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L'investissement obtenu permettra à l'entreprise de créer jusqu'à 15 nouveaux emplois de haut calibre à l'échelon local et de décrocher des occasions d'affaires internationales PORT ALBERNI, BC, le 11 oct. 2018 /CNW/ - Les Canadiens bénéficieront d'une industrie de l'aérospatiale plus dynamique et de meilleures technologies aériennes de lutte contre les incendies de forêt, en partie gr'ce au nouvel investissement accordé à une entreprise de la Colombie-Britannique qui se spécialise dans la fabrication d'avions bombardiers d'eau. Aujourd'hui, la ministre des Services publics et de l'Approvisionnement et de l'Accessibilité et présidente du Comité spécial du Cabinet chargé des efforts fédéraux de rétablissement après les feux de forêt de 2017 et de 2018 en Colombie-Britannique, l'honorable Carla Qualtrough, a annoncé, au nom du ministre de l'Innovation, des Sciences et du Développement économique, l'honorable Navdeep Bains, l'octroi d'un investissement remboursable de près de 3,4 millions de dollars à Coulson Aircrane Ltd., une petite compagnie dans le domaine de l'aviation établie à Port Alberni, en Colombie-Britannique. Cet investissement contribuera à créer de bons emplois pour la classe moyenne et à consolider la place de Coulson au sein de la chaîne d'approvisionnement de l'industrie de l'aérospatiale. Le projet favorisera la collaboration avec des établissements postsecondaires, permettra aux travailleurs d'acquérir des compétences clés et sera une source de nouvelle propriété intellectuelle pour le Canada. Ce financement aidera Coulson à mener à bien son projet inédit de recherche-développement (R-D) mettant en jeu la conversion d'appareils Boeing 737 en avions à double usage -- à la fois bombardiers d'eau et transporteurs de passagers -- qui pourront servir à la lutte contre les incendies au Canada et ailleurs dans le monde. L'investissement est octroyé par l'entremise du Fonds stratégique pour l'innovation, un programme qui vise à attirer et à soutenir des investissements commerciaux d'envergure dans tous les secteurs de l'économie en encourageant la R-D qui accélère le transfert des technologies et la commercialisation de produits, de processus et de services novateurs, et facilite la croissance d'entreprises novatrices. Citations « L'appui offert par notre gouvernement à Coulson Aircrane démontre notre engagement à l'égard du secteur canadien de l'aérospatiale -- un secteur qui contribue énormément à l'économie nationale sur le plan de l'innovation et des emplois bien rémunérés. En investissant dans des projets novateurs comme celui de Coulson, nous créons de nouvelles occasions pour les Canadiens d'un océan à l'autre. C'est ce à quoi sert le Fonds stratégique pour l'innovation : investir dans l'innovation aujourd'hui pour les emplois de demain. » -- Le ministre de l'Innovation, des Sciences et du Développement économique, l'honorable Navdeep Bains « Les compagnies novatrices comme Coulson Aircrane ont un rôle crucial à jouer dans le plan de notre gouvernement pour favoriser la croissance économique et créer des emplois bien rémunérés de classe moyenne pour les Britanno-Colombiens. Cette entreprise est un chef de file mondial dans le domaine des avions bombardiers d'eau et un exemple parlant du travail de qualité supérieure qui est réalisé dans cette région par les gens hautement talentueux de la Colombie-Britannique. La mise au point de cette technologie novatrice permettra de mieux protéger nos forêts contre les incendies et d'accroître l'efficacité de la lutte contre les feux de forêt en assurant le transport simultané de personnel et de produits ignifuges. Il s'agit d'une démonstration remarquable du leadership du Canada dans une économie axée sur les technologies. » -- La ministre des Services publics et de l'Approvisionnement, l'honorable Carla Qualtrough « Coulson Aviation se réjouit de l'annonce faite par la ministre Qualtrough d'un appui du gouvernement du Canada à l'innovation au pays. Cet investissement a été capital pour notre projet de conversion des avions de ligne en avions-citernes, appareils qui seront utilisés aussi bien pour le transport de passagers que pour la lutte contre les incendies. Les travaux de conversion ont été réalisés ici, à l'aéroport de Port Alberni et représentent 140 000 heures de travail pour les membres de la collectivité. Nous sommes fiers du fait qu'à l'automne, les avions-citernes récemment modifiés pourront être mis en service et serviront à la lutte contre les incendies de par le monde. Et nous avons aussi entrepris la conversion d'un autre appareil. » -- Le président-directeur général du Coulson Group, Wayne Coulson Les faits en bref Coulson Aircrane est une entreprise familiale spécialisée dans le domaine de la lutte aérienne contre les incendies de forêt. L'entreprise travaille avec des organismes de lutte contre les incendies au Canada, aux États-Unis et en Australie. Le secteur canadien de l'aérospatiale englobe 700 entreprises, injecte directement près de 12,6 milliards de dollars dans le PIB du Canada et emploie plus de 85 000 Canadiens. Le Fonds stratégique pour l'innovation est un programme polyvalent qui prend en compte la diversité de l'innovation dans tous les secteurs de l'économie. Outre le Fonds stratégique pour l'innovation, des centaines de programmes et de services sont en place pour aider les entreprises à innover, à créer des emplois et à stimuler l'économie du Canada. Gr'ce à son interface utilisateur simple, la plateforme Innovation Canada permet aux entreprises de raconter leur histoire et d'accéder, en deux minutes environ, à l'information sur les programmes et les services qui leur conviennent le mieux. Suivez Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada sur Twitter : @ISDE_CA SOURCE Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada Renseignements : Nilani Logeswaran, Attachée de presse par intérim, Cabinet du ministre de l'Innovation, des Sciences et du Développement économique, 613-668-1794; Relations avec les médias, Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada, 343-291-1777, ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/une-entreprise-de-lile-de-vancouver-fait-progresser-linnovation-dans-le-secteur-de-laerospatiale-et-les-technologies-de-lutte-contre-les-incendies-696992471.html

ARMY L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Mississippi (W58RGZ-18-D-0008); AAR Supply Chain Inc., Wood Dale, Illinois (W58RGZ-18-D-0030); Dyncorp International Inc., Fort Worth, Texas (W58RGZ-18-D-0031); Arma Aviation Corp., Tampa, Florida (W58RGZ-18-D-0032); North American Surveillance Systems Inc.,* Titusville, Florida (W58RGZ-18-D-0033); Pinnacle Solutions Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama (W58RGZ-18-D-0034); Black Hall Aerospace Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama (W58RGZ-19-D-0008); and Leidos Innovations Corp., Gaithersburg, Maryland (W58RGZ-19-D-0009), will share in a $25,500,000,000 cost, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for worldwide logistics support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 11, 2028. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AECOM Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California (W912DQ-19-D-3001); Black & Veatch - Geosyntec JV, Overland Park, Kansas (W912DQ-19-D-3002); and Ecology and Environment Inc., Lancaster, New York (W912DQ-19-D-3003), will share in a $120,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for multiple environmental government acquisition unrestricted architect-engineer services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 10, 2023. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity. L-3 Communications Corp., Muskegon, Michigan, was awarded a $29,937,585 modification (P00061) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0119 for hydro mechanically propelled transmissions for the Integrated Logistics Support Center. Work will be performed in Muskegon, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 11, 2018. Fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds in the amount of $29,937,585 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Rolls-Royce North American Technologies-LibertyWorks, Indianapolis, Indiana, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $100,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract (FA8650-19-D-2063) for Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission-Capability (ATTAM) Phase I. The mission of the ATTAM Phase I program is to develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced turbine propulsion, power and thermal technologies that provides improvement in affordable mission capability. This approach extends to a range of legacy, emerging, and future military propulsion, power and thermal technology needs in multiple applications. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by October 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 54 offers were received. No specific funds are obligated on the basic IDIQ, although in conjunction with the basic IDIQ award, the first task order (FA8650-19-F-2078) is incrementally funded with fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $17,000 at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Marketing Assessment Inc., Sterling, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $48,125,000 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for medical equipment. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. This was a competitive acquisition with 20 responses received. Location of performance is Virginia, with an Oct. 10, 2023, 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 (SPE2D1-19-D-0002). Goodrich Corp., Rome, New York, has been awarded a maximum $11,098,944 firm‐fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite‐quantity contract for tail rotor shaft assemblies. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five‐year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a Sept. 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2018 through 2023 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-18-D-0231). Timken Aerospace Drive Systems LLC, Manchester, Connecticut, has been awarded a maximum $7,240,500 firm-fixed-price contract for aircraft gearbox assemblies. This was a limited competitive acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 (a)(2), with one offer received. This is a one-time buy with no option periods. Location of performance is Connecticut, with a May 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-19-C-0001). *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1659712/source/GovDelivery/

By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — With Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis issuing new guidancedemanding readiness for tactical air assets increase in just one year, the Pentagon is openly acknowledging that older planes will have to be retired and cannibalized for parts to make it happen. The department will also look to overhaul how it handles its supply chain, according to the department's No. 2 official. In a September memo, first reported by Defense News, Mattis ordered the Air Force, Navy and Marines to get the Pentagon's fleets of F-16, F-18, F-22 and F-35 fighters to a minimum of 80 percent mission ready. That would represent a major jump in readiness over a short period of time, raising skepticism amongst analysts. From a pure numbers-on-paper standpoint, the easiest way for getting readiness rates up on the fleet would involve retiring older, less ready aircraft — essentially increasing the percentage of good-to-go planes by reducing the overall size of the fleets. Such a move may not be popular on the Hill, which routinely complains about the size of the military compared with previous eras. But it's a logical step being endorsed by both Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Gen. Robert Neller, the Marine Corps chief of staff. “You gotta get rid of airplanes. At some point, you gotta get rid of the old ones,” Neller told reporters Wednesday at a Defense Writer's Group event, when asked how he would hit that 80 percent mark. Neller added that such a move has to be part of a broader spectrum of moves, including better quality parts from vendors, being more efficient with maintainers, and adjusting the flying hours for pilots to make sure the wings aren't being worn off on jets. “It's not going to be a single thing, so we've got to do our part,” he added. Speaking to reporters at the AUSA conference the same day, Shanahan seemed to zero in on the oldest Navy jets as ones that could be retired. “Well, when you look at the size of the fleet of the F-18s, you got [F-18A models] out there, then you look at what it would take to restore them to a certain level of readiness, you might say it's much easier just to retire those,” he said. “So, I mean, there's a mix of answers.” “It probably doesn't make sense to generate a lot of activity to make something that is older more reliable, but when you think about the joint strike fighter and the hundreds of those that we're going to take, 80 percent should be the minimum, OK? It shouldn't be some aspirational goal, it should be the minimum.” However, he pushed back at the idea that anyone will “game the system” to get those readiness percentages up. Commercial practices In the memo, Mattis specifically notes the commercial aviation industry is able to maintain higher readiness rates and directs the service to look that way for inspiration. “I am confident in our department's ability to generate additional capacity from our current aircraft inventory, alongside the commercial aviation industry's sustainment of high availability rates,” Mattis wrote. “As we seek to achieve our goals, we can learn from industry's benchmarks for measuring speed, cost and mission capability, as well as its best practices for implementing a sustainable, Department-wide system.” Shanahan, who will be the overall leader of the readiness rate improvement efforts, is a longtime Boeing executive who worked directly on a number of commercial jet production programs. And to him, there are absolutely lessons that can be drawn from passenger aviation. “A jet engine is a jet engine; no one will convince me otherwise,” he said. “I've lived in both worlds, I've been on more airplanes than anybody in the United States, I know these things, OK?” The deputy said his focus was on helping the service develop “methods, systems and practices” that will lead to systemic changes in how maintenance is done and provide dividends for years to come. “When you look at the F-18s, this is the same size of fleet as Southwest has. It's not a super-large fleet, they're all basically the same,” Shanahan noted. “So how do we put in place, you know, the support practices and the parts so that people aren't working as hard?” The need to keep part quality and quantity up were on display just a day after Shanahan and Neller's comments. On Thursday, the Pentagon ordered a temporary stop to flying the F-35 as it investigated a fuel tube inside the engines of the fleet. That same day, an F-22 crashed on its side following a landing gear malfunction. During his talk with reporters, the Navy was singled out as already having committed to improving their methodologies. And he called out the need to “restructure” how both the Navy and Air Force handle their supply chains — something he said will ultimately bleed over into maintenance beyond the four selected jet fleets. “The real end game to me is as a department, how do we end up with a single sustainment system? And what was good about this is that once you get the F-18 right, it spills over into the P-8, because they're side-by-side, so [the P-8 maintainers] going to be like, ‘Those guys, they're working a lot less hard than we are and they're getting much better results, why don't we just do it that way?' “And then as people see the methods they apply to shipbuilding or ship maintenance,” he added. Shawn Snow of Marine Corps Times contributed to this report. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/10/11/to-up-fighter-readiness-levels-pentagon-looks-to-retire-older-planes-and-fix-supply-chains

By: Tara Copp and Shawn Snow The Pentagon announced Thursday it is grounding its entire fleet of F-35s, just days after the first crash of an F-35B led investigators to suspect there is a widespread problem with the advanced fighter's fuel tubes. “The U.S. Services and international partners have temporarily suspended F-35 flight operations while the enterprise conducts a fleet-wide inspection of a fuel tube within the engine on all F-35 aircraft,” the F-35 Joint Program Office announced in a statement Thursday morning. “If suspect fuel tubes are installed, the part will be removed and replaced. If known good fuel tubes are already installed, then those aircraft will be returned to flight status. Inspections are expected to be completed within the next 24 to 48 hours.” The office said the grounding “is driven from initial data from the ongoing investigation of the F-35B that crashed in the vicinity of Beaufort, South Carolina on 28 September. The aircraft mishap board is continuing its work and the U.S. Marine Corps will provide additional information when it becomes available.” In the Sept. 28 crash in South Carolina near the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, the pilot safely ejected from the aircraft, which belonged to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, known as the “Warlords.” While the F-35′s U.S-based Joint Program Office had indicated that the grounding included aircraft purchased by foreign militaries, the British military signaled Monday that its entire fleet is not grounded. The F-35 Joint Program Office has said safety is a top priority. “The primary goal following any mishap is the prevention of future incidents. We will take every measure to ensure safe operations while we deliver, sustain and modernize the F-35 for the warfighter and our defense partners.” The U.S. grounding comes after the Pentagon announced that a Marine Corps F-35B conducted the platform's first-ever combat mission on Sept. 27. The Marine Corps' aircraft launched from the amphibious warship Essex, striking targets in Afghanistan. In April, a Marine Corps F-35B out the Marine Corps air station at Cherry Point, North Carolina, was forced to make an emergency landing when the aircraft fuel light came on. The grounding news also comes two days after Defense News reported that Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has ordered the military services to get readiness rates on four planes, including the F-35, up above 80 percent by next September. According to data for fiscal year 2017, the most recent available, the Air Force's F-35A models had around a 55 percent readiness rate, well below that target. Although the Marine Corps is the first U.S. service to fly its joint strike fighters in combat, the aircraft has been used by the Israeli air force to strike targets. In May, Israel Defense Forces officials confirmed that the country's F-35 “Adir” fighters had seen combat in two airstrikes somewhere in the Middle East. The Marine Corps declared the F-35B operational in 2015, becoming the first service to integrate the joint strike fighter into its fleet. The Air Force followed by declaring initial operational capability for the F-35A conventional variant in 2016, while the Navy plans to declare initial operational capability for the F-35C carrier variant in February 2019. The F-35 joint strike fighter is the most expensive program in the Pentagon's history. Currently, the U.S. military has purchased 245 aircraft from Lockheed Martin. The Air Force has 156, the Marine Corps has 61 and the Navy has 28, according to data provided by the joint program office. The U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps plan to buy a total of 2,456 F-35s, at an estimated cost of $325 billion. In total, the aircraft program is projected to cost about $1 trillion to develop, produce, field and sustain over its lifetime, according to the Government Accountability Office. The F-35B is the short takeoff, vertical landing variant of the aircraft, which allows the pilot to hover and land vertically like a helicopter — a necessity for the Marines, which typically operate from amphibious ships with smaller decks than aircraft carriers. Because the problem is related to a fleetwide engine issue, rather than just in the F-35B models, it appears unlikely that the problem is unrelated to the short-takeoff and vertical-landing capabilities of the Marine's design. The issue as described by the JPO indicates the issue is believed to come from a subcontractor who supplied the fuel tubes for engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. A spokesman for the F-35s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, said Thursday morning that industry partners were working with the F-35's Joint Program Office to investigate the problems. "We are actively partnering with the Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program Office, our global customers and Pratt & Whitney to support the resolution of this issue and limit disruption to the fleet,” said Friedman, Michael, the spokesman for Lockheed. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has projected a total lifetime cost of $1 trillion for the program. F-35s have already been delivered to the United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Norway. This story is developing and will be updated. Defense News staff writers Aaron Mehta and Valerie Insinna contributed to this report. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/10/11/dod-announces-global-grounding-of-all-f-35s

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Canadian companies had wanted to provide the aircraft, but the Canadian military decided it needed the planes quicker than they believed Canadian firms could deliver The cost of three small surveillance aircraft Canada is buying from the U.S. could be $140 million more than the Canadian military had originally estimated. The three Beechcraft King Air planes, to be based at CFB Trenton in Ontario, will be outfitted with sensors and equipment to intercept cell phone and other electronic transmissions. Canadian special forces and, potentially, other government departments will use them for missions overseas and in Canada. On Oct. 1 the Canadian Forces told Postmedia the three outfitted planes and initial in-service support would cost between $100 million and $249 million, as outlined in the Liberal government's defence policy documents. However, on Oct. 4 the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency revealed the final tally, informing Congress that the deal was underway with an estimated cost of US $300 million — around $389 million. Canadian companies had wanted to provide the aircraft and on-board equipment, and several have formed alliances with U.S. firms who supply the Pentagon with the same or similar aircraft. But the Canadian military decided it needed the planes more quickly than they believed Canadian companies could deliver, and that U.S. security regulations governing the on-board sensor equipment might cause delays. As a result, it determined the U.S. government was the only supplier capable of providing the planes. The Canadian Forces says it hopes to get a better deal. The cost the U.S. government agency presented to Congress is not the final tally and the “final cost is anticipated to be much lower,” the Canadian Forces claimed in an email. “Over the coming months, we will work to more clearly define our interests and requirements for the purchase, and negotiate an acceptable price with the U.S.,” the email said. Department of National Defence spokeswoman Ashley Lemire said in an email to Postmedia that the delivery of the first plane would take place sometime between 2020 and 2021. The final delivery of the three aircraft would be wrapped up by 2022. The main contractor is Beechcraft in Wichita, Kan. The Canadian government will run a separate program to allow companies to compete to provide in-service support for the planes. The government expects to ask for bids for that 20-year contract sometime in the spring of 2019, said Lemire. DND declined to provide an estimate of what that long-term support would cost taxpayers. Industry representatives have complained over the years that the Canadian Forces cut domestic firms out of the project and reduced the role they could play. Lemire rejected that claim, saying Canadian firms would have a role in servicing the planes. https://calgaryherald.com/news/purchase-of-three-spy-planes-from-the-u-s-will-cost-canada-140-million-more-than-planned

WINNIPEG, le 10 oct. 2018 /CNW/ - Le Manitoba possède la troisième grappe en importance sur le plan de l'aérospatiale au Canada, comptant plus de 50 entreprises du domaine de l'aérospatiale qui possèdent leur administration centrale ou d'importants centres d'activités dans la province, et qui offrent à la classe moyenne plus de 4 600 emplois bien rémunérés. Aujourd'hui, l'honorable Navdeep Bains, ministre de l'Innovation, des Sciences et du Développement économique et ministre responsable de Diversification de l'économie de l'Ouest Canada (DEO), de concert avec Scott Johnston, membre de l'Assemblée législative du Manitoba pour St. James, ont annoncé une aide financière de 10 millions de dollars destinée à quatre projets visant à promouvoir l'innovation, le perfectionnement des compétences et la croissance au sein de l'industrie de l'aérospatiale du Manitoba. Le gouvernement du Canada et la Province du Manitoba ont uni leurs efforts pour trouver des initiatives conçues pour assurer l'avenir de l'aérospatiale au Manitoba. Ensemble, ces initiatives permettent d'aborder des pressions nouvelles et émergentes sur le plan de la concurrence, tout en appuyant une stratégie de croissance portant sur les défis que représente le besoin d'innover, de maintenir des compétences technologiques et d'améliorer la productivité. Quatre projets bénéficieront des investissements suivants : Composites Innovation Centre : 1,8 million de dollars pour établir un espace de collaboration à la Smart Factory du Collège Red River pour concevoir, démontrer et valider de nouveaux produits et procédés composites de pointe dans le domaine de l'aérospatiale. Magellan Aerospace Limited : 5 millions de dollars pour intégrer une conception, une production et des technologies accrues à l'industrie de l'aérospatiale du Manitoba, renforçant l'avantage concurrentiel du Manitoba en tant que leader dans la chaîne d'approvisionnement mondiale dans le domaine de l'aérospatiale. West Canitest R&D Inc. (WestCaRD) : 1,6 million de dollars pour élargir la portée des capacités de mise à l'essai de moteurs du GE Aviation Test, Research and Development Centre, solidifiant la position de Winnipeg en tant qu'emplacement de choix pour mettre à l'essai les moteurs de GE. Composites Innovation Centre : 1,6 million de dollars pour administrer et verser le Manitoba Aerospace Fund visant à appuyer la commercialisation de produits, l'innovation des procédés et les activités de prospection de clientèle de petites et moyennes entreprises dans le secteur de l'aérospatiale du Manitoba. Ces projets mèneront à la création d'emplois bien rémunérés, introduiront de nouvelles capacités de conception de produits et technologies de fabrication, faciliteront l'introduction de technologies novatrices de fabrication composée et élargiront les capacités de mise à l'essai de moteurs. Faits en bref La fabrication constitue le plus important secteur industriel de Winnipeg. Le Manitoba figure au troisième rang parmi les carrefours de l'aérospatiale les plus importants au Canada, employant plus de 4 600 personnes. Cet investissement créera approximativement 70 emplois et fera croître l'économie régionale gr'ce à un accroissement des ventes à l'échelle mondiale. Citations « L'investissement de notre gouvernement dans l'industrie de l'aérospatiale canadienne s'appuie sur notre plan ambitieux de transformer les forces économiques du Canada en réussites mondiales. Ces projets appuient une grappe économique clé au Manitoba et dans l'Ouest canadien, grappe qui continuera de créer de bons emplois pour la classe moyenne de demain. » - L'honorable Navdeep Bains, ministre de l'Innovation, des Sciences et du Développement économique et ministre responsable de Diversification de l'économie de l'Ouest Canada « Le secteur de l'aérospatiale du Manitoba est compétitif à l'échelle mondiale et constitue un élément important de notre économie provinciale. Nous continuons d'appuyer le développement, dans le secteur, d'une main-d'œuvre de pointe, et nous sommes heureux d'avoir fait de ces projets des priorités dans l'établissement de la prochaine génération d'expertise en fabrication de pointe ici au Manitoba. » - Scott Johnston, membre de l'Assemblée législative du Manitoba pour St. James, au nom de Blaine Pedersen, ministre de la Croissance, de l'Entreprise et du Commerce du Manitoba « Nous sommes heureux de bénéficier de l'aide de Diversification de l'économie de l'Ouest Canada dans le cadre du lancement d'un projet de développement technologique collaboratif qui rassemble nos partenaires de l'industrie, de la recherche et du milieu universitaire. Nous sommes fiers aussi de soutenir l'objectif du Manitoba Aerospace Fund consistant à accroître la compétitivité industrielle ainsi que notre empreinte économique sur le secteur de l'aérospatiale. Avec ces fonds, nous comptons unir nos efforts pour accroître nos capacités à faire du Manitoba, et du Canada, des leaders dans le domaine de l'aérospatiale. » - Doug McCartney, président et directeur général, Composites Innovation Centre « Magellan est à la fois heureuse et reconnaissante de poursuivre son partenariat avec Diversification de l'économie de l'Ouest Canada dans le but d'investir dans le renforcement du secteur de la fabrication de pointe de Winnipeg. Le partenariat avec DEO annoncé aujourd'hui contribuera directement aux technologies et à la formation requises pour livrer les biens manufacturés spécialisés pour la prochaine génération de produits de l'aérospatiale. » - Dan Pashniak, directeur général, Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg "WestCaRD se réjouit de l'aide financière accordée par le gouvernement du Canada destinée à la mise à l'essai avancée de moteurs d'aéronefs, à la recherche et au développement à Winnipeg. Des occasions d'emplois de grande qualité sont créées et maintenues directement gr'ce aux essais de mise au point, tandis que d'autres occasions sont générées indirectement par la recherche-développement de pointe nécessaire pour concevoir, entretenir et exploiter de nouvelles générations d'aéronefs encore plus efficaces, sécuritaires et respectueux de l'environnement. Cet investissement dans l'avenir braque les projecteurs sur le Manitoba, soulignant ainsi la vigueur économique de son secteur de l'aérospatiale, et il constitue un brillant exemple de la collaboration entre le gouvernement et l'industrie visant à assurer la santé et le mieux-être économiques à long terme du Canada et du Manitoba." - Bob Hastings, directeur général, WestCaRD SOURCE Diversification de l'économie de l'Ouest du Canada https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/les-gouvernements-du-canada-et-du-manitoba-renforcent-lindustrie-de-laerospatiale-696617531.html

AIR FORCE United Launch Services, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded a $967,000,000 other-transaction agreement for the development of a Launch System Prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. This award is part of a portfolio of three agreements that leverage commercial launch solutions in order to have at least two domestic, commercial launch service providers that meet National Security Space requirements, including the launch of the heaviest and most complex payloads. This agreement requires shared cost investment for the development of the Vulcan Centaur launch system. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; and Decatur, Alabama, with launch facilities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2025. This award is the result of a full and open competition. This agreement will be incrementally funded with fiscal 2018 through 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds totaling a maximum of $967,000,000. Fiscal 2018 funds in the amount of $109,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-19-9-0003). Orbital Sciences Corp., Chandler, Arizona, has been awarded a $791,601,015 other-transaction agreement for the development of a Launch System Prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. This award is part of a portfolio of three agreements that leverage commercial launch solutions in order to have at least two domestic, commercial launch service providers that meet National Security Space requirements, including the launch of the heaviest and most complex payloads. This agreement requires shared cost investment for the development of the OmegA launch system. Work will be performed in Chandler, Arizona; Magna and Promontory, Utah; Iuka, Mississippi; West Palm Beach, Florida; Sandusky, Ohio; and Michoud, Louisiana, with launch facilities at Kennedy Space Center, Florida; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2024. This award is the result of a full and open competition. This agreement will be incrementally funded with fiscal 2018 through 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds totaling a maximum of $791,601,015. Fiscal 2018 funds in the amount of $109,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-19-9-0002). Blue Origin LLC, Kent, Washington, has been awarded a $500,000,000 other-transaction agreement for the development of a Launch System Prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. This award is part of a portfolio of three agreements that leverage commercial launch solutions in order to have at least two domestic, commercial launch service providers that meet National Security Space requirements, including the launch of the heaviest and most complex payloads. This agreement requires shared cost investment for the development of the New Glenn launch system. Work will be performed in Kent, Washington; Huntsville, Alabama; and Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, with launch facilities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The work is expected to be completed by July 31, 2024. This award is the result of a full and open competition. This agreement will be incrementally funded with fiscal 2018 through 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds totaling a maximum of $500,000,000. Fiscal 2018 funds in the amount of $109,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-19-9-0001). General Electric Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $250,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract (FA8650-19-D-2057) for Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission-Capability (ATTAM) Phase I. The mission of the ATTAM Phase I program is to develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced turbine propulsion, power and thermal technologies that provides improvement in affordable mission capability. This approach extends to a range of legacy, emerging, and future military propulsion, power and thermal technology needs in multiple applications. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by October 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 54 offers were received. No specific funds are obligated on the basic IDIQ, although in conjunction with the basic IDIQ award, the first task order (FA8650-19-F-2087) is incrementally funded with fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $25,000 at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. . DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY US Foods Inc., doing business as US Foods – Lexington, Lexington, South Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $452,617,541 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity with economic-price-adjustment contract for full line food distribution support. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a two-year base contract with one, one-year option period and one two-year option period. Maximum dollar amount is for the life of the contract. Location of performance is South Carolina, with an Oct. 9, 2023 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-19-D-3205). Fairbanks Morse LLC, Beloit, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $33,661,555 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRMM1-19-F-LK01) under basic ordering agreement SPRMM1-15-G-0901 for turbochargers. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a stand-alone order with the option to purchase an additional 24 units within 90 days from award. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with a May 11, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Fairbanks Morse LLC, Beloit, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $33,661,555 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRMM1-19-F-LK00) under basic ordering agreement SPRMM1-15-G-0901 for turbochargers. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a stand-alone order with the option to purchase an additional 24 units within 90 days from award. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with a May 11, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, is being awarded a $164,000,000 contract modification (P00034) to previously awarded, sole-source, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed- fee, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract HQ0147-10-D-0001 for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Field Support Contract (TFSC). This modification will increase the total ceiling value from $561,200,000 to $725,200,000. The contractor will continue to perform the same effort under the general scope of the TFSC, which includes logistics performance requirements, forward stationing for theater support, logistics information capabilities, post deployment software support, product assurance, safety, missile support, security and engineering services. This modification will also incorporate the International Engineering Services Program and Field Surveillance Program activity. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama; Sunnyvale, California; Grand Prairie, Texas; and Troy, Alabama. The ordering period remains from March 25, 2010, through March 31, 2019. This contract was awarded under the sole-source authority pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations 6302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." No additional funds are being obligated by this modification; fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 operations and maintenance; and procurement funds will be obligated with execution of future task orders. No task orders are being issued at this time. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-10-D-0001). (Awarded Oct. 9, 2018) ARMY AM General LLC, Auburn Hills, Michigan, was awarded a $121,257,443 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for engineering, logistics, and system technical support functions for all High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle Family of Vehicles. One bid was solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 9, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0001). NAVY The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded $34,889,633 for firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N6833519F0436 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001). This order procures hardware and retrofit kits/upgrades to replace obsolete components and software in the existing Servocylinder Test Stations and Electro-Hydraulic Valve Test Station for F/A-18 A-F and EA-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (50 percent); Chatsworth, California (40 percent); and Naval Air Station North Island, California (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $34,889,633 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Teledyne Wireless LLC, Rancho Cordova, California, is awarded a $7,509,891 firm-fixed-price contract for the repair of the ALQ-99 system in support of EA-6B aircrafts. The contract does not contain a provision for an option quantity. Work will be performed in Rancho Cordova, California, and is expected to be completed by November 2021. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $7,509,891 will be obligated at time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-19-C-D002). DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY Dawson D7, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded a five-year, $15,628,917, firm-fixed-price task order (HT001118C0031) through the Tribally-owned Small Disadvantaged Business participating in the Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program. Place of performance is Falls Church, Virginia. This contract supports the Defense Medical Modeling Simulation Office in the requirements and implementation branch for the development of initial contracting requirements, cost estimates, and research. Services include using the Department of Defense procurement and acquisition process to ensure medical modeling and simulation products align with the services and across the enterprise. The base year of $1,614,917 is being funded with fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds. This award is a non-competitive direct 8(a) acquisition. Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 28, 2018) *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1658771/source/GovDelivery/

By: Jaroslaw Adamowski WARSAW, Poland — Serbia's acting assistant defense minister has announced the ministry is negotiating with a number of Chinese drone manufacturers to acquire UAVs for the Serbian military. Nenad Miloradovic said Serbia aims to buy Chinese drones for its armed forces as well as the technology that will allow the country's defense industry to produce UAVs in the long term. "This package deal, under which we plan to purchase, but also produce reconnaissance drones for the Serbian military, should be implemented shortly," Miloradovic said, as reported by local daily Blic. The official said that Serbia is positioning itself as a military-neutral country, and its government aims to procure weapons and military gear for the country's armed forces from various suppliers. "We don't have ideological prejudices in what concerns buying weapons," Miloradovic said. In a sign of strengthened military cooperation with Russia, Serbia's government earlier this year approved the purchase of six Mil Mi-17 helicopters, complementing acquisitions of other aircraft and weapons from Moscow. In contrast, Serbia signed a deal in 2016 to buy nine H145M helicopters from Dutch-French company Airbus. The value of the planned UAV deal was not disclosed by the Serbian official. https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2018/09/20/serbia-looks-to-acquire-chinese-drones-and-the-technological-know-how

By: Stephen Losey The Air Force hopes to be able to train 1,500 new pilots each year by fiscal 2022 as part of its effort to solve its troubling shortage of aviators. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said at a Senate Armed Services readiness and management support subcommittee hearing Wednesday that the Air Force trained 1,160 new pilots in fiscal 2017, and expects to train 1,311 in fiscal 2019, before expanding further. The Air Force has taken several steps to try to improve air crew's quality of life and quality of service, and solve problems that might be leading some to choose to leave the Air Force. Wilson highlighted efforts to reduce operating tempos, revitalize squadrons and restore support staffs so air crew can concentrate on flying, as well as generous incentive pay and bonuses. The Air Force is also working on testing a “fly-only” technical track for interested airmen, and giving air crew greater input on assignments. But, Wilson said, “retention efforts alone will not solve the aircrew shortage," leading the Air Force to beef up its training capacity. Increased pilot training capacity could become even more important as the Air Force seeks to increase its number of operational squadrons from 312 to 386 by the end of 2030. Wilson told lawmakers that restoring readiness must be a top priority of the Air Force. The service is focusing on fixing readiness in the 204 operational squadrons that would be most important in a high-end fight. By the end of 2020, she said the Air Force hopes 80 percent of those units will have the right number of properly trained and equipped airmen. And two years after that, Wilson hopes 80 percent of all 312 operational squadrons will be ready. The Air Force has already made significant progress in cutting the maintainer shortage, Wilson said. Two years ago, the Air Force was short 4,000 maintainers, but by December, that gap is expected to be completely eliminated. But the Air Force's work on maintenance isn't done. Wilson said these new, green maintainers must be seasoned until they have enough experience to do more complicated or unsupervised work. Full article: https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/10/10/air-force-hopes-to-train-1500-new-pilots-each-year-by-2022-to-help-solve-shortage