10 novembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial
ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish military plans to use cargo drones to run its logistical operations, part of a wider effort to incorporate unmanned systems into its inventory.
Turkish Aerospace Industries developed the cargo drones, which are expected to support units in combat zones in and outside Turkey, such as northern Iraq and northern Syria.
“Our Vertical Landing and Take-off Cargo UAV project will quickly and safely meet the logistical support our Turkish Armed Forces needs in mountainous terrain,” TAI said in a Nov. 7 statement.
In June 2018, Turkey's procurement authority, the Presidency of Defense Industries (or SSB for short), launched a program to procure cargo drones with vertical landing and takeoff capabilities. TAI won the contract.
Turkey's top procurement official, SSB President Ismail Demir, said that the UAVs will go into serial production in 2021.
“Thanks to the cargo UAV systems, the requirements such as weapons, ammunition, medical equipment, [and] equipment required by the security forces on the battlefield will be delivered in a very short time and safely even in difficult weather conditions,” Demir said Nov. 7.
The drone can reportedly carry 50 kilograms and is meant to provide logistic support for troops in combat zones, especially mountainous areas.
Turkish companies, including TAI, are currently in the midst of manufacturing a large variety of drones, including armed aircraft.
4 juin 2021 | International, Aérospatial
The State Department has approved a possible $3.5 billion sale of AH-64E Apache helicopters to the Australian government, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Thursday.
14 mai 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense
NAVY C.E.R. Inc.,* Baltimore, Maryland (N40080-19-D-0011); Repaintex Co.,* Leesburg, Virginia (N40080-19-D-0012); Veterans Construction Coalition LLC,* Norfolk, Virginia (N40080-19-D-0013); Belt Built-CFM JV,* Crofton, Maryland (N40080-19-D-0014); G-W Management Services LLC,* Rockville, Maryland (N40080-19-D-0015); EGI-HSU JV LLC,* Gaithersburg, Maryland (N40080-19-D-0016); Desbuild Inc.,* Hyattsville, Maryland (N40080-19-D-0017); Tuckman-Barbee Construction Co. Inc.,* Upper Marlboro, Maryland (N40080-19-D-0018); Tidewater Inc.,* Elkridge, Maryland (N40080-19-D-0019); and Donley Construction LLC,* Aberdeen, Maryland (N40080-19-D-0020), are awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract for construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington area of operations (AO). The maximum dollar value including the base period and one option year for all 10 contracts combined is $240,000,000. C.E.R. Inc. is being awarded the initial task order at $4,338,999 for the renovation of Rooms A143A through 162, Building 209 at Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by December 2020. All work on this contract will be performed primarily within the NAVFAC Washington AO to include Washington, District of Columbia (40 percent); Virginia (40 percent); and Maryland (20 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of May 2024. Fiscal 2019 supervision, inspection, and overhead; and fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds (NWCF) in the amount of $4,338,999 are obligated on this award, of which $10,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps); and NWCF. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 50 proposals received. These 10 contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. NAVFAC Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded $139,808,430 for modification P00009 to a previously awarded, fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-16-D-1002). This modification increases the ceiling of the contract to procure up to 12,000 additional Precision Laser Guidance Sets for the Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (68.23 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (10.1 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (9.38 percent); Odessa, Missouri (4.37 percent); Simpsonville, South Carolina (4.03 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1.68 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (2.21 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2020. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Applied Research Laboratory, University of Hawaii, Menoa, Hawaii, is awarded a maximum value $77,209,225 five-year, sole source, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, task order contract for research, development, engineering, and test and evaluation for programs throughout the Department of Defense. Running concurrently with the maximum ceiling announcement is an initial delivery order of $777,710. Work will be performed in Manoa, Hawaii, and is expected to be complete by May 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of a $777,710 will be obligated at initial delivery order and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is awarded pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c) (3), as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-3; industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-D-6400). BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California, is awarded a $32,324,635 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of the medium auxiliary repair floating drydock (non-self-propelled) ARCO (ARDM 5) fiscal 2019 docking service craft overhaul availability. This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair of the ARCO. This is a seven-month availability and was competed on a coast-wide (West Coast) basis without limiting the place of performance to the vessel's homeport. BAE will provide the facilities and human resources capable of completing, coordinating and integrating multiple areas of maintenance, repair and modernization. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by March 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $32,324,635 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received in response to solicitation N5523618R0011. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N55236-19-C-0007). R. Stresau Laboratory Inc., Spooner, Wisconsin, is awarded a $19,982,892 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year ordering period for MK18 MOD0 electric blasting caps and MK20 MOD2 electric squibs in support of the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Special Operations Command. The MK18 MOD0 electric blasting cap is initiated by an electric source such as a blasting machine or battery and is used in multiple explosives. The MK20 MOD2 electric squib is a stand-alone device used to ignite smokeless powder and pyrotechnic compositions used in electric demolition operations. Work will be performed in Spooner, Wisconsin, and is expected to be completed by April 2024. Fiscal 2018 and Fiscal 2019 procurement of ammunition (Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps) funding in the amount of $3,048,863 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana is the contracting activity (N00164-19-D-JR66). AIR FORCE UES Inc., Dayton, Ohio (FA8650-19-D-2904); and University of Dayton Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio (FA8650-19-D-2905), have been awarded a not-to-exceed $99,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for scientific research. This contract provides for scientific exploration for the discovery and/or advancement of power, energy, thermal, integration and control (PETIC) technologies in order to develop enabling materials, processes, devices, modeling and simulation for advanced high performance military weapon systems and emerging applications. Work will be performed at the Air Force Research Laboratory Wright Research Site, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by Aug. 21, 2024. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $4,341,500 are being obligated on task orders at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $36,739,122 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-CB04) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-19-G-CB01) with no option periods for aircraft spare parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.301-1. Location of performance is Texas, with a Sept. 30, 2022, performance completion date. Using customer is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 Navy aircraft procurement funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Serco Inc., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $21,113,749 modification (P00011) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SP3300-17-C-5003) with four one-year option periods for chemical management services. This is a firm-fixed-price contract with cost-reimbursement and cost-plus-fixed-fee line items. Locations of performance are Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and California with a May 15, 2020, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. United Technologies Corp., doing business as Pratt & Whitney Military Engines Division, East Hartford, Connecticut, has been awarded a maximum $9,048,256 firm-fixed price contract for TF-33 aircraft engine first stage turbine blades. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.301-1. This is a two-year, six-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Connecticut, with an Oct. 29, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (SPRTA1-19-F-0249). Safety Kleen Systems Inc., Richardson, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $8,334,836 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for engine lubricating oil. This was a competitive acquisition with one offer received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Louisiana and California, with a May 12, 2020, 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 the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia (SPE4A6-19-D-0023). DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY DRS Network & Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, was awarded a sole-source, firm-fixed-price delivery order (HC1084-19-F-0145) with a face value and approximate total contract value of $28,600,000, under contract NNG15SC08B on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement contract vehicle for additional Army installation kits and spares in support of the Army Program Executive Office Command, Control, and Communications-Tactical Project Manager, Mission Command. This action is funded by fiscal 2019 procurement funds. Performance is throughout the continental U.S. The contract period of performance is 12 months. The DISA/Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. ARMY Stanton Engineering Services LLC,* Columbia, Missouri, was awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering fire protection support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 13, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-D-0026). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1846374/source/GovDelivery/
21 juin 2019 | International, Aérospatial
By Oriana Pawlyk SALON DU BOURGET, PARIS -- More than 400 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters are operating from 17 bases worldwide. From the near-Arctic region of Ørland, Norway, to a recent deployment in the Middle East, the fifth-generation jet is expanding its reach. But a recent news report shows that weather conditions have some effect on the Pentagon's stealthy fifth-gen fighter, raising concerns about its performance in extreme climate locations. In a recent Defense News report series, the outlet obtained documents showing that cold weather triggered a battery sensor in an F-35 Lightning II in Alaska. While the battery was not affected, the weather "overwhelm[ed] the battery heater blanket" that protects it, prompting the sensor to issue a warning and causing the pilot to abort his mission and land immediately, Defense News said. "We have already developed an update to the software and the battery's heater control system to resolve this issue, and this updated software is available for users today to load on their aircraft in the event they will be conducting extreme cold weather operations," Greg Ulmer, vice president of Lockheed's F-35 aircraft production business, said in an interview with Military.com at the Paris Air Show, adding the update will be in new planes by 2021. The U.S. military anticipated taking the Lockheed Martin-made F-35 around the world, with partners and allies flying the plane in both hot and cold regions, including some that are changing. "The [F-22 Raptor] and plenty of other aircraft have flown out [to Alaska] just fine for decades," Rebecca Grant of IRIS Independent Research told Defense News. Grant is a former director of the Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies at the Air Force Association. "The F-35 should have had all that sorted out in the climatic lab." Ulmer, however, said all necessary steps were taken in lab testing, and the issue identified was a normal part of the design and development process. "You do the best you can relative to the engineering, understanding of the environment, to design the part. And then you actually perform, and [you realize] your model was off a little bit, so you have to tweak the design ... to account for it," Ulmer said. An F-35A from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, was on static display here during the show. "We're confident in the F-35s performance in all weather conditions," he said. The battery issue was first discovered during extreme cold weather testing at -30 degrees and below at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, in February 2018, he added. Ulmer explained there are various tests points done before the plane heads to the McKinley Lab at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for robust experiments. The lab is responsible for high-range weather testing of military and commercial aircraft, munitions and weapons. The lab's refrigeration chamber can go as low as -70 degrees, lab chief Dwayne Bell told Military.com during a visit to the facility in 2017. He said at the time that the F-35 program had been one of the most expensive programs tested in the lab to date. There's a wide range of testing costs, but they average roughly $25,000 a day, he said. It cost about $7 million to test the Marine Corps' B-model from the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force, Maryland, over a six-month period, Bell said. The Lightning II was put through major weather testing -- the lab can do everything but lightning strikes and tornadoes -- such as wind, solar radiation, fog, humidity, rain intrusion/ingestion, freezing rain, icing cloud, icing build-up, vortex icing and snow. It handled temperatures ranging from 120 degrees Fahrenheit to -40 degrees, officials said in 2017. But even testing at McKinley is limiting, Ulmer said. "What doesn't happen is that they don't stay there a long time, so once we released [Block] 3F [software] capability, now the operational fleet can actually" test new extremes, he said, referring to both speed and temperature changes. Defense News also found that supersonic speeds caused "bubbling and blistering" on the JSF's low-observable stealth coating, and that hot environments impeded sufficient engine thrust to vertically land the Marine variant. "So they take it" to new environments "and they expose it more than flight test exposed the airplane. I'm an old flight test guy. You expect to learn in the operational environment more than you do in the [developmental test] environment because you don't necessarily fly the airplane [in that environment] all the time," Ulmer said. "So we learned a little bit, and you refine the design, and you solve it," he said, adding that the design and maintenance tweaks are ongoing. "The probability of the issue reoccuring on aircraft in the operational fleet is very low and with minimal impact to safety of flight or operational performance." Thirteen Category 1 deficiencies were found and reported by operators, according to the for-official-use-only documents Defense News obtained. Cat 1 is a label for problems that would directly impact safety or the mission. Those ranged from coating fixes; pressure anomalies in the cockpit that gave pilots ear and sinus pain; and washed-out imagery in the helmet-mounted display, among others. The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps each fly a variant of the aircraft designed for different scenarios, from landing on conventional runways on land, to catching arresting cables on aircraft carriers, to landing like a helicopter on amphibious assault ships. Responding to the Defense News article series, Lockheed Martin said each deficiency "is well understood, already resolved or on a near-term path to resolution." "We've worked collaboratively with our customers, and we are fully confident in the F-35's performance and the solutions in place to address each of the items identified," the company said in a statement June 12. Growing pains with new planes and weapons programs are common. But the F-35 program has been under scrutiny since its inception, mainly for cost-effectiveness and functionality. A new estimate suggests that operating and supporting fighters for the next 60-plus years will cost the government $1.196 trillion. The older F-22 Raptor has had similar issues, especially with its stealth coating, which officials have said is more cumbersome to fix than the F-35, which was built with a more functional and durable coating in mind. "The [low-observable] system has significantly improved on the F-35 when compared to the F-22," Ulmer said Tuesday. "That's all lessons learned from F-22, applied to F-35." https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/06/20/did-f-35-testing-extreme-weather-conditions-fall-short.html