Romania, Czech Republic advance F-35 acquisition plans

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  29 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, C4ISR

  Northrop Grumman begins building first Triton UAV for Australia

  Gareth Jennings Northrop Grumman commenced assembly of the first of up to seven MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for Australia, it announced on 27 October. The milestone saw the first jig-load for a Triton intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) UAV for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) take place at Northrop Grumman's Moss Point facility in Mississippi. Final assembly and flight testing will follow at the company's Palmdale facility and at Edwards Air Force Base in California, ahead of delivery to Australia in 2023. “The MQ-4C Triton will be a very important ISR capability for Australia,” Air Commodore Terry van Haren, the RAAF's air attaché to the Australian Embassy in the United States, said during the ceremony that was also attended by senior Australian and US government and military figures. “It is ideally suited for Australian operating conditions, given its high altitude, long endurance, and impressive sensor suite. The Royal Australian Air Force looks forward to operating the MQ-4C alongside its other ISR and response aircraft such as the [Boeing] P-8A Poseidon [maritime multimission aircraft (MMA)].” Australia currently has three Tritons in the US Navy's (USN's) low-rate initial production (LRIP) Lot 5, which also includes two main operating bases, and one forward operating base for the country in an integrated functional capability-four (IFC-4) and multiple intelligence configuration. IFC-4 functionality will add a signals intelligence capability to the UAV's baseline IFC-3 configuration. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/northrop-grumman-begins-building-first-triton-uav-for-australia

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  26 mars 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 21, 2019

  DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Federal Resources Supply Co.,* Stevensville, Maryland (SPE8EH-19-D-0014); L.N. Curtis & Sons,* Oakland, California (SPE8EH-19-D-0015); Mallory Safety and Supply,* Longview, Washington (SPE8EH-19-D-0016); Noble Supply & Logistics,* Rockland, Massachusetts (SPE8EH-19-D-0017); Quantico Tactical Inc.,* Aberdeen, North Carolina (SPE8EH-19-D-0018); and W.S. Darley & Co.,* Itasca, Illinois (SPE8EH-19-D-0019), are sharing a maximum $985,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE8EH-16-R-0001 for fire and emergency services equipment. This was a competitive acquisition with 13 offers received. These are two-year base contracts with three one-year option periods. Locations of performance are California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Washington, with a March 20, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Government Scientific Source,* Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $475,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for laboratory supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with a March 20, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-19-D-0004). SND Manufacturing,* Dallas, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,997,485 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Navy and Marine Corps running suit jackets. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year options. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. Location of performance is Texas, with a March 17, 2020, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-5038). Viasat Inc., Carlsbad, California, has been awarded a maximum $7,133,760 firm-fixed-price contract for radio receivers for the P-8 aircraft. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a nine-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Dec. 19, 2019, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-19-C-V037). NAVY General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.-Bremerton, Bremerton, Washington, is awarded a maximum value $465,150,000 cost-cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for aircraft carrier (CVN) shipyard availabilities. The primary purpose of this contract is to execute work required to support the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in accomplishing repair, maintenance, and modernization of closely scheduled maintenance availabilities, including non-nuclear boundary control efforts. This contract includes five ordering periods which, if executed, would make the maximum value of this contract $465,150,000. Work will be performed in Bremerton, Washington, and is expected to be completed by March 2024 when all five ordering periods have been executed. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $928,336 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-D-4310). BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California, is awarded a $41,895,897 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS Anchorage (LPD 23) fiscal 2019 selected restricted availability. This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of USS Anchorage. This is a “long-term” availability and was competed on a coast-wide (West Coast) basis without limiting the place of performance to the vessel's homeport. BAE will provide the facilities and human resources capable of completing, coordinating, and integrating multiple areas of ship maintenance, repair, and modernization. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $48,428,791. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by July 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) in the amount of $41,895,901 will be obligated at time of award, and contract funds in the amount of $34,002,448 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-18-R-4411. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-4407). United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Engines, Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded $18,434,122 for modification P00003 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1021). This modification provides additional funding for F-135 long lead items in support of non-U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. DoD) participants. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (67 percent); Indianapolis, Indiana (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Non-U.S. DoD participant funds in the amount of $18,434,122 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. JJLL LLC, Austin, Texas, is awarded $18,353,983 under a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N62742-17-C-3580) to exercise the second option period to provide services for Philippines operations support for the Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and Pacific Command Augmentation Team, the Republic of Philippines. The work to be performed provides services for management and administration; commercial telephones, cable television and other services; security; airfield facilities; passenger terminal and cargo handling; ordnance; material management; supply services; morale, welfare and recreation support; galley; billeting; facility management; facility investment; facility services; utilities; base support vehicles and equipment; and environmental services. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $99,551,165. Work will be performed in the Republic of the Philippines, and this option period is from April 2019 to March 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,370,311 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE L3 Technologies Systems Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a $131,780,189 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Cockpit-Selectable Height-of-Burst Sensor. This contract provides for the replacement of the current DSU-33D/B height-of-burst sensor and will address obsolescence issues, improve performance and add functionality. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by April 2027. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $513,244 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-19-D-0006). General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $123,293,911 undefinitized contract action for MQ-9 Block 5 procurement. This contract provides for four MQ-9 unmanned air vehicles, four Mobile Ground Control Stations, spares, and support equipment. Work will be performed predominately in Poway, California, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the Netherlands. Foreign military sales funds in amount of $38,928,607 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-F-2310). MAG Aerospace, Newport News, Virginia, has been awarded an $11,386,672 predominantly firm-fixed-price contract for the UK MQ-9 Reaper Operations Center. This contract provides for ongoing sustainment, management, development and network administration of the United Kingdom MQ-9 Reaper Operations Centers. Work will be performed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada; and Royal Air Force Waddington, United Kingdom, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the government of the United Kingdom. Air Force Life Cycle Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-C-2002). Call Henry Inc., Titusville, Florida, has been awarded a $10,200,000 predominantly fixed-price incentive modification (P00051) to previously awarded contract FA4610-18-C-0005 for the exercise of Option Year Two. This modification provides management and support, maintenance and repair, operations, other services and minor alteration related to launch operations support. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $55,975,903. Work will be performed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award. The 30th Contracting Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY Whitesell-Green Inc., Pensacola, Florida, was awarded a $26,376,465 firm-fixed-price contract to design and build student dorms. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, with an estimated completion date of March 21, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $26,376,465 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-19-C-0012). SAP National Security Services Inc., Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $16,014,307 time and materials contract for consulting services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia; and Aberdeen, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of March 21, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $4,011,556 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-19-C-0020). Valiant Global Defense Services Inc., San Diego, California, was awarded an $8,717,022 modification (P00086) to contract W91QVN-14-C-0033 for operations support services for the Korea Battlefield Simulation Center. Work will be performed in Seoul, South Korea, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,474,936 were obligated at the time of the award. 411th Combat Support Battalion, Korea, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1792112/

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  22 septembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

  Germany tries to forge a deal on who can play ball in Europe

  Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany — Time is ticking for Germany to find a compromise on letting American, British and other non-European Union countries tap into the bloc's emerging defense cooperation scheme. The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken on the task of sorting out the issue by the end of the year, when Germany's six-month term at the helm of the European Council concludes. “It is an important issue to solve, particularly for close NATO partners,” Karl-Heinz Kamp, special envoy of the political director at the German Ministry of Defence, said during a panel discussion at the annual Defense News Conference this month. The challenge is to find common ground between two camps within the EU: member states seeking ties with outsiders, and those countries who prefer treating the nascent defense agenda as a members-only affair. Poland, Sweden and the Netherlands are leading a group of nations advocating for openness. But France, for example, is pursuing a more restrictive stance, especially toward Turkey and the United States. From the beginning, the Trump administration has eyed the EU's creation of a defense cooperation mechanism, dubbed PESCO, and the proposed multibillion-dollar European Defence Fund with a degree of mistrust. The efforts run the risk of undermining NATO if America and its powerful defense companies are kept out, Washington claims. The tone has softened more recently, however, as officials on both sides of the Atlantic try to broker a compromise. “One of the things that COVID-19 has really brought into sharp focus is the significance of our integrated defense industrial base,” said Gregory Kausner, executive director for international cooperation, who works in the Pentagon for acquisition chief Ellen Lord. At NATO headquarters in Brussels, leaders are striking a similar chord. “We welcome the EU's effort to invest in defense, and I think altogether this is a good-news story. In a way, the more money put into defense, including by EU institutions, the better,” said Camille Grand, the alliance's assistant secretary general for defense investment. “Then there is a second point: that it is important those projects are allowed as full as possible [the] involvement of non-EU allies. Because the reality is indeed that those non-EU allies have strong connections with the European defense market, with the European defense industry,” Grand added. German officials have been optimistic about reaching a compromise since they took on the third-country challenge this summer. That is because their proposal piggybacks on a paper by the previous, Finnish-run presidency that was only narrowly rejected last year. A few modifications would be enough to clinch a deal. According to a German MoD spokesman, officials aim to present a workable solution to defense ministers at an EU foreign affairs council meeting slated for Nov. 20. Poisoned politics The current political context hasn't exactly been helpful for forging a deal. For one, there is the frosty climate between Germany and United States that stems from President Donald Trump's testy relationship with the country, and his assertion that the EU is taking advantage of American taxpayers on trade and defense. That rift makes the proposition of importing the powerful American defense industrial base into the bloc's defense cooperation calculus an uphill battle, especially in the European Parliament, a Brussels-based analyst argued. And Turkey, which is part of NATO but not the EU, is creating the perfect case study against allowing nonmembers into the inner workings of European defense cooperation because of its dispute with Greece and Cyprus over gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. “The German government is fairly optimistic that we will be able to find a compromise. The problem is that currently neither the Turkish policy nor the U.S. policy terribly helps to find such a consensus,” Kamp said. “We have a severe problem in NATO with its internal cohesion because some allies have issues with other allies,” he added. “We have a Turkish-French dispute in the Mediterranean and we have a Greek-Turkish dispute. Turkey is not always behaving in — let me say — in the way of an ideal NATO ally, and that just makes things a little bit more difficult.” At the same time, the flareup has yet to touch the ongoing third-party access negotiations, according to officials and analysts. “Concerns over dependencies, intellectual property and security predate the standoff between Greece and Turkey," said Yvonni-Stefania Efstathiou, a Greece-based defense analyst. Meanwhile, Pentagon officials have begun diving into a set of case studies designed to help them think through the nitty-gritty involved in setting up future cooperative programs under an EU umbrella, according to Kausner. “Those case studies illuminate the potential challenges on things such as intellectual property and re-transfer that we feel are still problematic,” the Defense Department official said. Another avenue to glean lessons for a wider EU application lies in the so-called European Defence Industrial Development Programme, or EDIDP, which aims to boost the bloc's defense industry cooperation through all manners of military technology. In June, the European Commission announced 16 projects eligible for funding from a two-year, €500 million (U.S. $593 million) pot. The selection includes “four participants controlled by entities from Canada, Japan and the United States,” the commission statement read. In theory, those projects “demonstrate the possibility to involve EU-based subsidiaries controlled by third countries or third country entities provided they fulfill appropriate security-based guarantees approved by Member States,” the statement noted. The commission has yet to say which participants hail from North America and Japan, and what roles they play, which suggests their integration into the project structure remains unfinished. As officials continue to sort out the details on intellectual property rights, liabilities and consortium structures, for example, a few principles are beginning to take shape. For one, the four non-EU countries in the European Free Trade Association — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland — stand to get rights to partake in EU defense projects similar to member states. In addition, officials consider it easier to include British or American companies in projects when they are removed from immediate funding through the European Defence Fund. While European companies have their eyes on possible subsidies from the fund whenever they enter into PESCO agreements, there may not be an automatic funding eligibility for outside participants. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/09/21/germany-tries-to-forge-a-deal-on-who-can-play-ball-in-europe/