UNITED KINGDOM
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11 Nov 20. British Army’s 3rd Division selects Systematic’s SitaWare Headquarters. The British Army’s 3rd Division (3 DIV) has become the latest component of the UK armed forces to select Systematic’s SitaWare command-and-control (C2) software. The ‘Iron Division’ – which acts as the United Kingdom’s strategic land warfare asset – is taking Systematic’s SitaWare Headquarters solution into service, which will provide comprehensive situational awareness and C2 capabilities at the battalion level and above.
AIR
12 Nov 20. Typhoon delivers a further boost to the UK economy. BAE Systems has been awarded a £1.3bn order to support the production of 38 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the German Air Force. Work will commence in 2021 at BAE Systems’ sites in Lancashire, maintaining continuity of Typhoon production through to the mid-2020s and sustaining high-value engineering roles in the North of England. These critical jobs are a key element of securing the UK’s sovereign skills and capabilities which are central to realising the Government’s future combat air ambitions.
09 Nov 20. BAE Systems has been awarded a £6.4m contract by MBDA to design and manufacture elements of the Brimstone missile system used by the Royal Air Force. The work which will take place at BAE Systems sites at Broad Oak in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and Hillend in Dunfermline, Fife, will secure and maintain important technical skills and capabilities in the specialised microwave sector. (Source: News Now/UKDJ)
12 Nov 20. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded an $81,866,402 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price modification (P00014) to contract FA8620-18-C-2009 for the U.K. MQ-9B Protector program. This modification provides for the design, development, integration and component-level testing of additional capabilities being added to the baseline program. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2021. Total cumulative face value of the contract is not-to-exceed $174,889,865. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $71,563,692 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
10 Nov 20. Meggitt PLC secures pioneering radome contract with BAE Systems to enable advanced radar technology on the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fighter jet. Meggitt PLC has secured a £4.2m contract with BAE Systems for the supply of innovative nose radome technology to enable the effective operation of a pioneering Multi-Function Array radar system on the Typhoon.
EUROPE
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09 Nov 20. Rheinmetall to supply thermal imaging aiming devices worth €27m for the Bundeswehr’s Marder IFVs. Saphir 2.6 MK order is the latest in a series of moves to keep the vehicle fit to fight in future. The Bundeswehr has awarded Rheinmetall a further order aimed at extending the service life of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. Following a recent appropriation of funds by the budget committee of the German Parliament, the Düsseldorf-based technology group has now booked a €27m contract to this effect. The advanced Saphir 2.6 MK, developed by Rheinmetall Electronics, will replace existing obsolete thermal imaging aiming devices used for reconnaissance and target engagement. A total of 260 equipment kits will be delivered in 2022 and 2023. The scope of delivery includes extra devices for stockpiling as well as related accessories for use by the troops.
09 Nov 20. Rohde & Schwarz Benelux to provide signal and spectrum analyzing and recording solutions for the Netherlands’ Defence Material Organization TESLA-M project. Rohde & Schwarz Benelux has been awarded €1.8m by the Netherlands’ Defence Material Organization (DMO) for the TESt Lane Analysis Mobile (TESLA-M) project. Under the contract, Rohde & Schwarz Benelux will provide signal and spectrum analyzing and recording equipment to be installed in a 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter van. Rohde & Schwarz Benelux will team up with Contour Advanced Systems for the integration and assembly of the TESLA-M vehicle. This gives Defense a high-quality mobile measurement setup to test various types of Jammer configurations to protect defense personnel from a wide variety of Remote Controlled (RC) IED’s. IEDs are a daily reality in conflict and are considered by the Armed Forces tactical weapons with a strategic effect. To develop the operation and coverage per threat for jammers as good as possible, TESLA-M is used.
SEA
10 Nov 20. RAMSys GmbH, Ottobrunn, Germany, was awarded a €35,324,329 and $35,634,345 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-5403) for fiscal 2021 German Navy requirements for Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) MK 49 Guided Missile Launching Systems (GMLS), and associated shipboard hardware and spares. The RAM Guided Missile Weapon System is co-developed and co-produced under an International Cooperative Program between the U.S. and Federal Republic of Germany’s governments. RAM is a missile system designed to provide anti-ship missile defense for multiple ship platforms. This contract is to procure material, fabricate parts, assemble, test, and deliver RAM MK 49 GMLSs and spares. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (33%); Ulm, Germany (26%); Roethenbach, Germany (16%); Louisville, Kentucky (12%); Ottobrunn, Germany (10%); and Schrobenhausen, Germany (3%), and is expected to be completed by June 2028. German cooperative funds in the amount of €35,324,329 and $35,634,345 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured under the exception 10 U.S. Code 2304(c) (4), International Agreement. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 5, 2020)
AIR
11 Nov 20. Airbus has signed a contract to deliver 38 new Eurofighter aircraft to the German Air Force. This makes Germany the largest ordering nation in Europe’s biggest defence programme. The order, also known by its project name Quadriga, covers the delivery of 30 single-seater and 8 twin-seater Eurofighters. Three of the aircraft will be equipped with additional test installations as Instrumented Test Aircraft for the further development of the Eurofighter programme. The renewed order from Germany secures production until 2030 and comes at a strategically important time for the programme. In addition to an expected Eurofighter order from Spain to replace its legacy F-18s, procurement decisions in Switzerland and Finland are imminent in 2021. The variant offered in Switzerland corresponds to the configuration of the German Quadriga order. The equipment includes the world’s latest electronic radar, future-proof hardware and software and unlimited multi-role capability for engaging air and ground targets.
09 Nov 20. KBR Wins $47m F/A-18 Foreign Military Sales Contract Supporting Allied Nations. The company awarded five-year recompete from U.S. Navy for key services supporting Hornet aircraft for Kuwait and Finland. KBR (NYSE: KBR) has secured a $47m recompete to assist the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) with foreign military sales (FMS) to Kuwait and Finland. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) awarded this cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. KBR will continue to provide program management, engineering, technical and financial services to PMA-265 as it supports the F/A-18 air vehicle, subsystems, armament, engine and airborne weapons for these allied nations. Specifically, the company will assess program requirements; develop, review and analyze FMS case documentation; and participate in technical reviews. It will also plan and analyze flight test programs; monitor the progress of software; develop estimates of financial requirements; and support training systems. This work will primarily take place in Patuxent River, Maryland, and includes a one-year base and four option years.
12 Nov 20. Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (Marshall ADG) has secured its first contract to certify and install the latest generation of lightweight cockpit armour on the Danish Air Force’s fleet of C-130Js. Marshall ADG signed an exclusive agreement in July this year to market, sell and install new lightweight armour (LAST Armor® LWA) from QinetiQ Inc., at the same time making it the first company able to certify the armour on the C-130 platform. The new armour is less than half the weight of the existing product, which will help to save fuel, reduce the impact on the aircraft’s centre of gravity and allow the C-130-30 variant its full cargo carrying capacity, whilst still meeting the same ballistic requirement as QinetiQ’s previous LAST Armor.
USA
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09 Nov 20. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, supporting the U.S. Air Force, has awarded L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) an order for nearly 1,000 Falcon IV® AN/PRC-163 two-channel handheld tactical radios that will provide Air Force personnel with Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) airmen with advanced communications capabilities. The order is part of the five-year Navy Portable Radio Program IDIQ contract N00039-18-D-0070 received in 2017. The AN/PRC-163 is a multi-channel, software-defined radio that meets the Air Force’s requirements for a small, multiband, multifunction and multi-mission tactical radio. The radio’s enhanced interface is easy-to-use, and the flexible software-defined architecture enables users to quickly add new waveforms and capabilities such as Mesh ONE. The addition of mission modules allow tailored applications for specific missions such as ISR full-motion video. L3Harris’ Falcon IV® radios are integrated network systems that can simultaneously communicate over multiple channels and crossband between those channels. They are capable of satellite communications, VHF/UHF/L/S-band and multiple mobile ad-hoc networking waveforms including ANW2™, WREN and U.S. Army tactical waveforms. Air Force TACPs can now access mission-critical information at a glance via interface with the Special Warfare Assault Kit, which enables blue force tracking and supports coordination of air-to-ground and ground-to-ground fires using multiple NSA type 1 waveforms. Situational awareness is advanced through the ISR mission module’s full motion video capabilities.
06 Nov 20. US Army Picks Tomahawk & SM-6 For Mid-Range Missiles. Lockheed Martin won a $339m contract today to integrate two Raytheon-made missiles, now used by the Navy, into a truck-mounted artillery battery by 2023. Instead of picking a single missile to be its thousand-mile Mid-Range Capability, the Army has chosen to mix two very different Navy weapons together in its prototype MRC unit: the new, supersonic, high-altitude SM-6 and the venerable, subsonic, low-flying Tomahawk. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
07 Nov 20. The U.S. Navy awarded a $42.6m contract for autonomous supply chain management to One Network Enterprises, the company announced Nov. 4. Under the award, One Network Enterprises will work on modernizing the Navy’s Naval Operational Supply System, an end-to-end supply chain management solution that supports maritime, aviation, expeditionary and shore support units. Through the NOSS solution, the Navy is modernizing legacy systems and applications to develop an integrated system that tracks all the commodities in its supply chain, including munitions; parts and repairables; medical supplies; petroleum, oils and lubricants; food and food preparation; and hazardous material. Under current capabilities, individual commodities are managed by multiple systems, according to the company news release. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
09 Nov 20. SIG SAUER TANGO6T Riflescope Selected by U.S. Department of Defense for Direct View Optic (DVO). SIG SAUER, Inc. announced that the TANGO6T has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense for the Direct View Optic (DVO) in response to a solicitation to enhance squad performance with a variable powered riflescope. Unlike older generation non-magnified or fixed-magnification optics, the TANGO6T is a 1-6X variable-magnification riflescope that enables the soldier to engage both close quarter targets and targets at extended ranges. The TANGO6T 1-6×24 DVO riflescope will be used on M4A1 carbines and is a first focal plane ruggedized riflescope with a Flat Dark Earth (FDE) anodized aircraft grade aluminum main tube. The riflescope features the DWLR6 reticle capable of providing range estimation and wind holds at extreme distances, the advanced HELLFIRE illumination system for fast target acquisition, a locking illumination dial, Power Selector Ring (PSR) Throw Lever, the ALPHA4 ultralight mount, and a laser-marked scope level indicator for intuitive installation. All SIG SAUER TANGO6 riflescopes are designed and assembled in the USA at the state-of-the-art, ISO-certified, SIG SAUER Electro-Optics facility in Wilsonville, Oregon.
SEA
11 Nov 20. BAE Systems has been awarded contracts worth more than $30m to produce and integrate a mission-critical information warfare platform for U.S Navy vessels to help sailors execute their missions and remain connected while at sea. The U.S Navy has issued two task orders for Consolidated Afloat Network Enterprise Services (CANES) for two Arleigh Burke class destroyers, a Virginia class submarine, and two Blue Ridge class command ships. Under the first task order from the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) San Diego, BAE Systems will produce fully integrated CANES racks for two command ships, which are expected to be completed by February 2022. Under the second task order, the company will produce fully integrated CANES racks for two destroyers and a submarine, which are expected to be completed by March 2022. Work will be performed at BAE Systems’ 281,000 square-foot state-of-the-art production facility in Summerville, South Carolina. CANES consolidates and enhances five existing legacy network programs and it serves as a single support framework for all command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) applications that require dedicated infrastructure to operate. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Nov 20. General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $138,545,759, firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of the USS New York (LPD 21) fiscal 2021 docking selected restricted availability (DSRA). This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair of the USS New York (LPD 21). This is a Chief of Naval Operations scheduled DSRA. The purpose is to maintain, modernize, and repair the USS New York (LPD 21). This is a “long-term” docking availability and was solicited on a coast-wide (East and Gulf coasts) basis without limiting the place of performance to the vessel’s homeport. NASSCO will provide the facilities and human resources capable of completing, coordinating, and integrating multiple areas of ship maintenance, repair, and modernization for USS New York (LPD 21). This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $161,341,858. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by June 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $138,545,759 will be obligated at time of award and 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; two competitive proposals were received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-20-R-4417. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-C-4417).
AIR
12 Nov 20. AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $171,047,763 modification (P00006) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N61340-20-C-0007. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of 36 TH-73A aircraft in support of the Advanced Helicopter Training System program. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (87%); Mineral Wells, Texas (5%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (8%), and is expected to be completed in December 2022. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $171,047,763 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.
11 Nov 20. The USAF has selected Kaney, Inc. for the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program through AFWERX. The program will develop critical flight surface control actuation technologies aimed at urban air mobility (UAM) and advanced air mobility (AAM) for civilian and military air platforms. Work will be performed by Kaney teams in Rockford, IL and Dayton, OH. Under this effort, Kaney will develop a family of robust, reliable servo actuators with a common base and modular features to meet the unique needs that result from non-standardized flight profiles. Kaney will develop and integrate a unique magnetic gear technology developed by our STTR. This technology will be integrated into our Smart Servo product line, which is currently a flagship Kaney product with over 5,000 units in service on military and commercial aircraft. Kaney’s Smart Servo technology will be advanced to enable Skyborg and low-cost attributable air platforms (LCAAT/LCAAPS) in addition to ORB and AAM/UAM platforms supported by Agility Prime. Kaney’s unparalleled experience in manufacturing critical military and aerospace motion control products, power generation/distribution, and control will be leveraged for this new product development. Kaney actuators are on test aircraft and iron birds for both new vehicle designs and type-certified aircraft being modified.
09 Nov 20. Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $258,311,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Evolved Strategic Satellite Communication (ESS) contract. This contract will develop a prototype payload and conclude in a hardware and software in-the-loop, end-to-end demonstration. Work will be performed in Denver, Colorado, and is expected to be completed June 2025. This contract is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $29,447,172 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8808-21-C-0015).
12 Nov 20. US Space Force awards third contract for anti-jamming SATCOM prototypes. The U.S. Space Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to build a new anti-jamming communications satellite prototype, bringing the number of companies working on that program to three. Under the contracts, each company will develop a prototype payload for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications program. ESS is intended to be the successor to the Advanced Extremely High Frequency constellation, which provides secure, survivable SATCOM for strategic communications. (Source: Defense News)
10 Nov 20. Meggitt PLC to supply fuel bladders to the Defense Logistics Agency Philadelphia for the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Meggitt PLC has signed a contract with the Defense Logistics Agency in Philadelphia for the supply of fuel bladders to the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The contract is valued at around $5.5m and deliveries are scheduled to commence this month.
09 Nov 20. Raytheon Co., Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been awarded a $33,899,323 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Combat Identification (CID) Alpha Phase One effort. This contract upgrades the current AWACS System to meet evolving threat capabilities and to address diminishing manufacturing sources material shortages issues with the currently fielded AWACS System. Work will be performed at Raytheon in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is expected to be completed May 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds have been obligated in the amount of $4,864,480 prior to definitization. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-20-C-0016).
TECHNOLOGY
06 Nov 20. Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa (FA8807-21-C-0005); Interstate Electronics Corp., Anaheim, California (FA8807-21-C-0006); and Raytheon Technologies Inc., El Segundo, California (FA8807-21-C-0007), have collectively been awarded contracts totaling $552,583,932 for a cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-award-fee contract for Military GPS Users Equipment Miniature Serial Interface Increment 2 Application Specific Integrated Circuit (MGUE Inc 2 MSI ASIC). This contract provides for all activities to design, develop, build, integrate, qualify the MSI receiver card with next generation ASIC to enable production of M-Code-capable GPS receiver products for various service applications identified in the MGUE Inc 2 Capability Development Document and all other user platforms that require secure positioning navigation and timing capability. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Anaheim, California; and El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with offers received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $32,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Space Command, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity.
05 Nov 20. US Air Force awards ABMS contracts to another 24 vendors. The U.S. Air Force has awarded 24 companies new contracts for its Advanced Battle Management System, according to a Nov. 4 contract announcement from the Pentagon. The contracts, which have a ceiling of $950m each, will help the Air Force build out ABMS, its platform behind the Joint All-Domain Command and Control concept, which seeks to connect sensors to shooters across domains. The contracts have a performance period of five years with a $1,000 minimum. Under the contracts, the companies will “compete for future efforts associated with the maturation, demonstration and proliferation of capability across platforms and domains, leveraging open systems design, modern software and algorithm development in order to enable Joint All Domain Command and Control,” the contract announcement reads. The 24 companies are Altamira Technologies Corp., Amergint Technologies Inc., Carahsoft Technology Corp., Geosite Inc., Lyteworx Automation Systems LLC, MarkLogic Corp., Rebellion Defense Inc., Rhombus Power Inc., Soar Technology Inc., Vidrovr Inc, Advanced Simulation Research Inc., Borsight Inc., Datanchor Inc., Digital Mobilizations Inc., EFW Inc., F9 Teams Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Infinity Labs LLC, Radiant Mission Solutions Inc. Microsoft Corp., Ortman Consulting LLC, Peraton Inc., R2 Space Inc. and Sierra Nevada Corp. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
09 Nov 20. The United States Air Force has selected Elbit Systems of America to compete for future task orders within the service’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (ID/IQ) contract. The purpose of the JADC2 ID/IQ is to develop and operate systems as a unified force across all domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber, and electromagnetic spectrum) in an open architecture family of systems that enables capabilities via multiple integrated platforms. With this selection, Elbit Systems of America can compete for awards associated with the maturation, demonstration, and proliferation of capability across platforms and domains, leveraging open systems design and agile software and algorithm development in order to enable JADC2.
12 Nov 20. SMFS, Inc., DBA GRIMM, a cybersecurity research firm, has been awarded a DARPA subcontract to research Assured MicroPatching (AMP). The research is intended to advance the generation of custom security patches, with the added benefit of improving the binary analysis tooling required for such cybersecurity research. GRIMM is part of the AMP Technical Area 3 (TA3) team, which is responsible for developing and providing vulnerability-patching challenges created to test the wares of other contract performers on both TA1 and TA2, which are responsible for taking vulnerability research, patch generation and patch testing to a new level. GRIMM’s role on the team will help validate the cybersecurity elements of the project. In doing so, GRIMM will be providing a heavy-trucking Electronic Control Unit (ECU) simulator, emulating a PowerPC system, while leveraging real-world firmware. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
06 Nov 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Baltimore, Maryland, was awarded another Transaction Authority agreement with a ceiling of $339,318,582 for the Mid-Range Capability. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland; Akron, Ohio; Clearwater, Florida; Moorestown, New Jersey; Owego, New York; Syracuse, New York; and Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $57,959,033 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W50RAJ-2-19-0001).
09 Nov 20. MarkLogic Corporation, a leader in simplifying cloud data integration, today announced the U.S. Air Force has awarded MarkLogic a prime contractor position on the $950mi Indefinite-delivery, Indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to support the Advanced Battle Management Systems (ABMS). This contract is part of a multiple award, multi-level security effort to provide development and operation of systems as a unified force across all domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber, and electromagnetic spectrum) in an open architecture family of systems that enables capabilities via multiple integrated platforms. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Chief Architect Integration Office (CAIO) has selected MarkLogic to perform work in Data, Security Processing, and Applications to enable rapid decision making and all-domain command and control. The system is part of the Department of Defense Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept and will enable all services to operate together as part of a joint team. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
02 Nov 20. Philippine Army Orders Light Tanks. The Philippine Army appears to be preparing to introduce mobile protected direct fire capabilities, often classified as “light tanks” or “assault guns” to its force. It has not had a “tank” since the M-41 Walker Bulldog in the 1950s. Under the contact Elbit will integrate its Sabra 105mm gun turret system on both eight ASCOD tracked and ten Pandur wheeled armoured vehicle chassis provided by General Dynamics European Systems. The Sabra uses an automatic loader with a ready capacity of 12 rounds. The gun can fire standard NATO ammunition including HESH, HEAT and APFSDS anti-tank rounds. Details of the fire control system have not been revealed, however, it is anticipated to draw on Elbit’s line of advanced digital thermal sights and controls. The Sabra has further been displayed with a roof mounted panoramic sight. (Source: AMR)
SEA
10 Nov 20. General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada announced today that it was awarded the Halifax-class Combat Systems (HCCS) In-Service Support (ISS) contract valued at $182m over six years (including tax). General Dynamics will support the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) operational readiness and sustainment objectives providing ISS to six Combat Systems on 12 Halifax-class ships, RCN Fleet Schools, Fleet Maintenance Facilities and the Naval Electronic Systems Test Range Atlantic and Pacific. This ISS contract will help ensure the RCN’s HCCS Equipment Group – which largely includes radar systems – are ready for any mission. General Dynamics is also upgrading and maintaining underwater sensors on the Halifax-class ships via the Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade contract – further contributing to technologies that generate economic impact for Canada.
10 Nov 20. TQCSI-Yaran Supplier Contract on Hunter. ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia, has today contracted its first Indigenous business to support prototyping for Australia’s largest surface shipbuilding program. Adelaide based TQCSI-Yaran, a majority Aboriginal-owned and operated joint venture, will audit and undertake quality, safety, health and environmental systems certification for the Hunter Class frigate program’s prototyping phase, which begins in December. During prototyping, the processes, systems, tools, facilities and workforce competencies will be extensively tested and refined before construction starts on the first Hunter Class frigate in 2022. ASC Shipbuilding placed the contract with Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC) and its consortium partner TQCSI-Yaran. BAE Systems was the first Australian defence company to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan and has a Strategic Relationship Agreement with the iDiC which provides genuine opportunities for Indigenous suppliers to become part of BAE Systems’ supply chain. BAE Systems spend with Indigenous suppliers this year is expected to reach around $7m by the end of December. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
11 Nov 20. Airborne Technologies (ABT) has been chosen by the Canadian Aircraft manufacturer Viking Air Limited for the Sensor Integration required for a customer’s mission profile. The Austrian Company has converted 3 DHC 6-400 Twin Otters into leading-edge ISR platforms. For this project, ABT assembled two SCAR-PODs to carry an EO/IR camera system (WESCAM MX-15) as well as the complete Airborne LINX mission system, such as a BMS Line of Sight Downlink, a multi-channel data recorder, a CarteNav Augmented Reality System, and a GTAC Mission computer. The three versatile aircraft with wheels and floats, upgraded with leading-edge surveillance technology, are perfectly suited for Maritime Patrol Missions and have already been delivered to Viking’s end-user in SE-Asia. (Source: Armada)
11 Nov 20. The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested to buy up to eighteen (18) Weapons-Ready MQ-9B, Remotely Piloted Aircraft; twenty-five (25) Raytheon Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems-D (MTS-D) EO/IR Sensors; nineteen (19) Lynx AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR) with Ground Moving Target Indicator (GTMI); eighteen (18) RIOTM Communication Intelligence Systems; sixty-six (66) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigations Systems (EGI) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASMs); five hundred fifteen (515) AGM-114R Hellfire Missiles; twelve (12) KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) Tail Kits for 500LB Bombs; four (4) MXU-650 Airfoil Groups for 500LB Paveway II GBU-12; seven (7) MXU-1006 Airfoil Groups for 250LB Paveway II GBU-58; eleven (11) MAU-169 or MAU-209 Computer Control Groups (CCGs) for 250LB/500LB Paveway II GBU-58/GBU-12; six (6) FMU-139 Fuse Systems; twelve (12) MK-82 General Purpose 500LB Inert Bombs; and four (4) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) Guided Test Vehicle (GTV) Inert Practice Munitions (T-1) with Fuse. Also included are Honeywell TPE-331 turboprop engines; Certifiable Ground Control Stations (CGCS); mobile Satellite Communication Ground Data Terminals (SGDTs); Link-16 KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminals; Automatic Information System (AIS); Rohde & Schwartz UHF/VHF radios; AN/DPX-7 IFF Transponders; Satellite Communication (SATCOM) antennas and modems with USG encryption; Secure SATCOM systems; SeaSpray 7500 maritime radars; SAGE 750 Electronic Surveillance Measures System; KY-100M security voice terminals; KIV-77 Mode 5 IFF cryptographic appliques; U.S. Government Certified Encryption Solution; Rover 6i compatible systems; MQ-9B training simulator; Due Regard Radars (DRR); Electronic Warfare (EW) in-country threat library programming capability; BRU-71A bomb racks; BRU-78/A bomb racks; Hellfire missile rail kits; AN/AWM-103/B Station Stores Test Sets; Common Munitions Built-in-Test Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE) Plus Block II; Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) mission kits, receivers, and acoustic processors; AN/SSQ-36B thermometric sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-53G passive sonobuoys; AN-SSQ-62F active sonobuoys; ASW acoustic operator workstations; weapons loading equipment; initial spare and repair parts; hard points, power, and data connections for weapons integration; DSU-38 Laser Illuminated Target Detector for GBU-54; AN/PYQ-10C Simple Key Loaders; Electronic Intelligence System; weapons integration; support and test equipment; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The overall total estimated value is $2.97bn. The principal contractors will be General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, San Diego, CA; Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, MD; Raytheon, Waltham, MA; L3Harris, Inc., Melbourne, FL; and Leonardo SpA, Rome, Italy. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. However, the purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreements will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s). (Source: glstrade.com)
10 Nov 20. The Boeing Co., Defense, Space & Security, St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $9,800,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F-15 support for Saudi Arabia. This contract provides for modernization and sustainment of the F-15 Saudi fleet to include such efforts as hardware, software, and interface design, development, integration, test, subsystem and structural component production and installation of future modifications and enhancements to the F-15 Saudi weapon system as well as product support. Work will be performed in St. Louis and as separately specified in individual task and delivery orders and is expected to be completed by November 2025. The ordering period for this contract is five years from the date of contract award plus an option for an additional five year ordering period. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Initial delivery order FA8634-21-F-0015 will be awarded concurrently in the amount of $1,032,649 using FMS modification and development type 4F funds. The F‐15 Division Contracts Branch, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8634‐21‐D‐2703).
09 Nov 20. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $657,200,000 undefinitized contract action modification (P00025) to contract FA8634-18-C-2701 for the F-15Q Qatar program. The contract modification provides a comprehensive sparing program and contractor logistics support for the sustainment of the F-15QA aircraft. Logistical support for training devices and administrative costs are also included in this modification. Work will be performed in Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $55,700,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $8,040,659,061. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
10 Nov 20. United Arab Emirates – F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $10.4bn. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested to buy up to fifty (50) F-35A Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft and fifty-four (54) Pratt & Whitney F-135 Engines (up to 50 installed and 4 spares). Also included are Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence/Communications, Navigational, and Identification (C4I/CNI); Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS); Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN); Air System Training Devices; Weapons Employment Capability and other Subsystems, Features, and Capabilities; F-35 unique chaff and infrared flares; reprogramming center access; F-35 Performance Based Logistics; software development/integration; aircraft ferry and tanker support; aircraft and munitions support and test equipment; communications equipment; provisioning, spares and repair parts; weapons repair and return support; personnel training and training equipment; weapon systems software, publications and technical documents; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost is $10.4bn. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important regional partner. The UAE has been, and continues to be, a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The proposed sale of F-35s will provide the Government of the UAE with a credible defense capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces. The UAE has demonstrated a commitment to modernizing its military and will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into their armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support represents a significant increase in capability and will alter the regional military balance. The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, TX; and Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, CT. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. However, the purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreements will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s). Implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the UAE. Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips to the UAE involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, program management, and training over the life of the program. U.S. contractor representatives will be required in the UAE to conduct Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS) and Autonomic Logistics and Global Support (ALGS) for after-aircraft delivery. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law. The description and dollar value is for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. (Source: ASD Network/Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA))
11 Nov 20. The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested to buy eight hundred two (802) AIM-120C8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); sixteen (16) AIM-120C8 AMRAAM guidance sections spares; two thousand four (2,004) MK-82 500LB General Purpose (GP) Bombs; seventy-two (72) MK-82 Inert 500LB GP Bombs; one thousand (1,000) MK-84 2,000LB GP Bombs; one thousand two (1,002) MK-83 1,000LB GP Bombs; two thousand five hundred (2,500) Small Diameter Bomb Increment 1 (SDB-1), GBU-39/B, with CNU-659/E Container; eight (8) GBU-39 SDB-1 Guided Test Vehicles; two thousand (2,000) KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Tail Kit for 500LB Bombs; one thousand (1,000) KMU-556 JDAM Tail Kit for 2,000LB Bombs; one thousand (1,000) KMU-559 JDAM Tail Kit for 1,000LB Bombs; four thousand (4,000) FMU-139 Fuze systems; six hundred fifty (650) AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOWs); fifty (50) AGM-154E Joint Stand Off Weapons – Extended Range (JSOW-ER); one hundred fifty (150) AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) Tactical Missiles; six (6) CATM-88 AARGM CATMs. Also included are six (6) JSOW-C AGM-154C Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); six (6) JSOW-ER AGM-154E CATMs; ARD 446-1B and ARD 863-1A1W Impulse Cartridges; JSOW-C Dummy Air Training Missiles (DATM); JSOW-C Captive Flight Vehicles (CFVs); JSOW-ER DATMs; JSOW-ER CFVs; PGU-23/U training ammunition, encryption devices and keying equipment for test missiles (not for export); Laser Illuminated Target Detector, DSU-38A/B; software delivery and support; AIM-120C Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM) and Airborne Instrumented Units (AIU) Telemetry Sections; missile containers; munitions components; aircraft test and integration support; containers; mission planning; munitions security, storage and training; facility design, construction and quality standards; weapon operational flight program software development; transportation; tools and test equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; weapons and aircraft integration support and test equipment; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment, devices and software; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; site surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is $10.0bn. The principal contractors will be Raytheon, Tucson, AZ; and Northrop Grumman Information Systems, Ridgecrest, CA. If requested, F-16 integration will be completed via Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) between Lockheed Martin and the purchaser. The munitions will be sourced through procurement and the contractor determined during contract negotiations. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. However, the purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreements will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s). (Source: glstrade.com)
09 Nov 20. Raytheon Integrated Defense Solutions, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $77,639,897 fixed-price, incentive-firm contract with firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable and time and material contract line item numbers for the Qatar Air Operations Center (AOC) upgrade. The contract is to upgrade the AOC and alternate AOC (AAOC), which includes the procurement of hardware and software, engineering services, installation, integration, and testing of AOC and AAOC components, end-user training, spares and help desk support outside the continental U.S. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts; and Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and is expected to be completed March 31, 2025. This award is the result of a directed sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $77,639,897 are obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-21-C-0005).
TECHNOLOGY
12 Nov 20. DSIT Solutions Ltd. – a world leader in underwater defense and security solutions based on advanced state-of-the-art sonar and acoustics technologies for naval, homeland security and energy applications – has been awarded a contract for the supply of its Portable Acoustic Range (PAR) system to the Republic of Korea. With a view to expressing its long-term professional and technological commitment to the country, DSIT Solutions is pleased to support the Republic of Korea, including an extended warranty for the system.