Top Aces logs 80,000 hours of air combat training

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  18 août 2020 | International, Terrestre, C4ISR

  Lockheed develops electronic warfare tools with eye toward multinational interoperability

  Mark Pomerleau WASHINGTON — As Lockheed Martin works on the U.S. Army's first ground-based integrated signals intelligence, electronic warfare and cyber system, the company is placing a heavy focus on coalition interoperability. The Army awarded Lockheed a $6 million other transaction authority contract — a highly flexible contracting tool — in May to build the first phase of the Terrestrial Layer System-Large. Boeing subsidiary Digital Receiver Technology also won an award for the program for $7.6 million. The two companies will build and outfit their systems to Stryker vehicles during the 16-month-long phase one, while also participating in operational assessments, after which the Army will choose one company to move on. John Wojnar, director for cyber and electronic warfare strategy at Lockheed, told C4ISRNET in a July interview that the company had a keen eye toward integrating its system with international partners as well as the Army, given the U.S. military doesn't fight alone. “Being able to bring in our coalition partners, maybe starting with the Five Eyes first and in particular the U.K., and aligning the architecture that we provided ... really drove us to the architecture that we came up with,” he said. He added that Lockheed examined the building blocks of the U.K.'s cyber and electromagnetic activities to help inform the offering. Being in close partnership with coalition members is key, he said, so whatever architectures the company designs should be interoperable with partners to maximize effectiveness on the battlefield. Lockheed's system was an internal research and development project that is a companion of sorts to its aerial cyber/electronic warfare system Silent Crow, which the Army awarded a year ago for its Multi-Function Electronic Warfare-Air Large system. Wojnar said the ground system went through testing in September at the Army's Cyber Blitz event, which helps the service understand how to mature cyber and electronic warfare operations with traditional units through actual experimentation with emerging technologies and soldiers at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. “Based on lessons learned from those tests as well as the other activities that have been underway tied to Silent Crow IRAD, we were able to leverage the best of the best to then come up with our TLS-Large system offering,” he said. The work that will be ongoing between now and next summer when the first phase of TLS wraps up, Wojnar added, includes ensuring all the component parts developed internally and externally have been acquired and integrated into the ground vehicles, as well as conducting a variety of software drops. https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-warfare/2020/08/17/lockheed-develops-electronic-warfare-tools-with-eye-toward-multinational-interoperability/

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  12 février 2018 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

  Loi de programmation militaire 2019-2025: les failles du Budget des armées

  Par Vincent Lamigeon La loi de programmation militaire 2019-2025 marque une remontée en puissance inédite depuis 25 ans, avec une priorité à la régénération des hommes et au renouvellement des matériels. Mais une bonne partie de l'effort financier est reportée au-delà du quinquennat. Et des manques persistent. Près de 300 milliards d'euros en sept ans pour les armées. La loi de programmation militaire 2019-2025 présentée le 8 février marque une remontée en puissance financière inédite depuis la fin de la Guerre froide. Le budget militaire doit ainsi passer de 34,2 milliards d'euros en 2018 à 50 milliards d'euros en 2025, pour atteindre les fameux 2% du PIB promis par Emmanuel Macron lors de sa campagne. L'augmentation se fera en deux temps : 1,7 milliard d'euros de plus par an jusqu'à 2022, puis 3 milliards par an de 2023 à 2025, avec un ajustement possible des deux dernières annuités en fonction de la situation économique. Que penser de cette "LPM de renouveau", selon les termes du ministère des armées ? A l'évidence, il s'agit d'un effort majeur. Sur la période 2019-2023, le budget moyen du ministère atteindra 39,6 milliards d'euros, soit 23% de plus que la moyenne 2014-2019. Les effectifs des armées vont repartir à la hausse, avec 6.000 postes en plus, dont 3.000 d'ici à 2023. L'hémorragie qui avait vu la défense perdre 60.000 postes de 2005 à 2015 est donc stoppée, avec une priorité marquée pour le renseignement (+ 1.500 postes et 4,6 milliards d'euros investis d'ici à 2025) et la cyberdéfense (+ 1.000 postes, 1,6 milliard d'euros). Même le général Pierre de Villiers, qui avait démissionné en juillet à la suite d'un désaccord budgétaire avec l'Elysée, a salué sur France 3 "une dynamique réelle", tout en se disant vigilant sur le respect des engagements. Renouvellement des équipements La force de cette LPM est d'avoir su trancher sur un point majeur : plutôt que de lancer des grands programmes, type second porte-avions, à forte résonance médiatique mais répondant moins aux besoins opérationnels immédiats, la loi se concentre sur la régénération des hommes et des matériels. Ceux-ci ont été durement éprouvés par des opérations extérieures et intérieures qui dépassent de 30% le niveau prévu par le Livre blanc de 2013. Priorité est donc donnée à la condition de vie des militaires et de leurs familles : 530 millions dans le cadre du "plan familles", et 11 milliards d'euros prévus pour les infrastructures de défense. L'effort est aussi sensible sur les petits équipements, peu médiatisés mais essentiels à la mission des soldats : treillis ignifugés, gilets pare-balles, casques, protection NRBC (nucléaire, radiologique, bactériologique et chimique). La maintenance, talon d'Achille des armées fraises est également soignée, avec 22 milliards d'euros consacrés à l'entretien des matériels d'ici à 2023. L'autre grande priorité de la LPM est le renouvellement d'équipements hors d''ge. Le programme Scorpion de renouvellement des blindés de l'armée de terre voit ainsi ses livraisons accélérées : 50% des véhicules multi-rôles Griffon et des engins de combats Jaguar seront livrés d'ici à 2025. Ceux-ci remplaceront les antiques VAB et autres AMX 10RC, même si plusieurs centaines de ces machines seront toujours en service en 2025. La Marine ? Elle se verra livrer quatre pétroliers ravitailleurs au lieu de trois, et aura droit à trois avions de patrouille maritime Atlantique 2 rénovés en plus (18 au lieu de 15). Côté armée de l'air, la commande d'avions ravitailleurs A330 MRTT passe de 12 à 15 exemplaires, dont une douzaine livrée d'ici à 2023. Ces appareils remplaceront les antiques C135FR, livrés en 1965. La dissuasion choyée Conformément au souhait d'Emmanuel Macron, le renouvellement de la dissuasion, dans ses deux composantes océanique et aéroportée, est aussi acté, un investissement de 25 milliards d'euros en cinq ans à la clé. Cette accélération permettra de financer le renouvellement du missile ASMP/A embarqué sur Rafale, le lancement du développement des nouveaux sous-marins lanceurs d'engins (SNLE 3G) et du futur missile balistique M51-3. Le coût annuel de la dissuasion va ainsi passer de 3,9 milliards à environ 6 milliards en 2025. La LPM marque enfin un effort important sur le segment spatial : 3 satellites d'observation CSO et un satellite d'écoute électromagnétique CERES seront mis sur orbite d'ici à 2025. L'effort financier énorme de la LPM a convaincu les industriels. "Ce projet de LPM marque un effort important de la nation pour ses armées", se félicite Eric Trappier, PDG de Dassault Aviation et président du Cidef (Conseil des industries de défense françaises), rappelant que cet investissement est le garant de l'"autonomie stratégique française", et de la santé d'une filière "compétitive, innovante, exportatrice et créatrice d'emplois stables à forte valeur ajoutée technologique (200.000 emplois environ)". Essentiel de l'effort après 2022 A bien y regarder, la LPM laisse quand même quelques questions ouvertes. D'abord, une bonne part de l'effort financier est reportée 2023 et 2025, soit hors quinquennat. La hausse annuelle du budget de défense devra alors quasiment doubler, passant de +1,7 milliard par an à +3 milliards. "Cela crée un certain flou : où en sera la situation économique en 2023 ?, s'interroge le député LR François Cornut-Gentille, rapporteur spécial sur le budget défense au sein de la commission des finances de l'Assemblée nationale. Il aurait fallu une montée en puissance plus progressive, avec une plus grande part focalisée sur le quinquennat actuel." De fait, la LPM ne précise pas le niveau exact des budgets militaires 2024 et 2025, qui devront prendre en compte "la situation macroéconomique à cette date". Cette précision ressemble fort à une porte ouverte à Bercy, qui n'en demandait pas tant. Autre faiblesse de la LPM : de nombreuses commandes et livraisons d'équipements sont prévues après 2022, voire après 2025, ce qui jette un doute sur leur confirmation. C'est le cas du programme dit HIL (hélicoptères interarmées légers) : ce nouvel appareil, basé sur le H160 d'Airbus Helicopters, devait remplacer trois flottes d'hélicoptères hors d''ge (Fennec, Alouette III...). Les armées devront attendre : le lancement du programme n'est annoncé qu'en 2022, pour de premières livraisons en 2028. Peu de livraisons de Rafale La LPM semble avoir aussi fermé la porte à une demande de l'armée de l'air de passer de 185 avions de chasse à 215 appareils. Le projet de loi prévoit un format qui restera à 185 appareils à l'horizon 2030. Cette prudence se retrouve dans les faibles livraisons de Rafale prévues : seulement 28 appareils destinés à l'armée de l'air et à la marine seront livrés en 7 ans, soit seulement 4 par an en moyenne. L'armée de l'air pourra un peu se consoler avec la rénovation de 55 Mirage 2000D. Une autre grosse déception concerne le financement des études amont. Le montant annuel doit passer de 730 millions à 1 milliard d'euros, mais cette augmentation sera étalée sur cinq ans. Cet effort apparaît trop modeste au vu des enjeux des armées à l'horizon 2030, notamment sur l'intelligence artificielle et la robotisation. Une DARPA à la française (ou à l'européenne), du nom de la cellule d'innovation avancée du Pentagone, ne serait pas de trop pour faire face aux ambitions américaines, russes ou chinoises. https://www.challenges.fr/entreprise/defense/loi-de-programmation-militaire-2019-2025-les-failles-du-budget-des-armees_566354

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

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 27, 2019

  NAVY General Electric Aviation, Lynn, Massachusetts, is awarded a $366,206,842 five-year, firm-fixed-price requirements, long-term contract for the repair of 18 different head-of-family part numbers in support of the T-64 engine. Work will be performed in Cherry Point, North Carolina, and work is expected to be completed by February 2024. Working capital funds (Navy) will be obligated as individual task orders are issued and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source, non-competitive requirement in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. (N00383-19-D-UK01) The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $157,700,000 firm-fixed-price contract to procure two operational flight trainers (OFTs), two weapons tactics trainers (WTTs); six brief/debrief stations (BDSs);, to include two OFT BDSs, two WTT BDSs; and two weapons system trainer BDSs; one part task trainer, ten electronic classrooms, two scenario generation stations, one training system support center, two virtual maintenance trainers and supporting technical data such as software, books and other publications. In addition, this contract provides contracts, logistics, engineering and management technical expertise required to procure, design, build, test, deliver, install- and inspect P-8A training systems for the government of the U. K. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (55 percent); Tampa, Florida (30 percent); Lossiemouth, Scotland (10 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (2 percent); Dallas, Texas (2 percent); and Seattle, Washington (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2022. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $157,700,000 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 Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61340-19-C-0004). General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was awarded $34,732,571 for cost-plus-fixed-fee order N6339419F0028 under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N6339416G0005 for providing in-service engineering and lifecycle support services required to maintain and support the command, control, communications, computers, combat systems and intelligence elements for the Austal Independence variant littoral combat ship. The services provided will include program planning and control, resource management, cost and schedule control, installation and modernization, software development and testing, and training support. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (80 percent); and at various shipyards dependent on ship's schedule along the east coast of the U. S. (20 percent), and is expected to be complete by February 2021. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,886,257 will be obligated at time of award and funding in the amount of $896,755 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N63394-19-F-0028). (Awarded Feb. 26, 2019) General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut, is awarded an $18,251,709 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-09-C-2104 for planning and execution of USS South Dakota's (SSN 790) post-delivery work period (PDWP). General Dynamics Electric Boat will perform planning and execution efforts, including long lead time material procurement, in preparation to accomplish the maintenance, repair, alterations, testing, and other work during its scheduled PDWP. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by December 2020. Fiscal 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $14,651,709 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $14,121,444 for cost-plus-incentive-fee order N0001919F2693 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This order provides for the development of the F-35 Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS). The AGCAS is an on-board system that prevents controlled flight into terrain. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $5,109,509 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Air Force ($5,926,519; 42 percent); Navy ($2,110,071; 15 percent); Marine Corps ($1,378,177; 10 percent); and non-U.S. Department of Defense participants ($4,706,677; 33 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY Dobco Inc., Wayne, New Jersey, was awarded a $47,962,590 firm-fixed-price contract for the replacement of Welch Elementary School and Dover Air Base Middle School at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 25, 2021. Fiscal 2015, 2016 and 2107 military construction funds in the amount of $47,962,590 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (W912BU-19-C-0017). NextGen Federal Systems LLC,* Morgantown, West Virginia, was awarded a $27,527,066 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for staff augmentation services. 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. 26, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56JSR-19-D-0011). Brayman Construction Corp., Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $21,744,985 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a cellular cofferdam at the Bluestone Dam in Hinton, West Virginia. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Hinton, West Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2015, 2018 and 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $21,744,985 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, West Virginia, is the contracting activity (W91237-19-C-0002). AIR FORCE Collins Aerospace, a division of Goodrich, Westford, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $47,606,589 modification (P00007) to previously awarded contract FA8620-18-D-3014 for the DB-110 Tactical Reconnaissance Pod program. This modification provides foreign military sales (FMS) partner nations an ordering vehicle for the DB-110 Tactical Reconnaissance Pod program, including the following procurement of DB-110 reconnaissance pods, rogram infrastructure, airborne data link terminals, surface terminal equipment, mobile ground stations, fixed ground stations, transportable ground stations, and data and travel in support of orders. This modification brings the contract ceiling to $183,104,667 and involves FMS to Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Work will be performed in Westford, Massachusetts, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 14, 2023. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. TAC Industries Inc., Springfield, Ohio, has been awarded a $7,190,190 delivery order (FA8534-19-F-0028) to previously awarded contract FA8532-14-D-0003 for the production of 463L low profile nets and 463L top nets. This delivery order provides for aircraft cargo nets that secure a wide variety of cargo to the pallets prior to loading, which also minimizes the risk of the cargo shifting during flight. Work will be performed in Springfield, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement funds in full amount are being obligated at time of award. This task order brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $54,494,482. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Federal Prison Industries Inc.,* doing business as UNICOR, Washington, District of Columbia, has been awarded a maximum $12,210,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for moisture wicking t-shirts. This is a 24-month contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Georgia, South Carolina, and Washington, District of Columbia, with a Feb. 25, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-F021). (Awarded Feb. 26, 2019) WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Cargo Transport System Co., Safat,, Kuwait, has been awarded a contractmodification (P00007) on contract HTC711-17-D-R021 in the amount of $10,000,000. This modification provides continued stevedoring and related terminal services to the 595th Transportation Brigade. This includes vessel loading, vessel discharge, receipt of cargo, disposition of cargo, stuffing/unstuffing of cargo, intra-terminal transfer of cargo, inland transportation of cargo, customs clearance, yard management and management expertise. Work will be performed in ports of Kuwait. The period of performance is from March 9, 2019, to Sept. 8, 2019. Fiscal 2019 transportation working capital funds were obligated at award. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $27,709,945from $17,709,945. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Feb. 25, 2019) * Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1769868/