22 juin 2018 | International, Terrestre

The Army hopes industry can help figure out its network needs

By:

The Army is set to hold another technical exchange with industry to better understand what existing capabilities can inform the way ahead for its tactical network.

The Army held its first technical exchange in February to provide industry with insights as to specific threats the Army faces, what solutions are needed and the Army's priorities for tactical network modernization. It was hosted by the relevant program office — PEO Command, Control and Communications-Tactical — and the Network Cross Functional Team, which was stood up to help the service innovate faster.

The next event will likely take place on August 1 and 2 in Raleigh, NC, and will again be co-hosted by PEO-C3T and the Network Cross Functional Team.

Informing these network modernization efforts is the Army's acknowledgement that it does not know exactly what it wants.

“In the next couple years and beyond, what's that next future state need to look like? That's why we're relying on outreach to industry,” Maj. Gen. Pete Gallagher, network cross functional team lead, said at a June 21 event sponsored by the AFCEA Northern Virginia chapter.

“We conducted a tech exchange meeting in February, [and] we got a lot of great feedback from industry partners helping us figure out what is that next step, that next future state ... so, again, we're going forward in this perpetual state of modernization.”

The upcoming technical exchange will be officially confirmed on the Federal Business Opportunities website next week, according to officials, and will focus on cloud, artificial intelligence, data analytics, data logistics, infrastructure and the mission partner environment.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2018/06/21/the-army-hopes-industry-can-help-figure-out-its-network-needs/

Sur le même sujet

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 30, 2019

    31 janvier 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 30, 2019

    NAVY Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, is awarded $559,622,074 for cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00004 to a previously awarded contract (N00030-18-C-0100) for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed system support. Work will be performed in Magna, Utah (29.47 percent); Sunnyvale, California (16.75 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (14.07 percent); Pittsfield, Massachusetts (6.00 percent); Denver, Colorado (5.56 percent); Camden, Arizona (3.96 percent); Titusville, Florida (3.87 percent); Kingsport, Tennessee (3.87 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (3.15 percent); El Segundo, California (2.87 percent); Lancaster, Pennsylvania (2.00 percent); Clearwater, Florida (1.11 percent); Inglewood, California (1.08 percent); and other various locations less than one percent (6.24 percent total), and work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2023. Fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $412,117,013; fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,717,587; and United Kingdom funds in the amount of $137,787,474 will be obligated on this award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded $55,062,919 for modification P00011 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-16-C-0055). This modification provides for the procurement of five Fire Scout MQ-8C unmanned air systems and two lightweight fuel cells. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (33 percent); Ozark, Alabama (27 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (18 percent); Moss Point, Mississippi (16 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $55,062,919 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. DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $43,856,375 for modification P00017 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-15-D-0001). This modification exercises an option for organization, selected intermedia, limited depot level maintenance, and logistics services in support of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center's (NAWDC) F/A-18A/B/D/D/E/F, EA-18G, MH-60S, F-16A/B, and E-2C aircraft. Work will be performed at NAWDC, Fallon, Nevada, and is expected to be completed in January 2020. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. B.L. Harbert International, Birmingham, Alabama, is awarded a $41,832,719 firm-fixed construction contract for a hangar located at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The project will construct an 80,000 square foot hangar and associated facility to support research, development, testing, and evaluation of unmanned carrier-launched aerial surveillance systems to be located at the air station. The contract also contains five unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $44,374,719. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed 607 days after award. Fiscal 2017 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $41,832,719 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with three proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N40080-19-C-2015). RQ Construction Inc., Carlsbad, California, is awarded a $41,429,522 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a maintenance hangar in support of the EA-18 Growler aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. The facility will provide high-bay space for aircraft maintenance, maintenance shops, and open bay warehouse space for aircraft equipment and administrative spaces. Work will be performed in Oak Harbor, Washington, and is expected to be completed by July 2021. Fiscal 2017 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $41,429,522 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with nine proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity (N44255-19-C-0003). Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia, is awarded a $36,655,871 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for Identity Dominance System (IDS) technology refresh for the Department of Defense. The IDS technology refresh effort is a refresh of the entire current configuration. The primary focus of this contract is the acquisition of a hand-held biometric hardware device for the IDS program to replace the current integrated base unit. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by January 2024. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,522,548 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a full and open competition basis via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-19-D-4000). Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded $32,958,080 for modification P00002 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-18-C-0088). This modification provides for engineering and manufacturing development of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy – Navy. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed in July 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,197,594 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. L3 Aviation Products Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia, is awarded a $16,138,920 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to procure a maximum quantity of 840 technically refreshed multi-function displays for retrofits and spares in support of the AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft. Work will be performed in Alpharetta, Georgia, and is expected to be completed in September 2022. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-D-0009). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded $15,991,141 for modification P00001 to delivery order N0001918F1652 previously placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001. This modification exercises an option for the procurement of 79 Harpoon Block II Plus Tactical Missile upgrade kits for the Navy. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (69.5 percent); Galena, Kansas (10.5 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (6.6 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (6.5 percent); Lititz, Pennsylvania (2.2 percent); O'Fallon, Missouri (1.1 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (.6 percent), and various locations within the continental U.S. (3 percent). Work is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,991,141 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. Vertical Protective Apparel LLC,* Shrewsbury, New Jersey, is awarded $14,539,807 for firm-fixed-price delivery order M67854-19-F-1541 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-18-D-1309) for the production and integration of 56,710 Plate Carrier Generation III complete systems and 61,729 components and spares. Work will be performed in Guanica, Puerto Rico, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 29, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $14,539,807 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will expire the end of the current fiscal year. The base contract was competitively procured as a Total Small Business Set Aside via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Central Lake Armor Express Inc.,* Central Lake, Michigan, is awarded $10,432,525 for firm-fixed-price delivery order M67854-19-F-1542 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-19-D-1509) for the production of 1,322,654 Plate Carrier Generation III soft armor inserts and data reports. Work will be performed in Central Lake, Michigan, and is expected to be complete by Oct. 24, 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $10,432,525 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will expire the end of the current fiscal year. The base contract was competitively procured as a total small business set aside via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 13 offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Sealift Inc. of Delaware, Oyster Bay, New York, is awarded $9,106,750 under previously awarded contract N3220518C3352 to exercise an option for a vessel for transportation of dry cargo worldwide. The U.S. flagged vessel MV Black Eagle is employed in worldwide trade for the transportation and prepositioning of cargo (including, but not limited to, hazardous cargo, explosives, ammunition, vehicular, containerized, and general cargo), and for military readiness, in accordance with the terms of this charter. Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed January 2020. Working capital funds in the amount of $9,106,750 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Nordam Group Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, is awarded a $7,902,620 firm-fixed-priced contract for first article testing in support of the Super Hornet F/A-18 E-G 11 flight control surfaces. This is a one-year contract with no option periods. Work will be performed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and work is expected to be completed by January 2020. Working capital (Navy) funds in the full amount of $7,902,620 will be obligated at time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(2), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. (N00383-19-C-C003) Barnhart-Reese Construction Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded $7,127,423 for firm-fixed-price task order N6247319F4263 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-17-D-4629), for the renovation of historic Building 158 and demolition of Building 58 at Naval Base Point Loma, California. The work to be performed provides for the renovation of Building 158 into a two-story space with a basement, suitable for administration and training. Project includes demolition to cut openings for completion of a seismic retrofit, and installation of an elevator and ramp to bring the building into American Disabilities Act compliance; constructing walls throughout all three floors to enclose offices, interview rooms, an evidence room, men and women locker rooms, storage areas, and classrooms. The project also installs a new generator, new heat ventilation air conditioning, and repairs the existing pavement around the facility. Building 58 located at the Harbor Drive Annex will be demolished. The task order also contains two unexercised options and two planned modifications, which if exercised would increase the cumulative contract value to $8,188,231. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by August 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,127,423 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Sallyport Global Holdings, Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $375,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract action to provide base operations support, base life support, and security services in the support of the Iraq F-16 program. Work will be performed on Balad Air Base, Iraq, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 30, 2020. This contract was the result of a sole-source acquisition and involves foreign military sales to Iraq. Foreign military financing loan repayable funds in the amount of $183,750,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8630-19-C-5004). JC Builders JV,* Alamogordo, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A003); Mirador Enterprises LLC,* El Paso, Texas (FA4801-19-D-A006); Native American Services Corp.,* Alamogordo, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A004); Mesa Verde Enterprises,* Alamogordo, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A007); LC Structural Inc.,* Las Cruces, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A001); Veliz Construction,* El Paso, Texas (FA4801-19-D-A005); E-Corp,* Layton, Utah (FA4801-19-D-A008); and R-CON Construction Inc.,* Las Cruces, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A009), have been awarded a five-year aggregate ceiling $90,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide a broad range of maintenance, repair and construction work at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Task orders will use a variety of trades such as road repair, roofing, excavation, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sheet metal, painting, demolition, concrete, masonry and welding. Work is scheduled to commence March 1, 2019, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2023. No funds will be obligated at time of award but will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals as a 100 percent Small Business Set-Aside, with 20 offers received. The 49th Contracting Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $39,957,226 contract modification (P00013) to contract FA8525‐16‐D‐0003 for C‐5 contractor logistics support services. The contract involves supply chain management, repair and technical support services. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia; and Greenville, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2021. This award is a result of a sole-source acquisition and only one off was received. Fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2021 Material Support Division, and operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $14,993,394 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. Goodrich Corp., Brea, California, has been awarded an estimated $27,095,145 requirements contract for the repair/overhaul of the internal rescue hoist on UH-1N and aircraft mounted winch on HH-60 helicopters. This contract provides for the contractor to repair and perform program depot-level maintenance and unscheduled program depot-level maintenance in support of the UH-1N and HH-60 helicopters. Work will be performed in Brea, California, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 29, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8524-19-D-0001). BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Wayne, New Jersey, has been awarded a $12,157,767 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for dynamic networking adaptation for Mission Optimization Extensible Network Architecture software/hardware. This effort develops and implements candidate system designs to interconnect applications and information across multiple legacy and future networks throughout dynamic missions. Work will be performed in Wayne, New Jersey, is expected to be completed by July 30, 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds in the amount of $2,435,845; and fiscal 2019 RDT&E funds in the amount of $7,394,039 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-0012). ARMY Dell Marketing LP, Round Rock, Texas, was awarded a $78,141,800 firm-fixed-price contract for VMware software license maintenance. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Round Rock, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 27, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $63,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-19-F-0199). DRS Network and Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, was awarded a $67,300,000 fixed-price-redetermination contract to procure horizontal technology integration second generation forward looking infrared BKit components and engineering services. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 29, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W909MY-19-D-0004). Med-Eng LLC, Ogdensburg, New York, was awarded a $47,203,546 firmed-fixed-price contract for Generation II advanced bomb suit systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-19-D-0007). Kforce Government Solutions Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a $28,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to procure traumatic amputation task trainers. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-19-D-0005). Donald L. Mooney Enterprises LLC, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded an $11,954,435 firm-fixed-price contract for licensed vocational nurses and certified nurse assistants services. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2019. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K04-19-D-0010). Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, Tucker, Georgia, was awarded an $8,325,934 firm-fixed-price contract for food services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Tucker, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $8,325,934 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Gordon, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W911S0-19-C-0003). Emergent LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia, was awarded a $7,616,333 firm-fixed-price contract for Oracle PeopleSoft software license renewals. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Crystal City, Virginia; and San Diego, California, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Navy; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,616,333 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-19-F-0274). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY American Water Operations and Maintenance LLC, Voorhees, New Jersey, has been awarded a $26,589,346 modification (P00143) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-08-C-8257), with no option periods for the ownership, operation and maintenance of the water and wastewater utility systems at Fort Polk, Louisiana. This is a fixed-price with prospective-price-redetermination contract. Locations of performance are Louisiana and New Jersey, with a Jan. 31, 2059, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2017 through 2059 Army operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Polk, Louisiana. DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY ARTEL LLC, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a contract modification (P00013) to exercise Option Period Three on task order GS-35F-5151H / HC101316F0022, for commercial satellite communications service. The face value of this action is $23,328,000 funded by fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds. The total cumulative face value of the task order is $93,159,500. Performance directly supports the Air Force's Central Command area of responsibility for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. Quotations were solicited via the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Schedule, Information Technology Schedule 70, and one quotation was received from 29 offerors solicited. The period of performance for Option Period Three is Feb. 10, 2019, through Feb. 9, 2020, and there is one remaining unexercised option period for this task order. The Defense Information Technology Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. * Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1744377/source/GovDelivery/

  • China’s stealth fighter goes into mass production after thrust upgrade

    13 juillet 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    China’s stealth fighter goes into mass production after thrust upgrade

    The J-20B has overcome agility problems to finally be considered a fully fledged fifth-generation fighter, military source says Aircraft still will be fitted with Russian engine but ‘Chinese version could be ready in a year or two' A modified version of China's first stealth fighter jet, the J-20, has formally entered mass production, with upgrades earning it a place as a fifth-generation fighter jet, according to a military source close to the project. The moment was marked at a ceremonial unveiling of the modified J-20B stealth fighter jet on Wednesday attended by many senior military leaders including Central Military Commission (CMC) vice-chairman General Zhang Youxia, the source said. Zhang is the second-ranked vice-chairman of the CMC and is in charge of weapons development for the People's Liberation Army. “Mass production of the J-20B started on Wednesday. It has finally become a complete stealth fighter jet, with its agility meeting the original criteria,” the source said. “The most significant change to the fighter jet is that it is now equipped with thrust vector control.” Thrust vector control (TVC) allows pilots to better control the aircraft by redirecting engine thrust. In 2018, China debuted its J-10C multirole fighter – fitted with a WS-10 Taihang engine – at the China air show in Zhuhai, putting the aircraft through its paces in a performance that indicated that China had succeeded in thrust technology. While the TVC technology had been applied to the stealth fighter, the J-20B would still use Russian Saturn AL-31 engines because more work needed to be done on China's WS-15 engine, the source said. Chinese engineers have been developing high-thrust turbofan WS-15 engines for the J-20, but that work has fallen behind schedule. “The Chinese engine designed for the J-20s still failed to meet requirements, but its development is going quite smoothly, and it may be ready in the next one or two years,” the source said. “The ultimate goal is to equip the J-20B fighter jets with domestic engines.” China was thought to have built about 50 J-20s by the end of 2019, but problems with the jets' engines delayed further production plans. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth assembly plant in Texas delivered 134 F-35 stealth fighters in 2019, three more than its target and 47 per cent more than its output in 2018, according to the company. China's first batch of J-20s entered service in 2017 when the US decided to deploy more than 100 F-35s to Japan and South Korea that year. The J-20 was meant to be a fifth-generation fighter jet on a par with Lockheed's F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning multirole strike fighters. Fifth-generation fighters are defined by their stealth technology, supersonic cruising speed, super manoeuvrability, and highly integrated avionics. But the earlier version of the J-20 was described by Western media as a “dedicated interceptor aircraft” because of its lack of agility. “The launch of the J-20B means this aircraft now is a formal fifth-generation fighter jet,” the military source said, adding that Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC), which manufactures the J-20s, had received “heavy orders” from the PLA. CAC set up its fourth production line in 2019, each one with a capacity to make about one J-20 a month. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3092839/chinas-stealth-fighter-goes-mass-production-after-thrust

  • Despite pressure from lawmakers and pandemic, French defense budget to remain unchanged

    6 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, Sécurité

    Despite pressure from lawmakers and pandemic, French defense budget to remain unchanged

    Christina Mackenzie PARIS — Despite calls from French lawmakers for the nation's defense industry to receive extra financial support from the government to counter the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 defense budget will remain unchanged. Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said last week that the 2021 defense budget — planned before the pandemic as part of the 2019-2025 military program law — represents “the third year in a row that we have followed the military program law to the letter: This is an unprecedented effort, with an additional €1.7 billion [U.S. $2 billion] or so every year.” She added that the armed forces since 2019 have had €18 billion more to spend than in 2017, noting that between 2019 and 2023, the military investment budget will total €110 billion, which is more than the €100 billion national recovery plan announced by the French government last month to support a suffering economy. But Françoise Dumas, president of the National Assembly's National Defense and Armed Forces Committee, had called for “defense to be at the heart of the future recovery plan." And Cédric Perrin, vice president of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces, argued “there is no specific component of this €100 billion plan for the defense industry sector.” The €49.7 billion French defense budget for 2021 includes payment appropriations of €39.2 billion, which is an increase from the previous year, as planned in the 2019-2025 military program law. Of this, a record €22.3 billion is earmarked for modernizing equipment and buildings; €12.3 billion will go toward wages; and €4.6 billion is appropriated for operating costs. The government's department focused on veterans' affairs is to receive €2 billion of the total defense budget, and the remaining €8.5 billion will go toward pensions. What about the recovery plan? In early June, the government revealed a series of recovery plans aimed at specific industries particularly hard hit by the pandemic. Though the defense sector was not the sole target of the €15 billion aeronautics recovery plan, it nevertheless benefits from the funds, given France's aeronautic giants — Airbus and Dassault Aviation — are active in both the civilian and military sectors, as are their two major suppliers, Safran and Thales. There are about 1,300 companies ranging from startups to major firms in the French aeronautics sector, and they employ approximately 300,000 people. The recovery plan is not aimed at the four major companies, but rather in helping their supply chain involved in specific projects, such as modernizing production tools, research and development efforts, and digital transformation. As a condition for receiving the government funds, the four large companies promised to “consider favorably” offers made by suppliers in France and within the European Union based on global cost, while also taking into account litigation risks, the reliability of after-sales services, the conformity of products and services, their societal and environmental responsibility, and their innovation. The Armed Forces Ministry is participating in the recovery plan by spending €832 million on five measures to ensure “an immediate workload for the whole sector.” The first measure was to anticipate an order for three A330 Phénix multirole tankers, a move enabling the Air and Space Force's two A340 aircraft to retire from service this year instead of in 2028, and its three A310 aircraft to retire in 2021 instead of 2023. The second measure is an order for a light surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft; the third is an early order for eight H225M Caracal helicopters for the Air and Space Force; and the fourth is for a naval airborne drone system (known by its French acronym SDAM) and an onboard mini-drone (SMDM). The fifth measure is for 12 helicopters (two EC-145s and 10 EC-160s) for the Gendarmerie and the civil security force. The ministry's contributions also include €300 million in subsidies for suppliers and subcontractors, as well as €1.5 billion spent over the next three years to support R&D and innovation. What are the defense funds going toward? Under the defense budget, the Army will procure: 12,000 HK416F assault rifles (and order another 12,000). Five Caiman helicopters (and order 21 light joint helicopters). 20 Jaguar armored vehicles; 157 Griffon armored vehicles; 80 renovated VBL light armored vehicles (and order another 120); and 1,000 VLTP light tactical multipurpose vehicles. 850 portable radios (and order 2,900); and 925 vehicle radios (and order 7,300). 200 MMP medium-range missiles and 75 firing posts. 10 SDT tactical drones. The Navy is procuring: A FREMM multimission frigate (and ordering an intervention and defense FDI frigate); and an upgraded light stealth frigate. A Caiman helicopter (and ordering eight HIL light joint helicopters). Three upgraded ATL2 patrol aircraft. Aster 30 missiles; F21 Artemis torpedoes; and four Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles (and ordering 45 Exocet kits). The Air & Space Force is acquiring: An Atlas A400M transport aircraft; three A330 Phénix multirole tankers; two upgraded C-130H transport aircraft; and 14 upgraded Mirage M2000D fighter aircraft. 14 Talios laser designation pods. 90 upgraded Scalp missiles. Six SCCOA 4 radars. Specifically for the space segment, a Musis/CSO satellite; 15 Syracuse IV ground stations; and one Ceres satellite system. The service is also ordering one HIL light joint helicopter; 367 MICA NG air-to-air missiles; 150 Mica NG training missiles; and 13 Syracuse IV ground stations. Two major programs for the service will also be launched in 2021: the Mentor training aircraft and the future combat air system demonstrator. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/10/05/despite-pressure-from-lawmakers-and-pandemic-french-defense-budget-to-remain-unchanged/

Toutes les nouvelles