21 novembre 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 21, 2019

AIR FORCE

The Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $386,000,000 contract modification (P00001) to the previously awarded contract FA8681-18-D-0001 for the total package approach (TPA) to the Paveway Family of Weapons. The contract action provides a TPA for Paveway-specific activities including, but not limited to: studies, production, certification, integration and sustainment. This modification increases the ceiling of the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract from the previously awarded amount of $110,000,000 to $496,000,000. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona; and Air Force test ranges. This modification involves 100% foreign military sales to countries with active cases to acquire Paveway weapon systems or have expressed interest in the Paveway Family of Weapons. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $496,000,000. Foreign Military Sales funds are being used and no funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Direct Attack Branch, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Mississippi, has been awarded a $77,247,414 firm-fixed-price contract for contractor operated and maintained base supply of the Air Education and Training Command fleet of 178 T-1A trainer aircraft. Work will be performed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Oklahoma; Columbus AFB, Mississippi, and Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount $15,787,799 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8106-18-C-0001).

JYG Innovations LLC, Dayton, Ohio (FA8604-20-D-3503); Stellar Innovations & Solutions Inc., Moraine, Ohio (FA8604-20-D-3501); and Indigenous Technologies LLC, Chickasha, Oklahoma (FA8604-20-D-3502), have been awarded a $75,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) information technology support services. This contract provides for all personnel, supervision and services necessary to accomplish organizational unique communications and information systems support for AFLCMC Wright Patterson Air Force Base organizations for information technology functions considered to be outside the definition of core services. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by Feb. 28, 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 17 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and management and procurement funds in the amount of $215,059 (JYG Innovations LLC); $1,882,637 (Indigenous Technologies LLC); and $1,784,659 (Stellar Innovations and Solutions Inc.), will be obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management, Information Technology Contracting, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

ARMY

VGW Geospatial JV,* O'Fallon, Illinois, was awarded a $240,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for professional land survey architect-engineer in support of the Southwestern Division Department of Homeland Security Border Infrastructure Program. Bids were solicited via the internet with 12 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 19, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock, Arkansas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-20-D-6002).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $93,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a national cyber range that provides the ability to conduct realistic cybersecurity test and evaluation of major Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition programs and the ability to conduct realistic training, certification and mission rehearsal events for the DoD Cyber Mission Force. One bid were solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 19, 2021. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-20-D-0001).

The Morganti Group Inc., Danbury, Connecticut, was awarded an $88,515,202 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of buildings, utilities, airfield pavements and infrastructure improvements. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Azraq, Jordan, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 15, 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction, Army funds in the amount of $88,515,202 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W912ER-20-C-0002).

Mobley Contractors Inc.,* Morrilton, Arkansas, was awarded a $20,219,318 firm-fixed-price contract for the demolition and construction of the spillway bridge at Eufaula Lake, Oklahoma. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Stigler, Oklahoma, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, civil works funds in the amount of $20,219,318 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (W912BV-20-C-0003).

SAF Inc.,* Akron, Ohio, was awarded an $8,555,145 firm-fixed-price contract for design-build for Town of Martin low income housing redevelopment. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Martin, Kentucky, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2021. Fiscal 2010 civil construction funds in the amount of $8,555,145 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, West Virginia, is the contracting activity (W91237-20-F-9999).

Threat Tec LLC,* Hampton, Virginia, was awarded an $8,066,481 modification (P00005) to contract W9124E-18-D-0002 for training support 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 Nov. 24, 2020. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Polk, Louisiana, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Missile & Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $7,083,431 hybrid contract (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price foreign military sales (Bahrain, Republic of Korea, Finland, Jordan, Singapore and United Arab Emirates)) for logistics services in support of the Precision Fires Rocket and Missile System launchers. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 14, 2022. Fiscal 2020 foreign military sales funds in the amount of $7,083,431 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0088).

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Corp., Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded an $86,346,780 for an undefinitized contract action, ceiling-priced, indefinite-delivery, firm-fixed price, performance-based logistics requirements contract for the repair, upgrade or replacement of the MK-41 Vertical Launch System. Work will be performed in Ventura, California (65%); various contractor supplier locations throughout the U.S. (23%); and various contractor divisions located in Clearwater, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; and La Mesa, Mexico (collectively 12% as breakdown cannot be determined at this time). This contract includes a five-year base period with no options. Work is expected to be completed by November 2024. Annual working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $17,583,191 will be issued for delivery order (N00383-20-F-0WB0) that will be awarded concurrently with the contract and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) and Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-20-D-WB01).

Schmidt-Prime Group LLC,* Pensacola, Florida, is awarded a $30,000,000 maximum amount firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for professional architectural and engineering services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast area of operations (AO). The work to be performed provides for preparation of professional architectural and engineering services for preparation of design-bid-build documents and design-build request for proposals for various project types at Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD activities in the NAVFAC Southeast AO. Initial task order is being awarded at $441,467 to provide engineering services to update the installation DD Form 1391 project documentation and prepare the region team final DD Form 1391 for the Advanced Helicopter Training System at Naval Air Station, Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by March 2020. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps installations in the NAVFAC Southeast AO including, but not limited to, Florida (20%); Georgia (17%); South Carolina (15%); Louisiana (10%); Mississippi (10%); Texas (10%); Andros Island, Bahamas (5%); Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (5%); Tennessee (3%); Alabama (1%); Arkansas (1%); Kansas (1%); Missouri (1%); and Oklahoma (1%), and is expected to be completed by November 2024. Fiscal 2019 military construction (MILCON, Navy) contract funds in the amount of $441,467 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance and MILCON, Navy. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 26 proposals received. NAVFAC Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-20-D-0002).

Progeny Systems Corp., Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $23,488,366 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-6267 to exercise and fund options for engineering services and Navy equipment. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (85%); and Charleroi, Pennsylvania (15%), and is expected to be complete by March 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $18,921,361 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 Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $15,796,385 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00038) to a previously awarded and announced contract (N00030-17-C-0001) to provide services for the U.S. and United Kingdom Trident II D5 strategic weapon system programs, U.S. SSGN attack weapon systems, nuclear weapon surety and future concepts. Work will be performed at Rockville, Maryland (70.3%); Washington, District of Columbia (14.33%); Kings Bay, Georgia (5.1%); Silverdale, Washington (2.7 %); Norfolk, Virginia (1.5% ); San Diego, California (1.5%); Alexandria, Virginia (1.1%); Barrow, United Kingdom (1.1%); Ocala, Florida (0.20%); Ball Ground, Georgia (0.20 %); Saint Mary's, Georgia (0.2%); Pittsfield, Massachusetts (0.17%); Montgomery Village, Maryland (0.15%); Thurmont, Maryland (0.15%); Buffalo, New York (0.15%); New Lebanon, New York (0.15%); New Paris, Ohio (0.15%); Downingtown, Pennsylvania (0.15%); Wexford, Pennsylvania (0.15%); Alton, Virginia (0.15%); Springfield, Virginia (0.15%); Vienna, Virginia (0.15%); and Baltimore, Maryland (0.10%), with an expected completion date of September 30, 2020. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,938,482; and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,126,542 will be obligated at the time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and (4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00030-17-C-0001).

The Nutmeg Companies Inc.,* Norwich, Connecticut, is awarded a $15,360,720 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of Building 2, reactor servicing ship support, located at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The project provides whole building repair and modernization to Building 2. Exterior envelope repairs and replacement will include, but not be limited to, roofing and flashing systems, trim, window and door repairs, brick and masonry, and the installation of roof and wall insulation. The project includes, but is not limited to, the replacement of any deteriorated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment and controls, the renovation of electrical and plumbing systems and the modernization of automated fire detection/suppression systems installed to achieve code compliance. Interior repairs will include the removal of lead paint and asbestos material hazards currently encapsulated in the walls and ceilings. Partial reconfigurations of existing spaces will include offices, work areas and egress paths in order to improve space utilization, accessibility and life safety. State Historic Preservation Officer consultation will be required for all work associated with the building's character defining features. Work will be performed in Kittery, Maine, and is expected to be completed by February 2021. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,360,720 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-C-0032).

BAE Systems, Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $15,245,739 firm-fixed-price contract modification P00006 under a previously awarded contract (N00604-19-C-4001) to exercise option year one for the operation and maintenance of Navy communication, electronic and computer systems. The contract includes a 12-month base period and four one-year option periods. The exercise of this option will bring the estimated value of the contract to $29,146,674, and if all options are exercised, it will bring the total value to $79,707,560. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii (94%); and Geraldton, Australia (6%). Work is expected to be completed by November 2020; if all options are exercised, work will be completed by November 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,019,559 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a full and open, unrestricted basis with two offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Pearl Harbor, Regional Contracting Department, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a $12,136,378 modification (P00032) to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0048). This modification provides CH-53K configuration changes required for initial operational test and evaluation for lot 1 low rate initial production aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,136,378 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.

San Diego Gas & Electric Co., San Diego, California, is awarded a $9,645,185 firm-fixed-price modification under a basic utility service contract for the final design and construction of a natural gas mainline for Cantonment Area 62, Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton. The work to be performed provides for replacing the existing natural gas mainline between Area 52 and Area 62 at MCB Camp Pendleton. A new 6" Polyethylene natural gas transmission mainline, to be installed under Cristianitos Road between South El Camino Real and San Mateo Road, will supply natural gas to the new natural gas master meter assembly. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $10,286,614. Work will be performed in Camp Pendleton, California, and is expected to be completed by May 2021. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, (Headquarters Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $9,645,185 will be obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-14-C-0201).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Creighton AB Inc., Reidsville, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum of $7,635,468 firm-fixed-price contract for men's trousers. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are North Carolina and New York, with a Nov. 20, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. 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-1213).

Optima Batteries, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $7,576,806 firm-fixed-price contract for storage batteries. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Wisconsin and Mexico, with a Nov. 19, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Air Force, Army and Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-20-D-0043).

*Small Business

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2022193/source/GovDelivery/

Sur le même sujet

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense – October 20, 2020

    21 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense – October 20, 2020

    MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY a.i. solutions Inc.,* Lanham, Maryland, is being awarded a $203,204,319 competitive, cost-plus-fixed-fee, level-of-effort contract with a three-year base value of $77,728,390 and two one-year options for quality and mission assurance advisory and assistance services. The work will be performed in the National Capital Region; Dahlgren, Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama; Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort Greely, Alaska; Orlando, Florida; Moorestown, New Jersey; Tucson, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Promontory, Utah; Joplin, Missouri; and other locations as directed, with an estimated completion date of December 2025. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the beta.SAM.gov website with two proposals received. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 research, development, test and evaluation; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $4,513,906 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0858-21-C-0010). NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $138,769,282 modification (P00027) to previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract N00019-19-C-0010. This modification adds scope to continue the development of pilot training device software to align the F-35 air system with continued capability development. Additionally, this modification provides for testing and continuous re-certification activities for dual capable F-35 aircraft as Block 4 capabilities are developed, matured and fielded in support of the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (51%); and Fort Worth, Texas (49%), and is expected to be completed in June 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $4,623,119; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,325,900; and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $1,071,980 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. L3 Technologies Inc., Global Communications Solutions Division, Victor, New York, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $87,712,000 for the purchase of up to a maximum 169 production Marine Corps Wideband Satellite – Expeditionary systems. Work will be performed in Rochester, New York, and is expected to be complete by October 2025. Fiscal 2020 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $20,673,900 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and funds will not expire at the end of current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with four offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-21-D-2025). Technology Security Associates Inc.,* California, Maryland, is awarded an $83,287,546 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides a full range of platform security and related support services to include, security modeling, program security management, trusted systems and network, cybersecurity, anti-tamper, system security engineering, international programs security support, acquisition security support, communications security support and physical security, force protection, anti-terrorism, and emergency management support for the Naval Air System Command and the Naval Air Warfare Centers. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Maryland (90%); St. Inigoes, Maryland (2%); Lakehurst, New Jersey (2%); Orlando, Florida (1%); China Lake, California (1%); Point Mugu, California (1%); North Island, California (1%); Cherry Point, North Carolina (1%); and Jacksonville, Florida (1%), and is expected to be completed in October 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-21-D-0005). Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $12,663,878 modification (P00088) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-16-C-0033. This modification adds scope in support of the F-35 Lightning II Lot 11 diminishing manufacturing sources redesign of the Electrical Optical Targeting System, 270V Battery Cell Separator and a component for the Helmet Mounted Display System for Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in January 2024. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,198,654; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $5,198,654; and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $2,266,570 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Privoro, Tempe, Arizona, has been awarded a $37,100,000 firm-fixed-price agreement for prototyping and pilot work to support the establishment of a trusted platform for secure mobility that will bring the advantages of commercial mobile technology to government agencies. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona, and is expected to be completed Aug. 1, 2024. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,668,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Dayton, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-9-9333). U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Trofholz Technologies Inc., Rocklin, California, was awarded a $15,000,000 maximum single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (H92240-21-D-0001) with an ordering period of up to five years for contractor-provided non-personal Integrated Electronic Security System services in support of Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) enterprise requirements. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $145,899 are being obligated at the time of award. The work will be performed in various locations inside and outside the U.S. and may continue through fiscal 2026, depending on timing of orders placed by NSWC. The contract was awarded competitively using Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15 procedures with four proposals received. NSWC, Coronado, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $13,739,845 modification (P00152) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0009 for one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales (Jordan) funds in the amount of $13,739,845 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded an $11,340,637 firm-fixed-price, requirements-type contract for tire and wheel assemblies. This was a competitive acquisition with one offer received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Wisconsin and New Jersey, with an Oct. 20, 2023, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-21-D-0004). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2388282/source/GovDelivery/

  • US Air Force delays timeline for testing a laser on a fighter jet

    6 juillet 2020 | International, Aérospatial

    US Air Force delays timeline for testing a laser on a fighter jet

    By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force's long-planned test of an airborne laser weapon aboard a fighter jet has been delayed until 2023 due to technical challenges and complications spurred by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, its program head said. The Air Force's Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator program, or SHiELD, had originally planned to conduct its first flight demonstration in 2021, but the test has been pushed two years back, said Jeff Heggemeier, SHiELD program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory. “This is a really complex technology to try to integrate into that flight environment, and that's ultimately what we're trying to do with this program, is demonstrate that laser technology is mature enough to be able to integrate onto that airborne platform,” he told Defense News in a June 10 interview. “But even things like COVID, and COVID shutting down the economy. That has impacts.” Beyond that, the future of using laser weapons aboard fighter aircraft is even more unclear. The goal of SHiELD was to give combat jets a way to counter missiles shot by an enemy aircraft or by air defense systems on the ground. But in May, Mike Griffin, the Pentagon's undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, noted that he was “extremely skeptical” that an airborne laser could be used for missile defense. Asked what that meant for SHiELD, Air Force acquisition czar Will Roper acknowledged that the service is rethinking how it could best use directed-energy technologies. Perhaps the most optimal use for SHiELD wasn't onboard a fighter, he said. “What I've told that team is, let's have a dialogue,” Roper said during a June 9 event hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. “Let's understand the different power levels and what they should correspond to, and let's not make the highest power level that we can dream up and the mission that's the sexiest be the thing that drives us.” “What I expect to get laser weapons to the goal line has been the humble, but important and very worrisome small drone threat. They continue to show up, they're difficult to attribute — we don't know who is sending them to our installations and tests and things of that nature, and we can't afford to shoot missiles at them,” he added. “So this is a perfect threat to make laser weapons real, and once they're real, we'll do what the military does. We'll look to scale the power.” Heggemeier said there are many ways the Air Force could spin off laser technologies developed by the SHiELD program, but it's critical the service continue with development so it can gauge the maturity and usefulness of the capabilities. “I think it's important for us to first remember what the whole point of SHiELD is. The whole point of SHiELD is not an acquisition program where we're turning out hundreds or tens of these laser systems for operational use. What we're trying to do with SHiELD is exactly answer those questions of: ‘Is laser technology mature enough to go on an airborne platform? Have we solved enough of those technical challenges that this is now a feasible thing?' Because there is that concern.” He also drew a distinction between the tactical, self-defense capability a SHiELD laser would give combat aircraft versus a more powerful laser capable of intercepting highly-advanced ballistic missiles, as the Missile Defense Agency has proposed. “You're not talking about these really, really long ranges. You're talking about a shorter range and different targets just to protect yourself or your wingman,” Heggemeier said. “Missile defense can mean a lot of things. Some of those missile defense missions are very, very hard, and some of them aren't quite so hard.” For now, at least, the Air Force's investment in directed energy remains stable. The service's budget lays out cash for high-energy lasers in multiple funding lines. For fiscal 2021, it requested $15.1 million for basic research and $45.1 million for applied research for high-energy laser technology, as well as another $13 million for high-power, solid-state laser technology. In FY20, the service received $14.8 million for basic research and $48.2 million for applied research for laser technologies. SHiELD is comprised of three elements: the laser itself, which is being developed by Lockheed Martin; the beam control system made by Northrop Grumman; and the pod that encases the weapons system, from Boeing. Heggemeier said the pod is under construction, with integration of the laser and beam control system planned to start next year. “A lot of the challenge is trying to get all of this stuff into this small pod. If you look at other lasers that are fairly mature, we have other laser systems that some other contractors have built that are ready to be deployed. But these are ground-based systems, and they are much, much more mature,” he said. In April 2019, the Air Force Research Lab conducted a ground test with a surrogate laser system — the Demonstrator Laser Weapon System, or DLWS, now in use by the Army. The demonstration involved the successful downing of several air-to-air missiles. “It turns out the DLWS system, when you take everything into account, is a really good surrogate for the laser power on SHiELD,” Heggemeier said. Because both SHiELD and DLWS generate similar amounts of energy on target — in SHiELD's case, Heggemeier would only say that it amounts to “tens of kilowatts” — the surrogate test gave the lab a good idea how the laser physically affects a target. In 2019, the team conducted a flight test of a pod with the same outer mold line as the one under development by Boeing. The pod was mounted to an aircraft — Heggemeier declined to specify the model — and flown around Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, to help measure how vibrations, the force of gravity and other environmental factors might influence the performance of the weapon. Air Force Magazine reported in 2019 that aerial demonstrations of SHiELD would occur onboard an F-15 fighter jet. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/06/30/us-air-force-delays-timeline-for-testing-a-laser-on-a-fighter-jet/

  • Berlin prône une consolidation du secteur de la défense européen

    30 août 2018 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre

    Berlin prône une consolidation du secteur de la défense européen

    JOUY-EN-JOSAS, Yvelines, 29 août (Reuters) - L'Union européenne doit renforcer les synergies en matière d'équipements militaires pour optimiser les dépenses de défense des Etats membres, ce qui passe notamment par une consolidation du secteur à l'échelle européenne, estime le ministre allemand des Finances, Olaf Scholz. Au-delà des progrès déjà enregistrés en matière de politique commune de défense et de sécurité, des mesures complémentaires sont nécessaires, déclare le vice-chancelier d'Allemagne, selon le texte d'un discours qu'il devait prononcer mercredi à l'université d'été du Medef, à Jouy-en-Josas (Yvelines). Cela passe par “une approche commune pour le matériel militaire, ce qui signifiera davantage de coopération et un processus de consolidation de l'industrie militaire européenne, y compris via des fusions”, dit-il. “Nous devons encourager les fusions pas seulement lorsqu'elles se font au bénéfice de nos propres champions nationaux”, poursuit-il. A ses yeux, cela permettra de mettre sur pied une politique de défense commune plus intégrée, à même de permettre à l'Union européenne de garantir sa sécurité mais aussi de devenir un “acteur sérieux” de l'architecture militaire mondiale. La France et l'Allemagne ont donné l'été dernier, peu après l'accession d'Emmanuel Macron à l'Elysée, un grand coup d'accélérateur à leur coopération dans le domaine de la défense en convenant de développer ensemble un avion de combat de prochaine génération, mais aussi de concevoir en commun des chars, hélicoptères et autres matériels. Toujours dans le domaine aéronautique, le bilan de l'avion de transport militaire A400M d'Airbus est pour l'instant mitigé, le programme européen ayant connu des années de dérapage des coûts, de problèmes techniques et de retards multiples. A rebours du discours volontariste du dirigeant allemand, la France semble adopter une position plus mesurée dans le projet de rapprochement auquel oeuvrent les groupes français Naval Group et italien Fincantieri. Le ministre français de l'Economie et des Finances Bruno Le Maire a assuré lors d'un déplacement à Rome au début du mois que la France et l'Italie partageait “le même désir de boucler la fusion STX-Fincantieri, qui donnera naissance à l'un des plus gros chantiers navals civils du monde”. Mais une source gouvernementale française, s'exprimant sous condition d'anonymat, avait déclaré que Naval Group (dont Thales détient 35%) ne pouvait pas être privatisé et précisé que certaines de ses activités, comme la construction de sous-marins nucléaires, constituaient des actifs stratégiques ne pouvant pas passer sous pavillon étranger. (Myriam Rivet, Leigh Thomas et Matthieu Protard, édité par Sophie Louet) https://fr.reuters.com/article/frEuroRpt/idFRL8N1VK2SM

Toutes les nouvelles