10 avril 2024 | International, Terrestre, Sécurité
2 octobre 2020 | Aérospatial, C4ISR
US Air Force adds vendors to list of companies that could make autonomous Skyborg drone
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has added nine vendors to the list of companies that will compete to build the service's autonomous Skyborg drone wingman.
On Sept. 28, the service awarded each firm an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract worth up to $400 million. The nine companies were AeroVironment Inc., Autodyne LLC, BAE System Controls Inc., Blue Force Technologies Inc., Fregata Systems Inc., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, NextGen Aeronautics Inc., Sierra Technical Services, and Wichita State University.
Those organizations join Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Atomics and Kratos, which won the first round of contracts in July.
No money has been allotted to vendors so far. Instead, the 13 companies on contract will compete against each other for future delivery orders.
“This second phase of awards establishes a diverse and competitive vendor pool by adding several nontraditional and traditional contractors we saw as important additions to the effort,” said Brig. Gen. Dale White, the program executive officer for fighters and advanced aircraft, whose team manages the Skyborg program with the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Skyborg is one of the lab's top three science and technology efforts. The project is meant to produce a family of uncrewed aerial systems that can move into contested spaces and conduct aerial missions that might be too dangerous for human pilots to perform.
Under the Skyborg program, the Air Force hopes to build a low-cost, attritable drone that can be reused but — if destroyed in combat — is cheap enough to be written off without incurring a large material loss. Key to the program is the development of artificial intelligence that will allow the aircraft to operate autonomously and potentially learn from prior training missions.
Currently, the Skyborg program is focused on developing the technologies necessary for the “Autonomous Core System,” the service said in a news release. The Air Force will choose companies to begin designing air vehicle prototypes later this year.
The service has not disclosed how it will compete development opportunities among its list of potential vendors, or which companies could be in line to build the Skyborg air vehicle, mission systems or autonomy module.
Future plans include operational experiments during which the air vehicles will be integrated with autonomy modules and tested by airmen, the Air Force stated in the release.
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11 mai 2021 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
Contracts for May 10, 2021
Today
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25 juin 2020 | International, Naval
US Navy announces intent to ink $10B in contracts for first 2 Columbia subs
By: David B. Larter WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is poised to ink almost $10.4 billion in contracts with General Dynamics Electric Boat to procure the first two Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, which carry more than a dozen nuclear missiles on constant deterrent patrols. The announcement, released by the Defense Department Monday afternoon, detailed an award of $869 million to Electric Boat to complete design work on the subs as part of a contract modification. The announcement also establishes the Navy's intent to award an additional $9.5 billion for the first two hulls, which will happen once Congress officially approves the two-ship buy and appropriates the money. “The intent would be to award that option as soon as possible after the FY21 appropriation to ensure we keep this No. 1 priority on track,” said James Geurts, the Navy's assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition. “That will allow us to begin full-rate construction of the first ship, begin advanced construction on the second ship, with the intent of beginning construction of the second ship in 2024.” The first ship is slated for a 2028 deliver and to go on its first patrol in 2031. The total buy is planned for 12 submarines. In a statement Rep. Joe Courntey, D-Conn., who represents the Electric Boat's district, praised the announcement, saying it was years in the making. “This award is the culmination of nearly a decade's worth of preparation for this milestone moment for our region and our nation,” Courntey said. “The replacement of our sea-based strategic deterrent comes only once every other generation, and this work is already fueling unprecedented growth in the workforce in Groton and transformation of the shipyard.” The Columbia-class subs are the Navy's top acquisition priority, and a monstrously expensive one at that. All in, the program will cost roughly $109 billion, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report, and the service faces an enormous challenge in balancing the rest of the fleet's priorities with the Columbia bill. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/06/22/us-navy-announces-intent-to-ink-10-billion-in-contracts-for-first-2-columbia-subs/