13 août 2020 | International, Aérospatial
Lee Hudson August 12, 2020
The Pentagon is in the early stages of replacing the troubled Lockheed Martin F-35's autonomous logistics system with a new, cloud-based network, and hopes to get it up and running by the end of 2022.
The Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) is intended to reduce workload and increase F-35 mission readiness rates by using a smaller, deployable, commercial and cloud-native architecture. Right now, F-35 users operate the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) that collects inflight information for maintainers to predict part failures.
However, the problem-plagued logistics system has encountered numerous issues that range from directing unnecessary maintenance actions, taking too long to boot up and time-consuming data entry. For example, users told the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that electronic records are frequently corrupt or missing, resulting in ALIS signaling the jet should not fly. This occurs in cases where maintainers know the aircraft is safe for flight. Maintainers at one location told the GAO they experienced as many as 400 issues per week for one six-month period in 2019.
The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) plans to begin installing hardware this September that can run software from both the legacy and new systems until ODIN is deployed fully. ODIN initial delivery is planned for September 2021.
ODIN hardware is designed to have a 75% smaller footprint than the legacy system, and be approximately 94% lighter—50 lb. compared with 891 lb. Another radical difference between the two systems is F-35 prime contractor Lockheed owns ALIS development and the new network is being developed by the JPO.
The JPO is using agile software development tools that allow rapid updates and improvements like how Apple updates its iPhones, while Lockheed employs waterfall development that allows for updates every 12-18 months.
In January, the JPO hit its first milestone by moving existing F-35 data into a new, integrated environment that will support applications designed by organizations such as Kessel Run, one of the Air Force's software factories. Kessel Run formed a team called Mad Hatter and tasked it to build software applications to render F-35 logistics more user-friendly.
A key complaint about ALIS was the lack of realistic operational requirements. In other words, user needs can become outdated. To address this shortcoming, the JPO partner nations agreed in January to update a requirements document for ODIN annually—if needed. Instead of crafting a rigid requirements document that will be outdated in 10 years, the new strategy calls for updating protocols based on reality, according to a program office maintenance systems expert. This strategy complies with the software acquisition policy of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord. It calls for the users, developers and software designers to come together and produce a customer-centric design as development progresses.
The requirements document features six capability needs: deployment planning and execution; unit maintenance planning; sortie generation; sustainment readiness; information management, and ODIN support. The document also includes 43 performance measurements that the JPO will use as metrics to track ODIN development.
Beyond better programmatic planning, the Pentagon is facing a considerable obstacle as it transitions from ALIS to ODIN. The JPO is having trouble receiving technical data from Lockheed, Lord told the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
“While the department recognizes industry's interest in protecting intellectual property, there is technical data that the department has rights to and needs in order to enable effective organic sustainment,” Lord noted in written testimony submitted to the committee.
In response to Lord's comments, Lockheed noted the company does not own all the logistics system's intellectual-property and data rights.
“ALIS software is also government-owned, per contract requirements with Lockheed, and our suppliers retaining intellectual property and data rights to portions of software that were developed using industry's investment funds is in accordance with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement,” Lockheed spokesman Brett Ashworth tells Aviation Week.
The Pentagon's overarching goal is to drive down F-35 sustainment pricing, which is where most of a program's cost resides. The government is still upgrading ALIS, an effort known as ALIS Next, before ODIN comes online to manage costs.
ALIS Next consists of more regular software updates, instead of the program's current 12-18 month cycle. An updated version of ALIS, known as 3.5, is outfitted with 300 stability fixes, says F-35 Program Executive Officer Lt. Gen. Eric Fick. Air Force software developers and Lockheed Martin personnel are simultaneously continuing to issue ALIS software patches. ALIS Next provides an opportunity to reduce the amount of administrative personnel needed to support the logistics system's operations in the field.
An important step to lowering the overall F-35 sustainment price is reducing the cost per flying hour. The goal is for the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jet, the most popular variant, was $25,000 by 2025.
“We are confident $25,000 is attainable, but it will require collaboration with the JPO, services, allies and our industry partners to reduce overall cost,” Lockheed F-35 Vice President and General Manager Greg Ulmer submitted in written testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Over the past five years, the company has reduced a portion of the F-35's operations and sustainment costs by 38%. Lockheed is responsible for 39% of all F-35 sustainment costs, according to Ulmer.
The company estimates it will drive down controlled cost another 50% in the next five years, and it is working with the government to achieve similar savings on the remaining 61% of flight-hour costs that are under the purview of the Defense Department and propulsion suppliers.
Although in its infancy, ODIN is set to be the cornerstone for the next major wave of F-35 sustainment improvements over the next two years as ALIS is retired.
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25 juin 2019 | International, Naval
By Ed Adamczyk June 24 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin's Rotary and Missions Systems division received a $16.2 million contract to build elements of Virginia-class submarines, the Defense Department announced. The company will manufacture multifunction modular masts for the submarines' Block V hull, which can be extended by sections, depending on the requirements of the vessels' strike capabilities. Virginia-class submarines with Block V armaments are capable of carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles. The vessels typically carry eight masts, which include a snorkel mast, two photonic masts as replacements for periscopes, high-data-rate satellite communication masts, a radar mast and an electronic warfare mast. The contract was competitively procured through the Federal Business Opportunities website and announced on Friday. It specifies options which can boost it value to $97.8 million. Work on the contract will be done at Lockheed Martin facilities in Nashua, N.H., and Syracuse, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by June 2020. If all options are exercised, the deadline will be extended to June 2024. The Naval Sea Systems Command at Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., was the contracting agent. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/06/24/Lockheed-nets-162M-contract-for-Virginia-class-sub-masts/1891561390409/
6 mai 2020 | International, Aérospatial
Cincinnati, April 30, 2020 - GE Aviation's F110 engine continues to remain the engine of choice of advanced F-15 and F-16 aircraft around the world. This month, the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) awarded GE Aviation four contract actions valued at around $707 million for F110-GE-129 engine production. These contracts which fall under an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, will provide F110 engines, installs, spares and modernized engine management system computers for Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft, as well as the Boeing F-15QA Advanced Eagle. The contracts involve Foreign Military Sales to Bulgaria, Slovakia, Qatar and Taiwan. “GE Aviation is honored to support the U.S. Air Force and foreign military sale customers,” said Shawn Warren, GE Aviation's vice president and general manager of large combat and mobility engines. “We say GE's F110 engine remains the engine of choice of modern F-15 and F-16 fleets around the world because we continue to support the F110 with a continuous infusion of new technology, including our Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).” GE's F110 engine powers 86 percent of F-15s delivered globally over the last 15 years and 70 percent of today's most advanced USAF F-16C/D fleet. GE Aviation also powers two-thirds of U.S. military fighters and helicopters. Over the last two months, GE Aviation has been awarded more than $1.2 billion in contracts to produce engines and hardware to support the U.S. military and international customers. Beyond the F110 deal, GE was awarded: • A $62 million contract modification to manufacture T700 engines for 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for the U.S. Army and international customers • A $215 million contract modification to produce 48 F414 engines and modules • A $138.2 million contract to provide TF34 engine supplies to the U.S. Air Force • A $72.5 million modification contract with the Navy to procure 140 generator converter units, 140 wiring harnesses and other components in support of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler aircraft electrical systems • A $51.5 million contract modification for eight F414 spare engines, 11 afterburner modules and 12 low pressure turbine modules for the Navy F/A-18 • A $9.7 million contract modification to re-start T64 engine core production in support of the H-53E Engine Reliability Improvement Program for the Navy The work involved in these contracts will be executed at GE Aviation's facilities which include Lynn, MA; Evendale, OH; Madisonville, KY; Rutland, VT; Hooksett, NH; Asheville, NC; Wilmington, NC; Muskegon, MI and other U.S. supply chain locations. “These new contracts underscore the essential role we play as the leading provider of fighter and helicopter engines for our military customers,” said Al DiLibero, GE Aviation's vice president and general manager of medium combat & trainer engines. “We are honored by these opportunities, which will add to GE's current installed base of more than 27,000 military engines.” While GE Aviation continues to produce engines and components, hundreds of military aircraft around the world are in the air daily to assist in critical areas needed to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. military alone is handling a variety of coronavirus responses, including building and converting facilities into temporary care centers, distributing food, providing security and transporting critical medical supplies. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, more than 28,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen in every state and territory have been activated to support COVID-19 response efforts. Hundreds of military aircraft are in the air daily to assist in these measures. Each day, GE continues to see these aircraft performing a variety of missions—from GE T700-powered Black Hawk helicopters operating daily missions to deliver critical supplies to communities to CF6-powered C5M Super Galaxy's used to mobilize medical personnel. “The efforts of our dedicated military servicemen, servicewomen, and civilians that are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak is heroic,” DiLibero said. “We are focused on doing our part to support the Warfighter.” About GE Aviation GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation . View source version on GE Aviation: https://www.geaviation.com/press-release/military-engines/ge-aviation-awarded-707-million-f110-engine-production