UNITED KINGDOM
AIR
17 Jun 19. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded $90,961,866 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the United Kingdom (UK) MQ-9A Contractor Logistics Support Phase IV Program. This contract provides for depot repair, life cycle sustainment, and software maintenance services for UK’s MQ-9A fleet. Work will be performed in Poway, California. Performance and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the UK. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $90,961,866 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-C-2003).
EUROPE
LAND
19 Jun 19. Photonis has been awarded a multi-year contract for the delivery of up to 5,000 state-of-the-art image intensifier tubes for night vision monoculars. Photonis will provide the Spanish Armed Forces with high performance 4G image intensifier tubes for usage in the AN/PVS-14 monocular, that will be provided by the Spanish original equipment manufacturer Night Vision Lasers Spain (NVLS). To increase its effectiveness at night, the Spanish Armed Forces wanted to improve their night operability by purchasing the high performance 4G image intensification technology. This technology increases the ability to locate and engage threats and to operate in all night conditions. The 4G standard is the latest technology in intensified night vision. This technology is specifically designed to address the stringent requirements of special forces operators and only 4G can offer ultra-fast Auto-Gating, the smallest halo and unrivalled spectral range from ultraviolet to near infrared. 4G provides an edge over adversaries in the darkest nights, in all terrain and operations and operators can gain from the best DRI range possible.
19 Jun 19. French armed forces boost their secure, high-throughput satcom capabilities with Thales technologies.
- The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded Thales a major contract to design and build the ground segment for the next-generation Syracuse 4 satellite communication system for the French armed forces.
- From 2023, the armed forces will benefit from interoperable communication capabilities with improved throughput, availability, threat protection and end-to-end connectivity.
- This contract will enable French armed forces to meet their initial strategic capability objectives for the Scorpion vehicle programme and the Rafale combat aircraft.
SEA
14 June 19. Isotta Fraschini Motori to provide diesel generators for Italy’s fourth PPA vessel. Fincantieri subsidiary Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM) is to supply its new 16V170C2ME diesel generator system (DGS) for the Italian Navy’s fourth multirole offshore patrol vessel (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura: PPA). The new generator model was unveiled by IFM on 11 June following the completion of its validation and certification process. “The new in-country developed diesel generator system is [currently in ]production for the Italian Navy’s new class of multipurpose combatant patrol vessels,” chief inspector Admiral Bisceglia, head of the Italian Ministry of Defence’s Naval Armament Directorate, said at the unveiling. Italy has ordered seven PPA vessels for its navy, four of which are currently either in production or undergoing acceptance trials. The DGS, which has a rating of 1,600 kW at 1,200 rpm and an electrical frequency of 60Hz, has been developed in collaboration with Italian defence agencies and has been tailored to meet the Italian Navy’s requirements. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
AIR
19 Jun 19. Airbus Defence and Space has been awarded a contract from the German Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) to integrate and certify a J-MUSIC™ Directed Infrared Counter Measure (DIRCM) system inside the A400M Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS) for the German Air Forces’ Airbus A400M aircraft. The DE DIRCM system will be provided by Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG, which is based on a J-MUSIC™ System from Elbit Systems Ltd. The contract will be performed over a four-year period.
18 Jun 19. French Armed Forces Order Novadem NX70 Micro Reconnaissance UAV. More than 50 Novadem NX70 micro surveillance and reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been ordered by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) and will soon equip soldiers deployed in operation. Each of the 27 systems acquired is composed of two UAVs, a ground station and the associated equipments and technical support. Value of the contract is reaching more than 2m euros. This acquisition was done in the context of an operation emergency aiming at “quickly endowing land forces with more performing and secured detection capacities, capable of operating by day and night” stated the DGA in a press release. First units have been received by the DGA and have just gone through evaluations carried out by the Technical Section of the Land Forces. The NX70 has a weight of only 2.2lbs. Its flight endurance can reach up to 45 minutes and it has a range of more than 1.8 miles. UAV, thus avoiding risks of information compromise. The NX70 can fly even in harsh weather conditions (wind up to 40 mph, rain, dust, wide temperature range) allowing for a high availability rate. encrypted, no information is stored on board and no internet connection is required to operate the Its data links are The logistic footprint is limited to a single ruggedized transport case including all equipments making it easy to transport. (Source: UAS VISION)
USA
LAND
19 Jun 19. ArmorWorks Enterprises, Chandler, Arizona, has been awarded a $206,073,316 firm-fixed-price contract for delivery of payload transporters. This contract provides for replacement of aging payload transporters. Work will be performed in Chandler, Arizona, and is expected to be complete by July 30, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $31,322,624 are being obligated at the time of award. The Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Contracting Division, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8204-19-C-0005).
20 Jun 19. BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., Sterling Heights, Michigan, is awarded a not-to-exceed $67,000,000 modification for firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract line item numbers 8000, 8001, 8002, and 8100 to a previously awarded contract (M67854-16-C-0006), for the development of engineering drawings, manufacture, and test support for three Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) command and control Mission Role Variants (MRVs), and the development of engineering drawings for the ACV medium caliber cannon MRV. The ACV program is managed within the portfolio of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania (85 %); and Aiken, South Carolina (15 %), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds in the amount of $2,500,000; and fiscal 2019 RDT&E funds in the amount of $20,075,743 will be obligated at the time of award, and funding in the amount of $2,500,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract modification was not competitively procured, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 and 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(1). The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
20 Jun 19. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $10,200,705 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for vehicular axle assemblies. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with a June 20, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-D-0129).
17 Jun 19. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $21,709,189 fixed-price-incentive contract for Palletized Load System Trailers. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $21,709,189 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-F-0468).
17 Jun 19. SIG SAUER, Inc. announced that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is set to adopt the M18, the compact variant of the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS), as their official duty pistol. The M18 is a 9mm, striker-fired pistol featuring a coyote-tan PVD coated stainless steel slide with black controls. The pistol is equipped with SIGLITE front night sights and removable night sight rear plate, and manual safety. Recently, the M18 successfully completed a MHS Material Reliability Test that consisted of firing three M18 pistols to 12,000 rounds each for a total of 36,000 rounds in accordance with the MHS requirements. Comparatively, the U.S. Army’s legacy pistol was only tested to 5,000 rounds making the test duration for the M18 pistol 2.4 times greater than that of the legacy pistol. In this testing, the M18 experienced zero stoppages despite being allowed up to twelve stoppages. Additionally, the M18 passed a parts interchange test, and met stringent accuracy and dispersion requirements.
19 Jun 19. Ultralife Corp., Newark, New York, is awarded a $9,985,687 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract procures Universal Vehicle Adapter radio battery chargers, MRC-UVA-V1, in support of the Family of Special Operations Vehicles Ground Mobility Vehicle and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected platforms. Work will be performed in Newark, New York, and is expected to be completed in June 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was a limited competition in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 3.02-1(c) via an electronic request for proposal posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-19-D-0132).
AIR
17 Jun 19. BAE Systems has been awarded contracts by The Boeing Company to supply the Vehicle Management Control System and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) System for the MQ-25. The Vehicle Management Control System will control all flight surfaces and perform overall vehicle management duties for the MQ-25 unmanned aerial vehicle. The IFF product ensures operation in contested environments by reliably identifying both coalition and enemy vehicles. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
18 Jun 19. Inmarsat Government Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a competitive single-award blanket purchase agreement (BPA), GS-35F-0016X/HC1013-19-A-0005, for commercial satellite communication services. The total cumulative face value of this BPA is $246,000,000 (ceiling amount). The place of performance will be at Inmarsat Government Inc. Quotations were solicited via the General Services Administration’s Federal Supply Schedule, Information Technology Schedule 70, and two quotations were received from 28 offerors solicited. The period of performance is five years, consisting of a one year base period of June 19, 2019, through June 18, 2020, and four 12-month option periods. The Defense Information Technology Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity (GS-35F-0016X/HC1013-19-A-0005).
17 Jun 19. Saab has selected Collins Aerospace Systems to provide power and control systems for the US Air Force’s Boeing T-X trainer aircraft, the company announced on 17 June. The company will supply the aircraft’s Power Take Off shaft, Auxiliary Power Engine Control Unit (APECU), engine start system and Main Electric Power Generation System (MEPGS). The shafts are used to transmit power from the engine to the aircraft mounted accessory drive gearbox. The APECU is a full-authority, advanced electronic controller that controls, monitors and diagnoses all phases of auxiliary power and engine start system operation. The controller also transmits fault and maintenance information to the aircraft systems through redundant communication buses. Collins Aerospace’s engine start system includes a starter control valve and air turbine starter that converts pneumatic power, supplied by the APU and controlled by the starter control valve, into mechanical shaft horsepower to start the engine. The MEPGS will feature Collins Aerospace’s proven integrated drive generator and digital controls technology to deliver highly-reliable constant frequency power. (Source: Shephard)
17 Jun 19. The US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has awarded a $562m contract to LinQuest to support the military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) enterprise. Under the contract, LinQuest will provide architecting and full lifecycle systems engineering, integration, and solutions support. The MILSATCOM systems engineering, integration and test (MSEIT) contract is designed to support SMC programmes, including all satellites, terminals, and networks for worldwide tactical, strategic, and wideband military communications. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
17 June 19. Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) won a four-year $234m initial low-rate production contract from the U.S. Navy to outfit all of its nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships with 23 Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems. JPALS is a GPS-based precision landing system that guides aircraft to precision landings in all weather and surface conditions.
18 June 19. Meggitt PLC, a leading international company specialising in high performance components and sub-systems for the aerospace, defence and energy markets, has signed a contract with Textron for the supply of fire protection systems on the Cessna Denali and SkyCourier platforms. Deliveries are scheduled to commence later this year.
TECHNOLOGY
18 June 19. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, has been awarded a $9,919,398 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00007) to previously awarded contract HR0011-18-C-0026 for a research project for undersea systems. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $19,208,634 from $9,289,236. Work will be performed in Linthicum Heights, Maryland (71%); Reston, Virginia (27%); and Cambridge, Massachusetts (2%), with an estimated completion date of May 2020. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $9,919,398 are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
17 June 19. RBC Signals, the multi-national provider of flexible and cost-effective space communication services, announced today it is the recipient of a U.S. Air Force (USAF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award. Awarded under the topic “Commercial Solutions for Innovative Space Data Analytics”, the RBC Signals award is managed out of the Space Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). It provides funding for multi-mission intelligent edge computing infrastructure in ground stations within the RBC Signals global network. According to the Air Force, “The AFRL and AFWERX (a catalyst for agile Air Force engagement across industry, academia and non-traditional contributors to create transformative opportunities and foster an Air Force culture of innovation), have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research process in an attempt to speed up the experience, broaden the pool of potential applicants and decrease bureaucratic overhead. Beginning in SBIR 18.2, and now in 19.1, the Air Force has begun offering ‘Special’ SBIR topics that are faster, leaner and open to a broader range of innovations. RBC Signals provides space communication infrastructure as a service to low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite operators. RBC Signals offers unique access to a global network of over 65 antennas in over 40 locations supporting all major frequency bands. The company’s unique service model enables satellite operators to reduce latency, increase data download capacity, and improve the resiliency of their satellite communications. RBC Signals combines intelligent edge innovation and cloud computing capabilities with its ground station assets strategically located across the globe. This enables the USAF to securely process its space-generated data and leverage advanced applications for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at the ground station.
REST OF THE WORLD
AIR
18 Jun 19. Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and SUBARU CORPORATION, announced that the Japan National Police Agency (JPNA) has placed the first order for a SUBARU BELL 412EPX. Last year, BELL and SUBARU announced their collaboration on a commercial enhancement of the SUBARU BELL 412EPX, the newest upgrade of the renowned Bell 412 series, which was co-developed by the two companies as the platform for the New Utility Helicopter for JMOD (Japan Ministry of Defense) program. SUBARU delivered the prototype to the New Utility Helicopter to JMOD for testing in February 2019. Together with SUBARU’s unique laser peening technology, the SUBARU BELL 412EPX will benefit from a more robust main rotor gearbox dry run capability, increased internal Maximum Gross Weight to 12,200 lbs. and mast torque output of +11% at speeds below 60 knots. This will provide operators the ability to transport more supplies and achieve better operational efficiency.
20 Jun 19. Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has signed a new multimillion-pound contract with the Bangladesh Air Force to support additional C-130J aircraft purchased from the UK Ministry of Defence. This new multi-year contract follows on from the landmark contract signed in May 2018 and will see Marshall provide total support to the entire Bangladesh Air Force C-130J fleet. Marshall will deliver aircraft maintenance, logistics support, including the provision of spare parts and ground support equipment for establishing local capabilities, as well as engineering services to ensure the effective operation of the entire fleet. The company will also carry out critical capability enhancement modifications to the avionics equipment and provide a passenger transport capability, as well as in-country technical support to the operator for an initial period, along with specific technical services to support the longer-term sustainment of the fleet. This new support contract has been signed in accordance with a Government-to-Government agreement for the sale of an additional batch of former Royal Air Force C-130J aircraft from the UK MoD to the Bangladesh Air Force.
18 Jun 19. The upgraded and improved unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) Spectator-M1 designed by JSC Meridian named after Korolev, a member of the Ukroboronprom state concern, and Sikorsky KPI University (Kyiv) was adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The state-owned concern said that the Spectator-M1 UAV is an improved version of Spectator UAVs. Spectator-M1 is designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance, both day and night. During the modernization, the unmanned complex received a new thermal imager, an advanced control station, as well as a reduced weight, which allows it to stay in the air longer. (Source: UAS VISION/Interfax)