7 août 2024 | International, Terrestre, C4ISR

US Army working on new missile defense strategy with eye toward 2040

The Army's Space and Missile Defense Command is working on a new air and missile defense strategy for 2040 that will be informed by current conflicts.

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/smd/2024/08/07/us-army-working-on-new-missile-defense-strategy-with-eye-toward-2040/

Sur le même sujet

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 27, 2019

    29 mars 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 27, 2019

    ARMY Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $1,135,410,156 modification (P00010) to Foreign Military Sales (Poland, Bahrain and Romania) contract W31P4Q-18-C-0049 for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket systems full rate production. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 foreign military sales; and other procurement, Army funds in the combined amount of $1,082,536,179 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $113,806,534 firm-fixed-price contract for computing services. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of March 28, 2024. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $16,062,071 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-19-F-0028). General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, St. Petersburg, Florida, was awarded a $58,911,077 modification (P00019) to contract W52P1J-17-C-0024 to procure 120mm M1002 new production cartridges and 120mm M865 recap cartridges for 120mm tank training ammunition. Work will be performed in St. Petersburg, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 12, 2021. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $58,911,077 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Northrup Grumman Innovation Systems, Plymouth, Minnesota, was awarded a $36,815,048 modification (P00011) to contract W52P1J-17-C-0025 to procure 120mm tank training ammunition M1002 new production cartridges and 120mm tank training ammunition M865 recapitalized cartridges. Work will be performed in Plymouth, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $36,815,048 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Odyssey International Inc.,* Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $19,832,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a replacement air traffic control tower and base operations complex. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 27, 2020. Fiscal 2016 and 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $19,832,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-19-C-3005). Professional Contract Services Inc., Austin, Texas, was awarded a $17,285,295 modification (P00017) to contract W91151-16-D-0101 for full food and dining facility attendant support services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2020. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $15,580,588 modification (P00159) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 to incorporate Engineering Change Proposal OSKW8215R1 low velocity aerial delivery A1 transmission support plate, mid-power pack, and mounts, rails and mid-power pack into the baseline configuration of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle family of vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army; procurement Marine Corps; research, development, test and evaluation; Navy procurement; and Air Force procurement funds in the amount of $15,580,588 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. CACI-ISS Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, was awarded a $15,000,000 modification (P00012) to contract W52P1J-17-C-0029 to provide planning, analytical, operational and technical services. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of March 26, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $15,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., San Jose, California, was awarded a $9,323,130 modification (P00097) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0099 for systems technical support and sustainment systems technical support services, consisting of engineering, logistics, and fielding support for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle family of vehicles, the Multiple Launch Rocket System Carrier, and the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier family of vehicles. Work will be performed in Killeen, Texas; and El Paso, Texas, with an estimated completion date of July, 8, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,323,130 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. NAVY CGI Federal Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, is awarded a $222,875,514 firm-fixed-price, fixed-price incentive firm target, firm-fixed-price level of effort, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost reimbursement contract (N00039-19-C-0004) to provide Electronic Procurement System (ePS), a contract writing system to the Department of the Navy with standardized, comprehensive, end-to-end contract management of services, supplies, construction and grants. ePS will provide the flexibility to interface with Navy, Department of Defense and federal electronic systems as needed to meet the requirements of all stakeholders, and as defined in statutes, regulations and approved business practices. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be completed in March 2029. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,859,946 will be obligated at time of award, with $3,962,974 of the fiscal 2018 funds expiring at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce and Federal Business Opportunities websites, with six offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Environmental Chemical Corp., Burlingame, California, is awarded a $121,682,327 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the hurricane recovery efforts at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The work to be performed includes roof repairs, internal and external building repairs, and civil repairs. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $144,008,671. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by August 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $121,682,327 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-13-D-6020). Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo, California, is awarded a $57,980,007 long-term requirements contract for repair of 25 weapon repairable assemblies for the APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar system used on the F/A-18 aircraft. The contract includes a three-year base period with two one-year options, which, if exercised, would bring the total value of the contract to an estimated $98,637,530 based on estimated quantities. Work will be performed in Forest, Mississippi, and work is expected to be completed by March 2022; if all options are exercised, work will be completed by March 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Working capital funds (Navy) will be obligated as individual orders are issued. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-sourced, non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304(C)(1) and Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-19-D-UP01). Cardno TEC-Leidos LLC JV, Charlottesville, Virginia, is awarded a $50,000,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for services to support the Tactical Training Theater Assessment and Planning program, and it is intended to ensure the sustainability of Navy training ranges and operating areas to support warfighter readiness around the world. The contract requires the services of environmental engineering and military operations specialists, and the use of engineering and biological sciences and principles and methods of engineering analysis. Work under this contract will be performed in the geographic regions of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic's area of responsibility (AOR) and the adjacent waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, including the continental U.S., the Caribbean, Europe, and North Africa. Work will be primarily performed within NAVFAC Atlantic's AOR, which includes, but is not limited to, Virginia (50 percent); California (20 percent); Florida (20 percent); and Washington (10 percent). Work may also be added and performed anywhere outside of NAVFAC Atlantic's AOR, as required by the government, and is expected to be completed by March 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 for the minimum guarantee are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one proposal received. NAVFAC Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-19-D-4009). The Boeing Co., Huntington Beach, California, is awarded a $46,700,000 fixed-priced-incentive modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-6307 for the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) program. The Feb. 13, 2019, contract announcement for the XLUUV program occurred while source selection was ongoing, and therefore the specific contract award amount was considered source selection sensitive information and was not made public. This contract modification award completes the XLUUV competition and brings the total awarded amount for five XLUUVs and associated support elements to $274,400,000. Work will be performed in Huntington Beach, California (29 percent); Virginia Beach, Virginia (27 percent); Waukesha, Wisconsin (8 percent); East Aurora, New York (7 percent); Concord, Massachusetts (7 percent); Camden, New Jersey (5 percent); Smithfield, Pennsylvania (4 percent); Attleboro, Massachusetts (3 percent); City of Industry, California (3 percent); El Cajon, California (3 percent); Fairfield, New Jersey (2 percent); Ontario, California (1 percent); and Farmingdale, New York (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Starwin Industries Inc.,* Dayton, Ohio (N00164-19-D-WS21); Garrity Tool Co. LLC,* Indianapolis, Indiana (N00164-19-D-WS33); Loughmiller Machine, Tool & Design Inc.,* Loogootee, Indiana (N00164-19-D-WS34); D-J Engineering Inc.,* Augusta, Kansas (N00164-19-D-WS35); MSP Aviation Inc.,* Bloomington, Indiana (N00164-19-D-WS36); and Integrity Defense Services Inc.,* Springville, Indiana (N00164-19-D-WS37); and Middletown Composites Inc.,* Berea, Kentucky (N00164-19-D-WS38), are each awarded a combined aggregate not-to-exceed $35,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract with a five-year ordering period to procure machined parts or composite components in support of build-to-print machine shop requirements for supplies related to EA-6B, EA-18G and P-8A aircraft components, as well as various other related platforms. These seven small businesses will have the opportunity to propose on individual delivery orders throughout the five-year ordering period of the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts. Work will be performed at each of the contractors' facilities per delivery order and is expected to be completed in April 2024. Percentage breakdown of work is to be determined. Navy Working Capital Funding in the amount of $10,000 will be obligated concurrently to each awardee upon award of the initial delivery orders and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with eight offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity. Ocean Construction Services Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N40080-17-D-0008); Edifice LLC.,* Beltsville, Maryland (N40080-17-D-0009); Hascon LLC.,* Columbia, Maryland (N40080-17-D-0010); Pinnacle Construction and Development Group Inc.,* Cleveland, Ohio (N40080-17-D-0011); Reilly Construction Inc.,* Chantilly, Virginia (N40080-17-D-0012); and Tuckman-Barbee Construction Co. Inc.,* Upper Marlboro, Maryland (N40080-17-D-0013), are awarded a combined $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded indefinite contract to exercise Option Two for construction projects for general and administrative facilities located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington area of responsibility (AOR). After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $122,000,000. Work will be performed at various administrative facilities within the NAVFAC Washington AOR, including but not limited to, Maryland, Washington, District of Columbia, and Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2020. Task orders will be primarily funded by fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps); and fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds. NAVFAC Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Blue Rock Structures Inc.,* Pollocksville, North Carolina, is awarded a $9,207,530 firm-fixed-price task order N4008519F5128 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40085-16-D-6300) for interior and exterior repairs to building AS515 at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The work provides new architectural finishes, new electrical system, new telecommunication system, new plumbing, new HVAC system, new membrane roof, and incidental-related work. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by May 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $9,207,530 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Peraton Inc., Annapolis, Maryland, is awarded an $8,543,905 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00174-11-D-0002 to extend the ordering period and exercise Option Year VIII for the procurement and support of the Transmitting Set, Countermeasures AN/PLT-4 to support explosive ordnance disposal personnel. The AN/PLT-4 is a man-portable system in support of the Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (JSEOD) Counter-Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare program. Work will be performed in Annapolis, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by March 2020. No funds are being obligated at the time of this action. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE L-3 Technologies, Greenville, Texas, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $142,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract action for the procurement of Group B material and the Ground System Integration Lab. Work will be performed in Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2023. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $69,580,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-16-G-3027/FA8620-19-F-4872). Vectrus Systems Corp., Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, has been awarded a $23,609,858 fixed-price incentive modification (P00050) to previously awarded contract FA3002-17-C-0009 for base operations support. This modification provides for the exercise of Option Two. Work will be performed at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama, and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. This modification brings the total cumulative face value to $86,319,044. The 42nd Contracting Squadron, Montgomery, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded an $18,578,053 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for J85 engine maintenance. This contract provides for managing the full cycle of production by planning, scheduling, directing, and controlling all maintenance on jet engines and support equipment, as well as monitoring serviceable base stock levels and target serviceable requirements of each customer. Work will be performed at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2020. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, 338th Specialized Contracting Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3002-19-D-A004). BlueForce Inc., Hampton, Virginia, has been awarded a $12,325,425 firm-fixed-price task order for the Royal Saudi Air Force English Language Training outside the continental U.S. program. Work will be performed at King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 3, 2024. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Foreign Military Sales funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The 338th Specialized Contracting Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio Randolph, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3002-19-F-A045). L-3 Communications, Greenville, Texas, has been awarded an $11,465,007 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the procurement of Ground System Development and Integration. Work will be performed in Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30, 2022. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-16-G-3027/FA8620-19-F-4836). CAE USA Inc., Tampa, Florida, has been awarded a $7,245,585 firm-fixed-price modification (P00144) to previously awarded contract FA8223-10-C-0013 for support of the KC-135 Aircrew Training System. This modification provides for collective bargaining agreement wage adjustments resulting from Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act, and brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $464,618,081. Work will be performed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana; MacDill AFB, Florida; Pittsburgh Air National Guard Base, Pennsylvania; Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio; Scott AFB, Illinois; Fairchild AFB, Washington; Milwaukee ANGB, Wisconsin; March AFB, California; and Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Work is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,245,585 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Leading Technology Composites Inc., Wichita, Kansas, was awarded a $50,000,000 ceiling increase to an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract (H92222-14-D-0061-P00005) in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the purchase of SOF Personal Equipment Advance Requirements Tactical Standalone (SPEAR) and Modular Supplemental Armor Protection (MASP) ballistic plates. The estimated total contract value is $175,000,000. No money was obligated at the time of award. The work will be performed in Wichita, Kansas, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 27, 2020. This contract was awarded in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Authority (FAR) 6.302-1, “Other than Full and Open Competition, Only one Responsible Source”. USSOCOM, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY GTA Containers Inc.,* South Bend, Indiana (SPE8EG-19-D-0105); Apex Pinnacle, Corp.,* Binghamton, New York (SPE8EG-19-D-0106); MPC Containment Systems LLC,* Chicago, Illinois (SPE8EG-19-D-0107); Avon Engineered Fabrications (AEF),* Picayune, Mississippi (SPE8EG-19-D-0108); and North American Fuel Tank,* Mansfield, Texas (SPE8EG-19-D-0109), are sharing a maximum $47,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE8EG-18-R-0008 for tank fabrication berm liners. This was a competitive acquisition with seven offers received. These are one-year base contracts with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Indiana, New York, Illinois, Mississippi, and Texas with a March 26, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Meridian Airport Authority, doing business as Meridian Aviation, Meridian, Mississippi, has been awarded a maximum $18,062,977 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a 46-month contract with one six-month option period. Location of performance is Mississippi, with a March 31, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE607-1-D-0029). DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY General Dynamics Information Technology, Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract modification on March 27, 2019, to exercise Option Year Four of task order HC1013-15-A-0004-0001. This task order was previously awarded under the competitive blanket purchase agreement against General Services Administration's Information Technology Schedule 70 contract for Air Force Air Defense Communications Services. The face value of this action is $7,200,000, funded by fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds. The total cumulative value of the order is $21,367,054. Performance is throughout the continental U.S., as well as Alaska, Hawaii and Guam. The period of performance for this action is April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity (HC1013-15-A-0004-0001 23). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1797925/

  • L3Harris to suspend M&A program for 'foreseeable future'

    13 décembre 2023 | International, Aérospatial

    L3Harris to suspend M&A program for 'foreseeable future'

  • F-35 Lightning II: A 21st century concept

    5 décembre 2019 | International, Aérospatial

    F-35 Lightning II: A 21st century concept

    by Alan Stephenson The F-35 Lightning II is not only a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, but a 21st century tooth-to-tail concept. I recently had the privilege to join a Canadian media trip sponsored by Lockheed Martin to visit the F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as the 63rd Fighter Squadron, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., which is responsible for F-35 pilot training. Industry executives and F-35 operators presented detailed briefings on the latest aircraft improvements, maintenance concepts and operational considerations, as well as a tour of the production line and an up-close look at the aircraft itself. Without a doubt, the F-35 system represents a progressive leap in technology and life cycle management. Design concept Although some have questioned the very idea of a “fifth-generation” designation, the F-35 is the result of an evolutionary process in the design of low-observable (stealth) fighter aircraft for the United States Air Force (USAF). It draws upon the experiences of creating and operating the F-117 Nighthawk and the F-22 Raptor fighters. The lessons learned went beyond simply enhancing aircraft performance; the F-35 ameliorates fundamental life cycle cost issues through leveraging emerging technologies and leading-edge concepts to maximize readiness, logistic and maintenance efficiencies. In effect, the F-35 is built for sustainment. The fighter aircraft makes use of a modular avionics architecture with fusion technology, rather than a federated architecture where Line Replaceable Units (LRU or “black boxes”) are placed in a sequence. In this manner, maintainers no longer need to remove the first and second boxes to replace the third; they simply replace an easily accessible modular LRU. Roughly 95 per cent of the LRUs are first line removeable and virtually all first line maintenance functions are accessible through the weapons bay doors, nose wheel well, and behind panels that can be opened and closed without causing any low observable skin repairs. Ease of maintenance is further achieved from simple redesigns such as a front-hinged canopy that facilitates ejection seat removal without the need to remove the canopy. ALIS, the state-of-the-art Autonomic Logistics Information System, provides real-time digital information that also significantly reduces maintenance demands. “ALIS integrates a broad range of capabilities including operations, maintenance, prognostics, supply chain, customer support services, training and technical data,” according to Lockheed Martin. Maintenance staff can quickly determine the health of the aircraft upon landing through Prognostic Health Management (PHM) and quickly resolve any anomalies, increasing the serviceability rate and minimizing technician fault-finding time through fewer maintenance steps. PHM is a maintenance system that monitors the actual condition of an aircraft to decide what maintenance needs to be done. As all aircraft fleet operators know, unscheduled maintenance and lack of spare parts increases manpower demands and decreases aircraft availability. ALIS is designed to reduce maintenance hours, increase readiness, and decrease labour related costs by offering greater control in sustainment functions and providing actionable information to military decision-makers. Cost drivers From an initial reported cost of over US$100 million, the per-unit costs for the F-35 have fallen to US$77.9 million for Lot 14 fighters. The nine-nation co-operative development and the economies of scale of 12 current customers have greatly contributed to bringing life cycle costs closer to those of contemporary fourth-generation fighters. Costs have been lowered in assembly of the aircraft through use of an automated production line, designed to produce 180 aircraft per year, which has seen a 75 per cent reduction in “touch-labour” since 2010. Each aircraft is personalized by purchase order, allowing all three models to be produced in tandem, and unlike other fighters, the jet is essentially combat-ready when it leaves the production facility, having complete indigenous offensive and defensive avionic suites. With respect to sustainment, the F-16 had 24 different stovepipes supporting worldwide operations. ALIS logistics functions are networked with all F-35 users and supports a consolidated global supply chain that aggressively sources and produces the most cost-effective parts available, making them available as required and thereby minimizing costly inventory. A mandated Reliability and Maintainability (R&M) program has established metrics within automated processes designed to ensure constant systemic evaluation and facilitate continuous improvements that lower support costs and expedite fleet upgrades. At a reported six hours of maintenance per flight hour, the F-35A is at the forefront of fighter operations. Conscious design features such as internal weapons carriage and the use of pneumatic (air pressure) weapons ejection rather than explosive cartridges has significantly reduced maintenance personnel hours required to clean and service fourth generation weapons delivery systems. Another example of manpower savings occurs in routine checks on the fuel tanks and valves, where only one F-35 technician with a Portable Maintenance Aide (a laptop computer the technician connects to the F-35) is now required to conduct the same task that requires six maintainers to perform on the F-16. In manpower savings alone, anecdotal evidence suggests a 60 per cent reduction in personnel to perform routine maintenance functions. Operations At the flight line, significant changes have occurred to USAF military occupations and employment through innovative maintenance developments such as the Blended Operational Lightning Technician (BOLT) and the Lightning Integrated Technicians (LIT) programs. The BOLT program combines six USAF technical trades into two streams. The Air Vehicle stream includes crew chiefs, fuels, and low observable technicians, while the Mission Systems stream focuses on avionics, weapons, and egress trades. This streaming not only economizes manpower but allows deployed operations to be conducted with a smaller personnel footprint. In addition, the LIT program was introduced to increase maintenance efficiencies and effectiveness by integrating these two streams into one co-ordinated team through establishing commonality in training and dedicating each team to a single aircraft. The low observability of the F-35 is more than just a means to penetrate adversary defences; it is a “nose-to-tail” concept that increases performance and survivability from reduced drag and a low platform electromagnetic signature. The embedded antennas in the radar absorbent skin, internal fuel tanks and weapons carriage, and full line-of-sight radar reflection blockage not only help define the F-35 as a fifth-generation fighter, but the addition of an advanced sensor suite with sensor fusion, an electro-optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) electronic warfare suite and networked enabled operations cement the fifth-generation classification. The Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar is a computer-controlled array antenna in which individual radar beams can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving the antenna. This feature allows the F-35 to perform multiple functions such as detecting, tracking, and attacking airborne targets while simultaneously countering or attacking ground-based radar systems. When combined with the embedded sensors and advanced CNI (communications, navigation, identification) capabilities, the F-35 becomes an ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) as well as a command and control (C2) platform. These radical innovations elevate the F-35 from a tactical fighter to an operational asset with strategic value. The F-35, with commonality shared amongst its three variants, can perform air-to-air, air-to-surface, electronic attack, ISR gathering, and localized C2 roles during a single mission. Tactically, the increase in situational awareness allows F-35 pilots to fly farther apart and with more individual freedom, changing the manner in which fourth-generation fighters are employed. Operationally, a flight of F-35s flying missions in the Arctic can also provide localized ISR and C2 functions in a region devoid of such assets. Additionally, the F-35 requires fewer operational support platforms such as AWACS, Joint STARS and stand-off electronic warfare aircraft to conduct combat operations. The F-35 could be considered a strategic asset that would allow Canada to offer NATO the flexibility of employing Canada's fighter commitment strategically to support either the traditional northern flank or send its assets to central Europe. In either case, eight NATO nations will already have their own F-35 infrastructure in place to operationally facilitate Canadian integration. Conclusion Given the innovative design, leading-edge avionics suites, automated production line, networked sustainment program, globalized supply chain, and fundamental changes to how air forces conduct business, it is hard to argue that the F-35 is not only a fifth-generation fighter, but that the F-35 system is a transformational 21st century concept. The F-35 is more than a simple multi-role fighter, it is multi-mission platform. There are indeed identified problems as the F-35 program matures that are part of the evolution of any new platform. However, with the weight of the U.S. government and 12 customer nations, the chances are that these challenges will be resolved satisfactorily. With the cost to own an F-35 fighter in the same range as other fighter aircraft on the market today, the real discriminators are in the costs to operate and the value-added to military operations. Alan Stephenson (Col ret'd) holds a PhD from Carleton University and is a former CF-188 pilot with 3,600 hours flying fighters. He is currently an aviation consultant and a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/f-35-lightning-ii-a-21st-century-concept/

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