9 juin 2024 | International, Sécurité
27 août 2019 | International, Aérospatial
Northrop Grumman Expands Plant 42 as B-21 Continues Development
By BRIAN EVERSTINE
PALMDALE, Calif.—Northrop Grumman is expanding its side of the secretive Plant 42 facility here and hiring thousands of employees while development of the new B-21 bomber remains largely under wraps.
An older tan hangar-turned-production facility sits next to recently built white and blue buildings. Another large hangar is still under construction, and trailers serving as offices are lined up on-site.
Heavy equipment dug through the dirt as speakers praised the evolution of the legacy B-2, which is helping lay the foundation for its next-generation successor, at a recent birthday ceremony at Northrop's facilities.
The company won't specifically say whether the growth is driven by the B-21 Raider, only that the new construction is for “programs.” But it has funneled “multiple hundreds of millions” of dollars to improve Plant 42, according to Janis Pamiljans, the president of Northrop's aerospace sector. The company has also grown from about 25,000 to 28,000 employees in California alone since 2015 and continues to hire.
“We've been on a tremendous hiring spree ... and you can see the kind of structures being built,” Pamiljans said.
Northrop moved some of its other systems, such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk and the MQ-4 Triton, to new locations so it can better serve production of those aircraft. The shifts also free up space for other endeavors.
Reporters were not allowed near the new facilities during an escorted visit throughout the Southern California site earlier this week. No other companies that are involved in B-21 development were visible on the premises.
The promise of a new design remained even as Northrop and the Air Force celebrated the B-2 turning 30 years old at an Aug. 20 event. The “Spirit of Missouri” was parked in front of a hangar that is now partially used to produce F-35 jet fuselage and is partially dedicated to “other programs,” Pamiljans said.
The B-21 is eventually expected to replace the stealthy B-2 over the coming decades. Northrop plans to use the Spirit program's focus on supportability, sustainability, and mission-capable rate as the blueprint for maintaining the B-21 as well.
Northrop officials say they are taking lessons learned in the development and sustainment of low-observable technology, a key to the B-2's stealth, and applying them to these “other programs,” Pamiljans said.
“The B-2 is setting the path, course for the B-21,” Pamiljans said. “What we've learned on B-2, we're finding baselined into the design of the B-21.”
Eighth Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. James Dawkins told reporters in Palmdale that aspects of B-2 sustainment like computers, maintenance, and materials can naturally be leveraged for the B-21.
He said the platform's cost and schedule performance are “right on expectations.”
“From that standpoint, it's been very successful so far,” he said. “We're really happy about the way Northrop has approached this.”
The Air Force remains mum about the state of B-21 production, other than to occasionally say it is going well. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Wilson said last month the service is planning first flight of the B-21 in December 2021.
The service is so far sticking with its plan to buy at least 100 of the bombers to go with 75 B-52s that will remain in service.
The Air Force and Northrop continue to crunch overall production numbers, and haven't settled on an exact strategy for phasing out the B-2 as the B-21 comes online. There will be a transition period when both the B-2 and B-21 will be part of the strategic bomber fleet, Dawkins said.
“I'm optimistic they will take lessons learned” from the B-2 for “any type of program” the company is developing, he added.
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19 juin 2019 | International, Aérospatial
Russia's MiG Developing Drone Wingman Concept for Fighters
By Oriana Pawlyk SALON DU BOURGET, PARIS -- The Russian government has accepted its first two MiG-35 aircraft, the latest multirole fighter made by MiG Russian Aircraft Corporation that straddles fourth-and-fifth generation capability, according to a company spokesperson. But beyond supplying new MiGs to the Russian air force, MiG is currently designing and developing drones to pair up with the new combat-capable aircraft, said spokeswoman Anastasia Kravchenko. "We are looking for network cooperation of both manned and unmanned aircraft," Kravchenko said through a translator during an interview with Military.com at the Paris Air Show. "And we're going to also use the technologies of artificial intelligence." When asked if this is similar to what other countries like the U.S. are aiming to develop for manned-unmanned teaming, Kravchenko said, "Of course." "Because you know, this is the future. We have already started to use these technologies, even on MiG-35 aircraft," she said. "MiG-35 can be like a command post and control other aircraft," Kravchenko added. "It's one of the key elements of how the aircraft is going to be used in the future." This concept of operations mimics how the U.S. is working to boost its fifth-gen aircraft -- and its proposed future tech -- to pair automated systems or artificial intelligence with a human in the cockpit so that the machine can learn how to fly, gather information, or more. Kravchenko said that "we have drone designs in our company," for the prospective program. But she did not provide more detail because she said "everything depends on the Russian Ministry of Defence" for future development and procurement. "MiG-35 was designed with open architecture" in mind, Kravchenko added. Currently, the Pentagon is working on open architecture, or ways to plug more equipment into the common, networked system for battle management and command-and-control. The MiG-35 itself has been designed to replace its MiG-29s, which entered service in the 1980s. The new "fourth-plus-plus" gen fighter is the direct follow-on to the MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB and MiG-29M/MiG-29M2 model aircraft, with increased engine and thrust power, according to a provided brochure. The MiG-35 was designed as an air superiority fighter that has "[made gains] against fourth and fifth-generation fighters," the brochure said. MiG said it's proposing to incorporate the active electronically scanned phased-array, known as AESA, for all the MiG-35s it produces. The radar, which has extended range, can simultaneously track multiple targets in the air and on the ground. "At the same time, 10 targets can be attacked" from the fidelity and information the radar gives the aircraft, Kravchenko said. "Out of them, six are aerial targets and four are ground targets." The MiG-35 has been in development for well over a decade, with the first reported demonstration flight at the Aero India Air Show in Bangalore in 2007. Its public debut was held in January 2017 at MiG's production plant in Lukhovitsy. "MiG has great experience. We have a lot of design experience," Kravchenko said of the company, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary this year. "And that's why we're completely sure that our new product, MiG 35, will use technologies of fifth-generation." That includes some stealth capabilities, increased maneuverability, electronic warfare and the ability to operate despite jamming. "This aircraft can be modified so that it can be upgraded depending on the requirements of our customers," she added. MiG is expected to deliver six MiG-35 fighter jets by 2023, according to Russia's TASS news. Moscow Times reported this week, however, that the remaining four jets could be delivered by the end of the year. MiG, which is part of the United Aircraft Corporation that includes companies like Sukhoi, among other aerospace defense companies, is separately developing its own fifth-generation fighter. Meanwhile, Russia is already slated to purchase 76 of Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation aircraft, which the country says rivals the American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. "We are currently we are working on this," she said of MiG's own next-gen craft. MiG has cooperated with Sukhoi, but it is not planning on forming an official partnership for the project, she said. Kravchenko could not provide additional details for when a new fifth-gen fighter may come online. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/06/18/russias-mig-developing-drone-wingman-concept-fighters.html
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15 février 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 13, 2020
WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Dexis Consulting Group, Washington, District of Columbia (HQ0034-20-D-0004); and IDS International Government Services LLC, Arlington, Virginia (HQ0034-20-D-0005), have been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a maximum amount of $300,000,000. This requirement will provide assessment, monitoring and evaluation to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The Functional Category 1 award provides security cooperation support consisting of support to security cooperation programs and initiatives. Some activities included are: support to planning, program design, execution, administration and implementation of security cooperation initiatives; justify, manage and utilize assigned program resources, including budget and personnel; manage stakeholder communications; monitor deliverables. Work performance will take place in the Northern Capital Region, including the Pentagon and Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. No funds will be obligated at the award of the basic IDIQ contract. Appropriate fiscal 2020 funds will be obligated on all subsequent task orders. The expected completion date is Sept. 24, 2024. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. ARMY FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina, was awarded a $119,216,309 firm-fixed-price contract for M4/M4A1 carbine. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-D-0006). Lockheed Martin Missile Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $32,183,907 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide field-level High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)/Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher maintenance support to the Army, Marine Corps and Navy. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army; and overseas contingency operations transfer, Defense funds in the amount of $32,183,907 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0017). AECOM Management Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, was awarded an $8,370,149 modification (000261) to contract W52P1J-12-G-0028 for Army prepositioned stock logistics support services in support of maintenance, supply and transportation. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $8,370,149 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in Mannheim and Dulmen, Germany, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 20, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC, Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded an $8,301,000 modification (P00003) to contract W912PM-20-C-0006 for dredging of Morehead City, Wilmington, Savannah, and Brunswick Harbors. Work will be performed in Morehead City, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,301,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, Delaware, is the contracting activity. NAVY Ahtna-CDM JV,* Irvine, California (N62473-20-D-0034); Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California (N62473-20-D-0035); Patricia I. Romero Inc., doing business as Pacific West Builders,* National City, California (N62473-20-D-0036); Bristol Design Build Services LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (N62473-20-D-0037); Dimensions Construction,* San Diego, California (N62473-20-D-0038); and PacWest Construction and Engineering,* Temecula, California (N62473-20-D-0039), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract small business set-aside for commercial and institutional building alterations, repairs, renovations and new construction projects at various government installations within Naval Bases San Diego, Coronado, Point Loma and Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. The work to be performed provides for alterations, repairs, renovations, and new construction within the North American Industry Classification System code 236220, for commercial and institutional building projects. The maximum dollar value including the two-year base period and one three-year option period for all six contracts combined is $99,999,000. No task orders are being issued at this time. All work on these contracts will be performed at various government installations located in metropolitan San Diego, California area. The terms of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds for $30,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); O&M, N, O&M, Marine Corps; and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 38 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota, was awarded a $23,869,990 firm-fixed-price contract for Mk 41 Vertical Launching System canister production, canister renewal, ancillary hardware, spares and associated support equipment. This contract provides for the manufacture and delivery of new Mk 41 Vertical Launching System canisters (Mk 13 Mod 0, Mk 14 Mod 2, Mk 15 Mod 1; Mk 21--Mod 2, Mod 3 and Mod 4; Mk 25--Mod 0 and Mod 1; and Mk 29 Mod 0); ancillary hardware; spares and associated support equipment. Additionally, it provides for the upgrade, renew, refurbish and/or repair of the canisters listed above, as well as Mk 14 Mod 1 and Mk 15 Mod 0. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $954,516,290. This contract combines purchases for the government of Japan (68%); the government of Denmark (29%); the government of Korea (2%); and the Navy (1%) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, South Dakota (90%); and Minneapolis, Minnesota (10%), and is expected to be completed by May 2021. If all options are exercised, work will continue through May 2024. Fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) (1%); and Foreign Military Sales funding for $23,869,990 (99%) was obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one proposal received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-20-C-5380). (Awarded Feb. 11, 2020) John C. Grimberg Co., Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is being awarded a $20,987,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the renovation of Building 8 at Marine Corps Barracks, Washington. This work to be performed is for the restoration and modernization of the command post Building 8 at the Marine Corps Barracks, Washington. The project will repair by replacement all building systems including the demolition and removal of all existing obsolete building materials and systems. It will replace internal non-original fixed partition walls, windows, interior and some exterior doors, internal floors, wall and ceiling hard and soft finishes. The renovation incudes the replacement of all plumbing systems and fixtures as well as upgrade of all HVAC systems. Other improvements include the installation of fire detection and suppression systems, replacement of electric power and lighting distribution lines and equipment, and upgrades to communication, security and alarm systems. The project will restore all existing historic stairways to meet safety code requirements and incorporate one centrally located four-stop elevator. Removal and abatement of hazardous materials is necessary to create a safe working environment. The second floor breezeway connector and enclosure to Building 9 will be repaired and refinished as part of this project. Antiterrorism/force protection window, door and related component upgrades are included. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, (Marine) contract funds for $20,987,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N40080-20-C-0007). Detyens Shipyards Inc., North Charleston, South Carolina, is awarded a $17,086,701 firm-fixed-price contract for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry-docking of USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8). Work will include seal change for reduction gear main thrust bearings, main switch board cleaning, dry-docking of the vessel, ships service diesel generator turbocharger overhaul, rigid hull inflatable boat davit five year overhaul and weight test, underwater hull cleaning and painting, replace rudder seals, steel renewal, overhaul spanwire and hauling winch electric motor, propeller shaft and stern tube inspection and freeboard cleaning and painting. The contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $20,730,455. Work will be performed in North Charleston, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2020. Contract funds for $17,086,701 are obligated in fiscal 2020 using Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website and one offer was received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N32205-20-C-6012). Lockheed Martin Corp., Liverpool, New York, is awarded a $15,285,603 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00019-20-F-0535) against basic ordering agreement (N00019-19-G-0029). This delivery order procures four retrofit advanced radar processor systems to include required non-recurring engineering and 16 high-density servers for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (54%); and Andover, Maine (46%), and is expected to be completed in May 2023. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds for $15,285,603 will be 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. AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded a $99,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Block 40/45 full rate production completion. This contract provides for the continued acquisition of supplies and services associated with the production of the E-3 AWACS Block 40/45 upgrade. Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by fiscal 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $42,200,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-20-C-0023). (Awarded Jan. 31, 2020) Ranco Construction Inc., Southampton, New Jersey (FA4484-20-D-0012); Flagship Contracting Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey (FA4484-20-D-0013); and Eastern Construction & Electric Inc., Wrightstown, New Jersey (FA4484-20-D-0014), are each being awarded a ceiling, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for underground utilities for $66,000,000. The contractors will provide all plant, labor, equipment, tools, supplies and materials to perform work necessary for replacement, repair and improvement for underground utilities. Work will be performed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 12, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and seven offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance will fund the contract using individual task orders with no funds being obligated at the time of award. The 87th Contracting Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Avix-BGI JV LLC, Yorktown, Virginia, has been awarded a $9,032,988 firm-fixed-price modification (P00002) to contract FA4890-19-C-0004 for the EC-130H/A-10C aircrew training and courseware development. The contract modification is for exercising and funding Option Year One. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $45,236,369. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,032,988 are being obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona; and Moody AFB, Georgia, and is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2021. The contracting activity is Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management & Integration Center, Langley AFB, Virginia. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Praxair Inc., Danbury, Connecticut (SPE601-20-D-1504, $15,653,203); and Airgas USA LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma (SPE601-20-D-1503, $11,747,297), have each been awarded a fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE601-19-R-0310 for liquid nitrogen. These were competitive acquisitions with two offers received. These are five-year contracts with no option periods. Locations of performance are Connecticut, Colorado and Oklahoma, with a Jan. 31, 2025, performance completion date. Using customer is Lockheed Martin. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy – Aerospace, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2084309/source/GovDelivery/