Nouvelles

February 12, 2020 - Saab has signed an Enterprise Partnering Agreement with the Australian Department of Defence to provide combat management systems across all the Royal Australian Navy's major surface ships. Saab has not yet received a new order. As previously announced by Saab and the Australian Department of Defence, Saab will deliver the tactical interface to the Royal Australian Navy's fleet of Hunter class frigates. The tactical interface will be based on Saab's ‘Next Generation' Combat Management System (CMS), which will become part of all the Navy's major surface ships. “This agreement is an important milestone in our long-standing relation with Australia and we look forward to continue building our partnership and supporting the Royal Australian Navy's capability with our state-of-the art combat management system”, says Anders Carp, head of Saab business area Surveillance. Saab will deliver the ‘Next Generation' CMS to Australia's new Arafura class offshore patrol vessels and the Supply class auxiliary oiler replenishment ships. Saab will also modernise the 9LV CMS currently in use in the Anzac class frigates, and will provide the software for the future tactical interface for the Hobart class destroyer when their current CMS is modernised. For further information, please contact: Saab Press Centre, +46 (0)734 180 018 presscentre@saabgroup.com www.saabgroup.com www.saabgroup.com/YouTube Follow us on twitter: @saab Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers' changing needs View source version on Saab: https://saabgroup.com/media/news-press/news/2020-02/saab-signs-partnering-agreement-with-australian-department-of-defence-for-combat-management-systems/

Paris/Munich, February 12, 2020 – The governments of France and Germany have awarded Dassault Aviation, Airbus, together with their partners MTU Aero Engines, Safran, MBDA and Thales, the initial framework contract (Phase 1A), which launches the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). This framework contract covers a first period of 18 months and initiates work on developing the demonstrators and maturing cutting-edge technologies, with the ambition to begin flight tests as soon as 2026. Since early 2019, the industrial partners have been working on the future architecture as part of the programme's so called Joint Concept Study. Now, the FCAS programme enters into another decisive phase with the launch of the demonstrator phase. This phase will, in a first step, focus on the main technological challenges per domains: Next Generation Fighter (NGF), with Dassault Aviation as prime contractor and Airbus as main partner, to be the core element of Future Combat Air System, Unmanned systems Remote Carrier (RC) with Airbus as prime contractor and MBDA as main partner, Combat Cloud (CC) with Airbus as prime contractor and Thales as main partner, Engine with Safran and MTU as main partner. A Simulation Environment will be jointly developed between the involved companies to ensure the consistency between demonstrators. The launch of the Demonstrator Phase underlines the political confidence and determination of the FCAS partner nations and the associated industry to move forward and cooperate in a fair and balanced manner. The increased momentum enables industry to deploy the necessary resources and best capabilities to develop this decisive European defence project. FCAS will be the cornerstone project guaranteeing Europe's future operational, industrial and technological sovereignty. The next important step in the FCAS programme will be the onboarding of Spain and the involvement of additional suppliers from Phase 1B onwards, which will succeed Phase 1A after its successful conclusion. * * * About Airbus Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018 it generated revenues of € 64 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. Media contacts Martin Agüera martin.aguera@airbus.com +49 175 227 4369 Florian Taitsch florian.taitsch@airbus.com +49 151 168 31052 This and other press releases and high resolution photos are available on: AirbusMedia About Dassault Aviation With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones. In 2018, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €5.1 billion. The company has 12 750 employees. Media contact Nathalie Bakhos Nathalie-Beatrice.Bakhos@dassault-aviation.com +33 (0)1 47 11 92 75 About MBDA MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2018 MBDA achieved revenue of 3.2 billion euros with an order book of 17.4 billion euros. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems. In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development. MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%). Media contact Jean Dupont jean.dupont@mbda-systems.com +33 (0) 633 37 64 66 About MTU Aero Engines MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany's leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today's active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector the company ranks among the top 3 service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country's military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2018, the company had a workforce of some 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of approximately 4.6 billion euros. Media contact Eckhard Zanger eckhard.zanger@mtu.de +49 176 1000 6158 About Thales Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader shaping the world of tomorrow today. The Group provides solutions, services and products to customers in the aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security, and defence markets. With 80,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of €19 billion in 2018 (on a pro forma basis including Gemalto). Thales is investing in particular in digital innovations — connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — technologies that support businesses, organisations and governments in their decisive moments. Media contact Maria Mellouli maria.mellouli@thalesgroup.com +33 (0)1 57 77 84 57 About Safran Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aircraft propulsion and equipment, space and defense markets. Safran has a global presence, with more than 95,000 employees and sales of 21 billion euros in 2018. Working alone or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes Research & Development programs to meet fast-changing market requirements, with total R&D expenditures of around 1.5 billion euros in 2018. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices. For more information: www.safran-group.com / Follow @Safran on Twitter Media contacts Catherine MALEK catherine.malek@safrangroup.com +33 (0)6 47 88 03 17 Charles SORET charles.soret@safrangroup.com +33 (0)6 31 60 96 79 Attachment EN-Dassault Aviation-Airbus-Press-Release-FCAS-Demo-contract View source version on GlobeNewswire: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/12/1984219/0/en/Demonstrator-phase-launched-Future-Combat-Air-System-takes-major-step-forward.html

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Dexis Consulting Group, Washington, District of Columbia (HQ0034-20-D-0004); and IDS International Government Services LLC, Arlington, Virginia (HQ0034-20-D-0005), have been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a maximum amount of $300,000,000. This requirement will provide assessment, monitoring and evaluation to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The Functional Category 1 award provides security cooperation support consisting of support to security cooperation programs and initiatives. Some activities included are: support to planning, program design, execution, administration and implementation of security cooperation initiatives; justify, manage and utilize assigned program resources, including budget and personnel; manage stakeholder communications; monitor deliverables. Work performance will take place in the Northern Capital Region, including the Pentagon and Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. No funds will be obligated at the award of the basic IDIQ contract. Appropriate fiscal 2020 funds will be obligated on all subsequent task orders. The expected completion date is Sept. 24, 2024. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. ARMY FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina, was awarded a $119,216,309 firm-fixed-price contract for M4/M4A1 carbine. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-D-0006). Lockheed Martin Missile Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $32,183,907 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide field-level High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)/Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher maintenance support to the Army, Marine Corps and Navy. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army; and overseas contingency operations transfer, Defense funds in the amount of $32,183,907 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0017). AECOM Management Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, was awarded an $8,370,149 modification (000261) to contract W52P1J-12-G-0028 for Army prepositioned stock logistics support services in support of maintenance, supply and transportation. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $8,370,149 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in Mannheim and Dulmen, Germany, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 20, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC, Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded an $8,301,000 modification (P00003) to contract W912PM-20-C-0006 for dredging of Morehead City, Wilmington, Savannah, and Brunswick Harbors. Work will be performed in Morehead City, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,301,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, Delaware, is the contracting activity. NAVY Ahtna-CDM JV,* Irvine, California (N62473-20-D-0034); Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California (N62473-20-D-0035); Patricia I. Romero Inc., doing business as Pacific West Builders,* National City, California (N62473-20-D-0036); Bristol Design Build Services LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (N62473-20-D-0037); Dimensions Construction,* San Diego, California (N62473-20-D-0038); and PacWest Construction and Engineering,* Temecula, California (N62473-20-D-0039), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract small business set-aside for commercial and institutional building alterations, repairs, renovations and new construction projects at various government installations within Naval Bases San Diego, Coronado, Point Loma and Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. The work to be performed provides for alterations, repairs, renovations, and new construction within the North American Industry Classification System code 236220, for commercial and institutional building projects. The maximum dollar value including the two-year base period and one three-year option period for all six contracts combined is $99,999,000. No task orders are being issued at this time. All work on these contracts will be performed at various government installations located in metropolitan San Diego, California area. The terms of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds for $30,000 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); O&M, N, O&M, Marine Corps; and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 38 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota, was awarded a $23,869,990 firm-fixed-price contract for Mk 41 Vertical Launching System canister production, canister renewal, ancillary hardware, spares and associated support equipment. This contract provides for the manufacture and delivery of new Mk 41 Vertical Launching System canisters (Mk 13 Mod 0, Mk 14 Mod 2, Mk 15 Mod 1; Mk 21--Mod 2, Mod 3 and Mod 4; Mk 25--Mod 0 and Mod 1; and Mk 29 Mod 0); ancillary hardware; spares and associated support equipment. Additionally, it provides for the upgrade, renew, refurbish and/or repair of the canisters listed above, as well as Mk 14 Mod 1 and Mk 15 Mod 0. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $954,516,290. This contract combines purchases for the government of Japan (68%); the government of Denmark (29%); the government of Korea (2%); and the Navy (1%) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, South Dakota (90%); and Minneapolis, Minnesota (10%), and is expected to be completed by May 2021. If all options are exercised, work will continue through May 2024. Fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) (1%); and Foreign Military Sales funding for $23,869,990 (99%) was obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one proposal received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-20-C-5380). (Awarded Feb. 11, 2020) John C. Grimberg Co., Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is being awarded a $20,987,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the renovation of Building 8 at Marine Corps Barracks, Washington. This work to be performed is for the restoration and modernization of the command post Building 8 at the Marine Corps Barracks, Washington. The project will repair by replacement all building systems including the demolition and removal of all existing obsolete building materials and systems. It will replace internal non-original fixed partition walls, windows, interior and some exterior doors, internal floors, wall and ceiling hard and soft finishes. The renovation incudes the replacement of all plumbing systems and fixtures as well as upgrade of all HVAC systems. Other improvements include the installation of fire detection and suppression systems, replacement of electric power and lighting distribution lines and equipment, and upgrades to communication, security and alarm systems. The project will restore all existing historic stairways to meet safety code requirements and incorporate one centrally located four-stop elevator. Removal and abatement of hazardous materials is necessary to create a safe working environment. The second floor breezeway connector and enclosure to Building 9 will be repaired and refinished as part of this project. Antiterrorism/force protection window, door and related component upgrades are included. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, (Marine) contract funds for $20,987,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N40080-20-C-0007). Detyens Shipyards Inc., North Charleston, South Carolina, is awarded a $17,086,701 firm-fixed-price contract for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry-docking of USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8). Work will include seal change for reduction gear main thrust bearings, main switch board cleaning, dry-docking of the vessel, ships service diesel generator turbocharger overhaul, rigid hull inflatable boat davit five year overhaul and weight test, underwater hull cleaning and painting, replace rudder seals, steel renewal, overhaul spanwire and hauling winch electric motor, propeller shaft and stern tube inspection and freeboard cleaning and painting. The contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $20,730,455. Work will be performed in North Charleston, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2020. Contract funds for $17,086,701 are obligated in fiscal 2020 using Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website and one offer was received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N32205-20-C-6012). Lockheed Martin Corp., Liverpool, New York, is awarded a $15,285,603 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00019-20-F-0535) against basic ordering agreement (N00019-19-G-0029). This delivery order procures four retrofit advanced radar processor systems to include required non-recurring engineering and 16 high-density servers for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (54%); and Andover, Maine (46%), and is expected to be completed in May 2023. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds for $15,285,603 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. AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded a $99,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Block 40/45 full rate production completion. This contract provides for the continued acquisition of supplies and services associated with the production of the E-3 AWACS Block 40/45 upgrade. Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by fiscal 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $42,200,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-20-C-0023). (Awarded Jan. 31, 2020) Ranco Construction Inc., Southampton, New Jersey (FA4484-20-D-0012); Flagship Contracting Inc., South Plainfield, New Jersey (FA4484-20-D-0013); and Eastern Construction & Electric Inc., Wrightstown, New Jersey (FA4484-20-D-0014), are each being awarded a ceiling, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for underground utilities for $66,000,000. The contractors will provide all plant, labor, equipment, tools, supplies and materials to perform work necessary for replacement, repair and improvement for underground utilities. Work will be performed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 12, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and seven offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance will fund the contract using individual task orders with no funds being obligated at the time of award. The 87th Contracting Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Avix-BGI JV LLC, Yorktown, Virginia, has been awarded a $9,032,988 firm-fixed-price modification (P00002) to contract FA4890-19-C-0004 for the EC-130H/A-10C aircrew training and courseware development. The contract modification is for exercising and funding Option Year One. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $45,236,369. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,032,988 are being obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona; and Moody AFB, Georgia, and is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2021. The contracting activity is Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management & Integration Center, Langley AFB, Virginia. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Praxair Inc., Danbury, Connecticut (SPE601-20-D-1504, $15,653,203); and Airgas USA LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma (SPE601-20-D-1503, $11,747,297), have each been awarded a fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE601-19-R-0310 for liquid nitrogen. These were competitive acquisitions with two offers received. These are five-year contracts with no option periods. Locations of performance are Connecticut, Colorado and Oklahoma, with a Jan. 31, 2025, performance completion date. Using customer is Lockheed Martin. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy – Aerospace, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2084309/source/GovDelivery/

By: Aaron Mehta , Valerie Insinna , David B. Larter , and Joe Gould WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is seeking to divert $3.8 billion, largely from its fiscal 2020 weapons procurement budget, in order to fund President Donald Trump's border wall, according to a reprogramming request to congress obtained by Defense News. Among the victims of the cuts: a mass of aircraft purchases including F-35 joint strike fighters, C-130J cargo aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper drones and P-8 maritime surveillance planes, as well as ground vehicles and naval priorities. Overall, the plan would shift $2.202 billion in FY20 defense appropriations and $1.629 billion in FY20 Overseas Contingency Operations funding towards the wall, a key priority from president Donald Trump ahead of the November presidential elections. Air Force and Navy aviation spending takes the brunt of the cuts proposed by the Pentagon, with aircraft procurement going down by $558 million for Navy and Marine Corps and $861 million for the Air Force. Importantly, all of the funding decreases target items that were specifically added by Congress during the budgeting process, which could incur rancor from lawmakers. For the Navy, the Pentagon would cut two of the six F-35B short takeoff and landing aircraft added to the FY20 budget by Congress and two MV-22 Ospreys, stating that “current funding is more than sufficient to keep the production line open.” It also seeks to eliminate funding for one of the nine P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft funded in FY20, stating that the additional aircraft is “[in] excess to the 117 aircraft required.” In the Air Force's budget, the Pentagon slashed funding for the four of the eight C-130Js added by Congress for the reserve and Air National Guard. The department stated that funding for those planes can be rescheduled to fiscal year 2021, when the period of performance for the associated contract starts. The request would eliminate eight MQ-9 Reaper drones, culling most of the funding added by Congress for an increase of 12 MQ-9s. “The program is currently undergoing a strategic review,” the department stated in written justification, referring to an ongoing debate within the Air Force about how many Reapers to buy and retain over the next decade. “Procurement, if necessary, can be rescheduled to a later fiscal year.” Combatant commanders have consistently said they need more surveillance assets around the globe. It also strips $156 million for advanced procurement for the F-35A and removes $180 million for light attack aircraft for the Air Force, which the service has decided against procuring but has been widely supported by lawmakers as a low-cost alternative for the counter-terrorism fight. The Army would stand to lose $100 million in funding for national guard Humvee modernization and $194.5 million in Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck funding. However, with the Humvee set to be replaced by JLTV, the Army is unlikely to be heavily impacted by these funds being shifted around. The reprogramming request also cuts $650 million in advanced procurement funding for an America-class Amphibious Assault Ship, LHA-9, which is being built in Mississippi at Ingalls Shipbuilding. On its website, Huntington Ingalls Industries says the advanced funding provided by Congress, “enables a hot production line and a supplier base of 457 companies in 39 states to build this powerful warship.” The reprogramming also cuts funding one expeditionary fast transport ship, which is built in Alabama at Austal USA, which has been an area of interest for the powerful Republican Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Richard Shelby. The ship was deemed “excess to current programmatic need,” the reprogramming document says. “The procurement exceeds the program-of-record requirement,” the document reads. “This is a congressional special interest item.” In addition, the national guard and reserves would lose about $1.3 billion in what the reprograming request describes as unnecessary funding, given historic underexecution of prior year funds. A spokesman for the Pentagon declined to comment. Last year, the defense department had budgets, largely for military construction projects, diverted into funding a stretch of the wall project. Those projects cut included the rebuilding of several DoD schools both in the U.S. and abroad, special operations training centers in Europe and Hurricane Maria relief for Puerto Rico National Guard facilities. Overall, more than 100 projects had funding delayed. Asked on Tuesday about a potential reprograming of defense funds to pay for the wall, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said “We did receive the request from DHS, that's all I'll say right now. We're working our way through the process, we're doing all those things we need to do. So when we're ready to make an announcement, we'll make an announcement.” Word that the Pentagon may once again be raided to pay for the wall came in mid-January, and at the time seemed to catch Republican supporters in Congress off-guard. “I wish they wouldn't take [wall funding] out of defense. I want to build the wall, I supported direct appropriations for it and fought for it — but we have to evaluate what this does to the military, what it affects, where and how,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Richard Shelby, R-Ala, at the time. But he added that nobody should be surprised the administration repeated the tactic, after it worked last year. https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2020/02/13/pentagon-seeks-to-cut-f-35s-other-equipment-to-pay-for-trumps-border-wall

AIR FORCE Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Canada, has been awarded a $225,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F-138 engine and component depot repair. This contract provides the Air Force with the depot repair support required for the F-138 engine and components. Work will be performed at Richmond, British Columbia, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 11, 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of below $1,118,975 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8124-20-D-0004). The Victor Group, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $10,564,430 modification (P00016) to previously-awarded contract FA8052-18-C-0010 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Delaware; Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Bolling AFB, Washington, District of Columbia; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Langley AFB, Virginia; Scott AFB, Illinois; Whiteman AFB, Missouri; Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, and is expected to be completed Feb. 13 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,564,430 will be obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative value of this contract including Option One is $24,234,322. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. Main Building Maintenance Inc., San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $10,400,074 modification (P00015) to contract FA8052-18-C-0006 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at the Air Force Academy, Colorado; Buckley Air Force Base (AFB), Colorado; Peterson AFB, Colorado; Schriever AFB, Colorado; Beale AFB, California; Eielson AFB, Alaska; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Fairchild AFB, Alaska; Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; FE Warren AFB, Wyoming; Hill AFB, Utah; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; McConnell AFB, Kansas; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Nellis AFB, Nevada; and Offutt AFB, Nebraska, and is expected to be completed on Feb. 13, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,400,074 will be obligated at time of award. The total cumulative value for this contract, not including Option One, is $9,677,258. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. Titan Facility Services LLC, Gilbert, Arizona, has been awarded a $10,012,679 modification (P00019) to contract FA8052-18-C-0009 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Arkansas; Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; Keesler AFB, Mississippi; Eglin AFB, Florida; Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida; MacDill AFB, Florida; Tyndall AFB, Florida; Patrick AFB, Florida; Charleston AFB, South Carolina; Shaw AFB, South Carolina; Moody AFB, Georgia; Robins AFB, Georgia; Columbus AFB, Mississippi; Altus AFB, Oklahoma; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and Vance AFB, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed Feb. 13, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,012,679 will be obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative value of this contract including Option One is $19,858,371. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. TFOM HHS Group JV, Austin, Texas, has been awarded a $9,843,221 modification (P00010) to contract FA8052-19-C-A002 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico; Holloman AFB, New Mexico; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona; Luke AFB, Arizona; Dyess AFB, Texas; Goodfellow AFB, Texas; Lackland AFB, Texas; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Randolph AFB, Texas; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Los Angeles AFB, California; Edwards AFB, California; and Vandenberg AFB, California, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 13, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds for $9,843,221 will be obligated at time of award. The total cumulative value of this contract, including Option One is $18,784,172. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. NAVY Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Syracuse, New York, is awarded a $40,000,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-only modification to a previously-awarded delivery order N00024-19-F-6201 under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00024-19-D-6200) for the design, prototyping and qualification testing for electronic warfare systems equipment. This effort will award the design of Navy equipment. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York, and is expected to be completed by February 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding for $8,207,000 will be obligated at time of award and not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $35,874,452 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously-awarded contract (N00024-18-C-5432) for over-the-horizon weapon systems. Under this contract, Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, will manufacture and deliver over-the-horizon weapon systems that consist of encanistered missiles (EM) loaded into launching mechanisms (LM) and a single fire control suite (FCS). This contract consists of firm-fixed-price EMs (tactical, telemetered and inert operational); FCSs; LMs; mission support equipment; training equipment and courses; cost-plus-fixed-fee engineering services; and cost-only travel and other direct costs. Work will be performed in Kongsberg, Norway (75%); Tucson, Arizona (15%); Schrobenhausen, Germany (4%); Raufoss, Norway (3%); McKinney, Texas (2%); and Louisville, Kentucky (1%), and is expected to be completed by February 2022. Fiscal 2020 weapon procurement (Navy) for $34,369,290 (95.8%); and other procurement (Navy) for $1,505,162 (4.2%), 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 Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Childs Engineering Corp.,* Bellingham, Massachusetts, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above-water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations; underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build requests for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities predominantly in the U.S. but also worldwide to include Florida (15%); Connecticut (10%); Georgia (10%); Massachusetts (10%); Maine (10%); New Hampshire (10%); New Jersey (10%); Pennsylvania (10%); Rhode Island (10%); Illinois (2%); Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (1%); South Carolina (1%); and Tennessee (1%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) 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 O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2207). Marine Solutions Inc.,* Nicholasville, Kentucky, is awarded as a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations, underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build requests for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities in Mid-Atlantic region including Maryland (40%); Virginia (40%); and Washington, District of Columbia (20%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) 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 O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2208). Lloyd Collins JV, Houston, Texas, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations, underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build requests for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities in various states to include Florida (28%); California (25%); Hawaii (25%); Texas (15%); Louisiana (5%); and Mississippi (2%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) 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 O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with six proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2209). Appledore Marine Engineering LLC,* Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations, underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build request for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; and construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the Northwest states and all Pacific U.S. territories including Washington state (80%); Alaska and American Pacific territories (18%); and Oregon (2%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) 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 O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2210). Jacobs Government Services Co., Irvine, California, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations outside of the continental U.S. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations, underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build requests for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities worldwide. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) 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 O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2211). Client Solution Architects LLC, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $7,560,402 modification to a previously-awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee task order issued by the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. This modification increases the value of the basic contract by $7,560,402; the contract's new total value is $26,964,672. This modification provides for the exercise of a cost-plus-fixed-fee option for an additional year of acquisition management, program management and integrated logistics support services for the Undersea Communications and Integration Program Office. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N); research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and other procurement (Navy) funds for $1,530,328 will be obligated at the time of award. O&M, N funds for $374,000 will expire at the end of the fiscal year. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by February 2021. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N00039-17-F-3001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Carter Industries,* Olive Hill, Kentucky, has been awarded a maximum $30,294,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for men's and women's sage-green flyer coveralls. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is an 18-month base contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is Kentucky, with an Aug. 11, 2021, performance completion date. Using customer is Air Force and Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-1238). ARMY Bencor Global Inc., Frisco, Texas, was awarded a $24,500,000 modification (P00031) to contract W911WN-14-C-0002 for work related to East Branch Dam Cutoff Wall. Work will be performed in Wilcox, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 7, 2020. Fiscal 2020 funds in the amount of $24,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Crosby Dredging LLC, Galliano, Louisiana, was awarded a $12,492,900 firm-fixed-price contract to dredge and remove approximately 1.3 million cubic yards of shoal material from the Turning and Anchorage Basin in the Sabine Neches Waterway. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Port Arthur, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 11, 2020. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-20-C-0004). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2082835/source/GovDelivery/

Les gouvernements français et allemands ont notifié à Dassault Aviation, Airbus, MTU Aero Engines, Safran, MBDA et Thales le contrat cadre initial de démonstrateur du Système de combat aérien du futur (SCAF) Les gouvernements français et allemands ont notifié ce jeudi 13 février le contrat cadre initial de démonstrateur du Système de combat aérien du futur ou SCAF aux industriels français et allemands associés au programme. En l'occurrence, Dassault Aviation, Airbus et leurs partenaires MTU Aero Engines, Safran, MBDA et Thales. Cette notification était attendue à l'occasion du dernier salon du Bourget en juin 2019, puis avait été repoussée pour l'automne. En parallèle aux discussions serrées entre partenaires industriels sur la répartition du rôle de chacun, les gouvernements français et allemand devaient trouver un accord concernant l'exportation des systèmes, dont le SCAF. Un véritable enjeu pour les industriels impliqués dans ces programmes car leur permettant de trouver des débouchés commerciaux et de pérenniser leurs activités. Et le 16 octobre 2019, Florence Parly, ministre des Armées, pouvait annoncer : « Décision fondamentale qui acte une confiance mutuelle : un accord a été conclu aujourd'hui entre France et Allemagne. Il permet l'exportation d'équipements issus de nos coopérations. Etape essentielle pour construire sereinement une Europe de la défense ambitieuse ». Florence Parly indiquait également que le contrat visant à lancer de démonstration pour le NGF ou "New Generation Fighter" devait être signé "dès janvier 2020" et que "le premier vol devant ensuite être réalisé en 2026". « Cet avion de combat du futur et les drones qui l'accompagneront entreront dans nos forces à l'horizon 2035/2040 », avait précisé Florence Parly. Le contrat cadre notifié aujourd'hui porte sur une première phase (Phase 1A) de 18 mois et lance donc les travaux qui mèneront au développement d'un démonstrateur du NGF avec pour rappel Dassault Aviation associé à Airbus pour le NGF, Airbus et MBDA sur les "remote carriers" à la fois drones et missiles et dont le rôle sera de saturer les défenses ennemies, mener des missions de brouillage, désigner des cibles ou même larguer des missiles; Airbus et Thales sur le "combat cloud" (mise en réseau informationnelle et opérationnelle de tous les éléments du SCAF), et Safran et MTU Aero Engines sur la motorisation du SCAF. "Les entreprises concernées développeront conjointement un environnement de simulation visant à garantir la cohérence des différents démonstrateurs". https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/scaf-la-phase-du-dmonstrateur-est-lance-22559

The Army's slashed its 2021 buys of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) and upgraded Paladin PIM howitzer to give the factory time to make fixes, particularly to quality control. By SYDNEY J. FREEDBERG JR. PENTAGON: Two of the three armored fighting vehicle programs being built by BAE System's factory in York, Pennsylvania have been slashed in the 2021 budget. While the Marine Corps continues to ramp up production of its eight-wheeled Amphibious Combat Vehicle, from 56 ACVs in 2020 to 72 in '21, that increase is swamped by Army cuts to two tracked vehicles, both derived from BAE's iconic but aging M2 Bradley: Production of the turretless utility variant of the Bradley, the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), will plummet from 121 in the 2020 budget to just 32 in '21, recovering to 168 in '22. Production of the upgraded M109A7 PIM version of the Paladin artillery vehicle, which uses the Bradley suspension and drive train, will fall from 96 vehicles (48 howitzers and 48 ammo carriers) to 60, recovering to 88 in '22. Those 2022 figures are a forecast in the five-year budget plan, however, not a formal request to Congress, and they might change. “Once you start to get that production line facilitized — and again it's not going to be one of those things you figure out in a couple months — it's going to be an iterative every-year look at what's the right rate [and] what's the most effective and efficient way to run that line,” deputy assistant secretary John Daniels told reporters yesterday. The Army had already reduced production of both BAE vehicles in its 2020 request last year – along with over 180 other programs – as it ruthlessly scrubbed its current programs for savings it could reinvest in higher-priority, higher-tech weapons for future wars with Russia or China. But BAE's York plant has also had trouble keeping up both quality-control standards – notably for welding armored hulls – and production rates as it tried to expand its tooling and its workforce to meet Army demand, attracting the personal attention of then-Army Secretary Mark Esper. Raytheon's Naval Strike Missile Gallery The Naval Strike Missile is a long-range, precision strike weapon that seeks and destroys enemy ships at distances greater than 100 nautical miles. Learn More. “Part of the problem was “getting the production facility right-sized,” Daniels said, “[and] there were some additional unforeseen issues in the industrial base” – presumably a reference to the quality control issues. So the Army decided to “slow the production curve to get a little bit of time to get a better vehicle,” he said. “It would delay it by about six months.” We've asked BAE Systems for comment and will update this story as soon as they get back to us. https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/bae-york-plant-problems-trigger-big-army-cuts

By: Nathan Strout The Space Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $253.6 million contract to develop a payload that would provide a higher level of protection to war fighters relying on satellite communications on the battlefield. The contract is for the Protected Tactical SATCOM payload, the service announced Feb. 12. Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) is the Space Force's planned next generation anti-jamming satellite system, which will provide tactical communications for war fighters all over the world — including the polar regions — using the Protected Tactical Waveform. As PTS is developed, the Space Force plans to begin offering Protected Tactical Waveform communications over the Wideband Global SATCOM system and later commercial satellites systems. The Space Force said in a statement it will award up to four payload development contracts. According to the FY 2021 Space Force budget request, the service is employing a spiral development strategy that will incrementally deploy prototypes progressively demonstrating new anti-jamming technologies. The payloads will be designed to potentially be hosted on other satellites as a cost saving measure. The contract was awarded through the Space Enterprise Consortium. “We are excited to partner with Northrop Grumman to enable the rapid development of a protected communications prototype payload,” said Col. Dennis O. Bythewood, program executive officer for the Space and Missile Systems Center's Development Corps. “The technology maturation and prototyping effort conducted under the SpEC (Space Enterprise Consortium) Other Transaction Agreement will allow SMC to harness the innovation of partnerships between traditional defense and non-traditional/small business contractors with a projected on-orbit capability three years earlier than a traditional acquisition.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2020/02/13/space-force-awards-2536m-protected-tactical-satcom-contract

By: Kelsey D. Atherton In a fake city in Mississippi, DARPA is training robots for war. In December 2019, at a camp southeast of Hattiesburg, hundreds of robots gathered to scout an urban environment, and then convert that scouting data into useful information for humans. Conducted at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, the exercise was the third test of DARPA's OFFensive Swarm-Enable Tactics (OFFSET) program. OFFSET is explicitly about robots assisting humans in fighting in urban areas, with many robots working together at the behents of a small group of infantry to provide greater situational awareness than a human team could achieve on its own. The real-time nature of the information is vital to the vision of OFFSET. It is one thing to operate from existing maps, and another entirely to operate from recently mapped space, with continuing situational awareness of possible threats and other movement through the space. Dating back to at least 2017, OFFSET is in part an iterative process, with contractors competing for and receiving awards for various ‘sprints,' or narrower short-turnaround developments in coding capabilities. Many of these capabilities involve translating innovations from real-time strategy video games into real life, like dragging-and-dropping groups units to give them commands. For the exercise at Camp Shelby, the swarms involved both ground and flying robots. These machines were tasked with finding specific items of interest located in buildings at Camp Shelby's Combined Arms Collective training Facility. To assist the robots in the field experiment, organized seeded the environment with AprilTags. These tags, which are similar to QR codes but trade complexity of data stored for simplicity and robustness in being read at difference, were used to mark the sites of interest, as well as hazards to avoid. In practical use, hazards seldom if ever arrive with barcodes explicitly labeling themselves as hazards, but for training the AprilTags provide a useful scaffolding while the robots coordinate in other ways. “As the swarm relayed information acquired from the tags,” wrote DAPRA, “human swarm tacticians adaptively employed various swarm tactics their teams had developed to isolate and secure the building(s) containing the identified items.” That information is relayed in various ways, from updated live maps on computer screens to floating maps displayed in real time in augmented reality headsets. As foreshadowed by countless works of cyberpunk fiction, these “human swarm tacticians” interfaced with both the real world and a virtual representation of that world at once. Commanding robots to move in real space by manipulating objects in a virtual environment, itself generated by robots exploring and scouting the real space, blurs the distinction between artificial and real environments. That these moves were guided by gesture and haptic feedback only further underscores how deeply linked commanding robots can be to augmented reality. The gesture and haptic feedback command systems were built through sprinter contracts by Charles River Analytics, Inc., Case Western University, and Northwestern University, with an emphasis on novel interaction for human-swarm teaming. Another development, which would be as at home in the real-time strategy game series Starcraft as it is in a DARPA OFFSET exercise, is the operational management of swarm tactics from Carnegie Mellon University and Soar Technology. Their developments allowed the swarm to search and map a building on its own, and to automate resource allocation in the process of accomplishing tasks. For now, the heart of the swarm is as a scouting organism built to provide information to human operators. https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/02/11/darpa-wants-commanding-robots-to-work-like-a-video-game