UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
23 Sep 19. UK DASA awards funding to companies for Manned-Unmanned Teaming. The UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has awarded funding to six companies for the development of semi-autonomous concept demonstrators for the British Army. Leonardo, General Dynamics (UK), QinetiQ, Horiba-Mira, SCISYS and Tekever were awarded a share of £3m. The winners of the DASA competition will showcase their innovations at the Army Warfighting Experiment (AWE19) in April next year. DASA called for ideas that could demonstrate the ability of semi-autonomous unmanned reconnaissance systems to work in coordination with manned forces for the British Army. The concept is known as Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T). The AWE19 experiment will be run by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). (Source: army-technology.com)
SEA
25 Sep 19. BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $50,383,950 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00037) to a previously awarded and announced contract (N00030-17-C-0001) to provide services for the U.S. and United Kingdom Trident II D5 strategic weapon system programs, U.S. SSGN (guided missile submarine) attack weapon systems, nuclear weapon surety, and future concepts. Work will be performed at Rockville, Maryland (70.3%); Washington, District of Columbia (14.33%); Kings Bay, Georgia (5.1%); Silverdale, Washington (2.7%); Norfolk, Virginia (1.5%); San Diego, California (1.5%); Alexandria, Virginia (1.1%); Barrow, United Kingdom (1.1%); Ocala, Florida (0.20%); Ball Ground, Georgia (0.20%); Saint Mary’s, Georgia (0.20%); Pittsfield, Massachusetts (0.17%); Montgomery Village, Maryland (0.15%); Thurmont, Maryland (0.15%); Buffalo, New York (0.15%); New Lebanon, New York (0.15%); New Paris, Ohio (0.15%); Downington, Pennsylvania (0.15%); Wexford, Pennsylvania (0.15%); Alton, Virginia (0.15%); Springfield, Virginia (0.15%); Vienna, Virginia (0.15%); and Baltimore, Maryland (0.10%), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Subject to the availability of funding, fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $39,721,974; and the United Kingdom funds in the amount of $10,661,976, will be obligated. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and (4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00030-17-C-0001).
20 Sep 19. Raytheon Co. Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is being awarded an $80,396,861 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-6423 for the production of the MK54 Lightweight Torpedo MOD 0 and MOD 1 common parts kits and spare torpedo components. This modification combines purchases for the Navy (24.0 %); and the governments of Canada, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom and India under the Foreign Military Sales program (76.0 %). This action is to exercise Option Year Three of the MK54 LWT common parts kit program to supply all up rounds and functional item replacement upgrade kits. This option provides MK54 LWT MOD 0 and MOD 1 common parts kits for the Navy and Foreign Military Sales partners, in addition to spares, production support material, and related engineering services and hardware support. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (95 %); and Keyport, Washington (5 %), and is expected to be complete by June 2022. Foreign Military Sales funding in the amount of $54,451,632; fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) in the amount of $16,931,178; and 2017 weapons procurement (Navy) in the amount of $243,182 will be obligated at time of award, and $243,182 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
EUROPE
LAND
23 Sep 19. France orders Nerva and Caméléon UGVs for Scorpion system. The French Armed Forces Ministry (MoD) ordered 56 Nerva and Caméléon unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) from Nexter, associated with ECA, on 26 August 2019 for the army’s Scorpion programme, the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) – the French armament procurement agency – announced on its website on 20 September. The agency said the light UGVs would contribute to the protection of dismounted soldiers in all kinds of environments, allowing them to counter potential threats at greater ranges. Equipped with different mission modules, the UGVs will allow engineers and infantry to gather intelligence regularly, the DGA added. The order is for three types of UGVs, all equipped with day/night cameras and a microphone: the 3 kg Nerva S reconnaissance, 5 kg Nerva LG extended reconnaissance, and 12 kg Nerva XX/Caméléon LG engineering UGV. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
26 Sep 19. Switzerland selects Thales for national airspace surveillance and protection.
- To enable the Swiss Air Force to protect national airspace, territory and populations, Thales’s SkyView system has been selected.
- The selection follows an international tender process comprising a thorough evaluation of competing products, and extensive testing carried out in Switzerland.
- Switzerland joins France and other NATO countries in introducing new digital architectures for its air command and control system capabilities.
SkyView has been selected by the Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse) to upgrade the country’s FLORAKO air surveillance system, which provides 24/7 surveillance and protection of national airspace, territory and populations.
SkyView correlates civil and military data in real time, providing a better overall picture of national airspace and allowing faster decisions to be made. It also enables operators to conduct air policing operations and detect and respond to all types of airborne threats.
SkyView is the culmination of 50 years of experience in air operations and has been deployed at over 80 command and control centres in more than 30 countries. It processes data from over 600 radars and interconnects with external systems via more than 60 types of interfaces. The product is co-developed with users according to a roadmap that reflects their exact requirements.
SEA
19 Sep 19. Finland gives green light to Squadron 2020 programme. The Finnish government has approved long-delayed contract awards to Rauma Marine Constructions Oy (RMC) and Saab for the delivery of the Finnish Navy’s EUR1.32bn Squadron 2020 corvette programme. Squadron 2020 covers the procurement of four new Pohjanmaa-class corvettes, capable of operating in ice conditions, to replace the seven existing surface combatants in Finnish Navy service. RMC will build the new ships at its shipyard in Rauma, while Saab will take responsibility for the supply and integration of the combat system (including the combat management system and radar suite), plus the integration of government-furnished weapons and equipment. The decision was made at the outset of the Squadron 2020 programme to build the new corvettes in Finland to assure security of supply and sustain national shipbuilding capability. A letter of intent and design contract was awarded to RMC in 2016. It had been planned to award the construction and combat system contracts in 2018, but negotiations between RMC shipyard and the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command were drawn out by disagreements over commercial terms. These have ultimately been addressed by an increase in the overall programme budget. Following a preliminary invitation to tender in 2017, Atlas Elektronik in Germany, Lockheed Martin Canada, and Saab were shortlisted for the role of combat system supplier and integrator. A final phase of competitive tendering was conducted in 2018, with Saab announced as the winner in April this year. Following the government approval on 19 September, the Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command plans to formally sign contracts in Turku on 26 September. According to the Finnish Ministry of Defence, the contract value to RMC will be EUR647.6m, while Saab’s contract will be worth EUR412m. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
TECHNOLOGY
24 Sep 19. Kromek has been awarded a £1.0m contract extension by a European government-related company to provide integration of Kromek’s D3S-related technologies. The customer is a company that works with a European government to detect and protect against potential nuclear threats, and the Group’s solutions will be used for wide-area threat monitoring. This brings the total awarded by this customer during this financial year to £2.1m
USA
LAND
20 Sep 19. Carolina Growler Inc.,* Star, North Carolina, is being awarded a $44,366,774 five-year, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-19-D-0013) to modify the M870A2-S Medium Heavy Equipment Transporter (MHET), to be capable of on/off-road line-haul transportation of equipment, supplies, and current Marine Corps engineering vehicles and equipment with payloads up to 40 tons in all terrain environments under the portfolio management of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. All work will be performed in Star, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 19, 2024. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds (Marine Corps) in the amount of $4,308,796 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and will not expire at the end of the current year. This contract award was competitively procured as a total small business set-aside in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b) with two offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia is the contracting activity (M67854-19-D-0013).
18 Sep 19. US Air Force awards Citadel Defense counter drone contract. The US Air Force selected Citadel Defense’s Titan counter drone system following 18 months’ validation by the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Citadel Defense technology will be used by the Air Force to protect bases, air shows, and Air National Guard emergency responders as drone threats escalate. It is Citadel’s 10th government counter-drone contract, and follows a contract award in July from the Defense Innovation Unit for use by military, government and law enforcement agencies. Citadel reports its equipment has been tested, validated, and deployed across 15+ countries. Evaluations have been carried out be the US Special Forces, Air Force, Army, Navy, Defense Innovation Unit, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol, FAA and government-funded Science & Technology labs. Titan’s detection and adaptive jamming capability is designed to autonomously defeat swarms of drones. Citadel’s CEO, Christopher Williams says TITAN incorporates requirements from over 200 stakeholders including warfighters, leadership, and policy makers. Citadel’s artificial intelligence and targeted jamming capability is designed to force drones to safely land before they can become a threat, thereby protecting the airspace while minimizing disruption or interference to surrounding equipment. The system can adapt to new threats operating on common (2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz) and hobbyist (433 MHz, 915 MHz, 1.2 GHz) communication links. Citadel’s deployable technology prevents unauthorized drones from entering a protected airspace by disrupting the radio-control and video signal, forcing the drone to safely land before it can become a threat. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
20 Sep 19. FLIR Detection Inc., Stillwater, Oklahoma, was awarded a $35,100,000 hybrid (cost-plus-incentive-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract to provide a contamination indication and decontamination assurance technology, as well as an applicator. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 19, 2029. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QY-19-D-0054).
24 Sep 19. KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it was awarded two contract modifications totaling almost $40m to upgrade remote tracking stations in the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). The U.S. Air Force Space Command (AFSC) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) awarded these firm fixed price modifications under the existing Hybrid Remote Tracking Station (RTS) Block Change (RBC) Contract. KBR was awarded the RBC Hybrid contract in February 2013. AFSCN is a global system that provides command, control, and communications for space vehicles and satellites. It supports telemetry, tracking, and command for U.S. defense space vehicles as well as selected space programs run by NASA and foreign allies. Most recently, KBR won a $2.2m award to perform construction activities at the Diego Garcia Tracking Station (DGS) in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). This will include electrical, mechanical and facilities upgrades supporting the existing Hybrid project at the site. The award’s period of performance begins in September 2019 and runs through May 2020. The company also received a $37.4m award to upgrade RBC systems at the New Hampshire Tracking Station in New Boston, New Hampshire and the Telemetry and Command Station in Oakhanger, England. KBR is expected to complete this work by May 2022. This work includes replacing existing Automated Remote Tracking Station (ARTS) systems with new RBC systems and integrating these RBC systems with existing antennas and associated subsystems. KBR will ensure the successful integration and testing of the overall system, which will ultimately enhance AFSCN operations.
20 Sep 19. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been awarded a contract under the US Army’s Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) programme. The contract is valued at $48m and is for new remote weapon stations (RWS). Kongsberg has revealed the total income from the orders under the CROWS programme in the third quarter has reached to $89m. All of these orders are awarded under the CROWS indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) framework agreement signed between the US Army and Kongsberg. The framework contract has the potential to facilitate orders worth $498m. The company has secured contracts worth $340m, which accounts for around 68% of the total framework agreement. (Source: Google/army-technology.com)
25 Sep 19. Lockheed Martin Corp., Liverpool, New York, was awarded a $281,076,408 hybrid (fixed-price-incentive (firm target), firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursable (no profit/fee)) contract to acquire 18 Sentinel A4 Radar Systems. Three bids were solicited with three bids received. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2026. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0058).
19 Sep 19. Meggitt Training Systems Wins Additional $15.8m in US Army Targeting Equipment Orders. Meggitt Training Systems, the leading provider of integrated live-fire and virtual weapons training products and services for armed forces and law enforcement, announced additional orders that form part of a vital US Army combat skills training program for American and allied warfighters. The $15.8m in orders, awarded by Tank-automotive & Armaments Command since May and being installed in the coming four months, are part of the Army Targetry Systems III indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, five-year contract. The 10 orders are for the following facilities. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 Sep 19. Meggitt Defense Systems Inc., Irvine, California, was awarded a $48,563,836 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for development, production, field operations support, installation support, training, cyber security support, systems and spares production and repairs of the Aerial Weapons Scoring System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 8, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-19-D-0010).
24 Sep 19. US Air Force awards MicroTechnologies LLC Combined Air Operations Center contract. The US Air Force (USAF) on 20 September awarded MicroTechnologies LLC a USD160 million contract for Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) communication services, according to a Pentagon statement. The contract, a firm-fixed-price arrangement, provides operations and maintenance of all Air Operations Center (AOC) communication systems around the clock, every day of the year. This work will be performed in the USAF’s Central Command area of responsibility (AOR) and runs through 2 September 2024. The USAF’s Central Command AOR is a 20-nation region stretching from northeast Africa across the Middle East to Central and South Asia. This award was the result of a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. The USAF did not return a request for comment prior to publication, and MicroTechnologies LLC declined to comment. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
20 Sep 19. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded an $8,569,388 modification (P00258) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 for fielding the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $8,569,388 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
23 Sep 19. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Woburn, Massachusetts, is being awarded a modification on indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract HQ0147-18-D-0002. The value of this contract modification is $500,615,405, which increases the total ceiling value from $461,492,695 to $962,108,100. The contractor will continue to perform research and development support for the Army Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance Control Model-2 and Sea-Based X-Band radar. The modification also includes continued product improvement, warfighter support, engineering services, Ballistic Missile Defense System test subject matter experts (SME) support, modeling and simulation SME support, and cybersecurity. No task orders are being issued at this time. The work will continue to be performed in Woburn, Massachusetts. The period of performance remains the same, which is from Nov. 1, 2017, through Oct. 31, 2022, with a one year option. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
25 Sep 19. Raytheon high-power microwave system for USAF. Raytheon is to deliver a prototype high-power microwave (HPM) system to the US Air Force under a contract announced on 24 September. The system will be deployed to troops overseas and used to destroy hostile drones. The HPM system uses directed energy to defeat hostile drones with a wide beam that can disable multiple targets at one time. The contract follows a separate contract under which Raytheon will build two prototype high-energy laser (HEL) systems, also to be deployed overseas. The HPM and HEL systems can be used independently or together to challenge UAS threats. Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president, said: ‘There’s more than one way to defeat a drone. We are delivering the world’s first defensive directed energy systems that can be used alone or in tandem to defeat enemy drones at the speed of light.’ (Source: Shephard)
24 Sep 19. SAIC to Deliver Marine Corps Technology Demonstrator Reconnaissance Vehicle. Contract awarded through the Office of Naval Research. Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC) won a contract valued at $20.5m, if all options are exercised, to deliver an advanced, high-technology Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle technology demonstrator for the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Marine Corps. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Sep 19. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded a contract to TCOM to support the Persistent Surveillance Systems – Tethered (PSS-T) programme. The hybrid contract is valued at around $978.94m and will run until 19 June 2024. TCOM will provide engineering, logistics, operations and programme management services in support of the PSS-T programme. The company expects to perform associated work at its facilities in Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Arizona. The contract will support Product Director (PD) Aerostats office’s requirements to support Combatant Commanders and joint agency requirements. PSS-T delivers aerostats for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and force protection missions. It is a low-altitude platform designed to enable multi-sensor information collection. (Source: army-technology.com)
SEA
23 Sep 19. Leidos has received a follow-on contract worth around $73m to continue providing submarine detection sonar services in support of US Navy operations. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity award comes with an ordering period of three years. Leidos will perform the contract work in Virginia and Mississippi to support the navy’s Maritime Surveillance Systems Program Office. The company will fabricate, test, and deliver Transformational Reliable Acoustic Path System (TRAPS) prototype units. It will enable the navy to achieve the capability of long-range detection and classification of submarines in deep water environments. Developed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract awarded in 2014, TRAPS is a fixed passive sonar node that allows for large-area surveillance to detect submarines. Leidos has been developing and fielding TRAPS prototype units since the beginning of the programme and is the sole provider of the systems to the navy. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
25 Sep 19. BAE Systems, Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Hudson, New Hampshire, is awarded a $2,684,650,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II full rate production Lots 8-12. This award procures WGU-59/B units to upgrade the current 2.75-inch rocket system to a semi-active laser guided precision weapon to support Navy, Army, Air Force, and foreign military sales requirements to include the governments of Iraq, Lebanon, Netherlands, Jordan, Afghanistan, United Kingdom, Tunisia, Philippines and Australia. Work will be performed in Hudson, New Hampshire (54%); and Austin, Texas (46%), and is expected to be completed in December 2025. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-D-0026).
20 Sep 19. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded a $51,585,702 firm-fixed-price contract to procure 136 Advanced Capability Mission Computers in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in February 2022. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $51,585,702 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(B). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0073).
25 Sep 19. CACI Awarded $197m Task Order to Support Special Electronic Mission Aircraft Flight Operations for U.S. Army. CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) announced today it has been awarded a more than four-year task order, with a ceiling value of $197m, to support the U.S. Army Fixed Wing Project Office’s special electronic mission aircraft flight operations worldwide. Under the task order, CACI will use its proven technical and training solutions for operational mission support to provide 24/7 surveillance and reconnaissance assistance to U.S. and NATO forces deployed abroad. Awarded under the RS3 contract vehicle, the work represents new work for CACI. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Sep 19. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT, TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that its subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America LLC, (“Elbit Systems of America”), was awarded a $85m firm-fixed-priced contract, with no option periods, by the U.S. Navy for the repair of Digital Display Indicator (DDI) systems aboard F/A-18 aircraft. The contract will be performed in Talladega, Alabama over a five-year period. The DDI is a cockpit display that allows pilots to select, manage and customize the performance of weapons carried by the fighter, and see video images provided by those weapons.
24 Sep 19. Elbit Systems Ltd. (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Elbit Systems – Cyclone Ltd. (Elbit – Cyclone), was selected by Boeing Defense, Space and Security (BDS) to supply structural components for the F-15 aircraft. Elbit – Cyclone will supply structural components including detachable fuel tanks, pylons, horizontal stabilizers and adapters to the F-15 aircraft.
24 Sep 19. KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been awarded an $81m contract by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to provide aircrew services to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). Under this contract, KBR’s certified and qualified aircrew will support the mission essential test and evaluation of all manned and unmanned air vehicles for Naval Test Wing Atlantic and Pacific squadrons. Aircrew will include: test pilots, weapons systems operators, flight engineers, aerial photographers, flight technicians, loadmasters, instructors, unmanned air vehicle operators and other specialists. KBR will primarily perform this work at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, as well as NAS Point Mugu and NAS China Lake in California. This cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract is for five years with an option to extend six months. The company won the previous aircrew services contract in 2013 and has supported its predecessor contracts for almost 40 years.
23 Sep 19. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $352,672,006 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-19-D-0015). This modification increases the ceiling and scope of the contract to include the procurement of Lot 12-14 Generation 3 helmet mounted displays in support of the F-35 Lightning II program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2020. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
23 Sep 19. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, has been awarded a maximum $375,792,189 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-E31N) against a five year basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026) for Multi Function Active Sensor Radar Systems for the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. 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 six-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Dec. 31, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2025 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
20 Sep 19. Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Chandler, Arizona, is being awarded a competitive fixed-price-incentive-fee contract. The total value of this contract is $1,120,178,540. Under this new contract, OSC will provide the Missile Defense Agency with threat-representative subscale targets with simple and complex re-entry vehicles as well as storage, surveillance, maintenance of delivered hardware and software, and range execution of end items. The work will be performed in Chandler, Arizona, with a performance period from September 2019 through September 2027. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website with two proposals received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $7,410,000 are being obligated at the time of contract award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-C-0005).
24 Sep 19. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is providing 111 ALR-69A systems, including spares, to outfit the U.S. Air Force’s newest tanker, the KC-46 Pegasus. Raytheon will complete radar warning receiver deliveries by 2025 under the contract with Boeing. ALR-69A – the world’s first all-digital radar warning receiver – alerts tanker aircrews to imminent airborne threats and allows them to take evasive action. To date, 50 ALR-69A systems for the KC-46 have been delivered to Boeing. In 2018, the U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon an IDIQ to outfit their fleet of tactical air and large body aircraft with ALR-69A. Since that award, ALR-69A has gone through significant enhancements, including frequency extensions that detect and identify threats across the spectrum. It is also installed on the U.S. Air Force C-130H and is currently being tested on the F-16.
TECHNOLOGY
25 Sep 19. Alion Science and Technology has secured a task order to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services and integrated logistics support (ILS) for Combatant Commands (COCOMs). The $969m task order was awarded by the General Services Administration (GSA), Assisted Acquisition Service (AAS) Region 1 under the One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (OASIS) Unrestricted Pool 1 contract. It has a 12-month base performance period and four one-year options. The task order will deliver enhanced capabilities for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. Under the contract, Alion will design and develop concept demonstrators, and develop processes and procedures. (Source: army-technology.com)
23 Sep 19. Altamira Technologies Awarded as Prime Contractor on US Air Force CDM A&T Services Contract. Altamira Technologies Corporation has been selected as a prime contractor on the United States Secretary of the Air Force, Administrative Assistant’s Concept, Development, and Management Office (SAF/CDM) Analytical and Technical (A&T) Services contract. The 10-year $950M IDIQ contract provides for analytical and technical services for the SAF, Administrative Assistant’s CDM Office (SAF/CDM), which manages high-priority projects and programs to provide innovative solutions to Air Force and defense-wide challenges. The A&T Services effort will directly support SAF/CDM’s mission to be the partner choice for innovation, discovery, and opportunity development within the Department of Defense (DoD). (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Sep 19. The US Government’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, which is a component within the US Department of Homeland Security, has awarded Kromek a $0.7m (c. £0.6m) extension contract to add further technical innovation capability to the D3S family of products. The enhancements will provide greater operational capability by improving user experience and add a specialised reporting function to generate further information for homeland security organisations.
20 Sep 19. Perspecta Enterprise Solutions LLC, Herndon, Virginia, is being awarded a $656,861,974 modification to previously awarded, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00039-13-D-0013) for the existing Next Generation Enterprise Network contract. The total cumulative face value of the contract is a maximum of $656,861,974. This contract modification will extend the contract’s Option Year Six (OY6) period of performance by four months, extending the potential ordering period from June 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2020. Additionally, subject to the government exercising the contract’s Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52-217-8 (option to extend services), the OY6 ordering period may be further extended through Dec. 27, 2020. Current and future work will be performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Guam, Korea and Japan. No additional funding will be placed on contract or obligated at the time of modification award. This action is a result of a justification and approval that authorizes extending the ordering period by up to seven months. This contract modification was not competitively procured because it is a sole source acquisition pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), one source or limited sources (FAR subpart 6.302-1). The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.
REST OF THE WORLD
AIR
24 Sep 19. US approves AH-6i sale to Thailand. The US State Department has approved the sale to Thailand of eight Boeing AH-6i light attack and reconnaissance rotorcraft, as well as associated weapons, equipment, and support. The approval, which was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 24 September, is valued at USD400m and will enable the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to retire its seven ageing Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters. As noted by the DSCA, the proposed sale covers the Little Bird-family helicopters, 50 Lockheed Martin AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, 200 BAE Systems Advance Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets, 10 Dillion M134 7.62mm Mini-Guns, four General Dynamics GAU-19/B 12.7mm Gatling guns, 500 70mm Hydra rockets, 20 night vision goggles, eight WESCAM MX-10Di electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, as well as other equipment and support. “As part of a broader military modernisation effort, these AH-6i helicopters will provide light attack reconnaissance for close air support to special operations forces, Stryker infantry soldiers, and border guard units,” the DSCA said. The approval for Thailand comes about 21 months after the US Army issued a request for information (RFI) for up to 120 AH-6 helicopters for Saudi Arabia and other undisclosed allied operators. The request covered the manufacture and delivery of the Little Bird helicopters in the AH-6SA (Saudi Arabia) and AH-6i (International) configurations. The US Army stated that the AH-6SA/AH-6i helicopters will be delivered in the Performance Enhancement Production Upgrade Configuration. This comprises composite main rotor blades, upgraded mast /mast base HI-LOK fasteners, reverse direction tail rotor system (including directional flight controls and tail rotor drive shaft), and an extended tail boom. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
25 Sep 19. Qatar requests LAIRCM systems from US government. The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of AN/AAQ-24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems to Qatar. The Qatar government has requested two AN/AAQ-24(V)N LAIRCM systems to protect two 747-800 Head-of-State aircraft, in a package worth $86m. Also included in the package are 12 Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies, seven LAIRCM System Processor Replacements, 23 Missile Warning Sensors, Control Indicator Unit Replacements, Smart Card Assemblies, High Capacity Cards, and User Data Memory cards. Spares, engineering and technical support are also included. The prime contractor will be Northrop Grumman if the sales goes ahead. (Source: Shephard)
25 Sep 19. XTEK to support ADF Wasp AE UAS. XTEK has received a contract to provide repairs, maintenance and support services for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) fleet of Wasp All Environment (AE) small UAS. Announced by the Australian Department of Defence, the contract will run for an initial three years. It includes options to extend through to 2026, with an anticipated value of up to $5m per year. The support services include procurement of spare parts, training, maintenance and repairs – including electronics and composite repairs – with work to be carried out at XTEK’s repair and maintenance facility in Canberra. The ADF has received 59 Wasp AE small UAS to date, with a further 20 scheduled to arrive in 2020. (Source: Shephard)
TECHNOLOGY
25 Sep 19. Semi Conductor Devices (SCD) ‒ a global leader in the development and manufacture of a wide range of cooled and uncooled infrared detectors ‒ wins several programs in North America, Europe, and Israel for its HOT Mid-Wave Infra-Red (MWIR) detectors, totaling more than $20m, and ramps up the new generation HOT low SWaP-C MWIR Sparrow Video Core. The SCD family of low SWaP-C detectors based on 10 μm and 15 μm FPAs, enable High Operating Temperature (HOT) at 150K to achieve extremely high quality images with low SWaP and cost. Delivering an exceptional level of reliability with a high MTBF, the SCD HOT detectors are used for varied applications that require 24/7 operation, such as border surveillance, critical infrastructure security, and more. In addition, the HOT technology is an enabler for applications which require very low SWaP-C performance with demand for long operational hours on batteries such as for man-portable handheld IR systems, tactical surveillance payloads for small UAVs, and more. The contracts received are from 4 different customers with deliveries having begun in the second quarter of 2019.