UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
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01 May 20. KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it has been selected by the UK’s Crown Commercial Services (CCS) to join the new Training Estates Services Framework Agreement to support the training estate of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). This commercial agreement will be used by MOD’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and other UK public sector bodies. It aims to allow procurement departments the ability to enter into call off contracts of various sizes and complexity. This framework will support the future defense infrastructure services program and will include a range of services required by DIO including building and facilities management, accommodation and rural land management, catering and construction work. This work will provide a safe place to train for all military training estates facilities, delivering on the vision of maintaining and sustaining a living working and training environment fit for UK Defence. This four-year framework covers core sites including national training centers and areas, specialist training facilities and rural estate management across the military training estate. There are six regional training areas covering the whole of the UK comprising of 16 major armed forces training areas and other minor camps, ranges, tracks and buildings.
28 Apr 20. Equipment for dismounted soldiers. On the 24th April 2020, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) announced the conclusion of a five-year contract with Level Peaks Associates for the procurement of combat uniforms and accessories, where the NSPA will provide equipment through the Dismounted Soldier Equipment User Group (DSEUG) to meet the recurrent needs of the participating nations. The DSEUG is currently formed of 24 NATO countries with the UK as the lead nation, represented by the Royal Marines, who have expressed their interest in the equipment while the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Norway, Poland and Slovakia have also expressed their interest in the treaty. The NSPA provides support to NATO and Partner countries, the NATO Response Force (NRF) and operations approved by the North Atlantic Council (NAC) in the area of dismounted soldiers. The NSPA operates in the marketplace to combine industrial capabilities and national requirements in order to find the most cost-effective and efficient solutions, whether for national or collective defence. Any company interested in working with the NSPA must register (free of charge) with the NSPA Source File, a central database containing past, present and potential suppliers, including performance and capabilities. (Source: ESD Spotlight)
29 Apr 20. Serco secures four-year contract to support USAF Satellite Control Network in UK. Serco’s Defence business has been awarded a £25m contract by CACI to continue to provide operations and maintenance support to the US Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) at the Telemetry and Command Station (TCS) at Oakhanger, Hampshire, UK for a further four years until 2024. Serco has been providing the operations, maintenance and site services at Oakhanger since 2003 as part of the UK Skynet 5 programme, since when customer satisfaction, reliability and safety have all been significantly improved. As part of Serco’s wider Space capability, there are c.75 highly skilled Serco engineers and technicians employed on the contract to support the US Space Force. CACI is the Prime Contractor for the Consolidated Air Force Satellite Control Network Modifications, Maintenance and Operations (CAMMO) contract providing worldwide operations and maintenance for the AFSCN. The Oakhanger site is owned by the MOD and is the busiest ground station in the AFSCN supporting over 38,000 contacts during 2019 with an operational performance of 99.99%. The AFSCN, operated by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Operation Command, provides support for the operation, control, and maintenance of a variety of United States Department of Defense and some non-DoD satellites. This involves continual execution of Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding operations. In addition, the AFSCN provides prelaunch checkout and simulation, launch support, and early orbit support while satellites are in initial or transfer orbits and require manoeuvring to their final orbit. The AFSCN provides tracking data to help maintain the catalogue of space objects and distributes various data such as satellite ephemeris, almanacs, and other information.
SEA
29 Apr 20. Qinetiq Leads Next Phase of Unmanned Systems Exploitation. As an important part of our ongoing work into unmanned vehicle command and control (C2) for defence applications, we have recently been awarded a significant new contract to lead phase five of the Maritime Autonomous Platform Exploitation (MAPLE) project for the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). The MAPLE project is the overarching programme that seeks to demonstrate and de-risk the integration of multiple unmanned systems into the combat system of a British Royal Navy warship. The MAPLE approach gives the Royal Navy freedom to chose a mix of vehicles and payloads from the market, match them to the mission and rapidly integrate them into a UK or multi-national force, deploying with confidence, knowing that the result will increase situation awareness and effectiveness whilst reducing the load on already stretched command teams. The open architecture employed will enable the Royal Navy to rapidly change vehicles and payloads as the market and threat evolves whilst minimising cost and the impact across defence lines of development (notably integration and training). Spearheaded by QinetiQ’s Maritime and Land business in partnership with BAE Systems, SeeByte, BMT, L3 Harris, DIEM analytics and Thales, the focus of MAPLE phase five is to specify a core MAPLE system that will enable the UK Ministry of Defence to procure a Maritime Autonomous Systems Command and Control (C2) system by generating and validating a robust set of User and System Requirements and a validated and developed architecture. The latter will include a set of procurable modules for the C2 aspects of unmanned systems, specifying their functionality and performance characteristics and the services they will provide and consume using open interfaces. The project will build on the success of MAPLE 4, which saw the successful integration of data from a variety of systems and both national and international deployments in support of NavyX and Future Commando Force projects. (Source: ASD Network)
23 Apr 20. Pacific 24 USV to support NavyX programme. BAE Systems has been contracted to deliver an autonomous version of its Pacific 24 sea boat to support the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) NavyX autonomy and lethality accelerator. The 12-month, GBP3.2m (USD3.94m) contract covers the provision of a Pacific 24 fleet conversion unmanned surface vehicle (USV), integration into the combat management system of a Type 23 frigate, and the execution of a Fleet Minor Trial. (Source: Jane’s)
EUROPE
LAND
29 Apr 20. Lithuania acquires Wingman and Watchdog C-UAS systems. The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MoD) has purchased an undisclosed number of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) to support operations both at home and abroad, defence sources told Jane’s. Following a two-year programme, the MoD selected several systems from Danish C-UAS specialist MyDefence Communications to support dismounted and vehicle operations as well as the protection of main and forward operating bases. Selections include the Wingman-105 Small Handheld/Wearable Drone Detector and Watchdog 200 Networked RF Sensor. Deliveries of both C-UAS products are expected to be completed by September 2020, industry sources added. The latest variant in the Wingman series, the 105 model, has been designed as a standalone UAS detection system for special operations forces, according to MyDefence Communications. The company’s CEO, Dan Hermansen, said the Wingman-105 is an upgrade of the Wingman-100 and designed for a wider range of “operating temperatures to match the harsh mission environments all over the globe”. He also confirmed Lithuania would be the first customer for the Wingman-105. The Wingman-105 comprises a smaller form factor and lower all-up weight over the legacy 100 model, enabled in part through the design of an internal battery supply that can be charged by an AC/DC net adaptor, a company official told Jane’s . Designed to provide personnel with an alert of UAS activity during an evaluation period, the Wingman-105 demonstrated its capability to detect UASs at ranges in excess of 1 km depending on environmental conditions, defence sources explained. The Wingman-105 includes 60° directional 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz ISM band antennas and can be networked to command-and-control (C2) devices including the US Department of Defense’s Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK). The system can also be upgraded with the AA100 External Active Antenna (AA100) omnidirectional antenna for 360° coverage, depending on end-user requirements. Hermansen revealed to Jane’s that the company is also designing a new accessory for the Wingman-series of products. (Source: Jane’s)
24 Apr 20. Poland finalising contract for Maskpol composite helmets. The Polish Minister of Defence, Mariusz Błaszczak, confirmed on 23 April that a new contract for 50,000 Maskpol composite helmets has almost been reached. Although Błaszczak did not confirm the specific model being ordered, his announcement included an image of the Ballistic Helmet HP-05 which is available in three sizes with a fully adjustable four-strap harness. Each helmet weighs 1.25-1.45kg and provides ballistic resistance and shrapnel-proofing to a V50 rating above 600m/s for shrapnel of FSP 1.1g. It is fully compatible with bulletproof vests, filtering protective equipment, gas masks and other eye protection devices. (Source: Shephard)
28 Apr 20. Thales announces $14m contract to supply Dutch Bushmasters. Thales Australia has announced a $14m contract with the Royal Netherlands Army to design and deliver a specialist Dutch Medevac-variant of the Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle, supporting more than 60 Australian businesses while securing jobs and investment along the extensive Bushmaster supply chain. (Source: Defence Connect)
SEA
30 Apr 20. Lithuania buys third Hunt-class MCMV from UK. Lithuania is acquiring a third ex-Royal Navy (RN) Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV), the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed. HMS Quorn, which was decommissioned in December 2017, is being transferred under a sales package that will include the regeneration and upgrade of the vessel. The United Kingdom’s Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA), part of the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation, will contract for the regeneration and upgrade on behalf of the Lithuanian Defence Materiel Agency. The package is estimated to be worth between GBP40-50m (USD50.4-63.3m). The Lithuanian Navy already operates two former RN Hunt-class MCMVs: Skalvis (ex-HMS Cottesmore) and Kuršis (ex-HMS Dulverton). Recommissioned in 2013, both ships were regenerated and upgraded by Thales UK as part of the sales agreement, receiving the Sonar 2193 hull-mounted wideband minehunting sonar and the M-Cube MCM command-and-control system. According to DESA’s information notice, published on 27 April, the Lithuanian Navy “is looking to expand its fleet of Hunt-class [MCMVs] via procurement of a legacy hull from the Royal Navy and regeneration of said hull to an agreed operational state, closely aligned to the Skalvis-class vessels currently in service with the [Lithuanian] Navy”. It continued, “The vessel will utilise the Sonar 2193 and the M-Cube Mine Countermeasure Management System. The scope of this project is for a single entity to deliver the regenerated vessel, with stated mission and sonar systems to an agreed operational condition.” While Lithuania is taking ownership of the vessel prior to the award of the regeneration contract, DESA will take responsibility as procurement agent and contracting authority. Immediately upon signature, or as soon as is practicable, the contract will be novated to Lithuania’s Defence Materiel Agency, which will then assume the role of contracting authority. (Source: Jane’s)
26 Apr 20. RNLN air-defence and command frigates to receive new 127/64 LW guns. The Royal Netherlands Navy’s (RNLN’s) four De Zeven Provinciën-class air-defence and command frigates (LCFs) are to be refitted with a new 127/64 LW Vulcano 127mm medium-calibre gun system supplied by Leonardo (formerly Oto Melara). The scope of supply will also include a new automated ammunition handling system and a naval fire support mission planning tool. The 127/64 Lightweight will confer the LCFs with the ability to fire extended-range, precision-guided Vulcano munitions, as well as conventional ammunition. All four LCF frigates are currently equipped with the earlier Oto Melara 127/54 Compact gun, all of which were acquired second-hand from Canada after being removed from Tribal-class destroyers. According to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD), these mountings have now exceeded their 30-year design life and are increasingly unreliable and difficult to support. Furthermore, the current ammunition handling system is not compliant with modern working practices. In its justification for the purchase of a replacement 127mm gun, the MoD said that any further upgrade or life extension of the existing guns would not be cost effective given the age of the guns, their declining reliability, and the reducing availability of spares. The 127mm replacement programme was therefore established to deliver a new medium-calibre gun system together with a semi-automatic ammunition handling system, the adaptation of the magazine, and associated integrated logistic support. The MoD’s Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) formally announced the contract award to Leonardo on 21 April. The 127/64 LW guns will be retrofitted to the four LCF frigates during scheduled maintenance periods, with the programme expected to complete in 2025–26. The new ammunition-handling system will use four revolving drum magazines each holding 14 ready-to-fire rounds (any mix of both Vulcano and conventional rounds). (Source: Jane’s)
AIR
30 Apr 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $129,189,887 modification to a firm-fixed-price delivery order N00019-19-F-2512 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification procures the kits required for modification and retrofit activities of delivered Air Force and government of Norway F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire (85%); Fort Worth, Texas (14%); and Baltimore, Maryland (1%). Work is expected to be complete by April 2025. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $107,814,159; and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participant funds in the amount of $21,375,728 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Air Force ($107,814,159; 83%); and non-DOD participants ($21,375,728; 17%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
USA
LAND
29 Apr 20. Allison Transmission Awarded $162m Contract to Provide X1100 Transmissions to the U.S. Army Through 2021. The contract awarded to Allison Transmission will support the sustainment of the Army’s Abrams Main Battle Tank fleet. The U.S. Army selected Allison Transmission, the largest global manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions for commercial and military vehicles, to provide the X1100-3B1 propulsion solution for the M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank. The contract, valued at approximately $162M, includes transmission production, upgrades, sustainment kits and service support. Deliveries began in March 2020 and will continue through December 2021. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
27 Apr 20. CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) announced today that it has been awarded a five-year and six-month, if all options are exercised, single-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, with a ceiling value of $199m, to provide communications systems, satellite communications, and network support services to the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. Under the contract, CACI engineers and technicians will provide mission expertise, including fielding and training for operational systems, maintenance, logistics, and 24/7 technical support for personnel working with the satellite and network systems. CACI will support approximately 2,000 satellite communications systems worldwide, as well as wide-area network infrastructure services for nearly 90 sites. CACI has a unique and modern facility designed to seamlessly support and enhance NIWC’s mission. CACI experts can maintain, assemble, and test satellite communications systems at the Fayetteville, NC. facility to maximize those systems’ efficiency and accuracy while also supporting the warfighter with continuous improvements. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
28 Apr 20. US Army orders new M320 and M320A1 grenade launchers. The US Army Contracting Command has awarded a $33.6m firm-fixed-price contract for 40mm M320 and 40mm M320A1 grenade launchers. Colorado-based Capco (the only bidder via an online process) will produce and deliver the grenade launchers by April 2025, with locations for the work being selected on an order-by-order basis. Capco is the first US manufacturer of the M320A1, which was originally designed and produced by Heckler & Koch in 2008 with the aim of replacing the M203. The M320A1 has a maximum range of 150m and weighs 1.5kg. It uses a breech-loading, single-shot feed mechanism. (Source: Shephard)
29 Apr 20. US Army places 8th delivery order with Collins Aerospace for HMS Manpack radio modernization program.
- Collins Aerospace ground radios provide higher power output on two channels, longer battery life and improved signal sensitivity
- Compact vehicle mounting kit supports field retrofits in less than a day
Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE: RTX), has received its eighth delivery order from the U.S. Army to provide AN/PRC-162 ground radios for the Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit (HMS) program. The Collins Aerospace AN/PRC-162 brings better performance to the battlefield in both dismounted and vehicular mounted solutions, with or without two available 50-watt external high-power amplifiers. The optional compact vehicle mounting kit can be retrofitted in the field in less than a day, providing lower life cycle costs and flexibility in deployment. The AN/PRC-162 features two, independent channels across all frequencies for seamless voice, data, route and retransmission functionality. As a fully software-defined communications solution, the AN/PRC-162 will allow the Army to maintain interoperability with legacy waveforms such as Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), while leveraging state-of-art waveforms such as Trellisware’s TSM waveform and Warrior Robust Enhanced Network (WREN). Additionally, the AN/PRC-162 will include upgraded tactical satellite communications through implementation of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). This eighth order was issued under a multiple award contract that the Army awarded to Rockwell Collins, now Collins Aerospace, and two other companies in 2016. The contract has a $12.7bn ceiling with an ordering period ending March 2026. The AN/PRC-162 is a part of the Collins Aerospace TruNet™ networked communications family of products, which includes ground and airborne radios, advanced networking waveforms, applications, and support and services. (Source: ASD Network)
30 Apr 20. General Dynamics Mission Systems, Taunton, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $400,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, prospective-price-redetermination contract for production of spare parts in support of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment system. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-1. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with an April 29, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-20-D-0043).
28 Apr 20. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has received a third low-rate initial production (LRIP) order valued at $95m by the U.S. Army under the HMS (Handheld, Manpack & Small Form-Fit) IDIQ contract to bring AN/PRC-158 multi-channel radios to the battlefield. This LRIP will be followed by an Operational Test that will inform a Full Rate Production decision for the AN/PRC-158 and other HMS products. The IDIQ contract includes a five-year base and an additional five-year option with a ceiling of $12.7bn. The Army expects to purchase approximately 65,000 HMS Manpack radios under the IDIQ. The L3Harris AN/PRC-158 radio features a two-channel, software-defined architecture with integrated cross-banding between waveforms, including Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), Demand Assigned Multiple Access/Integrated Waveform (DAMA/IW) and ready for the Warrior Robust Enhanced Network (WREN) waveform, providing advanced capabilities while maintaining backward interoperability with legacy systems. The software-defined architecture enables flexibility to respond to new and emerging requirements and allows easy porting of new waveforms. The radio is capable of simultaneously handling classified and unclassified data. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
30 Apr 20. L-3 Fuzing and Ordnance Systems Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a $64,971,714 modification (P00015) to contract W15QKN-17-C-0024 to purchase 169,738 Option V M734A1 multi-option fuzes for mortars; 164,201 Option V M783 point detonating/delay fuzes; and for non-recurring engineering costs. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2022. Fiscal 2010, 2018, 2019 and 2020 other procurement (Army) funds; 2010 Afghanistan security forces (Army) funds; and 2010 counter-ISIS train and equip (Army) funds totaling $64,971,714 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
30 Apr 20. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) received a $6.07bn contract from the U.S. Army for the production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors and associated equipment, to be delivered across FY21, FY22 and FY23 contract years. The contract calls for the production and delivery of PAC-3 MSE interceptors, launcher modification kits, associated equipment and non-recurring efforts to support the United States and global customers. To meet customer demand and increase production capacity, Lockheed Martin is currently building an 85,000-square-foot expansion at the Camden, Arkansas, facility where PAC-3 MSE interceptors are assembled. The building is expected to be complete by fourth quarter 2021, with operations beginning in first quarter 2022.
30 Apr 20. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, is being awarded a non-competitive, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum ceiling value of $618,000,000. Under this follow-on contract, the contractor will provide terminal high altitude area defense product support, which includes: logistics performance requirements; maintenance; supply; training and training support; packaging, handling, storage and transportation; forward stationing for theater support; logistics information capabilities; product assurance; safety; missile support; security; and engineering services. The first task order in the amount of $10,363,415 for battery support will be issued at time of award. The work will be performed in Dallas, Texas; Sunnyvale, California; Huntsville, Alabama; and Troy, Alabama. The ordering period is from April 30, 2020, through April 29, 2025. One offer was solicited and one offer was received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,333,198 will be obligated under the first task order. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0853-20-D-0001).
28 Apr 20. Meggitt Training Systems Inc., Suwanee, Georgia, was awarded a $9,000,000 modification (P00004) to blanket purchase agreement W911SA-16-A-0002 for delivery of live fire target system parts to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Funding will be obligated by individual orders. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Suwanee, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2021. The 419th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, is the contracting activity.
24 Apr 20. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded a $57,989,530 firm-fixed-price contract for engines with containers. This is a two-year four-month contract with no option periods. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with an Aug. 8, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2022 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-C-0109).
SEA
27 Apr 20. Field Aerospace was selected as an awardee on the Kits, Recovery, Augmentation, Components and Engines (KRACEn) Multiple Award Contract (MAC) supporting the United States Navy. Commander, Fleet Readiness Center (COMFRC) awarded a 10-year, $6.1bn, enterprise contract vehicle to 42 small business industry partners on April 14, enabling U.S. Navy, government customers and international partners to procure aircraft maintenance services and sustainment support quicker. The Kits, Recovery, Augmentation, Components and Engines—commonly called KRACEn—is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) MAC that will provide maintenance services and support for single satellite sites, small aircraft quantities, personnel to augment government maintenance teams, and overhaul capabilities for aircraft components and subsystems. This is COMFRC’s first, multi-billion contract award. The MAC’s scope of work, which is set aside for small-businesses, includes modification kit build and installations, recovery of downed aircraft, repair and overhaul of aircraft and components, repair and overhaul of engines, and augmentation labor supplement for maintenance both ashore and afloat.
01 May 20. US Navy awards Fincantieri Marinette Marine FFG(X) detail, design and construction contract. Fincantieri Marinette Marine was awarded a USD795.1 fixed-price incentive, firm-target contract on 30 April from the US Navy (USN) for detail design and construction (DD&C) of the FFG(X) class of guided-missile frigates in the company’s Wisconsin shipyard, with additional firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursement line items. Awarded about three months ahead of schedule, the contract, with options, includes the delivery of up to 10 FFG(X) ships, post-delivery availability support, engineering and class services, crew familiarization, training equipment, and provisioned item orders. If all options are exercised, the cumulative value of this contract will be about USD5.58bn. The total cost of the lead ship, including government-furnished equipment, is about USD1.28bn, James Geurts, the assistant navy secretary for Research, Development and Acquisition, told reporters during a 30 April phone-in press conference about the contract award. (Source: Jane’s)
27 Apr 20. Huntington Ingalls Industries Awarded LCS Planning Yard Contract Worth a Potential $107.9m. Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has been awarded a contract modification to exercise the first option year of the existing Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) Planning Yard contract. This option has a potential total value of up to $107.9m for planning yard services in support of in-service LCS class ships. The planning yard design services contract will continue to provide the LCS program with post-delivery life-cycle support, which includes fleet modernization program planning, design engineering and modeling, logistics support, long-lead-time material support, and preventative and planned maintenance system item development and scheduling. Unique to this planning yard effort is the requirement to manage the scheduling of all planned, continuous and emergent maintenance and associated availabilities. (Source: ASD Network)
28 Apr 20. Leonardo DRS, Inc. announced today that it has received a contract from the U.S. Navy to produce advanced consoles and display systems to support the Navy’s future surface ship combat system. The awarded contract is worth more than $62m with options that could be worth up to $462m. The Leonardo DRS Naval Electronics business unit will provide a suite of Common Display System (CDS) consoles, thin client displays, multi-mission displays, and support equipment. The CDS consoles are a set of open-architecture watch station display consoles comprised of two different console variants: water-cooled and air-cooled. The common display hardware provides the interface between the sailor and the ship’s combat systems.
AIR
30 Apr 20. AeroVironment Inc,* Simi Valley, California, was awarded a $75,930,901 hybrid (cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price) contract to procure the Switchblade Weapon System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Simi Valley, California, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2023. Fiscal 2019 missile procurement (Army) funds; and 2020 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $75,930,901 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0024).
30 Apr 20. Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), a leading provider of innovative wearable computing technologies and solutions, today announced it has received an approximately $2.7m follow-on order of its high-brightness liquid crystal display for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. With the F-35 scheduled for production through 2030, Kopin expects additional orders over the life of the program. The F-35, the world’s most advanced jet fighter, is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather, day and night stealth, multirole combat aircraft. The jet is designed to perform both air superiority and strike missions while also providing electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Much of the functionality is enabled through the augmented reality (AR) helmet, which provides the pilot with vast quantities of flight, tactical, and sensor information for advanced situational awareness, precision and safety. The extensive functionality and extreme conditions require unique display technology and Kopin is the sole supplier to this production program. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Apr 20. Raytheon Corp., Marlborough, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $117,543,944 modification (P00110) to contract FA8705-14-C-0001 to exercise the production option contract line item numbers 0005, 0006, 0009, 0050AC and 0050AF for a global aircrew strategic network terminal. This modification brings the total cumulative value of the contract from $542,640,854 to $660,184,798. Work will be performed in Largo, Florida, and is expected to be completed by June 24, 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement funds in the amount of $117,543,944 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Material Command, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity.
29 Apr 20. Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $32,780,869 fixed-price-incentive-fee, undefinitized contract action for StormBreaker Lot 6 Contract Line Identification Number 6001 – All Up Round (AUR); Simmonds Precision Product and multicut. This contract provides for Simmonds Precision Product and multicut material and labor for parts used in a StormBreaker AUR. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 21, 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement funds in the amount of $6,612,745 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8672-20-C-0005). (Awarded April 28, 2020)
24 Apr 20. USAF awards Rhea Space Activity with LUNINT contract. In April the US Air Force (USAF) awarded Washington DC-based Rhea Space Activity (RSA) a Phase 1 contract for collecting and disseminating lunaspatial intelligence (LUNINT) – meaning activity in cislunar space, as well as on the lunar surface. Sabre Astronautics is RSA’s project partner in the contract. An RSA spokesperson told Jane’s the USD50,000 Phase 1 contract has a three-month performance period. RSA is to develop a LUNINT dashboard, a three-dimensional situational awareness portal that will derive co-ordinates of notable objects in lunar orbits and on the lunar surface. In addition to the dashboard, RSA will suggest optimum satellite constellation architecture to monitor cislunar spacecraft in support of US space domain awareness objectives. Saber Astronautics, operating facilities in Colorado and Australia, will be integrating RSA’s LUNINT software solution into its Space Cockpit virtual reality space operations centre. Space Cockpit is a mission control software suite that enables visualising the local space environment (in this case cislunar space), make decisions, and manage a large number of space objects. RSA and Saber Astronautics said they plan to apply for a Phase 2 contract for USAF operational LUNINT capabilities. (Source: Jane’s)
28 Apr 20. SEAKR® Engineering, Inc. (SEAKR) has been awarded as the prime contractor for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Pit Boss Phase I Option II contract to further expand existing contractual work supporting the Blackjack program. The award is part of a three phase effort seeking on-orbit demonstration of full processing capability in a multi-satellite constellation. DARPA’s Blackjack program focuses on integrating commercial satellite technologies into a constellation of affordable, small, secure, and resilient military satellites. As sole prime, SEAKR will continue forward trajectory in developing it’s Pit Boss solution to support the Blackjack program’s mission as a next generation on-board processor leveraging off-the-shelf electronics adapted through design implementation to function reliably in space. The award validates SEAKR’s current program success in seeking on-orbit demonstration of state of the art processing capability incorporating autonomous operations, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning techniques, and bridged terrestrial and on-orbit technologies. SEAKR’s processing system for DARPA’s blackjack program leverages four generations of architectural capability supporting the full spectrum of payload processing performance requirements, with a high level of on-orbit reconfigurable processing capability. Pulling from its established heritage capabilities, strength in RF communications, along with the continuous product and architectural advancement, SEAKR continues to define leading edge, state-of-practice processing systems in partnership with Government, Civil, and Commercial entities. SEAKR’s previous study and prototype advancements have successfully contributed to our customer’s ability to solve complex challenges imperative in advancing capability to meet today’s most daunting mission objectives. Key technologies being deployed and leveraged include: ADC and DAC Technologies, FPGA-based Processing Technologies, and ASIC-Based Processing Technologies. (Source: PR Newswire)
28 Apr 20. VOX Space, a subsidiary of Virgin Orbit, has secured a USD35m launch service contract from the US Space Force’s (USSF’s) Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) Office for the Space Test Program-S28 (STP-S28). The award follows the successful final development test of LauncherOne carried by Virgin Orbit in early April. STP-S28 is the first task order under the USSF’s RSLP Office (part of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s (SMC) Launch Enterprise) Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. According to the contract, VOX Space will carry out three launches of the LauncherOne rocket to place a payload of 44 small satellites in low earth orbit (LEO). The first launch is tentatively planned for October 2021. The Department of Defense (DoD) payloads for the STP-S28 contract will be provided via the DoD Space Experiments Review Board (SERB). The STP-S28 contract will also launch a number of international and ride-share payloads. On April 12 Virgin Orbit and VOX Space successfully carried out the final development test of its air-launched LauncherOne rocket. The test was a cryogenic captive carry test that featured end-to-end launch rehearsal testing of all the associated subsystems. Prior to the final development test, Virgin Orbit carried out 23 flight tests, of which 11 were captive carry tests and a one was a drop test of LauncherOne. Virgin Orbit spokesperson Kendall Russell told Jane’s that a follow-on orbital launch demonstration flight is “a few weeks away” as the engineers are analysing the flight-test data from the final development test as well as carrying out multiple rehearsals of flight-launch preparations in line with Covid-19 procedures. US Air Force Colonel Rob Bongiovi, director of the SMC’s Launch Enterprise told Jane’s that in addition to VOX Space, OSP-4 IDIQ contracts were awarded to United Launch Alliance (ULA), Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), Northrop Grumman, Firefly Black, Rocket Lab USA, X-BOW, and Aevum Inc. (Source: Jane’s)
TECHNOLOGY
26 Apr 20. DARPA issues new R&D awards for unmanned swarm technologies. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has issued nine new research and development (R&D) contracts since mid-April, designed to help agency officials mature nascent swarm technologies for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmanned ground systems (UGS), with the eventual goal of fielding those enabling capabilities in future conflicts. The contract awards were granted to a range of commercial technology companies and academic laboratories specialising in automated robotics under DARPA’s OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) programme, which is being managed by the agency’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO). Focusing on “the tools to quickly generate swarm tactics, evaluate those swarm tactics for effectiveness, and integrate the best swarm tactics into field operations,” the primary goal of the OFFSET programme is to develop the necessary command, control, and networking capabilities needed to field UAS, UGS or a combination of the two systems in a swarm of upwards of 250 platforms, DARPA stated. (Source: Jane’s)
28 Apr 20. Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure, today announced that it signed $20m in contracts with the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to deliver land cover classification and change detection services through a combination of the Janus Geography program and the General Services Administration’s IT Schedule 70. Maxar will produce updates and enhancements using its sophisticated change detection model and deliver land cover and classification solutions in support of NGA’s needs. Automated change detection visually exposes areas of important change, enabling rapid and effective intelligence gathering across thousands of images from multiple sources. Land cover classification provides a global view of the current landscape by applying machine learning to perform automated spectral, spatial and temporal classification, enabling a better understanding of how specific regions of Earth are being used on a micro scale. Janus Geography provides near real-time access to commercially created geospatial data, enriched content and community-sourced information in a cost-effective manner to improve decision-making timelines. As a prime contractor, Maxar leads a team of industry and university partners with proven production capacity and innovation to deliver content management of topographic and human geography data from a variety of sources. The General Services Administration’s IT Schedule 70 enables government customers to shorten procurement cycles, ensure compliance and get the best value for over 7.5 million innovative IT solutions from over 4,600 pre-vetted vendors. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
28 Apr 20. MicroTech announced their selection for a $11m Task Order award for The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (ATSD-PA) to provide Information Management (IM) Mission Systems Support Services. The Task Order was awarded on the US General Services Administration (GSA) IT Schedule 70. The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (PA) is the principal staff advisory and assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for DoD public information, internal information, community relations, information training, and audiovisual matters. This Task Order will provide a range of application services that include the management of the Public Affairs Mission Application Enclave (PAMAE) and the implementation of innovative technologies. IM designs, develops, and maintains both public (external) and private (internal) web applications and relies heavily on imagery and multimedia technical support. It is anticipated that design, development and integration efforts will grow as Public Affairs’ mission expands to meet the demands of social media, cloud storage, new and more complex development efforts and upgrades. Projects entail thorough requirements gathering and analysis, design, testing, development, implementation, maintenance, documentation, and project tracking. (Source: PR Newswire)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
29 Apr 20. FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina (W56HZV-20-D-0024); and Colt’s Manufacturing Co. LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut (W56HZV-20-D-0025), will compete for each order of the $383,311,941 firm-fixed-price contract to provide M16A4 rifles for Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Grenada, Iraq, Lebanon and Nepal). Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 28, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
25 Apr 20. The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Defence has awarded Hitachi a contract for the development and procurement of a new armoured bulldozer. The original plan, to replace the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force’s ageing Type 75 armoured bulldozer, was to procure overseas and indigenous products then compare them under a separate programme, but this plan was abandoned in order to develop an indigenous solution. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi both applied, with the latter being awarded the JPY634.7m contract, although the number of vehicles and timeframe have not been disclosed. (Source: ESD Spotlight)
30 Apr 20. Meggitt (MGGT) has secured a $78m (£63m) contract to design and install a live-fire training facility in the Middle East. The aerospace and defence engineer’s training systems business is the global leader in virtual and live-fire small-arms training. (Source: Investors Chronicle)
SEA
01 May 20. The Australian government is investing around $350m for the build program of six new Cape Class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy. The vessels will be built by Western Australian company Austal, securing Australian shipbuilding jobs and maintaining strong border protection. The Australian Border Force currently operates eight Cape Class patrol boats, while the Navy operates two leased Cape Class. The six new Cape Class patrol boats will grow the patrol boat force to 16 vessels, while the new larger Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels are introduced into service. (Source: Defence Connect)
29 Apr 20. South Korea to procure 3,000-tonne OPV to boost maritime security. The Korea Coast Guard (KCG) announced on 22 April that it will proceed with its plan to acquire a 3,000-tonne offshore patrol vessel (OPV) broadly referred as the Taepyungyang class. The vessel’s basic design will be carried out by Korea Maritime Technology Company (KOMAC) as part of a KRW1bn (USD800,000) contract, to be completed in December 2020. Thereafter, a KRW89bn contract to build the vessel will be awarded and it will be constructed between January 2021 and December 2023. A shipbuilder will be selected by tender with the vessel’s service entry date targeted for December 2023. Broad specifications released by the KCG for the new OPV include a length of about 120m, a speed of 24kt, a range of 6,000n miles, and an endurance of 40 days. (Source: Jane’s)
27 Apr 20. Thailand to equip Khamronsin-class corvettes with MSI gun mounting. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has allocated THB170m (USD5.2m) to procure 30mm naval gun mountings from MSI Defence Systems for its Khamronsin-class corvettes. According to documents released by the RTN Naval Ordnance Department on the service’s official website, the planned expenditure was approved on 23 April and the allocated sum includes installation and support work on the weapons. The documents do not specify the variant that the RTN intends to procure, but the service is likely to sign for the MSI-DS Seahawk DS range of mountings to leverage on commonality with weapon systems found on its Naresuan, Krabi, and T 994 classes of warships. (Source: Jane’s)
AIR
24 Apr 20. DoD/DSCA Notifies Congress of Possible FMS to the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the Congress that the Government of the United Arab Emirates has requested a Foreign Military Sales Order (FMSO) II to provide funds for blanket order requisitions under a Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Agreement (CLSSA) for common spares/repair parts to support the United Arab Emirates’ fleet of AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, and CH-47 Chinook aircraft, additional support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $150m. There are no principal contractors involved with this potential sale. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale. (Source: glstrade.com)
30 Apr 20. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded an $112,000,000 modification (P00001) to previously awarded, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract N00019-19-C-0019. This modification exercises options to procure 16 infrared search and track Block II low rate initial production IV units; four for the Navy and 12 for the government of Australia. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (73%); and St. Louis, Missouri (27%), and is expected to be complete by June 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $28,000,000; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $84,000,000 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.
26 Apr 20. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT, TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that it was awarded a contract valued at approximately $103m to supply comprehensive Electronic Warfare (EW) suites for an Air Force of an Asian country. The contract will be performed over a three-year period and includes long-term integrated logistic support. Under the contract, Elbit Systems will fit the customer’s helicopters with complete EW suites, including countermeasure systems. The EW suites will provide the helicopters with advanced protection to achieve the customer’s operational requirements.
28 Apr 20. General Electric Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded $707,274,997 for four undefinitized contract actions under an existing F110 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, for F110-GE-129 engine production. These actions provide for F110 engine production, including installs and spares and modernized engine management system computers. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. These actions involve Foreign Military Sales to Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan and Qatar. This award is the result of country-directed, sole-source acquisitions. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $353,637,499 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8626-18-D-0029).
28 Apr 20. Saudi Arabia announces UAV procurement. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) announced on 27 April that the country was procuring six unmanned systems from local firm Intra Defence Technologies for delivery in 2021, and a further 40 systems within five years. The type of UAV was not disclosed in the Tweet from the organisation’s official account, but Intra advertises the Karayel tactical UAV, developed by Turkey’s Vestel, and the Asef VTOL UAV, which was launched at the Dubai Airshow in 2019. Jane’s notes that a Karayel was lost over Yemen’s Al-Hudaydah in late December after being shot down by a surface-to-air missile near the port of Al-Salif. The Karayel has an endurance of 20 hours at 18,000ft (5,486m) and a cruise speed of 60-80 kt. Maximum payloads for the platform are 70kg under the fuselage and 60 kg per wing across a total of four hardpoints. The platform’s datalink range is 200 km from the GCS. The platform shown at the Dubai Airshow was armed with Roketsan MAM-L and MAM-C munitions. The platform was also shown with a Hensoldt Argos II EO/IR pod to provide day-and-night surveillance capabilities. Intra signed an agreement with Hensoldt South Africa’s Optronics division to develop an electro-optical payload for UAVs in Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2019 Dubai Airshow as part of efforts to improve self-sufficiency in the unmanned aerial vehicle domain. Intra representatives told Jane’s at the Dubai Airshow last year that the company was primarily orienting its marketing efforts for the Karayel towards the Saudi military, and potentially exporting the platform to Brazil and Kuwait. GAMI, which was announced in 2017 and formally convened in 2019, has roles ranging from the management of procurement for the Saudi military to the supervision of defence-industrial research and development (R&D) and the transfer of technology to Saudi industry. (Source: Jane’s)
TECHNOLOGY
28 Apr 20. Calian Group Ltd. (TSX: CGY) has again been awarded a Department of National Defence (DND) contract to provide training services for the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering (CFSATE). CFSATE, based at Canadian Forces Base Borden, delivers aerospace, technical and engineering training and provides the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with qualified aircraft maintenance personnel. Under the contract, Calian will deliver training and other services to CFSATE, including course review, design and delivery and technology support. The initial contract term is two years, with an awarded value of approximately $18m. With two optional extension periods of two years each, the aggregate contract value over the full six-year period is approximately $54m. Calian was selected to deliver the previous CFSATE training support contract in 2016. Delivery on the new contract is expected to start August 1, 2020. (Source: Google/https://www.streetinsider.com/)