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By: Jen Judson HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter demonstrated its ability to send data to the U.S. Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System during the Orange Flag Evaluation 19-2 at Palmdale, California, and Fort Bliss, Texas, in June. F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin announced in an Aug. 6 statement that the jet, in a live demonstration, sent track data to the IBCS through the F-35 ground station and “F-35-IBCS adaptation kit.” The Northrop Grumman-developed IBCS was able to “receive and develop fire control quality composite tracks during the exercise, leveraging the F-35 as an elevated sensor," the statement added. The capability is seen as important in multidomain operations because it would be able to detect threats that are tough for ground-based sensors alone to pick up. “This demonstration represents a significant growth in capability for the Army IAMD program and Army for multi-domain operations. The capability creates additional battlespace awareness, and the ability to track incoming targets and take action, if necessary,” Scott Arnold, Lockheed's deputy of integrated air and missile defense, said in the statement. “The F-35, with its advanced sensors and connectivity, is able to gather and seamlessly share critical information, enabling greater joint force protection and a higher level of lethality of Army IAMD forces.” But the demonstration isn't only about the F-35′s ability to contribute as a sensor in the air and missile defense architecture, but also about the IBCS' ability to bring in sensor data from a variety of platforms. The IBCS was originally developed as the brains of the Army's future air and missile defense system, but its potential mission continues to grow as the service works to tie other sensors to IBCS to create a layered defense. The service is also working to tie in radars and sensors for its Indirect Fire Protection Capability as well as its Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense system. The idea now is for the IBCS to tie into any sensor or shooter the Army brings into its framework. The F-35 ground station has been sent to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, to continue F-35 integration testing during IAMD developmental testing. The Army's IBCS program experienced delays as it added capabilities to its defensive framework to protect against everything from ballistic missiles and cruise missiles to unmanned aircraft to rockets, artillery and mortars. But it is now the top priority for the Army's cross-functional team dedicated to air and missile defense. The team is tasked with modernizing capabilities under Army Futures Command. IBCS will undergo a limited user test next spring ahead of a production decision in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/08/06/f-35-talks-to-army-missile-command-system/

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Key to the success of integrating drones into UK airspace is collaboration that embraces the speed of innovation, while also addressing and preparing for the emerging security gaps that drones pose. In an interview this week with German newspaper, Welt am Sonntag, the EU Commissioner for Security Union, Julian King, shared that drones are becoming more powerful and smarter, which makes them more and more attractive for legitimate use, but also for hostile acts. The advancements in drone technology has far outrun the pace at which government leaders can regulate and oversee the market. As a result, the public has access to inexpensive, powerful technology to support enterprises such as aerial mapping, video production, and product delivery, but also for nefarious purposes, such as spying, distributing contraband, and damaging property. “Drones are here to stay, and preventable incursions, such as those at airports, correctional facilities and stadiums, will only increase and escalate in impact,” shares Joerg Lamprecht, CEO and co-founder of counterdrone technology company Dedrone. “Dedrone is the global leader in airspace security and helps organisations protect both public and private assets from drone threats. It's critical to heed this call to action from EU leaders to measure drone activity in critical airspace, and apply this information to protect civilians from all drone threats.” Dedrone's platform is deployed across the UK and enables security teams to build procedures to defend against the escalating drone threat. In response to the Gatwick and Heathrow drone incursions, Dedrone published the UK Airport Airspace Security Study, which revealed drone activity data collected across multiple UK airports, and the steps taken to prevent interruptions. Worldwide, Dedrone also protects open-air events, such as the RBC Canadian Open, and works directly with US and European armed forces, including the US Department of Defense. About Dedrone Dedrone is the market and technology leader in airspace security. The Dedrone counter-drone platform combines hardware sensors and machine-learning software, providing early warning, classification of, and mitigation against all drone threats. Based in San Francisco, Dedrone was founded in 2014 and is backed by investors including Felicis Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and John Chambers, Chairman Emeritus of Cisco Systems and founder of JC2 Ventures. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190805005717/en

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The Department of National Defence is looking at buying two more drones to replace those damaged in crashes earlier this year. Two of the Blackjack uninhabited aerial vehicles were damaged beyond economical repair on Jan. 31 and March 21. The damage occurred during training flights, one of which involved a collision with the recovery system. In late June there were articles in the U.S. defence press about Boeing subsidiary Insitu receiving new contracts for RQ-21A Blackjack small unhabituated aerial vehicles from the U.S. government and other countries including Canada. But the DND says the claims about Canada proceeding with a purchase are premature. Canada announced in 2016 that it was acquiring small uninhabited aerial system or SUAS (RQ-21A Blackjack) from the U.S. through a Foreign Military Sale. The federal government bought one complete system so far. That package includes four aircraft with one spare, which was delivered to the 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support) in CFB Gagetown. With the crashes earlier this work is underway at the DND on whether to proceed with replacing those aircraft. “We are assessing the possibility of making use of the provisions in this contract to purchase replacement aircraft, as two units were damaged beyond economical repair earlier this year,” explained DND spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande. Flight safety investigations are ongoing in order to determine cause and assess preventative measures, she added. Discussions are ongoing with the U.S. so costs and a timeline for replacements is not yet known. “We are also exploring the possibility of purchasing a second system, though internal discussions are still ongoing and no final decision has yet been made,” Lamirande said. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/dnd-looking-at-acquiring-drones-to-replace-those-damaged-in-crashes-earlier-this-year

Macfab, a manufacturer of components and sub-assemblies, has announced it will support the Launch Canada Challenge. The Launch Canada Challenge is an industry-partnered student rocket competition that was created as a result of university student rocketry programs across the country excelling in international competitions and to fill a gap that government doesn't seem interested in filling. Macfab will provide $5,000 in funding. Joe Magyar, Macfab's Business Development Director is a big believer in the Challenge and what organizer Adam Trumpour is trying to achieve. “We first met Adam Trumpour at a space industry conference. We were so impressed by his enthusiasm for Canada's space sector, we featured him in a Macfab video profile. When we heard about Launch Canada, we immediately wanted to be part of this exciting venture.” He told SpaceQ he hopes this will spur on other companies to get involved. Adam Trumpour said “industry support is critical to Launch Canada's success. We are delighted that Macfab recognized the value of nurturing Canada's future space leaders. Thank you, Team Macfab!” http://spaceq.ca/macfab-will-support-the-launch-canada-challenge-rocketry-competition/

CSA FAST Program. Credit: Canadian Space Agency. Facebook Twitter Stumbleupon LinkedIn Today the Canadian Space Agency announced the Flights and Fieldwork for the Advancement of Science and Technology (FAST) 2019 opportunity. According to the Canadian Space Agency the FAST program supports “research projects of Canadian universities and post-secondary institutions that will contribute to the development of new scientific knowledge and space technologies, while making it possible for students to acquire hands-on experience in space-like missions.” The last FAST program awards were in 2017 where $6.2 million was awarded for 31 projects. In this FAST program announcement the expected budget is $3.5 million going to approximately 19 awards. The maximum duration for the grants is three years. For FAST 2019 the grants will be awarded in two categories; Category A: Maximum grant of $300,000 for a maximum duration of three years for an end-to-end space-like mission project that includes the development or improvement of a technology, use of the technology during a flight or field or research site deployment, and data collection and analysis; the maximum amount available per year is $150,000. Those familiar with the program and interested in applying for Category A should be aware that FAST 2019 appears to be a merging of FAST 2017 Category A and B with the resulting median award of $300,000 being the new ceiling for grants. Category B: Maximum grant of $100,000 for two or three years, for a small space-related research project; the maximum amount available per year is $50,000. Category B is what Category C was in FAST 2017. The application deadline is October 18, 2019, 1:00 pm ET. http://spaceq.ca/the-canadian-space-agency-announces-the-fast-2019-opportunity/

DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland (HHM402-19-D-0005); Bluehawk LLC,* West Palm Beach, Florida (HHM402-19-D-0008); Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0007); CACI Inc. – Federal, Arlington, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0015); Calhoun International LLC,* Tampa, Florida (HHM402-19-D-0009); Celestar Corp.,* Tampa, Florida (HHM402-19-D-0010); CSRA LLC, Falls Church, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0016); Edge Analytic Solutions LLC,* McLean, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0012); Fulcrum IT Services LLC, Centerville, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0017); Invictus International Consulting LLC,* Alexandria, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0013); Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0018); Mission Essential Personnel LLC, New Albany, Ohio (HHM402-19-D-0019); Preting LLC,* Alexandria, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0014); SOS International LLC, Reston, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0020); The Buffalo Group LLC, Reston, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0021); and Vencore/Perspecta, Chantilly, Virginia (HHM402-19-D-0022), were awarded a five-year base plus five one-year option indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ), multiple-award contract called Solutions for Intelligence Analysis 3 (SIA 3) with a combined ceiling value of $17,100,000,000. This contract will provide worldwide coverage, support and assistance to the Defense Intelligence Agency by delivering timely, objective and cogent military intelligence to warfighters, defense planners and defense and national security policy makers, all vital to the security of the U.S. Work will be performed at contractor facilities and at government facilities in multiple locations in the continental U.S. and overseas with a start date of Aug. 5, 2019, and an estimated completion date of Aug. 4, 2029. The SIA 3 contract was awarded through a full and open solicitation and 29 offers were received. Six of the 16 awardees are small businesses. Each company will receive a $1,000 minimum guarantee. Task orders (TO) will be issued competitively under this ID/IQ, which will allow for the following TO contract types: firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-award-fee and time-and-material. The Virginia Contracting Activity, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ARMY ZGF-Leo A. Daly JV, Omaha, Nebraska, was awarded a $130,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for engineering, architectural, renovation, construction of new specialty care building, construction of a new parking garage, upgrades to utility and energy plant, demolition of buildings, development and evaluation of alternatives, design, and support during construction. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 4, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, Oregon, is the contracting activity (W9127N-19-D-0002). AECOM Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California (W9128F-19-D-0009); Burns & McDonnel, Kansas, Missouri (W9128F-19-D-0007); Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., St. Louis, Missouri (W9128F-19-D-0010); and HDR Engineering Inc., Omaha, Nebraska (W9128F-19-D-0008), will compete for each order of the $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineer services, preparation of studies, analysis and design. Bids were solicited via the internet with 13 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 4, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. Tetra Tech Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts, was awarded a $45,000,000 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Saudi Arabia) contract for architect-engineer design, quality control, master planning, planning and programming documentation, transportation, force protection, construction phase services and subject matter expert support. 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 Aug. 4, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W912ER-19-D-0013). Messer Construction Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a $28,968,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a maintenance hangar, maintenance hangar area, general purpose shop area, corrosion control area and avionics shop area. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Louisville, Tennessee, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 15, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $28,968,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (W912L7-19-C-7001). HDR Engineering Inc., Omaha, Nebraska, was awarded a $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect, engineering and design services. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 6, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-D-4010). Missouri Department of Social Services, Jefferson City, Missouri, was awarded a $16,675,000 modification (P00005) to contract W911S7-18-C-0011 for full food service. Work will be performed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 5, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, is the contracting activity. Science Applications International, Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $16,498,835 modification (0001 44) to contract W31P4Q-18-A-0011 for systems engineering support. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 Foreign Military Sales; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $16,498,835 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. SourceAmerica, Vienna, Virginia, was awarded a $9,998,043 firm-fixed-price contract for manufacturing and development of the Army Green Service Uniform. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Vienna, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 4, 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; and military personnel, Army funds in the amount of $9,998,043 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QY-19-C-0063). Integrated Environmental Solutions Inc.,* Crestwood, Illinois, was awarded a $9,737,430 firm-fixed-price contract to stabilize the existing crib structure for the Chicago Lock's North Pier. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Chicago, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2021. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 civil construction funds in the amount of $9,737,430 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W912P6-19-C-0009). NAVY ShadowObjects LLC, Leonardtown, Maryland, is awarded a $34,060,886 cost-plus-fixed-fee, labor hour, cost-reimbursable indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides support services to include acquisition management, acquisition planning, acquisition execution and administration, program management, systems engineering, process automation and financial management in support of the Naval Air Systems Command Logistics and Industrial Operations group; Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers, Corporate Business Office and other Department of Defense commands and activities. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (74%); and Lexington Park, Maryland (26%), and is expected to be completed in August 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; six offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0073). The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded $32,078,298 for modification P00149 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-14-C-0067). This modification provides for the performance of damage tolerance analysis on the P-8A aircraft to determine the damage tolerance rating. Additionally, this modification will provide non-destructive inspections for structural components on the P-8A aircraft. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington (74%); St. Louis, Missouri (21%); and Huntsville, Alabama (5%), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $32,078,298 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Harris Corp., RF Communications, Rochester, New York, is awarded an $18,739,106 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of and repair of various radios and associated communications equipment for the Tactical Air Control Party – Modernization (TACP-M) program. This action supports the Air Force TACP-M program's Air Support Operations Center Gateway Systems, Gateway Lite Systems, Stryker Systems, Mobile Communication Systems and Dismounted Systems. The Harris Corp. radios are hardware that provide tactical communications in a man-pack portable kit that is designed to be packed into a bag or case that can be easily carried or worn by the user. Each of the radios has unique properties. The Harris Corp. radios and related equipment have proven interoperability within the existing TACP-M architecture. Work will be performed in Rochester, New York, and is expected to be complete by December 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funding in the amount of $120,080 is obligated at contract award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This sole-source contract was not competitively procured in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, only one responsible source. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-19-D-JV38). The Raytheon Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded $17,486,136 for modification P00002 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-19-C-0056) to procure 72 LAU-115 D/A missile launchers; 16 LAU-116 B/A missile launchers left hand; and 32 LAU-116 B/A missile launchers right hand. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed in February 2023. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,486,136 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, is awarded a $9,338,631 cooperative research agreement to research development of an artificial intelligence system that acquires machine common sense through observation from images, video and text by absorbing knowledge from both manually created sources and by human guidance. This research seeks capabilities that can enable artificial intelligence agents to support search and rescue efforts, autonomous vehicle navigation in unfamiliar terrain and machines that can adapt to unforeseen circumstances. This is a four-year contract with no options. Work will be performed at USC in Los Angeles, California, and is expected to be completed Aug. 4, 2023. Research, development, test and evaluation (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) funds in the amount of $1,018,876 will be obligated at the time of award. This agreement was competitively procured via a broad agency announcement and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 23 proposals received and nine selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-2-4032). Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is awarded $8,611,774 for cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00037 under previously awarded contract N66604-15-C-086C on a sole-source basis to provide additional engineering services. The modification includes 35,000 hours and other direct costs associated with system and shipboard integration, required system changes and support of government led testing and training. Under this modification, Raytheon will provide the required services and deliverables to achieve weight reduction of the Escort Mission Module (EMM) towed systems and associated dry-end components in support of Littoral Combat Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package. Raytheon is responsible for fabrication, test and delivery of the EMM components. Work will be performed at various contractor site and Department of Defense facilities in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (90%); Ft. Pierce, Florida (5%); and San Diego, California (5%), and is expected to be complete in December 2021. Fiscal 2019 and 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,053,121 will be obligated at award, and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, is the contracting activity. U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Harley Marine Services Inc., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a firm fixed-price contract, HTC711-19-C-W002, in the estimated amount of $19,819,032. The contract provides transportation of Department of Defense-owned fuel and marine diesel by tug and barge to the Defense Logistics Agency. Work will be performed in all ordered U.S. ports and points on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast and their connecting waterways, inland waterways, coastal waterways, rivers and tributaries. The contract base period of performance is from Nov. 1, 2019, to Oct. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds will be obligated at the start of performance. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Raytheon Co., Goleta, California, was awarded a modification to exercise an option totaling $8,263,421 to previously awarded contract HR0011-19-C-0010 for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research project. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract from $4,334,736 to $12,598,157. Work will be performed in Goleta, California; Waltham, Massachusetts; Irvine, California; Oxnard, California; and Joplin, Missouri, with an expected completion date of Nov. 4, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,723,915 are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1926294/source/GovDelivery/

By: Mike Gruss WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin is intricately tied to the Pentagon's future space endeavors. The giant defense contractor has deals for the Air Force's next-generation missile warning satellites, it's new batch of GPS satellites and the current generation of protected communication space vehicles. But the national security space community is changing fast. Space is now viewed as a war-fighting domain, a far cry from decades ago. Rick Ambrose heads the company's space division. He spoke with Mike Gruss, editor of Defense News sister publications C4ISRNET and Fifth Domain, about where the Pentagon is headed and how to make sense of the new realities in space. What advantages do you see with the Air Force's new missile warning satellite program over the current Space Based Infrared Program? The Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Program is, in essence, a whole new design, which is why we're competing for payload. So it's going to have a tremendous new mission capability, built-in resiliency capabilities, much more flexibility. What does that mean, flexibility? We're going to put in some of our smart sat processing that will help with the payload. We'll make sure we can incrementally upgrade, or the Air Force can, over time. If you think about this, SBIRS [the Space Based Infrared Surveillance system] was originally designed back in the '90s. Basically it's a whole modernization of the mission — better performance across the board. We need more continuous coverage; you need better resolutions. You need a better differentiation of the threat. You need to build in the resiliency, plus the modern ability and some of the processing. So how do we upgrade algorithms on the fly? All that's going to be enabled in this design. When we talk about the smart sat part of that, is that something that today you would get an image and then have to process it on the ground? So the savings is you can do it there so you get it faster. Or is there a different advantage? This is always the trade-off. To process everything on the ground, you have to now communicate every piece of data down right away. We still may ultimately want to do that. But what if we can run some processing on the satellite versus the ground? That design's still not perfectly baked in yet, but that's the direction we're going, is to build in some of that. I think of it like adding filters on Instagram. Another way to look at it would be: There are certain things that you'll locally process on your phone not to clog the communications. We can upload patches and software like we do on most satellites. We've been doing this for decades. But now it just gives you more flexibility to do even more things. You know, a lot of times we're flying satellites for 20 years and we keep finding new ways to use them. Let's build that in up front. I would imagine the Air Force is more open to that kind of thinking. Oh, absolutely. Well, because the threat environment has changed, there are go-fast initiatives, [such as Space and Missile Systems Center] SMC 2.0. We love it because things in the past, it would take longer to prosecute changes on. Now with their new push — you know, [the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics], Dr. [Will] Roper's push for speed and agility — now once we get the program going and get all the designs finalized, then you'll go to a more traditional —you have to prove out the concept and prove out that the system works and then deploy. We do agile develop for them, but they go: “We're going to constantly change.” Well, commercial could get away with that because if suddenly Google goes down, you don't lose lives. These systems protect lives. The men and women that serve, weather systems, even the private citizens. It's serious business. So that's where we'll always be different than some on the commercial side. If you think about timing of the program up front, at the stage we're at [a low-production rate]. Now is where we can do experimentation and try out new designs. With the Space Development Agency, how do you see that integration improving? What happens is the exact opposite of what should happen. Let's say it takes five or six or seven, eight years to get a satellite up. That's an expensive item. We have to move out and let's get the satellite going. Well, nothing ever works that simple. What we're saying is you need to put the end-to-end architecture together. That's why we brought our ground system together with us to help us help the government with this challenge. And then you get faster. And the other side of this, because it's on the ground, you go: “Oh, it's on the ground. We can always fix it.” The hope is with the Space Force, [SMC 2.0] and all this, we can synchronize better. But more importantly, how do we make a lot of technology more common to the space and ground infrastructure? If you're having to develop every element of that from scratch, it's just massive, it's costly. So what can you do? I did a study decades ago because everyone concentrates on the satellite. I said: “Well, what's the ground cost?” I ran our satellites and we've designed them to run 20 years. You go: “OK, what's the infrastructure cost around that?” And when you took a 20-year cycle of the ground and operations and processing, and think about it, every three years or so they're upgrading. Because you have people touch your computers so now they got to upgrade the machines every three or four years. The IT infrastructure and all that. Refurbish all that. The cost of that dwarfed any costs over that time period of the space asset because you paid once. It actually was more expensive than all the satellites and launches combined. We can knock the ground back a little bit by putting artificial intelligence in, ultimately machine learning, more automation, simplifying operations. You mentioned resilience at the satellite level. There's been talk: “Could a satellite evade a missile? Or evade another satellite?” People have a difficult time understanding what resilience at the space level means. If you're thinking of resilience, it's going to come in a couple of flavors. You touched on the first one. First, if you set your architecture up right, it'll inherently give you some resilience and allow you to make some different trades on the satellite level. Then the satellite itself can just be much more robust. So just inherently for mission assurance, the satellites are more robust and we've put redundant systems at higher quality, higher-reliability parts. You can think of it that way. For resiliencies, you well know there's some level of hardening on SBIRS and the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite anyway for both environmental as well as man-made events. The best it can do. Think safety systems you've put on your cars. In the past, when there were a few cars on the road, no one really worried about it. I think the first cars didn't even have seat belts. Or you just keep adding features as you learn more things. It's like with cyber, everyone says: “When are we done with cyber?” You're not because it's a journey. Every time you do something, someone else tries to defeat it. Boeing is under contract for the Air Force's next wideband communications satellite. The company is trying to quickly build it. Are you watching that process? We can come up with our ideas, some other people have ideas. The thing that is just fantastic about space right now [is] it's no longer just competition of its traditional players. There are over a thousand new entrants now if you count the numbers. You got large players coming in like Jeff Bezos. You've got traditional competitors, you've got the supply chain forward integrating. Think of a Harris and L3 combination. Those are all competitive surfaces, which makes this industry just damn exciting right now. And it may sound crazy, but that stimulates motivation. It stimulates innovation. It simulates the thinking and those competitive spirits, where it's kind of what this country was founded on, right? So we're always watching that. We've really modernized our production. In the old days everyone would hand-lay down the solar cells. We now have robotics and automation equipment just literally laying those cells down. It's more predictable. It's more ergonomically friendly for my technicians. One cell was like art almost. Now we're trying to say: “OK, we don't want to lose performance, but let's build in the design for producibility, operability, operations [on] Day One so that we can automate it.” So let's say an electronic card, which would take a technician three months to put together, solder, fill and now we run it down the line; in under eight hours, it's done. Is the Air Force OK with that process? I think of this as pretty unforgiving. Well, it still is. You go back six years ago, I think we did a dozen [3D]-printed parts. We did over 14,000 last year. If you go through our space electronic center, we put automation in. The problem for us in space is we have some unique parts and they weren't precise enough. How do you measure it? You know it's very valuable. You know you're taking time out. If anything, you're improving the quality of work life for your employees. There's this discussion that GPS III is the most resilient GPS satellite ever. And at the same time, the Army says: “We should count on it less than we ever have before.” How can both things be true? In GPS III, it's a much higher power. The M-code coming online makes it somewhat more resilient. But you'll still — again, just like cyber — you'll have adversaries still trying to figure out engineering and different things, techniques. If you take your GPS commercial receiver and you're running in the city, you get a lot of bounce off that urban canyon. So it knows like: “What? That dude looks funky. Throw him out.” Then it processes the ones that it thinks are good. That's a form of protecting that environment if you think about it. How will this play out? There's going to be some combination of software and then maybe some other sensors like we've been toying with, some microgravity sensors, which you can then kind of tell the region you're at. And some of the — just the onboard inertial systems — are getting pretty damn good. It's like your self-driving cars. It's going to rely on not just the cameras, but the little radar sensors and some combination of sensors. For [timing], when you're running software and you have all these sensors that are nodes in the network, and they can actually talk to each other, this is maybe a nirvana future state. Then the guesses you make are better informed with more data. There could be a world where GPS is making decisions with 80 percent of data that's coming from GPS satellites, and maybe it's pulling something from some other sources. https://www.c4isrnet.com/industry/2019/08/05/lockheed-space-exec-talks-future-space-endeavors/

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acorn Growth Companies, a private equity firm investing exclusively in aerospace, defense and intelligence, announced today the investment and controlling interest in Robbins-Gioia, a market leader in providing unique systems modernization and enterprise solutions focused on enhancing capabilities and improving performance and readiness for the federal government and industry. “Our investment in Robbins-Gioia represents our ongoing commitment in supporting the nation's requirements to modernize, streamline and secure its information technology architecture,” said Rick Nagel, managing partner of Acorn Growth Companies. “Robbins-Gioia's expertise in complex, enterprise-wide systems modernization, as well as the deeply embedded nature of its proprietary software products in critical military MRO systems have positioned the company for strong future growth. As the federal government continues to focus on systems modernization and warfighter readiness, we expect Robbins-Gioia will continue to deliver thought leadership and innovative solutions in support of these missions.” Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, Robbins-Gioia was the first firm to specialize in systems modernization solutions for the federal government and industry – transforming how they deliver and maintain readiness. The firm has evolved to be globally recognized for delivering purpose-built solutions to diverse challenges in business and government that modernize, secure and make its information technology architecture more efficient and effective through managed services, management consulting and innovative software tools, including The Jaguar Family of Advanced Scheduling Tools (JFAST™). JFAST is Robbins-Gioia 's premier suite of software tools for planning, analysis and management of complex, mission-critical activities for defense organizations. Robbins-Gioia enables the readiness of some of the nation's most critical military assets – keeping aircraft flying and ships sailing, using its JFAST scheduling systems. “We're excited to be partnered with Acorn Growth Companies,” said Brad King, CEO of Robbins-Gioia. “Acorn has a strong track record of success investing in and enabling the growth of companies within aerospace, defense and intelligence. With its tremendous network and planned investments in our people, processes and products, we see this partnership with Acorn as a key driver in the achievement of our vision to be the leader in delivering modernization and transformation for the federal government and similarly complex enterprises.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Robbins-Gioia Founded in 1980, Robbins-Gioia was the first firm specializing in program management services for the federal government. Today, they are the market leader in providing unique systems modernization and enterprise solutions focused on enhancing capabilities and improving performance and readiness for the federal government and industry. They deliver purpose-built solutions to diverse challenges in business and government through managed services, management consulting and software tools including JFAST™, RG's premier suite of software tools for planning, analysis, and management of complex, mission-critical activities for defense organizations. www.teamrg.com Acorn Growth Companies is a middle market private equity firm focused exclusively on Aerospace, Defense and Intelligence. Acorn invests solely in operating companies that strive to enhance global mobility and protect national interests. Acorn has a formidable reputation in the industry and is recognized for its deep understanding of the aerospace & defense markets, with proprietary access to the best companies within these sectors. With operational expertise and its ability to lead and manage investments through variable economic and industry cycles, Acorn works in tandem with management to build its portfolio companies into significant market leaders. AcornGrowthCompanies.com https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190805005409/en

Boeing investment accommodates V-22 fuselage production and MV-22 modification program Allows Ospreys to be delivered with higher quality, efficiency and improved safety PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 1, 2019 — Boeing [NYSE: BA], the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy celebrated the transformation of a 350,000-square-foot facility outside Philadelphia into a modern factory where company employees will build fuselages for the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft and modernize the MV-22 fleet for the Marines. “Boeing's $115 million investment supports U.S. and international demand for the unrivaled capabilities of the V-22,” said David Koopersmith, vice president and general manager, Boeing Vertical Lift. “We started this project two years ago in a mothballed building. Now, it is a state of the art manufacturing center for the only in-service tiltrotor aircraft in the world.” The new factory will improve safety and productivity, lower operating costs, and reduce Boeing's environmental impact. It will be home to the Common Configuration – Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM) program that standardizes the Marine Corps Osprey fleet by upgrading previously built aircraft to the new Block C configuration. The factory will also house fuselage production for Navy, Air Force, Marines, and international Osprey customers. “The V-22 readiness program is our number one priority,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Kelly, V-22 Joint Program Manager. “The CC-RAM program is key in meeting our readiness goals and returning capable and reliable aircraft to Marine units around the world.” Boeing employs approximately 4,600 people in Pennsylvania and supports 16,000 direct and indirect jobs in the commonwealth. https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2019-08-01-Boeing-Marines-Navy-Celebrate-115-Million-V-22-Facility