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By: Sean Kennedy The Biden administration has the opportunity to institute reforms in several crucial areas at the Department of Defense. First and foremost, it should eliminate the overseas contingency operations account. The continued justification for the OCO has reached the stage of parody. Originally intended for emergency spending in response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the account has transitioned into a slush fund designed to inflate spending at the DoD far above the baseline budget and for purposes unrelated to foreign wars. In fiscal 2015, approximately 50 percent of OCO funding was for nonemergency items. An August 2019 Congressional Budget Office report noted that approximately 85 percent of funding for the OCO in FY20 and FY21 “is designated for base-budget and ‘enduring' activities,” funding maintenance in support of foreign operations that will continue regardless of force size. OCO spending has long outpaced the military's presence in combat zones. In FY08, the U.S. deployed an average of 187,000 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. OCO spending topped $187 billion that year, equating to $1 million per service member. The DoD currently has approximately 5,000 troops stationed in these countries, meaning the $70.7 billion in OCO spending in FY20 equates to $14.1 million in funding per service member — more than 14 times the amount in FY08. With President Joe Biden unlikely to substantially increase the military's footprint in Afghanistan and Iraq, outsized OCO spending will continue in FY21 and beyond, barring reform. The DoD has received approximately $2 trillion from the OCO since 2001. Were it considered to be a federal agency, the FY20 OCO funding would make it the fourth largest, dwarfing spending at all other agencies except the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Veterans Affairs. The incoming administration must also expand efforts to make DoD finances more transparent and accountable. The bookkeeping is so abysmal that areas within the DoD have been on the Government Accountability Office's list of programs at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement since 1995. The financial black hole is nowhere more evident than in the DoD's inability to pass a clean audit, unlike every other federal agency. On Nov. 16, 2020, the Pentagon announced that for the third straight year it failed its financial review. Progress has been incremental, with seven of 24 DoD agencies thus far producing clean audits. However, the DoD estimates that it will not be able to pass an audit before 2027, or 37 years after it was required to do so by law. The DoD must also determine the replacement mechanism for the chief management officer position, which was the No. 3 civilian slot until it was eliminated in the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act. Despite identifying $22.3 billion in savings between FY18 and FY21, legislators bowed to Pentagon pressure, distributing the duties and responsibilities of the role to various existing positions with far less authority. The acquisition side is also a mess, including several infamous procurement disasters that epitomize the Pentagon's systemic problems. The foremost example is the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The program has been under continuous development since the contract was awarded in 2001, and has encountered innumerable delays and cost overruns. Total acquisition costs now exceed $428 billion, nearly double the initial estimate of $233 billion. The total costs for the F-35 are estimated to reach $1.727 trillion over the lifetime of the program. On Jan. 14, 2021, then-acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller labeled the Joint Strike Fighter a “piece of sh*t.” Enough said. Many of the problems with the F-35 program can be traced to the decision to develop and procure the Joint Strike Fighter simultaneously. Whenever problems have been identified, contractors needed to go back and make changes to aircraft that were already assembled, adding to overall costs. Of course none of this has stopped the Pentagon from asking for Joint Strike Fighter funding, and members of Congress from supplying it, oftentimes exceeding the request from the DoD. This trend continued in FY20, when legislators added $2.1 billion in earmarks to fund the acquisition of 22 Joint Strike Fighters beyond the amount requested by the Pentagon, bringing the total amount of earmarks for the program to $8.9 billion since FY01. Lastly, the Biden administration would do well to introduce some stability into Pentagon leadership. Every defense secretary brings to the job different priorities for the government's largest bureaucracy. President Donald Trump burned through two confirmed and four acting secretaries, the most for any administration. President Biden should endeavor to reverse this churn. https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/02/01/these-five-items-should-top-bidens-defense-priorities/

Melbourne, Fla. January 27, 2021 — The U.S. Air Force has awarded L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) a five-year, up to $668 million IDIQ contract to help maintain its C-130 aircraft fleet readiness. L3Harris will perform sustainment on C-130H and J-model aircraft at its 1.1 million-square-foot aircraft modification center in Waco, Texas. The center features hangars to support a full range of missionization and aircraft services, including conducting parallel avionics modernization and programmed depot-level maintenance efforts for reduced aircraft downtime. The center supports the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130H aircraft fleet under the U.S. Air Force Avionics Modernization Program Increment 2. The center also services the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, space, commercial and international operators. “L3Harris' support will alleviate capacity constraints for the U.S. Air Force's Air Logistics complexes,” said Sean Stackley, President, Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris. “Our extensive C-130 experience, skilled personnel and expansive hangar capacity provide a ready solution to assist the Air Force in maintaining its fleet readiness.” About L3Harris Technologies L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers' mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18 billion in annual revenue and 48,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. www.L3Harris.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about the value or expected value of orders, contracts or programs are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. L3Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. MEDIA CONTACTS Marcella Thompson Integrated Mission Systems Phone: 214-430-8872 Marcella.Thompson@L3Harris.com Jim Burke Corporate Phone: 321-727-9131 | 321-604-0067 Jim.Burke@L3Harris.com View source version on L3Harris Technologies: https://www.l3harris.com/newsroom/press-release/2021/01/us-air-force-awards-l3harris-technologies-668-million-idiq-contract

Amberley (Australia), January 28, 2021 – Airbus has recently signed a contract to provide a digital services focus for the maintenance of the Air Refueling Boom System (ARBS) on the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (A330 MRTT) fleet. Based on the Airbus suite of digital services SmartForce, this service is intended to support the operator in reducing maintenance costs and improving fleet availability by optimizing the fault diagnosis and troubleshooting tasks for the ARBS of the tanker aircraft, based on data analytics applications. The Central Data System plays a key role, allowing operators to draw on the flight data recorded by the Mission Recording System and provides information outputs about issues registered during the flight and recommended maintenance actions to fix them. Within the KC-30A Enterprise, the Central Data System is a joint development built upon a successful long-standing collaboration among Airbus, the Commonwealth of Australia (CoA) and the Australian KC-30A Through Life Support (TLS) provider Northrop Grumman Australia, in sharing data and defining the architecture of the system. Future proposed development of the capability will allow customers which apply this technology to their fleet to be able to extend the ARBS analytics to entire aircraft level diagnostics. Stephan Miegel, Head of Military Aircraft Services at Airbus Defence and Space, said:“Since the launch of SmartForce in 2018, Airbus is fully committed to support the digital initiatives of our customers. Working collaboratively with them, we have signed five agreements for the co-development of new services and technologies. We are proud to see that military operators are increasingly joining us on our digital journey.” Jake Adams, Northrop Grumman Australia KC-30A Program Manager, said: “The introduction of the Central Data System has provided significant benefits in terms of increased availability of the ARBS. The recent agreement between Airbus and Northrop Grumman Australia ensures that the RAAF continues to benefit from this capability as well as providing the opportunity for ongoing collaboration and sharing of data and analytics to enhance the ARBS capability.” Group Captain Scott Parry, Officer Commanding Heavy Air Lift Systems Program Office, commented: “The Central Data System delivers a significant capability benefit for the KC-30A aircraft and demonstrates the strong commitment within the KC-30A enterprise to innovation and improvement.” SmartForce is a suite of services enabling military operators to exploit aircraft data to improve troubleshooting, optimize maintenance effort, predict maintenance actions and plan smartly for material demand and improving the fleet availability. SmartForce capitalizes on the new power of big data analytics coupled to secured connectivity to maximize mission readiness. @AirbusDefence @AusAirForce #A330MRTT Your Contact Pablo Correa External Communications - Airbus Defence +34 6 89 66 96 02 Send an email Belinda Ng Communications - Airbus Asia-Pacific +65 9683 6361 Send an email View source version on Airbus: https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/01/royal-australian-air-force-benefits-from-airbus-smartforce-digital-services.html

Thursday, 28 January 2021 Autonomous ‘loyal wingman' aircraft create the opportunity to expand, diversify and rapidly upgrade combat Air Forces in a cost-effective way - so the UK has committed funding for a new prototype. The UK's first fleet of uncrewed fighter aircraft is one step closer to reality following a £30-million contract to design and manufacture a prototype in a three-year deal supporting more than 100 jobs in Belfast. The uncrewed combat aircraft will be designed to fly at high-speed alongside fighter jets, armed with missiles, surveillance and electronic warfare technology to provide a battle-winning advantage over hostile forces. Known as a ‘loyal wingman', these aircraft will be the UK's first uncrewed platforms able to target and shoot down enemy aircraft and survive against surface to air missiles. In a boost for Northern Ireland's defence industry, Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast, has been selected to lead Team MOSQUITO in the next phase of the project. Using ground-breaking engineering techniques, the team will further develop the RAF's Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) concept, with a full-scale vehicle flight-test programme expected by the end of 2023. Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis says: "This is fantastic news and underlines the distinct strengths in Northern Ireland's economy, through its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities. This ground-breaking project will involve significant investment which will not only support local employment, but also reinforce Northern Ireland's contribution to the security of our nation." Team MOSQUITO, which also includes Northrop Grumman UK, will mature the designs and manufacture a technology demonstrator to generate evidence for a follow-on LANCA programme. If successful, Project Mosquito's findings could lead to this revolutionary capability being deployed alongside the Typhoon and F-35 Lightning jets by the end of the decade. Defence Minister, Jeremy Quin said: "This is a great win for the Northern Ireland defence industry and will showcase some of the most pioneering engineering work currently being undertaken in the UK. The £30 million project will accelerate the development of the UK's future air power by delivering cutting-edge uncrewed aircraft, maintaining our position as a world leader in emerging technologies." Working with innovative partners from across the UK, Project Mosquito is transforming traditional approaches to combat air to enable the rapid development of technology. By utilising the latest software development techniques and civilian aerospace engineering and manufacturing expertise, the project will deliver dramatic reductions in costs and development timelines, so their innovations can reach the front-line quicker than ever before. This game changing research and development project will ensure the final aircraft design will be capable of being easily and affordably updated with the latest technology so we remain one step ahead of our adversaries. The aircraft's flexibility will provide the optimum protection, survivability and information as it flies alongside Typhoon, F-35 Lightning, and later, Tempest as part of our future combat air system. Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff says: "We're taking a revolutionary approach, looking at a game-changing mix of swarming drones and uncrewed fighter aircraft like Mosquito, alongside piloted fighters like Tempest, that will transform the combat battlespace in a way not seen since the advent of the jet age." Director Future Combat Air, Richard Berthon adds: "Project Mosquito is a vital element of our approach to Future Combat Air, rapidly bringing to life design, build and test skills for next generation combat air capabilities. Autonomous ‘loyal wingman' aircraft create the opportunity to expand, diversify and rapidly upgrade Combat Air Forces in a cost-effective way, now and in the future." As announced by the Prime Minister in November 2020, the UK's Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme is set to benefit from a portion of the extra £1.5 billion investment into military research and development, which will help ensure our Armed Forces are prepared to meet the threats of tomorrow. LANCA originated in 2015 in Dstl to understand innovative Combat Air technologies and concepts that offer radical reductions in cost and development time and is a RAF Rapid Capabilities Office led project under the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative (FCAS TI). The UK MOD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) provides the project management and is the MOD's technical authority for LANCA and Project Mosquito on behalf of the RCO. https://www.airframer.com/news_story.html?report=20244

ARMY KBRwyle Technical Solutions LLC, Columbia, Maryland, was awarded a $78,252,029 modification (000286) to contract W52P1J-12-G-0061 for maintenance, supply, transportation and other logistics functions for the Army Prepositioned Stock-3 Charleston Afloat program. Work will be performed in Goose Creek, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 14, 2022. Fiscal 2010 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $12,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. High Desert Support Services, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was awarded a $54,000,000 modification (P00034) to contract W9124B-18-C-0004 for operations support services at Fort Irwin U.S. Army Garrison. Work will be performed in Fort Irwin, California, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $4,172,214 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army 418th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Irwin, California, is the contracting activity. GP Strategies Corp., Columbia, Maryland, was awarded a $40,671,032 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for life cycle logistics support and chemical demilitarization training facility operations and maintenance to facilitate the mission of the Chemical Materiel Training Facility at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 15, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-21-D-0015). ACC Construction Co. Inc., Augusta, Georgia, was awarded a $31,229,066 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a consolidated mission complex at Warner Robins Air Force Base. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 23, 2023. Fiscal 2017 and 2020 military construction (defense-wide) funds in the amount of $31,229,066 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-21-C-0009). The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $20,333,921 modification (P00070) to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for long lead integrated logistics support, initial spares package and peculiar ground support equipment for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales (Morocco); and 2019 and 2020 aircraft procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $20,333,921, were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $15,925,901 modification (P00026) to contract W31P4Q-18-C-0130 to develop a second source for the qualification and facilitization of the Electromechanical Control Actuation System for the Hellfire missile. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 28, 2021. Fiscal 2019 procurement of ammunition (Army) funds in the amount of $3,625,819 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $15,785,417 modification (P00059) to contract W91RUS-17-C-0010 for information technology services to support the mission of the 2nd Theater Signal Brigade. Work will be performed in Germany and Italy, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $11,768,377 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $15,261,587 modification (P00079) to contract W56HZV-20-C-0050 to exercise available options for Marine Corps procurement of vehicles and kits for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle family of vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales (Macedonia, Slovenia and Montenegro) and 2021 USMC procurement funds in the amount of $15,261,587 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Pond Constructors Inc., Peachtree Corners, Georgia, was awarded a $9,468,778 firm-fixed-price contract to maintain and repair petroleum systems and facilities. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Anchorage, Alaska; Fairbanks Alaska; Delta Junction, Alaska; Shemya, Alaska; King Salmon, Alaska; Pohakuloa, Hawaii; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Ewa Beach, Hawaii; and Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 revolving funds in the amount of $9,468,778 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W912DY-21-F-0025). AIR FORCE Teradyne Inc., North Reading, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $78,232,776 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for the purchase of Versatile Diagnostic Automatic Test Station (VDATS) kits. The VDATS is an organically designed test station with open architecture and virtual modular equipment extensions for instrumentation technology. The VDATS consists of standardized, commercially available test equipment, components and software. There are two configurations of VDATS, the Digital Analog (DA)-1 and DA-2. Currently, these configurations support the A-10, B-1, B-2, B-52, C-5, C-17, C-130, E-3, E-8C, F-15, F16, F-22, H-53, H-60, KC-135 MC-4, MQ-9, Navy ships and UH-1 weapon systems. This contract will consist of five ordering periods with a period of performance of Feb. 1 2021, through Dec. 31, 2025, and work will be performed in North Reading, Massachusetts. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8571-21-D-0001). Lockheed Martin, Owego, New York, has been awarded a $64,266,809 supply contract for F-16 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission planning. This contract provides for the development, integration, test and delivery of the Joint Mission Planning System Unique Planning Component/Mission Planning Environment software updates. Work will be performed in Owego, New York, and is expected to be completed by January 2029. This contract involves FMS to Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Morocco, Greece, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia and Thailand. This award is the result of a directed-source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $17,172,548 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-21-C-0001). Taitech Inc., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $31,587,310 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (FA8650-21-D-2400) for technology for sustained supersonic combustion (TSSC). The mission of TSSC is to provide research and development for investigation of basic concepts, components, sub-systems, and diagnostics, for high-speed air breathing propulsion systems, airframe structures and internal/external aerodynamics including integration into air vehicles, weapons and launch systems. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by February 2028. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $75,000 will fund the initial task order at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8650-21-F-2402) Technica Corp., Sterling, Virginia, has been awarded a $22,040,950 cost-plus-fixed-fee task order (FA8307-19-F-0098) for weapon system engineering and maintenance services to include incremental software version development and installation, security patch installations, preventative maintenance, trouble shooting and responsive Tier 1, 2 and 3 support for the Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter weapon system. Work will be performed in Sterling, Virginia, and is expected to be completed Aug. 14, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and seven offers were received. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds; fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds; and fiscal 2021 Air National Guard procurement funds, in the full amount are being obligated at the time award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8732-14-D-0015). Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a $21,744,548 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00032) to contract FA8750-17-F-0105 for enterprise exploitation and information assurance. This contract modification provides for additional hours to facilitate development of electro-optical emerging data sources as part of the Assured Cyber Enterprise for the Intelligence Community Program. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, and is expected to be completed Sept. 28, 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $74,381 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $71,427,681. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity. Walga Ross Group, Topeka, Kansas, has been awarded an $8,575,943 firm-fixed-price contract, to repair/replace heat, ventilation and air conditioning to Building 2210 located on Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The work is expected to be completed June 13, 2022. This award is the result of Tribal/American Native Corp. set aside. Non-expiring Depot Maintenance Activity Group funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8137-21-C-0009). NAVY Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded a $72,874,164 firm-fixed-price modification (P00024) to previously awarded contract N00019-17-C-0081. This modification exercises an option to procure 33 production AE1107C V-22 Osprey engines; 14 for the Marine Corps and 19 for the Navy for production of MV-22 and CMV-22 tiltrotor aircraft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed in December 2022. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $39,749,544; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,041,540; and fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $22,083,080 will be obligated at the time of award, $22,083,080 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. La Playa Inc. of Virginia,* Chesapeake, Virginia (N64498-21-D-0002); Life Cycle Engineering Inc.,* North Charleston, South Carolina (N64498-21-D-0003); Q.E.D. Systems Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N64498-21-D-0004); Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc.,* Portsmouth, Virginia (N64498-21-D-0005); and Continental Tide Defense Systems Inc.,* Wyomissing, Pennsylvania (N64498-21-D-0006), are awarded a combined $67,512,167 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of support services for the Navy's air conditioning and refrigeration systems on all types of military vessels and small crafts. Each awardee will be awarded $2,200 (minimum contract guarantee per awardee) at contract award. Work will be assigned according to individual delivery orders and is expected to be completed by February 2027. It is estimated that work will be performed on the West Coast (41%); outside the continental U.S. (31%); and the East Coast (28%), at the following locations: Norfolk, Virginia; Mayport, Florida; Bremerton, Washington; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Yokosuka, Japan; Bahrain; United Arab Emirates; San Diego, California; Groton, Connecticut; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Seattle, Washington; and Guam. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funding in the amount of $11,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. All other funding will be made available at the delivery order level as contracting actions occur. This multiple award contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with five offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Bering Global Solutions LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska, is awarded a maximum-value $44,636,195 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operations support services to be performed at Naval Support Activity Northwest Annex, Chesapeake, Virginia. Work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2029. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,387,967 for recurring work will be obligated under the initial task order at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work on the initial task order is expected to be completed by March 2022. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-21-D-0006). The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded a $32,070,700 firm-fixed-price task order (N400-85-F-4540) under previously awarded multiple-award construction contract N40085-19-D-9070 for the construction of design-build project P224 Operations Support Facility and P999 Training Facility at Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek, Virginia. P224 will design and construct an operations support facility. The project includes all pertinent site preparations and site improvements, mechanical and electrical utilities, telecommunications, emergency generator, landscaping, drainage, parking and exterior lighting. Built-in equipment includes equipment cages, passenger/freight elevator, lockers and emergency generator. P999 will design and construct an operations training facility, to include administrative spaces with both private and open offices, open workstations, conference rooms, cage rooms to secure personal belongings, shower rooms and supporting spaces including server rooms, mechanical rooms, restrooms, break rooms, janitor closets and circulation spaces. Work will be performed at Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by December 2023. Fiscal 2021 military construction funds in the amount of $32,070,700 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, is awarded a $23,185,000 option under modification P00012 to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N0003020-C-0004 to provide guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) subject matter expertise and resources to explore and evaluate current maturing concepts and technologies to enable follow on, full-scale development of strategic guidance, navigation, and control solutions for the Second Life Extension (D5LE2) of the Trident II (D5) Strategic Weapon System. This contract also provides research and development into new and alternate GN&C technologies and concepts to support alternate and developing strategic systems programs missions. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts (100%), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. The contract will be incrementally funded with fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,423,823 and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded $19,680,950 for a firm-fixed-priced delivery order N00383-21-F-AY04 under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-18-G-AY01 for the repair of various avionics equipment used on the F/A-18 aircraft and AV-8B aircraft. Work will be performed in Lemoore, California (99%); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1%). Work will be begin February 2021, and will be completed by December 2023. Fiscal 2021 working capital funds (Navy) in the full amount of $19,680,950 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. East Coast Repair and Fabrication LLC, Portsmouth, Virginia, is awarded a $12,131,903 firm-fixed-price contract for a 50-calendar day shipyard availability. The work to be performed provides services for the mid-term availability of the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196). The contract also contains five unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $13,566,323. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by April 19, 2021. Fiscal 2021 working capital contract funds (Navy) in the amount of $12,131,903 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with four proposals received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N32205-21-C-4008). Lockheed Martin Space, Titusville, Florida, is awarded a $10,952,454 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00006) to exercise options under previously awarded contract N00030-20-C-0100 for Trident II (D5) deployed systems support. Work will be performed in Denver, Colorado (40.1%); Bangor, Washington (17.9%); Kings Bay, Georgia (8.8%); Magna, Utah (8.2%); Oak Ridge, Tennessee (7.3%); Washington, D.C. (6.3%); Sunnyvale, California (5.6%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (3.5%); and other various locations (less than 1% each, 2.3% total). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,907,204; and fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,500,000 are being obligated on this award, $1,500,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is being awarded to the contractor on a sole-source basis under 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd., Uxbridge, United Kingdom, is awarded an $8,764,364 firm-fixed-price contract for the manufacture of 581 explosive cartridges kits and 1,116 each of different explosive cartridges used in the Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat in F-35 aircraft for the Joint Strike Fighter program. The contract does not contain a provision for an option quantity. All work will be performed in Uxbridge, United Kingdom, and work is expected to be completed by October 2022. The total value of $8,764,364 will be obligated at the time of award. Funding sources include fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (O&M) (International Partner Funding) funds (31%); fiscal 2021 O&M (Air Force) funds (22%); fiscal 2021 procurement (Air Force) funds (18%); fiscal 2021 procurement (Marine Corps) funds (8%); fiscal 2021 procurement (Navy) funds (5%); fiscal 2021 O&M (Marine Corps) funds (5%); fiscal 2021 O&M (Navy) funds (3%); Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Japan funds (3%); FMS Israel funds (3%); FMS Belgium funds (1%); and FMS Korea funds (1%). Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c) (1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00104-21-C-K014). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY DRS Network & Imaging Services, Melbourne, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $55,678,715 firm-fixed-price, requirements base subsumable contract to repair and return Bradley weapon system parts. This is a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 (a)(2). This is a nine-year contract with repricing occurring every three years. Location of performance is Florida, with a Jan. 28, 2030, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2021 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA2-21-D-0014). U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received a ceiling increase modification in the amount of $12,797,070 to an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (H92241-17-D-0004) to provide life-cycle contractor support and hardware for the Common Avionics Architecture System, Cockpit Management System, Airborne Mission Network, Secure Real Time Video and Aircraft Management Systems. This modification raises the contract ceiling to $43,529,330. The majority of the work is being performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and ordering periods will end in July 2022. This modification was a non-competitive award in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2487798/source/GovDelivery/

By Justin Hendry v Drones give firies new imaging capabilities. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) has set up a new drone unit to help firefighters better monitor fires and other emergencies from the air. The new aviation unit, which will initially consist of a squadron of four drones, became operational last month. Staffed by four Civil Aviation Safety Authority-qualified drone pilots and other specialists, the unit will support FRV across the state from its base in Melbourne suburb of Burnley. It builds on FRV's existing remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) unit, which consists of drones from the former Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) and Country Fire Authority (CFA). MFB – which was the first fire and rescue services in Australia to develop a RPAS capability in 2011 – had at least nine drones before the merger with the CFA last year. However, unlike the previous drones, the new squadron will be able to stay in the air for up to 30 minutes and can withstand difficult wind conditions. They will also be able to carry both thermal and optical cameras at the same time, whereas the existing RPAS fleet can only carry a single camera. Having both thermal imaging and live streaming cameras will allow the drones to capture better quality footage to support firefighting efforts, the government said. “The technology means firefighters can better monitor fires and other incidents from the air, and get a fuller picture of complex fires, ultimately increasing community safety and contributing to saving lives,” it said. Since the unit became operational, the drones have already been used to support the FRV response to a recent industrial fire in the Melbourne suburb of Laverton North. Police and emergency services minister Lisa Neville said the unit and four new drones will “significantly add to [FRV's] firefighting arsenal”. “Thanks to this highly specialist aviation unit and these new highly specialised drones, our emergency services will have greater access to critical information and intelligence to efficiently contain fires, respond to emergencies and save lives,” she said. https://www.itnews.com.au/news/fire-rescue-victoria-sets-up-new-drone-unit-560393

By: Christina Mackenzie PARIS – The French Air and Space Force will be getting 12 new Rafales to replace those being removed from its inventory to sell to Greece, Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Friday. The announcement comes a few weeks later than originally planned. Florence Parly had told the National Assembly's Defense Commission last fall that the order would be placed with Dassault Aviation, the Rafale's manufacturer, before the end of 2020. But that was on the provision that the $3 billion contract with Greece for 18 Rafales had been signed by then. That Greek contract was signed four days ago so Parly took the opportunity of a visit to Dassault Aviation's flight controls factory in Argonay, in the French Alps on Jan. 29 to announce the new order. Eric Trappier, Dassault's CEO, had earlier underlined the fact that “Dassault is the only aircraft manufacturer in the world to design and produce its own flight controls.” Contracts to Dassault Aviation, Safran (the engine manufacturer) and Thales (the electronics) will be sent out by the DGA procurement agency in the next few days. While no price tag was given during Parly's announcement, Trappier has previously said one fully equipped fighter costs around 100 million euros, or $121 million, which would put the total package at just under $1.5 billion. Parly said the 12 new aircraft would be built to the latest F3R standard. She added, “We sold 18 Rafales to Greece so it is indeed 18 Rafales that Dassault will have to produce.” Speaking at the factory, the defense minister said one Rafale would come off the production line per month, “which represents 7,000 jobs, jobs within Dassault of course, but also within the 500 or so small and medium enterprises that work with you.” She added that in the current economic context “this is good and reassuring news”. The French Air and Space Force will have its 12 new aircraft by the end of 2025. Together with the 28 Rafales that Dassault is to deliver between 2022 and 2024, this will bring the total to 129, as projected in the 2019-2025 military program law. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/01/29/france-begins-backfilling-its-rafale-fleet-after-selling-some-to-greece

By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin announced Jan. 29 the appointment of Greg Ulmer as the company's executive vice president of aeronautics, making him the top executive overseeing flagship aviation programs such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as well as the secretive Skunk Works development shop. Ulmer, 56, has spent the past three years leading the F-35 program, Lockheed's largest effort and one of its biggest money makers. As vice president and general manager, Ulmer oversaw the program as the focus transitioned from development to driving down procurement and sustainment costs. He also previously worked as the head of operations at Skunk Works, the advanced development arm of Lockheed known for its work on secret projects. “With Greg's wide-ranging experience and impressive record of leadership, we are confident that Aeronautics will continue its legacy of success under his leadership,” said Lockheed President and CEO Jim Taiclet. Ulmer replaces Michele Evans, who passed away earlier this month. Over the past two years, Evans had taken medical leaves of absence due to a cancer diagnosis. During those periods, Ulmer filled in as the head of the aeronautics business. He officially takes over the executive vice president role on Feb. 1, the company stated. Ulmer graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering and obtained a master's degree in business management from the University of Tennessee. In addition to Ulmer's appointment, the company announced that Taiclet will become chairman of the board on March 1, after former CEO Marillyn Hewson retires as executive chairman. Hewson will continue work as a strategic adviser to Taiclet until Feb. 28, 2022. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2021/01/29/lockheeds-f-35-program-head-to-lead-aeronautics-biz

By: Alexander Bratersky MOSCOW — Rostec announced this week it has begun developing the MiG-41, a fifth-generation fighter jet set to replace Russia's MiG-31 jets currently in service. However, amid a number of other ongoing military aerospace projects, experts are questioning whether industry has the resources to produce the aircraft by its deadline of 2030. The MiG-31 fleet entered service in 1980 under the Soviet Armed Forces and was upgraded in 1990 to become the MiG-31BM. The MiG-41, originally developed by Rostec subsidiary United Aircraft Corporation, has long been expected to replace the aging jets. Work on the new aircraft started in 2010 with UAC's Mikoyan design bureau and Sokol aviation production plant, based in Nizhny Novgorod, about six hours' drive from Moscow. According to Russian news reports, the MiG-41 will be equipped with stealth technology, reach a speed of Mach 4-4.3, carry anti-satellite missiles, and be able to perform tasks in Arctic and near-space environments. If it enters service, the MiG-41 will be the country's second fifth-generation fighter after the Su-57, which was developed by UAC subsidiary Sukhoi Company and had its first flight test in 2010. The Su-57 crashed during a flight test in December 2019. The pilot has survived, leaving the plane on the catapult chair. Defense officials told the Vedomosti newspaper at that time that technical mishaps in the control system might have caused the accident. A governmental commission was founded to investigate the accident, but no public report was realized. That same year, the Russian military bought 76 Su-57 planes. The cost of a single Su-57 might be about 3 billion roubles (U.S. $40 million), Izvestia reported that year, citing defense sources. The plane is equipped with the AL-41F1 engine, which is also used on the Su-35 jet. However, the local Lyulka Design Bureau is currently developing a new engine for the Su-57. According to Ruslan Pukhov, the director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, the primary focus of Russia's defense industry is to develop that engine. That main effort takes away much-needed resources for the new plane, he explained. A London-based analyst echoed Pukhov's concerns, expressing skepticism that Russia “will be able to develop, manufacture and introduce into service [the jet] in anything like the purported time frame.” Douglas Barrie, who focuses military aerospace for the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Russia's aerospace sector is already committed to numerous projects, including further developing the Su-75, upgrading the Su-34, and modernizing various bombers such as the Tu-160 Blackjack, Tu-22M Backfire and Tu-95. “Some would argue that the sector has already more than enough to try to manage without the additional or a project potentially as complex as a new heavy interceptor, or indeed whether there would be realistic levels of funding for a program,” he said. Defense News contacted the Russian Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of UAC involved in the MiG-41 project, but the firm declined to comment on the jet's development. For his part, Pukhov thinks the government should ditch its costly projects and instead appropriate funds to develop drones. “This is the sphere where Russia is still behind,” he said. He added that both China and India will likely want to cooperate on the MiG-41. The latter left a joint project to develop a fifth-generation fighter aircraft based on the Su-57 in 2018. But Barrie questioned the export potential of the MiG-41, saying the number of similar jets being built elsewhere is rapidly growing. “Even if such an aircraft were eventually to be developed, it would — were it to meet the same role as the MiG-31BM Foxhound C — have a very limited export appeal.” https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/01/29/is-russias-defense-industry-too-busy-to-take-on-another-fighter-jet-project