French, German defense chiefs jolt languid next-gen tank project

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  24 mars 2020 | International, C4ISR

  The Pentagon wants to see new ground station prototypes

  By: Mike Gruss The Pentagon is asking industry to help build ground stations it needs for multidomain operations and for sending targeting data to military networks used to fire weapons. In a March 18 notice to industry, the Pentagon's Silicon Valley outpost, the Defense Innovation Unit, said leaders there are interested in a prototype ground station that can quickly process sensor data from military satellites and improve battlefield awareness. “The goal of the program is to reduce sensor to shooter latency via automated metadata correlation to provide time-dominant intelligence for delivery of desired effects (e.g. Long-Range Precision Fires),” the notice read. The program would include a two-year competition. Industry would have to deliver two working mobile ground stations in January 2022 for use in a government exercise. Those ground stations would have to prove they offer a reduced latency direct downlink of data/imagery from commercial space sensors and military or intelligence satellites. Because the sensors will generate a flood of data, the prototypes would also need to rely on artificial intelligence and machine learning. The DIU effort is working in parallel to the Army's TITAN ground station program, which will process aerial and terrestrial sensors. In October, Brig. Gen. Rob Collins, program executive officer for intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors, said the Army has roughly 100 tactical ground stations, 13 operational ground stations and “a few” other dissemination vehicles. Army leaders have said TITAN will allow for the conduct of deep targeting in a contested environment and enabling “cross-domain fires with [artificial intelligence-]shortened kill-chains.” The system is supposed to be a primary tool for a new unit working with the Army's Multi-Domain Task Force known as I2CEWS, which stands for intelligence, information, cyber, electronic warfare and space. Responses are due April 3. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2020/03/20/the-pentagon-wants-to-see-new-ground-station-prototypes/

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  5 août 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval

  Boeing, Marines, Navy Celebrate $115 Million V-22 Facility

  Boeing investment accommodates V-22 fuselage production and MV-22 modification program Allows Ospreys to be delivered with higher quality, efficiency and improved safety PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 1, 2019 — Boeing [NYSE: BA], the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy celebrated the transformation of a 350,000-square-foot facility outside Philadelphia into a modern factory where company employees will build fuselages for the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft and modernize the MV-22 fleet for the Marines. “Boeing's $115 million investment supports U.S. and international demand for the unrivaled capabilities of the V-22,” said David Koopersmith, vice president and general manager, Boeing Vertical Lift. “We started this project two years ago in a mothballed building. Now, it is a state of the art manufacturing center for the only in-service tiltrotor aircraft in the world.” The new factory will improve safety and productivity, lower operating costs, and reduce Boeing's environmental impact. It will be home to the Common Configuration – Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM) program that standardizes the Marine Corps Osprey fleet by upgrading previously built aircraft to the new Block C configuration. The factory will also house fuselage production for Navy, Air Force, Marines, and international Osprey customers. “The V-22 readiness program is our number one priority,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Kelly, V-22 Joint Program Manager. “The CC-RAM program is key in meeting our readiness goals and returning capable and reliable aircraft to Marine units around the world.” Boeing employs approximately 4,600 people in Pennsylvania and supports 16,000 direct and indirect jobs in the commonwealth. https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2019-08-01-Boeing-Marines-Navy-Celebrate-115-Million-V-22-Facility

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  12 février 2021 | International, Naval

  BAE Systems awarded $184M for 36 more amphibious combat vehicles

  By Christen McCurdy Feb. 11 (UPI) -- BAE Systems received a $184 million contract modification to produce 36 more Amphibious Combat Vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps. The deal modifies a contract awarded last fall for the vehicles, which are slated to replace the 40-year-old Amphibious Assault Vehicle, or AAV, which currently transports Marines from ships to shore. This week's modification brings the total value of the contract to $366 million, the contractor said, and brings the number of ACVs BAE is under contract for up to 72. "The exercising of this option validates years of teamwork in partnership with the Marines to provide the most adaptable amphibious vehicle possible to meet their expeditionary needs," John Swift, director of amphibious programs at BAE Systems, said in a press release. "The ACV was designed to meet the Marines' needs of today while allowing for growth to meet future mission role requirements," Swift said. The order comes not long after a Department of Defense report released in January noting several problems with the ACV after initial operational testing, including failures of remote weapons stations, hatch and ramp sensors and suspension components. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/02/11/BAE-Systems-awarded-184M-for-36-more-amphibious-combat-vehicles/6011613074605/