5 mars 2019 | International, Aérospatial, C4ISR, Autre défense

UK Defence Secretary announces £11million boost to chemical defences

On the eve of the Salisbury Novichok poisoning anniversary, the Defence Secretary has allocated £11million of additional funding to bolster the UK's response to chemical attacks.

The range of measures announced by the Defence Secretary include:

  • Developing plans to deploy drones and robots into potentially hazardous areas, putting personnel in less danger and identifying threats faster.
  • Boosting the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's ability to analyse substances, by investing in new technical capabilities.
  • Keeping the UK at the forefront of medical advances to combat the effects of chemical agents.

The decision means the UK will remain a global leader in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defence. Around the world, there is evidence of these threats increasing and it is vital the UK can meet them.

Last year, the Syrian regime launched chemical attacks on its own people, which led to the UK striking several weapons facilities alongside American and French partners. At home, the UK has seen the longest chemical clean-up in living memory, in Salisbury and Amesbury.

Unmanned vehicles will conduct more testing and identification, decreasing the risk posed to humans through contact with nerve agents. This capability will be developed over the coming years.

The funding will increase the speed and accuracy with which the potential origins of substances can be analysed, helping the authorities identifying attackers faster and improving public safety.

It will also allow faster decontamination and recovery of vehicles and assets, as well as improvements to counter radiological and nuclear threats.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

After the Novichok attack in Salisbury a year ago, the nation turned to the Armed Forces and expert scientists. From the investigation to the clean-up, the military and everyone involved in the operation have worked tirelessly to decontaminate the streets of Salisbury.

Britain and its allies have also demonstrated that they will take a stand against the use of chemical weapons, from the sanctions enforced on Russia following the reckless use of Novichok to the strikes against the chemicals used by Syrian regime.

We recognise we need resilience to face evolving threats which is why we have invested £11million into ensuring we have a world-leading capability.

Standing Joint Commander (UK) Lieutenant General Tyrone Urch said

The decontamination work in Salisbury and Amesbury over the last 12 months has been a complex and daunting challenge for the Armed Forces.

All of the personnel involved demonstrated adaptability, professionalism, resilience and courage; they have been absolutely first-class and lived up to their world-leading reputation. This investment will allow us to further improve our expertise and, most importantly, keep the public safe.

This funding will be available in the new financial year and invested straight into programmes that will benefit DSTL scientists and the Armed Forces. It is in addition to the £48million announced by the Defence Secretary last year to develop a new Chemical Weapons Defence Centre.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-secretary-announces-11million-boost-to-chemical-defences

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - July 8, 2019

    9 juillet 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - July 8, 2019

    DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY Affinity Innovations LLC,* Hanover, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-2020); Applied Systems Engineering Joint Venture LLC,* Annapolis Junction, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-2021); A Square Group LLC,* Rockville, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-2022); Business Computers Management Consulting Group LLC,* Falls Church, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2023); Bluestone Logic LLC,* Washington, District of Columbia (HC1047-19-D-2024); Credence Management Solutions LLC,* Vienna, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2025); DHPC Technologies Inc.,* Woodbridge, New Jersey (HC1047-19-D-2026); InCadence Strategic Solutions Corp.,* Manassas, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2027); INNOPLEX LLC,* Columbia, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-2028); Innovation Evolution Technologies JV LLC,* Reston, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2029); Innovative Government Solutions JV LLC,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2030); Integrated Systems Inc.,* Tysons Corner, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2031); Interactive Process Technology LLC,* Billerica, Massachusetts (HC1047-19-D-2032); Mission Support LP,* McLean, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2033); NetCentric Technologies Inc.,* Wall, New Jersey (HC1047-19-D-2034); Riverside Engineering LLC,* Vienna, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2035); Semper AASKI Alliance Inc.,* Canyon Lake, Texas (HC1047-19-D-2036); Superlative Technologies Inc.,* Ashburn, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2037); Synergy Business Innovation & Solutions Inc.,* Arlington, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2038); TekSynap Corp.,* Reston, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2039); Tiber Creek Consulting Inc.,* Fairfax, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2040); ValidaTek Inc.,* Arlington, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2041); and VOLANT Associates LLC,* Chantilly, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2042), were each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract for Systems Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI). This was a competitive solicitation for a multiple-award ID/IQ contract. Two pools were solicited, one unrestricted and one restricted for small businesses. These awards are for the restricted pool. The contracts in the unrestricted pool were awarded on June 14, 2018. The face value of the entire ID/IQ is a ceiling amount of $7,500,000,000. Awardees will each receive a minimum guarantee of $500 applicable to the base ordering period only. All other funding will be obligated at the task order level. Performance locations will be identified at the task order level and may be worldwide. Proposals were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website and 99 proposals were received for the restricted pool. The period of performance is a five-year base period with one five-year option period. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, National Capital Region, is the contracting activity. NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $41,269,021 for modification P00002 to a previously awarded order (N00019-19-F-2474) placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification exercises an option for the design, procurement and integration of flight test instrumentation and data processing solutions for F-35 Lightning II development test aircraft to support the Tech Refresh-3 and the Follow on Modernization Block 4 mission systems configuration. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in February 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participant funds in the amount of $2,470,993 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($16,501,005; 40%); Navy ($8,250,503; 20%); Marine Corps ($8,250,503; 20%); and non-U.S. DoD participants ($8,267,010; 20%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Deloitte Consulting LLP, Arlington, Virginia, is awarded a $21,656,574 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for execution of sustainment and technical support for special projects and electronic systems for experimental, demonstration and developmental technology for the Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies. This is one of four multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $52,659,079. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed July 7, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through July 7, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders and are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and Department of Homeland Security. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0110, which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Four offers were received and four were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0111). Serco Inc., Herndon, Virginia, is awarded an $18,163,831 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for execution of sustainment and technical support for special projects and electronic systems for experimental, demonstration and developmental technology for the U.S. Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies. This is one of four multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $44,421,226. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed July 7, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through July 7, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. 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McKean Defense Group LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $17,594,138 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for execution of sustainment and technical support for special projects and electronic systems for experimental, demonstration and developmental technology for the Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies. This is one of four multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $42,574,062. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed July 7, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through July 7, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders and are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and Department of Homeland Security. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0110, which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Four offers were received and four were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0112). Alutiiq Information Management LLC, Kodiak, Alaska, is awarded a $15,292,491 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for execution of sustainment and technical support for special projects and electronic systems for experimental, demonstration and developmental technology for the Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies. This is one of four multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $36,742,366. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed July 7, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through July 7, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and Department of Homeland Security. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0110, which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Four offers were received and four were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0110). ARMY The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $21,567,229 modification (P00004) to foreign military sales (United Kingdom) contract W58RGZ-17-D-0052 for engineering services. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 2, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Princeton Hydro LLC,* Ringoes, New Jersey, was awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineering services for navigation and flood damage projects. 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 July 7, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-D-0003). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Parker Hannifin Corp., Irvine, California, has been awarded a maximum $13,828,991 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-KP2V) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPE4A1-17-G-0011) for F/A-18 spare parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a 47-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a June 30, 2023 performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 Navy aircraft procurement funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. UPDATE: Easy Street JD&S LLC, Carol Stream, Illinois (SPE8EC-19-D-0041), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract issued against solicitation SPE8EC-17-R-0002 announced Nov. 8, 2016. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1898178/source/GovDelivery/

  • US Marines wants to move fast on a light amphibious warship. But what is it?

    22 septembre 2020 | International, Naval

    US Marines wants to move fast on a light amphibious warship. But what is it?

    David B. Larter WASHINGTON — The U.S. Marine Corps is moving as fast as it can to field a new class of light amphibious warship, but it remains unclear what it will do, where it will be based or what capabilities it will bring to the fight. The idea behind the ship is to take a commercial design or adapt a historic design to make a vessel capable of accommodating up to 40 sailors and at least 75 Marines to transport Marine kit over a range of about 3,500 nautical miles, according to a recent industry day presentation. While the presentation noted that the ship should have few tailored Navy requirements, that also creates a problem: If the Navy is going to pay tens of millions to develop, build, crew and operate them, should it not provide some additional value to the fleet? Analysts, experts and sources with knowledge of internal discussions who spoke to Defense News say the answer to that question is a source of friction inside the Pentagon. The idea of the warship arrived on the scene in 2019 with the ascension of Gen. David Berger as commandant of the Marine Corps. His planning guidance called for a smaller, more agile amphibious force that could operate inside the Chinese anti-access, area denial window in the South China Sea. In a recent virtual meeting of the Surface Navy Association, the chief of naval operations' director of expeditionary warfare, Maj. Gen. Tracy King, emphasized that above all, the platform must be cheap and come online quickly. “I see the efficacy of this [light amphibious warship] is really to help us in the phases and stages we're in right now,” King said Aug. 27. “We need to start doing things differently, as an extension of the fleet, under the watchful eye of our Navy, engaging with our partners and allies and building partner capacity: We ought to be doing that right now. 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  • DIANA, NATO’s innovation accelerator, doubles the size of its transatlantic network

    14 mars 2024 | International, C4ISR, Sécurité

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