UNITED KINGDOM
AIR
23 Oct 19. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $21,723,507 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price undefinitized contract modification (P00003) to previously awarded FA8620-18-C-2009 for the United Kingdom MQ-9B Protector program. This contract modification provides for the design, development, integration and component level testing of additional capabilities being added to the baseline program. Work will be performed at Poway, California, and is expect to be completed by Aug. 31, 2021. This modification involves 100% foreign military sales to the United Kingdom. Total cumulative face value of the contract is not-to-exceed $94,519,758. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $10,644,519 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Medium Altitude Unmanned Aircraft Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-18-C-2009).
EUROPE
LAND
18 Oct 19. Comtech Receives European MOD Order for Satellite Modems. During the Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) first quarter of fiscal 2020, its Tempe, Arizona-based subsidiary, Comtech EF Data Corp., which is part of Comtech’s Commercial Solutions segment, received a $1.6m order for DMD2050E Satellite Modems from a European Ministry of Defense (“MOD”). The DMD2050E Satellite Modems will be deployed at the MOD’s teleports in Europe and the Caribbean. The MOD will leverage the technical capabilities of the DMD2050E Satellite Modems to upgrade an existing network, including higher operational data rates, embedded encryption and Information Throughput Adaptation (“ITA”). The DMD2050E Satellite Modem is designed to comply with the widest range of standards and is compatible with the largest number of satellite modems in the industry. The modem provides highly advanced and bandwidth efficient forward error correction and a complete range of modulation types. The advanced forward error correction and modulation capabilities are integrated with DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier® bandwidth compression technology allowing for maximum state-of-the-art performance under all conditions. The DMD2050E also supports Adaptive Coding and Modulation (“ACM”), which enables modems on each side of a point-to-point link to use the modulation and coding combination that maximizes throughput, and automatically adapts the optimum operating point as conditions change. (Source: Satnews)
AIR
21 Oct 19. The Lithuanian Defence Ministry has decided to acquire new US-made UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters to replace the soviet-made Mi-8 helicopter fleet. According to the plan, the ministry is set to begin negotiations with the US Government on the acquisition of six UH-60 Black Hawks. Lithuania intends to use the new helicopters for search and rescue operations. The utility helicopters will also be deployed to support the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Nato enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in the country. Currently the Lithuanian Armed Forces continues to use for its tasks three operational Soviet-made Mi-8 whose airworthiness deadline is very near, and three AS365 N3+ Dauphin helicopters that are mainly used for search and rescue operations and environmental protection surveillance in the territory of Lithuania. The procurement decision was made in light of the fact that the Mi-8 helicopters are nearing the end of their operational life. Moreover, the constant and high maintenance of the fleet has worked in favour of the move to purchase new helicopters. (Source: army-technology.com)
USA
LAND
22 Oct 19. US Army awards SBIR contract to Princeton Infrared Technologies. The US Army has awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to Princeton Infrared Technologies to fund the development of real-time on-board video for gun launched munitions. Princeton Infrared Technologies will use the Phase II SBIR funding to develop a small, cost-effective visible / short wave infrared (SWIR) camera for precision-guided gun launched munitions. The camera is required to have low weight and power. The contract comes after the company demonstrated the technology in Phase I. The company stated that it will work on the development of a lightweight, uncooled 640×512 on 8 μm pixel pitch SWIR seeker. It will enable operators to precisely engage targets during day and night, in challenging environmental conditions. The SWIR camera will provide the capability to image and track laser designators and pointers on the battlefield. To be developed in a two-year period, the gun-hardened InGaAs SWIR camera will be installed on board a mortar launched projectile or small high-speed gun. (Source: army-technology.com)
24 Oct 19. ViaSat Inc., Carlsbad, California, is awarded a $23,914,150 five-year, firm-fixed-price, long-term requirement contract for the repair support of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System, Low Volume Terminal for the Navy. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Work will be performed in Oostkamp, Belgium (50%); Carlsbad, California (37%); Palm Bay, Florida (9%); and Lynwood, Washington (4%). Work is expected to be completed by October 2024. Annual working capital funds (Navy) will be used and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. A delivery order in the amount of $3,930,305 will be obligated at the time of award. One company was solicited for this sole sourced requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-20-D-VK01).
SEA
21 Oct 19. Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) announced today that its subsidiary, Teledyne Brown Engineering (TBE) in Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a sole source contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for the follow-on production of MK11 Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) Systems. The contract, including all options, is valued at $178m. The SWCS System is a manned combat submersible vehicle specifically designed to insert and extract Special Operations Forces (SOF) in high threat areas. Under the initial contract with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), TBE successfully designed, manufactured, tested and delivered the initial Engineering Development Model (EDM) SWCS System. Due to the success of the program’s EDM Phase, USSOCOM exercised options for TBE to produce and deliver additional MK11 SWCS Production Systems. Under the new NAVSEA contract, TBE will continue production and delivery of MK11 SWCS Systems, including spare parts production and the provision of engineering and technical support services, through fiscal year 2024, if all options are exercised. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
AIR
22 Oct 19. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), received a $5,254,912 firm fixed-price contract award for PumaTM 3 AE systems and support equipment on August 8, 2019 for the U.S. Border Patrol, part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Delivery is anticipated by January, 2020. AeroVironment’s Puma 3 AE small unmanned aircraft system is designed for the real-world environment Border Patrol agents operate in. Easy to transport, deploy and operate, the Puma system can be launched from anywhere, at any time, and requires no additional infrastructure, such as runways or launch devices. The AeroVironment Puma flies for hours in the most extreme environments while producing high-resolution, continuous or on-demand spot surveillance of critical land and sea border areas at any time of the day or night. Highly automated and with GPS navigation, the Puma dramatically extends the reach of Border Patrol agents at a fraction of the cost of manned or larger unmanned aircraft.
24 Oct 19. The U.S. Air Force has selected L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) to deliver the space hub end cryptographic unit (ECU) for the Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) SHIELD program. The Air Force PTS program will implement Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) over a fully-processed satellite payload, enabling adaptive, anti-jam communications channels, which will provide the greatest level of protection available for tactical U.S. and coalition/international partner warfighting efforts. As the SHIELD contractor, L3Harris will develop an NSA-certified, space-flight qualified, production-ready ECU for future PTS payloads. The L3Harris ECUs will support 13 space-based communications payload hubs that will serve up to 1,800 simultaneous tactical user terminals. L3Harris’ Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) approach employs standards-based interfaces that minimize the information security boundary and simplify integration for the multiple payload providers. The ECU incorporates L3Harris’ HMV™ Space Cryptographic processor that supports full on-orbit reprogrammability in a low-power, highly extensible design. The MOSA form factor and innovative technical approach also results in a low SWaP solution for substantial cost savings due to reduced payload weight and hardware costs. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 Oct 19. The US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a $108m contract for the Mark21A Reentry Vehicle (Mk21A) Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) contract. The potential value of the contract is estimated at $138m: $108m awarded in the three-year contract and $30m as a potential one-year contract. Lockheed Martin will work closely with the Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration to provide a technically low risk and affordable solution to modify existing Mk21 reentry vehicles with the capability to deliver the W87-1 Warhead for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Weapon System. The Mk21A TMRR contract is a key element of Lockheed Martin’s strategy to remain the Air Force’s trusted partner for ICBM Reentry Systems and modernization of the deterrent triad.
24 Oct 19. USAF awards 3D-audio contract for A-10s. The US Air Force (USAF) has contracted Terma North America to equip its Fairchild-Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II combat aircraft with 3D-audio to enhance the situational awareness of its pilots. The USD60m award, announced on 23 October, covers the procurement of 328 3D-audio systems for the A-10 aircraft. Work will be performed by a sub-contractor in the United States and Denmark, and will be complete by 28 February 2024. As previously noted by the USAF, the overall acquisition strategy of the 3-Dimensional Audio Program is to deliver a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) system to drastically improve the spatial, battlespace, and situational awareness of its A-10C pilots by providing audio cues that are accurate to within 15° of both azimuth and elevation. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
TECHNOLOGY
24 Oct 19. Department of Defense Releases 2019 Military Intelligence Program Budget. The Department of Defense released today the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) appropriated top line budget for FY 2019. The total MIP budget, which included both the base budget and Overseas Contingency Operations appropriations, was $21.5bn and is aligned to support the National Defense Strategy. The department has determined that releasing this top line figure does not jeopardize any classified activities within the MIP. No other MIP budget figures or program details will be released, as they remain classified for national security reasons. (Source: US DoD)
21 Oct 19. NCI Information Systems, Inc. (NCI), a leading provider of advanced information technology solutions and professional services to U.S. federal government agencies, today announced it has been awarded a four-year prime contract from the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) to provide information technology support to the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Joint Service Provider (JSP). The award has a total contract value of $269.9m, if all options are exercised, making it the largest award in the past 10 years for NCI. Under the JSP Information Technology Support Services – Service Delivery (ITSS-SD) contract, NCI will implement the latest technologies as well as industry best practices to simplify operations, improve efficiencies and help JSP manage the Department of Defense enterprise IT infrastructure. The company will perform work at various locations within the National Capital Region, including the Pentagon, WHS’ Mark Center and Crystal City, Virginia.
REST OF THE WORLD
SEA
23 Oct 19. Bahrain – Refurbishment of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class Ship, Ex ROBERT G. BRADLEY (FFG 49). The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain to refurbish the Oliver Hazard Perry Class ship, ex ROBERT G. BRADLEY (FFG 49) with support for an estimated cost of $150m. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 22, 2019. The Government of Bahrain has requested refurbishment of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class ship, ex ROBERT G. BRADLEY (FFG 49), spares, support, training, publications, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $150m. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important ally which is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. This sale is consistent with U.S. initiatives to provide key allies in the region with systems that will enhance interoperability with U.S. forces and increase security. The proposed sale will refurbish and support the grant transfer of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class ship, ex ROBERT G. BRADLEY (FFG 49), which was authorized for transfer under Public Law 115-232, Section 1020. Bahrain already operates another Oliver Hazard Perry Class ship. Bahrain will have no difficulty absorbing these defense articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor supporting the refurbishment has not yet been selected for this potential sale. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Bahrain. (Source: ASD Network)
23 Oct 19. Naval Group signs subcontract for Attack-class submarine programme. Naval Group has awarded a subcontract to Jeumont Electric to design the main electric propulsion equipment for Australia’s future submarines. The agreement means Jeumont Electric will design the equipment for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Attack-class submarines. The mechanism followed by the main electric propulsion equipment involves the conversion of electrical power into mechanical power to propel the submarine. Naval Group signed a Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA) with the Australian Government in February for the Future Submarine Program. Australia intends to acquire 12 ‘regionally superior submarines’. The lead submarine in the Attack-class will be called HMAS Attack. Deliveries to the navy are expected to begin in the early 2030s. To deliver the contract, Jeumont Electric will establish a subsidiary in Australia. It will support the operation and sustainment of the subsystem. (Source: naval-technology.com)