Nouvelles

Military systems are increasingly using software to support functionality, new capabilities, and beyond. Before a new piece of software can be deployed within a system however, its functional safety and compliance with certain standards must be verified and ultimately receive certification. As the rapid rate of software usage continues to grow, it is becoming exceedingly difficult to assure that all software considered for military use is coded correctly and then tested, verified, and documented appropriately. “Software requires a certain level of certification – or approval that it will work as intended with minimal risks – before receiving approval for use within military systems and platforms,” said Dr. Ray Richards, a program manager in DARPA's Information Innovation Office (I2O). “However, the effort required to certify software is an impediment to expeditiously developing and fielding new capabilities within the defense community.” Today, the software certification process is largely manual and relies on human evaluators combing through piles of documentation, or assurance evidence, to determine whether the software meets certain certification criteria. The process is time consuming, costly, and can result in superficial or incomplete evaluations as reviewers bring their own sets of expertise, experiences, and biases to the process. A lack of a principled means of decomposing evaluations makes it difficult to create a balanced and trustworthy process that applies equally to all software. Further, each subsystem and component must be evaluated independently and re-evaluated before it can be used in a new system. “Just because a subsystem is certified for one system or platform does not mean it is unilaterally certified for all,” noted Richards. This creates additional time delays and review cycles. To help accelerate and scale the software certification process, DARPA developed the Automated Rapid Certification Of Software (ARCOS) program. The goal of ARCOS is to create tools and a process that would allow for the automated assessment of software evidence and provide justification for a software's level of assurance that is understandable. Taking advantage of recent advances in model-based design technology, “Big Code” analytics, mathematically rigorous analysis and verification, as well as assurance case languages, ARCOS seeks to develop a capability to automatically evaluate software assurance evidence to enable certifiers to rapidly determine that system risk is acceptable. “This approach to reengineering the software certification process is well timed as it aligns with the DoD Digital Engineering Strategy, which details how the department is looking to move away from document-based engineering processes and towards design models that are to be the authoritative source of truth for systems,” said Richards. To create this automated capability, ARCOS will explore techniques for automating the evidence generation process for new and legacy software; create a means of curating evidence while maintaining its provenance; and develop technologies for the automated construction of assurance cases, as well as technologies that can validate and assess the confidence of an assurance case argument. The evidence generation, curation, and assessment technologies will form the ARCOS tools and processes, working collectively to provide a scalable means of accelerating the pathway to certification. Throughout the program's expected three phases, evaluations and assessments will occur to gauge how the research is progressing. ARCOS researchers will tackle progressively more challenging sets of software systems and associated artifacts. The envisioned evaluation progression will move from a single software module to a set of interacting modules and finally to a realistic military software system. Interested proposers will have an opportunity to learn more during a Proposers Day on May 14, 2019, from 8:30AM to 3:30PM (EST) at the DARPA Conference Center, located at 675 N. Randolph Street, Arlington, Virginia, 22203. The purpose of the Proposers Day is to outline the ARCOS technical goals and challenges, and to promote an understanding of the BAA proposal requirements. For details about the event, including registration requirements, please visit: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=6a8f03472cf43a3558456b807877f248&tab=core&_cview=0 Additional information will be available in the forthcoming Broad Agency Announcement, which will be posted to www.fbo.gov. https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2019-05-03

CANNES, France & WESTMINSTER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thales Alenia Space, a Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) and Maxar Technologies (NYSE: MAXR) (TSX: MAXR), have completed an important milestone for the Telesat LEO constellation. Our solution leverages both Maxar and Thales Alenia Space's experience in building LEO constellations and also integrates advanced technologies from Maxar's MDA business. The consortium has now significantly advanced their detailed, low-risk designs for the complete LEO system, including system optimization, requirements development, engineering trade-offs and technology prototyping to establish mature and compelling designs for Telesat LEO's space, ground and user terminal segments. As previously announced, Telesat selected the consortium of Thales Alenia Space and Maxar, as one of two contractors for its LEO system design phase to design an end-to-end communications system, including satellites, landing stations, user terminals, operations centers, and ground network. In January, the consortium, led by Thales Alenia Space, announced the success of the System Requirements Review. The Thales Alenia Space / Maxar design for Telesat LEO is based on the combined companies' proven experience, industrial capability and a strong supplier base for fully integrated communications satellite systems, including payload antenna design, on-board processing, optical inter-satellite links and LEO satellite production. This milestone is the result of fruitful and efficient teamwork between the two commercial companies. “Together with Maxar, we bring a strong expertise in integrated systems, high throughput payloads, advanced antennas and processors, as well as production heritage for constellations of high technology satellites. Leveraging the flight proven success of sophisticated constellations deployed by Thales Alenia Space, we are confident to enable Telesat LEO to deliver low-risk, breakthrough performance and affordability dedicated to broadband services around the world,” declared Martin Van Schaik, Senior VP Sales and Marketing Thales Alenia Space. “Achieving this milestone demonstrates the success of Maxar's close collaboration with Thales Alenia Space and highlights the progress we've made in our innovative and low-risk design for Telesat's LEO constellation. Our solution leverages both Maxar and Thales Alenia Space's experience in building LEO constellations and also integrates advanced technologies from Maxar's MDA business,” said Megan Fitzgerald, Maxar's Senior Vice President and General Manager of Space Solutions. “For over 60 years, Maxar has helped to address many of the world's most challenging communications requirements, delivering some of the most complex, powerful and highest capacity satellite systems, and building a better, more connected world.” The operations of DigitalGlobe, SSL and Radiant Solutions were unified under the Maxar brand in February; MDA continues to operate as an independent business unit within the Maxar organization. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190506005173/en

Par Bruno TREVIDIC La décision du gouvernement allemand de suspendre les exportations d'armes à l'Arabie saoudite a déjà coûté à Airbus plus de 190 millions d'euros. L'embargo allemand sur les ventes d'armes à l'Arabie saoudite a coûté très cher à Airbus et le groupe d'aéronautique et défense envisage désormais de présenter la facture à Berlin. Selon un article du « Spiegel » publié vendredi, Airbus envisagerait de porter plainte devant les tribunaux allemands, contre la décision du gouvernement fédéral. « Nous nous réservons la possibilité d'engager un recours », a confirmé un porte-parole du groupe. Un impact de 190 millions d'euros Lors de la présentation des résultats du premier trimestre , le 30 avril, les dirigeants d'Airbus avaient chiffré à 190 millions d'euros, l'impact financier de la suspension des licences d'exportation de matériel militaire à l'Arabie saoudite. Une somme à laquelle s'ajouterait une partie des 83 millions d'euros « liés à l'écart de comptabilisation des paiements avant livraisons et aux réévaluations bilancielles ». De quoi expliquer partiellement la forte baisse du résultat net d'Airbus au premier trimestre. Un contrat de 2,5 milliards d'euros Pour le groupe européen, la potion est d'autant plus amère que le principal contrat avec l'Arabie saoudite visé par cet embargo allemand ne porte pas véritablement sur des ventes d'armes. Il s'agit d'un contrat signé dès 2009 pour un système complet de sécurisation des 9.000 km de frontières du royaume, associant tous les moyens de détection et de surveillance, d'une valeur totale d'environ 2,5 milliards d'euros, et qui devait être partiellement fabriqué sur le site Airbus de Donauwörth, près de Munich. D'où l'envie d'aller en contester la légalité devant les tribunaux allemands. Exportations impopulaires Toutefois d'autres programmes militaires auxquels le groupe Airbus participe sont également concernés par le gel des exportations d'armes à Ryad, parmi lesquelles les avions de combat Eurofighter Typhoon, l'avion de ravitaillement en vol A330 MRTT, des hélicoptères, des missiles MBDA... A tel point que plusieurs des partenaires européens de l'Allemagne, au premier rang desquels la France , se sont émus de cette situation. Sans effet jusqu'à présent sur le gouvernement d'Angela Merkel, qui sait l'impopularité des ventes d'armes au sein de son opinion publique. La décision de Berlin de stopper les ventes d'armes à l'Arabie saoudite avait été annoncée en octobre dernier, suite à l'émotion suscitée par l'assassinat du journaliste Jamal Khashoggi au consulat d'Arabie saoudite à Istanbul. A l'époque, Berlin avait toutefois évoqué une mesure provisoire. Mais depuis, ce moratoire a déjà été prolongé à trois reprises, rendant de plus en plus improbable la réalisation des contrats. Bruno Trévidic https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/vente-darmes-airbus-envisage-de-porter-plainte-contre-berlin-1016128

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, was awarded a maximum $23,000,000 modification (P00019) for an existing non-competitive, single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (H92222-16-D-0031) for Mid-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems (MEUAS) 1.5B intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services. The $23,000,000 increase to a ceiling of $273,000,000 prevents gaps in ISR services until all task orders are transitioned to the current competitive MEUAS III contracts. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,354,530 are available for obligation at the task order level. U.S. Special Operations Command Headquarters, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity. NAVY Valiant Global Defense Services Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded $15,913,990 for firm-fixed-price task order M67854-19-F-7884 under previously award contract M67854-19-D-7876 to provide support services for the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Training Support Service (MTSS), MAGTF Staff Training Program (MSTP). Services will include pre-deployment training programs to Marine Corps operating forces, as well as command, control, communications, and computer mobile training team training at the functional and executive level to commanders and battle staffs, and technical training for operators and information managers. Work will be performed in Quantico, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $5,380,849 will be obligated at the time of award and these funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was competitively awarded under a multiple award task order contract. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contract activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $7,514,515 for modification P00015 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-fee contract (N0001918C1048) to establish organic depot component repair capabilities for the F-35 Lightning II Air Interceptor System in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. Work will be performed in Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom (81.6 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (18.4 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Air Force); and fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy, Marine Corp. and Air Force) funds in the amount of $7,514,515 are being obligated at time of award, $3,757,257 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($3,757,257; 50 percent); Marine Corps ($1,878,629; 25 percent); and Navy ($1,878,629; 25 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY A4 Construction Company Inc.,* Sandy, Utah, was awarded a $12,309,817 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a Special Operation Forces Human Performance Training Center. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed in Fort Carson, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of May 6, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $12,309,817 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (W9128F-19-C-0018). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Federal Prison Industries, Inc.,** doing business as UNICOR, Washington, District of Columbia, has been awarded a maximum $9,558,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for parkas. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Washington, District of Columbia; and Kentucky, with a May 2, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-F024). *Small business **Mandatory source https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1836925/source/GovDelivery/

Par Anthony Rey La TeleScop, start-up coopérative montpelliéraine spécialisée en télédétection et cartographie, annonce un accord de partenariat avec Airbus Defence and Space : elle va assurer la distribution de ses produits et services en matière d'imagerie spatiale. Première société coopérative et participative (scop) spécialisée dans les services en télédétection spatiale et cartographie, la TeleScop a annoncé, le 30 avril, la signature d'une convention de partenariat avec Airbus Defence and Space, la branche Espace du groupe Airbus. La start-up coopérative va désormais assurer la distribution des produits et services d'Airbus Defence and Space destinés aux entreprises et organisations intéressées par l'observation de la Terre par satellite, avec cette plus-value par rapport aux autres distributeurs du groupe : l'accompagnement des entreprises à l'exploitation des données. Cofondateur de la TeleScop à Montpellier en 2018, Bastien Nguyen Duy-Bardakji a déjà collaboré avec Airbus, entre 2011 et 2016, au sein de GeoSud, un Centre international de télédétection et information spatiale pour le développement durable créé à Montpellier dans le cadre du Programme Investissements d'Avenir. "Son expertise en capteurs satellitaires et imagerie spatiale ainsi que sa connaissance des thématiques d'application ont convaincu Airbus de poursuivre la collaboration en confiant à la TeleScop la diffusion de ses produits et services auprès des utilisateurs français et européens", fait savoir la scop montpelliéraine. Techniquement, la TeleScop distribuera une gamme de produits adressant différents besoins client : produits d'optique à très haute résolution spatiale, données radar, modèles numériques de terrain, etc. Elle proposera aussi son appui dans l'utilisation de services thématique d'Airbus, notamment dans l'agriculture de précision, la déforestation, ou la cartographie des terres émergées. Créée en septembre 2018, la TeleScop compte quatre salariés. Elle affiche plusieurs collaborations en cours avec des bureaux d'études (Dark Sky Lab), des laboratoires de recherche (LOTERR, TETIS), des développeurs de logiciels libres (Mkina Coprus), etc. https://objectif-languedoc-roussillon.latribune.fr/entreprises/industrie/2019-05-02/la-telescop-signe-avec-airbus-defence-and-space-815895.html

AIR FORCE Black River Systems Co.,* Utica, New York, has been awarded an $88,733,141 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for operational counter-small unmanned aircraft systems (s-UAS) open systems architecture software/hardware systems. This contract provides for system analysis, simulation and modeling, technique development, hardware and software rapid prototyping, integration, test, demonstration, data analysis, transition, operational assessment, and hardware and software enhancement relative to the objective. Work will be performed in Utica, New York, and is expected to be complete by May 1, 2022. This award is the result of a Small Business Innovation Research III contract. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,031,500; and fiscal 2018 and 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $9,716,140, are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-0040). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. Mission Systems, Chantilly, Virginia, has been awarded an $82,320,000 cost contract for Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization (EPS-R) Control and Planning Segment (CAPS). This contract provides for the development of software to address international host accommodations for new out of band link functions, cyber architecture, orbit planning, and the capability for controlling four EPS Payloads simultaneously on a single software baseline. Work will be performed in Redondo Beach, California, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $14,700,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Military Satellite Communications Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8808-19-C-0001). Engility Corp., Andover, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $58,486,192 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development. This contract provides for the enhancement of airman combat survivability by enabling forces to counter optical hazards and threats while exploiting optical systems. The goal of the research is to further scientific knowledge of optical radiation to protect against and exploit physical, physiological, psychological, and other effects of optical radiation. Work will be performed primarily at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,997,330 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Research Site, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-C-6024). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Orbital Sciences Corp. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems), Chandler, Arizona, is being awarded a $46,809,398 cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-award-fee modification (P00237) to a previously awarded contract (HQ0147-11-C-0006). The value of this contract is being increased from $1,209,315,046 by $46,809,398 to $1,256,124,444. Under this modification, the contractor will provide Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target capability upgrade kits and associated nonrecurring engineering. The work will be performed in Chandler, Arizona. The performance period is from April 2019 through December 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $12,730,000 are being obligated on this award. One offer was solicited and one offer was received. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. NAVY Harper Construction Co. Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded $41,578,195 for firm-fixed-price task order N6247319F4561 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-18-D-5853) for construction of a maintenance and warehouse facility at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The work to be performed provides for a design-build project, consisting of demolition of existing structures, utilities, and pavement, to make room for a new amphibious vehicle maintenance complex. The complex will include a maintenance facility, general purpose warehouse, armory, overhead cover structure, and a general storage area. New utilities and pavement will be added to the maintenance complex. Work will be performed in Oceanside, California, and is expected to be completed by June 2022. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $41,578,195 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Seven proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Magnum Medical Overseas JV LLC, Angleton, Texas, is awarded a $20,800,000 firm-fixed-price contract for educational and developmental intervention services at naval military treatment facilities and any associated branch clinics outside the contiguous U.S. Pacific and Atlantic regions to include: Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan (20 percent); Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan (20 percent); Naval Hospital Guam, Guam (20 percent); Naval Hospital Sigonella, Italy (20 percent); Naval Hospital Rota, Spain (10 percent); and Naval Hospital Naples, Italy (10 percent). This is a five-year single award contract and all work is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2019 Defense Health Program funds in the amount of $2,198,241 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. The Naval Medical Logistics Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N62645-19-C-0003). AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, is awarded a $20,452,716 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-14-C-6322 for engineering and technical services for the Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) Unmanned Surface Vehicle program. The UISS is the system which will allow the Littoral Combat Ship to perform its mine warfare sweep mission. UISS will target acoustic, magnetic, and magnetic/acoustic combination mine types. The UISS program will satisfy the Navy's need for a rapid, wide-area coverage mine clearance capability, required to neutralize magnetic/acoustic influence mines. UISS seeks to provide a high area coverage rate in a small, lightweight package with minimal impact on the host platform. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland (70 percent); and Slidell, Louisiana (30 percent), and is expected to be complete by September 2019. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $7,670,225 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. ARMY Luhr Brothers Inc., Columbia, Illinois, was awarded a $22,936,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Mississippi River and tributaries flood control. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in New Orleans, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of May 1, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $22,936,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W912P8-19-D-0010). Pond & Co., Metairie, Louisiana (W912BV-19-D-0007); Jacobs Government Services Co., Fort Worth, Texas (W912BV-19-D-0008); and Michael Baker International Inc., Moon Township, Pennsylvania (W912BV-19-D-0009), will compete for each order of the $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineer master planning services. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 1, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY National Industries For The Blind,** has been awarded a maximum $15,036,000 modification (P00007) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-17-D-B022) with two one-year option periods for Army Physical Fitness Uniform (APFU) jackets. This is an indefinite-delivery contract. Locations of performance are North Carolina and Maryland, with a May 10, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $9,362,924 firm-fixed-priced delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-LG07) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-14-G-001X) with no option periods for aircraft spare parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.301-1. Location of performance is Texas, with a Feb. 28, 2021, performance completion date. Using customers are Navy and Japan. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 Navy working capital funds and foreign military sales. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. CORRECTION: The contracts announced on April 26, 2019, for Sea Box,* Cinnaminson, New Jersey (SPRD11-19-D-0100; $471,828,000); W&K Containers,* Mill Valley, California (SPRDL1-19-D-0101; $19,513,750); and NexGen Composites,* Franklin, Ohio (SPRDL1-19-D-0097, $253,608,919), were announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is May 2, 2019. They were also announced without the solicitation number. The solicitation number is SPRDL1-18-R-0353. *Small business **Mandatory source https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1834495/source/GovDelivery/

Mike Rees GE Aviation has announced the introduction of a new advanced avionics computer specifically built for military and commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This new computer provides an open architecture design that integrates vehicle management and advanced mission processing into a compact, lightweight design. “Our customers have told us that they require an integrated vehicle and mission processing solution that is secure, rugged, low size, weight and power and capable of meeting the needs of demanding autonomous platforms,” said Alan Caslavka, president of Avionics for GE Aviation. “This new system hits it out of the park in this regard and then builds from there in terms of bringing new capabilities to the next generation of unmanned systems.” This new system incorporates the processing power required for mission functions such as sensor processing at the edge and hosting autonomy enabling algorithms and then also embeds an inertial/GPS package, software defined radio, datalink and an optional solid-state storage device. Caslavka added, “The new system incorporates diverse processing that's capable of performing safety critical and non-critical functions while bringing a new level of security to legacy and future platforms.” The system integrates the functionality traditionally provided by up to six separate electronic units into a single package which drives out weight, power, and cost while meeting the security, exportability, ruggedness and processing needs of customers. GE's advanced avionics computer has undergone flight testing and is in use by a number of military and civil customers. The computer incorporates a hardware and software open architecture approach that offers flexibility and scalability. This design also provides the capability to host GE, customer and third-party software applications to maximize its versatility. https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2019/05/advanced-avionics-computer-introduced-for-unmanned-vehicles/

By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — The Air Force has a new science and technology strategy, and it's built around the idea that the service needs to generate leap-ahead capabilities like the 1950s-era Century Series that spawned six new fighter jets in five years. To do that, the service wants to restructure about 20 percent of its S&T efforts into “vanguard programs” that will tie together different developmental efforts across the Air Force's research institutions and experiment with them to see whether it shows promise. “If you're playing hockey, you shouldn't be shooting where the goalie is. You should be shooting where the goalie isn't,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said Wednesday. “So the idea with part of this strategy is to assess where our adversaries can't easily go and get there first and fastest. That's a winning strategy.” Among the new strategy's biggest changes is the addition of a new position, the Air Force's chief technology officer, who will be charged with coordinating efforts across the S&T enterprise and making strategic decisions about the direction of the service's development efforts, to include the vanguard programs. This yet-to-be-named official will work directly with the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability team, which is defining future concepts of operation and helping the service understand what technologies it needs to meet advanced threats. Wilson wasn't sure exactly when the CTO will be named, but she's already signed a memorandum that makes Will Roper, the service's acquisition executive, responsible for hiring a “design agent” that will figure out how to best structure the CTO office within the Air Force and help select the new official. “One of the things that this design agent will do is start to look in at acquisition, how will we change both possibly the organizational reporting lines for research, but [also] how will we manage that and change that over time,” she said. “This is not something where we're going to flip a switch today, but it does mean over time we're going to change the way we manage our research dollars.” Still unknown is whether the new strategy will impact the size or makeup of the S&T budget, which runs about $2.8 billion per year. The Air Force also hasn't identified any potential vanguard programs yet, officials said. “For some things, if it's smaller, that could be really quick” and result in an experimentation program similar to the light attack program, said Lt Gen. Arnold Bunch, the service's top uniformed acquisition official. “Or it could be a big project that we align a lot of dollars to” so that it can transition quickly to a program of record. The service also wants to use vanguard programs to fuse together emerging technologies in their early stages of development, which are usually developed in a more stovepiped manner, said Air Force Chief Scientist Richard Joseph. “If it doesn't work well, then we know at a very early stage the kinds of things we have to work on and change,” he said. “This is probably a less expensive vanguard, but it's one that's really vital and important.” Although no specific vanguard projects have been announced, the S&T strategy identifies five technology areas where it wants to see “transformational” growth: Complexity, Unpredictability and Mass The military has talked for years about the need for swarms of autonomous drones and space systems that can be purchased on the cheap, and the Air Force continues to see a need for such assets in the future to augment their legacy fleet of exquisite platforms. “Progress will rely heavily on a wide range of robotics and autonomy technologies, along with sensors and wireless communications,” the strategy states. “The growing autonomous vehicle market provides an industrial and applied research base that the Air Force can leverage, but military research is needed well beyond what can be expected from the commercial sector.” Speed and Reach of Disruption and Lethality The Air Force needs a more diverse inventory of weapons that are faster and have longer endurance. Although hypersonic weapons — and enabling technologies like scramjet propulsion and high-temperature materials — might be the most visible program for such investment, the S&T strategy notes several others such as low-cost cruise missiles and guided munitions. Microwave and laser-directed energy weapons hold potential for decreasing the cost of shooting down a target. The service also sees promise in “advanced penetrating kinetic weapons combined with new effects from the electromagnetic spectrum and the space and cyberspace domains to create new offensive and defensive options.” Global Persistent Awareness The platforms the Air Force uses for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance — everything from the U-2 spyplane to its missile warning satellites to the cameras on an MQ-9 Reaper — have given the service unparalleled access to information. But those assets are too expensive, can't stay long enough on station, and lack the survivability needed to stand up against more advanced threats. Further, it takes far too long to process the information from these legacy systems, and too much manpower is needed to turn that data into actionable intelligence. The strategy posits a move toward distributed, low-cost sensors where information can be fused together to “provide resilience through numbers and redundancy and complement more exquisite sensors on standoff platforms.” Small satellites and low cost launch can help enable this architecture, as can “edge computing” that “autonomously analyzes sensor data at the source” and reduces the burden on legacy communications nodes. The strategy also recommends investment in new sensing technologies — such as laser and multistatic radar, hyperspectral sensing and quantum field sensing—as well as the microelectronics, photonics and other materials that are used to build sensors. Resilient Information Sharing The Air Force relies on its battle networks in order for fighter jets to get accurate targeting information, to share intelligence across platforms, and to conduct close air support of troops on the ground. But despite huge advances in commercial communications technologies, the Air Force “cannot rely” on the private sector for information sharing capabilities that are able to resist electronic attacks, cyberattacks and GPS jamming. “The military's demands on these capabilities exceed the limits of current wireless network technology, even under favorable circumstances,” the S&T strategy reads. “In future conflicts, the challenge will be far beyond any of those encountered in the commercial sector.” As such, the Air Force will need to field more flexible and survivable battle networks that can autonomously reconfigure itself when threatened. The service sees promise in areas such as software-defined systems, more resilient satellites, encryption and alternate position, navigation and timing systems. Rapid, Effective Decision Making Air Force Chef of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein has spoken at length about the need for the Air Force to move the right information to users more quickly. To do that, the serviced will need to continue investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, predictive data analytics, data fusion and visualization, and autonomous electronic warfare and cyber. “Automation is especially important in electronic and cyberwarfare where contests occur at far-beyond-human speeds,” the strategy states. “Where possible, automation can assist electronic warfare, cybersystems, and other means to hinder the adversary's decision-making by introducing uncertainty.” https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2019/04/17/these-are-the-five-areas-where-the-air-force-wants-to-see-an-explosion-of-technology

ARMY Callan Marine Ltd., Galveston, Texas (W912EP-19-D-0023); Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting Co. LLC, Quincy, Massachusetts (W912EP-19-D-0024); Cavache Inc.,* Pompano Beach, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0025 ); Continental Heavy Civil Corp., Miami, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0026 ); Cottrell Contracting Inc.,* Chesapeake, Virginia (W912EP-19-D-0027); Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, Oak Brook, Illinois (W912EP-19-D-0028); J.T. Cleary Inc., Spring Valley, New York (W912EP-19-D-0029); Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington (W912EP-19-D-0030); Marinex Construction Inc., Charleston, South Carolina (W912EP-19-D-0031); Norfolk Dredging Co., Chesapeake, Virginia (W912EP-19-D-0032); Orion Marine Construction Inc., Tampa, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0033); Southern Dredging Co. Inc.,* Charleston, South Carolina (W912EP-19-D-0034); The Dutra Group, San Rafael, California (W912EP-19-D-0035); Waterfront Property Service LLC, doing business as Gator Dredging,* Clearwater, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0036 ); Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, Louisiana (W912EP-19-D-0037); Cavache Inc.,* Pompano Beach, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0038); CJW Construction Inc.,* Santa Ana, California (W912EP-19-D-0039); Coastal Dredging Co. Inc.,* Hammond, Louisiana (W912EP-19-D-0040); Cottrell Contracting Inc.,* Chesapeake, Virginia (W912EP-19-D-0041); Florida Dredge and Dock LLC,* Tarpon Springs, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0042); Southern Dredging Co. Inc.,* Charleston, South Carolina (W912EP-19-D-0043); Southwind Construction Corp.,* Evansville, Indiana (W912EP-19-D-0044); and Waterfront Property Service LLC, doing business as Gator Dredging,* Clearwater, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0045), will compete for each order of the $495,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging and shore protection projects. Bids were solicited via the internet with 24 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. HB&A LLC,* Colorado Springs, Colorado (W9128F-19-D-0004); Kenneth Hahn Architects Inc.,* Omaha, Nebraska (W9128F-19-D-0005); and Yeager Architecture Inc.,* Overland Park, Kansas (W9128F-19-D-0006), will compete for each order of the $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for preparation of studies, analysis and design services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 22 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. PRIDE Industries, Roseville, California, was awarded a $20,122,695 modification (P00008) to contract W91247-18-C-0011 for repair and maintenance support. Work will be performed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $5,772,517 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Polk, Louisiana, is the contracting activity. A. WBE-CCI JV One LLC,* Itasca, Illinois, was awarded a $7,828,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a new Air National Guard Fire Crash Rescue Station. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Peoria, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $7,828,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office Illinois is the contracting activity (W91SMC-19-C-6001). S.D.S Lumber Co.,* Bingen, Washington, was awarded a $7,757,620 modification (P00007) to contract W912EF-18-C-0010 for towboat services. Work will be performed in Walla Walla, Washington, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $3,638,716 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla, Washington, is the contracting activity. STG Inc.,* Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $7,645,240 firm-fixed-price contract for operational and technical engineering. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,645,240 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91RUS-19-F-0142). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Beacon Point Associates LLC, Cape Coral, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $49,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical/surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 16 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no options. Location of performance is Florida, with a May 14, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-19-D-0005). Allied Tube and Conduit Corp., Harvey, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $46,000,000 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for barbed tape concertina wire. This is a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a two-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Illinois and Ohio, with an April 30, 2022, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E6-19-D-0002). American Medical Depot (AMD), Miramar, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $45,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical/surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 11 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a June 11, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-19-D-0009). Kandor Manufacturing Inc., Kandor, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $13,896,462 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Navy working uniform, Blouses/Trousers Type II and III, and maternity blouses. This was a competitive acquisition with five responses received. This is an 18-month base contract with three one-year option periods. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with an Oct. 29, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1163). (Awarded April 30, 2019) AIR FORCE Rockwell Collins Inc., Collins Aerospace – Mission Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $43,033,042 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for Next Generation Application Specific Integrated Circuit Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This contract provides for the design, develop, and test of modernized Global Positioning System receivers that are intended for future military applications to the PDR level. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be complete by April 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $9,000,000 are being obligated at time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8807-19-C-0003). International Business Machines Corp., Yorktown Heights, New York, has been awarded a $7,500,000 other transaction agreement for experimental purposes to provide an IBM Q access license. This agreement provides for remote access to the IBM Q System, a quantum computer with approximately 20 to 50 qubits. Work will be performed in Yorktown Heights, New York, and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $5,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-9-0334). NAVY Systems Application and Technologies Inc., Largo, Maryland, is awarded a $14,583,586 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to procure continued support services to the Air Vehicle Modification and Instrumentation (AVMI) Department and the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). Required services include support for the designing, developing, procuring, building, installing, testing and evaluating, calibrating, modifying, operating and maintaining instrumentation on aircraft and engines for the Navy and other government and commercial customers. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Maryland (74 percent); China Lake, California (13.5 percent); and Point Mugu, California (12.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2020. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-C-0023). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1831787/source/GovDelivery/