21 avril 2024 | International, Aérospatial
16 février 2018 | International, Aérospatial
UK submits bid for Belgium fighter competition, pitting Typhoon against F-35
By: Andrew Chuter
LONDON — Britain has pitched a range of strategic and industrial tie-ups to the Belgian government as part of a bid to secure a deal to supply Eurofighter Typhoon jets to replace the country's aging F-16 fleet.
“The proposal includes 34 Typhoon aircraft, underpinned by the offer of a deep strategic, defence and industrial partnership between the Governments of Belgium and the U.K.,” the British Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
Feb. 14 was the deadline date for the submission of best and final bids for the Belgian air combat capability program. A decision on the winning contractor is expected later this year with the fleet being delivered starting 2023.
British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, in Brussels for a two-day NATO defense ministers meeting, said the jets offer Belgium a “formidable capability which forms the backbone of European air power, as well as a comprehensive long-term defense and industrial partnership with the U.K. A unique partnership with the RAF and integration with our world-leading support service mean Belgium's selection of the Typhoon would be a powerful demonstration of us working together to support security across the continent.”
The British are leading the Typhoon bid on behalf of the Eurofighter nations in a formal competition with the Lockheed Martin F-35A to replace 54 F-16s. Germany, Italy and Spain are also part of the Eurofighter partnership.
The U.S. State Department said last month it had approved a possible foreign military sale of 34 Lockheed Martin F-35 jets to the Belgians in a deal which could be worth up to $6.5 billion.
Earlier this month the U.S. confirmed it had responded to the request for final offers.
“The F-35 Joint Program Office invested considerable effort to craft an offer that enables our Belgian allies to acquire the F-35's unmatched capabilities well within the budget specified by the [Belgian] Strategic Vision for Defense 2030,” said the U.S. government.
Speaking recently to an audience of alliance and industry partners, US Charge d'Affaires, , Matthew Lussenhop said a F-35 purchase would pay big dividends for Belgium.
“Joining the F-35 program provides access to technology that support all of Belgium's essential security interests and opens the door to related projects with potential returns well in excess of the initial investment — just like the F-16 program has in the past,” he said.
Lockheed Martin and engine maker Pratt & Whitney both have memoranda of agreement with a number of Belgian companies.
It may not be a two-horse race though. The French government and Dassault are also somewhere in the mix. They declined to formally respond to requests for proposals, claiming they had more to offer than bid requirements which, they said, were too restrictive.
Instead the French have been offering Belgium what has been described as a deep and structured economic and military partnership.
Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier on Feb. 13 signed 13 cooperation agreements with Belgian companies as part of an offer of the Rafale in a proposed government-to-government deal. That signing is “part of the proposal of the Franco-Belgian strategic partnership concerning the jet fighter,” Dassault said in a statement.
The French proposal of the Rafale falls outside the Belgian tender, as Paris seeks to build a broad bilateral relationship aimed mainly to counter an offer of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.Those cooperation agreements bring to more than 30 contracts signed with Belgian partners for activities including service for the Rafale, training of aeronautical engineers and work on drone projects, the company said. Other areas include automating production lines, simulation, research on advanced material and predictive maintenance.
Among the local partners were Sabca, Safran Aero Booster and Thales Belgium. The former is the Belgian unit of Dassault Aviation.Following an order, Dassault, Safran and Thales are committed to investing in Belgium at least €20 billion over 20 years, and supporting more than 5,000 high technology jobs, the aircraft builder said. Dozens more agreements with local partners would be signed as part of a campaign by French companies to invest in the Belgian economy, Trappier said.
The status of the French bid is unclear at this point.
The French decision was not the first left field move by expected bidders. Boeing pulled the F/A 18 E/F Super Hornet from the contest last April citing issues with the fairness of the bidding process.
Not long after that Saab unexpectedly withdrew the Gripen E saying they could not meet Belgian operational support requirements without a change of Swedish Government foreign policy.
For their part the British are, on the military front, offering to further strengthen co-operation between the two air force, integrate the Belgians into Royal Air Force support arrangements and form a training partnership which involves training and exercising together.
The British are also offering to help establish a National Network Cyber Centre, a Cyber Innovation Centre and a Cyber Research Partnership, underpinned by a partnership between the two governments.
U.K. Typhoon lead contractor BAE Systems and others, have been signing industrial co-operation deals with Belgian industry. As of Feb. 7 BAE said it had signed agreements with more than 20 Belgian companies to explore potential collaboration opportunities as part of a wide-ranging Eurofighter industrial proposal.
Despite the efforts by the Europeans to entice the Belgians with attractive strategic and industrial offers Doug Barrie, the senior air analyst at the International Institute of Strategic Studies reckons the F-35 remains the aircraft to beat.
“My money is on the F-35, particularly if the Belgians insist on retaining the ability to deploy B-61 freefall nuclear weapons to match the capability they have on the F-16,” said Barrie. “The F-35 is the only aircraft in the competition presently able to do that. Rafale is wired to deploy nuclear free fall weapons but they are French.”
Pierre Tran in Paris contributed to this story.
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4 avril 2023 | International, Aérospatial
Boeing, CAE Agree to Enhance P-8 Training Solutions for Canada, Germany, and Norway
OTTAWA, April 4, 2023 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and CAE [NYSE: CAE; TSX: CAE] signed teaming agreements to expand multi-mission platform collaboration in Canada, Germany and Norway. These agreements utilize the complementary capabilities of each company to provide superior management, technical and cost-effective training solutions for the P-8A Poseidon program. “These agreements aim to advance mission readiness for defense customers operating Boeing P-8 aircraft,” said Torbjorn Sjogren, Boeing vice president and general manager, Government Services. “Working together, Boeing and CAE can deliver outcome-based pilot and aircrew training, maintenance ground school, in-service support, and instructor training at the point of need.” As a member of Team Poseidon in Boeing’s Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) offering, CAE is part of a Canadian P-8 industrial footprint that builds on 81 Canadian partners on the platform. “Mission success depends on advanced preparation and rapid response,” said Daniel Gelston, CAE Defense & Security president. “As a premier provider in flight training and simulation, we leverage collaboration to create an agile network of proven training, simulation and in-service support solutions to deliver critical readiness for defense forces worldwide.” This collaboration amplifies a long-standing relationship spanning commercial and defence portfolios across the globe. For more than a decade CAE has delivered operational flight trainers on the Boeing P-8A platform supporting the U.S. Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force and United Kingdom Royal Air Force.
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30 juillet 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - July 29, 2019
NAVY DRS Laurel Technologies, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $382,535,170 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for the development, integration, and production of hardware solutions. This contract will provide design, procurement, production, sparing, test, installation, and support of displays, workstations, processors, and network systems; the production of subsequent systems, kits and enclosures; and engineering and technical services. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (92.7 percent); and the government of the United Kingdom under the Foreign Military Sales program (4.6 percent), and per a memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth of Australia (2.7 percent). Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (82 percent); Burnsville, Minnesota (15 percent); Germantown, Maryland (1 percent); Largo, Florida (1 percent); and Chesapeake, Virginia (1 percent), and is expected be complete in July 2025. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $830,711,796, and be complete in December 2026. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $296,895 will be obligated at 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 two offers received. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, Keyport, Washington, is the contracting activity (N00253-19-D-0004). Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems Inc., Northridge, California, is being awarded a $167,338,657 firm-fixed-price contract for 263 full-rate production Lot 8 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM). This contract provides for conversion of U.S. government-provided AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles into 260 AGM-88E AARGM all-up-rounds and 3 Captive Air Training Missiles, including supplies and services required for manufacture, spares, and fleet deployment. Work will be performed in Northridge, California (80%); and Ridgecrest, California (20%), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2017, 2018, and 2019 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $167,338,657 will be obligated at time of award, $1,319,319 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001919C0049). Allied Pacific Builders Inc.,* Waipahu, Hawaii (N62478-16-D-4006); Environet Inc.,* Kamuela, Hawaii (N62478-16-D-4007); Hako Plumbing Inc.,* Honolulu, Hawaii (N62478-16-D-4008); Heartwood Pacific LLC,* Keaau, Hawaii (N62478-16-D-4009); Raass Brothers Inc.,* Provo, Utah (N62478-16-D-4010); and TOMCO Corp.,* Honolulu, Hawaii (N62478-16-D-4011), are awarded a combined $95,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award, design-build/design-bid-build construction contract for construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Hawaii area of operations (AO). The work to be performed provides for but is not limited to labor, supervision, tools, materials and equipment necessary to perform new construction, repair, alteration and related demolition of existing infrastructure based on design-build, or design-bid-build (full plans and specifications) for infrastructure within the state of Hawaii. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $340,000,000. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed at various Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and miscellaneous federal and other facilities in the NAVFAC Hawaii AO, and is expected to be completed by March 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy); and Navy working capital funds. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. PAE Aviation and Technical Services LLC, Greenville, South Carolina, is awarded $50,396,007 for modification P00023 to a previously issued firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00421-15-D-0007 to exercises an option for organizational, selected intermediate, and limited depot maintenance and logistics support for F-5F and F-5N aircraft. Work will be performed in Fallon, Nevada; Yuma, Arizona; and Key West, Florida, and is expected to be completed in July 2020. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Katmai Health Services LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska, is awarded ceiling value $19,562,319 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide role player services for Infantry Immersion Training. Work will be performed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (40%); Camp Pendleton, California (40%); and Marine Corps Base, Hawaii (20%), and work is expected to be completed July 2021, having an ordering period of two years. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $1,618,452 will be obligated on the first task order immediately following contract award and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5 and 15 U.S. Code 637. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contract activity (M67854-19-D-7836). General Dynamics Missions Systems Inc., Marion, Virginia, is awarded a $16,313,717 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the manufacturing of AN/SPG-62 antenna systems parabolic radio frequency reflectors. The AN/SPG-62 antenna systems are mounted and operated in the ship's open spaces and are subsystems of the Mk-99 fire control system, part of the AEGIS combat system suite. The AN/SPG-62 antenna system reflector enables the continuous-wave radio frequency signal from the Mk-99's radar transmitter to illuminate targets to be engaged, fired upon and destroyed by the ship's weapons. Work will be performed in Marion, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by December 2024. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $941,313 will be obligated at time of award, and $387,014 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-19-D-WP49). AIR FORCE Kilgore Flares Co., Toone, Tennessee, has been awarded a $90,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for MJU-53/B countermeasure flares. This contract provides an infrared countermeasure flare which is a magnesium based flare utilized on USAF Air Mobility Command C-17 and C-5 aircraft. Work will be performed at Toone, Tennessee, and is expected to be completed by July 2023. This contract involves foreign military sales, however, the countries are unknown at this time. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with two offers received. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $3,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-19-D-0012). Armtec Countermeasures Co., Coachella, California, has been awarded a $90,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for MJU-53/B countermeasure flare. This contract provides an infrared countermeasure flare which is a magnesium based flare utilized on Air Force Air Mobility Command C-17 and C-5 aircraft. Work will be performed at Camden, Arkansas, and is expected to be completed by July 2023. This contract involves foreign military sales, however, the countries are unknown at this time. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with two offers received. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $3,000 is being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-19-D-0013). Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, has been awarded a $23,248,916 modification (P00001) to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract FA3002-19-D-A003 for A-29 pilot and maintenance training for the Afghanistan Air Force at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia; and in Afghanistan. The contract modification provides for the addition of outside the continental U.S. instructor pilots in Afghanistan. This modification involves building partner capacity/pseudo-foreign military sales to Afghanistan. Work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2023. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The 338th Contracting Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Randolph, Texas, is the contracting activity. Merrill Corp., doing business as Mission Support, Clearfield, Utah, has been awarded a $20,466,034 ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite‐quantity contract for the acquisition of A‐10 flap assemblies. This contract provides for the acquisition of left and right outboard flap assemblies and left and right inboard flap assemblies. Work will be performed in Clearfield, Utah, and is expected to be complete by July 28, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Consolidated sustainment activity group working capital funds in the amount of $4,997,734 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8212‐19‐D‐0002). Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $13,150,000 cost‐plus‐fixed‐fee modification (P00151) to contract FA8810‐13‐C‐0002 for space based infrared system contractor logistics support for studies and modification projects. Work will be performed at Peterson Air Force Base, Buckley AFB, Greeley Air National Guard Station, and Boulder, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $13,150,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $10,395,313 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00005) to previously awarded delivery order contract FA8634-17-F-0002 for F-15 Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP) II low-rate initial production Lot 1. This engineering change proposal provides for the production and integration of the ADCPII boxes and related equipment into the F-15 platform. Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2021. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 procurement; and fiscal 2018 and 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $10,395,313 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Fighter/Bomber Directorate, F-15 Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $9,244,494 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00006) to previously awarded delivery order contract FA8634-17-F-0002, for F-15 Advanced Display Core Processor II low-rate initial production Lot 1. This modification provides for the performance of a study to mitigate risks posed to the F-15E to reduce its flight risk from serious to medium. Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2021. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 research and development funds in the amount of $9,244,494 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Fighter/Bomber Directorate, F-15 Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. ARMY Dawson-Zapata JV,* Honolulu, Hawaii, was awarded a $40,000,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for range maintenance and support activities utilizing robotic technology. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 2, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W912DY-19-D-0002). WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, was awarded a $24,905,967 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to support the government with development of prototypes, test plans, rapid fielding, operational experiments and changes in existing acquisition programs, with a focus on identification and reduction of programmatic and technical risk provides for applied research. Work performance will take place in Laurel, Maryland. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,512,000; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $23,393,697 are being awarded. This contract was not competitively procured because the task order is executed against a single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity. The expected completion date is May 30, 2020. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-19-D-0006). (Awarded July 26, 2019) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sopakco Inc.,* Mullins, South Carolina (SPE3S1-19-D-Z123, $16,888,463); and The Wornick Co., Cincinnati, Ohio (SPE3S1-19-D-Z122, $16,618,875), have both been awarded firm-fixed-price contracts under solicitation SPE3S1-19-R-0005 for Tailored Operational Training Meals. These are five-year contracts with no option periods. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. Locations of performance are South Carolina and Ohio, with a July 28, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are National Guard and Reserve Forces. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Skurka Aerospace Inc., Camarillo, California, has been awarded a maximum $9,428,066 firm-fixed-price contract for direct current motors. 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 one-year base contract with one, one-year option period. Location of performance is California, with a July 28, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-C-0190). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Cummings Aerospace,* Huntsville, Alabama, is being awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $9,982,641. Under this new contract, the contractor will integrate and enhance the Simulation Framework ToolKit and Coordinated Cyber/Electronic Warfare Integrated Fires Tool to conduct quick-turn, end-to-end, left through right of launch analysis with varying sensor and weapon technologies. A task order in the amount of $1,894,626 is being issued. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama. The ordering period is from July 29, 2019, through July 28, 2024. A special topic broad agency announcement (BAA) number HQ0147-17-S0002 was posted to the Federal Business Opportunities web site to solicit white papers related to advanced research technology and development in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.102(d)(2)(i) to meet full and open competition requirements. The government received 26 white papers in response to the BAA and selected seven white papers from which proposals were requested. This award results from one of seven proposals received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,894,626 for the first task order are being obligated on this award. The Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-D-0009). *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1918513/source/GovDelivery/