UNITED KINGDOM
AIR
19 Aug 21. Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) (“the Company” or “Spire”), a leading provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, today announced significant funding awarded by Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), a UK Government-backed program, as part of its Space to Innovate Campaign’s Themed Competition. The award, which represents the largest funding to date awarded to a Scottish innovator, will support the demonstration of radio frequency (RF) signals detection and geolocation from multiple satellites in Spire’s low earth orbit (LEO) nanosatellite constellation.
EUROPE
LAND
17 Aug 21. Exensor Technology to supply the Swedish Armed Forces for enhanced domestic security. On June 29, 2021, Exensor Technology – a subsidiary of Bertin Technologies (CNIM Group) – was once again selected by the Swedish Armed Forces for the supply of the Flexnet Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) solution. It will be the first time this scalable mesh networked system will be used by the Swedish Home Guard to protect, guard and monitor the national territory. Exensor Technology will provide the Swedish National Security Forces with a large number of tactical modular ground sensor systems to improve their operational and strategic capabilities for protection and intelligence gathering. It will rest on the Flexnet surveillance solution consisting in a toolbox of wireless and battery-operated sensors and cameras for detection, classification and identification of any potential threat on the ground.
SEA
17 Aug 21. Babcock International, the aerospace, defence and security company, has been awarded a contract to deliver the installation of a variable speed drive system for the central cooling system on board the Irish Navy’s P60 Samuel Beckett Class. The variable speed drive system was first installed on the central cooling system of the fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel, LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64), at time of build, enabling the vessel to use a variety of power outputs depending on the conditions and requirements. The system has proven to be very successful, with the Irish Naval Service requesting it to be installed across the class to save power, fuel and cost, whilst providing a more environmentally friendly running option across the class. The contract will see Babcock working alongside a range of suppliers to complete the work package for the Irish Naval Service, which will include all aspects of the project from design to engineering assurance.
USA
LAND
13 Aug 21. Bohemia Interactive Australia subcontracted by US Army. The US Army has subcontracted Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) via Cole Engineering Services Inc. to deliver significant components of next generation collective training technology. Key aspects of the contract will be delivered by BISim’s Australian business, Bohemia Interactive Australia, based in Newcastle in the Hunter Region of NSW, with the business doubling its engineering workforce and providing potential interoperability benefits to the Australian Defence Force. CESI recently announced it had been awarded the Training Simulation Software/Training Management Tools (TSS/TMT) contract and plans to utilise all three of BISim’s primary products (VBS4, VBS Blue IG and VBS World Server) as part of the overall TSS/TMT solution. (Source: Defence Connect)
16 Aug 21. Citadel Defense has been awarded a sole source contract for $6m from a Classified U.S. Department of Defense customer to build and deploy an AI-powered counter drone solution. The system will be deployed at sensitive government locations and effectively operated by non-specialist military personnel and first responders. The solution is designed to autonomously detect, classify, track, and defeat unwanted unmanned aerial systems (UASs) using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sensor fusion. (Source: UAS VISION)
19 Aug 21. General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) Inc., Falls Church, Virginia (N00039-21-D-5001), is awarded a $136,502,136 indefinitely-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to support the consolidation of all Tier 1 information technology help desks and transition them to the managed service provider, GDIT. GDIT will provide service desk as a service using a knowledge-based solution, employing artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics and natural language processing. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds will be used for obligations at the task order level. Concurrent with the award, the first task order will be issued in order to satisfy the minimum guarantee of $5,000 per the terms and conditions of the contract. Funding will expire at the end of the fiscal year. Work will be performed primarily in Bossier City, Louisiana (50%); and New Orleans, Louisiana (50%). Performance is expected to be completed by August 2025 if all options are exercised. This contract includes a one-year base ordering period and three one-year optional ordering periods, which if exercised, would bring the estimated cumulative value to $136,502,136. Pursuant to the Other Transactions Authority (OTA) of 10 U.S. Code 2371 for prototype projects, this contract is not competitively procured because this is a production contract following the successful completion of the OTA prototype effort that originated in 2019. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.
SEA
13 Aug 21. Austal USA LLC, Mobile, Alabama (N00024-21-D-4459); Colonna’s Shipyard Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00024-21-D-4460); East Coast Repair & Fabrication LLC,* Portsmouth, Virginia (N00024-21-D-4461); Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc.,* Portsmouth, Virginia (N00024-21-D-4462); General Dynamics NASSCO-Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida (N00024-21-D-4463); North Florida Shipyards Inc.,* Jacksonville, Florida (N00024-21-D-4464); and Tecnico Corp.,* Chesapeake, Virginia (N00024-21-D-4465), are awarded a combined $965,030,816 maximum ceiling value, firm-fixed price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract (MAC II) to support sustainment execution efforts for littoral combat ships homeported in Mayport, Florida. These efforts consist of chief of naval operations dry docking selected restricted availabilities and selected restricted availabilities, continuous maintenance, emergent maintenance, ship assessments, preventative/planned maintenance, facilities maintenance, and corrosion control in the contiguous U.S.; and continuous maintenance, emergent maintenance, preventative/planned maintenance, facilities maintenance, and corrosion control, outside the continental U.S. Delivery orders will be competitively awarded under these contracts, which are expected to be performed in Mayport, Florida (58%); outside the continental U.S. (28%); and other contiguous U.S. (14%) locations as appropriate. Each contract has an estimated ordering period of five years, which is expected to end in August 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $70,000 ($10,000 minimum guarantee per contract) is being obligated at each contract’s initial delivery order and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured using full and open competition with 16 offers received via the beta.sam.gov website. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
13 Aug 21. BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair LLC, Jacksonville, Florida (N00024-21-D-4457); and Fincantieri Marine Systems North America, Chesapeake, Virginia (N00024-21-D-4458), are awarded a combined $1,300,061,738 maximum ceiling value, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract (MAC I) to support sustainment execution efforts for littoral combat ships homeported in Mayport, Florida. These efforts consist of chief of naval operations dry docking selected restricted availabilities and selected restricted availabilities, continuous maintenance, emergent maintenance, ship assessments, preventative/planned maintenance, facilities maintenance, and corrosion control in the contiguous U.S.; and continuous maintenance, emergent maintenance, preventative/planned maintenance, facilities maintenance, and corrosion control, outside the continental U.S. Delivery orders will be competitively awarded under these contracts, which are expected to be performed in Mayport, Florida (58%); outside the continental U.S. (28%); and other contiguous U.S. (14%) locations as appropriate. Each contract has an estimated ordering period of five years, which is expected to end in August 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $20,000 ($10,000 minimum guarantee per contract) is being obligated at each contract’s initial delivery order and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured using full and open competition with 16 offers received via the beta.sam.gov website. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
13 Aug 21. Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $960,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency-Terminals (AEHF-T) Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) requirement for interim contractor support, contractor logistics support, terminal depot activation, terminal hardware/software procurement and studies associated with support of the AEHF-T systems. Work will be performed in Marlborough, Massachusetts; and Largo, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 9, 2031. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition, and fiscal 2021 Space Force procurement funds in the amount of $1,345,000 are being obligated at time of award. AFNWC, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8735-21-F-0002).
AIR
18 Aug 21. Skyborg Vanguard Takes Next Steps Toward Program of Record. The US Fighters and Advanced Aircraft program executive office recently awarded contract options valued up to $13.2m to KRATOS (XQ-58A) and up to $7m to General Atomics (MQ-20) to further the development of the Skyborg Vanguard. These efforts will advance the integration of the Autonomous Core System (ACS) along with continued operational experimentation thru fiscal year 2022. The vehicles will demonstrate future warfighting capabilities through the teaming of manned and unmanned platforms at large force test events. The test events will provide critical information and the necessary insight needed to shape a future program. (Source: UAS VISION/ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center; Press Release)
18 Aug 21. The U.S. Special Operations Command has awarded L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) a 5-year, $96 m IDIQ contract to procure WESCAM MX™-electro-optical, infrared and laser designator sensor suites and services. L3Harris’ WESCAM MX-10D and WESCAM MX-15D sensor systems will provide multi-spectral imaging and designation capabilities for various aircraft within the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command inventory.
17 Aug 21. The U.S. Navy has selected L3Harris Technologies’ (NYSE:LHX) electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) airborne systems to support its P-8A Poseidon. Deliveries will be complete by the end of 2022. Nineteen WESCAM MX™-20 sensor systems will provide advanced, multi-spectral imaging capabilities for the Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command maritime surveillance aircraft. The L3Harris sensors support missions that include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and humanitarian response. L3Harris has supported Navy aviation programs for more than 20 years, The company has delivered more than 570 WESCAM MX-Series systems to the Navy, including the WESCAM MX-8, MX-10, MX-15 and MX-20.
13 Aug 21. NFA wins US DoD NSIC funding for 3D printed Mach 8 hypersonic aircraft. NSIC funding for the contract will mainly support the development of the Mjölnir rocket engine. US-based New Frontier Aerospace (NFA) has been awarded a contract to advance the development of its 3D printed, Mach 8 hypersonic aircraft. The aircraft is a renewably fuelled hypersonic vertical landing jet designed to transport people or cargo to any vertiport on Earth quickly and safely. When compared to other existing jets, the aircraft emits fewer greenhouse gases (GHGs). (Source: airforce-technology.com)
16 Aug 21. Red 6 lands contract to put augmented reality on a T-38 training jet. For the first time ever, a U.S. Air Force T-38 will be outfitted with an augmented reality training system that allows it to dogfight against simulated Russian and Chinese fighters projected inside the pilot’s helmet. The Air Force awarded Florida-based tech firm Red 6 a contract worth up to $70m over its five-year period of performance, the company announced Monday morning. During that time, Red 6 will integrate its Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System with the Northrop T-38 Talon used to train fighter pilots, followed by the integration of ATARS onboard a fourth-generation jet such as the F-16. A T-38 equipped with the ATARS system could be ready to begin flight tests anywhere from six to 12 months from now, Red 6 CEO Daniel Robinson said in an exclusive interview with Defense News. (Source: Defense News)
TECHNOLOGY
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has awarded Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA), Inc. a $185m prime contract for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Subject Matter Expertise Advisory and Assistance Support. SPA’s responsibilities in support of the Research and Development Directorate include chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear subject matter expertise; science and technology (S&T) development program integration; and interagency coordination. (Source: PR Newswire)
REST OF THE WORLD
SEA
20 Aug 21. SEA wins £4.6m upgrade contract for overseas navy. Cohort, the AIM-listed independent technology group, announces that its subsidiary Systems Engineering & Assessment Limited (“SEA”) has been awarded a contract to the value of £4.6m, by a Ministry of Defence in the Asia Pacific region to upgrade the communications systems on two naval surface vessels. The contract will commence in September 2021 and be completed by the end of 2025. This contract is for the first of four planned project phases. The contract was won in competition after SEA conducted an equipment assessment in collaboration with its in-country partner and electrical services experts in June 2021. SEA will work in partnership with local subcontractors to install the new system, conduct training and ensure knowledge transfer to local partners and the in-country navy.