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  • Sikorsky HH-60W: The US Air Force's new combat rescue helicopter

    2 juin 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Sécurité

    Sikorsky HH-60W: The US Air Force's new combat rescue helicopter

    A new generation of Combat Rescue Helicopter AirMed&Rescue's special correspondent Joetey Attariwala was one of a select few journalists invited to Sikorsky's Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, to cover the roll-out ceremony of the US Air Force (USAF) new Combat Rescue Helicopter – the Sikorsky HH-60W, affectionately known as the ‘Whiskey'. It was there that he had the opportunity to see the aircraft firsthand and interview program executives from Sikorsky and the USAF. The USAF describes the mission of the Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) system as ‘one which provides Personnel Recovery (PR) forces with a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that is quickly deployable and capable of main base and austere location operations for worldwide PR missions'. The CRH system activities may be required during any phase of a service / joint / coalition operation, across the full range of military operations, in any land or sea location, within the areas covered by the relevant defence planning scenarios. The aircraft will be self-supporting to the maximum extent practical; and an in-flight air refueling capability extends the combat mission range. The CRH system may conduct combat search and rescue (CSAR) airborne mission commander duties; and may also conduct other collateral missions inherent in their capabilities to conduct PR, such as non-conventional assisted recovery, national emergency operations, civil SAR, international aid, emergency aeromedical evacuation, disaster and humanitarian relief, counter drug activities, support for National Aeronautics and Space Administration flight operations, and insertion / extraction of combat forces. The CSAR and PR mission is currently being conducted by the HH-60G Pave Hawk, which over the past 30 years has seen extensive use around the world, most notably in the Central Command Area of Responsibility. The Pave Hawk platform has seen modernization over its lifetime; however, system add-ons have increased maintenance and support requirements over the years. Speaking to this point was General James Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, who said: “Over 90 per cent of our legacy airplanes – the HH-60G fleet – have sustained combat damage or structural fatigue over the 30-plus years they have been in service, and the current availability rate is well below the requirement.” With statistics like that, it is no wonder the HH-60W is a highly anticipated platform for the USAF. Introducing the Jolly Green II The HH-60W is a highly modified variant of the battle-proven UH-60M Black Hawk, with the ‘Whiskey' variant providing significant capability and reliability advancements over the HH-60G to better support the full range of combat rescue and other special missions. The HH-60W specification drives more capable defensive systems, vulnerability reduction, weapons, cyber security, environmental, expanded adverse weather sensor capabilities, and more comprehensive net-centric requirements. The CRH contract consists of the original Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) award, which was issued on 26 June 2014, and five additional System Demonstration and Test Article (SDTA) aircraft options, which were awarded in January 2017. In all, the CRH program of record calls for 113 helicopters, of which nine are EMD / SDTA aircraft and 104 will be production aircraft. In addition to purchasing the aircraft, the contract includes development and fielding of the aircrew and maintenance training systems along with product support. https://www.airmedandrescue.com/latest/long-read/sikorsky-hh-60w-us-air-forces-new-combat-rescue-helicopter

  • Navy Seeks New Multi-Engine Trainer Aircraft

    2 juin 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval

    Navy Seeks New Multi-Engine Trainer Aircraft

    The Navy issued a sources sought notice on May 26 as part of its market research to gather industry responses for a future Multi-Engine Training System (METS) aircraft procurement. The METS effort aims to replace the Chief of Naval Air Training's (CNATRA) https://www.defensedaily.com/navy-seeks-new-multi-engine-trainer-aircraft/navy-usmc/

  • Aéronautique et spatial : dans un contexte d’incertitude, le militaire s’en sort mieux

    2 juin 2020 | International, Aérospatial

    Aéronautique et spatial : dans un contexte d’incertitude, le militaire s’en sort mieux

    Par Hélène Lerivrain Alors que la filière aéronautique et spatiale est fortement impactée par la crise, l'activité militaire semble avoir été moins touchée par une annulation ou un report des commandes. En témoignent plusieurs acteurs régionaux. Des commandes ont d'ailleurs été honorées en plein confinement. Un Rafale, assemblé à Mérignac (Gironde), a été livré aux Indiens en avril. Ce qui fait très mal au secteur aéronautique et spatial aujourd'hui, c'est l'érosion du carnet de commandes. Safran Helicopter Engines, dont le siège est situé à Bordes dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a ainsi dû faire face à la baisse brutale de l'activité de ses clients et de ses fournisseurs, avec plus de 10 % d'annulations de commandes sur l'année 2020. Il s'agit d'un exemple parmi d'autres. De très nombreuses entreprises de la filière sont touchées, même si certaines s'en sortent mieux que d'autres. "Arianegroup est dans une situation difficile mais moins que ses actionnaires Airbus et Safran. Il faut qu'Ariane 6 soit livrée, donc le travail continue, mais notre chance, c'est surtout que 40 % du chiffre d'affaires du groupe dépend de la stratégie militaire, précisément du missile M51 dont l'activité a été maintenue. La direction générale de l'armement (DGA) continue à nous solliciter pour qu'il n'y ait pas de retard dans les livraisons", explique Philippe Géry, délégué syndical central CFE- CGC d'ArianeGroup. Même discours du côté de chez Potez Aéronautique, spécialiste de la fabrication d'éléments d'aérostructures dans les Landes : "Si l'activité composites a été touchée par la crise, nous n'avons pas vécu d'érosion sur la partie militaire qui représente entre 40 et 45 % de notre chiffre d'affaires", précise Antoine Potez, directeur général de Potez Aéronautique qui livre notamment les empennages de l'E-2D, un avion de surveillance aérienne et de commandement aéroporté. En revanche, pas de commentaire sur l'activité réalisée pour Dassault Aviation. Le groupe lui-même ne communique pas à ce stade : "Concernant le plan de charge, il est encore trop tôt", précisait fin mai le groupe implanté à Mérignac où travaillent 1.700 personnes. En attendant, quoiqu'il arrive, la production a repris sur le site de la métropole bordelaise en particulier pour pouvoir livrer les trois Rafales commandés par les Indiens et ainsi éviter toute pénalité de retard. Quinze appareils doivent, en tout, être livrés cette année. La production s'est également poursuivie sur les Falcon 2000, 7X et 8X pour donner de la charge au site de Little Rock dans l'Arkansas aux Etats-Unis, spécialisé dans la finition, la peinture et l'intérieur. +20 % de temps de production https://objectifaquitaine.latribune.fr/business/2020-06-02/aeronautique-et-spatial-dans-un-contexte-d-incertitude-le-militaire-s-en-sort-mieux-848990.html

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 01, 2020

    2 juin 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 01, 2020

    NAVY American Electronic Warfare Associates Inc.,* California, Maryland, is awarded a $218,034,586 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-20-D-0071). This contract provides research, development, management, design, fabrication, installation, integration, upgrade, analysis, documentation and operations and maintenance for the Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test department, the advanced aircraft research, development, test and evaluation, integrated combat environment capabilities and laboratories and facilities. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by May 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. TTS/LTS JV LLC,* Leavenworth, Kansas (N62473-20-D-1101); and Chugach Consolidated Solutions LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (N62473-20-D-1102), are awarded $99,000,000 for a small business set aside, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for grounds maintenance and pavement clearance services at Navy and Marine Corps installations located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of operations. All work on this contract will be performed in California (91%); Nevada (5%); Arizona (1%); Colorado (1%); New Mexico (1%); and Utah (1%). The work to be performed provides for recurring and non-recurring grounds maintenance and pavement clearance services throughout the period of performance to meet routine, daily operational needs. Grounds maintenance and landscaping services may include mowing, trimming, edging, irrigation system maintenance, debris removal, shrub and hedge maintenance, plant and bed maintenance, tree maintenance, irrigation, fertilization, aeration and de-thatching. Maintenance of storm drainage systems is limited to debris removal and vegetation control. Pavement clearance services may include removing, hauling and disposing of snow, ice and sand, street sweeping, grounds cleanup and erecting/removing snow fences. In addition, this annex includes pier sweeping and pavement clearance for the pier. The maximum dollar value for the two contracts combined is $99,000,000. No task orders are being issued at this time. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months and work is expected to be complete by 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (O&M) (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $1,000 ($500 for each contract) are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M (Navy) and O&M (Marine Corps) funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and four proposals were received. These two contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The NAVFAC Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. AECOM-Baker NAVFAC Atlantic A-E Design JV, Roanoke, Virginia, is awarded $95,000,000 for an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract (N62470-20-D-0008) with a maximum amount of $95,000,000 for general type facilities in the Naval Facilities and Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Europe, Africa Central area of operations and worldwide. The work to be performed provides for architectural and engineering services for general type facilities and may include, but is not limited to, DD1391 documentation, design-build request for proposals, design-bid-build construction documents (using NAVFAC-supported software), cost engineering services including cost estimates, related studies, field investigations, surveying and mapping, tests, evaluations, consultations, training, program management, conceptual designs, geotechnical subsurface exploration and studies (including but not limited to soil borings), hazardous materials identification, energy computation, life safety code studies, interior space comprehensive planning/design, conceptual designs, value engineering, other associated engineering services, shop drawing review, as-built drawing preparation, operations and maintenance support information, commissioning, construction inspection and engineering consultation services during construction and other related services. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months and work is expected to be complete by April 2025. No task orders are being issued at this time. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with six proposals received. NAVFAC Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Team Housing Solutions Inc.,* New Braunfels, Texas, is awarded a not-to-exceed $70,000,000 single-award, pre-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N4523A-20-D-1302) with firm-fixed-price task orders for long-term (greater than 31 days) lodging for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility's temporary duty personnel as they conduct ship repair and maintenance. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be complete by June 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $3,245,367 will be obligated for an initial task order shortly after the base contract award to satisfy the contract minimum guarantee of $1,000 and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Task orders will be obligated in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.216-19. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website and eight offers were received. In accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (a), this contract was competitively procured as a total small business set-aside. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington, is the contracting activity. The MathWorks Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, is awarded a $49,507,273 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-20-D-0113). This contract procures licenses for MathWorks products and associated services for the Department of Navy at multiple commands, including but not limited to: Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Sea Systems Command, the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, associated subordinate commands and warfare centers. Work will be performed in Natick, Massachusetts, and is expected to be complete by May 2023. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is awarded a $37,835,381 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0350) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0029. This order provides for retrofits from the Generation III, V and VI Mission Computer (MC) configuration to the Generation 3i and 5i MC configuration on the MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopter (186 for the Navy, seven for the government of Australia, five for the government of Denmark, and two for the government of Saudi Arabia). Work will be performed in Owego, New York (97%); and Clearwater, Florida (3%). This order also provides for retrofits from the Generation III and V Flight Management Computer (FMC) configuration to the Generation 3i and 5i FMC configuration on the MH-60R/S aircraft (186 for the Navy, seven for the government of Australia, five for the government of Denmark, and two for the government of Saudi Arabia). Additionally, this order provides for the procurement of 162 wiring kits for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, three for the government of Denmark, and three for the government of Saudi Arabia. Work is expected to be complete by May 2023. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,832,526; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $27,086,960; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $2,915,895 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded a $34,427,808 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00019-17-C-0081 to exercise an option for the production of 16 MT7 gas turbine engines in support of the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 100 Class craft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana. MT7 Marine gas turbine engines are the main propulsion gas turbines for the SSC craft. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) previously awarded contract N00019-17-C-0081 to Rolls-Royce Corp. to procure an estimated quantity of 126 AE1107C engines in support of Navy and Marine Corps programs. The MT7 shares a high degree of parts commonality with the AE1107C. In an effort to reduce program costs and take advantage of NAVAIR's variation-in-quantity provisions with step-ladder pricing, NAVSEA procures MT7 engines directly from Rolls-Royce Corp. and provides them to Textron as government furnished equipment for incorporation into the SSC LCAC 100 Class craft. Work is expected to be complete by June 2022. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $34,427,808 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, D.C., is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $27,554,445 modification (P00015) to previously awarded fixed-price, incentive-firm-target contract N00019-18-C-1037. This modification provides recurring production and non-recurring engineering in support of the incorporation of beyond line of sight, tactical targeting network technology, navigation warfare and electronic support measures cable modifications into full rate production Lots 7-11 of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (23.01%); St. Augustine, Florida (22.32%); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (15.5%); Marlborough, Massachusetts (8.36%); Boulder, Colorado (7.44%); Petaluma, California (4.69%); Irvine, California (4.53%); Ronkonkoma, New York (2.28%); Salisbury, Maryland (1.9%); Scottsdale, Arizona (1.5%); Gardena, California (1.48%); Stockton, California (1.12%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (5.87%). Work is expected to be complete by September 2026. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds for $14,109,762 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, is awarded a $27,202,797 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62470-20-D-0010) for base operations support (BOS) services at Isa Air Base, Bahrain, and its outlying support sites including the Patriot Battery Site, Riffa, Bahrain. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and seven option periods, is $210,090,820. Work will be performed in Riffa, Bahrain. The BOS services to be performed include general information, management and administration, fire and emergency services, safety, supply, housing (bachelor/unaccompanied housing), force protection, galley, facilities investment, custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management, grounds maintenance and landscaping, utility management, electrical, wastewater, water, transportation and environmental. Work is expected to be complete by August 2028. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $19,071,686 for recurring work will be obligated on an individual task order issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $26,784,000 undefinitized contract modification (P00015) to previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract N00019-19-C-0010. This modification supports non-recurring engineering efforts to develop and certify a retrofit solution to support the structural requirements for full-up destruction and suppression of enemy air defenses capabilities for Lot 14 and Lot 15 F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft for the Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (70%); and Redondo Beach, California (30%), and is expected to be complete by August 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds for $2,124,575; and non-DOD participant funds for $1,780,400 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., Newport News Shipbuilding Division, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $17,176,332 cost-plus-fixed fee, cost-plus-incentive fee contract (N42158-20-C-0003) for maintenance and modernization on board U.S. Ship Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during the fiscal 2020 extended carrier incremental availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Virginia (88%); Newport News, Virginia (11%); and Norfolk, Virginia (1%), and is expected to be complete by February 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $17,176,332 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), with only one responsible source, and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Progeny Systems Corp., Manassas, Virginia, is awarded an $8,369,782 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-6115 to exercise and fund options for the procurement of Navy engineering systems and services. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (80%); Chesapeake, Virginia (10%); and Middletown, Rhode Island (10%), and is expected to be complete by May 2024. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and 2020 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $4,424,463 will be obligated at time of award and funding in the amount of $18,284 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. L3 Harris Technologies Inc., Van Nuys, California, is awarded a $7,212,790 cost-plus-incentive-fee order under basic ordering agreement N00024-19-G-5500 for the development, testing and delivery of AN/SPS-48G(V)1 radar data processor and radar display and control function software, firmware updates for the I/Q processor and synchronizer and other hardware changes. Work will be performed in Van Nuys, California. The AN/SPS-48E and the AN/SPS-48G are the two variants of the AN/SPS-48 radar presently in service with the Navy. The AN/SPS-48G has progressively been replacing the AN/SPS-48E starting in fiscal 2011 and continuing through fiscal 2028. This order is for the development, testing and delivery of the AN/SPS-48G(V)1 radar data processor software version 2.0.0 and radar display and control function software version 2.0.0, firmware updates for the I/Q processor and synchronizer and other hardware changes. This order will implement a subset of the advanced training domain requirements, correct radar performance issues and perform the engineering and development of any hardware changes that might be necessary. Work is expected to be complete by November 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,277,670 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was procured under the statutory authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), with only one responsible source; no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-20-F-5502). AIR FORCE Wickr Inc., San Francisco, California, has been awarded a ceiling $35,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Wickr-based recall, alert and messaging (Wickr RAM) services. Wickr RAM services require an Air Force Cloud One and Air Force Special Operations Command cloud certified fully managed service provider. This contract provides Wickr RAM is a Department of Defense (DOD)-approved/Federal Information Processing Standards certified application suite that provides end-to-end encrypted file, video, chat, text and voice services for end-users. The application suite includes servers that run in a DOD-approved cloud data center and client applications that run on government issued, personal and temporary computers and mobile devices. Work will be performed at the contractor's facility and is expected to be completed May 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,700,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Hurlburt Field, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA0021-20-D-0001). Kryptowire LLC,* Tysons Corner, Virginia, has been awarded a $7,764,985, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to contract FA8750-18-C-0054 for software, hardware and reports. The contract modification is to design, develop, implement, evaluate and deliver software that is capable of collecting sensor information from Android and iOS smartphones and software that is capable of managing users, devices and applications to help manage and maintain the sensor collection process. Work will be performed in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and is expected to be completed Feb. 22, 2022. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $13,166,095. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,158,286 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Gaumard Scientific Co. Inc.,** Miami, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $45,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for hospital equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency electronic catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 117 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a May 31, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-20-D-0042). Raytheon Co., Andover, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $7,551,872 firm-fixed-price contract for electrical cabinets. 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 three-year, 11-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with an April 30, 2024, estimated performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA2-20-C-0028). ARMY The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $17,463,002 firm-fixed-price contract to furnish all services, facilities, labor, parts, materials, equipment, tools and data necessary to accomplish the inspection, overhaul, and upgrade for AH-64 Apache equipment. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 30, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-20-D-0065). General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded an $11,624,433 modification (P00106) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0067 for Abrams systems technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 procurement of weapons and tracked combat vehicles (Army) funds; 2020 Foreign Military Sales (Egypt) funds; and 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $11,624,433 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. *Small business **Woman-owned small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2204288/source/GovDelivery/

  • US Navy upgrades more ships for the F-35 as the future of carriers remains in flux

    2 juin 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval

    US Navy upgrades more ships for the F-35 as the future of carriers remains in flux

    By: David B. Larter WASHINGTON — Former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly hadn't been out of the job more than a month before the Navy canceled an ongoing study he'd launched into the future of aircraft carriers — a review he optimistically termed “Future Carrier 2030.” Modly and his predecessor, Richard Spencer, had been excited by the prospect of fielding smaller, more risk-worthy carriers that could reduce the chance of China or Russia landing a major punch in a conflict simply by sinking or disabling a single ship, such as a Nimitz- or Ford-class aircraft carrier with thousands of sailors and tens of billions of dollars of hardware aboard. But very soon after Modly's spectacular departure, former acting Secretary James McPherson canceled the study until further notice. Still, as the effort to move to a smaller carrier seems frozen — as it has been for decades every time someone suggested it — the Navy is forging ahead with preparing its big-deck boats — the amphibious assault ships — for operating with the Marine Corp's F-35B. The Corps' F-35 fighter jet is a short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing variant. The Navy recently inked a $200 million contract with BAE Systems to upgrade the amphibious assault ship Boxer to be able to operate with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the fifth landing helicopter assault ship to be so amended. “The USS Boxer [dry-dock availability] will complete a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of the following systems: Hull structure, propulsion, electrical plant, auxiliary systems, and communications and combat systems, as well as alterations to prepare the ship for operations with the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF),” according to a statement from Naval Sea Systems command. But the idea of smaller carriers is one the Navy has been flirting with more recently. Last fall, the Navy packed 13 F-35Bs on the amphibious assault ship America. Then-Navy Secretary Spencer later said the ship could hold up to 20. “I will tell you, we are augmenting the aircraft carrier with our ideas, such as this lightning carrier,” Spencer said at the Brookings Institution think tank. “Twenty F-35 Bravos on a large-deck amphib. My cost performance there is tremendous. Does it have the same punch? No, it doesn't, but it does have a very interesting sting to it.” The Boxer, which is an older class of big-deck amphib, could likely pack about 15 F-35Bs if it were dedicated for the purpose, according to Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

  • US Navy embraces robot ships, but some unresolved issues are holding them back

    2 juin 2020 | International, Naval

    US Navy embraces robot ships, but some unresolved issues are holding them back

    By: David B. Larter WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is banking on unmanned surface and subsurface vessels to boost its capacity in the face of a tsunami of Chinese naval spending. But before it can field the systems, it must answer some basic questions. How will these systems deploy? How will they be supported overseas? Who will support them? Can the systems be made sufficiently reliable to operate alone and unafraid on the open ocean for weeks at a time? Will the systems be able to communicate in denied environments? As the Navy goes all-in on its unmanned future, with billions of dollars of investments planed, how the service answers those questions will be crucial to the success or failure of its unmanned pivot. Many of those issues fall to the Navy's program manager for unmanned maritime systems, Capt. Pete Small. As the Navy puzzles out some very basic questions, it must also ponder some big organizational changes to maximize the potential of the platforms once they arrive. “Our infrastructure now is highly optimized around large, very capable, highly manned warships,” Small said at the C4ISRNET Conference in May. “We spend a lot of time and effort preparing them for deployment, and we deploy them overseas for months at a time. They are almost perfectly reliable: We generally send them on a mission, they do it and come back almost without fail. “For these distributed and smaller platforms, we're going to have to shift that infrastructure — how we prepare, deploy, transit over and sustain these smaller platforms in theater.” That question is critical because it will affect the requirements for how the systems are designed at the outset. In the case of the medium and large unmanned surface vessels under development, just how big and how rugged they need to be would depend on how the Navy plans to use them. “All the scenarios we're discussing are far forward,” Small said. “Far from the shores of the continental United States. So there is absolutely a transit somewhere — a long transit — to get these platforms where they need to be. We've got to come through that in a range of ways. “For the medium and large [unmanned surface vessel] USV, in setting up the specifications and establishing what the requirements should be for unmanned surface vessels, crossing an ocean is a critical part of those missions.” Making these platforms cost-effective is almost the entire point of their development, but questions such as “Should we design the vessel to be able to make an Atlantic or Pacific crossing?” can mean a big price difference. “With a medium USV, we're kind of on the edge of whether it's big enough to cross the ocean by itself, and we're learning, you know, how big does it need [to be],” Small said. “You may be able to make it smaller and cheaper to get it to do the job you want it to do ultimately, but if it has to cross the ocean to get there, that might be the overall driving requirement, not the end mission requirement. If you are going to heavy-lift them and bring them over in bulk, well that's a new concept and we have to figure out how we're going to do that," he added. “What ships are we going to use to do that? Where do we operate from overseas? There's a range of options in each case, but in general we're going to have to transition from a system more optimized around our manned fleet infrastructure to a more distributed mix of large, highly manned platforms to smaller unmanned platforms.” Relocatable support The introduction of entirely new platforms that operate without humans onboard mean that the Navy must think about how to support them downrange, Small said. “We're going to need to talk about things like tenders, heavy lift ships and forward-operating bases, things like that,” he said. The idea of an unmanned vessel tender for the medium USV, which the Navy intends to use as a far-forward distributed sensor, is likely the best solution, said Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a retired submarine officer. “I think it's likely that they'll be heavy-lifted into the theater, not because they can't make it themselves but because in general it would be less wear and tear on the vessels,” he said. “You want that support to be relocatable as opposed to a group of guys working out of a building ashore. The whole purpose of them is to be flexible; and because they're small, that would, in theory, give you lots of options as to remote locations you could operate from.” The tender could be adapted from an existing platform in the sealift fleet for now, and ultimately procured as new later, Clark said, adding that the ship would need cranes and a platform near the waterline to support the medium USV and perhaps the planned extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle as well. Additionally, the vessels should be stationed where the Navy has long-standing relationships, like Singapore, Souda Bay, Greece, Britain and the like, as well as where they are likely to operate. The Marine Corps' transition from a heavy force concentrated on large amphibious ships to a lighter force distributed around smaller ships and lighter amphibs may free up some platforms for porting unmanned vessels around the globe. “As we change the deployment schemes for amphibious ships, that may afford the opportunity to have amphibs with well decks that are not full of Marines' equipment but with unmanned vessels,” he said. Reliability For Small, the questions that are most immediate are how to make the systems dependable. “We plan to send these systems out to sailors who are at the forefront of the fight, and we need these systems to work every time and be reliable,” he said. “So, reliability is a fundamental issue associated with autonomous vehicles.” Questions have been raised about things as basic as whether the Navy can get a marine diesel engine to run for days and potentially weeks without being touched by humans. But Small said that's not what he spends a lot of time worrying about. “For me, I think there is plenty of technology there and it will get better. I'm less concerned with, ‘Will the engine run long enough?' and more concerned with the reliability of the system as a whole,” he said. “The autonomy running that vessel is a key aspect of the overall reliability of the system. So there's a code and software aspect to this, but there is also the interface between that code and the hull, mechanical and electrical systems that we have on ships.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the human ability to detect subtle changes in the equipment they operate that is the toughest to replicate, Small said. “It's about self-awareness and the ability to self-diagnose problems and changing conditions associated with that equipment and react to those changing conditions,” he explained. “That's either by alerting an operator or having an autonomous response that allows the mission to continue. “A sailor would sense a vibration; a sailor would hear abnormal noise; a sailor would see something getting warmer, do the diagnostics and take actions. ... There's as strong a relationship between that and the overall reliability of those physical systems themselves.” https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/06/01/us-navy-embraces-robot-ships-but-some-unresolved-issues-are-holding-them-back/

  • China’s missile and space tech is creating a defensive bubble difficult to penetrate

    2 juin 2020 | International, Aérospatial

    China’s missile and space tech is creating a defensive bubble difficult to penetrate

    By: Mike Yeo MELBOURNE, Australia — The U.S. Navy is facing growing asymmetric threats, not least of which is from China, and more specifically its anti-access/area denial strategy. The Pentagon's annual report on China' military strength from 2019 describes the A2/AD strategy as a means to “dissuade, deter, or, if required, defeat third-party intervention against a large-scale, theater-wide campaign” mounted by China's People's Liberation Army, or PLA. In short, it appears Beijing's aim is to prevent American and allied military forces from operating freely in the A2/AD airspace and maritime “bubble” around China's coastline. China has in recent years worked to extend the range of this bubble beyond the so-called first island chain and into the Western Pacific. The key to this effort is not just longer-range missiles, but also a growing number of space-based sensors. The U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists reported that as of 2016, China had 192 satellites in orbit, a number that has since increased, with nearly all of these belonging to organizations or companies with close ties to the government and having dual roles to for civilian and military use. Some of China's satellites include several payloads that are almost certainly for military purposes, such as electro-optical sensors, synthetic aperture radar and electronic intelligence technology. The country also uses a constellation of Naval Ocean Surveillance System satellites providing persistent coverage of water surrounding China. These capabilities can also support targeting for China's anti-ship ballistic missiles, and with sufficient numbers and integration, they could provide real-time target triangulation data to build up a robust picture of a target's location to ultimately generate a targeting approach. Meet the DF-21D The long-range, conventionally armed ballistic missile DF-21D is meant for attacking moving ships at sea, most notably the U.S. Navy's showpiece nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The theory behind its creation is that a missile speeding down to sea level on a ballistic trajectory at speeds of Mach 5 or higher would prove extremely difficult to counter. The road-mobile anti-ship ballistic missile system is mounted on a wheeled transporter erector launcher to improve survivability against enemy counter-strikes. Said to have a range of about 780 nautical miles, the DF-21D is a version of the DF-21 family of two-stage, solid-fueled, single-warhead conventional or nuclear medium-range ballistic missiles in use by the PLA Rocket Force. The U.S. Defense Department suggests that the DF-21D reached initial operating capability with the PLA in 2010, with the system thought to employ maneuverable reentry vehicles with a terminal guidance system assisted by China's network of satellites, such as the Jianbing-5/YaoGan-1 and Jianbing-6/YaoGan-2 that provide targeting data in the form of radar and visual imaging, respectively. There are, however, questions about the missile's effectiveness. China has reportedly tested the DF-21D against fixed land targets, but it's unknown whether it was tested against a moving target. This makes it difficult to accurately assess the capability of the weapon, particularly from a maturity and efficacy standpoint. It also brings into question whether China's sensor technology can generate the kind of real-time, highly precise data required to enable the DF-21D to accurately target an aircraft carrier maneuvering at 30 knots. But the missile and its sensor net could be used to keep watch on and provide deterrence at maritime chokepoints among the first island chain, specifically the Miyako Strait between Okinawa, Japan, and Taiwan as well as the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. This would theoretically reduce the demand on a less-than-mature sensor net and kill chain to limited geographic areas through which potential targets would have to sail. Considering the limited combat radius of carrier-borne aircraft without large-scale support from aerial refueling tankers, the ability to keep an American carrier battle group at arm's length may be all that China's A2/AD capability requires. An attack with anti-ship ballistic missiles can be used in conjunction with other anti-ship missiles and timed to simultaneously arrive at a target. Such an attack could be mounted from longer-range anti-ship missiles like the YJ-12 and YJ-18. Both are Chinese improvements of Russian designs, derived from the Kh-31 air-to-surface missile and the 3M-54 Klub cruise missiles, respectively. Both are capable of supersonic speeds, with the anti-ship YJ-18A variant attaining its maximum speed of about Mach 2 in its terminal attack phase following subsonic cruise. The YJ-12 can fly at speeds of between Mach 2 and Mach 4, depending on launch and cruise altitudes. Both can also reach long ranges. The YJ-12 is widely believed to have a range of between 108 and 216 nautical miles, while the YJ-18 is believed to possess a range of 290 nautical miles. The YJ-12 can be launched from wheeled transporter erector launchers as well as from vertical launch cells on ships like the Type 052D or Type 055 destroyers. The YJ-12 can also be launched from aircraft, like the Xian H-6 bomber, the JH-7 fighter bomber and possibly the Shenyang J-11/15/16, Chinese derivatives of the Russian Sukhoi Flanker family. Is a new long-range air-to-air missile on its way? China's indigenous Flanker derivatives are also expected to the primary carrier platform for a new long-range air-to-air missile reportedly in development. Expected to be used to target an adversary's high-value airborne assets such airborne early warning and control systems and tanker aircraft, the missile has been given the temporary designation “PL-XX.” Observers believe the eventual in-service designation will be PL-20. The new missile was first observed in 2016 carried by a Shenyang J-16 multi-role fighter, however it almost certainly was an inert mock-up. It was seen earlier this year on a Xian JH-7 fighter-bomber. By comparing the known sizes of the parent aircraft and its hardpoints, it's been estimated the missile is about 5.8 metres (20 feet) long and about 300 milometers (1 foot) in diameter, which is significantly larger than typical medium-range air-to-air missiles, like the American AIM-120. Four rear-mounted fins bestow maneuverability and control for the missile. There is little verifiable information about the new missile's performance; however, a public schematic of how China would use the weapon shows the ramjet or solid fuel-powered missile can attain a straight-line range of 300 kilometers (188 miles). After launch, most likely with preliminary targeting data provided by a friendly airborne early warning and control aircraft, the missile would fly a parabolic trajectory on its way to its target, attaining an altitude of approximately 100,000 feet from a launch altitude of 50,000 feet, before plunging toward the target. A mixture of GPS, inertial navigation systems and space-based radars are expected to provide launch and mid-course guidance, before an active electronically scanned array radar takes over at the terminal phase. If China succeeds in putting such a weapon into service, the PLA Air Force will then be able to compel an adversary's vital force-multiplier aircraft to operate farther away, or risk being shot down. This would reduce their effectiveness and that of the tactical aircraft they are supporting in the event of a conflict. https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2020/06/01/chinas-missile-and-space-tech-is-creating-a-defensive-bubble-difficult-to-penetrate/

  • All aboard the Sea Train!

    2 juin 2020 | International, Naval

    All aboard the Sea Train!

    Imagine the following scenario. Four medium-sized U.S. Navy vessels depart from a port along the United States' coast. There's no crew aboard any of them. About 15 nautical miles off the coast, the four vessels rendezvous, autonomously arranging themselves in a line. Using custom mechanisms, they attach to each other to form a train, except they're in the water and there's no railroad to guide them. In this configuration the vessels travel 6,500 nautical miles across the open ocean to Southeast Asia. But as they approach their destination, they disconnect, splitting up as each unmanned ship goes its own way to conduct independent operations, such as collecting data with a variety of onboard sensors. Once those operations are complete, the four reunite, form a train and make the return journey home. This is the Sea Train, and it may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is investing in several technologies to make it a reality. “The goal of the Sea Train program is to be able to develop and demonstrate long-range deployment capabilities for a distributed fleet of medium-sized tactical unmanned vessels,” said Andrew Nuss, DARPA's program manager for Sea Train. “So we're really focusing on ways to enable extended transoceanic transit and long-range naval operations, and the way that we're looking to do that is by taking advantage of some of the efficiencies that we can gain in a system of connected vessels — that's where the name ‘Sea Train' comes from.” According to DARPA, the current security environment has incentivized the Navy and the Marine Corps to move from a small number of exquisite, large manned platforms to a more distributed fleet structure comprised of smaller vessels, including unmanned platforms that can conduct surveillance and engage in electronic warfare and offensive operations. While these unmanned vessels are smaller and more agile than their large, manned companions, they are limited by the increased wave-making resistance that plagues smaller vessels. And due to their size, they simply can't carry enough fuel to make the long-range journeys envisioned by DARPA without refueling. By connecting the vessels — physically or in a formation — the agency hopes the Sea Train can reduce that wave resistance and enable long-range missions. In February, the agency released a broad agency announcement to find possible vendors. Citing agency practice, Nuss declined to share how many proposals were submitted, although he did say there was significant interest in the announcement. The agency completed its review of any submissions and expects to issue contracts by the end of the fiscal year. Sea Train is expected to consist of two 18-month periods, where contractors will work to develop and test technologies that could enable the Sea Train concept. The program will culminate with model testing in scaled ocean conditions. If successful, DARPA hopes to see the technologies adopted by the Navy for its unmanned platforms. “What we're looking to do is be able to reduce the risk in this unique deployment approach,” Ness said. “And then be able to just deliver that set of solutions to the Navy in the future, to be able to demonstrate to them that there is, potentially, a new way to deploy these vessels, to be able to provide far more operational range without the risk of relying on actual refueling or in-port refueling.” And while DARPA's effort is focused on medium-sized unmanned vessels — anywhere from 12 to 50 meters in length — the lessons learned could be applied to larger or smaller vessels, manned or unmanned. https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/06/01/all-aboard-the-sea-train/

  • BAE successfully tests ground-launched APKWS rockets for first time

    2 juin 2020 | International, Terrestre

    BAE successfully tests ground-launched APKWS rockets for first time

    By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — BAE Systems has completed a successful ground-to-ground test of its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rocket for the first time, the company announced Monday. The test, conducted at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, involved “several successful shots” of the APKWS rockets out of a launcher, built specifically for ground vehicles by Arnold Defense, according to BAE. The weapon has traditionally been launched from rotary or fixed-wing aircraft. A ground-based APKWS, delivered via the Arnold Fletcher launcher, was first unveiled in 2018. “Demand is growing for ground-to-ground precision munitions that provide a safe standoff distance for small ground units,” Greg Procopio, director of precision guidance and sensing solutions at BAE Systems, said in a statement. “We're working closely with our customer and partners to deliver that capability.” The APKWS laser-guided rocket is used by the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The Navy holds the program of record. The rockets have also spread via foreign military sales to more than a dozen foreign nations. However, the U.S. Army decided to end procurement of the rockets as a result of its “night court” budget review. In its fiscal 2021 budget request, the service said it redirected $122 million in funding from the rockets toward higher priorities. Even before the Army's decision was official, BAE was working to increase the flexibility of APKWS as a low-cost, precision-strike option. Late last year, the Air Force successfully tested it for missile defense, and the ground-to-ground version would add to the military options for the weapon. The company delivered more than 35,000 APKWS units by the end of 2019 and expects to deliver 18,000 in 2020. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/06/01/bae-successfully-tests-ground-launched-apkws-rockets-for-first-time/

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