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  • In War, Chinese Shipyards Could Outpace US in Replacing Losses; Marine Commandant

    June 18, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land

    In War, Chinese Shipyards Could Outpace US in Replacing Losses; Marine Commandant

    “Replacing ships lost in combat will be problematic," Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger writes in a forthcoming paper. "Our industrial base has shrunk while peer adversaries have expanded their shipbuilding capacity. In an extended conflict, the United States will be on the losing end of a production race.” By PAUL MCLEARYon June 17, 2020 at 4:44 PM WASHINGTON: The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David Berger, dismisses current Marine and Navy plans for amphibious ships as “obsolete,” and worries that in any conflict, China could replace damaged ships faster than the US in a draft operating concept obtained by Breaking Defense. The warnings are the latest in a campaign waged by the reform-minded Berger to overhaul how the Marine Corps trains and equips to meet the challenges of China and other advanced nations, while working more closely with the other armed services and allies around the globe. In the sharply-worded 22-page document, Berger rejects war plans anticipating a Cold War-style confrontation in which huge ships can creep close to shore free from the threat of precision-guided munitions being launched from batteries deep inland. He calls the current configuration of amphibious ships “the most obvious manifestation of this obsolete paradigm” in a draft document obtained by Breaking Defense. In an unsigned draft of the unreleased report, “Naval Campaigning: The 2020 Marine Corps Capstone Operating Concept,” Berger underlines the need for new thinking about how the Marine Corps and Navy will fight an advanced Chinese military that can control islands, coastlines, and vast swaths of the sea with aircraft carriers, a swelling blue ocean fleet and long-distance precision munitions. The old way of thinking “is also exemplified by our current amphibious warships and maritime prepositioning ships, which are large and built for deployment efficiency rather than warfighting effectiveness,” he writes. “These superb, multipurpose ships are extremely expensive—meaning we've never had the desired number.” Berger also raises significant concerns about the United States' ability to replace any combat losses, even in a short, sharp conflict. “Replacing ships lost in combat will be problematic, inasmuch as our industrial base has shrunk, while peer adversaries have expanded their shipbuilding capacity. In an extended conflict, the United States will be on the losing end of a production race—reversing the advantage we had in World War II when we last fought a peer competitor.” The stark admission comes as the Navy's shipyards struggle under the disruptions caused by COVID-19, leading the service to order an emergency call up over 1,600 Reservists to fill labor shortages to do repair work on aircraft carriers and submarines in a desperate effort to get them back out to sea as soon as possible. Berger takes care not to blame the Navy for building expensive, relatively slow amphibious ships to carry Marines across the globe. “These issues should not be construed as a criticism of our Navy partners who built the fleet—to include the types of amphibious warfare and maritime prepositioning ships the Marine Corps asked for—that was appropriate to the security era within the constraints of finite resources.” But that era is now over the Corps wants to build a more dynamic “inside force” of smaller ships that can operate within range of Chinese and Russian weapons and pack a potent offensive punch while offering more and smaller targets than the current amphibious fleet. But these small ships won't replace their bigger cousins — they'll come in addition to them, creating new issues for both Navy budgets and the limited number of shipbuilders who can produce hulls for the sea service. The ships will also need ports to call home. “One can think of basing forces and lots of smaller vessels in theater, but this raises the issue of where to put everything and doesn't seem to be a ready solution that replaces divestiture of large ships,” said Dakota Wood, senior research fellow for defense programs at The Heritage Foundation. In recent weeks, the Navy met with shipbuilders to talk about plans for a new class of logistics ship that can operate under fire and resupply Marines deep within the range of enemy precision weapons. The Next Generation Medium Logistics Ship would resupply both ships at sea, as well as small, ad hoc bases ashore. The ship fits within plans Berger has made to stand up several Marine Littoral Regiments designed to move fast and have their own integrated anti-air and possibly anti-ship weapons. The Corps and Navy are also looking to buy as many as 30 Light Amphibious Warships in coming years, which would be much smaller than the current amphibious ships. The draft document doesn't include any those specifics. But Berger has already done that work in previous statements and documents, where he outlined plans: to rethink the role that large amphibious ships play in future; divest of M1 Abrams tanks; cut artillery units; slash helicopter squadrons; and reassess the role F-35s might play in future operations. Berger has admitted he realizes he needs to undertake this transition within existing budgets, leading him to call for cutting tanks, helicopters, and even some end strength. But for the Navy, Wood said, “I think much of this will be added cost because it must maintain current capabilities (types of ships) while developing new capabilities. It does not have the luxury of getting rid of current before new replacements are ready.” A significant omission in all of these plans is the absence of a larger, coherent naval strategy. The 30-year shipbuilding plan, due to Congress in February, continues to be missing in action. A major Navy force structure review was rejected by Defense Secretary Mark Esper earlier this year. The force structure review, currently being taken apart by Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist, is expected this fall. The Navy's plans are in such a fluid state that Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch, head of the service's Warfighting Development office, cited Chinese attention as a reason to decline to give a progress report in a call with reporters earlier this month. “I'm not going to divulge our intentions,” he said. “I'm very conscious that, if I say anything public, I'm an authoritative source and the Chinese will key on what I say, and likewise any kind of public-facing document that we put out as well.” Pressed to explain what the Navy's strategy for operating in a world with competing great powers looks like, Munsch said, “I'm not sure how you would see that keeping our intentions for warfighting classified is something you would want as an American citizen.” While Berger continues to push out papers and strategies for pushing the Marines into the future, the Navy, which will provide much of the lift he needs, is still at the drawing board. https://breakingdefense.com/2020/06/in-war-chinese-shipyards-can-outpace-us-in-replacing-losses

  • Army Reassures Anxious Industry Over Stryker Cannon Competition

    June 18, 2020 | International, Land

    Army Reassures Anxious Industry Over Stryker Cannon Competition

    While at least two of six competitors have dropped out, the Army says it will still have plenty of 30mm turret options to choose from as it starts testing this fall. By SYDNEY J. FREEDBERG JR.on June 17, 2020 at 2:43 PM WASHINGTON: “This is a healthy competition,” the head of the Army Stryker program, Col. Bill Venable, reassured reporters. “My No. 1 mandate as the overall program manager was to protect the competition in this first phase.” Venable was allaying anxieties yesterday about the five-year-old effort to upgun the infantry transport version of the Stryker, an 8×8 armored vehicle that's become an Army workhorse worldwide since its controversial introduction in 2003. The wheeled Stryker was criticized for having lighter armor than the tracked M1 Abrams and M2 Bradley, although it's far better protected than Humvees. It often struggled over Afghan terrain. But its ability to move rapidly by road – with fewer stops for gas and maintenance than heavy armored vehicles – made it a favorite of US commanders from Iraq to Estonia. So, while overshadowed by high-tech prototypes from hypersonic missiles to high-speed helicopters to robotic tanks, the Army is doubling down on the proven Stryker in several ways: Two light infantry brigades are being converted into Stryker units, which increases the number of active-duty Stryker brigades from five to seven. (There are two more part-time units in the National Guard). Original manufacturer General Dynamics has a $2.4 billion contract to rebuild hundreds of existing Strykers as DVHA1 models with bigger engines, upgraded electronics, and mine-resistant “double-V” hulls. Leonardo DRS is developing a new anti-aircraft variant called IM-SHORAD. It is several months behind schedule due to COVID disruptions and software issues. And the Army is upgunning the basic infantry-carrier variant from an exposed 12.7mm (0.50 cal) machinegun, viable against infantry and unarmored trucks, to a turret-mounted Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS), a 30mm autocannon capable of killing light armored vehicles widely used by Russia General Dynamics urgently built 83 upgunned Strykers to reequip a single Europe-based brigade. Now the Army is holding an open competition for an official Program of Record (POR) to upgrade at least three more brigades with a more refined 30mm turret design – but we've heard some anxiety over whether any other vendor can really unseat the incumbent. Out of six companies awarded $150,000 design contracts last summer, Venable confirmed that at least two have dropped out. At the current — sensitive — stage of the competition, the program manager said after a quick consultation with his staff, he isn't allowed to disclose how many companies remain and how many have quit. But Venable did tell reporters that one vendor dropped out because it wasn't making adequate progress to meet the technical requirements, while another decided it didn't have a good enough chance of winning to justify the investment. While the Army gave competitors free Strykers and 30mm guns, they must provide their own turrets, electronics and other components to integrate the weapon and the vehicle into a functional fighting system, to be delivered to the Army for testing by August 10. “We're not funding their development,” Venable said, “[which is] in some cases millions of dollars they're going to invest.” While he won't second-guess any company's cost-benefit calculus, he's been working with all of them to try to keep them in the running, despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have adjusted the evaluation strategy in order to maintain the competition as robust as we can,” he said. “This isn't the first competitive selection effort that I've run, and I will say we have more [viable competitors] than the incumbent, significantly more than the incumbent,” Venable told reporters. “We're going to present a variety of choices to the source selection authority to evaluate starting on 10 August.” Once the vehicles arrive in August, the Army will live-fire the 30 mm guns, check out the armor, and conduct a host of other tests. By January, Venable expects to have that data ready for the evaluation board, which aims to announce a winner by the end of April, 2021. After that, the winning company will start mass production, with the first vehicles scheduled for delivery to a Stryker unit in August or September 2022. That meets the Army's previously announced deadline to start fielding by the end of fiscal '22, Venable said. But the brigade will spend months more taking possession of the vehicles and training on them – a “Rubik's Cube” of logistics and scheduling, Venable said — before it's officially declared the “First Unit Equipped,” probably around March 2023. https://breakingdefense.com/2020/06/army-rebuffs-anxiety-over-stryker-cannon-competition

  • Vietnam boosts defence cooperation with Canada, Australia

    June 18, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Vietnam boosts defence cooperation with Canada, Australia

    NDO/VNA - Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh on June 16 engaged in two online talks with Jody Thomas, Deputy Minister of Canada's Department of National Defence, and Peter Tesch, Deputy Secretary for Strategic Policy & Intelligence at Australia's Department of Defence. Canadian and Australian ambassadors and military attaches to Vietnam also took part in the talks. During the talks, Vinh informed the Australian and Canadian officials on the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam, attributing the good outcomes in controlling the disease to concerted efforts of the entire political system, with the Vietnam People's Army serving as the core and vanguard force. Highlighting the importance of international collaboration in the fight against the pandemic, he thanked Australian and Canadian defence bodies' cooperation in sharing information on COVID-19 prevention, control, research and treatment. He hoped the joint work will last for long given the COVID-19 complexities. On the occasion, Vinh and his counterparts reviewed outcomes of Vietnam-Australia and Vietnam-Canada defence ties in the past time and sought agreement on future orientations with a stress on military medical coordination in disease prevention and control. All sides vowed that they will not allow the pandemic to hinder their thriving cooperation. The Vietnamese and Canadian officials expressed their delight at breakthroughs in the relations of the sides after their defence ministers exchanged visits, particularly in human resources training and UN peace keeping mission. The Canadian side said it plans to set up a military attaché office in Vietnam this year, and the two sides agreed to push for the establishment of a bilateral defence policy dialogue mechanism toward building a three-year cooperation scheme for the two defence ministries. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Australia took note of outstanding joint work, such as Australian military aircraft, for the second time, transporting personnel of Vietnam's level-2 field hospital to South Sudan for peacekeeping mission. The sides also began teaming up to organise activities in searching for Vietnamese soldiers going missing during wartime, shooting skills exchanges; and discussions on women, peace and security. Vinh stated Vietnam's Defence Ministry is committed to the effective implementation of defence cooperation with Australia and Canada based on signed documents and agreements for the benefit of the sides involved and of the region. The official also informed his counterparts on the schedule of activities during the year Vietnam serves as Chair of ASEAN 2020 and its tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. He highlighted Vietnam's determination in strengthening collaboration within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Minister's Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus. He stressed Vietnam backs Canada's responsible participation in the region in line with ASEAN's consensus principle and praised Australia's success in hosting the first informal ASEAN – Australia defence ministers' meeting. https://en.nhandan.org.vn/politics/item/8778302-vietnam-boosts-defence-cooperation-with-canada-australia.html

  • Kratos Receives $46 Million Directed Energy Award in Support of U.S. Army

    June 17, 2020 | International, Land

    Kratos Receives $46 Million Directed Energy Award in Support of U.S. Army

    San Diego, June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that the Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services (KDRSS) Division has been awarded a $46 million Other Transaction for Prototype Agreement (pOTA) to support the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). The new award has a three year period of performance. The prototype project is to establish a Directed Energy (DE) Testbed to accelerate military development capability in the focus areas of High Energy Laser (HEL) and/or High Power Microwave (HPM) systems. Air and Missile Defense (AMD) military utility will be demonstrated with a concentration on countering Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) using HEL and/or HPM on ground-based and airborne platforms. Additionally, this pOTA will perform research and experimentation related to DE test infrastructure and methodologies to improve the efficiency and accuracy of DE test programs. The project improves the ability to deploy HEL and HPM systems by providing test beds for evaluation of emerging, reduced Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) HEL and HPM systems. Work under this pOTA is anticipated to be performed at Kratos facilities and at government locations in Huntsville, AL. Dave Carter, President of the Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services (KDRSS) Division, said, "This recent award is another important milestone in our commitment to continue providing superior advanced technology solutions that is in keeping with our long term strategic goals supporting the U.S. Army in advancing and developing improved Directed Energy Technologies. We are very pleased the U.S. Army has chosen Kratos to serve in this capacity." About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies and commercial enterprises. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technology for these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including proactive research and streamlined development processes. Kratos specializes in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems, training and combat systems, and next-generation turbojet and turbo-fan engine development. For more information, go to www.KratosDefense.com. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 29, 2019, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos. Press Contact: Yolanda White 858-812-7302 Direct Investor Information: 877-934-4687 investor@kratosdefense.com View source version on GlobeNewswire: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/06/16/2049122/0/en/Kratos-Receives-46-Million-Directed-Energy-Award-in-Support-of-U-S-Army.html

  • Les cinq incohérences de la défense européenne

    June 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Les cinq incohérences de la défense européenne

    La réunion des ministres de la Défense de l'UE ce mardi (16 juin) le prouve. La litanie des 25 paragraphes balayant tous les sujets met sous le tapis cinq sujets d'incohérences, non résolus depuis des années. Ce qui est assez incongru alors que tous les signaux sont au vert (cf. encadré). Les Européens sont aujourd'hui face à leurs contradictions, leurs incohérences (1), forts dans le verbe, faibles dans l'action. Première incohérence : aucune responsabilité stratégique clairement identifiée L'Europe manque d'une chaine de décision clairement identifiée, surtout au plus au haut niveau. Ce devrait être le rôle du Conseil européen. Mais celui-ci a peu à peu délaissé ce rôle, encombré par les affaires intérieures de l'UE : crise économique, renouvellement institutionnel, Brexit, etc. Quelques discussions de politique extérieure ont bien eu lieu, mais peu nombreuses, pas assez fréquentes, et parfois tournées vers le sommet de l'iceberg, non vers la profondeur stratégique. Ainsi quand la Russie a été évoquée, c'était surtout pour examiner s'il fallait prendre des sanctions après l'invasion de la Crimée et la guerre dans l'Est de l'Ukraine et quelles sanctions prendre, pas vraiment pour voir quelles relations de voisinage entretenir. Et quand on aborde la Turquie, c'est en extrême urgence pour tisser des liens avec Ankara afin d'éviter une vague migratoire. Il y a eu assez peu de discussions au fond sur les relations avec les pays du Golfe, avec l'Afrique, avec la Libye, durant la présidence de Donald Tusk. Charles Michel qui avait inauguré son mandat par une série de balades (lire : Quand Tintin Michel se balade, le Conseil européen trinque) pourrait changer la donne. Mais les dissensions internes sur le futur cadre budgétaire (MFF) risquent, encore une fois, de détourner l'attention. Les ministres de la Défense se réunissent, mais une seule fois par semestre, dans une formation qui est mineure, dépendant de celles des Affaires étrangères. Les sujets qu'ils abordent sont rarement les plus importants. Et la terminologie employée souvent très optimiste (progrès, félicitations, succès...) sert davantage à masquer les divergences qu'à les trancher. Idem au Parlement européen où la défense est confinée dans une sous-commission, sans capacité de décision autonome. En fait, il manque une instance stratégique. C'est le problème plus général de l'Union européenne en matière de diplomatie et de défense. Elle erre un peu parfois sans une logique totalement compréhensible et intelligible. Le Haut représentant reste avant tout un super ‘diplomate', chargé de mettre en œuvre une politique. Si les États ne sont pas d'accord, il en est réduit à broder. Or, la haute couture ne suffit pas à remplacer une décision. L'idée d'un Conseil européen de sécurité, proposée par l'Allemagne, est intéressante (lire : Mettre en place un Conseil de sécurité européen ? Une idée à travailler). Mais elle apparait plutôt comme une manœuvre de diversion et n'a jamais reçu de suite très concrète. Il faut que le Conseil européen fasse son travail... tout simplement. Deuxième incohérence : la fuite en avant L'autre défaut typique de l'Union européenne est de lancer sans cesse de nouveaux concepts, de nouveaux projets, sans avoir tiré auparavant le bilan de ce qui marche et ne marche pas. On empile ainsi les projets capacitaires les uns sur les autres, sans fermer des dossiers. Où en sont aujourd'hui les 11 projets opérationnels décidés en 2011 par exemple ? Et sur les 47 projets de la PESCO, chacun sait bien que certains sont « morts nés » pour reprendre une expression officieuse. Dans les couloirs européens, personne n'ose le dire publiquement. Mais sous le sceau de l'anonymat, les langues se délient. En bref, il faut élaguer. Au lieu de ça, on alourdit l'arbre. Cela n'a pas de logique. Du moins vraiment compréhensible au point de vue de l'opinion publique comme des experts. Idem en matière opérationnelle. Les battlegroups sont toujours inemployés. Et notre analyse passée (2) reste (malheureusement) exacte. On ne voit rien aujourd'hui qui puisse les faire mieux fonctionner. Sur les seize missions extérieures de l'UE, on sait très bien — y compris dans les rangs européens les plus convaincus — qu'un petit tiers (estimation basse) ne remplit pas l'objectif primaire fixé par les traités à la PSDC : la stabilisation ou le maintien de la paix (lire : Opération Sophia, EUBAM Rafah et Libya... l'UE doit apprendre à fermer des missions devenues inutiles). Elles sont plutôt là pour mettre un point sur la carte, occuper le terrain. Leur suppression risque d'engendrer des grincements de dents, mais cette retructuration est nécessaire. Troisième incohérence : entre le dire et le faire un abyme Dans les missions et opérations de la PSDC, pourtant décidées en commun (l'unanimité étant toujours la règle), les moyens font souvent défaut. C'est une autre incohérence et non des moindres de la politique européenne de défense. Certaines lacunes sont récurrentes. Ainsi, depuis plusieurs années, le soutien médical dans les missions de la PSDC est souvent délégué à un pays tiers (ou au privé), faute de moyens européens. D'autres apparaissent de façon criante. L'exemple de l'opération de contrôle des armes au large de la Libye (EUNAVFOR Med Irini) en est un (dernier) exemple criant. Les États sont (à peu près tous) d'accord : le désordre libyen est un des pires facteurs d'instabilité pour l'Europe, il faut contrôler l'embargo sur les armes et aboutir à un processus politique... Mais quand il s'agit de fournir des moyens opérationnels pour mettre en œuvre cette volonté, il y a beaucoup moins de monde. (lire : Une opération Irini bien à la peine. Les États membres chiches en moyens). Quatrième incohérence : une structure héritée du passé Toutes les structures actuelles sont issues de la réflexion sur l'état de l'Europe il y a vingt ans, voire trente ans. L'élaboration du Traité de Maastricht date des années 1990. Soit la réalisation du marché unique. Une autre époque ! À chaque nouvelle phase (tous les dix ans), on rajoute une couche institutionnelle, sans vraiment chercher à simplifier ou réorganiser le système. Aujourd'hui, ce n'est pas tant le manque institutionnel que le surpoids qui l'emporte. On a ainsi un noyau d'état-major de l'UE en train d'évoluer (lentement), à côté des état-majors de force (Eurocorps, Euromarfor) largement sous-employés. Au niveau capacitaire, trois structures sont en place : l'agence européenne de défense et OCCAR qui s'occupent de la gestion des projets, et la nouvelle DG Défense et Espace (DEFIS) de la Commission européenne, sans oublier les structures au sein du service diplomatique européen (SEAE) qui s'occupent de gestion de crises. Et je ne parle pas de celles de l'Alliance atlantique. Chacune a sa propre logique et sa justification. La question n'est peut-être pas tant de les supprimer, mais d'avoir une logique d'ensemble, partagée par tous les acteurs, une saine répartition des t'ches, compréhensible, organisée. Quitte à couper les ‘branches mortes'. Cinquième incohérence : la coopération OTAN-UE Ce lien est célébré partout. On le retrouve à toutes les sauces dès qu'il s'agit d'une réunion consacrée à la défense d'un côté comme de l'autre du rond point Schuman. Si les relations entre les deux organisations sont fluides (elles l'étaient déjà du temps de Javier Solana ;-), dans les faits, la relation entre les deux organisations reste faussée par une géopolitique fort différente qui se résume à deux mots : USA et Turquie. L'OTAN reste, en effet, très dépendante à la fois de la volonté américaine (son actionnaire principal) et de la politique turque (élément clé de sa présence au Sud-Est). Vissée à ces deux éléments, elle obéit à un équilibre précaire et reste bien en peine de fixer sa politique, devant sa survie au durcissement russe entamé depuis 2014 avec la guerre en Ukraine et l'annexion de la Crimée. Les deux (autres) guerres actives aux bordures du territoire de l'Alliance (la Syrie et la Libye) se déroulent avec un cavalier seul de la Turquie, plus que troublant. La violation délibérée par Ankara de l'embargo sur les armes en Libye est une (grosse) épine dans le pied, douloureuse pour la solidarité de l'Alliance. L'Alliance, en fait, n'est pas très en forme. Encore moins pourrait-on dire que l'Union européenne, même si cela apparait moins clairement. Elle est à la recherche d'un nouveau point d'équilibre qu'elle n'a pas vraiment trouvé. Ses deux missions de formation en Irak et en Afghanistan sont proches de la fin. Elle se cherche de nouveaux terrains d'action... Elle ne dispose pas de moyens d'actions juridiques et financiers propres et en est réduite, aujourd'hui, à quémander à l'Union européenne de lui prêter ses moyens pour mener ses propres projets (cf. pour la mobilité militaire). Très clairement, les deux organisations n'ont ni la même stratégie ni la même tactique. La pandémie du coronavirus a montré comment leur coopération restait aléatoire, surtout en cas de crise grave. Chacun a tenté très vite de tirer la couverture à soi, multipliant des réunions de coordination là où il n'y avait plus grand chose à coordonner. Parler de coopération est donc plus qu'hasardeux. On serait plus proche de la parabole de l'aveugle et du paralytique. (Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

  • Senate bill adds funding for Army helicopter program and to buy more drones

    June 17, 2020 | International, Land

    Senate bill adds funding for Army helicopter program and to buy more drones

    By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee's version of the National Defense Authorization Act recommends increasing funding for the future long-range assault aircraft and to buy additional drones, according to a summary report released Thursday. On the whole, the senators seem to have focused more on programs from the Air Force and Navy, largely leaving the Army untouched, per the summary. However, full language has yet to be released. The Army requested $178 billion for fiscal 2021, down slightly from its fiscal 2020 request of $182 billion. The FLRAA program, which seeks a new long-range assault aircraft by 2030, is receiving $5 million more than was requested. It is the second year in a row Congress has increased funding for the program above what the Pentagon asked for, following a $76 million increase in FY20 to drive down technical risk and speed up delivery. FLRAA is one of two key programs for modernizing Army aviation. The Bell V-280 Valor tilt rotor and the Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant coaxial are both contending for the FLRAA contract. The competition for the program of record will begin in 2022, with a plan to field the first unit equipped in 2030. The Senate is also adding $165 million for the purchase of additional MQ-1 unmanned aircraft for the Army to “meet state requirements for unmanned fixed wing ISR.” Additional language requires the secretary of the Army “submit a plan to operationally deploy or forward station in an operational theater or theaters” two batteries of interim cruise missile defense capability. On the cyber front, another $5 million is slated for Army operation and maintenance to “provide Cyber Mission Forces with more resources to access, operate, and train as required by increased operational demand.” Although not Army-specific, the NDAA language emphasizes the importance of the overall cyber posture, including an analysis of the Cyber Mission Force and an “evaluation of cyber reserve force options, which could provide capable surge capability and enable [the Department of Defense] to draw on cyber talent in the department sector.” Overall recruitment targets for the service is set at 485,000, adjusted own slightly from what the Army predicted in its FY21 budget request. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/06/11/senate-bill-adds-funding-to-army-helicopter-program-drones

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 16, 2020

    June 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 16, 2020

    ARMY EA-Wood-2 MP JV,* Hunt Valley, Maryland (W912DY-20-D-0073); and Gsina-Gilbane JV LLC,* Flemington, New Jersey (W912DY-20-D-0075), will compete for each order of the $400,000,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract to procure the services of small business firms to perform Military Munitions Response Program responses involving conventional munitions; environmental compliance and remediation services; and other munitions-related services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 18 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 3, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Northrup Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, was awarded an $89,551,256 hybrid (cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price) contract for Long Range Radar-Enhanced and Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar program efforts. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 15, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGY-20-D-0012). Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $61,890,745 modification (P00282) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 to increase available options under the current Joint Light Tactical Vehicle trailer contract from 32 to 3,541. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 procurement; defense-wide; and other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $61,890,745 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. NIC4 Inc.,* Tampa, Florida, was awarded a $16,778,695 modification (P00002) to contract W91CRB-19-D-5001 to increase various line items due to additional scope and add additional services connected with Very Small Aperture Terminals services and equipment. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Seqirus Inc., Summit, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $66,563,972 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for injectable influenza vaccines. This was a competitive acquisition with two offers received. This is a one-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with a June 15, 2021, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DP-20-D-0004). Pentaq Manufacturing Corp.,** Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $33,645,750 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for trousers. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. This was a competitive acquisition with eight responses received. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a June 15, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-1258). Viasat Inc., Carlsbad, California, has been awarded a maximum $8,928,000 firm-fixed-price contract for AV-8B spare parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Sept. 30, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 Navy aircraft procurement funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-20-C-R016). Skupien Solutions, doing business as Superior Surgical,* Brentwood, Tennessee, has been awarded a maximum $8,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for hospital equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency electronic catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 122 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Tennessee, with a June 15, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-20-D-0043). NAVY Civil Works Contracting LLC,* Wilmington, North Carolina (N40085-15-D-0847); Hager Construction Co.,* Jacksonville, Florida (N40085-15-D-0848); Onopa Services LLC,* Sanford, Florida (N40085-15-D-0850); and Quadrant Construction Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-15-D-0851), are awarded a $60,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contracts for general construction services within the Marine Corps Installations East area of responsibility. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps installation locations including, but not limited to, North Carolina (90%); Georgia (3%); South Carolina (3%); Virginia (3%); and other areas of the U.S. (1%). The work to be performed provides for general construction services including, but not limited to, new construction, demolition, total/partial repairs, interior/exterior and the alteration/renovation of buildings. Other systems and infrastructure may include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, communication systems and the installation of new or extensions to existing high voltage electrical distribution systems; high pressure steam distribution systems; potable water distribution systems and sanitary sewer systems. Additional work provides for storm water control systems, painting, removal of asbestos materials, lead paint and incidental related work. Work is expected to be complete by June 2021. After award of this modification, the total maximum dollar value for all six contracts combined will be $150,000,000. No funds will be obligated at the time of award, and will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) and military construction funds. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Austal USA, Mobile, Alabama, is awarded a $43,362,470 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-2301 to exercise options for Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) class design services and Integrated Data and Product Model Environment (IDPME) support. Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama (60%); and Pittsfield, Massachusetts (40%). Austal USA will provide class design services, including but not limited to, technical analyses, non-recurring engineering, configuration management, software maintenance, production assessments, diminishing manufacturing sources analysis, root cause analysis and sea frame reliability analysis. Austal USA will also maintain an IDPME that provides the Navy access to enterprise data management, visualization, program management applications, network management and control. Work is expected to be complete by June 2021. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and 2020 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $10,954,997 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. CH2M Hill Constructors Inc., Englewood, Colorado, is awarded a $33,097,127 modification on firm-fixed-price task order N69450-20-F-0077 under a multiple award construction contract for design build repairs of Building 633 at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Work will be performed in Pensacola, Florida, and provides for the design build construction, alteration and repair of Building 633 in order to return the building to full operation. Building 633 is approximately 117,000 square feet and is a historic federal facility with administrative spaces, classrooms and an auditorium. Work is expected to be complete by September 2021. After the award of this modification, the total task order value will be $34,095,501. The task order also contains seven unexercised options, which will increase cumulative task order value to $38,407,860 if exercised. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $33,097,127 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N62470-19-D-8024). AH Environmental Consultants Inc.,* Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for professional environmental consulting services within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast area of operations (AO). Initial task order is being awarded at $61,661 to update the storm water pollution prevention plan and annual comprehensive evaluation plan at the Naval Support Activity, Panama City, Florida. The work provides for professional architect-engineering services for potable water, wastewater, storm water, spill control and other related miscellaneous environmental services, to include various forms of support for these environmental programs. Work for this task order is expected to be complete by September 2020. All work on this contract will be performed at various activities in the NAVFAC Southeast AO and is expected to be complete by June 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) contract funds in the amount of $61,661 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&MN. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and five proposals were received. The NAVFAC Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-20-D-0031). Forward Slope Inc., San Diego, California (N66001-20-D-3430); ODME Solutions LLC, San Diego, California (N66001-20-D-3431); SOLUTE, San Diego, California (N66001-20-D-3432); and Syneren Technologies Corp., Arlington, Virginia (N66001-20-D-3433), are awarded a $11,288,928 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee multiple-award contract to support meteorological and oceanographic capabilities for Foreign Military Sales systems, expeditionary/joint systems and projects supporting ashore and afloat operations worldwide. Work will be performed in San Diego, California. All four awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes three one-year option periods, which will bring the potential value of this contract to an estimated $29,115,178 if exercised. The period of performance of the base award is from June 16, 2020, through June 15, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through June 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); research, development test and evaluation (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales funds. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-20-R-0088 which was published on the beta.SAM.gov website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Five offers were received and four were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $22,665,000 firm-fixed-price modification (PZ0011) to contract FA8621-17-C-6398 for F-15SA aircrew training devices (ATD). The contract modification provides for the purchase and installation of a full mission trainer (FMT), a visual database for the area of King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and five years of contractor logistics support for existing ATDs. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri; King Faisal Air Base, Saudi Arabia; and King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia. This modification involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Saudi Arabia, and work is expected to be completed by April 30, 2024. FMS funds in the amount of $27,040,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $93,740,000. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Braxton Technologies LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $19,910,587 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00014) to contract FA8806-19-C-0003 for support to the Schriever Air Force Base Infrastructure - Minimal Viable Product (MVP) effort. This modification provides for cross-domain solutions, design, integration and rapid delivery team services. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is expected to be completed April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $14,465,154 are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $80,366,105. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. *Small Business **Small Disadvantaged Business in Historically Underutilized Business Zone https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2222335/source/GovDelivery/

  • Les ministres européens de la Défense appellent à plus de coopération

    June 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Les ministres européens de la Défense appellent à plus de coopération

    Réunis à Bruxelles, les ministres de la Défense européens ont appelé mardi 16 juin à un redémarrage rapide des missions de défense et de sécurité communes momentanément interrompues par la crise du Covid. Ils appellent à aller de l'avant dans les opérations, à renforcer le fonds européen de défense, à aller vers un outil de financement pour pouvoir équiper les armées entraînées comme au Mali et enfin à affermir la base industrielle et technologique de défense européenne afin de réduire toute dépendance dans les secteurs critiques. « Le terme d'autonomie stratégique, longtemps tabou, est désormais accepté de tous, même si tous les pays n'en ont pas la même interprétation de peur d'opposer leur appartenance à l'Otan et à l'Union européenne », explique un membre de l'entourage de la ministre de la Défense Florence Parly aux Echos. Les Echos du 16 juin 2020

  • 205 M€ pour le fonds européen de la défense

    June 16, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    205 M€ pour le fonds européen de la défense

    La Commission Européenne a annoncé que 205 M€ allaient être débloqués afin de soutenir le fonds européen de la défense et plus précisément les initiatives PADR (volet recherche) et EDIDP (volet développement). « Renforcer l'autonomie stratégique et la compétitivité industrielle de l'Union européenne ». La commission européenne a annoncé le 15 juin qu'un financement de 205 M€ avait été approuvé dans le cadre du fonds européen de la défense, une somme qui devrait ainsi permettre de soutenir au total 19 projets européens. Parmi cet ensemble, 16 projets se consacrent aux questions de défense et 3 autres sont orientés vers les « technologies de rupture qui seront menés à l'échelle paneuropéenne » précise la Commission européenne. Par ailleurs, notons que les projets menés dans le cadre du FEDEF s'inscrivent dans la continuité du développement de l'Europe de la Défense, avec 9 propositions issues de projets CSP (coopération structurée permanente). Préparer la création du fonds européen de défense. Dans ce cadre, ces projets seront développés à travers les initiatives PADR (preparatory action on defence research) et EDIDP (european industrial developement programme), qualifiés comme étant « deux programmes précurseurs d'un véritable Fonds européen de la défense ». Le premier se concentre sur le volet recherche lorsque le second vise à soutenir les développements industriels. Thierry Breton, commissaire au marché intérieur, s'est réjoui de cette annonce et a ainsi déclaré : « Ces projets prometteurs démontrent la capacité de l'Union à promouvoir et à soutenir la coopération entre les industries de la défense sur le territoire européen et entre les États membres. En développant des technologies et des capacités de défense de haut niveau, nous renforçons la résilience et l'autonomie stratégique de l'Union. Tous les participants à la chaîne de valeur dans le secteur de la défense, quelles que soient leur taille et leur origine au sein de l'Union, peuvent en retirer des bénéfices. Doté d'un niveau de financement adéquat, le Fonds européen de la défense permettra d'étoffer considérablement ces premiers succès ». Un intérêt paneuropéen. Outre les financements, la Commission Européenne a également tenu à souligner l'intérêt des entreprises de l'Union pour ces dispositifs, puisque au total de 40 propositions qui ont été soumise au titre de l'EDIDP, 16 ayant finalement été sélectionnées et représentant 223 entités. Plus de 24 Etats membres étaient ainsi représentés. Par ailleurs, ces fonds permettent de soutenir l'ensemble du tissu industriel européen et attirent particulièrement les PME et ETI qui peuvent, par ce biais, nouer des partenariats mais également diviser les coûts de R&D. « Les PME représentent 37% (83 entreprises) du nombre total d'entités bénéficiaires d'un financement au titre de l'EDIDP, ce qui montre le rôle important des appels à propositions spécifiques pour les PME et des bonus PME mis en place », détaille ainsi la Commission Européenne. Les technologies futures. La Commission Européenne rappelle enfin que l'ensemble des projets retenus permettent de répondre aux priorités fixées par les Etats européens et qu'un volet important est consacré aux technologies de rupture. Parmi les axes de recherche et développement, un effort particulier est consacré aux drones, aux solutions spatiales, aux véhicules terrestres sans pilote, aux systèmes de missile de haute précision, aux futures plateformes navales, aux capacités d'attaque électronique aéroportées, aux réseaux tactiques et de haute sécurité, aux plateformes de « Cyber situational awareness » ainsi qu'aux solutions basées sur la furtivité active. https://air-cosmos.com/article/205-m-pour-le-fonds-europen-de-la-dfense-23237

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