31 janvier 2019 | International, C4ISR
By: Mark Pomerleau
Following a year of cyberspace strategizing, 2019 will be all about implementing rules and tools, according to the Department of Defense's top uniformed cyber policy adviser.
Appearing Jan. 29 before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Brig. Gen. Dennis Crall said the department knows where it needs to head following last year's DoD cyber strategy (the first in three years) and now is the time to show results.
“This is the year of outcomes and that's what we're focused on — delivering the capabilities and improvements that we've discussed for some time,” he told the committee, adding that the strategy process allowed them to take a look at some departmental gaps and get after them.
The strategy actually has actionable lines of effort and there are things they can do to measure progress, he said.
The document lays out five objectives and five areas of interest under its strategic approach. The five objectives include:
The five areas of interest under the guise of its strategic approach include building a more lethal joint force; competing and deterring in cyberspace; strengthening alliances and attracting new partners; reforming the department; and cultivating talent.
The strategy also notes DoD must take action in cyberspace during day-to-day competition to preserve U.S. military advantages and defend U.S. interests. The focus will be on nation states that can pose strategic threats to the United States, namely China and Russia.
“We will conduct cyberspace operations to collect intelligence and prepare military cyber capabilities to be used in the event of crisis or conflict,” the document says.
Dana Deasy, the department's chief information officer, told the same committee that the threat from Russia and China is so acute he is briefed weekly from U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency on them. This allows him to understand their offensive and defensive posture relative to the DoD.
“Suffice to say that these are very strong, capable adversaries, but at the same time we have some strong, capable abilities ourselves,” he said.
Cyber Command has now assembled a full force of cyberwarriors and received limited acquisition authority to start equipping them. However, there is much more work to be done.
In fact, aside from individual tools, the force is still in need of a training range where cyberwarriors can do individual and collective training, as well as mission rehearsal, similar to rifle ranges or national training centers in the physical world.
The Persistent Cyber Training Environment, being run by the Army for the joint force, will get after this; however, it is still in the prototype phase with a limited capability delivered to users.
Additionally, the force needs a large-scale command-and-control platform that will house tools, provide commanders global situational awareness of forces and enable forces to plug into operations from remote locations.
This is the goal of Unified Platform, which is also still in the prototype phase, though officials have said a limited product could be delivered as early as the spring.
https://www.fifthdomain.com/dod/2019/01/30/for-dod-cyber-2019-is-the-year-of-doing
1 février 2022 | International, C4ISR
The new machine learning system developed by Raytheon BBN Technologies in partnership with the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity allows English-speaking users to search foreign documents and speech without knowing the language.
6 mars 2023 | International, Aérospatial
Leading provider of adversary air and JTAC training invests in developer of next generation artificial intelligence (AI) technologies Mesa, AZ, March 3, 2023 – Top Aces Corp. (Top Aces), the world’s only commercial owner and operator of F-16 fighter aircraft, today announced an investment in San Diego-based EpiSci, developer of the most trusted, resilient and modular Tactical AI solutions for defense, aerospace and commercial applications. This investment expands on Top Aces’ commitment of providing world-class training to the next generation of combat leaders, positioning the company at the forefront of development and training in the future ‘human-machine’ collaborative battlefield.
6 mars 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
AIR FORCE Elbit Systems of America Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $471,634,000 ceiling firm-fixed-price contract for F-16 sustainment. This contract provides for a pylon-based infrared missile warning system for the F-16 platform. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be complete by February 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account funds in the amount of $17,050,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8232-20-D-0003). (Awarded Feb. 28, 2020) Abacus Technology Corp., Chevy Chase, Maryland, has been awarded a $21,873,527 firm-fixed-price contract for support services. This contract provides for information technology sustainment support services at several locations. Work will be performed at Al Udeid Air Base (AB), Qatar; Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates; and Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Work is expected to be complete by March 2025. This contract is the result of a set-aside for small business and five offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,767,312 are being obligated at the time of award. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-19-R-A018). Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $16,249,208 firm-fixed-price contract for the C-130J center wing box replacement program. This contract provides for 14 enhanced center wing boxes and 14 component kits. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia, and is expected to be complete by March 30, 2027. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $16,249,208 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8504-20-C-0002). AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, has been awarded a $15,558,008 firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to a previously awarded contract FA4890-19-C-0002 for the exercise of Option Period Two. This modification provides for force-protection efforts at airfields located within the Air Force Central Command's area of responsibility, including a non-developmental contractor-owned and contractor-operated unmanned aerial system, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance solution to perform operational, engineering, and sustainment efforts necessary to effectively execute pre-deployment, deployment operations, post-deployment, and engineering support activities. Work will be performed at Bagram and Kandahar Airfields, Afghanistan, and is expected to be complete by March 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $114,064,396. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity. NAVY Sabel Systems Technology Solutions LLC,* Gainesville, Virginia (M95494-20-D-1001); Targeted Approach LLC,* Alexandria, Virginia (M95494-20-D-1002); CANA LLC,* doing business as CANA Advisors, Gainesville, Virginia (M95494-20-D-1003); Knowledge Management Inc.,* Tyngsboro, Massachusetts (M95494-20-D-1004); and Arrow Alliance Industries LLC,* Spotsylvania, Virginia (M95494-20-D-1005), are awarded $94,184,597 a hybrid firm-fixed-price and cost only indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract (IDIQ-MAC) to provide professional support services to the Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics, Logistics Plans, Policies and Strategic Mobility Division. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia. The IDIQ-MACs have a five year ordering period with a shared maximum value of $94,184,597. These businesses will have the opportunity to compete for individual task orders. Work is expected to be completed March 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $5,000 ($25,000 total) is being obligated under each contract's initial task order to fund the minimum guarantee and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively solicited via Federal Business Opportunities and 18 proposals were received. The Marine Corps Installations Command, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. I.E. Pacific Inc.,* Escondido, California, is awarded $19,886,020 for a firm-fixed-price task order (N62473-20-F-4330) under a multiple award construction contract for the repair and upgrade of Bachelor's Enlisted Quarters Buildings 5698 and 5697 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. The work to be performed includes the installation of new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and provides a new transformer for electrical requirements, the replacement of switchgear and a cast-in-place concrete pad as well as hazardous materials abatement and remediation. The task order also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $19,892,020. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by May 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $19,886,020 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-17-D-4628). Engility Corp., a SAIC company, Andover, Maine, is awarded an $8,484,786 modification (P00009) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable delivery order (N68936-19-F-0297) against a General Services Administration One Acquisition Solution for integrated services multiple award contract. Work will be performed in Point Mugu, California (90.6%); China Lake, California (1.9%); Fallon, Nevada (1.6%); Whidbey Island, Washington (0.94%); Washington, District of Columbia (0.94%); Laurel, Maryland (0.63%); Irvine, California (0.31%); Las Vegas, Nevada (0.31%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (1.3%). This modification exercises the option for systems engineering analysis, test and evaluation engineering, interoperability testing and analysis, threat analysis, and tactics development for the AN/ALQ-99 Next Generation jammer pod, USQ-113 communications system jammer, ALQ-218 receiver, ALQ-227 communication countermeasures set, and Intrepid Tiger Pod for the EA-6B and EA-18G aircraft. Work is expected to be completed by March 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $400,000; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $150,000 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu, California, is the contracting activity. Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp., Arlington, Virginia, is awarded a $7,460,890 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop concepts for a heterogeneous underwater network. Work will be performed at contractor facilities in California (5%); Massachusetts (75%); Rhode Island (5%); Virginia (10%); and government test facilities (5%). The work to be performed includes dynamically reconfigurable architecture that leverages advancement in undersea communications and autonomous ocean systems and demonstrate utility at sea with advanced prototypes. The period of performance of the base award is from March 5, 2020, through May 4, 2021. This 15-month contract includes two options which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to an estimated $37,399,156. The period of performance of the base award is from March 5, 2020, through May 4, 2021. If both options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Feb. 4, 2024. Funds in the amount of $499,663 will be obligated at the time of award. The type of funding to be obligated will be research, development, test and evaluation (Department of Defense). This contract was competitively procured via a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency broad agency announcement solicitation published on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Seven proposals were received and three were selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-20-C-4006). ARMY Adirondack Construction,* Glens Falls, New York (W911PT-20-D-0002); Benaka Inc.,* New Brunswick, New Jersey (W911PT-20-D-0003); Black Horse Group LLC,* Watertown, New York (W911PT-20-D-0004); Burgos Group LLC,* Medford, New Jersey (W911PT-20-D-0005); Call Associates Inc.,* Buffalo, New York (W911PT-20-D-0006); Enfield Enterprises Inc.,* Springfield, Massachusetts (W911PT-20-D-0007); Intercontinental Construction Contracting Inc.,* Passaic, New Jersey (W911PT-20-D-0008); Oddo Construction Services LLC,* East Amherst, New York (W911PT-20-D-0009); Relyant Global LLC,* Maryville, Tennessee (W911PT-20-D-0010); SAF Inc.,* Akron, Ohio (W911PT-20-D-0011); Tantara Associates Corp.,* Worcester, Massachusetts (W911PT-20-D-0012); Vedant Construction Inc.,* Dracut, Massachusetts (W911PT-20-D-0013); Iron Sword Enterprises LLC,* Wallkill, New York (W911PT-20-D-0014); Jjbrun JV LLC,* San Antonio, Texas (W911PT-20-D-0015); Mid-State Industries Ltd.,* Schenectady, New York (W911PT-20-D-0016); and Raad Construction Group LLC,* Red Bank, New Jersey (W911PT-20-D-0017), will compete for each order of the $55,173,306 firm-fixed-price contract for minor construction at Watervliet Arsenal, New York. Bids were solicited via the internet with 18 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 2, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Goodwill Industries of South Florida Inc., Miami, Florida, was awarded an $11,099,962 firm-fixed-price contract for Advanced Combat Pants. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Miami, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $11,099,962 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QY-20-C-0024). Tribalco LLC,* Bethesda, Maryland, was awarded an $8,863,183 modification (P00012) to contract W912DY-16-D-0021 to provide support and services to manage the complete life cycle of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers radio communications mission. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 12, 2021. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, has been awarded a $25,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00357) under contract HQ0276-10-C-0001. This modification increases the total cumulative contract value by $25,900,000 from $3,184,013,135 to $3,209,913,135. Under this modification, the contractor will perform engineering, design support services necessary for continuation of planning efforts and risk reduction efforts required to maintain the initial operational capability schedule to support the Aegis Ashore Japan Foreign Military Sales Main Case. The work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, with an expected completion date of July 31, 2020. Funds from the government of Japan in the amount of $25,900,000 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract modification is the result of a sole-source acquisition. The Missile Defense Agency, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2103659/source/GovDelivery/