15 septembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial

The US Air Force has built and flown a mysterious full-scale prototype of its future fighter jet

By:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has secretly designed, built and flown at least one prototype of its enigmatic next-generation fighter jet, the service's top acquisition official confirmed to Defense News on Sept. 14.

The development is certain to shock the defense community, which last saw the first flight of an experimental fighter during the battle for the Joint Strike Fighter contract 20 years ago. With the Air Force's future fighter program still in its infancy, the rollout and successful first flight of a demonstrator was not expected for years.

“We've already built and flown a full-scale flight demonstrator in the real world, and we broke records in doing it,” Will Roper told Defense News in an exclusive interview ahead of the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference. “We are ready to go and build the next-generation aircraft in a way that has never happened before.”

Almost every detail about the aircraft itself will remain a mystery due to the classification of the Next Generation Air Dominance program, the Air Force's effort for fielding a family of connected air warfare systems that could include fighters, drones and other networked platforms in space or the cyber realm.

Roper declined to comment on how many prototype aircraft have been flown or which defense contractors manufactured them. He wouldn't say when or where the first flight occurred. And he refused to divulge any aspect of the aircraft's design — its mission, whether it was uncrewed or optionally crewed, whether it could fly at hypersonic speeds or if it has stealth characteristics.

Those attributes, he said, are beside the point.

The importance, Roper said, is that just a year after the service completed an analysis of alternatives, the Air Force has proven it can use cutting-edge advanced manufacturing techniques to build and test a virtual version of its next fighter — and then move to constructing a full-scale prototype and flying it with mission systems onboard.

“This is not just something that you can apply to things that are simple systems” like Boeing's T-7 Red Hawk trainer jet, the first Air Force aircraft to be built using the “holy trinity” of digital engineering, agile software development and open architecture, Roper said.

“We're going after the most complicated systems that have ever been built, and checked all the boxes with this digital technology. In fact, [we've] not just checked the boxes, [we've] demonstrated something that's truly magical.”

Now, the Next Generation Air Dominance program, or NGAD, sits at a decision point. Roper declined to say how quickly the Air Force could move its next-gen fighter into production, except to say “pretty fast.” But before the service decides to begin producing a new generation of fighters, it must determine how many aircraft it will commit to buy and when it wants to start purchasing them — all choices that could influence the fiscal 2022 budget.

The program itself has the potential to radically shake up the defense industry. Should the Air Force move to buy NGAD in the near term, it will be adding a challenger to the F-35 and F-15EX programs, potentially putting those programs at risk.

And because the advanced manufacturing techniques that are critical for building NGAD were pioneered by the commercial sector, the program could open the door for new prime contractors for the aircraft to emerge — and perhaps give SpaceX founder Elon Musk a shot at designing an F-35 competitor.

“I have to imagine there will be a lot of engineers — maybe famous ones with well-known household names with billions of dollars to invest — that will decide starting the world's greatest aircraft company to build the world's greatest aircraft with the Air Force is exactly the kind of inspiring thing they want to do as a hobby or even a main gig,” Roper said.

The disclosure of a flying full-scale fighter prototype could be just what the Air Force needs to garner more financial support from Congress during a critical time where the service is facing budget constraints and needs to gain momentum, said Mackenzie Eaglen, a defense budget analyst with the American Enterprise Institute.

“If you can quickly get to something and show progress through product, it just changes the whole dynamic for the Hill,” she said. “[Roper has] got so many headwinds, it seems this would be a likely avenue to show conceptual success for his ideas.”

A radical new acquisition

Flying a prototype of its future fighter was the easy part. Now the Air Force must choose whether to commit to a radical method of buying it.

Over the last 50 years, the U.S. industrial base has dwindled from 10 manufacturers capable of building an advanced fighter to only three defense companies: Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman. The time it takes the Air Force to move a new fighter from research and development to full-rate production has stretched from a matter of years to multiple decades.

The result is that every fighter program becomes existential for companies, who fight to prove that they can meet technical requirements during the development and production phase at a lower cost than their competitors. The companies are finally able to turn a profit during the later years of a program, when they become locked in as sustainment providers with the technical knowledge necessary for upgrading, repairing and extending the life of their product — often with little congressional interest or scrutiny.

“The sustainment account is a black hole that nobody understands. The [operation and maintenance] account is a black hole that no one can figure out,” Eaglen said. “The person who can change sustainment can change the acquisition game, writ large.”

For the Air Force, the turning point is when an aircraft hits 15 years old. At that age, maintenance costs compound rapidly, growing another 3-7 percent every year, Roper wrote in a Sept. 15 document titled “Take the Red Pill: The New Digital Acquisition Reality.”

But what if instead of spending significant funds on sustaining old jets, the Air Force used that money to buy new ones?

Instead of buying a large quantity of a single fighter over decades and retaining each plane for 30 years or more — as is currently the norm — the “Digital Century Series” model, proposed by Roper, posits that advanced manufacturing and software development techniques make it possible for the Air Force to rapidly develop and buy aircraft more frequently, much as the service did during the 1950s when it bought six fighters from six companies just years apart from each other during the original Century Series.

In August, Air Force's advanced aircraft program office completed a business case analysis of the Digital Century Series model meant to validate whether the idea was technically feasible and, more importantly, whether it could save money.

Leaders found that by applying digital manufacturing and development practices — as used by the T-7 program, as well as in the development of the NGAD prototype — it could drop the total life cycle cost of a next-gen fighter by 10 percent over 30 years compared to legacy fighters like the F-35 and F-15, Roper wrote.

But for the same price as a single variant of a digitally manufactured fighter produced with a 30-year life cycle, the Air Force could buy a new fighter every eight years and replace them after 16 years — before the plane reaches the 3,500 flight-hour mark here it starts needing heavy overhauls and expensive modifications to extend its service life.

“I don't think it's smart thinking to build one and only one aircraft that has to be dominant for all missions in all cases all the time,” he said. “Digital engineering allows us to build different kinds of airplanes, and if we're really smart ... we ensure smart commonality across the fleet — common support equipment, common cockpit configurations, common interfaces, common architecture, even common components like a landing gear — that simplify the sustainment and maintenance in the field.”

The main difference is that the Air Force would flip from spending the majority of fighter program costs upfront instead of at the end of the aircraft's life. To continuously design new fighter jets, the service would keep multiple vendors constantly under contract for the development of new planes, choosing a new design about every eight years. To make a business case that is profitable for industry, it would then buy batches of about 50-80 aircraft every year.

The result is a 25 percent increase in development costs and an 18 percent increase in production costs. However, the price of modernizing aircraft would drop by 79 percent while sustainment costs are basically cut in half, Roper wrote in the paper.

“I can't make both ends of the life cycle go away; industry has to make a profit somewhere,” Roper said. “And I'm arguing in the paper that if you get to choose what color of money you use for future air superiority, make it research, development and production because it's the sharp point of the spear, not the geriatric side that consumes so much of our resources today.”

There is also a strategic benefit to continuous fighter production and development, Roper said. It puts China on the defense, having to respond to U.S. technical advances as new capabilities — whether they're hypersonic missiles or drone wingmen — are matured and spiraled into the fighter's production.

“This speeds up the pace at which we can do things so that we can be the disrupter instead of the disrupted, but it does so in a way that can't be undermined by throwing cheap labor at the problem,” he said.

The next step is for Air Force leadership to decide how much it can afford for the program in FY22 and whether it will adopt the Digital Century Series model for developing the aircraft.

“What we need to do going forward is simply understand the [Department of the Air Force's] level of financial commitment and the date they want us to charge towards for initial operations, and we can fit the acquisition strategy for [NGAD] to it, and explain how quickly we can afford to spiral and when we need to retire the aircraft to generate enough savings to afford those spirals,” he said.

“Perhaps getting to the fastest [initial fielding date] may not be the most important thing. It may be important for us to push the [technical] boundaries more. Those are decisions that I've given for leadership to think about. But every decision I've given them is a better decision over the legacy ones.”

If the Air Force is going to get financial support for a business plan that requires taxpayers to pay a higher upfront cost for fighter aircraft, it must clearly identify desired combat capabilities, said Rebecca Grant, an aerospace analyst with IRIS Independent Research.

“Now we have the F-35, F-15EX and the Digital Century Series' small batch costs,” she said. “If it's that great, maybe it's worth the upfront cost. I could argue that, for sure. Is this the new F-117, which was similar batch size at similar cost and worth every penny? We just don't know.”

On the technical side, the Air Force needs to solidify a rigorous, standardized method of conducting test activities in a virtual environment using modeling and simulation tools that can cut down the amount of time needed for live flight tests. It also needs industry to buy in to coding via a government-owned computing environment, Roper said.

“We can't have every industry partner creating their own mechanism,” Roper said. “We have to have just as rigorous a process for digital design and assembly as we do for physical design assembly. So we will own that in the government, we will certify that in the government.”

And — perhaps most critically — the Air Force will have to sell the concept to Congress. Roper has briefed staff members on the defense committees, and he held classified sessions with many of the lawmakers who sit on those panels to present findings of the business case study as well as the detailed progress of NGAD development and test activities.

“I had some tough audiences on this. I've had people that I've been told want to cut the program or they don't understand why we need it,” he acknowledged. “But I have not left a single one of those briefings with anything other than [lawmakers saying]: ‘This is the future, we ought to do it now. And why aren't we going faster?' And the answer [to] why we aren't going faster is simply money. We can push the accelerator down more today because the digital technology allows it.”

https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2020/09/15/the-us-air-force-has-built-and-flown-a-mysterious-full-scale-prototype-of-its-future-fighter-jet

Sur le même sujet

  • Ligado would be banned from DoD contracts under House plan

    6 juillet 2020 | International, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Ligado would be banned from DoD contracts under House plan

    Joe Gould WASHINGTON ― Lawmakers took another apparent jab at Ligado Networks on Wednesday as the House Armed Services Committee passed a ban on the Pentagon awarding contracts to firms that interfere with Global Positioning System signals. The panel adopted an amendment from House Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Michael Turner to bar the Department of Defense from contracting with an entity that engages in commercial terrestrial operations using certain frequency ranges ― unless the defense secretary certifies the operations do not cause harmful interference to a the military's GPS devices. Ligado is not specifically named. However, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved the plan from Ligado to use the bands identified in the amendment: the 1525–1559 MHz band and the 1626.5–1660.5 MHz band. The FCC's decision in April came despite objections from the DoD and a number of nondefense industry trade groups, which argue that Ligado's plan would create wide-ranging disruptions for GPS usage. During the markup, the panel approved a separate amendment from Turner that would bar DoD from spending any money to mitigate impacts from Ligado's potential interference with the military's GPS signals. The moves by lawmakers during the HASC's markup of its version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act is the latest salvo from lawmakers on Congress' defense committees. Earlier this month, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., offered legislation that would require the company to cover the costs of any GPS user — government or commercial — hurt by its spectrum use. Turner, a defense hawk in Congress, is among 22 HASC members who called on the FCC to reverse its support for Ligado's plan. He has called for an inspector general to probe consulting company Roberson and Associates, the firm that determined Ligado's plan wouldn't cause GPS interference. https://www.c4isrnet.com/congress/2020/07/01/ban-on-dod-contracts-to-ligado-approved-by-house-panel/

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 28, 2019

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

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 28, 2019

    ARMY General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $1,357,144,255 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for retrofit, damage repair, and reset-refurbishment services to support the Stryker Family of Vehicles. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0051). General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $1,357,144,255 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for Stryker wholesale supply, performance-based, logistics services. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0054). Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $679,953,928 modification (P00002) to Foreign Military Sales (Republic of Korea, Poland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Germany, and Netherlands) contract W31P4Q-19-C-0011 for incidental services, hardware, facilities, equipment, and all technical, planning, management, manufacturing, and testing efforts to produce Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target Advanced Capability-3 missiles in both the Cost Reduction Initiative and Missile Segment Enhancement configuration with associated ground support equipment and initial spares. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama; Camden, Arizona; Ocala, Florida; Chelmsford, Massachusetts; Grand Prairie, Texas; and Lufkin, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $333,177,425 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Andover, Massachusetts, was awarded a $102,536,089 fixed-price-incentive domestic and Foreign Military Sales (Netherlands) contract for the Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept of Target Digital Sidelobe Canceller and Peripheral Electronics Assembly Box modification kits and initial spares production. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Andover, Massachusetts; Chatsworth, California; and Simsbury, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2022. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 Army procurement appropriations and foreign military sales funds in the combined amount of $102,536,089 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0055). Altech Inc.,* Texarkana, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0002); CDM Holdings LLC,* New Boston, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0003); Flynco Inc.,* Little Rock, Arkansas (W911RQ-19-D-0004); Four Thirteen Inc.,* Texarkana, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0005); Gonzalez-De La Garza & Associates LLC.,* San Antonio, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0006); GCC Enterprises Inc.,* Dallas, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0007); Heritage Constructors Inc.,* Texarkana, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0008); National Native American Construction Inc.,* Coeur D'Alene, Idaho (W911RQ-19-D-0009); OAC Action Construction Corp.,* Miami, Florida (W911RQ-19-D-0010) Relyant Global LLC,* Maryville, Tennessee (W911RQ-19-D-0011); Tatum Excavating Co. Inc.,* Texarkana, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0012); Tri-State Industrial Contractors Inc.,* Texarkana, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0013); Trumble Construction Inc.,* Texarkana, Texas (W911RQ-19-D-0014); Waldrop Construction Inc.,* Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (W911RQ-19-D-0015); and Weil Construction Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico (W911RQ-19-D-0016), will compete for each order of the $96,649,264 firm-fixed-price contract for a broad range of minor construction projects to support real property sustainment, restoration, modernization, repair and minor construction of buildings, structures and other real property at Red River Army Depot, Texas. Bids were solicited via the internet with 15 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 27, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded an $83,182,437 modification (P00011) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0188 to incorporate additional technological capabilities into the current Abrams System Enhancement Package Version 4. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 1, 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $21,054,316 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $66,395,558 modification (P00070) to contract W56HZV-16-D-0025 for Stryker sustainment services. Work locations and funding will determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 29, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Co. LLC,* Fairfield, Ohio, was awarded a $60,736,752 firm-fixed-price contract to procure Family of Medium Light Tactical Vehicles protection kits. 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 Feb. 27, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0041). CAS Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $36,793,076 modification (0001 05) to Foreign Military Sales (Germany, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Romania, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Qatar, and Republic of Korea) contract W31P4Q-18-A-0018 for technical engineering. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 29, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army; research, development, test and evaluation; and foreign military sales funds in the combined amount of $36,793,076 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Park, Illinois, was awarded a $35,203,754 firm-fixed-price contract for development of a Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnostic Assay. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Abbott Park, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $12,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81XWH-19-C-0071). Raytheon Co., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $32,600,916 modification (P00006) to contract W31P4Q-16-D-0020 for the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense plug and fight A-Kit materials and support. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Straub Construction Inc., Fallbrook, California, was awarded a $28,937,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of Modified Tactical Equipment Facility and General Purpose Warehouse. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Barstow, California, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $28,937,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-C-0012). General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $27,892,142 modification (P00075) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0067 for Abrams systems technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling, Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 29, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army; operations and maintenance Army; operations and maintenance U.S. Marine Corps; and foreign military sales funds in the combined amount of $27,892,142 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Modern Technology Solutions Inc.,* Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a $20,743,035 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for system engineering and technical assistance support. Twenty-three bids were solicited with six received. Work will be performed in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,200,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W9113M-19-F-0020). Ghemm Co. Inc.,* Fairbanks, Alaska, was awarded a $19,794,920 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a school age program facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of July 8, 2020. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $19,794,920 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Anchorage, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-19-C-0013). Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin JV, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $18,918,786 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Australia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine) contract for life cycle contractor support services for the Javelin Weapon System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Las Angeles, California; Huntsville, Alabama; and Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 29, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army; and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $18,918,786 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0059). Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded an $18,425,566 modification (P00011) to contract W52P1J-18-C-0002 for Class V munitions supply support. Work will be performed in Kuwait City, Kuwait, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 29, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $15,800,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Element Environmental LLC.,* Aiea, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0001); and Helbert Hastert & Fee Planners Inc.,* Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0002), will compete for each order of the $18,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineer services (environmental/planning). Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 27, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Cardno GS Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia (W9128A-19-D-0003); Group 70 International Inc. doing business as G70, Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0004) and Jacobs CH2M Hill Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii (W9128A-19-D-0005), will compete for each order of the $18,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineer services (environmental/planning). 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 Feb. 27, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, Louisiana, was awarded a $10,775,000 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging of East Rockaway Inlet, New York. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Queens, New York, with an estimated completion date of April 26, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $10,775,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-C-0004). Potomac Healthcare Solutions LLC,* Woodbridge, Virginia, was awarded a $9,250,592 firm-fixed-price contract for certified athletic trainers and registered dietitians services. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Fort Bliss, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2021. Fiscal 2019 Defense Health procurement funds in the amount of $4,657,850 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K04-19-F-0052). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, California, is awarded an $830,583,480 modification (P00044) for an existing sole-source indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (HQ0147-12-D-0001) for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense element development and support services. This modification brings the total maximum ceiling value of this contract from $1,504,416,520 to $2,335,000,000. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for additional incremental development, support to flight and ground test programs, and responsive support to Warfighter requirements to sustain the Ballistic Missile Defense System throughout the acquisition life cycle. Expected completion dates will be established under subsequent task order awards. The work will be performed at Sunnyvale, California; and Huntsville, Alabama. No funding is being obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems Division, Moorestown, New Jersey, has been awarded a $10,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00318) under contract HQ0276-10-C-0001. This modification increases the total cumulative contract value from $2,950,754,847 by $10,000,000 to $2,960,754,847. Under this modification, the contractor will perform engineering and design support services necessary to support the Aegis Ashore (AA) Japan Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Technical Assistance Case in preparation of the AA Japan Main Case under Contract Line Item Number 0134. The work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, with an expected completion date of Oct. 31, 2019. Funds from the government of Japan in the amount of $7,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract modification is the result of a sole source acquisition. The Missile Defense Agency, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity. NAVY The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded a $428,896,674 advanced acquisition contract modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0067). This modification provides for long-lead material and activities in support of 16 P-8A lot 11 aircraft to include six for the Navy, four for the government of New Zealand, and six for the Republic of Korea. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington (97.04 percent); Huntington Beach, California (2.4 percent); and various locations within the continental U. S. (.56 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and foreign military sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $428,896,674 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($180,000,000; 42 percent); the Republic of Korea ($160,944,226; 37 percent); and the government of New Zealand ($87,952,448; 21 percent) under the FMS program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is awarded $117,368,080 for modification P00006 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-17-C-0037). This modification exercises an option to procure 145 D(V)2 Processors, 434 D(V)2 Antenna Detectors; 253 D(V)2 Radar Receivers; 107 D(V)2 Low Band Arrays; 211 D(V)2 Battery Handle Assemblies; 8 D(V)2 Digital Receiver Processor Circuit Card Assemblies (CCAs); 10 D(V)2 Radio Frequency Distribution CCAs; 10 D(V)2 Dual Down Converter CCAs; 14 D(V)2 Quad Receiver Exciter CCAs; 6 D(V)2 Low Voltage Power Supply CCAs; 53 C(V)2 Processors; 160 C(V)2 Antenna Detectors; 132 C(V)2 Radar Receivers; 89 C(V)2 input/output Processor CCAs; 89 C(V)2 Signal Processor Unit CCAs; 7 Advanced Main Processor Unit CCAs; 7 C(V)2 Digital Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) Interface CCAs; 7 C(V)2 Analog YIG Interface CCAs, and 5 C(V)2 Upgrade Kits. In addition, this option exercise includes technical engineering, logistics and management services to fabricate, assemble, test and deliver AN/APR-39 C/D(V)2 Systems and associated hardware in support of Navy, Army, Air Force and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (53 percent); Woburn, Massachusetts (12 percent); Lansdale, Pennsylvania (9 percent); Menlo Park, California (6 percent); Longmont, Colorado (6 percent) and various locations within the continental U.S. (14 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2021. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy and Army); fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force); working capital (Navy and Army); and FMS funds in the amount of $117,368,080 will be obligated at time of award, $33,244,974 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This option combines purchase for the Navy ($94,650,099; 80 percent); Army ($15,949,693; 14 percent); FMS ($5,650,203; 5 percent); and Air Force ($1,118,085; 1 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $108,742,796 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N0001919F2512 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This order provides for program management, nonrecurring engineering, recurring engineering, site support and touch labor in support of modification and retrofit activities for delivered Air Systems for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense (DoD) Participant and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in February 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Marine Corps); fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force); non-DoD participant and FMS funds in the amount of $108,742,796 will be obligated at time of award, $8,357,457 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Air Force ($40,792,324; 37 percent); Marine Corps ($20,450,619; 19 percent); Navy ($8,157,493; 8 percent); non DoD Participants ($31,490,977; 29 percent) and FMS customers ($7,851,383; 7 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. American Road Markings LLC,* Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a maximum amount $55,285,237 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N40085-19-D-9116) for asphalt paving and minor concrete repair work within Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic (MIDLANT), Virginia area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed is for various types of asphalt pavement, concrete work, pavement markings, and incidental work related to Department of Transportation road and bridge standards. Work may be ordered for industrial, commercial, and residential locations indicated within each task order. Task order 0001 is being awarded at $5,000 for the minimum guarantee. All work on this contract will be performed in the NAVFAC MIDLANT Hampton Roads AOR including, but not limited to Norfolk, Virginia (27 percent); Portsmouth, Virginia (27 percent); Virginia Beach, Virginia (26 percent); Yorktown, Virginia (15 percent); and other facilities within the NAVFAC MIDLANT AOR (5 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with two proposals received. NAVFAC MIDLANT, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. iGov Technologies Inc.,* Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $48,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of Marine Air Ground Task Force, Marine Common Handheld hardware and services. Work will be performed in Tampa, Florida, and is expected to be completed February 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $4,425,295 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-19-D-2040). ITC Defense Corp., Arlington, Virginia, is awarded a $41,762,131 firm-fixed-price, cost- reimbursable contract to provide supply chain management for the military departments of the Ministry of Defense for the government of Kuwait. Services procured include product/program management support, logistics and supply support, packaging, handling, storage, and transportation, technical data management, training and training system support, computer resources, and design interface. Work will be performed in Kuwait, and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $41,762,131 will be obligated at time of award; none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(4). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-C-0006). Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd., Uxbridge, United Kingdom, is awarded a $38,584,619 firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract action for the manufacture of parachute deployment rocket motors and underseat rocket motors used on EA-18G, the F/A-18E, and T-45 aircrafts during the ejection sequence. This contract includes a three-year base period with no options. Work will be performed in Uxbridge, United Kingdom, and work is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2017, 2018, 2019 procurement and ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds (66 percent); fiscal 2017, 2018, 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds (14 percent); Kuwait funds (12 percent); Australian funds (5.8 percent); Switzerland funds (2 percent); and Malaysia funds (0.2 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Funds in the amount of $7,015,803 will be issued for delivery order N00104-19-F-PQ01 that will be awarded concurrently with the contract, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The requirement was fully competitive, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00104-19-D-PQ01). Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $30,811,998 for modification P00011 to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive firm contract (N0001918C1048) to provide for initial lay-in of repair material for ten F-35 Lightning II systems at various depots in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps; Navy; non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Participants, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (48.4 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (24.8 percent); North Amityville, New York (13.2 percent); Grand Rapids, Michigan (4.7 percent); Cheltenham, United Kingdom (3.9 percent); Tempe, Arizona (2.9 percent); and Irvine, California (2.1 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force and Navy); fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Marine Corps.); non-U.S. DoD Participant and FMS funds in the amount of $30,811,998 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($13,456,431; 43.7 percent); the Marine Corps ($6,649,044; 21.6 percent); Navy ($3,088,625; 10 percent); non-U.S. DoD Participants ($5,251,166; 17 percent); and FMS customers ($2,366,732; 7.7 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, California, is awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee $28,592,362 for modification P00009 under a previously awarded contract (N00030-17-C-0017) to exercise options for engineering efforts to support the integration of the TRIDENT II (D5) Missile and Reentry Subsystems into the Common Missile Compartment for the Columbia Class and United Kingdom Dreadnought programs. The work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (48.51 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (43.24 percent); New London, Connecticut (2.28 percent); Anaheim, California (2.05 percent); Lancaster, Pennsylvania (1 percent); and various places below one percent (2.92 percent); and work is expected to be completed by March 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,845,800; and fiscal 2019 United Kingdom funds in the amount of $5,842,864, will be obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Arnold Defense and Electronics, Arnold, Missouri, is awarded a $23,911,200 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for 2.75-inch rocket launchers and subcomponents to support Navy, Army, Air Force and foreign military sales requirements. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $53,779,290. This contract involves sales to the government of Australia. Work will be performed in Arnold, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by March 2023. Foreign military sales (Australia); fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 weapon procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $15,036,600 will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2017 funding in the amount of $439,725 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00174-19-D-0001). Oscar Deuce LLC,* Virginia Beach, Virginia, is awarded a $22,880,641 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide contractor-owned and operated propeller aircraft in support of airborne threat simulation training for shipboard and aircraft squadron weapon systems operators and aircrew. Work will be performed at various locations inside and outside the continental U.S., and is expected to be completed in March 2024. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic proposal; three offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0030). BAE Systems, Land & Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota, is awarded a $21,816,877 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-13-C-5314 for the procurement of MK 41 Vertical Launching System MK 29 canisters, coding plugs, MK 7 explosive bolts, and MK 236 impulse cartridge assemblies. The MK 41 Vertical Launching System provides a missile launching system for CG 47 and DDG 51 class surface combatants of the Navy, Aegis Ashore, as well as surface combatants of allied navies. The canisters provide rocket motor exhaust gas containment and a launch rail during missile firing. The canisters also serve as missile shipping and storage containers. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (82 percent); and the country of Japan (18 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, South Dakota (90 percent); and Minneapolis, Minnesota (10 percent), and is expected to be complete by March 2021. Fiscal 2018 defense wide procurement and foreign military sales funding in the amount of $21,816,877 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Mississippi, is awarded $21,361,072 for modification P00032 to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-14-D-0011). This modification exercises an option for organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance, logistics, and engineering support for Navy T-45 aircraft, aircraft systems, and related support equipment. Support to be provided includes services, equipment, tools, direct material, and indirect material required to support and maintain all to support flight and test and evaluation operations. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, Texas (55.5 percent); NAS Meridian, Mississippi (41.3 percent); and NAS Pensacola, Florida (3.2 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2019. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. Smartronix Inc., Hollywood, Maryland, is awarded $21,274,633 for cost-plus-fixed-fee task order N0042119F0422 against a previously issued General Services Administration Alliant 2, government-wide acquisition contract (47QTCK18D007). This task order provides development, planning, execution, monitoring, and life cycle services for information technology/cybersecurity programs and associated activities in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Information Technology and Cyber Security Department. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $6,602,419 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Precise Systems, Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded $16,182,934 for modification P00014 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable contract (N00421-18-C-0005). This modification provides for software application contractor support services for new and existing acquisition tools in support of the Naval Air Systems Command. This support consists of maintenance and associated upgrades to the Acquisition Management Systems tools, including the Procurement Management Tool. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in November 2022. No funds will be 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. Corps Solutions LLC,* Stafford, Virginia, is awarded 7,157,695 for firm-fixed-price task order (M67854-19-F-7906) under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-18-D-7853) to provide Marine Corps Range Control Facilities with operational, safety, technical and administrative support services. Tasks include: Range Scheduling support and Integrated Range Status System (IRSS) services that prioritize and deconflict training requests, monitor real-time range activity, capture range status changes in real time, and collect range utilization data. Range safety and inspection services ensure ranges are in an operational status before training exercises commence and after training exercises are completed to ensure usability for the next exercise. Work will be performed at Range and Training Area Management Marine Corp Base Quantico, Virginia (21 percent); Bridgeport, California (13 percent); Camp Pendleton, California (13 percent); Range Control Facility Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia (10 percent); Okinawa, Japan (9 percent); Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (8 percent); Twenty Nine Palms, California (8 percent); Bellows Air Force Base, Hawaii (2 percent); Camp Fuji, Japan (2 percent); Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (2 percent); Cherry Point, North Carolina (2 percent); Iwakuni, Japan (2 percent); Parris Island, South Carolina (2 percent); Puuloa, Hawaii (2 percent); Yuma, Arizona (2 percent); Miramar, California (1 percent); and Townsend Bombing Range, Georgia (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $7,157,695 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The base contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Atlantic Diving Supply, Inc.,* doing business as ADS, Virginia Beach, Virginia (SPE8EH-19-D-0007); W.S. Darley & Co.,* Itasca, Illinois (SPE8EH-19-D-0008); Unifire Inc.,* Spokane, Washington (SPE8EH-19-D-0009); Mallory Safety and Supply,* Longview, Washington (SPE8EH-19-D-0010); Federal Resources Supply Co.,* Stevensville, Maryland (SPE8EH-19-D-0011); and L.N. Curtis & Sons,* Oakland, California (SPE8EH-19-D-0012), are sharing a maximum $90,000,000 bridge contract under solicitation SPM8EH-12-R-0009 for fire and emergency services equipment. These are firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, 120-day bridge contracts. These were sole-source acquisitions using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Locations of performance are California, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, with a June 28, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $45,309,627 delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-C304) against an existing five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-17-G-C301) for aircraft antennas. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. This was a sole source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Location of performance is California, with a June 30, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AIR FORCE L-3 Technologies, Greenville, Texas, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $85,000,000 firm-fixed-price undefinitized contract action for aircraft engineering, procurement and fabrication. Work will be performed in Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be complete by October 2021. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $41,650,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-16-G-3027/ FA8620-19-F-4837). Unisys Corp., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a $76,346,901 Other Transaction Agreement to execute the Enterprise IT as a service end user services risk reduction effort experiment. This agreement provides for an experiment of the commercial delivery of standardized, innovative, and agile Information Technology services, including an Enterprise service desk and end user devices, to a select group of bases. Work will be performed at Buckley Air Force Base (AFB), Colorado, Maxwell AFB, Alabama; Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; Offutt AFB, Nebraska; Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Cannon AFB, New Mexico; Hurlburt Field, Florida; and Pope Field, North Carolina, with possible scaling of up to 20 bases during the experiment. Work is expected to be complete by February 2022. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8726-19-9-0001) InDyne Inc., Sterling, Virginia, has been awarded a $51,386,233 modification (P00014) to previously awarded contract FA2517-18-C-8000 for Solid State Phased Array Radar Systems (SSPARS). This modification provides for the exercise of option year one and the management, operation, maintenance, and logistical support of SSPARS. Work will be performed at Beale Air Force Base, California; Cape Cod Air Force Station, Massachusetts; Clear Air Force Station, Alaska; Thule Air Base, Greenland, and Royal Air Force Fylingdales, United Kingdom, and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $86,752,750. The 21st Contracting Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colorado is the contracting activity. (Awarded February 25, 2019) The Boeing Co., Layton, Utah, has been awarded a $19,887,508 cost-plus-incentive-fee Request for Equitable Adjustment modification (P00108) to previously awarded contract FA8214-15-C-0001 for the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Flight Test, Telemetry, and Termination program. This modification provides for changes to the specifications that caused cost, schedule, and technical impacts as related to the weight reduction change order. Work will be performed in Layton, Utah, and expected to be complete by Oct. 29, 2021. No funds are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity. AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, has been awarded a $15,225,404 firm-fixed-price modification (P00002) to previously awarded contract FA4890-19-C-0002 for the exercise of option one. This modification provides for force-protection efforts at airfields located within the U.S. Air Force Central Command's area of responsibility, including a non-developmental contractor-owned and contractor-operated unmanned aerial system, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance solution to perform operational, engineering, and sustainment efforts necessary to effectively execute pre-deployment, deployment operations, post-deployment, and engineering support activities. Work will be performed at Bagram and Kandahar Airfields, Afghanistan, and is expected to be complete by March 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. This modification bring the total cumulative face value of the contract to $114,064,396. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity. AECOM Management Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, has been awarded a $15,220,522 modification (P00037) to previously awarded contract FA4890-16-C-0007 to exercise option year three. This modification provides program support for Air Combat Command's Unmanned Aircraft System Operations Center Support, providing the warfighter long endurance, real time reconnaissance and surveillance, and precision attack against fixed and time critical targets. This modification brings the total cumulative value of the contract to $122,362,588. Work will be performed at multiple locations worldwide and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2020. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-16-C-0007). Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $13,295,375 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (FA8540-19-F-0004) in support of previously awarded contract FA8540-18-D-0001 for SNIPER Comprehensive Advanced Targeting Pod. This order provides for the software enhancements and data for the development of the E4.X Operational Flight Program. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and various other locations in the U.S.. Work is expected to be complete by Feb. 28, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,674,013 are being obligated at the time of award. This delivery order brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $124,000,946. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. Tyonek Global Services LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded a $7,236,566 predominantly firm-fixed-price contract for Cyber Operations Formal Training Support(CyOFTS) II. This contract provides for essential capabilities to support the Cyber Operations field training unit in course planning, administrative support, technical writing, course development, project management, instructor training, student mission training systems administration, network systems administration, training range engineering maintenance, computer help desk support, and hardware/infrastructure maintenance. Work will be performed at Hurlburt Field, Florida; and Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be complete by February 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The 38th Contracting Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8773-19-C-A004). * Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1771302/

  • Boeing: Apache helicopter fix could take until past 2020 to complete

    10 octobre 2018 | International, Aérospatial

    Boeing: Apache helicopter fix could take until past 2020 to complete

    By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — Boeing has made progress on installing a “safety critical” part across the AH-64 Apache fleet, but it will probably take until at least 2020 for the company to finish the retrofit process, Boeing program officials said Tuesday. In April, Defense News revealed that the U.S. Army had suspended AH-64E Apache attack helicopter deliveries due to corrosion the service noticed on the aircraft's strap pack nut, which hold the heavy bolts that attach the rotor blades to the helicopter. The service resumed accepting deliveries on August 31 after Boeing designed a new strap pack nut that will be outfitted on AH-64Es coming off the line. The company has now retrofitted new strap pack nuts on about 25 percent of the Army's AH-64D/Es, Kathleen “KJ” Jolivette, director of U.S. Army Services for Boeing Global Services, said during an Oct. 9 roundtable with journalists at the Association for the U.S. Army annual conference. However, Steve Wade, vice president Boeing attack helicopters, said the fastest the company could move to finish retrofitting the Apache fleet is 2020, saying that “the limiting factor is how fast we can build” retrofit kits. Boeing's best case completion date appears to be at least a full year behind the Army's own projections. In September, Brig. Gen. Thomas Todd, the service's program executive officer for aviation, said that he expected retrofits of the U.S. Army's Apache fleet to occur by 2019, with the strap pack nut replacements paid for by the company. Full article: https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2018/10/09/boeing-apache-helicopter-fix-could-take-until-past-2020-to-complete

Toutes les nouvelles