UNITED KINGDOM
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11 Mar 20. Saab to provide mid-life extension for UK’s Arthur Systems. Saab has received an order from the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence for a mid-life extension and support for the Arthur weapon locating system. The order value is 482m SEK and was booked in Q4 2019. Arthur protects forces and civilians by providing warning of incoming fire and is also used for tasks including counterbattery missions and fire control. The mid-life extension will represent a major programme of obsolescence management by the insertion of modern technology, ensuring that this critical operational counter-fire capability can be sustained on a cost-effective basis through to its extended out-of-service date. Deliveries of the mid-life extension will take place between 2022 and 2023. The support contract covers 2020-2026. Saab will carry out the work in Gothenburg, Sweden, with support also taking place at 5th Regiment Royal Artillery’s Marne Barracks. (Source: aerodefenseinternational.com)
SEA
09 Mar 20. Babcock Secures DE&S Contract for More Than 200 Inflatable Boats. Babcock International, the Aerospace and Defence company, in partnership with Wing Inflatables Inc., has secured a five year contract to provide more than 200 inflatable boats to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Boat Support Team for Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Dive teams. This follows the recent award of the Boat Support contract which will draw on Babcock’s experience of providing in-service support to the existing small boat fleet. Based on a standardised new design, derived from the highly successful Wing P Series of inflatable craft and delivering three role specific variants, Babcock will be responsible for management of the programme as well as provision of in-service support; whilst Wing Henshaw Inc. will build the craft, supported by their UK centre Wing Henshaw. (Source: ASD Network)
06 Mar 20. UK reveals XLUUV award for MSubs. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has disclosed the award of a Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) contract to MSubs for the test of an extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle (XLUUV). Valued at GBP1m (USD1.3m), the 12-month Stage 1 contract was placed in September 2019 but not announced until early March. Plymouth-based MSubs is recertifying and upgrading its existing S201 manned submersible to serve as the XLUUV testbed. Managed by the MoD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the DASA innovation fund provides for the accelerated derisking and demonstration of novel techniques and technologies offering potentially transformational military advantage. DASA’s Developing the Royal Navy’s Autonomous Underwater Capability programme – run jointly with the RN and Dstl – is intended to enable the service to better understand the future utility of XLUUV vehicles. (Source: Jane’s)
AIR
09 Mar 20. The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $191,858,915 cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for post-production support services and warehouse management services for the United Kingdom AH-64E Apache helicopter fleet of 50 aircraft and three Longbow crew trainers. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales (United Kingdom) funds in the amount of $191,858,915 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-20-C-0014).
09 Mar 20. Horizon Technologies announced a £1.5m order for FlyingFish™ airborne SIGINT systems for use on a NATO country’s fixed-wing ISR aircraft. In addition to current legacy business, Horizon Technologies is on schedule with the UK Satellite Applications Catapult’s IOD-3 Amber™ mission to be launched later this year. IOD-3 Amber™, part funded by UK government, is the demonstrator mission for what will be the UK’s first SIGINT CubeSat constellation. Amber™ provides Data as a Service (DaaS) via subscription to allied countries with Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) requirements. Numerous countries/government agencies around the world have already signed up to receive Amber™ MDA data once it is operational. A great deal of work is currently underway in various countries to integrate Amber™ data into these countries’ existing ESM libraries and strategic intelligence data bases. Based on customer acceptance to date, Amber™ will have a major role in stopping current undetected illegal maritime activity. Horizon Technologies is pleased to announce a £1.5m order for FlyingFish™ airborne SIGINT systems for use on a NATO country’s fixed-wing ISR aircraft. Horizon FlyingFish™ Mission Management System (FMMS) is now making it easy for any operator to add FlyingFish™ to current aircraft tactical mission management systems. FlyingFish™ becomes “plug and play” and appears just like any other sensor on the aircraft. Secondly, our Xtender product is now in Applications Catapult’s IOD-3 Amber™ mission to be launched later this year. IOD-3 Amber™, part funded by UK government, is the demonstrator mission for what will be the UK’s first SIGINT CubeSat constellation. Amber™ provides Data as a Service (DaaS) via subscription to allied countries with Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) requirements. Numerous countries/government agencies around the world have already signed up to receive Amber™ MDA data once it is operational. A great deal of work is currently underway in various countries to integrate Amber™ data into these countries’ existing ESM libraries and strategic intelligence data bases. Based on customer acceptance to date, Amber™ will have a major role in stopping current undetected illegal maritime activity.
EUROPE
LAND
09 Mar 20. Exensor & the Belgium Ministry of Defense announce the signature of a framework agreement, On December 24, 2019, Exensor – a subsidiary of Bertin Technologies (CNIM Group) – was selected by the Belgian Ministry of Defense for the supply & maintenance of rapidly deployable Intrusion Detection Systems for mobile surveillance in permanent or temporary locations. The first batch of systems will be delivered in Spring 2020. Following a restricted invitation to tender, Exensor secured a framework agreement for the supply & the maintenance of Intrusion Detection Systems for their entire life span. The IDS will rest on Flexnet’s Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) platform – a rapidly deployable & portable surveillance & force protection solution based on wireless & battery-operated sensor technologies. The contract value exceeds several millions, with initial deliveries scheduled for Spring 2020.
09 Mar 20. HENSOLDT wins tender for 368 infrared attachments IRV 900 A2. The Bundeswehr order comprises 368 systems with an option for a further 34 attachments. The thermal imaging devices are procured for dismounted use at medium ranges. This is a modified version of the IRV 900 A1 infrared attachment. The IRV 900 A2 can be used either as a clip-on system with 1x magnification or as a stand-alone target lens with digital zoom. A colour monitor allows for easier target reconnaissance with false colour display. The uncooled infrared attachment is noiseless and ready for use within 5 seconds. In addition, the IRV 900 A2 is distinguished by the fact that it can be used on assault rifles, light and medium machine guns, multi-purpose machine guns and designated marksmen rifles. Furthermore, it is possible and intended to be used with the fire control sight on the shoulder-launched multi-purpose weapon RGW 90 LRMP.
11 Mar 20. German BAAINBw orders its first P20 cannons from Nexter. The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has notified Nexter of a procurement contract for seven P20 assemblies. The contract will see Nexter deliver the initial seven pintle-mounted systems equipped with a 20mm cannon. The P20 is a pintle-mounted system equipped with 20mm cannon, which can be used to arm all types of light 4×4 vehicles. It is perfectly suited to ground-to-ground and ground-to-air missions of close fire support, urban combat, protection, self-defense or intimidation. This assembly uses the 20M621 gasoperated gun conceived by Nexter’s teams in Bourges, renowned for its ease of use and maintenance, and fires 20×102 ammunition to NATO or M50 standards. The P20 is an entry-level manual solution that provides the explosive and armour-piercing power of the 20mm calibre. This is why the BAAINBw has chosen the P20 to carry out a first experiment in Germany. Two complementary consultations are expected in the near future: a call for tender for 20×102 ammunition and a second contract by 2021-2022 for additional P20 guns for the German Special Forces. This contract is a major first for Nexter, as it is the first equipment contract for the Bundeswehr signed by the group. In this campaign, Nexter has benefited from the invaluable assistance of Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW), its partner in KNDS, which was able to accompany the Nexter teams in charge of the offer throughout the public consultation and negotiations. (Source: aerodefenseinternational.com)
SEA
09 Mar 20. Lockheed Martin Corp. Rotary and Mission Systems, Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded a $25,449,876 firm-fixed-price contract for Launch Sequencer (LSEQ) Mark (MK) 5 Mod production in support of the Vertical Launch System (VLS). The LSEQs are used in support of the VLS, which provides area and self-defense, anti-air warfare capabilities, counter-air and land attack cruise missile defense and surface and subsurface warfare capabilities. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to South Korea and Finland. Work will be performed in Oldsmar, Florida, and is expected to be completed by March 2021. This contract will provide for the manufacture, assembly, test and delivery of VLS LSEQ MK 5 Mod 2, Part Number 7104340-29. This contract includes options, which if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $74,415,030. If all options are exercised, work will continue through March 2022. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2020 procurement defense wide (Navy); and fiscal 2020 FMS funding in the amount of $25,449,876 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N63394-20-C-0004).
AIR
11 Mar 20. Germany Extends Heron Lease for $41m. The budget committee of the Bundestag, the German parliament, approved more than EUR36m to ensure the continued operation of the System für die Abbildende Aufklärung in der Tiefe des EinsatzGebietes (Image Intelligence Deep in the Deployment Area, SAATEG) in Afghanistan using Heron 1 unmanned aerial systems leased from Israel until the end of May 2021. Germany is exercising the option in the leasing contract with Israel to extend use of the Heron 1 until May 2021, after which it will be replaced by leased Heron TPs entering service next year. (Source: UAS VISION/Jane’s)
09 Mar 20. Lockheed Martin Corp. and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, are awarded a not-to-exceed $173,164,400 modification to a previously awarded, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target advance acquisition contract (N00019-20-C-0009). Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30%); El Segundo, California (25%); Warton, United Kingdom (20%); Orlando, Florida (10%); Nashua, New Hampshire (5%); Cameri, Italy (5%); and Baltimore, Maryland (5%). This modification procures long lead materials, parts, components and support necessary to maintain on-time production and delivery of Lot 15 F-35 aircraft for the Navy, Marine Corps and government of Italy. Work is expected to be complete by December 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $53,064,400; and non-Department of Defense participant funds in the amount of $120,100,000 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.
USA
LAND
09 Mar 20. Cubic Awarded Place on US Army Global Tactical Advanced Communication Systems Multiple Award IDIQ Contract Vehicle. Cubic Mission Solutions to provide tactical communications systems and services. Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB) today announced its Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS) business division was named as one of the awardees to compete under the U.S. Army for Global Tactical Advanced Communication Systems (GTACS II) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle. The contract has a ceiling of $5.1bn, with a five-year base, one five-year option period and a Firm Fixed Price, Cost Plus Fixed Fee and Cost No Fee contract, in support of the Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), and Project Manager Tactical Network (PM Tactical Network). The Army will use this contract to acquire communications systems and services, including satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals, mobile satellite services, tactical networking and secure communication solutions. GTACS II serves as a strategic contract vehicle, enabling Cubic to be an integral provider of tactical communications solutions for the Army over the next decade. Cubic was among 22 companies that were selected to compete under the GTACS II contract vehicle. GTACS II covers information technology services and hardware to support the development of a tactical communications network for soldiers. The vehicle also includes services such as systems engineering; hardware and software engineering; development; maintenance; software development, sustainment and support; program management and analysis; logistics; and supply chain management. (Source: Cubic Corp./ASD Network)
11 Mar 20. L3 Harris Technologies has been awarded a contract to deliver high-frequency (HF) radio systems for the US Marine Corps (USMC). The $383.247m contract will see the supply of L3 Harris portable HF receiver transmitters (RF-300H-MP manpack systems); RF-300H-MP-based, vehicle-based HF systems; and RF-300H-MP-based transit case HF systems. The proposed procurement package also includes ancillary components, provisioning kits, and necessary documentation. In addition, the Program Manager of Communications Systems will be provided with instructor training. Under the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, the company will provide radio systems to the US Marines with National Security Agency (NSA) certified Type 1 encryption. The US Department of Defense (DoD) did not specify the number of units being purchased in its announcement. Work under the contract will be carried out in Rochester, New York. The company is expected to complete it by March 2025. The DoD noted that the contract is not ‘competitively procured’ and around $89.3m will be obligated on the first delivery order. Command in Quantico, Virginia, is serving as the contracting activity. (Source: naval-technology.com)
10 Mar 20. L3 Harris Technologies Inc., Rochester, New York, is awarded a $383,247,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of radio systems with National Security Agency certified Type 1 encryption, radio ancillaries, provisioning kits and required documentation for the procured High Frequency (HF) radio systems. Work will be performed in Rochester, New York. The proposed contract will provide for the procurement of L3 Harris portable HF receiver transmitters (RF-300H-MP man pack systems); vehicle-based HF systems (based around a RF-300H-MP); transit case HF systems (based around a RF-300H-MP); their ancillary components and instructor training for the Program Manager of Communications Systems. Work is expected to be complete by March 2025. Fiscal 2020 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $89,255,452 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award. Funds will not expire at the end of current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured and was prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2) and 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(4). The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-20-D-2029).
06 Mar 20. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $25,522,182 modification (P00314) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 to exercise available options on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 other procurement, Army; Marine Corp procurement; and Navy procurement funds in the amount of $25,522,182 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
SEA
09 Mar 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded a $22,436,852 letter contract for the integration, demonstration, testing and operation of the Layered Laser Defense (LLD) weapon system prototype onboard a Navy littoral combat ship while that vessel is underway. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (30%); Baltimore, Maryland (25%); Sunnyvale, California (12%); Woodinville, Washington (10%); Manassas, Virginia (5%); Dallas, Texas (15%); San Diego, California (2%); and Santa Cruz, California (1%). Key areas of work to be performed include development of a prototype structure and enclosure to protect the LLD from ships motion and maritime environment in a mission module format; system integration and test with government-furnished equipment; platform integration and system operational verification and test; systems engineering; test planning; data collection and analysis support; and operational demonstration. Work is expected to be complete by July 2021. The total cumulative value of this contract is $22,436,852. The base period is $22,436,852 and no options are proposed. The action will be incrementally funded with an initial obligation of $11,218,426 utilizing fiscal 2019 research, development, and test and evaluation (Defense-wide) funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under N00014-20-S-B001, “Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science & Technology.” Since proposals are received throughout the year under the long range BAA, the number of proposals received in response to the solicitation is unknown. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-20-C-1003).
12 Mar 20. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, New York, is awarded an $11,467,560 firm-fixed-price and fixed-price incentive (firm target) modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-17-C-6311) for Airborne Laser Mine Detection System/Airborne Mine Neutralization System kits, Common Support Container Kits, and 20ft Reduced Weight Basic Outfitting Assembly to support the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules Program. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Virginia (67%); and Bethpage, New York (33%), and is expected to be complete by November 2022. Fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $11,467,560 will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,363,591 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
11 Mar 20. Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $109,607,857 firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-19-C-5406 for MK 15 Close-In Weapon System upgrades and conversions, system overhauls and associated hardware. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky (29%); Tucson, Arizona (20%); El Segundo, California (9%); Melbourne, Florida (5%); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (3%); Andover, Massachusetts (2%); Ottobrunn, Germany (2%); Williston, Vermont (2%); Tempe, Arizona (1%); Grand Rapids, Michigan (1%); Hauppauge, New York (1%); Ashburn, Virginia (1%); East Syracuse, New York (1%); Camarillo, California (1%); Phoenix, Arizona (1%); Joplin, Missouri (1%); Murray, Utah (1%); Dallas, Texas (1%); Corona, California (1%); Huntsville, Alabama (1%); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1%); Valencia, California (1%); Palo Alto, California (1%); and various places below one percent (13%). Work is expected to be complete by October 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $109,607,857 will be obligated at time of award and were not competitively procured. Funds in the amount of $61,492,849 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
AIR
12 Mar 20. Aerial Applications (www.aerialapplications.com), a software company specializing in GPU-accelerated data processing of drone imagery to make maps, was today awarded the US Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II B Strategic Fund Increase Pilot Program. The program brings together commitment from both the public and private sectors to help advance the U.S. National Strategic Science and Technology goals through strategic funding. The program involves a commitment from the Verizon 5G First Responder Lab for continued product development and integration over the program’s 4-year period. The program gives Aerial Applications 4 years and $6m of R&D funding to help advance the development of environmental monitoring bolstered by artificial intelligence to support an Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center innovation initiative. Their initial project, mapping the habitat of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler at Camp Bullis in San Antonio, Texas, will be expanded significantly to include other species and applied to 20+ different use cases in at least 12 locations. Using unmanned aerial vehicles, teams can rapidly create environmental maps that help achieve compliance with Department of Interior requirements. This transition from a manual inventory process to an automated one, will save an estimated $8-16m per year for the Department of Defense. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
12 Mar 20. Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Northridge, California, is awarded a $164,954,564 modification (P00004) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-19-C-0049). This modification exercises an option to procure Lot Nine, full rate production of Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM). This modification includes the conversion of Advanced Guided Missle-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles into 253 AGM-88E AARGM all up rounds for the Navy, and two Captive Air Training Missiles for the government of Germany. Work will be performed in Northridge, California (80%); and Ridgecrest, California (20%), and is expected to be complete by March 2023. Fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $159,104,175; fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,599,179; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $1,251,210 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.
06 Mar 20. The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded $800,000,000 for an advanced acquisition modification (P00167) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0067). This modification procures long lead material and activities in support of lot 11 P-8A aircraft production and delivery. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington (97.04%); Huntington Beach, California (2.4%); Mesa, Arizona (.55%) and El Segundo, California (.01%). The purpose of this contract modification is to procure long-lead material and activities in support of 18 P-8A Lot 11 aircraft (8 Navy, 4 New Zealand, and 6 Republic of Korea). The mission of the P-8A MMA is to provide long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. Work is expected to be completed by June 2020. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $800,000,000 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.
09 Mar 20. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT, TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has awarded its subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America LLC. (“Elbit Systems of America”), a firm-fixed-price contract with a ceiling of approximately $471m over a 10-year period, to equip F-16 aircraft of the U.S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command, with pylon-based infrared missile warning systems. The contract includes an initial order valued at approximately $17m. The work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas.
11 Mar 20. Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, today announced it has been awarded a Data Link Modernization (DLM) contract by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to provide new advanced satellite communications (SATCOM) systems for the U.S. Army’s MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Under the contract, Hughes will provide advanced, ruggedized HM400 modems that integrate with the DoD’s waveform technology to support the wide range of unique mission requirements of the U.S. Army – including operations in contested environments. Hughes will provide both air and ground modems for the U.S. Army Gray Eagle Extended Range UAS platform with ongoing software upgrades to maintain continuous operational resiliency. Hughes will work with Comtech Telecommunications Corp. on the production of ground equipment and waveform technology in support of the program. (Source: PR Newswire)
09 Mar 20. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has signed a contract with Raytheon Missile Systems to deliver Naval Strike Missiles under a contract worth $21.36m. The missiles are for the United States Navy’s Over-The-Horizon Weapon System (OTH WS) program. Raytheon is the prime contractor. The Naval Strike Missile is a GPS-guided long-range, precision strike weapon that can find and destroy enemy ships at distances up to 100 nautical miles. The stealthy missile flies at sea-skimming altitude, has terrain-following capability (it banks to turn) and uses an imaging infrared seeker for precise targeting in challenging conditions. The missile employs a semi-armor-piercing warhead optimized for anti-surface warfare. (Source: Google/https://www.gpsworld.com/)
12 Mar 20. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded an $86,225,713 modification (P00010) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-19-C-1020). This modification exercises options to provide sustainment, engineering, logistics and test support for MQ-4C Triton aircraft mission control and operator training systems. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (45%); Jacksonville, Florida (25%); Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (20%); and Point Mugu, California (10%), and is expected to be complete by March 2021. In addition, this effort includes procurement of field service representative’s technical support to ensure that the MQ-4C unmanned surveillance aircraft are mission-capable for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions supporting early operational capability. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $55,500,000; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,813,000; and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $200,000 will be obligated at time of award, $5,813,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
11 Mar 20. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Woodland Hills, California, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $24,978,602 unpriced change order modification (P00013) to previously awarded contract FA8540-19-C-0001 for embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System engineering, manufacturing and development. This modification provides for the incorporation of System Requirements Document Version 3.2.1 and the incorporation of Statement of Work Revision 4. Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, California, and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2021. Fiscal 2020 research and development funds in the amount of $7,500,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $149,990,015. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity.
10 Mar 20. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $525,371,067 contract modification (P00131) to exercise an option for the Army MY IX Program Year 4, Lot 44, requirement of 38 UH-60M Army aircraft, and to exercise an option for two UH-60M FMS green aircraft. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2022. Fiscal 2010 special and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $525,371,067 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-17-C-0009).
TECHNOLOGY
06 Mar 20. George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, has been awarded a $320,689,444 cost-type contract for Mobile Unmanned/Manned Distributed Lethality Airborne Network (MUDLAN) accelerated development and demonstrations software and hardware. This contract provides for the enhancement of technologies to be developed under the MUDLAN Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration program, including digital beam forming multi-beam Common Data Link apertures; directional K/Ku/eKU and W-band systems; MUDLAN multi-functional network controller (MFNC) for connecting multiple platforms while maneuvering; and using the MFNC to recognize jamming and autonomously move to other bands. Work will be performed in Fairfax, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by March 6, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and two offers were received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $650,000 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-20-C-0555).
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
11 Mar 20. The Colombian Army purchases the Hunter XL MRAP. The Colombian Army has confirmed the purchase of a Hunter XL Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, designed and manufactured by the Colombian company Armor International. The purchase order was issued in mid-December 2019, for a total amount of USD500,000, the company told Jane’s, and the vehicles will be deployed by the army within the Meteor Plan and will be used to monitor Colombian roadways. This new model is part of the Hunter family, but it is larger than the previous version, thus the XL designation, and has better capabilities than the first model of this company the TR-12. The Hunter XL has been developed from a WorkStar 7300 chassis supplied directly by Navistar Defense and for strictly military (non-commercial) use, with 4×4 AWD traction, powered by an International DT-M9 type engine with 330 HP and 950 lb/ft torque and assisted with a six-speed forward synchronised automatic Allison 3000RDS transmission. (Source: Jane’s)
09 Mar 20. The U.S. Army awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $551m contract to begin production of the combat-proven Patriot™ air and missile defense system for the Kingdom of Bahrain. The contract was awarded on January 31, 2020. Raytheon’s Patriot is the most advanced tactical air and missile defense system in the world, providing protection against a full range of advanced threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
SEA
11 Mar 20. Len Industri and Thales have signed a contract to completely upgrade the mission system of the Indonesian Navy’s KRI Usman-Harun multi-role light frigate. For the last 40 years, Thales has been supplying combat systems for all ships in service for the Indonesian Navy. Len Industri is serving as the systems integrator for the frigate’s Mid Life Modernisation (MLM) programme. The upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 and will extend the life of the KRI Usman-Harun frigate, which has more than 15 years of service under its belt. Under the contract, Len Industri and Thales will install the TACTICOS Combat Management System, the SMART-S Mk2 air and surface surveillance radar on the frigate. The companies will also install the STIR EO Mk2 radar and EO fire control system, as well as the Vigile Mk2 tactical multi-purpose R-ESM system. The Indonesian Navy’s new Raden Eddy Martadinata-class frigates also feature these systems. (Source: naval-technology.com)
11 Mar 20. Orbit Communications Systems Ltd. (TASE: ORBI), a leading global provider of satellite-tracking maritime, airborne and ground-station solutions, announced today at the Satellite 2020 Conference in Washington, DC, a new US$2.7m contract with a major Asian Navy for a combination of OceanTRx 4 and OceanTRx 7 maritime satcom terminals, and associated spares. This order represents the tenth Navy to select Orbit’s OceanTRx product line, and the fourth in the last nine months. Since its introduction in 2015, OceanTRx has become the leading terminal in the large cruise ship segment, a top choice for offshore platforms and critical data links, and now the growing choice for Navy applications. (Source: PR Newswire)
AIR
06 Mar 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $154,979,758 contract for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor System (M-TADS/PNVS) systems for the Apache attack helicopter in support of the Moroccan government. 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 Aug. 31, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-20-F-0225).
12 Mar 20. ADF picks XTEK for Wasp support. XTEK is to supply spare parts for the fleet of Wasp AE small UAS (SUAS) operated by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), under a A$3.2m ($2.07m) order announced on 12 March. This follows a long-term support contract awarded by the ADF in September 2019. The support contract lasts for three years with additional options to extend to 2026, and a total potential value of up to A$35m ($21.96m). According to XTEK, it is ‘well-placed to capture additional support revenue underpinned by the existing contracts with the ADF for additional SUAS and spare parts’. (Source: Shephard)
TECHNOLOGY
10 Mar 20. LinQuest Corporation announced today it has been engaged by the Downer Group, the leading provider of integrated services in Australia and New Zealand, for its satellite engineering and acquisition specialist expertise to support the Australian Defence Satellite Communications (SATCOM) System (ASDSS) project. ASDSS is a 10-year program to develop sovereign SATCOM-based capability enabling command and control of Australian Joint Task Forces through resilient and responsive communications. Downer has partnered with LinQuest to leverage its decades of experience serving as the systems engineering and integration (SE&I) prime contractor to the U.S. Space Force’s military SATCOM enterprise. LinQuest will provide acquisition and systems engineering services to augment the existing Australian space industry SATCOM capability. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)