UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
01 Jun 20. Royal Air Force to enhance tactical air command and control capabilities on the ground through Collins Aerospace FasTAK™ Gateway. The Royal Air Force (RAF) has selected the Collins Aerospace Systems FasTAK™ Gateway to advance its tactical data link capabilities on the ground as part of the RAF’s Air Support Operations Squadron Digital Command and Control experimentation program. The FasTAK Gateway makes it possible to share a tactical view to all connected air, ground and maritime units. Collins Aerospace is a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE: RTX).
01 Jun 20. Cubic Awarded Contract to Support British Army Training. Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced Cubic Defence U.K., which operates within its Cubic Global Defense (CGD) business division, was awarded a contract worth more than $35m, to continue its support for the training of the British Army. The three-year contract is for support and repair of the Area Weapons Effects Simulator (AWES) System at Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) in the United Kingdom and at British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Alberta, Canada. (Source: ASD Network)
04 Jun 20. General Dynamics Land Systems–UK has delivered two fully-electric 8×8 Multi-Utility Tactical Transport (MUTT) Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) to the British Army. Alongside the delivery of these UGV’s, which took place in April 2020, General Dynamics Land Systems–UK will provide New Operator Training, Maintainer Training, In-Service Support, Maintainer Tools and Spares, including a fully-supported Helpdesk.
SEA
29 May 20. Rolls-Royce is to supply complete MTU propulsion systems for five new Type 31 general-purpose frigates for the Royal Navy. In total, the order comprises of 40 engines and generator sets to be used for main propulsion and on-board power generation, the MTU Callosum propulsion control and monitoring system, and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS). Each new frigate will be powered by four MTU 20V 8000 M71 engines, each delivering over 8,000 kW. On-board power will be provided on each vessel by four MTU generator sets based on 16V 2000 M41B units, each delivering in excess of 900 kW. In September 2021, Rolls-Royce will deliver the first shipset comprising four main propulsion engines and four generator sets to prime contractor Babcock International Group. Integrated Logistics Support for propulsion and onboard power systems will ensure efficient and cost-effective maintenance throughout their entire service life. It is expected that the MTU Callosum propulsion control and monitoring system will be officially added to the supply contract very shortly. (Source: Aerospace Daily & Defense Report)
EUROPE
AIR
04 Jun 20. Austria awards C-130 avionics modification contract to Marshall. The Austrian Air Force has awarded a multi-million-pound contract to Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (Marshall ADG) to update the navigation systems on its fleet of three C-130K aircraft. Following on from the Night Vision System upgrade modification of the Flight Management System in 2017, Marshall ADG will now design and update the Electronic Flight Instrument System displays, Standby Instrument and Flight Management System across the fleet. Marshall ADG will begin the design phase of this project through the middle of this year and complete the embodiment of the modification on the fleet as the aircraft are inducted into Marshall’s Cambridge facility for scheduled maintenance. The Austrian Air Force purchased the three transport aircraft from the UK Ministry of Defence in 2003 when the Royal Air Force started the transition of their fleet to C-130Js. Marshall has been supporting these aircraft ever since, providing depth maintenance, engineering and logistics support.
USA
LAND
29 May 20. Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Canada, was awarded a $380,117,626 hybrid (firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-level-of-effort) contract for MX sensor systems product and system support. 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 May 28, 2028. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGY-20-D-0008).
04 Jun 20. Special Operations Forces have a new light tactical vehicle: the Polaris MRZR Alpha. Following a competitive bid process, General Services Administration (GSA) awarded a follow-on contract to Polaris Government and Defense, a division of global powersports leader Polaris Inc., for the Light Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (LTATV). The MRZR Alpha supports U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) requirements for durability, performance, payload profile and internal air transportability. The MRZR Alpha is Polaris’ 11th military vehicle produced in 12 years. The LTATV specification – which calls for a 2-passenger and 4-passenger base vehicle, and seven variants or “packages” – results in a revolutionary new capability. Designed on an all new chassis, the MRZR Alpha is an entirely new breed of light tactical vehicle. Internally transportable vehicles have restrictions to size and weight, but Polaris’ investment and advances in chassis, driveline, suspension, and other technologies have allowed the company to provide a new level of durability, performance, and payload in the MRZR Alpha. Vehicle systems were also designed with near-future innovation in mind, with an architecture ready to accept new technologies and capabilities available within Polaris.
02 Jun 20. Squad X prime contractor Lockheed Martin has awarded BAE Systems a contract to provide key autonomy and artificial intelligence capabilities that aim to advance the effectiveness of tactical robotic air and ground vehicles and create true partnerships between ground warfighters – Soldiers and Marines – and machines at the small-unit level. The goal of DARPA’s Squad X, which is composed of the complementary Squad X Experimentation and (the now completed) Squad X Core Technologies programs, is to design, develop, and validate autonomous system prototypes and equip them with novel sensing tools and off-the-shelf technologies. The technologies aim to increase squads’ situational awareness, while the autonomous systems allow squads to increase their battlespace and area of influence. BAE Systems’ FAST Labs™ research and development organization will provide Mission Intelligence for Tactical Systems (MITS) advanced sensor fusion, artificial intelligence, and autonomy. MITS is highly automated and directs mobile robots and their sensor payloads while reducing the cognitive load on its partner warfighters. MITS fuses sensor data, constructs and shares battlefield awareness with its human squadmates, and provides tactical electronic and kinetic support to the squad as it maneuvers and engages enemy positions. MITS-synthesized awareness informs human decision making in complex, time-critical combat situations, and directs continuous autonomous robotic tasking. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
01 Jun 20. USAF awards contract to Silvus for MANET radio systems. The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a $950m contract to Silvus Technologies to supply its StreamCaster Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) radio systems, or meshONE. The systems will support the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) programme. Established in 2018, the ABMS programme was formed to create a combat Cloud MANET. It aimed to transfer the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) model from civilian technology to the battlefield. The open architecture realises the vision of Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and enables sensors to inform any shooter in multiple domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Currently, the ABMS system development is undergoing a series of experiments. In December last year, the first experiment took place at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) with experiments to be conducted every four months. During the experiment last year, Silvus provided the meshONE network. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
02 Jun 20. Viasat Inc., Carlsbad, California, is awarded $75,373,500 (a modification with a maximum potential value) under previously awarded, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract N00039-15-D-0043 for the Block Upgrade II retrofit of multifunctional information distribution system (MIDS) low volume terminals. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, California. The terminals provide secure, high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for the Navy, Air Force and Army platforms as well as Foreign Military Sales customers. Work is expected to be complete by May 2024. This modification will increase the current contract value from $599,093,506 to $674,467,006. No funding is being obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued. This contract modification was not competitively procured because it is a sole-source acquisition pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). Only one responsible source (Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 6.302-1) was addressed under Justification and Approval No. 18,413 (April 2, 2018) and the contract was awarded on behalf of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Program Office. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.
29 May 20. WFEL Ltd., Stockport, Cheshire, United Kingdom, was awarded an $8,034,740 firm-fixed-price contract for retrofit kits for the Dry Support Bridge system. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fort Hood, Texas; and Cheshire, UK, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $8,034,740 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-F-0222).
SEA
02 Jun 20. Babcock, the Aerospace and Defence company, has been awarded a multimillion pound contract extension to manufacture a further 18 tactical Missile Tube Assemblies (MTAs) for General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB). It is part of the Common Missile Compartment (CMC) project for the UK Dreadnought class and US Columbia class submarine programmes, and will support more than 200 Advanced Manufacturing jobs at Babcock’s Rosyth and Bristol facilities. This highly specialised, internationally significant work reinforces Babcock’s position as a critical supplier of MTAs, utilising its digital manufacturing skills and expertise to support the future deterrent submarine programmes for both the UK and US Navies. Since 2014, Babcock has successfully secured competitive contracts with GDEB to manufacture 57 MTAs. The latest of these contracts included an option to supply an additional 18 MTAs, resulting in the recent contract extension. This brings the total number of tactical MTAs that will be manufactured by Babcock for Electric Boat to 75, and will see Babcock’s work transition from the UK Dreadnought to the US Columbia programme.
02 Jun 20. The U.S. Navy awarded Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC) a prime contract worth approximately $60m to continue to provide mission engineering support by testing heavyweight and lightweight torpedoes for the Naval Sea Systems Command. In support of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport, SAIC will handle testing and data collection for MK 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes, and MK 54 and MK 46 Lightweight torpedoes. As part of the single-award contract, SAIC will prepare the test facility and test torpedoes, interface the test torpedo, execute the test, and collect and process test data. Additionally, SAIC will support preparing torpedoes for testing at off-site test ranges and locations. SAIC will also provide maintenance, upgrades, and operational support for test torpedo assembly and turnaround, system and subsystem testing, data reduction, test equipment operation, and data and configuration management. The cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract has a one-year base period of performance with four option years. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
AIR
02 Jun 20. Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) announced today that during its third quarter of fiscal year 2020, its Mission-Critical Technologies group’s Space & Component Technology division, which is part of Comtech’s Government Solutions segment, was awarded a contract valued at $12.6m from a major U.S. prime contractor in support of NASA’s Orion Production and Operations Contract (“OPOC”) or commonly known as the Artemis project. The Artemis project is intended to help NASA carry the first woman and next man to the moon by 2024. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
02 Jun 20. CPI Aerostructures (CPI Aero) has secured purchase orders from Boeing under a previously announced contract to supply structural assemblies for the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The latest purchase orders are valued at around $14m. The original indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, which was signed last year, requires CPI Aero to manufacture major structural subassemblies of the A-10 aircraft’s wing. The IDIQ contract carries a maximum ceiling value of $48m. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
29 May 20. General Dynamics-OTS, Williston, Vermont, was awarded a $3,420,531,156 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price) contract for production and engineering services for Hydra-70 rocket systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q20F0282).
02 Jun 20. KBR has won a $33.5m task order to provide product and lifecycle analysis of common avionics to the US Air Force (USAF) 638th Supply Chain Management Group (SCMG) and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC). All common avionics for the USAF are managed by the SCMG and AFLCMC, including the Global Positioning System, precision attack systems, ground radio communications, RQ-4 Global Hawk, B-52 Stratofortress and the E-3 airborne warning and control systems. The USAF Installation Contracting Center has given the multiple-award contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC). Work under the five-year contract will be performed at Robins Air Force Base (AFB) in Georgia and other US locations. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
02 Jun 20. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $17,649,408 modification (P00001) to firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee order N0001920-F-0025 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-15-G-0026. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (39.2%); Ronkonkoma, New York (23.98%); Bethpage, New York (18.02%); Petaluma, California (6.8%); Irvine, California (6.76%); Melbourne, Florida (3.25%); Minden, Nebraska (1.5%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (.49%). This modification procures fabrication and installation support to retrofit the Link 16 (L16) Crypto-Modernization (CM)/Hybrid-Beyond Line of Sight (HBLOS) capability on 34 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. This modification also provides for the retrofit of four sets of support equipment to satisfy operational requirements for the L16 and HBLOS as well as the procurement of five new radio interface units in support of the installation schedule for the CM/HBLOS capability. Work is expected to be complete by June 2021. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds for $17,649,408 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.
02 Jun 20. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Woodland Hills, California, is awarded a $79,083,495 modification (P00018) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N68936-15-D-0013. This modification increases the ceiling for the research and development of AH-1Z and UH-1Y system configuration set mission computers in support of the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Woodland Hills, California (98%); Salt Lake City, Utah (1%); and Baltimore, Maryland (1%). Efforts include researching alternatives, investigating and documenting new capabilities and anomalies related to avionics and weapons, designing, developing, integrating, verifying, validating and testing upgrades to existing mission computer software and ancillary hardware and/or improved functionality and obsolescence management of the mission computer. This modification also includes the logistics requirements to support the system. Work is expected to be complete by April 2021. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity.
TECHNOLOGY
01 Jun 20. American Electronic Warfare Associates Inc.,* California, Maryland, is awarded a $218,034,586 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-20-D-0071). This contract provides research, development, management, design, fabrication, installation, integration, upgrade, analysis, documentation and operations and maintenance for the Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test department, the advanced aircraft research, development, test and evaluation, integrated combat environment capabilities and laboratories and facilities. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by May 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
20 May 20. Qorvo® (Nasdaq:QRVO), a leading provider of innovative RF solutions that connect the world, has been awarded a three-year contract to further advance the development of copper-pillar-on-GaN flip-chip technology. This Department of Defense (DoD) program will create a high-yield domestic foundry to mature the copper flip assembly process, which enables vertical die stacking in space-constrained phased array radar systems and other defense electronics. Conventional module-level integration on printed wiring boards is performed by wire bonding and uses metal housing and chip-and-wire modules. This wastes space while adding weight and cost to the system. Copper pillar flip-chip technology enables vertical stacking of die to integrate many more components, resulting in tighter die-to-die and die-to package spacings to reduce module weight and cost. While copper flip-chip is used today in high volume for GaAs and silicon RF applications, copper pillar flip-chip GaN technology is typically produced only in small quantities using a costly prototype process. Qorvo’s goal under the contract is to establish a high-yield, reliable copper flip-chip GaN MMIC technology and achieve Manufacturing Readiness Level 9 by 2022.The three-year contract is being administered by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, on behalf of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Defense-wide Manufacturing Science & Technology (DMS&T). (Source: Armada)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
29 May 20. General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $7,746,408 modification (P00018) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0026 to provide logistics support and training services to the Iraqi Army. Work will be performed in Taji, Iraq, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2010 Iraq train and equip (Army) funds in the amount of $7,746,408 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
05 Jun 20. Meggitt Training Systems wins Canadian Armed Forces small-arms trainer service and support contract. Meggitt Training Systems has been awarded a US$4.4m contract extension from Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Department of National Defence, to provide in-service support to the Canadian Armed Forces for Meggitt’s Small Arms Trainer (SAT) and Indirect Fire Trainer (IFT). The original contract won by Meggitt Training Systems (Quebec), a subsidiary of Suwanee-based Meggitt Training Systems Inc., began in June 2015 and includes operator and maintenance support for related training activities, incorporating onsite support for health, usage and equipment monitoring at major bases across Canada.
04 Jun 20. QinetiQ Australia has been awarded a contract to design and construct a $14.5m unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flight test range (FTR) on behalf of the Queensland Government. The FTR will be located at Cloncurry Aerodrome in North West Queensland and will consist of access to a commercial quality runway, dedicated hangar and workshop, range control centre, range control system including a primary surveillance radar and other surveillance and tracking equipment, dedicated airspace and regulatory approvals for UAS FTR operations. (Source: UAS VISION)
SEA
04 Jun 20. ECA GROUP is once again awarded the supply of steering and diving consoles for South Korea Navy’s 1st submarine of JANGBOGO III (Batch II), after having successfully delivered this equipment for the first batch of 3 submarines in 2016, 2018 and 2019. In June 2020, DSME has once again renewed his trust into ECA GROUP expertise by awarding a new contract to supply the Steering and Diving Consoles for the 1st submarine of South Korean’s programme JANGBOGO III – Batch II Class. The equipment will be delivered by 2023 and operational tests will be completed by 2027.
02 Jun 20. GeoSpectrum Technologies (GeoSpectrum) announces that it was selected to deliver its Long-Range Acoustic Messaging (LRAM) system to another Western customer. This follows a recent successful delivery of LRAM equipment to the Canadian Government. The LRAM system is a through-water acoustic communications system optimised for robust operation over long range. It is designed to send acoustically encoded tactical messages from a user-controlled station to a submerged submarine or other underwater asset. Two-way communication can also be provided. The LRAM system provides the capability to covertly communicate with a submarine on an as-needed basis without requiring the submarine to be at periscopic depth. Such communication can be vital for tactical comms with the submarine (mission re-tasking, target cuing, Blue-on-Blue prevention, etc.) or enhancing submarine safety by routine monitoring and handling of distress situations. Communication can be in diverse topologies from a ship or off-shore site directly to the submarine direct water-to-water or from a command station using an acoustic link on an expendable buoy, USV or manned vessel. The system configurations support strategic communication for ranges up to thousands of kilometres applying GeoSpectrum’s unique Very Low Frequency (VLF) source as well as tactical communication for up to hundreds of kilometres using Low Frequency (LF) sources. Also, it can provide a means for reliable and secure remote acoustic activation or communications with Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and divers.
AIR
01 Jun 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is awarded a $37,835,381 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0350) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0029. This order provides for retrofits from the Generation III, V and VI Mission Computer (MC) configuration to the Generation 3i and 5i MC configuration on the MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopter (186 for the Navy, seven for the government of Australia, five for the government of Denmark, and two for the government of Saudi Arabia). Work will be performed in Owego, New York (97%); and Clearwater, Florida (3%). This order also provides for retrofits from the Generation III and V Flight Management Computer (FMC) configuration to the Generation 3i and 5i FMC configuration on the MH-60R/S aircraft (186 for the Navy, seven for the government of Australia, five for the government of Denmark, and two for the government of Saudi Arabia). Additionally, this order provides for the procurement of 162 wiring kits for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, three for the government of Denmark, and three for the government of Saudi Arabia. Work is expected to be complete by May 2023. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,832,526; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $27,086,960; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $2,915,895 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.
03 Jun 20. Subaru secures deal to build six UH-X helicopters for JGSDF. The Japan Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has awarded Subaru Corporation contracts worth a combined total of JPY14.3bn (USD131.6m) for the production and delivery of six UH-X multirole medium helicopters to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). Documents obtained by Janes on 3 June show that two contracts were signed on 19 March, with delivery of the recently developed rotorcraft expected to be completed by January 2023. The UH-X prototype helicopter that Subaru handed over to the Japanese MoD in February 2019. The ATLA recently ordered six UH-X helicopters for the JGSDF. After conducting the helicopter’s maiden flight in December 2018 and carrying out a series of subsequent flight tests, Subaru handed over a UH-X prototype to the Japanese MoD at the company’s Utsunomiya plant in Tochigi Prefecture in February of the following year. The company announced at the time that it would also prepare to start mass-producing the multirole platform, which is based on the Subaru Bell 412EPX commercial helicopter. The MoD plans to replace the JGSDF’s fleet of 127 UH-1Js with about 150 UH-Xs over the next two decades, 34 of which will be acquired at the price of about JPY1.8bn each under the country’s 2019–23 Mid-Term Defence Program (MTDP), which was approved in December 2018. (Source: Jane’s)