C-0011). Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $397,611,585 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-2114 for Naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pennsylvania (68%); and Schenectady, New York (32%). Fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $397,611,585 will be obligated at time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. A2 JV,* Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded an $84,776,227 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides support services for the Airborne Systems Integration Division in the design, development and demonstration of sensor capabilities for a variety of platforms, manned and unmanned, airborne, shipborne, and fixed mobile ground stations for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Maryland (44%); Saint Inigoes, Maryland (35%); Patuxent River, Maryland (15%); Bridgewater, Virginia (1%); California, Maryland (1%); Herndon, Virginia (1%); Huntsville, Alabama (1%); Warminster, Pennsylvania (1%); Hollywood, Maryland (0.5%); and Virginia Beach, Virginia (0.5%), and is expected to be completed in December 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; four offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-21-D-0009). Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $62,937,212 modification (P00007) to cost-plus-fixed-fee order N00019-20-F-0571 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0008. This modification exercises an option to provide non-recurring and recurring labor associated with aircraft modification efforts. Non-recurring labor includes the creation of design data to release any new, applicable part numbers, generation of the engineering change proposal to authorize changes to engineering, updating documentation, update and release time compliance technical directives and coordinating the change throughout the change request release process. Recurring labor includes project management, planning, modification execution support, and kit management in support of the F-35 program for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $26,370,691; fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,004,933; non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $12,637,793; and FMS in the amount of $7,923,795 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. (Awarded Nov. 27, 2020) Collins Engineers Inc., Chicago, Illinois, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $30,000,000 for multi-discipline architect-engineering services in support of small waterfront projects primarily in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia in the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic (MIDLANT) area of operations (AO). The work to be performed provides for comprehensive architect-engineering services for waterfront planning, design, construction, evaluation of new construction, and renovation projects located primarily within the NAVFAC MIDLANT AO, and the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, but may also include work worldwide. An initial task order for the minimum guarantee is being awarded at $5,000. Work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within NAVFAC MIDLANT AO primarily in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date November 2025. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) 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 military construction (Navy); and O&M,N. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with five proposals received. NAVFAC MIDLANT, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-D-0007). Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order N69450-21-F-0504 at $25,899,995 under a global contingency service multiple award contract for base operating support services at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay. The work to be performed provides for base operating support services to include family housing, facility management, facility investment, custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management, other (swimming pools), grounds maintenance and landscaping, utilities management, electrical, wastewater, water and base support vehicles and equipment. The task order also contains one unexercised four-month option period and one unexercised two-month option period, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative task order value to $45,849,372. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is expected to be completed by November 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (O&M) (Navy); fiscal 2021 Defense Health Program; fiscal 2021 O&M (Army); and fiscal 2021 O&M (defense agencies) in the amount of $21,394,860 for recurring work will be obligated on individual modifications issued during the base period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N62742-16-D-3552). SOLUTE Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded a $15,498,167 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-with-no fee contract to provide support for an automated digital network system to include engineering and programmatic services for communications systems and associated certification and information assurance for current operations, planned upgrades and developments. This two-year contract includes four two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the overall potential value of this contract to an estimated $83,665,786. Work will be performed in the continental U.S.: California (90%); Hawaii (2%); Charleston, South Carolina (2%); Norfolk, Virginia (2%); and outside the continental U.S.: Bahrain (2%); and Italy (2%). The period of performance of the base award is from Nov. 30, 2020, through Nov. 29, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Nov. 29, 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using other procurement (Navy); and operation and maintenance (Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps). This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-19-R-0035, published on the beta.sam.gov website. Six offers were received and one was selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-21-D-0010). CAE USA Inc., Tampa, Florida, is awarded an $11,328,529 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract provides for Navy T-44C ProLine 21 aircraft pilot training, to include operation and curriculum development and instruction in support of the Chief of Naval Aviation Training. Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, Texas, and is expected to be completed in April 2027. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,029,696 will be obligated at time of award, all 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 Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61340-21-C-0005). IAP Worldwide Services Inc., Cape Canaveral, Florida, is awarded a $10,984,976 modification (P00070) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract N00019-15-C-0120. This modification increases the contract value and provides additional funding for inventory replenishment, operational and depot spare parts in support of the E-6B Mercury airborne command post take charge and move out aircraft. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (70%); Patuxent River, Maryland (10%); Bellevue, Nebraska (10%); and Fairfield, California (10%), and is expected to be completed in January 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,984,976 will be obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $9,606,247 modification (P00003) to firm-fixed-price order N00019-20-F-0283 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001. This modification exercises an option to provide follow-on integrated logistics and engineering services in support of the Harpoon/Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response missile system and Harpoon Launch system for the Navy and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (92%); St. Louis, Missouri (5%); and Yorktown, Virginia (3%), and is expected to be completed in February 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,589,823; and FMS funds in the amount of $7,016,424 will be obligated at time of award; $2,589,823 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded a $9,326,667 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of a firm-fixed-price contract for the underground utility realignment on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH). The work to be performed provides for the installation of a 42-inch potable water transmission main from the Waiawa pump station, located at the northern end of Waihona Street, to the existing 42-inch water main near the intersection of Lehua Avenue and Second Street. The new pipe will replace the existing 42-inch transmission main which has reached the end of its useful life. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $60,045,058. Work will be performed in Pearl City, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by June 2022. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy Reserve) contract funds in the amount of $9,326,667 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Hawaii, JBPHH, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-19-C-1319). AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corp., Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $1,400,000,000 indefinite-delivery requirements contract under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for C-130J aircraft sustainment support. The ordering period for this award is 10 years from contract award. Work will mainly be performed in the host nation's country. Services include program management support, spares, supply support services, support equipment, diminishing manufacturing sources, sustaining engineering services, sustaining engineering/technical services, field services representatives, logistics service representatives, technical order updates, technical order print and distribution, country standard time compliance technical orders and depot maintenance. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and is 100% FMS with no funds being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8553‐21‐D‐0001). L3 Communications Integrated Systems, Waco, Texas, has been awarded an estimated $667,877,734 firm-fixed-price, time-and-material, cost-reimbursement, no-fee and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for C-130H unscheduled depot-level maintenance/programmed depot maintenance in support of all C-130 variants and C-130J mid-cycle paint in support of C-130J variants. Work will be performed in Waco, Texas, and is expected to be completed Nov. 29, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive full and open source selection acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $26,066,766 are being obligated on first task order. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8504-21-D-0001). Solution One Industries Inc., Killeen, Texas, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $70,622,375 firm-fixed-price contract for expeditionary/contingency medical material services. This contract provides critical logistical support personnel for routine staffing at various locations for assemblage packaging of war reserve materiel, inspection and audits and provides medical logistical support personnel for temporary surge in workload for contingency, humanitarian and base exercises. This contract supports 90 Air Force sites; 93 Air National Guard sites, four Army sites; and an undisclosed number if sites in support of the JANUS project. Work will be performed in Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly, Texas, and is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2026. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $798,899 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8003-21-C-0004). Rise8 Inc., Tampa, Florida, has been awarded a $13,928,215 firm-fixed-price contract to provide the necessary expertise, support and structure to enhance and accelerate the management and product delivery of the Advanced Battle Management System category five applications. Work will be performed in Tampa, Florida, and is expected to be completed Nov. 30, 2024. The award includes a base year plus three option years. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,483,739 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8612-21-C-5004). ARMY Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded an $888,422,571 modification (P00451) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 to exercise options (1,001 trailers; 2,679 vehicles; and 6,725 kits) for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Family of Vehicles for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019, 2020 and 2021 other procurement (Army); 2021 procurement (Marine Corps); 2020 and 2021 procurement (Air Force); and 2021 procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $888,422,571 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Dyncorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $52,301,773 modification (P00106) to contract W58RGZ-19-C-0025 for support of various Army Model Design Series aircraft and equipment in support of deployed units. Work will be performed in the U.S., Afghanistan, Kosovo, Kuwait and Germany, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales; 2019 aircraft procurement (Army); 2021 aircraft procurement (Army); and 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $52,301,773 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Leidos Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, was awarded a $38,365,662 modification (P00037) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0058 for contractor logistics support services supporting the Afghan Air Force. Work will be performed in Kabul, Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2021. Fiscal 2021 Afghanistan Security Forces (Army) funds in the amount of $38,365,662 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AITC-Five Domains JV LLC,* Winter Springs, Florida, was awarded a $36,000,547 firm-fixed-price contract to provide train, advise, assist and mentor services to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2024. Fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $36,000,547 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-21-C-0006). Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $31,134,623 modification (P00008) to contract W15QKN-19-C-0017 to procure Excalibur Ib projectiles. Work will be performed in Healdsburg, California; Karlskoga, Sweden; East Camden, Arizona; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Southway, United Kingdom; Cincinnati, Ohio; Glenrothes, Scotland; Salt Lake City, Utah; Joplin, Missouri; Gilbert, Arizona; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; Santa Clara, California; Woodridge, Illinois; Trenton, Texas; Valencia, California; Cookstown, New Jersey; Tucson, Arizona; Phoenix, Arizona; Anniston, Alabama; Chino, California; McAlester, Oklahoma; and Farmington, New Mexico, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2023. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $31,134,623 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $23,037,824 modification (P00051) to contract W56HZV-20-C-0050 to exercise options to procure vehicles and kits for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Family of Vehicles for Brazil, Lithuania and Macedonia. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $23,037,824 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Missions Systems, Taunton, Massachusetts, was awarded a $19,150,909 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to support Warfighter Information Network Tactical Increment 2 equipment. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Taunton, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 22, 2023. Fiscal 2021 procurement (Defense-wide) funds in the amount of $8,867,882 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W15P7T-21-F-0021). Gen-Probe Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts, was awarded a $12,600,000 firm-fixed-price contract to acquire Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2 assays for use on the Hologic Panther Fusion system. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 20, 2021. The U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K04-20-D-0007). (Awarded Nov. 27, 2020) Global Ordnance LLC,* Sarasota, Florida (W52P1J-21-D-0001); High Noon Unlimited Inc.,* Holiday, Florida (W52P1J-21-D-0002); and Paramount Enterprises International Inc., Exton, Pennsylvania (W52P1J-21-D-0003), will compete for each order of the $12,450,000 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of trinitrotoluene. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2025. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Keller North America Inc., Frisco, Texas, was awarded a $10,500,000 modification (P00035) to contract W911WN-14-C-0002 to create a cutoff wall in the East Branch Dam. Work will be performed in Wilcox, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 10, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $10,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 27, 2020) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY The Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $9,179,442 firm-fixed-price delivery order SPRPA1-21-F-KF01 against five-year basic ordering agreement (SPE4A1-16-G-0005) for Advanced Threat Warning (ATW) processors. 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 two-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Illinois, with a Nov. 17, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Acme Aerospace Inc., Tempe, Arizona, has been awarded a maximum $8,887,656 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for batteries. 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 base contract with one, one-year option period. Location of performance is Arizona, with a Nov. 29, 2023, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-21-D-0054). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2430087/source/GovDelivery/

By: Mike Yeo MELBOURNE, Australia — Asia-Pacific nations are embracing the use of unmanned solutions for maritime missions, with several nations bordering the Pacific Ocean and with extensive littorals either operating or planning to acquire unmanned systems for use in the domain. The countries' reasons for doing so vary, from a desire to monitor the activities of China's increasingly powerful and assertive Navy to watching for pirates or transnational criminals. And the platforms chosen range from Australia's Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton ― a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV ― to the more modest Insitu ScanEagle, which the U.S. government has donated to a number of Southeast Asian nations. Taiwan watches China In early November the Trump administration approved four separate arms sales requests from Taiwan, including one for four General Atomics MQ-9B “weapons-ready” unmanned aircraft, for an estimated value of $600 million. The package also includes the Raytheon SeaVue maritime multirole patrol radars, suggesting Taiwan will acquire the SeaGuardian variant of the MQ-9B. The package also includes two mobile ground control stations, 14 embedded inertial navigation/global positioning systems, and Wescam MX-20 multispectral targeting systems. No weapons were included in the package, although the SeaGuardian can carry laser-guided bombs and Hellfire air-to-ground missiles. The drone's manufacturer, General Atomics, has displayed artwork showing the aircraft carrying sonobuoy dispensers and lightweight torpedoes. The U.S. Defense Security and Cooperation Agency, in announcing the potential deal, said the “proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by providing timely Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), target acquisition, and counter-land, counter-sea, and anti-submarine strike capabilities for its security and defense.” (DSCA announcements do not represent final sales. If there is no congressional objection, the customer can begin negotiating over price and quantities, which often change by the time a final sale is completed.) The SeaGuardian would certainly improve Taiwan's information-sharing capabilities with American forces, a critical consideration in the event of a potential invasion by China, which sees the self-governing island as a rogue province and has vowed to reincorporate it with the mainland, by force if necessary. Japan's Coast Guard operations U.S. ally Japan, which has warily eyed China's increasingly powerful military and paramilitary forces, has also shown interest in the SeaGuardian. General Atomics has been marketing the drone to Japan's Coast Guard, which is seeking an unmanned aerial system for the persistent monitoring of foreign vessels operating within Japan's vast exclusive economic zone, or EEZ. These foreign vessels include fishing boats suspected as being part of China's Maritime Militia or Coast Guard. These forces have frequently entered the contiguous zone of the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands that China also claims as its own. The SeaGuardian recently participated in a demonstration for the Japanese Coast Guard, which is the country's primary agency in charge of maritime safety during peacetime in its territorial waters and EEZ. When these bodies of water are combined, the area makes up the sixth largest of its kind in the world. According to the Coast Guard, the SeaGuardian flew a total of 150 hours over 13 flights during the demonstration, which showcased its various capabilities. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is also likely to seek a similar UAV to complement its manned aircraft and helicopters. The American footprint Meanwhile, in southeast Asia, several countries are receiving Insitu ScanEagle drones under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. The region faces challenges ranging from the ongoing dispute between six neighbors — including China — over the ownership of the potentially resource-rich Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, to longstanding issues over piracy. A Pentagon contract announced in 2019 saw almost $48 million awarded to Boeing subsidiary Insitu for 34 ScanEagles destined for the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which will take delivery of 12, eight, eight and six ScanEagles respectively by 2022. Deliveries have already started, with Malaysia receiving its first ScanEagle in May this year. It is unclear whether the funds for this contract came from the Pentagon's partner capacity-building program or the department's maritime security initiative for regional countries, announced in 2015. One potential application for unmanned aircraft in the maritime environment is search and rescue. Another U.S. Indo-Pacific ally, Australia, is developing artificial intelligence to assist in such missions. The algorithm is expected to help recognize life rafts and other vessels in the water. The Royal Australian Air Force has already run several test flights to trial its system, which is equipped with a sensor and processor built from commercial off-the-shelf components, such as GoPro cameras, that can potentially be fitted onto any manned and unmanned aircraft. During the trials, it was found the AI system performed better than humans in sighting and identifying objects in the water, such as life rafts. It was also able to recognize a black, upturned life raft 70 percent of the time — a notable outcome given the AI was trained to recognize the orange color of an upright life raft. https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2020/11/30/asia-pacific-militaries-bet-on-unmanned-systems-to-meet-regional-challenges/

Andrew Eversden WASHINGTON — Experts expect President-elect Joe Biden's administration to build on the Trump administration's investments in emerging technologies, while adding to research and development budgets in the Defense Department and across the federal government. The incoming Biden administration signaled throughout the campaign that basic research and development funding would be a priority. Biden wrote in Foreign Affairs he would make research and development a “cornerstone” of his presidency and pointed to the United States having the “greatest research universities in the world.” “It's basic research that's the area where you get the breakthroughs, and you need long-term, sustained investments to build up a strong S&T base,” said Martijn Rasser, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security's technology and national security program. Biden's R&D investment is an expected change from the Trump administration's approach, which experts have noted is narrower in scope and focused on harnessing private sector innovation. “The reality is the U.S. private sector has eclipsed the government, which in some ways that can be good,” said Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities. “The private sector can move with greater agility than the government, but the private sector may not be focusing on developing those exquisite technologies that we need for the war fighter.” Experts told C4ISRNET they expect the Biden administration to invest more money in basic research areas and to reform immigration laws that slowed the innovation pipeline from abroad to the United States. “China is closing in. They are spending every year more and more on R&D. They will soon, if not already, be spending as much as we are, if not more on R&D,” Langevin said told C4ISRNET. “Congress has woken up to this problem.” Basic research Perhaps the most likely area the Biden administration is poised to change is basic research and development funding. According to annual reports from the Congressional Research Service, the Trump administration consistently proposed top-line cuts to federal research and development in yearly budget proposals. This included the fiscal 2021 budget proposal's $13.8 billion decrease in defense R&D over the fiscal 2020 funding enacted by Congress. While the Pentagon has often been spared from such cuts, the Trump administration has also suggested trimming the defense-related basic research budget line — money that is a “substantial source of federal funds for university R&D,” according to the Congressional Research Service. The White House's FY21 defense-related basic research budget line asked for a reduction of about 11 percent from FY20 enacted, or a $284.2 million decrease. Biden's campaign platform calls for a four-year investment of $300 billion in R&D for new technology such as 5G, artificial intelligence, advanced materials and electric cars. “A nation speaks to and identifies its priorities by where it puts its research dollars, where it puts its money,” Langevin said. “Basic research has to be more of a priority, and that's something I'm going to encourage the Biden administration to focus on.” Michèle Flournoy, thought to be a leading contender to become the next secretary of defense, has also written about the need to increase investment in emerging technologies to counter China. In Foreign Affairs in June, Flournoy wrote that “resilient battlefield networks, artificial intelligence to support faster decision-making, fleets of unmanned systems, and hypersonic and long-range precision missiles” will “ultimately determine military success.” “Continuing to underinvest in these emerging capabilities will ultimately have dire costs for U.S. deterrence,” she wrote. Congressional and think tank reports published during the Trump administration's tenure called for an increase in basic research funding. A report from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's strategic tech and advanced research subpanel, led by Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., recommended bumping up federal research and development funding from 0.7 percent to 1.1 percent of gross domestic product, or an increase of $146 billion to $230 billion. A report by the Council on Foreign Relations from 2019 applauded the Trump administration's requested increases in funding for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, now funded at $3.46 billion, and the Defense Innovation Unit, for which the Trump administration requested $164 million. Laying the groundwork Initiatives started under the Trump administration did provide a groundwork on which the Biden administration can build. Under the Trump administration, DARPA kicked off a $1.5 billion microelectronics effort. In artificial intelligence, the administration launched the American AI Initiative. However, the Council on Foreign Relations criticized that effort because it had no funding and left agencies to prioritize artificial intelligence R&D spending without metrics, while also drawing funds from other research areas. The administration also made an $1.2 billion investment in quantum information science. “The Trump administration started bringing national attention and federal focus to many of these technologies,” said Lindsey Sheppard, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “I hope to see from the Biden administration perhaps a more cohesive guiding strategy for all of these pieces.” While the Trump administration has started many initiatives, the Council on Foreign Relations report also criticized the Trump administration's innovation strategy as an “incremental and limited approach,” writing that “action does not match the language officials use to describe the importance of AI to U.S. economic and national security.” While investment in future technology is important, defense budgets are expected to stay flat or decrease in the coming years. In her Foreign Affairs article, Flournoy acknowledge that the budgetary reality will require “tough tradeoffs.” Experts agree. “R&D programs are going to have to start being able to consistently, clearly articulate justifications for their budgets and the returns on investment,” Sheppard said. But the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for increased investments in research and development, Himes and Langevin argued. Both lawmakers identified biothreats as something they fear for the future. Biological threats are one area that DARPA — an organization Langevin pointed to as a major federal R&D success story — has triumphantly address. Commercial partners from DARPA's 3-year-old pandemic prevention platform program announced they developed a COVID-19 therapeutic using new techniques. “There's absolutely going to be a rethink,” Himes told C4ISRNET in an interview. “Are we correctly allocating money between the possibility that there could be a pandemic that kills a million Americans, versus the possibility that we're going to have to fight the Russians in the Fulda Gap? I think there's going be a lot of thinking about that. And there should be thinking about that because our money should go to those areas where there's the highest probability of dead Americans.” Immigration innovation Another way to improve American innovation in critical future technologies is by allowing highly skilled foreigners to work in the United States. Biden has hinted at changes that will affect American innovation through the expected reversals of President Donald Trump's immigration policies, which limited high-skilled workers from legally working in the country. The Biden administration's platform states it wants to reform the H-1B visa process that the Trump administration restricted, much to the chagrin of American tech companies, which use the program to hire top talent from abroad. Think tanks have recommended reforming the current U.S. immigration policy to attract international students, entrepreneurs and high-skilled workers because of the innovative ideas they provide. For example, an analysis by Georgetown University's Center for Security and Technology found that 68 percent of the United States' top 50 artificial intelligence companies were co-founded by immigrants, most of whom came the U.S. as students. “A lot of the Trump administration's policies — we're shooting ourselves in the foot making it so much harder for people to come here,” said Rasser, who wrote a report for CNAS last year calling for H1-B caps to be increased. “Because of the fact that people want to come to the United States to live and work, that's one of our greatest competitive advantages. It's something I expect the Biden administration to reverse.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/smr/transition/2020/11/29/how-the-biden-administration-is-expected-to-approach-tech-research-and-development/

November 27, 2020 | BAE Systems BAE Systems was proud to open the first Visualization Suite for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) officially on 26 November at its offices in Ottawa. BAE Systems were honoured to mark the occasion with Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan, and Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy Vice Admiral Art McDonald in attendance for a tour of the suite. The visualization technology will transform the way warships are designed, built and delivered for the Royal Canadian Navy. Using the technology to create a virtual prototype and “Digital Twin” enables a deep understanding of the vessel and the experience of those serving on board before manufacturing begins. The technology allows a fully detailed view of the ship's design from any angle or area with the ability to inspect and examine equipment and systems quickly and easily, a key benefit in maturing and ensuring design, and in supporting the program's prime contractor, Irving Shipbuilding, as it plans for build. Our engineers are able to mature design across countries and time zones, working together with our partners and customer to create the right ship for Canada. The Canadian Surface Combatant is being designed to meet Canada's unique needs and will deliver immense economic benefits in Canada from across the program team. Our visualisation technology promotes efficiency, quality and safety in the CSC program for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Government of Canada. The CSC team, includes BAE Systems as ship designer, Lockheed Martin Canada leading the design team and Irving Shipbuilding as prime contractor who will build the CSC at their Halifax Shipyard. Over 10,000 people are employed in Canada collectively across all the partner companies supporting the design of the Canadian Surface Combatant, with thousands more in long-term, high-value job creation. Across our three Global Combat Ship programs in Canada, the UK and Australia, 3D visualization suites pioneered by BAE Systems in the UK for the Type 26 program are transforming how ships are designed. http://milaero.iconnect007.com/index.php/article/125431/csc-celebrates-first-visualization-suite-opening-in-ottawa/125434/?skin=milaero

NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Syracuse, New York, was awarded a $14,108,019 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-5300 to exercise options for AN/SLQ-32(V)6 design agent engineering services. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York, and is expected to be completed by November 2021. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) (91%); and 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) (9%) funding in the amount of $3,008,846 will be obligated at time of award, of which, $281,857 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 24, 2020) *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2428811/source/GovDelivery/