UNITED KINGDOM
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14 June 21. £1.6bn investment to upgrade UK Defence estate. Four contracts will deliver repairs and maintenance services across the UK defence estate, supporting thousands of UK jobs over the next seven years. Four new contracts worth £1.6bn have been awarded to industry delivering crucial building maintenance and hard facilities repair services across the UK defence estate. Forming part of the first phase of the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) programme, the contracts cover 31,000 units and will support facilities at more than 400 Defence sites across the UK, including RAF Lossiemouth, Catterick, Andover, and Britannia Royal Naval College. The contracts awarded will create and sustain thousands of jobs across the UK, including more than 340 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The investment will also ensure that small and medium enterprises across the UK are supported through the Defence supply chain.
The seven-year contracts include:
- Mitie: £160m for facilities across Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Vivo: £558m for the central region of the UK including Wales, the Midlands and the North of England. Vivo has also been awarded a £336m contract for facilities delivery in the South West of England
- Vinci: £423m for the South East of England (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
14 June 21. VIVO Defence Services (VIVO), a 50/50 Joint Venture between Serco, the international provider of services to governments, and ENGIE, the leading energy and services company, has been awarded contracts to provide asset and facilities management services for the UK Defence built estate by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). VIVO has been awarded contracts for two of the four regions being tendered under Lot 3 of the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) programme. VIVO will be responsible for providing services in the South West and Central regions of the UK, the largest two regions of the four that were competed, and which represent around 2/3rds of the MOD’s estimated value of Lot 3 of the Future Defence Infrastructure Services contracts. The total core contract value to VIVO for the two regions is estimated to be around £900m over the initial seven-year period. There are a further three one-year extension options. In addition to the core fixed price contract for each region, there will be significant amounts of additional project work, which will be commissioned as required by the DIO, and while the future value of these projects is uncertain, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) estimates that they are likely to be worth a further £2.5bn over the initial seven year term.
SEA
16 June 21. BMT announced its partnership with Marine Specialised Technology (MST), who have been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence Police (MDP), following a competitive tender process to provide 18 state-of-the-art high-speed patrol vessels. The BMT design is 15 metres in length and powered by twin inboard diesel propulsion engines driving twin waterjets. Specifically designed to reduce fuel consumption, the vessel will have reduced fuel emissions as well as improved operational efficiency. The new and more environmentally friendly design, which is capable of 30 knots, has been selected by the UK MOD Defence Equipment & Support organisation (DE&S) to be operated by the UK MDP. The advancements in the new craft will see the bridge featuring a fully integrated C4ISR and craft management system, utilising the latest open-architecture structure and state of the art shock mitigation crew seating. These latest developments in craft capability will provide a significant step forward for the Ministry of Defence Police Force. As part of this public procurement, BMT is also pleased to announce that its team will be providing a comprehensive Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package. This latest contract for a key government customer is another significant milestone for the consultancy in the market for high performance Patrol-Interdiction Surveillance Vessels, and further builds on its partnership with MST’s larger, affordable and exportable HPB-1900 design, of which two are already in build for the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron. The 18 new high speed patrol vessels, capable of operating in the most demanding of conditions, will replace the current police vessels that are being operated at naval bases across the UK. A £36m contract has been awarded to Marine Specialised Technology to deliver 18 new police patrol crafts for the MOD and Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) Forces.. To be used around Royal Naval bases in the UK and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, the five-year contract will deliver 16 patrol craft to the MOD Police and two craft to the GDP, replacing those currently in use. Based in Liverpool and on the River Mersey, the contract will sustain 50 jobs and create a further 15 across the north west of England. The police patrol crafts will play an important role in Defence, enhancing capability to safeguard UK and Gibraltar waters and escort major Royal Navy assets in and out of Naval bases at home and overseas. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
16 June 21. The Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Mitchel Field, New York, is awarded a $191,183,328 firm-fixed-price contract for the U.S. and United Kingdom to provide strategic weapon system Trident SSI Increment 8 production of inertial navigation systems and associated inertial spares for the Ohio and Columbia ballistic missile submarine shallow water submersible platforms for the fleet ballistic missile program. Work will be performed in Heath, Ohio (67%); Huntington Beach, California (21%); Mitchel Field, New York (9%); and Manassas, Virginia (3%), with an expected completion date of Feb. 28, 2028. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $31,321,581 will be obligated; and fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,805,772, will be obligated on initial award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and (4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00030-21-C-0015).
EUROPE
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18 June 21. Bittium has received a purchase order from the Finnish Defence Forces for the products of the Software Defined Radio based Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network™ (TAC WIN) system. The purchase order is based on an existing Framework Agreement between the Finnish Defence Forces and Bittium. The ordered tactical routers and radio heads are related to several ongoing projects in the Finnish Defense Forces, where Bittium TAC WIN provides broadband IP network connections for mobile communication stations and command posts. The system supports the combat doctrine of the Finnish Defence Forces where mobility, leading the troops on the move, and effective communications play a key role. The resilient and modular system is used by all three service branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The value of the purchase order is EUR 5.8m (excl. VAT). The purchase order is based on a Framework Agreement between Bittium and the Finnish Defence Forces, according to which the Finnish Defence Forces purchase Bittium TAC WIN system’s products. The Framework Agreement covers the years 2021–2024, with a total value of approximately EUR 30m (excl. VAT) at the maximum. According to the Framework Agreement, the Finnish Defence Forces will issue separate purchase orders for the products each year. Bittium aims to deliver the products to the Finnish Defence Forces during the year 2021. The purchase order does not change Bittium’s financial outlook for the year 2021, published in Bittium Corporation’s Business Review January-March 2021 on April 29, 2021.
16 June 21. Bittium has received a purchase order from the Finnish Defence Forces for system support concerning the Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network™ (TAC WIN) and Bittium Tough VoIP™ systems which are meant for tactical communications. The purchase order applies to year 2021 and includes technical support for the systems and related equipment, software support, maintaining readiness for system support, and system support management. The TAC WIN system is used to form a wideband backbone network on the battlefield and the Tough VoIP system enables tactical IP calls and data transfer. Both systems support the combat doctrine of the Finnish Defence Forces where mobility, leading the troops on the move, and effective communications play a key role. The resilient and modular systems are used by all three service branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The value of the purchase order is EUR 1.44m (excl. VAT). The purchase order does not change Bittium’s financial outlook for the year 2021, published in Bittium Corporation’s Financial Statement Bulletin January-December 2020 on February 11, 2021.
17 June 21. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT, TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems” or “the Company”) announced today that its German subsidiary, Elbit Systems Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, was awarded an approximately $23m follow-on contract by the Swedish Defence Material Administration (“FMV”) for the supply of additional Software Defined Radios (“SDR”) for the Swedish Armed Forces. The contract will be performed over a period of 30 months. Further to previous orders received since 2016 from FMV, Elbit Systems will now supply additional E-LynXTM SDR vehicular dual channel configuration, as well as vehicular configuration in full duplex multi-channel technology, as part of Sweden’s tactical radio upgrade program. The patented multi-channel network capability provides dynamic and autonomous optimization of spectrum resource allocations enabling concurrent execution of various missions while maintaining fast, resilient, secured, interoperable and immune communications in any terrain. The E-LynX family of SDR is designed in an open architecture approach. It features unique waveforms and enables the adoption of European and NATO waveforms. The E-LynX SDR solution was selected by several Armed Forces across Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and other NATO countries.
14 June 21. Sensor specialist HENSOLDT will modernize the test equipment of the artillery location radar COBRA which is in service with several NATO armies. Under a contract awarded by the multinational procurement organization Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matière d’Armement (OCCAR) on behalf of Germany and France, HENSOLDT will replace the COBRA Radar Environment Simulator (CRES), indispensable for determining optimum deployment and testing system performance. mThe CRES is the key element to test and verify the COBRA radar performance in a laboratory environment with reproducible target trajectories. It generates artificial radar returns allowing to simulate all kinds of ballistic projectiles (missiles, mortar grenades, howitzer or gun projectiles) without the necessity of real transmissions. Therefore, the CRES can be operated in a closed maintenance hall or even inside a COBRA shelter. The current CRES is in operation since the 1990s and has become obsolete and unreliable. The replacement with a CRES developed and used by HENSOLDT for third-party COBRA systems has been considered as the most economical solution. COBRA is a mobile radar system for locating hostile artillery and missile positions and for calculating in advance the flight path of projectiles in order to give early warning and enable protective action. Its first configuration was developed by the EuroArt consortium comprising HENSOLDT, Thales and Lockheed Martin around the turn of the century for the German, French and British armed forces. Today, a total of more than 40 systems of various configurations have been deployed by Germany, France and Turkey as well as several armed forces outside Europe.
15 June 21. Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $9,145,220 modification (P00011) to contract W15QKN-19-C-0017 for procurement of Excalibur 155mm Increment Ib projectiles. Work will be performed in in Anniston, Alabama; East Camden, Arkansas; Gilbert, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona; Healdsburg, Inglewood, Valencia, Santa Clara, and Chino, California; Woodridge, Illinois; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Joplin, Missouri; Cookstown, New Jersey; Farmington, New Mexico; Cincinnati, Ohio; McAlester, Oklahoma; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; Trenton, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Southway and Glenrothes, United Kingdom; and Karlskoga, Sweden, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 22, 2023. Fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales (Spain) funds in the amount of $9,145,220 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
15 June 21. Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $20,309,493 modification (P00012) to contract W15QKN-19-C-0017 for procurement of Excalibur 155 mm Increment Ib projectiles. Work will be performed in Anniston, Alabama; East Camden, Arkansas; Gilbert, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona; Healdsburg, Inglewood, Valencia, Santa Clara and Chino, California; Woodridge, Illinois; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Joplin, Missouri; Cookstown, New Jersey; Farmington, New Mexico; Cincinnati, Ohio; McAlester, Oklahoma; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; Trenton, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Southway and Glenrothes, United Kingdom; and Karlskoga, Sweden, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2023. Fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales (Netherlands) funds in the amount of $20,309,493 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
16 Jun 21. German Army Marder 1 IFV upgrade moves ahead. The German Army is moving forward with the life-extension programme for its Marder 1 infantry fight vehicles (IFVs), 50 years after the first rolled off the production line. Rheinmetall announced in January 2020 that it had been awarded a EUR110m (USD133m) contract to supply the Germany Army with 78 kits to upgrade 71 Marder 1A5 IFV between 2020 and 2023 to extend their operational lives. The remaining seven kits will be used as spares. As well as the kits, the company will also supply vehicle tool kits and special tools, logistical support, initial stores of spare parts, training, and instruction. Rheinmetall told Janes that the first of these kits will be integrated into a Marder 1A5 IFV at the company’s Unterluss facilities by the third quarter of 2022 for trials. The German Army will install these in the Marder 1A5 IFV. (Source: Jane’s)
SEA
10 Jun 21. Genoa-based shipyard T.Mariotti has been selected by the Italian Ministry of Defence’s (MOD’s) naval armaments directorate to build and deliver the Italian Navy’s new special and diving operations – submarine rescue ship (SDO-SuRS), and a land-based dual-use hyperbaric centre in La Spezia. According to a press statement from the company, the contract award is expected by mid-2021. No details have been provided on the contract value, but the MOD’s 2020–22 multiyear planning document indicates an allocated budget of EUR424m for the programme. The first steel-cut is planned by end-2022 while the overall design, construction, fitting-out, and delivery programme will require four years with expected delivery in 2025, according to the shipbuilder. The new SDO-SuRS vessel will replace the Italian Navy’s ageing salvage ship ITS Anteo (A 5309), which has been in service for more than 40 years. The new ship features a modular design that is meant to accomplish four main tasks in support of the navy’s diving and special forces units. These include the rescue of distressed submariners, and this will centre around a newly developed tethered submarine rescue vehicle (SRV), support equipment that is capable of operating up to 600 m, and onboard compression chambers. The rescue package delivery was assigned to a joint industrial team comprising Italian companies Saipem and Drass. The SDO-SuRS will also be capable of embarking components of the NATO Submarine Rescue System. In addition to submarine rescue, the new ship will be able to support deep saturation diving operations up to 300 m, and special forces operations. It can also be deployed as a command platform for expeditionary operations. (Source: Jane’s)
AIR
17 June 21. Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio Win Contract for SICRAL 3 Secure Satellite Communications System and Associated Ground Segment. Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and Telespazio, the joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), have signed a contract with the Italian Ministry of Defense, represented by TELEDIFE / Secretariat General of Defense, for the development of the SICRAL 3 secure satellite communications system, including its ground segment. Covering the development of phases B and C1, the contract is worth a total of approximately €159 million, as result of an articulated and complete negotiation process. The SICRAL (Italian System for Secure Communications and Alerts) program deploys geostationary satellites for confidential strategic and tactical communications, to support defense missions both in Italy and abroad. The new SICRAL 3 system is designed to meet Italian defense communications and interoperability requirements. It will ensure continuity with the current SHF and UHF-band telecom services provided by the SICRAL 1A, 1B and SICRAL 2 satellites, while expanding its suite of services by providing a Ka-band payload, as well as supporting security, public rescue and civil protection services. SICRAL 3 will also capitalize on the ongoing developments within the ItalGovSatCom (I-GSC) program, a pillar of the evolving “Space Economy” and the Programmes of Military Research, and will help expand NATO’s current satellite capabilities. To develop the SICRAL 3 program, Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, via their Space Alliance, have created a temporary consortium led by Thales Alenia Space, with Telespazio also playing a major role. Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the entire SICRAL 3 telecommunications system, the space segment (including system design and integration), and the design, production and integration of the innovative UHF, SHF and Ka-band payloads. The space segment includes two geostationary satellites, SICRAL 3A and SICRAL 3B. The innovative platform, which features electric propulsion, is based on a modular and autonomous orbital transfer design using GNSS/GPS sensors and receivers for satellite positioning and attitude. Leonardo will supply the star sensors that enable SICRAL 3 to maintain the correct attitude in orbit through sophisticated algorithms. Telespazio will manage the development of the highly innovative ground segment, drawing on synergies with previous SICRAL developments for the Vigna di Valle Control Center and the Fucino Space Center. The company will be in charge of the satellites’ launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) and in-orbit tests (IOT). (Source: ASD Network)
USA
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14 June 21. DRS Network & Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, was awarded a $82,741,380 firm-fixed-price contract to procure Advanced Multi-Purpose Round Gunner’s Auxiliary Sight units. 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 June 14, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-21-D-0056).
18 June 21. HDT Global (HDT) has been contracted by Northrop Grumman to support the US Air Force’s (USAF) Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) programme. The USAF selected Northrop Grumman to upgrade the nation’s ageing intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system under a $13.3bn contract awarded in September last year. Northrop’s team for the GBSD programme includes HDT and other defence contractors.
HDT will provide the transporter / erector for the new GBSD missile. They are used to emplace and extract the GBSD missile’s boosters. HDT Global Engineering CTO and SVP Carl Pates said: “We are excited to leverage our engineering and manufacturing expertise in support of this critical piece of our nation’s strategic deterrence strategy. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
14 June 21. Kromek Group announce ‘very exciting extension’ worth £6m for bio-threat detection system. Kromek awarded a contract by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Phase II development of its biological threat detection system. Phase II is worth US$6m and will see the company develop an automated wide spectrum airborne pathogen detection system that is fully mobile and runs autonomously. The new deal follows the successful completion of Phase I of development, which included the creation of a vehicle-mounted biological-threat identifier as well as a miniaturised mobile wide-area bio-surveillance system. (Source: proactiveinvestors.co.uk)
18 June 21. The US Marine Corps (USMC) System Command Quantico has contracted Mistral to design, build, and test a new loitering munition system. Mistral will design, develop and test the Organic Precision Fires – Mounted (OPF-M) munition system. It will also be responsible for integrating the system onto the Light Armored Vehicle-Medium (LAV-M), Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), and Long-Range Unmanned Surface Vessel (LRUSV). Mistral teamed with UVision to supply the USMC with advanced Loitering Strike Munition capabilities based on UVision’s Hero 120. UVision’s Hero family of loitering systems includes Hero-30, Hero-70, Hero-120, Hero-250, Hero-400, Hero-900, and Hero-1250. The OPF-M system will provide the USMC with capabilities, such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and precision indirect fire strike. Furthermore, Mistral will integrate the OPF strike system based on UVision’s Hero 120 loitering system, with the USMC Command and Control (C2) and other mission payloads. (Source: naval-technology.com)
SEA
15 June 21. BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California, was awarded a $90,267,436 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of the USS San Diego (LPD 22) fiscal 2021 docking selected restricted availability. This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair of the USS San Diego. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $104,893,477. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $79,657,142 (88.25%); and fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,610,294 (11.75%) will be obligated at time of award, of which $10,610,294 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the beta.sam.gov website. One offer was received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-21-R-4442. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-C-4442). (Awarded June 11, 2021)
11 June 21. L3 Harris Technologies Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded an $18,075,712 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract provides for the production and delivery of 285 modernized radios as well as associated engineering support necessary to calibrate and maintain special test equipment while in production. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed in April 2023. Fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,973,461; and fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $102,251 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001921C0064).
11 June 21. Leidos Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, is awarded an $26,913,657 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only contract for ship-installation, integrated logistic support, fleet support, and life-cycle-sustainment of the Navy’s AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 surface ship undersea warfare systems. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $61,729,316. The contract combines purchases for the Navy (97.6%); and the governments of Japan (2%) and Australia (0.4%) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia (26%); Everett, Washington (23%); Norfolk, Virginia (19%); Yokosuka, Japan (14%); San Diego, California (13%); Bath, Maine (1%); Manassas, Virginia (1%); Mayport, Florida (1%); Pascagoula, Mississippi (1%); and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1%), and is expected to be completed by June 2022. If all options are exercised, work will continue through June 2023. Fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,234,914 (43%); fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,892,808 (24%); fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,270,505 (11%); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $974,554 (8%); fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $591,246 (5%); fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $498,393 (4%); fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $291,038 (2%); Foreign Military Sales Japan funds in the amount of $205,855 (1%); fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $68,850 (1%); and Foreign Military Sales Australia funds in the amount of $38,730 (1%) will be obligated at time of award, of which funds in the amount of $591,246 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) — only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-21-C-5202).
15 June 21. Raytheon Technologies, Largo, Florida, is awarded a $30,726,180 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-5203 to exercise options for the Planar Array Antenna Assembly production requirements to support the Cooperative Engagement Capability program. Work will be performed in Largo, Florida (58%); McKinney, Texas (32%); St. Petersburg, Florida (7%); and Andover, Massachusetts (3%), and is expected to be completed by November 2023. Fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $25,605,150 (83%); and 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,121,030 (17%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
AIR
16 June 21. Alion Science and Technology has been awarded a $72m task order with a 60-month period of performance for Endurance UAS (EUAS), Tactical UAS (TUAS), Soldier UAS (SUAS), and Command Control and Effects (C2E) for Army Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation (AVN), Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office (UASPO). Alion was awarded this contract under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. These DoD IAC MAC task orders are awarded by the U.S. Air Force’s 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron. Alion will perform research, analysis, trade studies, and testing to provide recommendations and plans for the development, integration, management, and technical support for UAS programs, projects, systems, subsystems, components, and support equipment to enable the PEO AVN Program Managers (PMs) to develop capability, increase availability, improve reliability, and reduce the support costs of UAS programs. The focus will be on airworthiness; data interoperability; Information Assurance (IA); hardware interchangeability; testing and evaluation; maintenance management; data analysis; obsolescence management; and systems engineering practices. This will include performing Reliability, Maintainability, Quality, Supportability, and Interoperability (RMQSI) analyses and developing strategies, as well as analyzing and recommending solutions for logistics, testing, independent Verification and Validation (IV&V), life-cycle, and cost issues to refine and improve sustainability initiatives. (Source: PR Newswire)
17 June 21. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT, TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that its U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, LLC (“Elbit Systems of America”), recently was awarded two orders with an aggregate value of approximately $29m by the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (ID/IQ) contract issued in 2020. The orders will be executed from the Elbit Systems of America facility in Roanoke, Virginia with deliveries through September 2021. Under the orders, Elbit Systems of America will upgrade the U.S. Army active duty and National Guard rotary-wing aviation units’ AN/AVS-6 Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging Systems (ANVIS) with high performance white phosphor image intensifier tubes. The night vision upgrade to the U.S. Army fleet’s legacy ANVIS goggles will replace the existing green image intensification. White phosphor enhances the ANVIS goggles as it presents visuals in black and white detail, which may appear more natural to the eye. The new image intensification tubes will also provide better contrast, along with high image resolution at greater distances for pilots.
TECHNOLOGY
14 June 21. Cisco Systems Inc., San Jose, California, was awarded a single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $1,180,185,116 for brand name Cisco Smart Net Total Care and Software Support Services for users across the Department of Defense. The period of performance is a one-year base period and two one-year option periods, for a total contract life cycle of three years. Proposals were solicited from the System for Award Management website (beta.SAM.gov), and three proposals were received. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity (HC1084-21-D-0003).
15 June 21. L3Harris Technologies Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded an $8,091,846.29 contract modification (P00068) to contract FA8819-19-C-0002 for the SILENTBARKER Retina effort under the Combat Mission Systems Support program. The contract modification is intended to mature and operationalize the mission development processor prototype under the current program and to provide additional capabilities to the operational Retina. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is expected to be completed June 16, 2022. Fiscal 2021 Space Force research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,400,000.00 are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $283,390,084. The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity.
15 June 21. North Point Defense, Rome, New York, has been awarded a $9,829,387 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop highly flexible software-based applications to perform real-time digital signal processing of complex radio waveforms. The software solutions will enable processing of existing and future communication signals without the need for changes to the competed software by providing a dynamic processing flow based on user-defined input parameters. Work will primarily be performed in Rome, New York, and is expected to be completed by June 14, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with two offers received. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $745,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-21-C-1518).
15 June 21. Peraton will support the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) by delivering Enterprise Information Technology Application Development services under the direction of DCSA’s National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) Program Management Office. The Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), HS00212190001, is worth nearly $474m and has a ceiling value of $500m with a base period of 12 months and four option years.
The OTA was awarded to Perspecta Enterprise Solutions LLC, which Peraton acquired in May 2021. Under the DCSA OTA, Peraton will create a modernized, central platform designed to transform the background investigation process. The OTA represents new work for the company following completion of a prototype of a security enterprise architecture Perspecta built to manage all background investigations and security clearance adjudications involving DSCA. It includes the newly established requirement for continuous vetting known as Trusted Workforce 2.0, and like the prototype’s agreement it was issued as an OTA. (Source: PR Newswire)
16 June 21. Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, was awarded an $8,842,171 cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research project for the Fast Event-based Neuromorphic Camera and Electronics (FENCE) program. The FENCE program seeks to develop and demonstrate a low-latency, low-power, event-based camera and a new class of signal processing and learning algorithms that uses combined spatial and temporal (spatio-temporal) information to enable intelligent sensors for tactical Department of Defense applications. Work will be performed in Goleta, California (53%); Cambridge, Massachusetts (17%); El Segundo, California (15%); McKinney, Texas (10%); Tempe, Arizona (3%); New York, New York (1%); and Tewksbury, Massachusetts (1%), with an expected completion date of May 2025. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,864,730 are being obligated at time of award. This contract is a competitive acquisition in which nine proposals were received in response to broad agency announcement HR0011-21-S-0001. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-21-C-0134).
14 June 21. Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) has secured a task order to provide research and development (R&D) services in support of the US Army. The $126m single-award five-year task order has been awarded by the US Department of Defense (DoD) Information Analysis Center (IAC). It will support the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) in Warren, Michigan, US. The contract defines the provision of R&D by SAIC in a wide range of modelling, simulation, and software-intensive areas to improve the command’s engineering life cycle. It will cover modelling and simulations of land combat systems, lab-based performance valuations of lifecycle systems architectures and software-in-the-loop systems integration laboratories. The company will use proven R&D expertise to bring together ‘leading model-based systems engineering and agile digital engineering frameworks’.
SAIC defence and civilian sector president Bob Genter said: “We are excited to support GVSC in its important role in providing world-class engineering across the acquisition lifecycle. (Source: army-technology.com)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
10 June 21. MILSATCOM Equipment For Military Use To Be Supplied By Gilat Satellite Networks. Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILT, TASE: GILT) has been awarded a contract to supply satellite communication equipment for military usage — the company was selected as the sole provider to address advanced present and future defense connectivity requirements. (Source: Satnews)
17 June 21. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced on 17 June that it has signed two contracts worth a combined USD1.75bn with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) for the purchase of what are believed to be Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDSs). The ministry has not made the contents of the contracts public, referring only to a USD346.3m deal for a “long-range precision strike system” for Army Command in Taoyuan set to be completed by 2027, and to a USD1.406 billion deal for a “batch of missiles” for Navy Command in Kaohsiung set to be completed in 2028. Military sources indicate that the two systems are the HIMARS and HCDS. The latest developments come after the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in separate notifications issued in October 2020 US State Department approval for the potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Taiwan of 11 M142 HIMARS launchers and related equipment for an estimated USD436.1m, and up to 100 HCDSs and related equipment for an estimated USD2.37bn. (Source: Jane’s)
15 June 21. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been selected by an Asian air force to equip its fleet of aircraft with the BNET-AR communication solution. The BNET Family of SDR provides a robust voice and data-link solution and supports simultaneous services of data, voice and video services with multiple auto relays. The BNET is operational and combat-proven with a number of air forces around the world, featuring a unique, patented software-defined radio and network architecture, delivering wideband communications with low delay and reliable connectivity. The variant that will be supplied is the BNET-AR, a modular multiband SDR for airborne platforms, integrated onboard fighters and helicopters as well as Ground Control Stations equipped with the same BNET-AR, enabling net-centric operations and real-time situation awareness. The BNET Family is a Spectrum-Aware SDR – utilizing the spectral arena of the battlefield to the fullest in a cognitive way, thus addressing the challenges of the modern battlefield (e.g. limited spectrum, connecting multiple sensors and shooters, etc.). All this is achieved by BNET-patented technology – Multi-Channel Reception (MCR), which enables it to receive and analyze information from numerous frequency channels, simultaneously, using a single RF head.
15 June 21. Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $9,173,935 modification (P00013) to contract W15QKN-19-C-0017 for procurement of 155 mm Excalibur Increment Ib projectiles. Work will be performed in Anniston, Alabama; East Camden, Arkansas; Gilbert, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona; Healdsburg, Inglewood, Valencia, Santa Clara, and Chino, California; Woodridge, Illinois; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Joplin, Missouri; Cookstown, New Jersey; Farmington, New Mexico; Cincinnati, Ohio; McAlester, Oklahoma; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; Trenton, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Southway and Glenrothes, United Kingdom; and Karlskoga, Sweden, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2023. Fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales (India) funds in the amount of $9,173,935 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
SEA
17 June 21. MBDA has been awarded a contract to equip the Brazilian Navy’s new Tamandaré-class frigates with the Sea Ceptor air defence missile system. Sea Ceptor is a smart weapon control system (WCS) that together with the fully-active Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) provides comprehensive self-defence and local area air defence (LAAD). This will enable Brazil’s Tamandaré-class frigates to protect themselves, consorts and fixed infrastructure against the full range of threat types at sea or in harbour, and in the most stressing operational scenarios. Sea Ceptor is in operational service with the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, and has been selected for the new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates. Brazil joins Chile, New Zealand and Canada in a growing list of international Sea Ceptor users. The CAMM missile has also been delivered to the British Army in the Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) role.
AIR
16 June 21. Boeing Defence Australia secures foreign sustainment contract. The prime has been certified to deliver sustainment services to a foreign air force’s CH-47F Chinook fleet. Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has officially received certification to commence maintenance of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) CH-47F aircraft from Oakey Detachment in Queensland. BDA has been granted an Interim Approved Maintenance Organisation certificate, authorising the prime to provide maintenance functions and logistics support services. The certificate was presented to BDA by RSAF Oakey Detachment Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Neo following the arrival of CH-47F aircraft at Swartz Barracks, west of Brisbane. The inaugural RSAF sustainment contract is expected to support local jobs growth, with 64 additional maintenance positions expected to be onboarded. (Source: Defence Connect)
11 June 21. Textron Aviation Defense, Wichita, Kansas, has been awarded a $12,496,793 firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract action for Tunisia T-6C long lead items procurement and site survey. This contract provides for the procurement of long lead production items and spares to support delivery of eight T-6Cs in 2022 and conducting a site survey in Tunisia. Work will be performed in Wichita, Kansas, and is expected to be completed October 2022. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Tunisia and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. FMS funding in the amount of $6,248,163 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8617-21-C-6235).