UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
11 Aug 20. DASA awards contracts for semi-autonomous reconnaissance systems. The UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has awarded contracts worth a total of £1.3m for the development of semi-autonomous reconnaissance and survey systems. These systems will help troops to stealthily and safely move into enemy territory across water obstacles such as rivers. Phase 1 funding from the competition was awarded to five small and medium sized business. This funding will help the companies to pace up their innovative solutions and test with the British Army.
Scytronix received funding of £251,900 for a proposal on a drone mountable crossing assessment system that makes use of low frequency electromagnetic scanning techniques.
Wight Ocean secured £309,282 to develop an amphibious bottom crawler that can navigate and transit water crossing to collect near real-time data, which can be used for analysis.
Funding of £272,656 was given to Nordic Unmanned, which has to demonstrate unmanned aerial systems sensors, data exploitation, and a semi-autonomous capability for engineer reconnaissance.
Digital Concepts Engineering received £331,133 to develop an unmanned ground vehicle and a drone ‘team’ with several sensors to collect and present data.
Funding totalling £177,789 was awarded to Foundry Cube, which in collaboration with Ultrabeam Hydrographic has to demonstrate an autonomous and amphibious hydrographic survey vehicle that is similar to a pedalo whilst using novel techniques tools and sonar and lidar technologies. A further £2.5m is anticipated for development in Phase 2. (Source: army-technology.com)
13 Aug 20. Digital Concepts Engineering Ltd (DCE) has won a contract in the UK government’s Defence and Security Accelerator’s (DASA) Map the Gap competition to develop a semi-autonomous reconnaissance and survey system that will help troops safely and stealthily advance into enemy territory over water. DCE will lead its part of the Map the Gap industry team with a vehicle based on their rugged X series of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which incorporates DCE’s Marionette robotic vehicle architecture, the heart of the Map the Gap solution. Other organisations and technologies supporting DCE’s bid are Jacobs’ 6th Sense data analytics, drones & autonomous routing provided by Frazer-Nash Consultancy and Eijkelkamp Geopoint SoilSolutions’ ground sampling expertise. Map the Gap ground surveys will be carried out using a submersible ROV carrying data sensors, soil sampling tools and sonar equipment, while the surrounding area will be scanned from the air by drone. The Map the Gap competition was run by DASA on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. The programme covers two phases for the development and demonstration of a number of system demonstrators able to tackle the key issues of gap crossing survey. The total funding for Phase 1 of the Map the Gap programme is approximately £1.2m, with a further £2.5m anticipated for Phase 2 activities.
EUROPE
LAND
03 Aug 20. Chess Dynamics wins multimillion Euro contract for AirGuard Counter-sUAS. Chess Dynamics, leading British surveillance, tracking and gunfire control specialist, today announced it has beaten strong international competition to be awarded a multimillion Euro contract for its AirGuard Counter Unmanned Air System (C-UAS). The scope of the project is to provide four AirGuard C-UAS to be utilised by an international customer in its protection from and defeat of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS). The systems include multi-sensor detection via passive Radio Frequency Direction Finding (R/F D/F), active 3D radar, coupled with HD Electro Optic sensors. The AirGuard systems will also include combat-proven Electronic Disruptors for complete protection of air base and critical infrastructure. The project is expected to be delivered throughout 2020 and 2021.
12 Aug 20. Hungary commits to air defence missiles from Raytheon in $1bn deal. Hungary on Wednesday signed a declaration of intent to buy air defence missiles from U.S. arms manufacturer Raytheon Technologies, Hungarian state news agency MTI reported, citing the defence minister. The deal, worth about $1bn, will be managed through the Foreign Military Sales programme and will be concluded by the end of September, MTI added. Hungary has long vowed to increase its military spending, which as in many NATO countries remains far short of the alliance’s goal of 2 percent of economic output. Much of its military infrastructure dates back to communist times. It recently purchased tanks from Germany and is renewing its air capabilities as well, and Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has put more focus on the military than most governments in past decades, when economic improvement was the priority. Defence Minister Tibor Benko said things had changed. (Source: Reuters)
AIR
14 Aug 20. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $188,866,819 undefinitized contract action for Belgium MQ-9B SkyGuardian procurement. This contract provides for four MQ-9B unmanned air vehicles, two Certifiable Ground Control Stations, spares and support equipment. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed March 31, 2024. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Belgium and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $94,341,260 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8689-20-C-2013).
USA
LAND
07 Aug 20. Purdue University-affiliated company Adranos has won over $1.1m worth of contracts from the US Army’s Aviation and Missile Center and the OUSD (R&E)’s Rapid Reaction Technology Office to conduct hypersonic research. Under the contracts, Adranos will conduct tests on its high-performance solid rocket fuel ALITEC’s functionality within a hypersonic propulsion system. Adranos will use Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories’ heated air system to simulate Mach 4 environments for hypersonic research. (Source: army-technology.com)
14 Aug 20. ATLAS Space Operations, a leading innovator in ground communications for the space industry, announced today that BlackSky has selected ATLAS to provide telemetry, commanding, and data support for its fifth and sixth satellites in its high-revisit Earth imaging satellite constellation. ATLAS is providing support through their ground station sites in Guam and Japan, utilizing their innovative Freedom™ software. BlackSky helps organizations observe and understand global events by integrating a diverse set of sensors and data, including satellite images, to provide sensitive monitoring and alert services. On August 7th, the company launched two additional satellites (of a planned 60) into low earth orbit. The newest satellites provide 1-meter resolution color imagery and increases global revisit rates — already amongst the best in the world. These advancements will further enhance BlackSky’s access to reliable, secure, and fast space-based data, allowing them to provide improved intelligence and analysis capabilities to their customers. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Aug 20. The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth approximately $19m to develop a prototype design for a new state-of-the-art Wargaming Center to be built at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. BAE Systems will integrate advanced technologies into the prototype, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, game theory, multi-domain modeling and simulation, and predictive data analytics, which will provide greater metrics and training on many wargaming processes. Since 2010, BAE Systems has supported the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory Wargaming Division with wargame planning, preparation, execution, and assessment. Deep understanding of the Marine Corps’ mission has positioned BAE Systems well for supporting further wargaming processes and identifying ways for the Marines to benefit from new technologies to enhance capabilities. BAE Systems is one of three primes selected for the 18-month cloud modeling and simulation phase. As a lead systems integrator, BAE Systems formed a team of industry experts with breakthrough technology offerings and predictive analytics-based wargaming solutions that automate planning, execution, and post-game analytics. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Aug 20. Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS) has secured a contract worth up to $172m to deliver tactical communications equipment and associated support services to US special operations forces. The company secured the follow-on, single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract from the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). As agreed, CMS will deliver GATR inflatable satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals and baseband communications equipment to the special operations forces. The contract will be split into five one-year ordering periods for Cubic’s 1.2m and 2.4m GATR inflatable satellite communications terminals. Besides enabling communication, these communication systems enable data pre-processing and rapid sharing of processed information to expedite decision-making. (Source: army-technology.com)
10 Aug 20. General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $428,229,970 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the field level maintenance, field service representative support, contingency maintenance support, new equipment training and total package fielding for the family of Stryker vehicles. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-D-0075).
14 Aug 20. OSI Systems, Inc. (the “Company” or “OSI Systems”) (NASDAQ: OSIS) today announced that its Optoelectronics division has received an order for approximately $4m from a leading defense electronics original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to provide optical sensors. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
10 Aug 20. Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, was awarded a $318,952,224 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price) contract for simple key loader production, engineering and sustainment support services. 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. 9, 2030. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W15P7T-20-D-0030).
SEA
13 Aug 20. BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California, is awarded a $103,590,841 firm-fixed-price contract to prepare for and accomplish repair and alteration requirements for USS Preble (DDG 88) Chief of Naval Operations scheduled depot maintenance period. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $117,754,630. The purpose is to maintain, modernize, and repair the USS Preble. The USS Preble will receive comprehensive modernization for DDG-51 class ships to ensure a mission relevant service life. This is a “long-term” availability and was solicited on a coast-wide (West Coast) basis without limiting the place of performance to the vessel’s homeport. BAE Systems will provide the facilities and human resources capable of completing, coordinating, and integrating multiple areas of ship maintenance, repair, and modernization for USS Preble. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be complete by February 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) (89.8%); and operations and maintenance (Navy) (10.2%) funding in the amount of $103,590,841 will be obligated at time of award, of which $10,553,208 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website with two competitive proposals received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-20-R-4400. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-20-C-4400).
07 Aug 20. BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair LLC, Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded an $83,501,649 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS Carney (DDG 64) fiscal 2020 extended dry-docking selected restricted availability and the USS Winston Churchill (DDG 81) fiscal 2021 depot modernization period. These availabilities will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair for both the USS Carney and USS Winston Churchill. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $211,604,822. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy); and other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $83,501,649 are obligated at time of award, $66,389,135 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in both Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be complete by July 2022. This contract was competitively solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website with one offer received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-19-R-4468. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
14 Aug 20. Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $125,819,311 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the labor and material efforts required to plan the USS Hartford (SSN 768) engineered overhaul (EOH) availability. The contracting approach will include advance planning, engineering, design efforts, prefabrication and shipyard execution work, including growth work and new work, necessary to prepare for and accomplish the maintenance and modernization work as defined in the USS Hartford EOH availability work package. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be complete by February 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (91%); 2020 other procurement (Navy) (9%); and 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding (less than 1%), in the combined amount of $113,789,457 will be obligated at time of award, of which funding in the amount of $103,424,052 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website. This procurement was awarded under authority permitting other than full and open competition under 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(3) to maintain a facility, producer, manufacturer or other supplier available for furnishing property or services in case of national emergency or to achieve industrial mobilization. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-20-C-4312).
14 Aug 20. Science Applications International Corp., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost only $84,823,556 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-6425 to Option Year Four of the MK 48 Mod 7 Heavyweight torpedo production program to supply All Up Round torpedo equipment and support. This modification combines purchases for the Navy (93 %); and the governments of Australia (6%) and Taiwan (1%), under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Bedford, Indiana (50%); Marion, Massachusetts (29%); Middletown, Rhode Island (16%); and Indianapolis, Indiana (5%), and is expected to be completed by April 2023. Fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy, 82%); fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (WPN) (Navy, 7%); fiscal 2018 weapons procurement (Navy); and FMS in the amount of $84,823,556, will be obligated at time of award and funding in the amount of $3,493,621 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (FMS/Armaments Cooperative Program (7%); and fiscal 2018 WPN (4%)). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity (N00024-16-C-6425).
06 Aug 20. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has awarded a contract to ThinKom Solutions to test and evaluate one of the company’s Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) aeronautical phased-array antenna systems as a solution for next-generation communications on U.S. Navy ships. Under the seven-month contract, ThinKom is delivering a ThinAir® Ka2517 antenna system for on-board testing to meet U.S. Navy requirements for Multi-Domain Tactical Communications (MDTC). The Ka-band antenna, based on the company’s patented VICTS technology, will demonstrate the capability to be integrated onto a U.S. Navy ship. A concurrent design study phase will evaluate performance modifications requested by the Navy. (Source: Satnews)
AIR
10 Aug 20. The U.S Army’s Special Operations Aviation Command (SOCOM) has awarded Airbus DS Military Aircraft Inc. a US$10m contract for the sustainment and modernisation of five CASA 212-200 CC60 aircraft. This includes new avionics suites and aircraft maintenance refreshes with the majority of the work to be performed in Mobile, Alabama and expected to be complete by August 2023. The upgrades will meet the 2020 FAA requirements for global air traffic management with refreshed interiors and lighting. Airbus D.S. Military Aircraft continues to stock parts and provide engineering and technical expertise to support them well into the future, the company says. The C-212 Aviocar was developed by Airbus predecessor CASA. After its first flight in 1971, this twin turboprop-powered aircraft was built in a production run of 40 plus years, during which more than 470 were assembled in Spain by CASA and under license in Indonesia by the country’s IPTN/Nurtanio aerospace company. With a maximum take-off weight of 6,500-8,100 kg and rear ramp-equipped, the unpressurised C212 has been used for search and rescue missions, in the deployment of skydivers and smokejumpers, in the airliner, charter and short-haul cargo roles alongside military applications that vary from electronic countermeasure platforms to service with SOCOM. Its durability was underscored by the C212’s deployment by Australian airline Skytraders to support Australia’s science and research efforts in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. (Source: ESD Spotlight)
07 Aug 20. BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Greenlawn, New York, has been awarded an estimated $144,000,000 five-year firm-fixed-price requirements contract for common avionics and electronic components applicable to B1-B, ASQ-151, APX-113, ALQ-172, USM-464, AN/ALQ-155, ALQ-161, USM-638, B-52 platforms. This contract provides for sustainment of spares/buys, repairs and engineering services related to various systems and components that are sole source to BAE. Work will be performed in Greenlawn, New York; San Diego, California; and Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed March 22, 2026. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 Consolidated Sustainment Activity Group funds will be used, but no funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8538-20-D-0008).
07 Aug 20. Boeing [NYSE: BA] has received a contract to build four additional 702X satellites from SES as the leading global content connectivity provider increases the number of O3b mPOWER satellites in its Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) to 11. These four additional O3b mPOWER satellites will enhance SES’s next-generation MEO constellation throughput and efficiency as well as expand its unique capabilities to deliver connectivity services ranging from 50Mbps to multiple gigabits per second to a single user. The system will allow telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, enterprises, aircraft and ship operators, and more, to connect with their core network or extend cloud access worldwide. Boeing is currently building the first seven O3b mPOWER satellites for SES. The first set of satellites will be launched in late 2021. SES’ O3b mPOWER software-defined satellites are based on Boeing’s multi-orbit 702X satellite portfolio, which employs Boeing’s most advanced digital payload to date. The O3b mPOWER satellite constellation will integrate with existing network architectures to deliver global, end-to-end managed network services on land, sea and in the air. Additionally, Boeing and SES have agreed to collaborate to develop commercially-based service offerings and capabilities that can be derived from current and future SES MEO satellites. Working together, the companies will develop resilient, interoperable MILSATCOM-COMSATCOM architectures to provide U.S. and other government users with robust connectivity across mission domains.
04 Aug 20. US Space Force Selects General Atomics For EO/IR EWS Satellite Program. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has been selected for the United States Space Force Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR) Weather System (EWS) satellite program under the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC). GA-EMS will design and manufacture a prototype spacecraft, integrate the EWS payload and provide on-orbit mission control services to support the collection of theater weather imagery and cloud characterization data for worldwide military operational use. For EWS, GA-EMS is teaming with EOVista, LLC, Atmospheric and Environmental Research Inc. (AER) and Braxton Technologies, LLC. EOVista provides the EO/IR payload, AER Inc performs weather product generation, and Braxton Technologies, LLC provides mission Enterprise Ground Station (EGS) command and control, and operations support. The award is contracted through the Space Enterprise Consortium, an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contract vehicle managed by Advanced Technology Incorporated (ATI). (Source: Satnews)
10 Aug 20. KBR (NYSE: KBR) has been awarded a $40m recompete task order to provide sustainment engineering to America’s longest-serving and most versatile bomber, the B-52 Stratofortress. The company will perform this work for the United States Air Force (USAF) Life Cycle Management Center’s Bomber Reliability and Sustainment Improvement Program. The USAF Installation Contracting Center/KVD awarded KBR this cost-plus, fixed fee task order under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract. KBR has supported the mission of the DoD research and development community through various predecessor DoD IAC contracts since 2005. Under this task order, KBR will partner with the Air Force to keep the B-52 operationally viable while improving availability and decreasing total ownership costs. The company will perform reliability and obsolescence analyses, as well as develop non-destructive inspection and test techniques, maintenance procedures and analysis tools for reliability data. The contract enables KBR to further enhance its company-developed, web-based application that facilitates the ability of B-52 engineers to analyze and trend aircraft data in support of weapon system integrity programs. KBR will execute this work over the next five years primarily at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
10 Aug 20. Logos Technologies Gets $6.7m US Navy Contract for Infrared Wide-Area Sensor. Logos Technologies recently received approval to disclose that it has been awarded a $6.7m contract from the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to develop, deliver, and perform proof-of-concept flight tests on a wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) sensor. The sensor system will be called Cardcounter and is being developed to integrate onto the Navy and Marine Corps RQ-21A small tactical unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The initial $6.7m award from NAVAIR will cover the development of two Cardcounter prototypes, with a planned delivery by the end of September 2020 and ready to begin flight testing on the RQ-21A Blackjack. (Source: UAS VISION/ C4ISRNET)
13 Aug 20. Northrop Grumman Gets Triton Net Enabled Weapons Support Award from US Navy. The US Department of the Navy plans to award Northrop Grumman’s aerospace systems business a delivery order to provide analysis support for demonstration activities involving the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial system. Northrop will support testing of net-enabled weapons and other warfighting technologies designed to maintain UAS-driven sea control as part of the award, the Naval Air Systems Command. NAVAIR intended to sole-source the award to Northrop because of the company’s “requisite knowledge and experience” designing, developing and integrating Triton as well as ancillary hardware. In February, Northrop secured a $172.4m contract modification to produce two additional Triton platforms and a ground operating base for the Navy. The award comes a month after the long-distance unmanned aircraft conducted its maiden flight over the Pacific region. (Source: UAS VISION)
07 Aug 20. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded task orders for $316,000,000 for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract. The NSSL Phase 2 contract is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for launch service procurements supporting launches planned between fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2027. This launch service contract includes early integration studies, launch service support, fleet surveillance, launch vehicle production, mission integration, mission launch operations, mission assurance, spaceflight worthiness, and mission unique activities for each mission. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed March 2028. Future launch services and launch service support will be placed annually on subsequent task orders, and will be publically announced upon issuance. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received. Fiscal 2020 space procurement funds in the amount of $316,000,000 will be obligated in the first order year for launch service and launch service support task orders to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA2211-20-D-0002).
07 Aug 20. United Launch Services LLC, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded task orders for $337,000,000 for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract. The NSSL Phase 2 contract is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for launch service procurements supporting launches planned between fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2027. This launch service contract includes early integration studies, launch service support, fleet surveillance, launch vehicle production, mission integration, mission launch operations, mission assurance, spaceflight worthiness, and mission unique activities for each mission. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed March 2028. Future launch services and launch service support will be placed annually on subsequent task orders, and will be publically announced upon issuance. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received. Fiscal 2020 space procurement funds in the amount of $337,000,000 will be obligated in the first order year for launch service and launch service support task orders to United Launch Services. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-20-D-0001).
TECHNOLOGY
13 Aug 20. Alion Science and Technology has received multiple Naval Ocean Systems Command (NAVSEA) SeaPort-NxG contracts worth $896m to develop, integrate, manage and support of the Naval Integrated Training Environment (NITE). The main purpose of the initiative is to offer an integrated programme that will allow continuous, multi-domain, real-time, virtual and constructive training (LVC) platforms at different physical locations in the Naval Training Enterprise. The company will integrate the Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE) and Naval Joint Tactical Training Range (CTTR) into the NCTE environment that features over 1,200 interconnected nodes across the US and its coalition counties. During the contract implementation, Alion and its teammates will provide Operations and Maintenance support for the Naval Training Enterprise. (Source: naval-technology.com)
13 Aug 20. Analyst1, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, announced today that the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) selected Analyst1 to spearhead its cyber defense operations transformation. DIU, the Department of Defense organization focused exclusively on fielding, scaling, and quickly delivering technology across the U.S. military, will prototype Analyst1 to help reduce the cognitive burden on the cybersecurity analyst, and leverage machine-speed to aid in decision-making against persistent threats to the DoD Information Network (DODIN).
Analyst1 will provide the DoD with an enterprise-scale, cyber platform that operationalizes threat intelligence and enables security teams and analysts to focus on deeper analysis and response. DIU realizes that with Analyst1, it will be able to establish an evolving knowledge base of correlated insights about threats, attack patterns, malware families, vulnerabilities, internal assets, mission-critical systems at risk, and the defensive posture of its operations. (Source: PR Newswire)
11 Aug 20. The U.S. Department of Defense and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded Altamira Technologies multiple new task orders in June and July 2020 with a total value including options of $65m. Under these task orders, Altamira will provide mission engineering, insider threat analysis, all-source analysis and data science on advanced intelligence missions for multiple DoD components and the NGA. Three task orders were awarded in support of the Air Force Concepts, Development and Management Office which manages high-priority projects and programs providing innovative solutions to Air Force and defense-wide challenges. The new task orders have varying periods of performance, predominantly including one base and four option years. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
12 Aug 20. Deloitte Consulting LLC, Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a Systems Engineering, Technology, and Innovation prime integrator task order (HC102820F2000) for an estimated $106,352,518 to design and build the Joint Common Foundation artificial intelligence development environment for the Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. The period of performance is a one-year base period from Aug. 17, 2020, through Aug. 16, 2021, valued at approximately $31,000,000, with three one-year option periods through August 16, 2024. Work will be performed in the greater Washington, D.C., area. The contracting activity is the Defense Information Systems Activity/Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
12 Aug 20. Northrop Grumman Awarded DARPA Gamebreaker Contract. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) was recently awarded a contract from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO) for the Gamebreaker program. This innovative program seeks to develop and apply artificial intelligence (AI) to existing real-time strategy games to break a complex model or create an imbalance. Northrop Grumman will use this opportunity to evaluate and develop technology to improve flexible planning, optimization and discovery in products that operate dynamic environments. Northrop Grumman’s Gamebreaker team includes Hazardous Software and Slitherine Software’s Matrix Games. Working closely together, this partnership will use advanced AI techniques to model and break balance within a highly complex simulator environment called “Command: Modern Operations”.
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
10 Aug 20. Australia invests in Army’s autonomous vehicle fleet. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price have announced a $12.2m investment into Australian industry designed to enhance the Australian Army’s experimentation, prototyping and exploration of autonomous vehicle and emerging technologies. The contracts will be delivered over the next three years and include:
- $7.7m contract with BAE Systems Australia to convert 16 M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers into optionally crewed combat vehicles (OCCVs), increasing the OCCV fleet available to 20 vehicles and support experimentation over two years. Conversions will be conducted in South Australia by BAE and in regional Victoria by Defence’s Joint Logistic Unit (Victoria);
- $3.5m contract with the Institute for Intelligent Research and Innovation (IISRI) at Deakin University for the expansion of Army’s leader-follower vehicle technology prototyping;
- $135,000 contract with QinetiQ Australia for the mof Rs. 66 crores from L&T Construction, to supply its GPON based fiber-broadband products and high-performance Metro Ethernet switches for a prestigious Indian defence network project. The order was received during last quarter and the first set of supplies have started this quarter. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Construction is an Indian multinational engaged in technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing, a billion in revenue and operating in 30+ countries. (Source: PR Newswire)
SEA
11 Aug 20. Davie makes history with return of Royal Canadian Navy frigates. Davie, Canada’s largest, longest-established and highest capacity shipbuilder made history today with the official launch of the long-term naval frigate maintenance and upgrade program. The $500m performance-based contract to carry out an extensive mid-life refit on the Royal Canadian Navy’s patrol frigates is for an initial five-year period. It is expected to increase in duration and value as new work packages are added. Over the past 12 months a major facility upgrade program was completed at the West end of the shipyard and in the historic Lorne drydock to provide a long-term maintenance home for Canada’s surface combat fleet and its supporting naval staff. The program will have a major impact on the Québec and Canadian economies. It is expected that up to 400 well-paid jobs will be directly created or sustained at Davie, as well as supporting thousands of the company’s suppliers and partners across Canada. (Source: PR Newswire)
11 Aug 20. South Australia-based MG Engineering has secured a contract with BAE Systems Australia subsidiary ASC Shipbuilding to construct four modules as part of ship blocks for the Royal Australian Navy’s future Hunter Class frigates. The ‘mini-blocks’ will be used to test leading-edge manufacturing techniques that will be used to build the submarine hunting warships. Each six-metre ‘mini-block’ will have similar features to a real ship block, including watertight doors, manholes, hatches, passageways and confined spaces. The blocks will be installed at the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide’s south before the end of this year. ASC Shipbuilding is partnering with Flinders University to research advanced manufacturing processes that will be adapted to the state-of-the-art digital shipyard at Osborne. Using the blocks, researchers will undertake a range of trials including conducting confined-space robotic blast and paint, implementing electronic tag boards, testing wireless connectivity and using various adhesives and paints. The four blocks will also be used for training and to showcase research and technology opportunities to students, hopefully inspiring the next generation of Australian shipbuilders. (Source: Defence Connect)
07 Aug 20. Australia to acquire new anti-submarine training capability. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has announced an $11m acquisition of the new Saab AUV62-AT, Intermediate Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target, which will enhance Australia’s anti-submarine warfighting capabilities. Minister Reynolds highlighted that the Royal Australian Navy will partner with Saab Australia to bring the new capability into service, providing opportunities for local industry to contribute to the project. Saab’s AUV62-AT is flexible, adaptable and can operate in several different modes, enabling it to comply with various sets of training regulations. It can generate realistic submarine noises and echoes, which are transmitted at a precise target strength and over clearly defined distances. (Source: Defence Connect)
AIR
14 Aug 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $62,000,000,000 ten-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ), fixed-price-incentive contract for new production of F-16 Foreign Military Sale (FMS) aircraft. The total value for the initial delivery order is $4,941,105,246 and will be awarded on the same date. The initial delivery order is for 90 aircraft, including both the pre-priced recurring core configuration costs at $2,862,797,674 and the engineering change proposal/undefinitized contract action for the non-recurring costs not-to-exceed $2,078,307,572 obligated at approximately $1,018,370,710. Work will be primarily performed in Greenville, South Carolina; and Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2026. This contract involves 100% FMS to FMS partner nations and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $3,881,168,384 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (Basic IDIQ: FA8615-20-D-6052; initial delivery order: FA8615-20-F-0001).
11 Aug 20. Textron Aviation today announced it was awarded a contract by ATI Engineering Services, LLC for two multi-mission Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft for the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in support of the African Partnership Flight initiative. This will be the first fixed-wing aircraft to be put in service by the RDF. The aircraft, which are anticipated to enter service during the first half of 2021, will primarily be based in Kigali, Rwanda. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc. a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company. This African Partnership Flight initiative brings together a series of collaborative engagements between African nations to strengthen U.S. strategic partnerships with key countries in Africa, exchange ideas on aviation-related topics, and enhance regional cooperation and interoperability. ATI Engineering Services will modify and equip the RDF’s Grand Caravan EX aircraft with secure HF (High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio systems, Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) interior and exterior lighting, and a reconfigurable multi-mission interior featuring two ambulatory medical stretcher kits, 11 passenger seats, eight collapsible utility seats and a removable rollerball cargo floor. The U.S. Government has previously provided grant aid funding for 14 Grand Caravan EX aircraft procured through Foreign Military Sale cases throughout Africa, with Rwanda being the latest recipient. AFRICOM’s intent is to field multiple iterations of this configuration throughout Africa, and to streamline logistics support and enhance partner nation interoperability, both of which will reduce costs to the partner nation and to the U.S. Government. (Source: ASD Network)