21 novembre 2018 | International, C4ISR

Disruptive technologies show why government needs data security standards now

By:

Telepathy. Data uploading to the brain. Even humanoid sex robots. These are among the ideas that exist on a periodic table of disruptive technologies, a new visual guide that predicts what will alter human existence in the coming years.

Created by Imperial College London, the table identifies what is set to change societies in the short term (smart controls and appliances), as well as fringe ideas that are decades away from existence, if they will exist at all (think force fields.)

Yet the disruption could turn disastrous without proper data-security standards, according to one of the chart's creators, Richard Watson, the futurist in residence at Imperial College London.

“There is very little here that is not in some way digital and connected, which makes it vulnerable,” Watson said.

“Any kind of internet-of-everything device doesn't really work if you haven't got common standards — if Apple isn't sharing with Google and the French aren't sharing with the Germans.”

Experts have long expressed concern about the lack of data standards for internet-connected devices. There is no international standard for data security. And U.S. government oversight of internet-connected devices is spread across at least 11 different federal agencies, according to a 2017 Government Accountability Office report.

“As new and more ‘things' become connected, they increase not only the opportunities for security and privacy breaches, but also the scale and scope of any resulting consequences,” the report said.

And there has been a flurry of cyberattacks using internet-connected devices. Some hackers are exploiting smart devices as an intermediary to attack computer networks, the FBI warned Aug. 2. Ninety-three percent of respondents told Armis, a security platform, in an August survey that they expected governments to exploit connected devices during a cyberattack.

The Imperial College London chart offers a further glimpse at how important it may be to create these common regulations by imagining a wealth of potential breach points. Watson listed some of the table's future technologies that could be hacked.

“Smart controls and appliances.”

Hackable.

“Autonomous robotic surgery.”

Hackable.

“Autonomous ships and submarines.”

Hackable.

“One of the issues with the stuff on here is that it relies on extremely good data security,” Watson said.

The problem with having a developing ecosystem without global standards is that a single vulnerability could allow access to more than one network, and government officials and businesses are currently taking a strategy of letting the private sector debate how, or if, to regulate itself when it comes to internet-connected devices.

One piece of bipartisan federal legislation, the 2017 Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act, mandates that “devices purchased by the U.S. government meet certain minimum security requirements," but it has stalled in Congress.

As a first step, manufacturers should collaborate to establish device security baselines, Jing de Jong-Chen, general manager for global cybersecurity at Microsoft, said during a June conference hosted by the Woodrow Wilson Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

One private solution is a set of common guidelines developed by the IEEE Standards Association, an industry trade organization. The trade association's voluntary standards is evidence of a fear of government regulation that the private sector is openly hostile to. During the June event, the idea of government regulation of smart devices was laughed at by private sector officials in the room. But that laughter may have been premature.

In September 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown approved a bill that requires companies to install connected devices with “a reasonable security feature” protecting it against unauthorized access. The bill means that the periodic table of disruptive technologies may eventually be impacted by a modicum of public regulation, although it is not clear if that will be effective.

Not making it any easier is that no amount of planning can compensate for every technological innovation. For example, when it comes to the most disruptive future technology, the chart is secretive. In position 100, predicted to be the most innovative idea, the chart says it is too dangerous to publish. “We can't talk about this one,” it reads.

In this instance, however, a potential security risk is averted. When asked if this technology is the one that will literally “break the internet,” Watson is forced to make a confession: “It's a joke. It's just us dodging the ball because we couldn't think of what to put there.”

https://www.fifthdomain.com/industry/2018/11/20/disruptive-technologies-show-why-government-needs-data-security-standards-now/

Sur le même sujet

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - September 27, 2018

    28 septembre 2018 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - September 27, 2018

    AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with an estimated ceiling of $9,202,568,686 for the Advanced Pilot Training aircraft and ground-based training systems. The contract provides for the anticipated delivery of 351 aircraft, 46 associated training devices, and other ancillary supplies and service (e.g., initial spares, support equipment, sustainment, and training). The contract includes the initial delivery order for engineering and manufacturing development of Advanced Pilot Training aircraft and ground-based training systems for $813,385,533. The maximum quantity of aircraft and training devices the Air Force can purchase under this indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract is 475 aircraft and 120 ground based training systems. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be complete by 2034. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $33,600,000 are being obligated on the first delivery order at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8617-18-D-6219). United Launch Services, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded an $867,081,864 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price modification (P00199) to contract FA8811-13-C-0003 for Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle launch capability for the Delta IV and Atlas V families of launch vehicles. The contract modification is for mission integration, base and range support, maintenance commodities, Delta depreciation, and Atlas depreciation and provides for mission assurance, program management, systems engineering, and integration of the space vehicle with the launch vehicle, launch site and range operations, and launch infrastructure maintenance and sustainment. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; and Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2018 space procurement funds are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $9,769,473,249. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. United Technologies Corp. Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $250,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission-Capability (ATTAM) Phase I. This contract provides for the ATTAM Phase I program to develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced turbine propulsion, power and thermal technologies that provides improvement in affordable mission capability. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut, and is expected to be complete by September 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 54 offers were received. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $25,000 are being obligated on the first task order at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-18-D-2062). Bristol Prime Contractors, Anchorage, Alaska (FA3020-18-D-0006); C3/SMR JV LLC, Temple, Texas (FA3020-18-D-0007); Gonzalez De La Garza, San Antonio, Texas (FA3020-18-D-0008); RCO-Ross Group JV, San Antonio, Texas (FA3020-18-D-0009); Waldrop Construction, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (FA3020-18-D-0010); and Weil Construction, Albuquerque, New Mexico (FA3020-18-D-0011), have been awarded a combined cumulative face value $150,000,000 multiyear indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. These contracts provide a contracting vehicle for Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; and Altus AFB, Oklahoma, to expedite construction contract awards. Work will be performed at Sheppard AFB, Texas; Altus AFB, Oklahoma; Frederick Airfield, Oklahoma; and Lake Texoma Annex, Texas. The last date to order on this contract vehicle is Sept. 30, 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The 82nd Contracting Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded an $85,533,183 fixed-price-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, undefinitized contract for F-15 Advanced Display Core Processor II (ADCPII). This contract provides for the production and integration of the ADCPII boxes into the F-15 platform. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 procurement funds; fiscal 2018 working capital funds; and fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $64,149,888 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Amec Foster Wheeler-Zapata JV, Alpharetta, Georgia (FA6643‐18‐D‐0006); Benham Mead & Hunt JV, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (FA6643‐18‐D‐ 0007); Farnsworth & Blair Remy JV, Bloomington, Illinois (FA6643‐18‐D‐0008); HDR Engineering Inc., Omaha, Nebraska (FA6643‐18‐D‐0009); and Leo A. Daly - BTA JV, Omaha, Nebraska (FA6643‐18‐D‐ 0010), have been awarded a combined $50,000,000 indefinite‐delivery/indefinite‐quantity contract. Contractors will provide facilitates architectural and engineering service efforts to Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). Work will be performed throughout the AFRC command at HQ-AFRC, the various AFRC host bases, active duty bases, and tenant locations, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 26, 2023. This award is the result of a competitive, best-qualified, architect-engineer acquisition, with 22 offers received. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders. HQ-AFRC, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. Calculex Inc., Las Cruces, New Mexico, has been awarded a $46,623,715 basic indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Air Data Recorders (ADR) and support services. The contract provides for spare equipment, support services, and improvement of ADR capabilities for use by the operational and test communities in support of the Air Force Test mission. Work will be performed in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and multiple continental U.S. military installations, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 27, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $282,795 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA2487-18-F-2325). Alpha-Omega Change Engineering Inc., Williamsburg, Virginia, has been awarded a $44,738,911 modification (P00052) to previously awarded contract FA8621-16-C-6331 for academic and simulator formal training and continuation training for multiple mission design series. This modification provides for aircrew instruction including initial and mission qualification, refresher, upgrade, and currency; student series; contractor logistics support, concurrency management, training systems support center, courseware, and cybersecurity. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $142,925,074. Work will be performed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; and Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2019. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Total Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. CAE USA Inc., Tampa, Florida, has been awarded a $32,554,415 modification (P00137) to previously awarded contract FA8223-10-C-0013. This modification exercises the fiscal 2019 option to extend the KC-135 Aircraft Training System contract, and brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $455,435,428. Work will be performed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio; Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana; Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington; Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma; March Air Reserve Base, California; Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; Kadena Air Base, Japan; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; and Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. Work is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2019. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $29,830,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity commercial contract for Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System for Pre-Block F-16 aircraft. This contract provides for the procurement of Integrated GPS Anti-Jam Receiver 200 and GPS Embedded Module VII-2 spares with integration and engineering support and support integration with the F-16 Pre-Block 30/32 system upgrades. Work will be performed at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 29, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2016 and 2017 procurement funds in the amount of $17,487,296 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8232-18-D-0017). Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $28,914,642 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for the Defense Advanced Global Positioning System Receiver (DAGR). This contract provides for the production and repair of the DAGR, which provides authorized Department of Defense, federal civilian, and Foreign Military Sales users of GPS User Equipment a lightweight, hand-held, dual frequency, Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module-based and Precise Positioning Service receiver. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids and Coralville, Iowa, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 26, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition, and no funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8540-18-D-0018). Aerojet Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, California, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $20,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission-Capability (ATTAM) Phase I. This contract provides for the ATTAM Phase I program to develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced turbine propulsion, power and thermal technologies that provides improvement in affordable mission capability. Work will be performed in Canoga Park, California, and is expected to be completed by September 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 54 offers were received. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $25,000 are being obligated on the first task order at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-18-D-2062). GE Aviation Systems, doing business as Dowty Propellers Inc., Sterling, Virginia, has been awarded a $19,565,172 firm-fixed-price contract for the C-130J R391 Propeller Depot Activation requirement. The contractor shall establish an organic depot repair/overhaul capability for the C-130J R391 Propeller which will include training for organic repair/overhaul capability for the line replaceable unit and shop replaceable unit. Work will be performed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 20, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source commercial acquisition. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $19,565,172 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8504-18-C-0008). Raytheon Co., Woburn, Massachusetts, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $16,909,342 undefinitized contract for receiver exciter line replaceable units in support of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System/Precision Acquisition Vehicle Entry Phased Array Weapon System. The contractor will produce and install six types of Generation 3 LRUs in various quantities. Work will be performed in Woburn, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by March 30, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $4,006,862 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity (FA8723-18-C-0003). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $13,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract, for engineering services. These engineering services provide all of Northrop designed platforms managed by the 424th Supply Chain Management Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Work will be performed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed Sept. 26, 2023. Fiscal 2018 consolidated sustainment funds in the amount of $2,700,000 will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA811918D0011). Northrop Grumman Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, has been awarded a $9,800,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for LITENING Targeting Pod - Operational Flight Program software updates and/or incidental firmware and hardware. This contract provides for support integration with the F-16 Pre-Block 30/32 system capability upgrades. Work will be performed at Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 29, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,100,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8232-18-D-0013). Universal Technology Corp., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a $9,650,000 shared-ceiling, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for research in the area of developing a spatial registration for the Material State Awareness system. This contract is to provide the most appropriate spatial/positional registration technologies for aircraft nondestructive inspection applications, and develop integrated technology capabilities at breadboard and prototype levels with necessary validation/verification and demonstration at each stage of advancement. Work will be performed in Dayton, Ohio, and is expected to be completed Dec. 27, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $25,000 will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-18-D-5202). Texas Research Institute, Austin Inc., Austin, Texas, has been awarded a $9,650,000 shared-ceiling, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for research in the area of developing a spatial registration for the Material State Awareness system. This contract is to provide real-time inspector assistance using the registration and data provided from the inspection. Work will be performed in Austin, Texas, and is expected to be completed Dec. 27, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal year 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $25,000 will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-18-D-5290). Merex Aircraft Co., Camarillo, California, has been awarded an estimated ceiling $9,610,406 indefinite-quantity contract action for A-10 speed brake assembles and aileron trim tabs. This contract provides for spares parts. Work will be performed in Camarillo, California, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 29, 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Working capital funds in the amount of $4,643,916 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Supply Chain, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8212-18-D-0009). Hamilton Sundstrand Corp., Rockford, Illinois, has been awarded a $9,182,513 definitive contract for overhaul of 22 B-2/B-52 Common Strategic Rotary Launchers. Work will be performed in Rockford, Illinois, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 Working Capital Funds in the amount of $9,182,513 will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8118-18-C-0007). GasTOPS, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, has been awarded a $7,661,190 requirements contract for the Portable Debris Analyzer ChipCheck Machine. This contract provides for the procurement of 75 machines, which allow for in-the-field ability to analyze debris found in aircraft engine oil, specifically, the F-110 engine. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 26, 2023. This contract was the result of a sole-source Small Business Innovation Research Phase III acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8119-18-D-0012). Northrop Grumman Technical Services, Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $7,458,047 modification to contract FA8540-12-C-0004 for continuing engineering services. This contract modification provides for a sustainment depot for the Mission Data File Generator, Intermediate Level Support Equipment, Millicomputer Replacement, Operational Flight Program (OFP) and Digital Receiver Exciter OFP, as well as interfacing firmware and software support tools. The interfacing of firmware and software tools ensure corrections to deficiencies are identified during government testing and initial fielding. Work will be performed in Warner Robins, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 12, 2019. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. NAVY Huntington Ingalls Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $5,104,668,778 fixed-price-incentive, firm target multiyear contract for construction of six DDG 51 class ships, two in fiscal 2018 and one each in fiscal 2019 through 2022. This contract includes options for engineering change proposals, design budgeting requirements, and post-delivery availabilities on the awarded firm multiyear ships, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $5,253,076,779. This contract includes options for construction of additional DDG 51 class ships. These options may be subject to future competitive actions in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract, and therefore the dollar values are considered source selection sensitive information and will not be made public at this time (see 41 U.S. Code 2101, et seq., Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101 and FAR 3.104). Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi (91 percent); Erie, Pennsylvania (1 percent); and other locations below 1 percent (collectively totaling 8 percent), and is expected to be completed by April 2029. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,712,643,749 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was procured via a limited competition between Huntington Ingalls Inc. and Bath Iron Works pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c) (3) and FAR 6.302-3 (Industrial Mobilization), with two offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-18-C-2307). Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is awarded a $3,904,735,559 fixed-price-incentive, firm target multiyear contract for construction of four DDG 51 class ships, one each in fiscal 2019 through 2022. This contract includes options for engineering change proposals, design budgeting requirements, and post-delivery availabilities on the awarded firm multiyear ships, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $4,030,194,579. This contract also includes options for construction of additional DDG 51 class ships. These options may be subject to future competitive actions in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract, and therefore the dollar values are considered source selection sensitive information and will not be made public at this time (see 41 U.S. Code 2101, et seq., Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101 and FAR 3.104). Work will be performed in Bath, Maine (61 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (5 percent); Atlanta, Georgia (4 percent); York, Pennsylvania (2 percent); Coatesville, Pennsylvania (2 percent); Falls Church, Virginia (2 percent); South Portland, Maine (1 percent); Walpole, Massachusetts (1 percent); Erie, Pennsylvania (1 percent); Charlottesville, Virginia (1 percent); and other locations below 1 percent (collectively totaling 20 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2028. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $25,017,500 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was procured via a limited competition between Huntington Ingalls Inc. and Bath Iron Works pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c) (3) and FAR 6.302-3 (Industrial Mobilization), with two offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-18-C-2305). Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $482,276,572 firm-fixed-price contract for MK 15 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) upgrades and conversions, system overhauls, and associated hardware. CIWS is a fast-reaction terminal defense against low- and high-flying, high-speed maneuvering anti-ship missile threats that have penetrated all other defenses. This contract includes a no-cost option which, if exercised, would not change the cumulative value of the contract. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (41 percent); Army (5 percent); and the governments of Taiwan (38 percent); Saudi Arabia (9 percent); Japan (5 percent); New Zealand (1 percent); and Australia (less than 1 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (13 percent); Louisville, Kentucky (7 percent); Williston, Vermont (6 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (6 percent); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (5 percent); Tempe, Arizona (5 percent); Ottobrunn, Germany (3 percent); Hauppauge, New York (3 percent); Murray, Utah (2 percent); Grand Rapids, Michigan (2 percent); Miami, Florida (2 percent); Phoenix, Arizona (2 percent); Ashburn, Virginia (2 percent); Dallas, Texas (2 percent); Huntsville, Alabama (1 percent); El Segundo, California (1 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1 percent); Dayton, Ohio (1 percent); Camarillo, California (1 percent); Norcross, Georgia (1 percent); Valencia, California (1 percent); Palo Alto, California (1 percent); San Diego, California (1 percent); East Syracuse, New York (1 percent); and various locations with less than 1 percent each (30 percent). Work is expected to be completed by April 2024. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2016, 2017 and 2018 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2016, 2017 and 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2017 other procurement (Army); fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy); and all FMS funding in the amount of $415,677,070 will be obligated at time of award, and $66,599,502 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-1 as there is “only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.” The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-18-C-5406). Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $315,773,716 for modification P00004 to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive firm contract (N0001918C1048) to procure support equipment for F-35 Lightning low-rate initial production Lot XI aircraft in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (31 percent); Redondo Beach, California (25 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (13 percent); Hartford, Connecticut (12 percent); Melbourne, Australia (8 percent); Rome, Italy (4 percent); Franklin, Ohio (4 percent); and Chatsworth, California (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2023. Fiscal 2016 and 2017 aircraft procurement (Air Force); fiscal 2017 and 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy); fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Marine Corps); and non-DoD Participant funds in the amount of $315,773,716 are being obligated at time of award, $29,911,537 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($108,665,198; 34.41 percent); Navy ($31,062,358; 9.84 percent); Marine Corps ($5,186,434; 1.64 percent); and non-DoD participants ($170,859,726; 54.11 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is awarded a $210,500,224 modification (P00006) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-16-C-0026). This modification procures fiscal 2018 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) production requirements for the Navy, Air Force, Army, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and the government of the United Kingdom. Hardware for this procurement includes weapon replaceable assemblies and support equipment: 466 Advanced Threat Warning Sensors, 15 LAIRCM Signal Processor Replacements (LSPRs), 30 Control Indicator Units, 62 Control Indicator Unit Replaceable, 114 -2103 Signal Processors, 161 Infrared Missile Warning Sensors, 245 Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies (GLTAs), 20 Multi-Role Electro-Optical End-to-End Test Sets, 125 GLTA Shipping Containers, 56 High Capacity Cards, 16 LSPR Smart Connector Assemblies, 381 Personal Computer Memory Card, International Association Cards, and 11 LSPR Battery Kits. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (34 percent); Goleta, California (30 percent); Longmont, Colorado (11 percent); Colombia, Maryland (3 percent); various locations within the continental U.S. (19 percent); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2020. Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Air Force); fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy and Air Force); fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy, Army, Air Force); fiscal 2018 working capital (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $210,500,224 are obligated at time of award; $4,647,172 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($161,240,756; 77 percent); Army ($27,756,313; 13 percent); Air Force ($19,784,658; 9 percent); and the government of United Kingdom ($1,718,497; 1 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded $209,601,517 for modification P00002 to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-18-C-1021) for additional long-lead materials, parts, and components in support of F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial production Lot 13 propulsion systems. This modification is in support of Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (67 percent); Indianapolis, Indiana (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy); non-DoD participant, and FMS funds in the amount of $209,601,517 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($73,537,179; 35 percent); Marine Corps ($35,477,475; 17 percent); Navy ($21,888,984; 10 percent); non-DoD participants ($41,929,486; 20 percent); and FMS customers ($36,768,394; 18 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, is awarded $183,486,207 for not-to-exceed undefinitized modification P00039 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0002) for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) engineering and manufacturing development. This modification continues Phase 1 efforts and provides for the performance of Phase 2 structural analysis and structural design efforts related to NGJ-MB static and fatigue requirements. Phase 2 will require the final redesign efforts and the manufacturing implementation of that redesign (developed during Phases 1 and 2) into the NGJ-MB engineering development model pods to be used in system developmental testing. Additionally, Phase 2 will provide for non-recurring analysis and design activities associated with weight reduction and service life improvements to be incorporated into the NGJ-MB system demonstration test articles. Work will be performed in Forest, Mississippi (40.3 percent); El Segundo, California (32.4 percent); and Dallas, Texas (27.3 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $23,441,571 are being 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. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $116,311,183 for firm-fixed-price delivery order N0001918F2048 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020) for the procurement of 440 low-rate initial production 11 Generation 3 Helmet Mounted Display Systems, oxygen masks, and initial spares in support of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the Air Force (180); Navy (60); Marine Corps (69); non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants (119); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers (12). Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in October 2020. Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps); fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Air Force and Navy); fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy and Marine Corps); non-DoD participant, and FMS funds in the amount of $116,311,183 are being obligated at time of award, $70,826,314 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($47,120,086; 40.5 percent); Navy ($15,711,725; 13.5 percent); Marine Corps ($18,944,511; 16.3 percent); non-DoD participant ($31,599,088; 27.2 percent); and FMS customers ($2,935,773; 2.5 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Textron Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, is awarded a $98,045,961 cost-reimbursable, not-to-exceed, undefinitized modification to previously-awarded letter contract N00024-17-C-2480 for the procurement of additional long-lead-time material (LLTM) for the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) program, Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 100-class craft 109 through 112, and for the procurement of LLTM and pre-fabrication activities for LCACs 113 through 118. The SSC program is the functional replacement for the existing fleet of vehicles, which are nearing the end of their service life. It is an air cushion vehicle designed for a 30-year service life. The SSC mission is to land surface assault elements in support of operational maneuver from the sea at over-the-horizon distances while operating from amphibious ships and mobile landing platforms. SSC provides increased performance to handle current and future missions, as well as improvements which will increase craft availability and reduce total ownership cost. Work will be performed in New Orleans, Louisiana (45 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (12 percent); Harahan, Louisiana (10 percent); Huntington Beach, California (6 percent); Eatontown, New Jersey (6 percent); Chesapeake, Virginia (5 percent); Corona, California (4 percent); Metairie, Louisiana (4 percent); Gold Beach, Oregon (3 percent); East Hartford, Connecticut (3 percent); and Riverdale, Iowa (2 percent). Work is expected to be completed by December 2021. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $13,189,830; and fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $60,344,640 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, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Crofton Construction Services Inc.,* Portsmouth, Virginia (N40085-18-D-1156); Doyon Project Services,* Federal Way, Washington (N40085-18-D-1157); Ocean Construction Services Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N40085-18-D-1158); Seaward Marine Corp.,* Chesapeake, Virginia 23323 (N40085-18-D-1159); and WF Magann Corp.,* Portsmouth, Virginia (N40085-18-D-1160), are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award, design-build, design-bid-build construction contract for waterfront construction projects within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic Hampton Roads area of responsibility (AOR). The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years for all five contracts combined is $95,000,000. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, new construction, repair, replacement, demolition, alteration, and/or improvements of waterfront projects and may be of either design-bid build or design-build construction strategy. Types of waterfront projects that include one or more of the following elements: piers; wharves; quay walls; dry docks; bulkheads; crane rail systems; fender systems; berthing and mooring; and waterfront related utilities (e.g., steam; low pressure compressed air; fresh water; salt water; sanitary sewer; oily waste water collection; high voltage to low voltage electrical; and fire protection systems) and required staging and performing construction in or over open tidal waters from barges and/or other floating or affixed work platforms. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. Crofton Construction Services Inc. is being awarded the initial task order at $7,327,275 for the Berth 18/19 Submarine Berth Repair at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by February 2020. All work on this contract will be performed in the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Hampton Roads AOR, Virginia. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of August 2022. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $7,347,295 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. SRC Inc., North Syracuse, New York, is awarded a maximum ceiling $93,000,000 five-year, hybrid, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity delivery order contract with firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost contract line items for the AN/TPQ-49A Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar System. The scope of work being performed is for system refresh kit installation, new system production, live fire testing, program management, initial/sustainment spares provisioning, new equipment training, technical manual production, and field service representative support. Work will be performed in North Syracuse, New York (88 percent); various countries to support Foreign Military Sales (ten percent); and Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pennsylvania (two percent), and is expected to be complete by Sept. 27, 2023. Fiscal 2018 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $367,432 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source award in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1- only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements; 6.302-4, international agreement; and 6.302-6, National security. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-18-D-1354). Crowley Government Services Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $48,746,282 modification to previously awarded contract N6238715C3135 to exercise option three for the operation and maintenance of six government-owned Marine Prepositioning Force (MPF) ships. The ships will continue to support Military Sealift Command worldwide prepositioning requirements. Work for this option period will be performed at sea worldwide, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2019. Working capital fund (Transportation) in the amount of $48,746,282 are obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured on a full and open basis with more than 50 companies solicited via the Military Sealift Command, Federal Business Opportunities and Navy Commerce Online websites, with seven offers received. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc. - Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, was awarded a $48,532,386 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification for the execution of USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) emergent repair and restoration. This effort provides for the additional collision repairs as well as maintenance and modernization of USS Fitzgerald. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed by May 2020. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $48,499,489; and fiscal 2017 other procurement (Navy) in the amount of $32,898 were obligated at time of award, and contract funds in the amount of $48,499,489 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-17-C-4444). (Awarded Sept. 25, 2018) Aretè Associates Inc.,* Northridge, California, is awarded a $40,378,366, firm-fixed-priced, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity requirements contract to provide coastal battlefield reconnaissance and analysis (COBRA) systems, COBRA program systems support, and provisioned item orders/spares for the AN/DVS-1 COBRA Block 1 System. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $93,000,000. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (35 percent); Destin, Florida (35 percent); and Santa Rosa, California (30 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2021. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $16,618,453 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(5), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5(c)(2): Authorized or Required by Statutes, this is a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract award that is derived from, extends, or logically concludes efforts performed under prior SBIR contract N61331-11-C-0007. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61331-18-D-0012). United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded $39,266,691 for modification P00008 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm target, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-17-C-0020). This modification provides for additional long lead-time components, parts, and materials in support of Lot 13 F-35 Lightning II propulsion systems in support of the Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy; non-Department of Defense (DoD); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (67 percent); Indianapolis, Indiana (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy); non-DoD participant; and FMS funds in the amount of $30,439,813 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Marine Corps ($29,054,685; 73.99 percent); Air Force ($582,821; 1.49 percent); Navy ($109,186; 0.28 percent); non-U.S. DoD participants ($9,228,392; 23.50 percent); and FMS customers ($291,607; 0.74 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Owego, New York, is awarded $36,024,134 for cost-plus-incentive-fee order N0001918F0546 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0019). This order provides for the development and deployment of the MH-60 product line software configuration 20 fleet release for all MH-60 air platform variants in support of the Navy, the government of Australia, and the government of Denmark. Additionally, this order includes tasking and activities associated with the development and integration of an enhanced fuel and power management capability and the integration of the form, fit, and function replacement of the multifunctional information distribution system, low volume terminal, Block 2 upgrade and associated software. Work will be performed in Owego, New York, and is expected to be completed in June 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy); fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $28,060,715 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Navy ($12,047,419; 33 percent); and FMS ($23,976,715; 67 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Harper Construction Co. Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded $34,355,931 for firm-fixed-price task order N6247318F5293 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-17-D-0817) for construction of Ammunition Supply Point Upgrade Phase 2 at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. The work to be performed provides for the demolition of eight existing high explosive magazines, drainage structures and existing access road. It includes the construction of nine new low rise, earth-covered, high explosive magazines with reinforced concrete walls and Portland cement concrete apron for loading and unloading purposes, reinforced concrete and earth covered roof, and reinforced concrete foundation and floor slab. The task order also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $40,375,601. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by October 2020. Fiscal 2018 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $34,355,931 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Jacobs Government Services Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a maximum amount $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for multi-discipline architect-engineering services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for comprehensive architect-engineering services required for planning, design, and construction services in support of new construction, repair, replacement, demolition, alteration, and/or improvement of Navy and other governmental facilities. Projects may involve single or multiple disciplines, including, but not limited to, architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, landscape design, fire protection, and interior design. Initial task order is being awarded at $217,648 for utility trestle and tunnel study at Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Illinois. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by January 2019. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic AOR including, but not limited to, Illinois (40 percent); Indiana (40 percent); and other areas within the AOR (20 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of September 2023. Fiscal 2018 Navy working capital contract funds in the amount of $217,648 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 military construction, (Navy); operations and maintenance, (Navy); and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 11 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-18-D-8728). Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $29,254,101 for firm-fixed-price delivery order N0001918F2494 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This order provides for the procurement of various diminishing manufacturing sources parts to protect deliveries for future F-35 Lightning II lots. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in February 2019. Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps); non-Department of Defense (DoD) participant; and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $29,254,101 will be obligated at time of award, $10,589,608 of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Air Force ($6,353,410; 21.72 percent); Marine Corps ($3,128,028; 10.69 percent); Navy ($1,108,170; 3.79 percent); non-DoD participants ($12,181,209; 41.64 percent); and FMS customers ($6,483,284; 22.16 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Skookum Educational Programs, Bremerton, Washington, is awarded a $29,214,362 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification under previously awarded contract N44255-17-D-4039 for the exercise of option one for base operations support services at various installations in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for all management and administration, facilities management and investment, pest control, integrated solid waste, pavement clearance, utilities management, base support vehicles and equipment, and environmental services for base operations support services. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $57,045,743. Work will be performed at various installations in the NAVFAC Northwest AOR, including but not limited to, Washington (90 percent); Alaska (1 percent); Idaho (1 percent); Iowa (1 percent); Minnesota (1 percent); Montana (1 percent); Nebraska (1 percent); North Dakota (1 percent); Oregon (1 percent); South Dakota (1 percent); and Wyoming (1 percent), and is expected to be completed September 2019. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $29,214,362 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The contract was awarded under the AbilityOne program, Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 8.7, Acquisition from NonProfit Agencies Employing People Who Are Blind or Severely Handicapped. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity. Airtec Inc.,* California, Maryland, is awarded a $26,948,745 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance flight hours, operations, maintenance, and as needed, development, testing and evaluation of currently integrated aircraft systems and associated ground systems in support of the Falcon-I program. Work will be performed in Bogota, Colombia (85 percent); and California, Maryland (15 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-18-D-0058). KOAM Engineering Systems Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded a potential value $23,543,089 indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide program management and engineering support services for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) Network Integration Engineering Facility. Support includes designing, engineering, production, integration, and testing of Department of Defense (DoD) command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems. This one-year contract includes four one-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to an estimated $123,134,353. Work will be performed in San Diego, California. The work is expected to be completed Sept. 26, 2019. If the options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Sept. 26, 2023. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Future efforts will obligate funds using research, development, test and evaluation (DoD); ship construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (DoD); other procurement (Navy and DoD); and Navy working capital fund. This contract was competitively procured via a request for proposal published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website, with three proposals received. SSC Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-18-D-0075). PAE Applied Technologies LLC, Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded a $17,770,204 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00244-14-C-0007 to exercise options for operations and maintenance services in support of the Southern California Offshore Range. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (70 percent); and San Clemente Island, California (30 percent), and is expected to be completed by March, 2019. Fiscal 2018 working capital funds (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, Norco, California, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Corp. Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, Florida, is awarded $13,517,256 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N00019-18-F-0517 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026) for the non-recurring engineering necessary to incorporate the E-2D Link-16 Crypto Modernization and Frequency Remapping capability by integrating the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System Concurrent Multi Netting 4 terminal and a low volume Link-16 High Power Amplifier into the E‑2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (89 percent); Woodland Hills, California (6 percent); Patuxent River, Maryland (3 percent); and St. Augustine. Florida (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,544,967 are being obligated on this 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. Hydroid Inc., Pocasset, Massachusetts, is awarded a $12,816,907 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost requirements contract for the production of the bathymetry mapping system sensor suite as well as required technical support, post mission analysis tools, software licensing and spares. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $33,631,584. Work will be performed in Horten, Norway (85 percent); and Pocasset, Massachusetts (15 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2019. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $8,001,973 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), this contract was not competitively procured (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61331-18-D-0015). Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded $10,810,033 for cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00019 to a previously issued delivery order 0096 placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-12-G-0006 to procure 12 additional MV-22 Integrated Aircraft Survivability Equipment (IASE) retrofit A-Kits Block C; 12 MV-22 IASE retrofit kit installations; IASE configuration B retrofit A and B-Kit installation; and five CV-22 IASE advanced mission computer A-Kits. Work will be performed at Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (81.9 percent); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (17.7 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (.4 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2020. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy and Air Force) funds in the amount of $10,810,033 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($9,577,130; 88 percent); and Air Force ($1,232,903; 12 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Intelligence, Information, Services, Sterling, Virginia, is awarded $10,688,510 for modification P00018 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-16-C-0027) to procure MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned air system, tactical control system 2016 Linux cyber baseline implementation of build 9 software release. Work will be performed in Dulles, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in November 2019. Fiscal 2016 and 2017 aircraft procurement; and fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,905,071 will be obligated at time of award, $629,350 of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. L3 - Interstate Electronics Corp. (IEC), Anaheim, California, is awarded $10,159,587 for modification P00008 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00030-18-C-0001) for flight test instrumentation engineering services and support. The work will be performed in Anaheim, California (56 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (27 percent); Washington, District of Columbia (4 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (3 percent); Norfolk, Virginia (3 percent); Bremerton, Washington (2 percent); Laurel, Maryland (2 percent); Silverdale, Washington (2 percent); and Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom (1 percent), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2019. Subject to the availability of funding, fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,217,123; and United Kingdom funds in the amount of $942,464 will be obligated on this award. Funds in the amount of $9,217,123 will expire at the end of fiscal 2019. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. iRobot Defense Holding's Inc., Chelmsford, Massachusetts, is awarded a $10,134,415 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00174-15-D-0001 to exercise an option for production units, spares, consumables, engineering enhancements, and configuration management services under the Man Transportable Robotic System MK1 Robotic Systems program. The work will be performed in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by September 2019. No contract funds are being obligated at this time. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Opportunities and Resources Inc., Wahiawa, Hawaii, is awarded a $9,631,719 firm-fixed-price modification under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62478-16-D-2452) to exercise option two for custodial services at various locations on Oahu. The work to be performed provides for custodial services to ensure facilities are clean and sightly. The work includes, but is not limited to, emptying waste containers, low area cleaning, high area cleaning, interior and exterior window cleaning, floor care, restroom cleaning services, and building perimeter services for approximately 545 buildings. After award of this option the total cumulative contract value will be $29,868,389. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and this option period is from October 2018 to September 2019. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $9,092,945 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders during the option period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl-Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Provengo LLC,* Merrick, New York, is awarded a maximum ceiling $9,085,675 five-year, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of up to a maximum 8,005 Military Ski Systems (MSS). The MSS will replace the current ski in the Marine Corps inventory and will provide the Marine Corps with a universal ski binding. Work will be performed in Merrick, New York, and is expected to be complete by September 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $1,708,175 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and funds will expire the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-18-D-1402). Tuva LLC,* Herndon, Virginia, is awarded an $8,999,621 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of 100 Mobile Training Suites (MTS) in support of Global Combat Support System-Marine Corps (GCSS-MC). The kits are a combination of equipment, software, databases, documentation, and procedures; and, will be used in the training of GCSS-MC users and key personnel in locations where network connectivity to the enterprise training environment is not available. Work will be performed in Herndon, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 27, 2019. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $8,999,621 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will expire the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is awarded in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 19.8 and section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S. Code 637(a) as an Alaska Native Corporation. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-18-C-7618). Saab Defense and Security USA LLC, East Syracuse, New York, is awarded an $8,184,781 firm-fixed-price contract for research and development of an X-Band Active Aperture Array radar prototype in support of the Office of Naval Research and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Foreign Comparative Testing Program. Work will be performed in Gothenburg, Sweden (80 percent); and East Syracuse, New York (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Defense) funds in the amount of $8,184,781 will be obligated at time of award, $1,000,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-18-C-0693). General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Bothell, Washington, is awarded a $7,858,577 firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of gas generators for use in the suppression system onboard the F/A 18E/F aircrafts to protect the dry bays under the fuel tanks. This contract includes a three-year base period with no options. Work will be performed in Moses Lake, Washington, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. This effort combines purchases with procurement and ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds (59.3 percent); Australian funds (23.5 percent); and Kuwait funds (17.2 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Funds will in the amount of $2,266,086 will be obligated at time of award to fund the first delivery order, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Sup

  • UK: Speech by Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff

    30 novembre 2018 | International, Naval

    UK: Speech by Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff

    Introduction Good morning everyone, and Nick [Childs, IISS], thank you very much for the introduction, for the invitation for Mike [Noonan, RAN] and I to be here with you all this morning, and to everyone here at IISS for facilitating this event. And a special thanks to Mike. He looks as fresh as a daisy this morning, but he's on a bit of a world tour, taking in London having also taken in some substantial visits in Europe to check on future RAN capability, I'm sure you'll hear more about that later, and then after a trip to Scotland tomorrow to have a look at what a Type 26 looks like, and we'll see the significance of that of course, we're then travelling together to Chile on Thursday night to help them commemorate the 200th Anniversary of their navy. So you've covered a lot of ground as Chief of Navy but for very good reason and it's really good to have you with us, Mike, today. What I wanted to do is to set the scene, before we hear from the Theatre expert, Mike, on the Asia Pacific Region, about how the Royal Navy sees that region and the way we've shifted some of our posture to reflect that in the last year or so. RN Pacific Presence Because it won't have escaped the attention of most of you who are tracking what the Royal Navy does and where it goes that this year has seen a very public return to that region. The deployments of the frigate HMS Sutherland initially, which also went to Australia, the LPD HMS Albion and her embarked Royal Marines, now followed by the frigate HMS Argyll which is in the region as we speak, and then HMS Montrose, who I'll be on board in Chile in a couple of days' time, is then crossing the Pacific to New Zealand and Australia on her way through the region too; so all of that has drawn no small amount of interest and commentary, both in the region and back here in the UK. And I hope that comes as no surprise because those deployments have had in the region, I am told, a really tangible effect. Whether on be operations: helping to enforce UN Security Council Resolutions against the DPRK, or the significant programmes of defence engagement they have been conducting right across the region – Indonesia, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Brunei, Japan and of course Australia to name but a few. But why now? Why has that change of focus to the region come now? Importance of the Pacific Those of you who are aficionados of IISS events may have been at their other site in June when, the US CNO, Adm John Richardson, and I spoke at a similar event about the challenges we share together in the maritime domain, challenges that have grown considerably into threats, and threats have both intensified and diversified. And whilst it's perhaps unsurprising that our combined UK/US geographical focus is principally in the Atlantic area, we made the point that the same challenge to freedom and security on the high seas is to be found in many other places in the world, perhaps most notably over the last year or so in the Indo-Pacific region. And that's a region we here in the UK simply can't afford to ignore. As I said at my Sea Power conference at RUSI a few weeks before that IISSevent I did with CNO, we were feeding off the UK Defence Concepts and Doctrine Centre's analysis of Global Strategic Trends which clearly identifies the economic shift towards the Indo-Pacific region; that's already on the way and will only intensify in the years to come When you combine this with the well established importance and growth of global maritime trade, and the UK's ambitions for an enhanced global trade network once we depart from the European Union, it becomes very easy to see why the Indo-Pacific region will be of such strategic importance to this island nation in the years to come – physically separated from that region by several thousand miles though we may be. But this renewed ambition for trade links in the Indo-Pacific, where some of the largest and fastest growing economies reside, does rely on influence in the region; you have to earn your place there. And that's where the key attributes of a navy can come into play, the ability, as one of my predecessors, Adm Sir Mark Stanhope, once put it, to do ‘engagement without embroilment', and that can come into play in support of cross-government objectives. But to paraphrase our Secretary of State for Defence: it's not all about soft power, it's also about being able to back it up with credible, hard power if required. And the way we can proactively contribute to regional maritime security is clearly one component of that. China In any assessment of the Indo-Pacific region, the growing role and influence of China will play a major part. China is the most populous country in the world, it's home to the largest supply of natural resources, it boasts the second largest world economy. So it is perhaps only natural that given their place in world they should look to exert their influence as a world power. And we're seeing this ambition play out very clearly in the maritime domain as the PLA(Navy) evolves from a coastal force to a regional force, and now very clearly a global force; they had 5 different task groups on deployment around the world last year. It's an ambition backed up by a programme of Naval expansion that massively exceeds any other country in the world, including the United States. If you look at the scale of their shipbuilding programme purely in terms of tonnage, it broadly equates to launching the equivalent of the whole Royal Navy or French Navy, every year, and they'll be able to do that for the next 10 years. Combine this with their equally rapid development of tactics and doctrine and it is very clear that they now possess a potent Naval force, equipped and ready to support China's national agenda, and this will be the case more and more in the years to come as they become bigger and more and more capable. Now there are probably differing, even conflicting views as to how this growth in Chinese military capability is to be perceived, but these perceptions are surely influenced in no small part by their recent actions like the militarisation of artificial features in the South China Sea, and I suspect not influenced for the better. UK/China relationship At the national political level, Britain is very clear eyed in its relationship with China, it's a good relationship and one we hope will continue to prosper for all sorts of reasons. And at a Head of Navy level, I'm pleased to say my relationship with Admiral Shen Jinlong, Commander of the PLA(N) is a good one. I visited him in China this year and we had a further meeting at the International Sea Power Symposium in Newport, Rhode Island a couple of months ago. Now unquestionably there were issues on which we do not see eye to eye, but the open, honest and frank discussion we have over a myriad of issues which affect all of us in the maritime domain are open and genuinely valuable, and I thank him for it. But at the same time, to again paraphrase my Defence Secretary, we will not shy away from telling them when we feel that they do not respect the commonly accepted rules and norms of international behaviour, the laws and systems from which we all benefit and therefore have a duty to protect. Specifically, in the Maritime domain, we are committed to ensure that the global commons remain secure and freely available for all mariners who are going about their lawful purpose, anywhere in the world, and we will continue to work to ensure that the laws and conventions that exist to protect those rights are followed. Return to Pacific So it's clear that the Pacific is somewhere the Royal Navy needs to be, in defence of our national interests and to promote our national prosperity, but also to exert our influence in the region as we seek to uphold the rules that have underwritten our collective security since the middle of the last century. But all of this comes after something of a fallow period in the Royal Navy's record of operations in this region, and I'm very keenly aware of that. Following the decision in the 1960s to withdraw naval forces from the region, and the demise of the Far East Fleet in 1971, our last ship, HMS Mermaid, left the Sembawang Basin in Singapore in September 1975. Since then we have seen a steady decline in the Royal Navy's presence in the region, exacerbated further by the withdrawal from Hong Kong in 1997, to the extent that when Sutherland arrived back in the region earlier this year, that was the first Royal Naval presence in the region for 5 years. The stark contrast of this year's near constant presence shows that we've now passed that nadir of presence and engagement, and I think we can now look forward to far closer engagement with our key regional partners there, whether it be in the guise of FPDA activity or bi-lateral and tri-lateral relationships such as our burgeoning relationship we have with Japan, and after Chile I fly on to Japan with Admiral Richardson to have another one of our close tri-lateral meetings with Admiral Murakawa, the head of the Japanese Defence Force. RN/RAN But whilst we may have been removed from the Pacific for a while, we have not lost our links with Pacific-based powers, especially the Royal Australian Navy. Throughout, our 2 navies have continued to enjoy a significant programme of personnel exchanges, building those all important personal relationships, shared experiences and mutual understanding. And at the tactical and operational level, our collective efforts in the Middle East in particular have kept our 2 navies closely aligned. As 2 of the 4 central members around which the 33 nation Combined Maritime Forces coalition has been built over the last 15 years or so, our ships have worked side by side and we have each taken a large share of Task Force Commander responsibilities. And if you've seen in the press in the last couple of days, we've also started to muscle in on the Royal Australian Navy's drug busts as well. In the course of these commitments the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy have shared in a plethora of operational tasking – and no small amount of operational success – be it counter piracy and counter narcotics focussed maritime security tasking right the way through to offensive military action. Going back to 2003, on the gun line off the Al Faw peninsula during 3 Cdo Bde RM's assault, that gunline was HMS Marlborough, HMS Richmond, HMS Chatham and HMAS Anzac. And that Combined approach was far from unprecedented either; 12 years earlier during the 1991 Gulf War, HMS Gloucester and HMS Cardiff had operated in the high end of the Gulf establishing air defence supremacy alongside their Australian counterparts HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Sydney. All of that is evidence of how closely our 2 navies have, and can, integrate with each other. Interoperability I hope we can take it as an established fact that interoperability lies at the heart of successful international partnerships. And that for effective interoperability, how we operate and why we operate is just as important as where we operate and when we operate. So it's about far more than simply our ability for our comms fits to speak to each other – important though that may be. In this sense, the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy are always going to be natural partners. We have those ties that bind our 2 countries together, our common history including being part of the Commonwealth, and we're always going to share near identical outlooks and values, and I would contend that this is especially true in the relationship between our 2 navies. But now we have a generational opportunity to further enhance this Naval partnership. The decision by Australia to buy and operate Type 26 frigates means that our 2 navies will soon be operating common Anti-Submarine Warfare platforms, the Australian Hunter class working side by side with our near identical Royal Navy City Class. And if you add to that our common outlook on how we generate these common platforms, how we bring that capability and its characteristics into service, it's but a short leap to see that we can find a way to operate them more closely together. And therein lies the opportunity to set the gold standard for interoperability – in the Asia-Pacific region, in Combined Maritime Forces and more widely amongst the ‘Five Eyes' community. And if the Type 26 has a coalescing effect for Combined RN/RAN operations, it will surely enhance our Anti-Submarine Warfare strategic partnership too, and Admiral Mike and I have signed an agreement today to push that between our too navies. There's no small amount of truth in the old adage that ‘2 heads are better than 1'. So the ability to tap into all of the skills, knowledge and experience that our navies both share, to address the future challenges in the underwater battlespace that we know we face, I think that makes a really powerful partnership. US and Regional Leadership Potent though this combined force may be, I think it would be remiss of me not to reflect on the predominant Naval power in the Pacific, which of course remains the US Navy, a navy with whom both the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy also work incredibly closely. Given the number of maritime facing nations in the Indo-Pacific region, some of which may be small but all of which are rightly proud and keen to play their part, leadership opportunities abound. And working alongside the USN, there's no doubt that there's something the Royal Australian Navy can provide in leadership through the region, which is significant; providing the lead for other navies to follow and providing a unifying role within the region. And I think this is something our 2 navies very much have in common. Just as the Royal Australian Navy provides that leading role within the Pacific, I would like to think the same can be said for the Royal Navy's corresponding leadership role in the Atlantic and the adjoining seas, bringing together, in our case, principally European navies to work together alongside the US, in our case most often under the framework of NATO. So the leadership role we play in our respective oceans is a real point of connection for us, and I hope this is something that will allow the Royal Navy to quickly begin to deliver effect alongside the RAN in the Pacific. I hope that this work, the unifying effect that we can bring with the Royal Australian Navy, can achieve within the region the leadership opportunity that I think is there, and by bringing to bear our mutual close relationship with the US Navy and a host of other navies in the region, I think this can have a powerful effect. Conclusion A few weeks ago we marked the centenary of the armistice that brought to an end the First World War. The Royal Australian Navy might only have been formed 3 years before the outbreak of that war, but from the very outset our 2 navies were entirely compatible. The Royal Australian Navy had almost all its major units operating as part of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet in the North Sea for most of the Great War, and the Royal Naval Division landed directly alongside the Anzacs at Gallipoli. In the Second World War, 5 Australian destroyers distinguished themselves repeatedly as part of Admiral Cunningham's Mediterranean fleet and over 1,000 Australians were serving in the Royal Navy on D Day. Through the subsequent campaigns in Korea and Malaya, and right up to the present with those 2 recent conflicts in the Arabian Gulf, our 2 navies have been at each other's side. It's a partnership steeped in history. But it's also modern, forward looking, and it's hugely valued, certainly on my side, and I look forward to seeing it grow in the future. So I'm hugely grateful to Mike for being here today and for all your team is doing to lean so heavily in to the optimisation of this relationship. Because as we re-assert our presence in your region I have no doubt our cooperation with you will continue to feature very heavily. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/iiss-global-partnerships-event-2018

  • Budget spat puts Boeing contract for AWACS upgrades at risk: sources

    27 août 2019 | International, Aérospatial

    Budget spat puts Boeing contract for AWACS upgrades at risk: sources

    Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A dispute over budgeting processes could delay NATO's efforts to finalize a $1 billion contract to extend the life of 14 aging Boeing E-3A surveillance aircraft, often called NATO's “eyes in the sky,” sources familiar with the program said. NATO officials have invited the 16 member nations in the Airborne Warning & Control System, or AWACS, program to an extraordinary meeting on Sept. 12 to mark the program's 40th anniversary and resolve the budget dispute, the sources said. Unless the issue is resolved soon, the contract will not be awarded to Boeing in time to be announced as planned at the Dec. 3-4 NATO summit in London, the sources said. “It's disappointing that a one-sided interpretation of the rules is putting this much-needed upgrade program at risk,” said one of the sources. The upgrades would keep the 1979/1980-era airplanes, with their distinctive radar domes on the fuselage, flying until 2035. NATO needs the planes to carry out missions such as air policing, evacuations and counter-terrorism operations. A second source said the dispute was not expected to kill the upgrade program outright, but could well push a contract award to Boeing off until next year, marking a setback for the U.S. contractor at a time when it still is struggling to get its 737 MAX commercial airplane back in the air. NAPMA, the NATO agency that manages the AWACS fleet, said in June it expected to finalize by December a $750 million contract with Boeing to extend the life of the aircraft through 2035, with $250 million more earmarked for design, spare parts and testing. But unanimous consent of member states is needed to proceed, and Norway has raised concerns about an uneven flow of funds to the program until its completion by 2027, the sources said. They said Oslo wants the biggest program states - the United States, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands - to transfer the bulk of their payments at the start, but that is not possible due to budgetary rules in those countries. In the United States, for instance, funding for weapons programs is generally authorized and distributed on an annual basis, subject to approval by the U.S. Congress. Ann-Kristin Salbuvik, spokeswoman for the Norwegian defense ministry, said Norway remained committed to the AWACS Final Life Extension Program and was prepared to finance its share of the program in coming years. But she said a decision to launch the program was contingent on approval by all member states, and the Boeing offer had to be “compliant, affordable and feasible.” Boeing spokeswoman Melissa Stewart on Thursday had no comment on the dispute, saying Boeing continued to work with NATO “to assess needs and present the best options and upgrades that will keep their AWACS fleet operational for years to come.” Once NAPMA presented its recommendations later this fall, member nations still have to agree on technical, financial and managerial aspects of the program, she said. A NATO official downplayed the risk to the upgrade program but acknowledged that it still required securing final signatures on multilateral agreements, confirmation of budget arrangements and negotiation of other “last-minute details.” “Despite the complexity of a $1 billion multinational program being conducted by 16 Allies, these preparations are on track. The plan remains to award the contract in December,” the official said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nato-boeing-awacs/budget-spat-puts-boeing-contract-for-awacs-upgrades-at-risk-sources-idUSKCN1VC2NN

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