18 février 2021 | International, Aérospatial
U.S. Air Force Entertains New Design To Replace F-16 | Aviation Week Network
The U.S. Air Force chief of staff envisions a 4.5-generation, or fifth generation “minus,” as the F-16 replacement.
30 octobre 2020 | International, C4ISR
DoD unveils electromagnetic spectrum superiority strategy
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Defense released its highly anticipated electromagnetic spectrum superiority strategy Thursday, aimed at guiding how the department will develop capabilities as well as partner on and pursue readiness within the spectrum to gain an edge on sophisticated adversaries.
In recent years, U.S. adversaries have sought high-tech methods to deny the electromagnetic spectrum, on which American forces often rely. These methods include jamming or spoofing communications, radars and munitions.
“The Nation has entered an age of warfighting wherein U.S. dominance in air, land, sea, space, cyberspace, and the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is challenged by peer and near peer adversaries,” the strategy stated. “These challenges have exposed the cross-cutting reliance of U.S. Forces on the EMS, and are driving a change in how the DoD approaches activities in the EMS to maintain an all-domain advantage."
"This jeopardizes the U.S. military's ability to sense, command, control, communicate, test, train, protect, and project force effectively. Without the capabilities to assert EMS superiority, the nation's economic and national security will be exposed to undue and significant risk.”
The strategy lists five strategic goals, each delving deeper into subordinate objectives. They include:
- Develop superior EMS capabilities.
- Evolve to an agile and fully integrated EMS infrastructure.
- Pursue total force readiness in the EMS.
- Secure enduring partnerships for EMS advantage.
- Establish effective EMS governance.
“The new strategy will have wide-ranging impacts across the DoD. It will shape the future of the department, influencing how the DoD makes decisions on how best to design, resource and implement EMS concepts as a new foundation for multidomain war fighting,” a defense official said Oct. 29 during a briefing to reporters on the strategy on background because the DoD would not let them speak on-the-record.
The strategy pulls from previous concepts and initiatives such as the 2013 Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy and the 2017 electronic warfare strategy. However, since those documents were devised, the operational environment has become more complex.
“The primary focus is a holistic approach to electromagnetic spectrum management and electromagnetic warfare,” the official said regarding departures from previous strategies.
In the past, the official said, some of those activities were siloed while the new strategy articulates freedom of action within the spectrum through a more holistic approach.
The strategy also noted that the DoD is transitioning from its definition that electronic warfare is separate from spectrum management to a more unified approach of electromagnetic spectrum operations, or EMSO.
The Joint Staff updated its doctrine document in May governing electronic warfare, shifting to EMSO.
The official said some of the particular technologies the department is looking for include dynamic spectrum-sharing technologies that need to incorporate sensing, accessing, sharing and maneuvers, frequency agility, frequency diversity, tools that minimize an EMS footprint, tools to reduce vulnerability detection, and resiliency against radio frequency-enabled cyberattacks.
“We're also emphasizing modular, open-systems approaches, software designed systems, [a] more platform-agnostic approach instead of defined platforms as well as being multifunction,” the official said.
The strategy paints broad strokes for what's desired and required beneath each strategic goal. However, the Pentagon is still working on a formal implementation plan to ingrain them within the department and armed services.
Within 180 days of being officially signed, the senior designated official, who is currently the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will create a road map and implementation plan alongside the Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Cross-Functional Team. A defense official said the way forward should be finalized by March 2021.
That plan will have a series of tasks aligned to the five goals. What's more, the implementation team will identify risks to the department and outline trade-offs that must be made against other priorities within the Pentagon, the official said.
“As part of the implementation plan, we are trying to set the conditions to make the appropriate trades that are going to be necessary with all the different priorities and the modernization efforts that are going to be required as part of this strategy execution,” the official said.
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31 août 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 28, 2020
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, California, is being awarded a $911,765,000 modification (P00049) for existing sole source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract HQ0147-12-D-0001 for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense element development and support services. This modification brings the total maximum ceiling value of this contract from $2,335,000,000 to $3,246,765,000. This modification provides for the extension of the period of performance for additional incremental development, support to flight and ground test programs and responsive support to warfighter requirements to sustain the Ballistic Missile Defense System throughout the acquisition life cycle. Expected completion dates will be established under subsequent task order awards. The work will be performed at Sunnyvale, California; and Huntsville, Alabama. No funding is being obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Abbott Rapid DX North America LLC, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production and delivery of BinaxNOW rapid point-of-care antigen tests for COVID-19. The initial order is valued at $760,000,000 for 150 million tests and distribution costs. This was a sole-source acquisition to meet an urgent and compelling national need. An Emergency Use Authorization has been approved and signed by the Food and Drug Administration for this contract award. This is a four-month contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Florida and Maine, with a Dec. 31, 2020, ordering period end date. Using customer is the Department of Health and Human Services. The maximum dollar value on the contract is $1,500,000,000. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 CARES Act funding. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-20-D-0027). (Awarded Aug. 27, 2020) Petro Star, Inc.,* Anchorage, Alaska (SPE605-20-D-4008, $62,088,432); Delta Western LLC, Seattle, Washington (SPE605-20-D-4002, $32,629,727); Crowley Government Services, Jacksonville, Florida (SPE605-20-D-4005, $26,468,885); and Petro 49 Inc.,* doing business as Petro Marine Services, Seward, Alaska (SPE605-20-D-4009, $15,852,473), have each been awarded a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract under solicitation SPE0600-20-R-0222 for various types of fuel. These were competitive acquisitions with 18 responses received. They are 60-month contracts with a six-month option period. Locations of performance are Alaska, Florida and Washington, with a Sept. 30, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Breton Industries Inc.,* Amsterdam, New York, has been awarded a maximum $17,810,477 firm-fixed-price contract for vehicular door handles, soft top parts kits, vehicular fitted covers and vehicular curtain assemblies. This was a competitive acquisition with four offers received. This is a three-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is New York, with an Aug. 27, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. 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-0166). Immix Technology Inc., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $17,637,924 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SP4701-20-F-0161) against five-year basic ordering agreement NNG-15-S-C39B with one five-year option period for IBM software maintenance support renewal. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with an Aug. 31, 2021, performance completion date. Using customer is the Defense Logistics Agency. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Contracting Services Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AMG Engineering & Machining Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana (SPE4A7-20-D-0363, $17,236,056); and Janel's Industries Inc., Dowagiac, Michigan (SPE4A7-20-D-0362, $13,155,156), have each been awarded a maximum firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE4A7-20-R-0032 for aircraft structural fittings. This was a competitive acquisition using justification 15 U.S. Code 657f, as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.206. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Michigan, Florida and Indiana, with an Aug. 28, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia. AIR FORCE National Strategic Research Institute – University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, has been awarded a maximum $92,000,000 single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for research and development services supporting U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and other government agencies. The contract is specifically for obtaining Department of Defense essential engineering, research and development capabilities and mission-related research including test, evaluation, and systems analysis of related topics for USSTRATCOM in the defined core competencies of nuclear detection and forensics, detection of chemical and biological weapons, active and passive defense against weapons of mass destruction and consequence management. Work will primarily be performed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska; and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, and is expected to be completed Feb. 28, 2026. This award is a result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (FA4600-20-D-0003). PLEXSYS Interface Products, Camas, Washington, has been awarded a $66,771,502 firm-fixed-price, time and materials contract to the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Mission Crew Training Set (MCTS) effort. This contract will provide services to support the AWACS Block 40/45 system by providing operations and maintenance to eight MCTS systems. This contract will ensure that these MCTS systems are ready for training at the beginning of each training day, ensuring it remains operational throughout training events and then securing it at the conclusion of the training day. Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Kadena Air Base, Japan; Nellis AFB, Nevada; and Joint Base Elmendorf, Alaska, and is expected to be completed by July 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 centralized asset management aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $12,142,258 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-20-C-0009). M1 Support Services, Denton, Texas, has been awarded a $25,649,894 modification (P00050) to contract FA4890-16-C-0012 for the T‐38 aircraft maintenance program. The modification will provide intermediate and organizational maintenance of T‐38 aircraft for Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command and Air Force Global Strike Command. Work will be performed at Beale Air Force Base, California; Holloman AFB, New Mexico; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Tyndall AFB, Florida; and Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance funds will be used, but no funds will be obligated at time of award. Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis AFB, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Frontier Technology Inc., Beavercreek, Ohio, has been awarded an $18,838,565 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00016) to life cycle decision support contract FA8806-19-C-0004 for additional support and analysis. The contract modification provides for the support and analysis to aid in the rapid prototyping and delivery of Enterprise Ground Services to future and existing U.S. Space Force missions. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Los Angeles, California, and work is expected to be completed by Sept. 4, 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,700,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $85,525,491. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California, is the contracting activity. Range Generation Next LLC, Sterling, Virginia, has been awarded a $17,620,089 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P000313) to contract FA8806-15-C-0001 for cyber hardened infrastructure support Phases Three and Four. This modification supports an increase in launch and test range requirements. Work will be performed at Eastern Range, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; and Western Range, Vandenberg AFB, California, and is expected to be completed Feb. 24, 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson AFB, Colorado, is the contracting activity (FA8806-15-C-0001). Credence Management Solutions LLC, Vienna, Virginia, has been awarded an $8,661,142, bilateral second option for task order FA3002-18-F-0162 to continue providing flight training operations support to Air Education and Training Command fighter aircrew at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Randolph and Lackland, Texas; Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Oklahoma; Tucson Air National Guard (ANG) Base, Arizona; Little Rock ANG Base, Arkansas; Altus AFB, Oklahoma; Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida; Fort Rucker, Alabama; and the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, and is expected to be completed August 2021. This task order incorporates the addition of two schedulers at JBSA–Randolph, and the Service Contract Labor Standards, Department of Labor Wage Determinations and the Collective Bargaining Unit for Altus AFB. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center, JBSA-Randolph, Texas, is the contracting activity. ARMY EFW Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $55,365,964 modification (P00010) to contract W15QKN-20-F-0331 to increase the contract ceiling amount and extend the contract period of performance to procure hardware in support of the Mortar Fire Control System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 28, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 1, 2020) Legacy Joint Venture Group LLC,* Warner Robins, Georgia, was awarded a $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide rapid response with new construction, renovation, upgrades, improvement, maintenance or repair of government facilities. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-20-D-4007). Advanced Systems Technology Inc.,* Lawton, Oklahoma, was awarded a $24,331,428 firm-fixed-price contract for to replace the existing tactical communication subsystems towers and antenna system equipment to properly operate, display and protect the Joint Readiness Training Center instrumented systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Lawton, Oklahoma, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 27, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds; and 2019 and 2020 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $24,331,428 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-20-C-0018). Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, Maryland, was awarded an $18,808,103 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for medical research to implement a multifaceted artificial intelligence initiative at the Biotechnology High-Performance Computing Software Applications Institute to support scientific research in multiple areas of military medicine. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Bethesda, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 16, 2023. Fiscal 2020 Defense Health Program and research, development, test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $4,673,419 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W81XWH-20-C-0031). Alstom Renewable US LLC, Greenwood Village, Colorado, was awarded a $15,943,367 firm-fixed-price contract to perform all work required to rewind two hydroelectric generating units at Hartwell Powerhouse. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Hartwell, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 hydropower customer funded funds in the amount of $15,943,367 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-20-C-0025). McMillen LLC, Boise, Idaho, was awarded a $12,231,000 firm-fixed-price contract for equipment, structures and all labor, plant, equipment and materials for the rehabilitation of the two low-level outlets of the Coolidge Dam. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed at the Coolidge Dam, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 22, 2022. Fiscal 2020 Bureau of Indian Affairs construction funds in the amount of $12,231,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (W912PP-20-C-0018). EA Engineering, Science and Technology Inc.,* Hunt Valley, Maryland, was awarded an $8,025,292 firm-fixed-price contract to address groundwater contamination resulting from historical releases at Kirtland Air Force Base. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 27, 2025. Fiscal 2020 environmental restoration, defense funds in the amount of $8,025,292 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (W912PP-20-C-0020). NAVY La Jolla Logic, San Diego, California (M68909-20-D-7601); Pueo Business Solutions LLC, Fredericksburg, Virginia (M68909-20-D-7602); Axcend, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia (M68909-20-D-7604); Lumbee Tribe Enterprises LLC, Pembroke, North Carolina (M68909-20-D-7605); and Trillion Technology Solutions, Inc., Reston, Virginia (M68909-20-D-7606), are being awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for network, engineering, testing and cybersecurity support services with an estimated ceiling value of $46,000,000. Work will be performed in Camp Pendleton, California, and is expected to be complete by May 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $1,500 will be obligated on the first task order immediately following contract award and funds will expire the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website, with 17 offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, Camp Pendleton, California, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Aug. 27, 2020) Coastal Marine Services Inc., San Diego, California (N50054-20-D-0007); and Thermcor Inc., Norfolk, Virginia (N50054-20-D-0008), are each being awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to provide insulation and lagging removal and installation. Coastal Marine Services Inc. is awarded an $18,903,577 contract and Thermcor Inc. is awarded a $23,020,821 contract for a total amount of $41,924,398. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by August 2021, and if all options are exercised, by August 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $24,000 ($12,000 minimum guarantee per contract) will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This multiple award contract was procured as a small business set-aside via the beta.Sam.gov website with two offers received. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Mare Island Dry Dock, Vallejo, California, is awarded a $15,378,728, 50-calendar day, firm-fixed-price contract (N32205-20-C-4066) for the mid-term availability of the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187). The $15,378,728 consists of the amounts listed in the following areas: Category “A” work item cost, additional government requirement, other direct costs and the general and administrative costs. Work will include forward and port side superstructure preservation and steel repairs, ballast tank preservation forepeak, flight deck non-skid renewal, miscellaneous steel repairs, tank preservation 1S, 8C and 10C, main engine 12,000-hour overhaul, multiple cable transit repair, marine sanitation device tank replacement, number 4 ship service diesel generators resilient engine mount replacement and vent plenum preservation. The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the total value to $16,715,800. Work will be performed in Vallejo, California. Expected period of performance is Oct. 14, 2020, through Dec. 2, 2020. Fiscal 2021 working capital (Navy) funds, excluding options, in the amount of $15,378,728 will be obligated at time of the award. This contract was competitively procured, with proposals solicited via the beta.sam.gov website and two offers were received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N32205-20-C-4066). Basic Commerce and Industries Inc.,* Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $12,281,171 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-reimbursement-type contract for research, development, production, integration, installation, software support and maintenance of Weather Radar Through-the-Sensor systems. This five-year contract includes no options. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (95%); and San Diego, California (5%). The period of performance is from Aug. 28, 2020, through Aug. 27, 2025. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Funding will be obligated via task orders using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and operations and maintenance (Navy) funds. This contract was awarded with circumstances permitting other than full and open competition pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(5) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-20-D-3413). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2329454/
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16 février 2018 | International, Aérospatial
UK submits bid for Belgium fighter competition, pitting Typhoon against F-35
By: Andrew Chuter LONDON — Britain has pitched a range of strategic and industrial tie-ups to the Belgian government as part of a bid to secure a deal to supply Eurofighter Typhoon jets to replace the country's aging F-16 fleet. “The proposal includes 34 Typhoon aircraft, underpinned by the offer of a deep strategic, defence and industrial partnership between the Governments of Belgium and the U.K.,” the British Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Feb. 14 was the deadline date for the submission of best and final bids for the Belgian air combat capability program. A decision on the winning contractor is expected later this year with the fleet being delivered starting 2023. British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, in Brussels for a two-day NATO defense ministers meeting, said the jets offer Belgium a “formidable capability which forms the backbone of European air power, as well as a comprehensive long-term defense and industrial partnership with the U.K. A unique partnership with the RAF and integration with our world-leading support service mean Belgium's selection of the Typhoon would be a powerful demonstration of us working together to support security across the continent.” The British are leading the Typhoon bid on behalf of the Eurofighter nations in a formal competition with the Lockheed Martin F-35A to replace 54 F-16s. Germany, Italy and Spain are also part of the Eurofighter partnership. The U.S. State Department said last month it had approved a possible foreign military sale of 34 Lockheed Martin F-35 jets to the Belgians in a deal which could be worth up to $6.5 billion. Earlier this month the U.S. confirmed it had responded to the request for final offers. “The F-35 Joint Program Office invested considerable effort to craft an offer that enables our Belgian allies to acquire the F-35's unmatched capabilities well within the budget specified by the [Belgian] Strategic Vision for Defense 2030,” said the U.S. government. Speaking recently to an audience of alliance and industry partners, US Charge d'Affaires, , Matthew Lussenhop said a F-35 purchase would pay big dividends for Belgium. “Joining the F-35 program provides access to technology that support all of Belgium's essential security interests and opens the door to related projects with potential returns well in excess of the initial investment — just like the F-16 program has in the past,” he said. Lockheed Martin and engine maker Pratt & Whitney both have memoranda of agreement with a number of Belgian companies. It may not be a two-horse race though. The French government and Dassault are also somewhere in the mix. They declined to formally respond to requests for proposals, claiming they had more to offer than bid requirements which, they said, were too restrictive. Instead the French have been offering Belgium what has been described as a deep and structured economic and military partnership. Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier on Feb. 13 signed 13 cooperation agreements with Belgian companies as part of an offer of the Rafale in a proposed government-to-government deal. That signing is “part of the proposal of the Franco-Belgian strategic partnership concerning the jet fighter,” Dassault said in a statement. The French proposal of the Rafale falls outside the Belgian tender, as Paris seeks to build a broad bilateral relationship aimed mainly to counter an offer of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.Those cooperation agreements bring to more than 30 contracts signed with Belgian partners for activities including service for the Rafale, training of aeronautical engineers and work on drone projects, the company said. Other areas include automating production lines, simulation, research on advanced material and predictive maintenance. Among the local partners were Sabca, Safran Aero Booster and Thales Belgium. The former is the Belgian unit of Dassault Aviation.Following an order, Dassault, Safran and Thales are committed to investing in Belgium at least €20 billion over 20 years, and supporting more than 5,000 high technology jobs, the aircraft builder said. Dozens more agreements with local partners would be signed as part of a campaign by French companies to invest in the Belgian economy, Trappier said. The status of the French bid is unclear at this point. The French decision was not the first left field move by expected bidders. Boeing pulled the F/A 18 E/F Super Hornet from the contest last April citing issues with the fairness of the bidding process. Not long after that Saab unexpectedly withdrew the Gripen E saying they could not meet Belgian operational support requirements without a change of Swedish Government foreign policy. For their part the British are, on the military front, offering to further strengthen co-operation between the two air force, integrate the Belgians into Royal Air Force support arrangements and form a training partnership which involves training and exercising together. The British are also offering to help establish a National Network Cyber Centre, a Cyber Innovation Centre and a Cyber Research Partnership, underpinned by a partnership between the two governments. U.K. Typhoon lead contractor BAE Systems and others, have been signing industrial co-operation deals with Belgian industry. As of Feb. 7 BAE said it had signed agreements with more than 20 Belgian companies to explore potential collaboration opportunities as part of a wide-ranging Eurofighter industrial proposal. Despite the efforts by the Europeans to entice the Belgians with attractive strategic and industrial offers Doug Barrie, the senior air analyst at the International Institute of Strategic Studies reckons the F-35 remains the aircraft to beat. “My money is on the F-35, particularly if the Belgians insist on retaining the ability to deploy B-61 freefall nuclear weapons to match the capability they have on the F-16,” said Barrie. “The F-35 is the only aircraft in the competition presently able to do that. Rafale is wired to deploy nuclear free fall weapons but they are French.” Pierre Tran in Paris contributed to this story. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/02/15/uk-submits-bid-for-belgium-fighter-competition-pitting-typhoon-against-f-35/