Nouvelles

By: Andrew Chuter LONDON — Britain's Royal Navy took delivery of two new aircraft carriers, but a government report on the ships achieving operational capability has laid bare some obstacles toward making a fully effective carrier strike group. In a report released June 25, the National Audit Office pointed to delays in developing the Crowsnest airborne early warning radar and contracting to build the logistics ships destined to support the 65,000-ton carriers as ongoing problems for the Royal Navy. The NAO also raised questions about future funding. The Ministry of Defence is making slow “progress in developing the crucial supporting activities that are needed to make full use of a carrier strike group, such as the Crowsnest radar system and the ability to resupply the carriers. In addition, it has not established a clear view on the future cost of enhancing, operating and supporting carrier strike, which creates the risk of future affordability pressures,” the NAO said. Added the head of the watchdog: “The MoD also needs to get a firmer grip on the future costs of carrier strike. By failing to understand their full extent, it risks adding to the financial strain on a defense budget that is already unaffordable.” HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of two carriers built by British industry in a £4.6 billion (U.S. $5.7 billion) program, is already undertaking extensive sea trials, with its F-35B jets ahead of a planned first deployment next year. The second carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is also conducting sea trials but is some months behind its sister ship. The warships are not expected to be operated simultaneously. The NAO said the Lockheed Martin-led program to install Crowsnest radars on Royal Navy Merlin helicopters is running 18 months late and will impact how the British carrier strike force is initially deployed. The watchdog said the MoD is working to come up with an acceptable baseline radar by the time HMS Queen Elizabeth undertakes its initial deployment next year. “As at April 2020, the Department [the MoD] expected to achieve initial Crowsnest operating capability in September 2021, some 18 months later than planned,” the NAO reported. “As this is later than the December 2020 milestone for declaring initial operating capability for carrier strike, the Department is working to provide a credible baseline radar capability for the first deployment with the United States in 2021. It expects to recover some lost time to declare full operating capability in May 2023, 11 months later than planned. However, the existing timetable contains no contingency to accommodate any further slippage. The delays will affect how the Department can use carrier strike during this period.” British and U.S. Marine Corps jets will be based on the carrier during its first deployment, partly because the U.K. does not have a sufficient inventory of available jets. Eighteen of the aircraft have so far been delivered for use by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force Lockheed Martin secured the Crowsnest contract in 2017, with Searchwater radar supplier Thales and helicopter builder Leonardo as subcontractors. Crowsnest is a key element in the protection of the naval strike group, giving air, maritime and land detection and tracking capabilities. The NAO said the delay “has been caused by a subcontractor, Thales, failing to meet its contractual commitments for developing equipment and not providing sufficient information on the project's progress. Neither MoD nor its prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, were aware of these problems until it was too late, reflecting MoD's ineffective oversight of its contract with Lockheed Martin.” A Lockheed Martin UK spokesperson said the company is working to deliver the Crowsnest capability in time for HMS Queen Elizabeth's deployment. “As prime contractor for Crowsnest, we understand the fundamental component that this program delivers to the UK's Carrier Enabled Power Projection. We will continue to ensure that the program develops in line with our requirement to deliver the Crowsnest capability to support the first operational deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth,” the spokesperson said. “We will work with our industrial partners and the MoD to address any developmental issues which arise, including the deployment of additional resources, if necessary, to maintain program timescales and deliver this critical capability to the Royal Navy.” Thales UK did not respond to Defense News' requests for comment by press time. The NAO partly blames the setbacks for why the MoD faces a “tight timetable” to develop full operating capability for a strike group by 2023. But the watchdog also highlighted the Fleet Solid Support program as another obstacle. The MoD had targeted 2026 for when the first of up to three logistics ships could provide ammunition, food and general stores to the carrier strike group, but that timeline has extended by up to three years as a result of ongoing uncertainty over the schedule to compete and build the vessels operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The MoD abandoned a competition to build the ships late last year, saying it was concerned about obtaining value for money. At the time, the program was mired in controversy over whether the contract should go to a British shipyard consortium or awarded to a foreign company. That issue remains unresolved. No date has officially been given for restarting the competition. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the parliamentary Defence Committee earlier this year that he thinks it will relaunch in September, but that has not been confirmed. Defence Committee Chairman Tobia Ellwood was particularly critical of the failure to provide the necessary support ships, noting that without them, the carriers' capability would be seriously undermined. “It'll be hotched and potched, only available for short operational journeys,” he told the Daily Telegraph on June 26. “It will be for display purposes only, and that's a very expensive toy.” Britain has only one solid support vessel, RFA Fort Victoria, that can replenish a carrier at sea. It entered service in 1994 and is due to retire in 2028, having had its life expectancy extended. The NAO report said the limitations of RFA Fort Victoria would have a knock-on effect to carrier operations. “Having only one support ship with limited cargo capacity slows the tempo and reach at which the Department [the MoD] can replenish a carrier group. In addition, the Department will have restricted options for deploying the carriers for much of 2022 because RFA Fort Victoria will be unavailable due to major planned maintenance work,” the NAO said. Responding to the report, an MOD spokesperson said: ”Carrier strike is a complex challenge, which relies on a mix of capabilities and platforms. We remain committed to investing in this capability, which demonstrates the U.K.'s global role. “Despite the disruptions of COVID-19, the carrier strike group is on track for its first operational deployment.” https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/06/26/heres-why-britain-is-struggling-to-form-a-fully-effective-carrier-strike-group/

By: David B. Larter WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy's interminable quest to design and field a next-generation large surface combatant is going back to the drawing board once again, a victim of the Pentagon's disorganization around this year's long-range shipbuilding plan, according to documents and a source familiar with the situation. The Senate Armed Services Committee stripped $60.4 million dollars from the Navy's proposed fiscal 2021 budget intended to be used for preliminary design work for the future large surface combatant, according to documents released by the committee. Instead, the money is being funneled into a land-based testing facility in Philadelphia that will work on the future combatant's power system, which is the raison d'être for the envisioned class, a source familiar with the deliberations told Defense News. The money for the large surface combatant design is one of the victims of the Pentagon's inability to produce an annual 30-year shipbuilding plan, an annual requirement that is intended to give Congress an idea of where the Navy wants to steer its fleet, the source said, adding that the large surface combatant was not in the five-year future years defense program which is submitted with the President's budget. The 30-year shipbuilding plan has been held up this year by the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the Pentagon struggles to come up with a fleet that more closely integrates the Navy and Marine Corps for the Pacific theater and incorporates a significant fleet of unmanned surface and subsurface systems. It's the latest setback in the effort to field next-generation surface combatants, which has seen more than 20 years of false starts and setbacks. The Navy initially intended to field a fleet of 21st Century cruisers and destroyers to replace the current Arleigh Burk-class DDGs and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. But the DDG-1000 program was truncated to just three hulls, and the so-called CG(X) cruiser was cancelled in 2010 at the beginning of the Obama Administration. Given the long lead times for new ship development, as much as a decade or more, the situation is becoming increasingly urgent for the U.S. Navy. Many of the cruisers have reached their effective service lives and the oldest Arleigh Burke-class ships are closing on 30 years of age, but the Navy is not currently planning a class-wide service-life extension program. For its next-generation large surface combatant, the Navy is looking to field a ship that uses the latest AEGIS combat system destined for its Flight III DDG, but with a hull and power system that has ample margin for integrating future systems such as lasers and rail guns, and with missile magazines able to haul larger hypersonic strike missiles. But according to the SASC, the Navy is way too early in the process to justify funding for design, especially when Congress doesn't know what the Navy's plans are for fielding it and when. “The committee lacks sufficient clarity on the Large Surface Combatant (LSC) capability requirements... to support the start of preliminary design for the LSC program or completion of the Capabilities Development Document,” according to a document released by the committee. The document also shows the SASC directing $75 million toward the Integrated Power and Energy Systems test facility in Philadelphia, known as the ITF, which a source said is where the heavy work of fielding a power system with plenty of margin for future weapons would be performed. That facility should be up and running by 2023, according to the documents. The FY21 NDAA is currently working its way through Congress and is not yet in its final form, meaning funding for large surface combatant design work could still be reinstated at some point in the process. Subsystem Development Congress has been increasingly agitated by the Navy's design-on-the-fly approach to fielding new capabilities, such as the littoral combat ship's mission modules or several of the key technologies that have been holding up the lead Ford-class carrier. In the view of lawmakers, the delays could be mitigated by taking a more cautious approach to developing new classes of systems, by maturing technologies ahead of launching into construction. For example, if the Advanced Weapons Elevators on Ford had been developed before the start of construction, there would not be a months-long delay in getting the carrier ready for deployment because the system would work before it was installed. To that end, Congress has been inserting itself heavily into the development of unmanned surface vessels, restricting funding for procurement until the Navy can produce a reliable system. In its markup of the 2021 NDAA, the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee called for restricting funding for procurement of any large unmanned surface vessels, or LUSV, until the Navy can certify it has worked out an appropriate hull and mechanical and electrical system, and that it can operate autonomously for 30 consecutive days. Furthermore, the Navy must demonstrate a reliable operating system and that any systems integrated into the platform — sonars, radars, etc. — are likewise functioning and reliable. In short, the language would mean the Navy could not spend procurement dollars on a large unmanned surface vessel until it has a working model, and it may not try to develop those technologies on the fly. The Defense Department has been championing a major shift away from large surface combatants, based on decisions by Defense Secretary Mark Esper that are in line with his in-house think tank, the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office. The Pentagon wants to focus on fielding more unmanned platforms with missile cells that can be more expendable in a fight and act as an external missile magazine for larger manned combatants with more exquisite sensors. But Congress has repeatedly balked at the idea because the Navy has yet to produce a concept of operations or a coherent public strategy to back up the investment plan. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/06/25/congress-aims-to-strip-funding-for-the-us-navys-next-generation-large-surface-combatant/

June 25, 2020 - On Wednesday 24 June, the Dutch Ministry of Defense took an essential step in the replacement of the current M frigates of the Netherlands and Belgian Navies. The B-letter was sent to the Dutch Lower House, marking the completion of the investigation phase, with a design that meets the requirements of both the Defense and NATO. Damen, Thales and a whole chain of companies involved in naval shipbuilding in the Netherlands, are delighted with this next step. They are ready to start with the next phase of the project. Director Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Hein van Ameijden: “This kind of launching customer projects are essential for the future of naval shipbuilding in the Netherlands. We are delighted that we can build the successor to the M frigates. Much more importantly, the men and women of the Royal Netherlands Navy will once again have an innovative ship at their disposal, to sail and fight with.” The main task of the frigates will be to fight submarines remotely. This will be performed by way of a new torpedo, to be deployed from the ship or by the NH90 helicopter onboard. This is one of the subjects stated in the letter that the Dutch Lower House received from State Secretary Barbara Visser. The current four M frigates of the Belgian and Dutch navies are at the end of their lifetime. In addition to submarine combat, the new frigates must be able to protect themselves and other units. They must be deployable worldwide for maritime combat and safety operations and assistance. This requires means of defence against threats from the air and enemy ships on and underwater. The frigate has room for a 110-man crew. For mission-specific personnel and their equipment, 40 extra beds and various spaces are available. The first ship is expected to be delivered in 2027. After that, operational effectiveness and safety of the ship will be tested. The Dutch Navy is expected to receive this first frigate in 2028 and the second one a year later. The Belgian frigates will be delivered no later than 2030. View source version on Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding: https://nlnavy.damen.com/important-next-step-in-the-m-frigate-project/

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND L3 Unmanned Systems Inc., Ashburn, Virginia (H92408-20-D-0001); Precision Integrated Programs LLC Newberg, Oregon (H92408-20-D-0002); Arcturus UAV Inc., Petaluma, California (H92408-20-D-0003); Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington (H92408-20-D-0004); Wildflower International Ltd., Santa Fe, New Mexico (H92408-20-D-0005); and AAI Corp., doing business as Textron Unmanned Systems Inc., Hunt Valley, Maryland (H92408-20-D-0006), is awarded six indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a maximum combined ceiling of $975,000,000 for Mid-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems IV intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services in support of U.S. Special Operations Command enterprise requirements worldwide. This multiple-award acquisition supports competition at the task-order level to ensure the most capable platforms and payloads provide real-time, responsive airborne ISR solutions to Special Operations Forces. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount $1,500 have been obligated for each contract at the time of award. The contracts were awarded competitively through a full and open competition with 10 proposals received. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity. ARMY The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $439,179,677 modification (P00062) to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for new-build Apache AH-64E aircraft and Longbow crew trainers. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of March 1, 2025. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales (Morocco) funds in the amount of $439,179,677 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Inc., York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $266,865,094 modification (P00039) to contract W56HZV-18-C-0133 for Bradley A4 Production Option Two, which awards 159 vehicles. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2023. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 weapons and tracked combat vehicle procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $266,865,094 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. BHI Construction LLC,* Harrisburg, South Dakota (W912MM-20-D-0001); G.A. Johnson Construction Inc.,* Harrisburg, South Dakota (W912MM-20-D-0002); Golden Rule Construction Co. Inc.,* Sioux Falls, South Dakota (W912MM-20-D-0003); Howe Inc.,* Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Dakota (W912MM-20-D-0004); MDM Construction LLC.,* West Fargo, North Dakota (W912MM-20-D-0005); and Sunkota Construction Inc.,* Sioux Falls, South Dakota (W912MM-20-D-0006), will compete for each order of a $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to support the National Guard with construction projects. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 24, 2025. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office, Rapid City, South Dakota, is the contracting activity. Orion Marine Construction Inc., Tampa, Florida, was awarded a $14,648,100 firm-fixed-price contract for pipeline dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Port Mansfield, Texas, with an estimated completion date of March 1, 2021. Fiscal 2019 civil construction funds in the amount of $14,648,100 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-0C0021). NAVY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $333,401,760 modification (P00007) to previously-awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract N00019-19-C-0008. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of three low-rate initial production MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft, two main operating bases and one forward operating base in an integrated functional capability-four and multiple-intelligence configuration, with associated export compliance support for the government of Australia. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (23.3%); Red Oak, Texas (13%); Palmdale, California (11.5%); Linthicum, Maryland (9.4%); Salt Lake City, Utah (9.3%); Bridgeport, West Virginia (5.2%); McClellan, California (4.7%); Indianapolis, Indiana (4.5%); Moss Point, Mississippi (3.3%); Waco, Texas (2.1%); San Clemente, California (1.5%); Newton, North Dakota (1%); various locations within the continental U.S. (9.8%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (1.4%). Work is expected to be completed by April 2025. Foreign cooperative project funds for $27,601,190 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. General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Falls Church, Virginia, is awarded a $38,824,217 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide MK-41 Vertical Launch System repair and refurbishment. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and potentially other locations based only on an emergent basis. Work is expected to be completed by June 2021. If options are exercised, work will be completed by June 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $5,000 (for the minimum guarantee) will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was procured as full and open competition via the beta.SAM.gov website and one offer was received. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N50054-20-D-0006). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $16,543,143 firm-fixed-price order (N00019-20-F-0870) against previously-issued basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001. This order procures retrofit modification upgrades to the series aircrafts' F/A-18 Block II Super Hornet and Growler display suites within the Block III Super Hornet and Growler Advanced Cockpit Systems. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (65%); Mesa, Arizona (15%); China Lake, California (10%); and Ft. Walton Beach, Florida (10%), and is expected to be completed by February 2025. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,075,223; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $1,467,920 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. Q.E.D. Systems Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia, is awarded a $14,193,833 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Marine Gas Turbine Alteration Installation Team services in support of the Navy's Marine Gas Turbine (MGT) program. Work will be performed at various locations throughout the world based on each individual task order. The purpose of the contract is to provide for the installation of shipboard changes in accordance with approved ship change documents and to effect repairs and troubleshooting in accordance with government specifications on ships which utilize MGTs. Work is expected to be completed by June 2026. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $400,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a small business set-aside and competitively procured via the Contract Opportunities website at beta.SAM.gov and two offers were received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-20-D-4015). L3 Harris Technologies Inc., Palm Bay, Florida, is awarded an $11,688,708 modification (P00016) to previously-awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00421-17-C-0024. This modification is for the procurement of 133 Fibre Channel Network switches in support of F/A-18 Lot 44 requirements for the EA-18 Growler, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E-2D Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Malabar, Florida, and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,688,708 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, is awarded an $11,172,403 modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-18-C-4439 to extend the delivery date of the USS Cowpens (CG 63) fiscal 2018 modernization period from December 28, 2019, to November 25, 2020, in order to complete ship repairs and alterations. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $11,172,403 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The use of fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds was approved by the assistant secretary of the Navy (financial management and comptroller) on May 27, 2020, to fund within scope changes for this availability. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Kepler Research Inc., Woodbridge, Virginia, is being awarded a $73,119,865 competitive cost-plus-fixed-fee level-of-effort contract with a two-year base value of $16,925,921 and three one-year options for contracting, compliance, cost/price and operations advisory and assistance services. The work will be performed in the National Capital Region; Dahlgren, Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama; and other locations as directed with an estimated completion date of July 2025. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the beta.SAM.gov website with five proposals received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,099,719 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0858-20-C-0008). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Marketing Assessment Inc., Sterling, Virginia (SPE2DE-20-D-0015, $48,000,000); and Manus Medical LLC, Richmond, Virginia (SPE2DE-20-D-0014, $30,000,000), have each been awarded a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE2DE-18-R-0001 for medical and surgical supplies. These were competitive acquisitions with 41 responses received. They are five-year contracts with no option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with an ordering period end date of June 24, 2025, for Marketing Assessment Inc. and July 1, 2025, for Manus Medical LLC. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, has been awarded a $14,737,383 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-20-F-QD02) against a six-year long-term contract (SPRBL1-15-D-0017) for aircraft radar system spare parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Location of performance is Texas, with a Nov. 14, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2022 (Navy) working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2232845/source/GovDelivery/

June 24, 2020 - Rolls-Royce has secured recent agreements with the U.S. Navy for ship engines, propulsion components and services valued at up to $115.6 million. Leo Martins, Rolls-Royce Defense, Program Director, U.S. Naval & Coast Guard Platforms, said, “Rolls-Royce is proud to support the U.S. Navy through an extensive portfolio... https://www.epicos.com/article/594682/rolls-royce-secures-us-navy-contracts-totalling-1156-million

NAVY Ahtna-CDM JV,* Irvine, California (N62473-20-D-1005); Bristol Design Build Services LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (N62473-20-D-1006); Corbara MGS JV,* National City, California (N62473-20-D-1007); Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California (N62473-20-D-1008); Macro Z Technology,* Santa Ana, California (N62473-20-D-1009); and Teehee Engineering Inc.,* Carlsbad, California (N62473-20-D-1010), are awarded a $99,999,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract for new construction, renovation and repair by design-build or design-bid-build of general construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Southwest area of operations in California and Arizona. The work to be performed provides for new construction, renovation and repair within the North American Industry Classification System Code 236220. The various types of construction projects may include, but are not limited to, administration buildings, academic and applied instruction training facilities, maintenance/repair facilities, military operations facilities, aircraft hangars, fire stations, office buildings, laboratories, dining facilities, related structures and other similar facilities located in California and Arizona. The maximum dollar value, including one 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 California (84%); and Arizona (16%). The terms of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months and work is expected to be completed by June 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $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) and the Marine Corps. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and 15 proposals were received. These six 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. Elbit Systems of America, Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $31,964,182 modification to increase the ceiling amount on five-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of an additional 76 helmet display tracker systems, major assemblies, provision ordering item line items, engineering services and support equipment. This procurement will support the Navy PMA-299 Multi-Mission helicopter (MH-60S). Work will be performed in Haifa, Israel (99%); and Fort Worth, Texas (1%). In accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), this modification was not competitively procured. There is only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Future 76 helmet display tracker systems procurements are expected to support Naval Air Systems Command PMA-299 and Foreign Military Sales requirements, which have been deployed on MH-60S Knighthawk (Seahawk) multi-mission aircraft to facilitate and enable effective tracking for the pilot and co-pilot. Work is expected to be completed by June 2021. Fiscal 2020 Aircraft Procurement (Navy) funding of $15,876,977 will be obligated at the time of contract award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-17-D-JQ63). Methuen Construction Co. Inc., Plaistow, New Hampshire, is awarded a $13,261,766 firm-fixed-price contract for the design-bid-build of Dry Dock 2 portal crane rail and tunnel repairs located at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Work will be performed at Kittery, Maine. The work to be performed provides crane rail repair upgrades, which will increase the capacity of the ground level portal crane rails at the north and east sides of Dry Dock 2. Major work elements include demolition of existing crane rails, baseplates, hardware, footings, beams and pile caps; installation of micro piles; installation of reinforced concrete pile caps, beams and footings; installation of crane rail, baseplates and hardware; and site grading, drainage improvements and pavement restoration within the project limits. Additionally, the tunnel repair upgrades will demolish and reconstruct the personnel access tunnel at the east side of Dry Dock 2, including integral and adjacent ground level portal crane rails and footings. Major work elements include temporary re-routing of electrical, communication and mechanical utilities; selective demolition of reinforced concrete personnel access tunnel and crane rail footings; rock excavation; installation of new cast-in-place reinforced concrete personnel access tunnel with integral crane rails and adjacent crane rail footings; reconstruction of drainage, electrical and mechanical utilities; and site grading and paving. Work is expected to be completed by May 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $13,261,766 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM website, and two proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-C-0033). CAPE Environmental Management Inc.,* Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded a $7,274,125 cost-plus-award-fee modification to task order N62742-19-F-0129 under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for implementation of remedial alternatives for decision units (DU) N-2, N-3, N-4, SE-1 and E-2 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii. The work to be performed under this modification provides selected remedies to be implemented that include focused dredging, placement of a thin-layer of clean material for enhanced natural recovery, treatment of contaminated sediment with activated carbon amendment material at DU E-2 and placement of activated carbon amendment in open-water areas in DU SE-1. Work is expected to be completed by August 2022. Fiscal 2020 environmental restoration (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $7,274,125 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-16-D-1807). U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND SSA Atlantic LLC, Savannah, Georgia, has been awarded an $82,803,960 firm-fixed-price contract (HTC711-20-D-R035). The contract provides stevedoring and related terminal services at ports in the Mid-Atlantic region. Work will be performed at ports in Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Morehead City, North Carolina. The contract period of performance is from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2025. Fiscal 2020 transportation working capital funds were obligated at award. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE ASIRTek Federal Services LLC, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $78,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for information security support services. This contract provides for proactive support of the foundational pillars of this requirement, which are cybersecurity improvement initiatives and cybersecurity support. Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Additional on-site support locations may include Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Robins Air Force Base, Georgia; Tyndall AFB, Florida; Randolph AFB, Texas; and Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. Work is expected to be completed June 28, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with 24 offers received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA7037-20-D-0001). System Dynamics International, Huntsville, Alabama, has been awarded a $28,736,071 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for MQ-9 unmanned aerial system aircrew and support services. Work will be performed in Poway, California; China Lake Naval Air Station, California; Edwards Air Force Base, California; Palmdale, California; and Yuma, Arizona, and is expected to be completed June 30, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $403,814; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $503,902; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount $2,853,876; and Foreign Military Sales administration funds in the amount of $95,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-20-C-2001). ATI Engineering Services LLC, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $10,101,563 contract for Rwanda C-208 EX aircraft acquisition. This contract provides the procurement of two Textron C-208 EX aircraft, associated spare parts and ground support equipment, the necessary modifications for the Rwandan Air Force, flight training device, technical drawings and interim logistic support for both aircraft and the training device. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Rockford, Illinois; and Kigali Air Force Base, Rwanda, and is expected to be completed July 31, 2022. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales to Rwanda and is the result of a competitive acquisition with two offers received. Fiscal 2016 Peacekeeping Operations Overseas Contingency Operations funds in the amount of $9,030,923 is being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-20-C-0001). ARMY Geneva Rock Products Inc., Orem, Utah, was awarded a $75,039,988 firm-fixed-price contract to construct 18 earth-covered modular storage magazines. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 21, 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Army) funds in the amount of $75,039,988 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento, California, is the contracting activity (W91238-20-C-0010). Ilsi-Arcadis JV,* New Orleans, Louisiana (W912DR-20-D-0013); Princetone Hydro LLC,* Ringoes, New Jersey (W912DR-20-D-0015); and W.F. Baird & Associates,* Madison, Wisconsin (D912DR-20-D-0016), will compete for each order of the $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for civil works architect engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 13 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 23, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Mission Critical Solutions LLC,* Alum Bank, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $16,276,805 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of inert warheads. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 24, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-D-0025). Honeywell International Inc., Clearwater, Florida, was awarded a $7,146,942 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of 66 Tactical Advanced Land Inertial Navigator High Accuracy North Finding Systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-D-0027). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Crowley Government Services Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $59,700,000 firm-fixed-price contract for contractor-owned, contractor-operated fuel storage facilities and services for various types of fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with three offers received. This is a four-year contract with one five-year option period. Locations of performance are Florida and Alaska, with a June 23, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Air Force and Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE603-20-C-5009). Tiger Natural Gas Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been awarded a maximum $35,439,063 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, requirements contract under solicitation SPE604-20-R-0403 for pipeline quality direct supply natural gas. This was a competitive acquisition with four offers received. This is a three-year contract with a possible six-month carryover. Locations of performance are California, Nevada and Washington, with a Sept. 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Navy, Air Force and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 and customers are responsible to fund these contracts and vary in appropriation type and fiscal year. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE604-20-D-7502). Cobham Mission Systems Davenport LSS Inc., doing business as Cobham Mission Systems, Davenport, Iowa, has been awarded a maximum $17,492,050 firm‐fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for a nitrogen inerting unit. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302‐1. This is a five‐year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Iowa, with a June 30, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-20-D-0023). Hamilton Sundstrand Corp., doing business as UTC Aerospace, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, has been awarded a $15,144,635 firm‐fixed‐price, requirements contract for F-16 accessory drive gearboxes, hydraulic start motors and B-2 airframe mounted accessory drives. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302‐1. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Locations of performance are Iowa and Connecticut, with a June 30, 2025, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency. Type of appropriations is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Ogden, Utah (SPE4AX‐20‐D‐9410). CORRECTION: The contract announced on June 11, 2020, for Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin (SPRDL1-20-D0065) for $10,836,726 was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is June 23, 2020. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2231349/source/GovDelivery/

Nathan Strout The Navy has purchased its first two MQ-9A Reaper drones, awarding General Atomics Aeronautical Systems nearly $27 million on June 22 for the unmanned air systems and associated ground control equipment. The MQ-9A Reaper is a multimission, medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft that is remotely piloted. According to the June 22 contract announcement, the Reapers will be used for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions as well as persistent strike efforts. The contract procures two MQ-9A Reapers, one dual-control mobile ground control station, one modular data center and one mobile ground control station. This is the first time the Navy has purchased Reapers, but it's already been using the unmanned aircraft overseas. According to fiscal 2020 fiscal 2021 budget documents, the two MQ-9A aircraft the Navy is purchasing have been used by the Marine Corps in a contractor-operated, contractor-owned arrangement since September 2018 to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to Task Force Southwest in Afghanistan. Because they are used, the Reapers will cost less than brand-new systems. The FY21 budget request estimates the cost of each system as being just under $12 million. Work is expected to be completed by December 2020. https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/06/24/navy-buys-two-used-mq-9a-reapers/

June 18, 2020 - Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce that the United States Department of Defense has awarded Austal USA a modification to a previously awarded Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract. The modification provides Austal with a total potential additional value of US$43,362,000 (approx. A$62,700,000). Work is expected to be complete by June 2021. The contract modification exercises options for LCS Class design services, material to support LCS Class design services and the US Navy's Integrated Data Product Model Environment (IDPME). Austal will provide LCS Class design services to all LCS ships and services may include program management, fitting out services, change processing, software maintenance, engineering and lifecycle efforts. Austal will also maintain an IDPME that shall enable Navy access to enterprise LCS data management. This ASX announcement has been approved and authorised for release by David Singleton, Austal Limited's Chief Executive Officer. -ENDs- Media Contact: Cameron Morse +61 433 886 871 cameron.morse@fticonsulting.com FURTHER INFORMATION Contact: Austal Phone: 61 8 9410 1111 Fax: 61 8 9410 2564 Email: media@austal.com View source version on Austal Limited: https://www.austal.com/news/austal-usa-awarded-us43m-lcs-contract-modification

June 19, 2020 - On June 19th Damen Shipyards Group and the German Bundesamt fur Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr signed the contract for the construction of four MKS-180 frigates for the German Navy. Damen is the main contractor for this complex project which it is undertaking, together with partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, in Germany. The combination of companies was previously declared the winner of a European tender; the largest in the history of the German Navy. On 17 June, the necessary financial resources were released by the German Bundestag budget committee. The contract marks the start of the design and construction phase. Approximately 80% of the project investment remains in Germany as added value. The vessels will be built at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg, but partly also at other shipyard locations in Germany, including Bremen, Kiel and Wolgast. Besides this, approximately 100 small and medium-sized companies from the maritime industry, mechanical engineering and plant construction sectors will be involved in the implementation. These companies originate from almost all German states. Hein van Ameijden, Managing Director Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding: “I am convinced that with the MKS-180 project, we are building a high-quality frigate that meets all the wishes of the German Navy. It is a German-Dutch project. We are already working well with our partners in Germany; Luerssen, Blohm+Voss, and Thales. The project also offers prospects for further European cooperation. The many years of cooperation between Damen and Thales as part of the Dutch golden ecosystem is an important factor in this success. If the Netherlands continues to invest in innovative projects for its own navy, we can further expand our role within European naval construction. That's good for the Netherlands' strategic role, which fits in with the Defence Industry Strategy.” The German added value and knowledge development also apply to Thales's mission systems acquired within the project. Approximately 70% is supplied by Thales's German branches in Kiel and Wilhelmshaven. This is done in close cooperation with numerous subcontractors. Gerben Edelijn, CEO of Thales Netherlands: “This historic contract for both the German Navy and Thales is a significant milestone in more than 50 years of cooperation, and confirms our worldwide leading position in the field of high-end naval mission systems. The women and men on board of these innovative frigates can rely on the latest technologies in the field of cyber defense, radar and fire control. The AWWS system, developed for the Netherlands and Belgian Navies, will soon also enable the German Navy to withstand threats of today and the coming decades.” Damen, Lürssen, Bohm+Vos and Thales are delighted with the confidence that the German government places in it. The implementation of the project will begin soon and involves the delivery of four frigates between 2027 and 2031 for an amount of approximately 4.6 billion euros. There is also an option to supply two more frigates after 2032. View source version on Damen Shipyards Group: https://nlnavy.damen.com/dutch-leading-role-for-german-frigate-project-mks-180/