31 janvier 2019 | International, Aérospatial
By: Jeff Martin
WASHINGTON —The U.S. Air Force's light-attack experiment is set to get a lot bigger, with the service considering adding drones, helicopters and more sophisticated aircraft to the mix in the future, the service's top general told Defense News.
“What is the right mix of fixed wing, rotary wing, manned and unmanned that can do the business of light attack?” Goldfein said in an exclusive Jan. 26 interview. “What is the right mix and how do we bring allies and partners in right now with us — not just periodically parachute in — but how do we expand this experiment to bring them into the tent with us?”
While the Air Force is still finalizing its strategy on light attack, Goldfein's comments hint that a lack of interest by partner nations may have shaped the decision not to press aheadwith a program of record late last year.
The Air Force was set to issue a request for proposals in December for a light-attack platform. The competition would been open to only the Embraer-Sierra Nevada Corp. A-29 Super Tucano and the Textron AT-6 Wolverine, two fixed-wing turboprops that the service said were best suited to meet the needs of the program.
But now, other aircraft could be joining them.
Goldfein said the Air Force chose not to release that RFP for two reasons: ongoing budget uncertainty and the desire to expand the parameters of what the service is seeking.
“For us to issue an RFP when we didn't [know] what the budget was ... and setting an expectation that we're ready to go into source selection when we're still working our way through the strategy, in my mind, would have been irresponsible," Goldfein said. “I've talked to both of the CEOs involved, and we want to make sure we strengthen the partnership and build it as we go forward.”
Goldfein added that light attack was not something that was central to what the Air Force needed, saying that it would only be funded if the money is available in upcoming budgets.
Increasing interoperability has been a longtime goal of the light-attack experiments, but it appears to have taken on new importance as the experiment potentially moves forward.
Goldfein and other Air Force officials have spoken at length about the potential benefit of a common, off-the-shelf attack aircraft that could be purchased by countries that can't afford the F-16, but still want to deepen ties with the U.S Air Force. Over the course of the effort, foreign delegations have been invited to observe flight demonstrations of the A-29, AT-6 and other previous contenders at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
However, not all nations could want a turboprop aircraft like the A-29 or AT-6.
“Some countries, it actually would be better to have an unmanned option. Some countries, [it] would be better to have a rotary-wing option," Goldfein said. “Some countries would do fixed wing, but [only with a] turbojet [engine]" instead of a turboprop.
11 juin 2021 | International, Aérospatial
Gen. Tod Wolters’ comments echo a sense of common purpose among NATO allies that sometimes gets lost in defense-industrial infighting.
5 juin 2020 | International, Aérospatial
As a former Special Operations Forces Combat Controller, I've been a part of, and have seen, the revolution of Battlefield Air Operations. The use of tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), for example, has evolved dramatically since their first deployment on the battlefield nearly 20 years ago – from single mission tools to highly sophisticated, multi-mission capable aircraft that now provide actionable intelligence and the persistent situational awareness needed in today's dynamic operating environments. Rapidly deployable via hand or bungee launch, with flexible payload options and rated for all-environment operation, Group 1 UAS, such as AeroVironment's Puma all environment system, provide land or maritime operators with actionable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in day, night, and low light conditions in even the harshest of environments. When combined with man-portable tactical missile systems, such as AeroVironment's Switchblade, these aerial assets provide platoons with advanced sensor-to-shooter capabilities, increasing force projection and soldier lethality for engaging beyond-line-of-sight enemy targets. Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Mission Success Today, forces operating without organic tactical UAS assets can become pinned-down by enemy fire for a lengthy period. They must radio for manned attack aircraft or Group 3 or 4 UAS to provide Close Air Support or risk sending additional troops directly into the line of fire. In many cases, these larger aerial assets may not be available in time to make a difference for the forces under fire due to distance, scarcity, or enemy air defense systems. However, with small tactical UAS and tactical missile systems packed in their rucksacks, troops can immediately secure persistent eyes-in-the-sky intel that can directly impact mission success and mean the difference between life and death. Using my first-hand experience, let's take a look at two potential operation scenarios that might occur in an Area of Responsibility (AOR) such as Africa: one focused on a mission with only a tactical UAS, and another that combines the technology of a tactical UAS and a tactical missile system, providing the platoon with the immediate precision munitions advantage it needs, straight from a rucksack. Mission With Only Tactical UAS In the first scenario, a combined force of US Marines comprising elements from the 2nd Marine Division, 6th Marine Regiment, and USSOCOM MARSOC are conducting offensive and stability operations from Camp Simba, near Manda Bay, Kenya, due to the increased threat posed by al-Shabaab. This robust tenant force has secured the local area and coordinates jointly with Kenyan military partners to ensure clear lines of communication, guaranteeing a secure environment for US and allied forces to conduct cross border reconnaissance and expeditionary operations into neighboring countries. Fifty miles to the northeast of Camp Simba, a platoon of Marines has established a forward Mission Support Site (MSS) to conduct border surveillance operations. Postured just outside Ras Kamboni, a small town on Somalia's coast, the platoon is equipped with two AeroVironment Puma 3 AE and one Puma LE (long endurance) UAS, along with their common ground control stations (GCS), air vehicle batteries and chargers, Mantis i45 EO/IR gimbaled sensors, and a spare parts kit. The Puma LE, which flies for 5.5 hours before needing a quick battery swap-out and has a range of 60 km when used with AeroVironment's Long-Range Tracking Antenna, was received by the unit only days before deployment. Because of the qualified Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) component interoperability, standard training, and parts commonality with Puma 3 AE (2.5 hours endurance), the regiment was confident there would be no issue integrating the Puma LE into their operations, and operate both Puma systems concurrently. Bringing both systems into the field provides the field commander with the option to take multiple Puma systems downrange, select the appropriate aircraft based on the type of flight operation to be performed, and then simply swap-in needed LRU components to execute the mission successfully. Launching from the Marine's MSS, its UAS flight operators conduct 24-hour surveillance using Puma LE across miles of the border and several Named Areas of Interest (NAI) that include border crossing points, known enemy staging areas, and likely routes of ingress. In addition to the Mantis i45 EO/IR sensor suite, the platoon was provided with a developmental signals intelligence (SIGINT) sensor designed to fit into the secondary payload bay of the Puma LE, and connected via its built-in power supply and Ethernet interface. As the UAS operator collects high resolution, full-motion aerial intel of the border, mission operators monitor the aircraft location in real-time via its AES-256 encrypted digital link, utilizing advanced mapping software and conducting signals analysis in the direction of Somalia. Due to its proximity onboard the Puma LE, the SIGINT package intercepts short-range, low power handset communications, which can then be translated with a combination of speech recognition algorithms and interpreters. With the ability to control the aircraft's sensor payloads independently, the Puma LE operator is immediately able to slew the i45 sensor to the discovered coordinates to verify the radio emitter locations and establish intent. Late in the evening, while conducting Puma LE ISR & SIGINT flight operations, mission operators intercept a flurry of handset activity and identify massing of military age males well within the Somali border. Marines at the MSS base are raised to full alert status while a ground assault quick reaction force (QRF) departs Camp Simba in the event of a cross border attack on the MSS. As the Puma LE UAS team continues visual and SIGINT surveillance, they observe several multi-vehicle convoys departing staging areas and heading toward the Kenyan border. Due to the continuous coverage provided by Puma LE, US forces ascertain an attack is imminent, establishing the enemy's intent. With the QRF linked-up to secure the MSS, the Puma LE operator continues to monitor convoy progress, which had stopped short of the border due to the arrival of additional US forces. On link-up, the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) attached to the QRF utilizes coordinates derived from the Puma LE to nominate the convoys as enemy targets. As a result, US commanders scramble nearby fighter aircraft and approve them to strike validated enemy targets with no harm done to the civilian populace. Mission Combining Tactical UAS Technology and Tactical Missile System In the second scenario, the following day, two squads of MARSOC operators are patrolling the border in the vicinity of Kolbio, a small town 100 miles north of Camp Simba, in non-standard commercial vehicles to reduce their signature. Tasked with conducting area familiarization and sensor emplacement, the team has man-portable crew-served weapons, but limited mounted heavy weapons. Equipped with a single Puma LE and GCS, plus four AeroVironment Switchblade tactical missile systems, the team leader elects to keep the Puma LE airborne while in transit, providing real-time route surveillance and overwatch. As they travel parallel to the border, the Puma LE operator observes numerous all-terrain troop transport vehicles on a course to intercept the US convoy. The team leader advises the operations center that a troops-in-contact situation is imminent, and selects a defensible fighting position as one of the enemy convoys attempts to flank the American vehicles. With the Puma LE orbiting above the US position, the team leader has complete situational awareness as enemy fighters dismount and move to make contact. Enemy fighters attack from two quadrants, trading small arms and RPG fire, and although the enemy has superior numbers, the Marines hold the line. With no Close Air Support available and heliborne QRF at least 30 minutes away, the team begins to receive accurate mortar fire that disables two of the four American vehicles and injures several personnel. The team leader directs the Puma LE operator to locate the mortar, and orders the Switchblade operator to prep its ground tube-launch system. By using the Puma LE Mantis i45 electro-optical (EO) sensor center field of view coordinates, the operator identifies and locates the mortar approximately 1,500 meters northeast of their position. The Switchblade operator then launches the tactical missile system and instantly transfers target coordinates via machine-to-machine, sensor-to-shooter communication, eliminating the potential for data entry error. After its launch, the Switchblade autonomously navigates to the designated mortar position. As the Switchblade tactical missile closes on the target, the team leader visually compares full-motion video from both assets to ensure 100 percent positive identification of the target and then views Puma LE video to perform the resulting battle damage assessment. With the mortar and crew successfully eliminated, remaining enemy personnel retreat, allowing US forces to treat wounded personnel, and fortify defensive positions against potential future incursions. As described, these scenarios showcase the actionable intelligence, force protection, and increased soldier lethality that advanced UAS and teamed UAS/tactical missile systems can provide across today's complex battlefronts. Man-portable, rapidly deployable, interoperable, and with multi-mission capabilities, these battle-proven UAS provide ground commanders with the option of selecting the appropriate aircraft based on the type of mission when time is of the essence and in the most rugged environments. This increased capability provides immediate ISR and overmatches force protection responsiveness to front line tactical units and security personnel. https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/06/04/what-tactical-unmanned-aerial-assets-need-in-todays-battlefields/
29 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense
AIR FORCE Megan-PCI JV LLC, Dayton, Ohio (FA8601-21-D-0002); CPM-AWA LLC, Dayton, Ohio (FA8601-21-D-0003); Peak Runge Co. JV, Port Clinton, Ohio (FA8601-21-D-0004); John Cecil Construction Co., Columbus, Ohio (FA8601-21-D-0005); NISOU LGC JV LLC, Detroit, Michigan (FA8601-21-D-0006); CAM Management and Services, Dayton, Ohio (FA8601-21-D-0007); Pontiac Drywall Systems Inc., Pontiac, Michigan (FA8601-21-D-0008); OAC Action Construction, Miami, Florida (FA8601-21-D0009); Butt Construction Co., Dayton, Ohio (FA8601-21-D-0010); Dawn Inc., Warren, Ohio (FA8601-21-D-0011); A&H Ambica JV LLC, Livonia, Michigan (FA8601-21-D-0012); and Pinnacle Construction & Development, Independence, Ohio (FA8601-21-D-0013), have been awarded a $247,000,000 multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for construction projects. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2025. These awards are the result of a competitive acquisition and 21 offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,500 are being obligated to each contractor at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Syracuse, New York, has been awarded a $25,000,000 ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Atmospheric Early Warning System AN/FPS-117 Radar program. This contract provides for contractor logistics support and radar hardware/spares procurement. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York, as well as various sites in Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Puerto Rico and Utah. The work is expected to be complete by March 2026. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,946,336 are being obligated at the time of award. Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8217-20-D-0006). NAVY Q.E.D. Systems Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, is awarded a $76,360,281 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for specification development and availability execution support, formerly known as third party planning services for guided missile cruiser (CG), guided missile destroyer (DDG), landing helicopter assault, landing helicopter dock landing platform dock, and dock landing ship class vessels. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $229,411,097. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (51%); San Diego, California (43%); and Everett, Washington (6%), and is expected to be completed by October 2023. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,825,931 is being obligated at time of award and funding in the amount of $2,825,931 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured; a history of one bids and a lack of sources sought responses form the basis of the justification and approval for this effort. This single source contract to Q.E.D. will allow the government additional time to conduct extensive market research in preparation for a follow-on competitive effort. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-C-4200). DRS Systems Co. Inc., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $10,503,852 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-13-C-4229 for an engineering change to the Energy Magazine Prototype design for the DDG51-class destroyer program. This award is for an engineering change proposal to the Energy Storage Module that will provide capability to supply power to a directed energy load and includes design, build and testing for a total of two prototype units. Work will be performed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is expected to be completed by June 2022. No funding will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, is awarded a $9,835,348 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-21-F-0062) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0029. This order provides non-recurring engineering for the production of target designator sets and electro-optical in support of AH-1Z Light Attack helicopters for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (97%); and Ocala, Florida (3%), and is expected to be completed in November 2022. FMS funds in the amount of $9,835,348 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $70,706,229 modification (P00019) to contract W31P4Q-15-D-0003 for engineering and technical services required to accomplish research, development, integration, test, sustainment and operation across the family of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. unmanned aircraft systems. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 27, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2397509/source/GovDelivery/