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by Chris Thatcher Jim Barnes admits that when he arrived in Canada in 2012 to take up business development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, long-term production of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was precarious. By his own estimate, the line that so far has delivered over 600 fighter jets since the mid-1990s appeared ordained to close by 2018 without new customers. “Now, it is a completely different story because of the U.S. Navy's commitment to Block III,” he said in a recent interview with Skies. “They need advanced fighters on their carrier decks and the airplane they hoped would be joining that deck isn't being delivered in a timely manner, so it opened up the opportunity for the Block III.” Under a multi-year procurement contract, the U.S. Navy will acquire 78 of the advanced aircraft through 2024. Moreover, it has begun a service life modification (SLM) program that will see all or most of its fleet of about 450 Block II Super Hornets upgraded with Block III systems through 2033. The first two were delivered in February. Boeing will deliver the first Block III testbed aircraft to the U.S. Navy later this spring to begin carrier trials of the computing and networking systems, in advance of the first operational aircraft in early 2021. “Right now, there is no planned retirement date for the Super Hornet,” noted Barnes, now the director of Fighter Programs in Canada. “It will be a mainstay on carrier decks for decades to come.” Delays in rolling out Lockheed Martin's F-35C Lightning II – ‘C' for carrier variant – undoubtedly spurred renewed interest in the Block III Super Hornet. But the aircraft has also benefited from a collaborative spiral approach to technology development that has ensured new systems are only introduced when they are combat ready. Many of the improved capabilities sought by the Navy for the Block III were first pioneered or trialled on the Block II. Enhanced capabilities and healthy F/A-18E/F production and SLM lines in St. Louis, Mo., and San Antonio, Texas, are part of a package Boeing hopes will resonate with the Canadian government and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) when they evaluate the contenders to replace Canada's 30-year-old legacy F/A-18A/B Hornets. When the request for proposals (RFP) finally closes on June 30 – it was recently extended from March 30 at the “request of industry,” according to the government – Boeing will propose the equivalent of a U.S. Navy Block III aircraft with an instrumented landing system that was previously integrated on Australian and Kuwaiti variants. The Super Hornet is among three candidates – the others are the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and Saab Gripen E – vying to replace the Air Force's remaining 76 CF-188 Hornets. The acquisition and sustainment project, known as the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP), for 88 advanced fighter jets is valued between $15 billion and $19 billion. The formal RFP was issued on July 23, 2019, and all three supplier teams (which include the aircraft manufacturer and representative government) had to submit preliminary security offers by Oct. 4, outlining how they intend to meet Canada's 5 Eyes and 2 Eyes security and interoperability requirements. “The Super Hornet is a low risk program,” said Barnes. “We only integrate [new] technology when it is ready to reduce risk of schedule and cost, and outpace the threat. And what comes with that next-generation capability is predictable and affordable costs, not only for acquisition, but also for the [operational] lifecycle.” Cost and capability Comparing aircraft costs is always problematic. The process by which a fighter is acquired can significantly affect the final price, and Canada would buy the Super Hornet under a government-to-government foreign military sale, which can inflate the cost by as much as 30 per cent. But a multi-year procurement for the Block III in the U.S. president's budget for fiscal 2020 projected a cost of about US$66 million per aircraft, and estimates in the past two years have suggested a price of US$70 million. “The cost for Canada will depend on how many aircraft they buy and when they are taking delivery, but that's a great place to start,” said Barnes. The more important figure for Boeing, though, is the operating cost. The current cost per flight hour for the Super Hornet is around US$18,000, well below the F-35A, which Lockheed Martin officials recently told Skies is above US$30,000 and striving to reach US$25,000 by 2025. “If you do the math on 88 airplanes flying for 30 years at about 250 hours per year, that is billions of dollars in savings over the life of that platform,” noted Barnes. The Block III program will also extend the Super Hornet to a 10,000-flight-hour airframe for Navy operations. Given that the RCAF, through life extension programs, has managed to push the CF-188 well beyond its intended 6,000 flight hours, that increased airframe life bodes well for an air force that doesn't operate in a highly corrosive saltwater environment, slam its jets down on short carrier decks or take off from catapults, noted Ricardo Traven, Boeing's former F/A-18 Super Hornet chief test pilot and currently the lead test pilot for the 787 Dreamliner. “It is 10,000 [airframe hours] for the Navy; I really don't know what it could be for an air force. It is one strong airframe.” The Block III configuration introduces significant upgrades, including conformal fuel tanks (CFT), enhanced coatings to reduce radar signature, advanced mission computers and data links, and a single, customizable wide-area multi-function display. It also includes improvements originally planned for the Block II such as a centreline drop tank with a networked infrared search and track (IRST) sensor and satellite communications (SATCOM) system. Many of these will be critical to meeting the RCAF's stated mission requirements, but Boeing is hoping to gain some credit for capabilities that are not specifically part of the RFP. Side-by-side, the Super Hornet boasts a much larger airframe compared to the legacy Hornet. But that added wing span and extra flex means more fuel, weapons and electronics, and greater manoeuvrability than smaller competitors, said Traven, a former major in the RCAF from southern Ontario. “You have a bigger airplane that is more manoeuvrable, and can fly slower than the legacy fighter on approach because of those big areas, which is important when coming into land on a short, snowy or wet runway in forward operation locations like Inuvik,” he said. “You don't have to flare at all, you can plant the airplane on the first few metres of runway on touchdown. And the landing gear is very rugged. The Super Hornet has two nose gear tires – most others have one – and that counts on wet runways and snow.” The conformal fuel tanks expand the Super Hornet's standard combat air patrol mission range by about 20 per cent or increase the loiter time by roughly 30 minutes, said Barnes. A clean Super Hornet carries 14,000 pounds of fuel, the same as a legacy Hornet with two extra fuel tanks, noted Traven. “Take away the drag of the pylon and tanks and you can see that the Super Hornet will go significantly farther on a clean airplane.” At a time when the RCAF has limited strategic tanking and is poised to retire the tactical air-to-air refueling provided by the CC-130H Hercules, the Super Hornet offers a unique feature: It can serve as its own tanker. If tanking isn't readily available, the possibility of adding a fifth jet to support a four-ship of fighters responding to a NORAD quick reaction alert mission could be “a game changer,” noted Traven. As part of spiral technology development, the Block III replaces the previous two mission computers with a Distributed Targeting Processor-Networked (DTP-N), an onboard system that when combined with the Navy's future Targeting Tactical Network Technology (TTNT) will allow data sharing at speeds and volume that greatly exceed current Link 16 tactical data exchange capabilities. Multiple Block III Super Hornets with DTP-N and the longwave IRST sensor integrated into the centreline nose tank “can solve targeting and the distance equation, which was almost impossible with a single ISRT,” said Traven of what he called an anti-stealth capability. “You can target stealth airplanes at very long range without the radar because you can process its location. First, you can locate it based on the heat signature, and you can process the distance and speed and tracking by having multiple sources talking to each other through this distributed processing targeting network. With the upgraded DTP-N, combined with TTNT, it is checkmate for the whole fifth-gen argument. The amount of information we can share is unbelievable.” He emphasized that the U.S. military, not aircraft manufacturers, would establish the data protocols by which fighters communicate information and would not permit a closed network dictated by one type of aircraft. Boeing has long disputed the stealth argument, maintaining the Super Hornet incorporates enough stealthy technology, including enhancements to the Block III, to perform the broad range of missions. Traven said the Navy has taken a pragmatic approach, asking for as much stealth as possible without sacrificing the capabilities that are important to its mission sets. “That advanced processor, DTP-N, and the advanced data link, TTNT, and the advanced communication, the SATCOM, were all proven on the EA-18G Growler. That is the Super Hornet way of low-risk integration of advanced capabilities,” added Barnes. Though the debate about one versus two engines has faded in recent years, Traven remains a believer in the twin engine. Based on RCAF experience flying the NORAD mission deep into the Arctic and conducted missions across the North Atlantic, he said that distance and the unexpected remain factors that can trump reliability. While he doesn't dispute the dependability of next-generation single engines, even the best can't account for a wayward Canada goose. “I need two engines because of all the unknowns, especially on approach to Inuvik when you see a [Canada] goose go by that can take out your engine, or the chunk of ice that goes down the intake on takeoff, or the hydraulic line that wasn't tightened exactly right. All of those things are never included in the engine reliability argument.” Mission systems and aircraft performance will be paramount in any Air Force evaluation, but the ease of transition from the CF-188 to the Super Hornet may also earn Boeing points. In interviews with Skies at the U.S. Navy's Fleet Replacement Squadron and at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit, both in Norfolk, Va., pilots and maintenance technicians described conversion programs from the F/A-18C to the E of about three months for pilots and four to six months for techs, depending on the systems. “A lot of that training transfers one for one,” observed Traven, noting the similarity of most systems in the cockpit and throughout the aircraft. Just as important, all the ground support equipment (GSE) and tooling is the same, meaning equipment at operating squadrons and forward bases would not need to be replaced. Both Traven and Barnes observed that while there was mention of infrastructure in the RFP, there was no discussion of the support systems and even runway lengths that might have to change with other aircraft. “I think that has been lost in this whole discussion,” said Traven. “It is a big deal and I hope they are considering that in an appropriate manner,” added Barnes. “When you are already operating legacy Hornets, the requirement to get current maintainers and pilots up to speed on a Super Hornet is much less than it would be starting from scratch.” Value proposition As part of its bid, Boeing has reactivated the team that successfully delivered the CF-188 Hornet in the 1980s, including L3 Harris MAS, Peraton, CAE, Raytheon Canada and GE Canada. “What we are trying to do is leverage the billions of dollars of investment the government has already made in the fighter support infrastructure and utilize that on the Super Hornet,” said Barnes. Over the years after the CF-188 was acquired, companies like L3 Harris MAS in Mirabel, Que., developed detailed knowledge about every airframe in the fleet. Boeing is not proposing a wholesale transfer of Block III intellectual property (IP), but rather a gradual handover. “As Canada got more familiar with the [legacy Hornet] platform, more intellectual property was exchanged,” said Barnes. “Our plan would be to do that same approach on the Super Hornet. We'll do as much as we can on day one, but it will probably be an evolution over time. The Canadian companies certainly understand that.” Mission system technologies would have to be part of a government-to-government negotiation, he added, but would likely be part of an incremental transfer over time. The IP discussion is part of Boeing's proposal to meet Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) obligations. The three bidders will have the option to sign a binding ITB agreement and commit to investing in Canadian content up to 100 per cent of the contract value, or agree to a nonbinding economic benefit agreement. “We will sign the binding agreement,” said Roger Schallom, senior manager for International Strategic Partnerships. As part of its value proposition, Boeing will also meet the specific requirements around investment in small- and medium-sized businesses, innovation, skill development and long-term sustainment. Fulfilling a 100 per cent Canadian content value obligation often means spending far more than the actual contract value, said Schallom. On a program valued over $15 billion, manufacturing work packages could translate into as much as $30 billion in actual work for Canadian companies over the 25 years Boeing would have to fulfil its ITB commitment. For example, Boeing's ITB obligation for the CH-147F Chinook helicopter program was about $1.3 billion. “We are going to spend in purchase orders about $2.6 billion of work in Canada,” he added. More important to companies that have supported the CF-188 would be the 30-plus years of guaranteed in-service support (ISS) contracts. “Those are the billions of dollars that could be left on the table if you go with the nonbinding solution,” emphasized Barnes. “You have to give your ISS companies credit for getting specific sustainment percentages in the RFP,” added Schallom. “They are wielding a pretty big hammer right now. If you go nonbinding, [that economic return] is a big question mark.” It could be argued Boeing Defense, Space & Security missed an opportunity to claim an edge in the FFCP when, in 2017, the Canadian government withdrew the planned purchase of 18 Super Hornets. The aircraft were being considered to fill an interim capability gap in the RCAF's ability to simultaneously conduct NORAD and NATO missions, but the purchase was cancelled over a trade dispute between Boeing Commercial and Bombardier's C Series airliner program. But, with the Canadian fighter competition about to finally close, Boeing clearly believes it's well positioned with an advanced fighter jet that can meet all mission requirements well into the future, while returning significant economic benefits to Canadian industry for a predictable and affordable cost. It's an offer Canada will have to weigh carefully. https://www.skiesmag.com/features/low-risk-capability-boeing-says-block-iii-super-hornet-offers-canada-proven-performance-and-predictable-costing

By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — Boeing will restart production of the P-8 and KC-46 on Monday after a three-week pause in operations spurred by the spread of the novel coronavirus in Washington state. The company temporarily shut down operations in the Puget Sound region on March 25. Boeing's sites in Washington focus primarily on the development and production of commercial airliners and militarized variants of those aircraft, such as the KC-46 tanker made in Everett and the P-8 submarine hunting plane made in Renton. While the resumption of operations will focus on defense programs, the company will also reopen the facilities necessary for 737 MAX storage as well as other laboratories and functions deemed as essential. “Boeing's work supporting the Department of Defense as a part of the defense industrial base is a matter of national security and has been deemed critical. The work we do directly supports the servicemen and women protecting the nation around the clock – and they are counting on us to get it done,” the company said in a statement. The phased re-opening of Boeing facilities will help support its supply base and will ensure the company has enough protective equipment available for the 2,500 employees who will return to work, the company said. Boeing will also enact additional health checks at the Puget Sound sites, including wellness checks at the start of every shift, staggered shift times, additional handwashing stations and cleaning supplies, and a requirement that employees wear a mask at work to comply with state guidance. The company's Ridley Park, Penn.-facility remains closed. That site produces military helicopters including the H-47 Chinook cargo helicopter, the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft as well as the MH-139A Grey Wolf, which will be used by the Air Force to defend missile fields. Monday's reopening is especially good news for the KC-46 program, as the production line is already making tankers at full rate. Boeing has delivered 33 tankers to the Air Force so far, with the production of a total 179 KC-46s expected to be produced in the program of record. Will Roper, the Air Force's acquisition executive, said in March that the pause in KC-46 production wouldn't become a problem unless it extended past a month. “We've tried to make it very clear to our industry partners that we expect them to do whatever is necessary to keep our critical defense-industrial base workforce and their families healthy,” Roper said then. “The standing back up will be important too, because that sends a message to our adversaries that a domestic crisis is not a time of opportunity nor does it create a readiness bathtub in the future.” https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/04/13/boeing-to-reopen-the-kc-46-and-p-8-production-lines/

Nathan Strout VOX Space will launch 44 technology demonstrator satellites into orbit for the U.S. Space Force, the Space and Missile Systems Center announced April 10. Under the $35 million task order, VOX Space, a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Orbit, will provide launch services for Space Test Program-S28 (STP-S28), an effort to put demonstrator satellites on orbit to test and develop new space situational awareness and communications technologies for the military. VOX Space will launch the 44 small satellites into low earth orbit using three of their LauncherOne rockets. Unlike traditional launches where the rockets start from a vertical position on a pad, the LauncherOne rockets are launched in midair from a Boeing 747 aircraft. The first launch is tentatively slated for October 2021. While four companies are battling for five years of contracts under the National Security Space Launch effort, which will place the country's large exquisite satellites on orbit, the U.S. military and the intelligence community have looked to exploit the growing commercial small launch market under new contracting mechanisms. For instance, the National Reconnaissance Office has begun using its new “rapid acquisition of a small rocket” contract vehicle in 2020, successfully launching its first payload under that program with Rocket Lab in January. A second planned launch with Rocket Lab slated for March was delayed due to the COVID-19 situation. The VOX Space award is the first task order under Orbital Services Program-4 — an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract awarded to eight companies by the Space and Missile Systems Center in October. OSP-4 is a follow-on to OSP-3, which expired in November. Like it's predecessor, OSP-4 is the Defense Department's effort to leverage the growing commercial small launch market to put government payloads on orbit. The program enables the launch of payloads greater than 400 pounds to any orbit within 12-24 months after a task order is awarded. Last year, the Air Force said it expected to use OSP-4 to launch 20 missions over a nine-year period. “The competitive award of the STP-S28 task order is a prime example of the flexible and responsive contracting processes the Launch Enterprise is using to deliver resilient and affordable space capabilities to our Nation,” said Col. Rob Bongiovi, director of SMC's Launch Enterprise Systems Directorate. “In today's contested space domain, contracts must be flexible and responsive to meet the challenges facing the warfighter. I'm proud of the work the Small Launch and Targets Division accomplished in awarding the STP-S28 task order in only five months using the OSP-4 contract.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2020/04/13/space-force-picks-launch-provider-for-44-technology-demonstration-satellites/

Mise à jour : 14/04/2020 - Direction : AID Cet appel à projets du ministère des Armées, lancé par l'Agence de l'Innovation de Défense (AID), dans le cadre du plan gouvernemental de lutte contre le COVID-19, vise à disposer de propositions pour lutter contre la pandémie de COVID-19. Il porte sur la recherche de solutions innovantes, qu'elles soient d'ordre technologique, organisationnel, managérial ou d'adaptation de processus industriels, qui pourraient être directement mobilisables afin de : protéger la population, soutenir la prise en charge des malades, tester la population, surveiller l'évolution de la maladie au niveau individuel et l'évolution de la pandémie, ou aider à limiter les contraintes pendant la période de crise. Important : les projets devront être d'une maturité technologique suffisante pour être employables pendant l'actuelle pandémie. Ces solutions innovantes devront être facilement et rapidement reproductibles et s'appliquer à l'échelle de l'ensemble du territoire national dans l'enveloppe budgétaire définie. Un budget de 10 000 000€ TTC est prévu pour cet appel à projets, qui vise à financer un à plusieurs projets d'intérêt. Pour permettre le soutien d'un maximum de projets prometteurs, sauf exceptions dûment justifiées, les projets retenus par cet appel à projets ne seront pas cumulables avec les financements flash mis en place par l'UE ou l'ANR : Appel à projets de l'Agence nationale pour la recherche (ANR) : https://anr.fr/fr/detail/call/appel-a-projets-flash-covid-19/ Appel à projets de la Commission européenne : https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/startups-and-smes-innovative-solutions-welcome-2020-mar-13_en Les propositions de réponse sont attendues et évaluées au fil de l'eau jusqu'au 12 avril 2020. Les propositions déposées tardivement, jusqu'au 12 avril inclus, pourront être étudiées mais leurs chances d'être retenues seront fortement réduites. Ce que nous recherchons Nous avons identifié un certain nombre de domaines et de situations concrètes pour lesquels nous pressentons des améliorations possibles : Protections individuelles ou collectives, soignants et populations (e.g. masques, « hygiaphones de fortune », concepts innovants de protection, de barrières, techniques de recyclage, Do It Yourself, etc.) ; Gestion de la distance de sécurité entre individus ; Automatisation de t'ches pour le prélèvement, le nettoyage du matériel ou des salles ; Facilitation du déploiement d'hôpitaux de campagne en soutien aux populations ; Gestion de crise, aiguillage, structuration/modularité des chaînes de prise en charge (e.g. gestion logistique, RH, etc.) ; Production de nouvelles solutions de décontamination pour tout type de surface, pour petits et grands matériels, pour les espaces de vie, etc. ; Capacité de production en masse de solutions de décontamination ; Soutien à la prise en charge médicale (production du matériel ou traitement manquant, concept de recyclage, de détournement ou autre idée permettant de pallier ces manques) ; Détection du virus dans l'environnement ; Diagnostic et autodiagnostic rapide et conduite à tenir associée - dépistage massif - dépistage participatif ; Gestion de l'impact psychologique individuel et sociétal (communication et sensibilisation sur la crise et l'épidémie, amélioration de la perception du risque d'épidémie, gestion de l'après crise, etc.) ; Facteurs de limitation des déplacements et lutte contre la transgression ; Amélioration du travail à distance (outils de continuité numérique, sécurisation, etc.) ; Amélioration de la vie en isolement à domicile (numériques mais aussi hors solutions numériques) ; Autres thèmes dûment argumentés. NOTE IMPORTANTE aux producteurs de masques de protection : Dans le contexte de la crise sanitaire du COVID-19, les autorités gouvernementales ont sollicité l'appui de la direction générale de l'armement (DGA) du ministère des armées afin d'aider à identifier et caractériser des solutions permettant d'accroître la disponibilité de masques de protection face au virus. Nous travaillons en étroite collaboration avec la direction générale des entreprises (DGE) du Ministère de l'économie et des finances. Devant le succès de cette initiative, deux adresses m.él dédiées ont été créées et nous demandons aux entreprises d'adresser toute correspondance à ces deux adresses pour en accélérer le traitement. Adresse mél DGA : dga.Masques-Contact.fct(a)intradef.gouv.fr Adresse mél DGE : masques.dge(a)finances.gouv.fr Une fois l'accord préalable de la DGE obtenu pour la mise en test d'un prototype, les échantillons sont à envoyer à : DGA Maîtrise NRBC 5 rue Lavoisier 91710 VERT-LE-PETIT Nous ne sommes pas seulement intéressés par des technologies nouvelles ; le caractère innovant des propositions pourra consister à réorienter des technologies ou des processus industriels existants (par exemple détourner une usine de production de parfum pour en faire du gel hydroalcoolique). Nous acceptons les propositions provenant de tous types d'opérateurs : académiques, petites, moyennes entreprises, entreprises de taille intermédiaire, grands groupes. Des groupements constitués de ces différents types d'opérateurs seront possibles. En fonction du vecteur de financement ou d'acquisition utilisé, des restrictions sur l'origine ou la taille des opérateurs économiques pourront être appliquées. Les propositions internes des personnels civils et militaires du ministère des Armées sont également les bienvenues. Ce dont nous ne voulons pas Votre proposition ne doit pas proposer une innovation en cours de maturation qui n'a aucune chance d'être employée pour lutter contre l'actuelle pandémie. Contenu de la proposition Compte tenu de l'urgence du projet, la présentation et les justificatifs devront être les plus concis et précis possibles. La proposition doit contenir les documents suivants : le descriptif technique de la solution proposée et le cas d'usage (utilisateur, situation d'emploi) auquel cette solution répond. le plan projet comprenant : Un planning des développements et de la mise en service identifiant les jalons et les livrables permettant de suivre l'avancement du projet ; Une décomposition du prix de la proposition, en distinguant le cas échéant la part financée par le ministère des Armées et d'autres sources de financement. Le déposant pourra utilement proposer des éléments optionnels dans sa proposition. Un document de justification explicitant l'apport du projet pour chacun des 3 critères d'évaluation infra (impact, crédibilité, calendrier). Le dossier total ne dépassera pas 30 pages. Sélection des projets d'intérêt Critères obligatoires Les propositions seront analysées au regard des critères obligatoires ci-dessous : La solution proposée s'inscrit dans le périmètre de l'appel à projets (cf. « Ce que nous recherchons » et « Ce dont nous ne voulons pas ») ; La proposition contient un plan projet ; La proposition justifie l'intérêt du projet pour chacun des trois critères d'évaluation présentés infra. Seules les propositions remplissant l'ensemble des critères obligatoires seront analysées au fil de l'eau lors de la sélection des projets. Critères d'évaluation Un comité d'évaluation impliquant différents experts du ministère des Armées évaluera les propositions au fur et à mesure de leur réception. Les évaluateurs, pourront, s'ils le jugent nécessaire, entrer en contact avec les déposants afin de leur demander des clarifications sur leur proposition. Les évaluateurs ne pourront utiliser les informations contenues dans les propositions qu'aux seules fins de l'évaluation. Cette évaluation sera fondée sur les 3 critères suivants : Impact : les bénéfices anticipés (pour la population, les cycles de décision, les personnels de santé...) ; Crédibilité : tout élément de preuve, scientifique ou technique, permettant de confirmer la faisabilité du projet ; Calendrier : délai de mise en œuvre de la solution. Le choix de financer une proposition est fondé sur les résultats d'évaluation, sur le coût de chaque proposition vis-à-vis du budget disponible et sur des considérations d'ordre stratégique pour la personne publique. Les déposants dont la proposition n'aura pas été retenue pourront demander un avis synthétique sur leur proposition. Modalités pratiques Budget et contractualisation L'AID prévoit un budget total de 10 000 000 € TTC, visant à financer entre un et plusieurs projets. Date limite de remise des propositions Les propositions de réponse sont attendues et évaluées au fil de l'eau jusqu'au 12 avril 2020. Les propositions déposées tardivement, jusqu'au 12 avril inclus, pourront être étudiées mais leurs chances d'être retenues seront fortement réduites. Les propositions émises par les opérateurs économiques (personnes morales ou personnes physiques) doivent être déposées à l'adresse suivante : https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/appel-a-projets-aid-covid-19 Les propositions émises par les personnels civils et militaires du ministère des Armées (personnes physiques) doivent être déposées à l'adresse suivante : https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/appel-a-projets-aid-covid-19-innovateurs-minarm Un accusé sera transmis dès réception de la proposition. Important : en remettant son dossier, le déposant accepte sans réserve les conditions de l'appel à projets. Questions Vous pouvez poser toute question relative à l'appel à projets via l'adresse suivante : agenceinnovation.dir.fct(a)intradef.gouv.fr Protection des données à caractère personnel Les données à caractère personnel portées en réponse aux formulaires de dépôt de projet font l'objet d'un traitement mis en œuvre par le directeur de l'Agence de l'Innovation de Défense. Nous traitons vos données dans le but unique de permettre l'évaluation des projets et leur concrétisation éventuelles suite à l'évaluation. Les données seront conservées pendant une période de 6 mois après la date de clôture de l'appel à projet. Pendant cette période, nous mettons en place tous moyens aptes à assurer la confidentialité et la sécurité de vos données à caractère personnel, de manière à empêcher leur endommagement, effacement ou accès par des tiers non autorisés. Conformément à la loi « Informatique et Libertés » du 6 janvier 1978 modifiée et au Règlement Général sur la protection des données (RGPD) en vigueur depuis le 25 mai 2018. Vous bénéficiez d'un droit d'accès et de rectification sur vos données que vous pouvez exercer en contactant l'Agence de l'Innovation de Défense à l'adresse suivante : agenceinnovation.dir.fct(a)intradef.gouv.fr Mise à disposition des moyens du GENCI Les chercheurs académiques et industriels travaillant sur le sujet peuvent avoir accès immédiatement aux moyens de calcul et de stockage de la TGIR GENCI. Créée en 2007 par le MESRI, le CNRS, le CEA, la CPU et Inria, GENCI met à disposition des chercheurs français des moyens de calcul (supercalculateurs) et de stockage, souverains, opérés en France au TGCC (CEA), IDRIS (CNRS) et CINES (Universités) afin d'accélérer les travaux de recherche en modélisation/simulation, traitement de données massives et usage de l'intelligence artificielle (GENCI est une des composantes du plan français AIForHumanity avec la machine Jean Zay qui dispose notamment de 1300 GPU et 35 Po de stockage haut débit).Ces moyens et les services de support des centres sont accessibles gratuitement par le biais d'une procédure accélérée, pour plus d'information sur les moyens mis à disposition par GENCI vous pouvez vous référer ici : http://www.genci.fr/fr/node/1036 ; ou contacter directement Stéphane Requena, Directeur Technique & Innovation : stephane.requena(a)genci.fr Droits : AID

Do you know someone who deserves to be celebrated? VIMY AWARD CALL FOR NOMINATIONS DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED? Nominations Now Open for the annual Vimy Award presented at the 30th edition of the Vimy Gala. Established in 1991, the Vimy Award recognizes a Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of our nation and the preservation of our democratic values. It is normally presented as a lifetime achievement award. Past Recipients Her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson The Right Honourable Joe Clark The Honourable Bill Graham MGen Romeo Dallaire 2020 Distinguished Selection Committee Members Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Richard Wagner Chief of Defence Staff LGen Jonathan Vance Deputy Minister Jody Thomas The award honours the bravery and sacrifice of the Canadian soldiers – comprising the four divisions of the Canadian Corps – who were victorious in the battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917.  The selection committee includes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as industry and academic partners of the CDA Institute and members of the Board of Directors. Do you know someone who; Has made a sustained national or international contribution to Canada's National Security, Defence and/or the Canadian Military during his/her professional career. Serves as an inspiration at a national level within the Security, Defence and Military Community, through their leadership, practices, and accomplishments. Has garnered national and/or international recognition for his/her contributions to Canadian National Security, Defence and/or the Canadian Armed Forces. Is a leader whose achievements will be a source of historic and patriotic pride for generations to come. Nominations Deadline: July 1,2020 VISIT VIMY AWARD PAGE FOR FULL DETAILS VIMY GALA The Vimy Award will be presented at the prestigious Vimy Gala held on November 6, 2020 at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario. The Vimy Gala is a black-tie cocktail and dinner held annually since 1991 in Ottawa to honour Canada's fallen heroes in the context of the Remembrance Day activities held across the country. The Gala brings together active and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces alongside future officers currently enrolled at the Royal Military Colleges, as well as industry and government leaders and international guests of honour. It will be an evening to remember and to reflect upon the sacrifices many have made for our nation and for the sake of building a more just and prosperous world. It is also a celebration of Canada and men and women who serve. The Gala is also an opportunity for defence professionals to recognize outstanding individuals in our community, whose courage, vision, and achievements inspire us all. To that end, we present the Vimy Award to a Canadian who has made an outstanding, lifelong contribution to our national security and defence and to preserving our democratic values. Past recipients include Her Excellency Adrianne Clarkson, the Honourable BIll Graham, General Rick Hillier, and the Right Honourable Joe Clark,LGen Christine Whitecross and most recently, Richard B. Fadden, O.C. 2019 Richard B. Fadden, O.C Vimy Award Acceptance Speech: 2020 and Beyond: Where Does Canada Fit? ATTEND and/or SPONSOR THE VIMY GALA 15% early bird discounts available The 30th Anniversary Vimy Gala will take place on: November 6, 2020 At the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Contact Jennifer Giguere to find out about booking your Vimy Gala table and/or sponsorship at our 15% early bird special (ends July 1st). Please note that individual seating registration will only open in the fall. Gold Sponsors and above will be invited to a "Chairman's Circle" VIP Cocktail with members of the selction committee and the 2020 award laureate. jennifer@cdainstitute.ca CDA INSTITUTE PARTNERS PREMIER PARTNER STRATEGIC PARTNERS OPERATIONAL PARTNER Conference of Defence Associations Institute | 75 Albert Street, Suite 900, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E7 Canada

On April 8, 2020, the DARPA Small Business Programs Office (SBPO) pre-released the following SBIR/STTR Opportunities (SBOs): "Seabed Simulation Synthesis", Announcement Number HR001120S0019-04, published at https://beta.sam.gov/search?keywords=HR001120S0019-04 "Wearable Laser Detection and Alert System", Announcement Number HR001120S0019-05, published at https://beta.sam.gov/search?keywords=HR001120S0019-05 "Open Source Wide Band Software Defined Acoustic Modem", Announcement Number HR001120S0019-06, published at https://beta.sam.gov/search?keywords=HR001120S0019-06 These SBOs will open for proposals on April 23, 2020 and close on May 26, 2020. If you have any questions on the open BAAs or DSIP, please contact the DSIP Help Desk Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET at 703-214-1333 or DoDSBIRSupport@reisystems.com. Thank you for your interest in the DoD SBIR/STTR Program. DoD SBIR/STTR Support Team

Today we launched our Testing Stream (formerly the Build in Canada Innovation Program) Call for Proposals aimed at Canadian innovators who have a prototype that can help Canada combat COVID-19 or similar future outbreaks. This call for proposals is a special edition of our Testing Stream and will be open for a limited time to support the Government of Canada's collective efforts in combating COVID-19. We are calling on innovators across the country who have an innovative solution ready to be tested by the federal government and its provincial, territorial and municipal partners to submit a proposal. You could land a sale of up to $550K, and if your innovation is deemed to be a game changer in the fight against COVID-19, under exceptional circumstances we may provide additional funding to test your innovation. This funding opportunity is open for a LIMITED time only – Apply before April 21, 2020. We are also planning the launch of a Testing Stream open Call for Proposals for any type of innovative prototype in Spring-Summer 2020. You may also be interested in three COVID-19 R&D funding challenges we recently launched: Made in Canada filtration material for the manufacture of N95 respirators and surgical masks Point of Care and Home Diagnostic Kit for COVID-19 Low-cost sensor system for COVID-19 patient monitoring APPLY ONLINE Aujourd'hui, nous avons lancé notre appel à propositions pour le volet de mise à l'essai (anciennement le Programme d'innovation construire au Canada - PICC) destiné aux innovateurs canadiens qui disposent d'un prototype pouvant aider le Canada à lutter contre COVID-19 ou d'autres épidémies futures similaires. Cet appel à propositions est une édition spéciale de notre volet de mise à l'essai, et sera ouvert pour une durée limitée, afin de soutenir les efforts collectifs du gouvernement du Canada dans la lutte contre COVID-19. Nous invitons les innovateurs de tout le pays qui disposent d'une solution innovante prête à être testée par le gouvernement fédéral et ses partenaires provinciaux, territoriaux et municipaux à soumettre une proposition. Vous pourriez décrocher une vente allant jusqu'à 550 000 $, et si votre innovation est considérée comme un facteur de changement important dans la lutte contre COVID-19, nous pouvons dans des circonstances exceptionnelles, vous fournir un financement supplémentaire pour tester votre innovation. Cette opportunité de financement est ouverte pour une durée LIMITÉE seulement - Posez votre candidature avant le 21 avril 2020. Nous prévoyons également le lancement d'un appel à propositions ouvert pour tout type de prototype innovant, au printemps-été 2020. Vous pourriez également être intéressé par trois opportunités de financement sous forme de défis visant la R&D que nous avons récemment lancée : Matériau de filtration fait au Canada pour la fabrication de respirateurs N95 et de masques chirurgicaux Système de capteurs peu coûteux surveiller l'état des patients atteints de la COVID-19 Trousse de diagnostic au point de service et à domicile pour le COVID-19 APPLIQUEZ EN LIGNE

By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — Last week's deal between Boeing and the U.S. Air Force on a fix for the KC-46 could pave the way for the tanker to refuel other aircraft without a person needed to manually control the process, a top service official said Thursday. On April 2, Boeing agreed to fix the KC-46's troubled Remote Vision System by creating an overhauled RVS 2.0 with new hardware and software. Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper told reporters those changes would include the addition of 4K high-definition cameras that will display imagery in color as well as modern processors and LiDAR (light detecting and ranging) sensors that will help improve depth perception. “A proper RVS like that is right on the doorstep to autonomy,” Roper said. “All you have to do is take that data that tells the world inside the jet the reality of geometries between the airplane and the boom outside the jet. Once you have that, you simply need to translate it into algorithms that allow the tanker to tank itself.” The KC-46's Remote Vision System has been a thorn in the side of the aircraft program since 2017, when issues with the system were first discovered. The RVS is basically a suite of cameras, sensors and software that is supposed to allow boom operators sitting inside the aircraft to safety steer the boom into the aircraft needing fuel. But in certain conditions, the system produces distorted imagery that increases the risk of the boom hitting another aircraft. The new LIDAR system will be key to fixing that problem, said Roper, who likened it to a backup camera on a car that also provides cues to a driver for parallel parking or assessing whether a vehicle is aligned flush to a curb. “We'll have something very similar to that for the boom operators, so telling them are they left, right and how close are they getting to the airplane,” he said. “[It's] something very intuitive and easy to work with, and I think that will help significantly with them understanding their distance [from the other aircraft] because LIDAR is extremely accurate.” Because Boeing is locked into a firm fixed-price contract for the development of the KC-46, it will have to pay for the upgrade to RVS 2.0 out of its own pocket, as the Air Force maintains that the current system does not meet requirements. But the service is so confident in the prospect of using the RVS 2.0 as a stepping stone to an autonomous tanker that it included an option in last week's agreement to fund the development of technologies that enable autonomous or semiautonomous refueling. “We have added an engineering change proposal into the deal with a not-to-exceed threshold of $55 million, so that when RVS 2.0 is done, we can then take the next step beyond 2.0 to develop those autonomy algorithms and install them if we think we can certify them for safe use,” Roper said. “We took that step because, one, we're excited about being on the doorsteps of autonomy and, [two], we wanted to send a clear signal in the deal that this is our tanker for the future,” he said. If the Air Force decides to move forward with those design changes, more will need to be done to hammer out the contractual details, said Jamie Burgess, Boeing's KC-46 program manager. “There was no commitment one way or another on who pays for what. But there's definitely a strong partnership between Boeing and the Air Force as far as developing this technology,” he said. Autonomous refueling capability has been of increasing interest to the Air Force over the past few years, as sensing and artificial intelligence technologies grow by leaps and bounds. Boeing previously signaled it could include such technology as part of a menu of potential upgrade options for the KC-46, as reported by FlightGlobal in 2018. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/04/08/boeings-kc-46-tanker-now-has-a-pathway-for-autonomous-aerial-refueling

Kelsey D. Atherton Designing a drone body is about settling on the right compromise. Multirotor drones excel at vertical lift and hover, while fixed wing drones are great at both distance and wide-open spaces. In February, Auterion Government Solutions and Quantum-Systems announced a two-pronged approach to the rotor- or fixed-wing drone market, with a pair of drones that use the same sensor packages and fuselage to operate as either the Scorpion Trirotor or the Vector fixed wing craft. “As we started to develop our tactical UAS Platform, our plan was only to develop a VTOL fixed wing solution (like our Vector),” said Florian Siebel, managing director of Quantum-Systems. “During the development process we decided to build a Tri-Copter Platform as well, as a result of many discussions with law enforcement agencies and Search and Rescue Units.” Adapting the fixed-wing fuselage to the tri-copter attachments means the drone can now operate in narrow spaces and harsh conditions. Scorpion, with the rotors, can fly for about 45 minutes, with a cruising speed of zero to 33 mph. Put the fixed wings back on for Vector, and the flight time is now two hours, with a cruising speed of 33 to 44 mph. The parts snap into place without any need for special tooling, and Auterion recommends the drone for missions in rain or snow. Both platforms share a gimbal EO/IR with 10x optical zoom, 720p EO video, 480p IR video, laser illuminator, IR laser ranger. Common between modes is also a tactical mapping tool using a 21 megapixel Sony UMC R10C camera. For the scorpion, there's also the option of a gimbaled electro-optical camera with a 30x optical zoom. Both drones are designed to fit in rucksacks that a person can carry one at a time. While many features are common across Vector and Scorpion, the plan is not to include both rotors or wings in the same kit. Once a team packs into the field with a drone on its back, that's the mode the drone can be used in. Auterion intends to ship the drones by the fourth quarter of 2020, with preorders available. Designing a drone body is about settling on the right compromise. Vector and Scorpion are built on top of open source code. This includes an operating system capable of programmable autopilot , as well as machine-vision collision prevention and obstacle detection and avoidance. Software for the ground station and cloud data management of the drone are also built on open source code. The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit awarded Auterion a $2 million contract last year to work on the PX4 software to help drive compatibility standards in the drone industry. As militaries across the world look to the enterprise sector for capable drones at smaller profile than existing military models, transparency in code and flexibility in airframe could become more widely adopted trends. In the meantime, there is Vector, and there is Scorpion. https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/03/25/open-source-platforms-flexible-airframes-for-new-drones