L3Harris: First flight of future Compass Call paves way for 2022 delivery

Sur le même sujet

• 

  17 décembre 2018 | International, C4ISR

  US Air Force set to launch 1st next-generation GPS satellite

  By: Dan Elliott, The Associated Press DENVER — After months of delays, the U.S. Air Force is about to launch the first of a new generation of GPS satellites, designed to be more accurate, secure and versatile. But some of their most highly touted features will not be fully available until 2022 or later because of problems in a companion program to develop a new ground control system for the satellites, government auditors said. The satellite is scheduled to lift off Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It's the first of 32 planned GPS III satellites that will replace older ones now in orbit. Lockheed Martin is building the new satellites outside Denver. GPS is best-known for its widespread civilian applications, from navigation to time-stamping bank transactions. The Air Force estimates that 4 billion people worldwide use the system. But it was developed by the U.S. military, which still designs, launches and operates the system. The Air Force controls a constellation of 31 GPS satellites from a high-security complex at Schriever Air Force Base outside Colorado Springs. Compared with their predecessors, GPS III satellites will have a stronger military signal that's harder to jam — an improvement that became more urgent after Norway accused Russia of disrupting GPS signals during a NATO military exercise this fall. GPS III also will provide a new civilian signal compatible with other countries' navigation satellites, such as the European Union's Galileo system. That means civilian receivers capable of receiving the new signal will have more satellites to lock in on, improving accuracy. "If your phone is looking for satellites, the more it can see, the more it can know where it is," said Chip Eschenfelder, a Lockheed Martin spokesman. The new satellites are expected to provide location information that's three times more accurate than the current satellites. Current civilian GPS receivers are accurate to within 10 to 33 feet (3 to 10 meters), depending on conditions, said Glen Gibbons, the founder and former editor of Inside GNSS, a website and magazine that tracks global navigation satellite systems. With the new satellites, civilian receivers could be accurate to within 3 to 10 feet (1 to 3 meters) under good conditions, and military receivers could be a little closer, he said. Only some aspects of the stronger, jamming-resistant military signal will be available until a new and complex ground control system is available, and that is not expected until 2022 or 2023, said Cristina Chaplain, who tracks GPS and other programs for the Government Accountability Office. Chaplain said the new civilian frequency won't be available at all until the new control system is ready. The price of the first 10 satellites is estimated at $577 million each, up about 6 percent from the original 2008 estimate when adjusted for inflation, Chaplain said. The Air Force said in September it expects the remaining 22 satellites to cost $7.2 billion, but the GAO estimated the cost at $12 billion. The first GPS III satellite was declared ready nearly 2½ years behind schedule. The problems included delays in the delivery of key components, retesting of other components and a decision by the Air Force to use a Falcon 9 rocket for the first time for a GPS launch, Chaplain said. That required extra time to certify the Falcon 9 for a GPS mission. The new ground control system, called OCX, is in worse shape. OCX, which is being developed by Raytheon, is at least four years behind schedule and is expected to cost $2.5 billion more than the original $3.7 billion, Chaplain said. The Defense Department has struggled with making sure OCX meets cybersecurity standards, she said. A Pentagon review said both the government and Raytheon performed poorly on the program. Raytheon has overcome the cybersecurity problems, and the program has been on budget and on schedule for more than a year, said Bill Sullivan, a Raytheon vice president in the OCX system. Sullivan said the company is on track to deliver the system to the Air Force in June 2021, ahead of GAO's estimates. The Air Force has developed work-arounds so it can launch and use GPS III satellites until OCX is ready to go. While the first GPS III waits for liftoff in Florida, the second is complete and ready to be transported to Cape Canaveral. It sits in a cavernous "clean room" at a Lockheed Martin complex in the Rocky Mountain foothills south of Denver. It's expected to launch next summer, although the exact date hasn't been announced, said Jonathon Caldwell, vice president of Lockheed Martin's GPS program. Six other GPS satellites are under construction in the clean room, which is carefully protected against dust and other foreign particles. "It's the highest-volume production line in space," Caldwell said. For the first time, the Air Force is assigning nicknames to the GPS III satellites. The first one is Vespucci, after Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian navigator whose name was adopted by early mapmakers for the continents of the Western Hemisphere. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/12/16/us-air-force-set-to-launch-1st-next-generation-gps-satellite

• 

  5 octobre 2018 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - October 4, 2018

  NAVY Asturian-Consigli JV LLC,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N40085-18-D-1124); Edifice LLC, doing business as Edifice Solutions,* Beltsville, Maryland (N4008-18-D-1125); ED DesignBuild LLC,* Germantown, Maryland (N40085-18-D-1126); HCG-JCG JV,* Escondido, California (N40085-18-D-1127); and Military and Federal Construction Co. Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-18-D-1128), were each awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for general construction projects in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The maximum dollar value for all five contracts combined is $249,000,000. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, new construction, renovation, alteration, and repairs for general construction projects. Types of facilities include, but are not limited to warehouses, training facilities, personnel support and service facilities, housing facilities, etc. Asturian-Consigli JV LLC is awarded initial task order at $2,947,636 for the foundation and crawl space repairs at the advanced electronic guidance and instrumentation system facility (V-10) on Wallops Island, Accomack County, Virginia. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by December 2019. All work on this contract will be performed in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic Hampton Roads area, Virginia. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of September 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $2,967,636 are obligated on this award and expired at the end of fiscal 2018. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance, (Navy) and military construction. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 19 proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 29, 2018) MacDonald-Bedford | MBP JV,* Alameda, California, was awarded a maximum amount $98,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide construction management services in support of the Guam Defense Policy Review Initiative (DPRI) Program. The work to be performed will support the existing Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) workforce capabilities and provide increased capability to support construction projects and associated efforts undertaken by NAVFAC Pacific. The outcome to be achieved is the hiring of temporary supplemental construction management and engineering technician services. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed primarily in the Marianas region of operation (to include the following islands but not limited to: Guam, Tinian, Pagan, Palau, Chuuk, Saipan, and Northern Mariana Islands) (80 percent); Australia (10 percent); and Hawaii (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and expired at the end of fiscal 2018. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with six proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-18-D-1171). (Awarded Sept. 29, 2018) Davcon Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N40085-18-D-1149); Delaware Corp.,* Topping, Virginia (N4008-18-D-1150); Doyon Project Services,* Federal Way, Washington (N40085-18-D-1151); Rand Enterprises,* Newport News, Virginia (N40085-18-D-1152); and Within Interior Design Inc., doing business as Tazewell Contracting,* Norfolk, Virginia (N40085-18-D-1153), were each awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for heating, ventilating and air conditioning construction projects in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The maximum dollar value for all five contracts combined is $95,000,000. The work to be performed will primarily consist of new construction, demolition, repair, alteration, and renovation of heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment, systems and infrastructure to include system components such as fans, motors, ductwork, controls, pumps, piping, supports, and insulation. Types of facilities on which work will be performed include administrative/industrial buildings, maintenance shops, warehouses, hangars, communications facilities, personnel support/instructional buildings, recreational facilities, lodging/dormitory facilities, medical clinics, training areas, indoor ranges, etc. Davcon Inc. is being awarded initial task order at $148,400 for the replacement of a chiller at Building 3889 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by February 2019. All work on this contract will be performed in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic Hampton Roads area, Virginia. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of September 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $168,400 are obligated on this award and expired at the end of the fiscal 2018. 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 11 proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 29, 2018) A&H-Ambica JV LLC,* Livonia, Michigan (N40085-18-D-8733); Building Associates Inc.,* Bloomington, Indiana (N4008-18-D-8734); Federal Construction Group Inc.,* San Diego, California (N40085-18-D-8735); Krempp Construction Inc., Jasper, Indiana (N40085-18-D-8736); Midnight Sun Global Services LLC,* South Bend, Indiana (N40085-18-D-8737); and SEI Group Inc., Huntsville, Alabama (N40085-18-D-8738), were each awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for general construction projects in Crane, Indiana. The maximum dollar value for all six contracts combined is $95,000,000. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, new construction, demolition, repair, alteration, and renovation of buildings, systems and infrastructure and may include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and communication systems. Types of facilities include administrative, industrial, maintenance, warehouses, communications, personnel support, recreation, lodging, medical, training, ranges, roads, etc., in support of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Public Works Department Crane, Indiana. A&H-Ambica JV LLC is awarded initial task order at $1,876,276 for the renovation of Building 2724 Break Room Renovation at Public Works Department Crane, Indiana. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by October 2019. All work on this contract will be performed in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic Public Works Department Crane, Indiana area of responsibility. 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 $1,901,276 are obligated on this award and expired at the end of fiscal 2018. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy); and military construction. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 19 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 29, 2018) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY BP Products North America Inc., Chicago, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $47,075,766 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for aviation fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 19 offers received. This is a one-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Singapore, with a Dec. 31, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE602-19-D-0452). Olgoonik Technical Services LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, has been awarded a maximum $11,579,403 modification (P00027) exercising the third one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SP3300-16-C-5001) with four one-year option periods for warehousing and distribution support services. This is a fixed-price-incentive firm contract with cost-reimbursement line items. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $40,706,113 from $29,126,709. Locations of performance are Alaska and California, with an Oct. 15, 2019, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. AIR FORCE Onvoi LLC, De Funiak Springs, Florida, has been awarded a $39,951,581 contract for base operating services at March Air Reserve Base, California. This contract provides for all personnel, supervision, equipment, tools, materials, supplies, test equipment, and other items and services necessary to accomplish supply, vehicle operations and maintenance, traffic management, real property maintenance, fuels management, and airfield management. Work will be performed at March ARB, California, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2023. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 10 offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,106,974 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Reserve Command Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA4664-19-C-0001). CORRECTION: The Sept. 28, 2018, announcement of a $1,051,818,540 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract award to The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, California (FA8802-19-C-0001), for Federally Funded Research and Development Center support, was not for a contract modification. All other information in the announcement is correct. ARMY Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $16,038,473 modification (P00151) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 for spares acquisition integrated with production. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2018. Fiscal 2018 procurement Marine Corps; and other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $16,038,473 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1654951/source/GovDelivery/

• 

  7 janvier 2020 | International, Aérospatial

  L3 Technologies to upgrade Greek F-16s in $28M contract

  ByEd Adamczyk Jan. 6 (UPI) -- L3 Technologies will upgrade the F-16 fighter plane training system of Greek Air Force F-16 in a $28 million contract announced by the U.S. Defense Department. The Texas-based company will improve Aircrew Training Devices for conversion of Hellenic Air Force F-16s to the new F-16V configuration. The new variant includes add-ons which include electronically scanned array radar, a new mission computer and electronic warfare suite, automated ground collision avoidance system, and various cockpit improvements. The package can be retrofitted to most F-16s. The aircraft, in service since 1978 and known as the Fighting Falcon, has been built by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin. Over 4,600 F-16s, in use by 25 countries, have been built. The "V" suffix indicates the "Viper" package of improvements. The Hellenic Air Force has 154 F-16s in three variants, with the upgrades planned for 84 of the planes. Work will be performed at L3's Arlington, Texas, facility, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2027, the Defense Department said Friday in a statement. The award completely involves Foreign Military Sales to Greece. The statement by the Pentagon comes two weeks after Greek Ministry of Defense announced that seven-year maintenance contracts with French companies Dassault Aviation, Safran Military Engines and Thales were signed to similarly upgrade the Mirage 2000-5 combat aircraft by the Hellenic Air Force. Those contracts were valued at $290.8 million. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/01/06/L3-Technologies-to-upgrade-Greek-F-16s-in-28M-contract/5451578328820