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UNITED KINGDOM
20 Aug 20. The Security Technology Research and Innovation Grants (S-TRIG) Programme launches, with applications now open. This programme is seeking businesses and academic institutions to address future challenges within national security.
This joint initiative between the Connected Places Catapult and the Department for Transport and Home Office’s Future Aviation Security Solutions (FASS) programme will identify innovative concepts that can help form future security solutions. S-TRIG is open to businesses and institutions who are seeking funding to conduct early stage feasibility studies, the programme will be awarding grants of up to £30,000 per project.
The research undertaken will be a steppingstone to further development, and will provide a strong basis for further funding opportunities through other government initiatives. There are five broad application areas and research may be based on one or cut across multiple application areas:
- Aviation security
- Border detection and security
- Detection of contraband entering prisons
- Protection of infrastructure and crowded places
- Counter-drones
Nicola Yates OBE, CEO of Connected Places Catapult said: “We are excited to launch this programme and look forward to seeing the innovative concepts that will help the UK to anticipate and get further ahead of complex national security challenges in the skies and on the ground. We encourage businesses and institutions to get in touch to show us how their ideas and expertise can help build public safety, assurance and trust in these areas.”
For more information on the S-TRIG Programme and how you can apply by the 20th September 2020, click here: https://cp.catapult.org.uk/opportunities/s-trig-programme/
USA
20 Aug 20. USAF to launch ARES modernisation plan for F-22 fighter. The US Air Force (USAF) is to launch its latest modernisation drive for the Lockheed Martin F-22 combat aircraft, dubbed Advanced Raptor Enhancement and Sustainment (ARES).
A pre-solicitation synopsis placed on the beta.sam.gov government procurement website by the F-22 Program Office (AFLCMC/WAU) on 19 August noted that the service intends to award Lockheed Martin a sole-source contract for future upgrades to the ‘fifth-generation’ fighter.
“The proposed contract is a follow-on effort to the Raptor Enhancement, Development, and Integration II (REDI II) contract, and will satisfy future modernisation requirements, enterprise management, and select sustainment requirements to improve efficiencies within the F-22 programme,” the synopsis said. Also adding it is contemplated that the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract will be awarded by June 2021 with a base ordering period of five years and a five year option.
The USAF did not note what specific modernisation plans are to be included in the ARES effort, nor did it say what its value could be.
As noted by Janes World Air Forces , since its introduction into service in 2003 the F-22 has been subject to a rolling upgrade path that has included improved avionics, updated life support systems, and new air-to-air and air‐to‐ground weapons. (Source: Jane’s)
20 Aug 20. Gibbs & Cox, Inc. congratulates L3Harris Technologies for being awarded the U.S. Navy’s MUSV Design and Construction contract. As part of the L3Harris MUSV team, Gibbs & Cox will serve as the ship design agent and engineering plant automation lead on the program.
The contract awarded by the U.S. Navy, includes the design and construction of the prototype lead vehicle with options to provide up to eight additional MUSVs. According to the contract announcement, if all options are exercised, the cumulative value of this contract for the L3Harris MUSV team will be $281m. In 2018, Gibbs & Cox founded its Unmanned and Autonomous Programs group in response to the growing need to develop autonomous surface vehicles and their enabling technologies. This specialized capability, combined with our position as the United States’ largest independent Ship Design Agent, makes Gibbs & Cox uniquely positioned to support the L3Harris team with the development and delivery of the MUSV. “The experience in the autonomous maritime space offered by the combined capabilities of L3Harris and Gibbs & Cox gives the U.S. Navy a capable, low-risk solution for MUSV. We are very glad to be a part of this strong team,” said Chris Deegan, Gibbs & Cox President and Chief Executive. (Source: PR Newswire)
18 Aug 20. USAF seeks information on ‘Mayhem’ expendable hypersonic air-breathing demonstrator. The US Air Force (USAF) is seeking information from industry on a possible expendable hypersonic multimission air-breathing demonstrator called ‘Mayhem’, according to a 12 August request for information (RFI) posted on the federal contracting website beta.sam.gov.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is interested in the design, fabrication, integration, and necessary research needed to enable a larger-scale, air-breathing hypersonic multimission flight demonstrator. The Mayhem System Demonstrator (MSD) will need to be capable of carrying larger payloads over distances farther than current hypersonic capabilities allow.
The payload bay will be modular and capable of carrying or delivering at least three distinct payloads in order to execute multiple Pentagon-defined mission sets. The AFRL has previously accomplished similar research under multiple efforts, including the Enhanced Operational Scramjet Technology effort, the Enabling Technologies for High-Speed Operable Systems concept, the High-Speed Strike Weapon Program, and the Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept Program.
To increase industry involvement and benefit from focused tasking, the AFRL is considering using two multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contracts to accomplish the Mayhem demonstrator effort. The two ID/IQ contracts would be split into groups, each encompassing one propulsion system development and vehicle development and integration.
Each ID/IQ contract group would share a single-cost ceiling with a multiple-award ID/IQ contract scoped to each of the two focus areas: large-scale propulsion development and flight-weight ground test; and air vehicle design and scramjet integration.
Follow-on awards would include fabrication, flight test, and vehicle modification for integration of various payloads. Multiple-award ID/IQ contracts would be planned under one solicitation. (Source: Jane’s)
18 Aug 20. US Army seeks vendor to disassemble remaining AH-64D attack helos. The US Army has issued a request for information (RFI) for the ‘depopulation’ of its remaining Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters. Announced by the US Army Program Executive Office – Aviation on 17 August, the Apache AH-64D Attack Helicopter Depopulation RFI seeks to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements necessary to depopulate (disassemble) hundreds of the service’s remaining helicopters.
“This RFI is to obtain qualified vendors to provide plans, procedures, production information, and reports addressing the depopulation of three to seven AH-64D aircraft per month. Additional work scope includes minor repairs in order to maximise reuse of components for production of the AH-64E [Apache Guardian]. The period of performance for this work is from January 2022 through December 2027 with the first delivery required in June 2023 and the last delivery required in March 2027,” the US Army stated on the beta.sam.gov government procurement website. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Aug 20. US Air Force closer to finishing critical designs, ‘hard engineering’ for B-21. The US Air Force (USAF) is closer to finishing the critical designs and “hard engineering” for the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider long-range strike bomber (LRSB), according to a service official.
Randy Walden, Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) director and programme executive officer (PEO), said on 13 August that the service is now moving toward producing the aircraft and proceeding with developmental flight test activities to inform future fixes. This is because the B-21 will not be immune from design flaws, he said.
“I want to find out what those design deficiencies are as fast as I can, get on with the solution, get that into the programme, and then the development phase, and get on with production,” Walden said during a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event.
The first B-21 test aircraft is being built and starting to look like an aircraft, Walden was quoted by the USAF as saying in a 3 August statement. Suppliers from across the country are delivering parts that are coming together.
The USAF has a flight test aircraft that it is using to host some B-21 subsystems to buy down risk. Walden said this is so that the first time they are introduced into an air environment is not on the B-21. The service is taking a parallel approach, working out subsystem and software bugs and then applying the knowledge for when these are applied to an actual B-21. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Aug 20. USAF seeks information on maritime strike weapon. The US Air Force (USAF) is conducting market research into kinetic weapons capable of engaging and defeating maritime surface vessels, according to a 24 July request for information (RFI) posted on the federal contracting website beta.sam.gov. No further details were available with the public version of the RFI, which had a version classified secret by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) armament systems development division. USAF spokesperson Ilka Cole said on 10 August that while the specific capabilities sought are classified, the service seeks information on any kinetic weapon capable of engaging and defeating maritime surface vessels.
An expert believes that this RFI is the USAF’s effort to capture weapons compatible with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) that are not the Lockheed Martin AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) nor the Raytheon-Kongsberg Defense Systems Joint Strike Missile (JSM) air-launched anti-ship weapon being developed for the F-35. Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington, DC, told Janes on 31 July that the LRASM will probably not be compatible with the F-35 as the stakeholders have not been able to integrate it on to the aircraft for internal carriage due to the weapon’s large size.
Lockheed Martin spokesman Brett Ashworth said on 12 August that the company is investing in F-35 integration efforts for LRASM and the AGM-158B Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER). He said there is operator interest in both weapons and the company is working to ensure outstanding weapon stand-off and effects. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Aug 20. USMC seeks new FINN gateway pod prototype. The US Marine Corps (USMC) is seeking solutions for a new prototype for the airborne pod variant of its Fused Integrated Naval Network (FINN) programme, designed to upgrade overall interoperability between US Navy (USN) and the marines’ tactical data links.
The FINN airborne pod prototype being sought by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) directorate “will provide a persistent [network] gateway that receives, bridges, translates, processes, and distributes information between other FINN nodes and the end-user nodes connected to them”, according to a 10 August service solicitation.
Designed for deployment aboard the General Atomics’ MQ-9B Reaper unmanned aerial system (UAS), the FINN airborne pod must be capable of cross-banding Internet Protocol (IP) and non-IP based data transfers, transmitted on current and legacy data link technologies, the solicitation stated.
The pod technology aboard the new FINN prototype must also have beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) transmission capability. The prototype pod must also enable real-time data translations between users across Link-16, Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT), Bandwidth Efficient Common Data Link (BE-CDL), the Intelligence Broadcast System (IBN), and National Security Agency Type-1 certified TrellisWare Tactical Scalable MANET-X (TSM-X) waveforms, as well as the Next Generation Waveform (NGW) developed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the document added. (Source: Jane’s)
REST OF THE WORLD
20 Aug 20. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), will engage Canadian companies to participate in the development and success of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian® RPAS. Companies with an interest in participating can apply using GA-ASI’s web-based participation request form.
“GA-ASI is always looking to build on our existing Canadian industry relationships,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “A strong North American industrial partnership contributes to the growth and success of our domestic and international endeavors. Team SkyGuardian Canada is aimed at building long-term relationships that advance Remotely Piloted Systems and Autonomous Technologies (RPS-AT) and developing sustainable jobs in Canada.”
Companies with proven aerospace and defense capabilities in the following areas are encouraged to apply:
- Aircraft Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
- Sensor Data Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED)
- Airborne Sensors/Payloads
- Global Supply Chain for aircraft components & manufacturing
- Research and Development (R&D) related projects for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Canadian companies are invited to submit a request to participate, along with their company profiles and additional information requested through the Strategic Industry Engagement Request form, located at: https://www.ga-asi.com/canada-industry-engagement/. The registration site will remain open until September 19, 2020. Companies will be notified in October if they have been selected to participate.
20 Aug 20. Australian Industry support program launched, seeking cyber bids. Defence has launched a new industry support program, looking to recruit small businesses to “join the fight against cyber threats”.
Under the Defence Industry Competitive Evaluation Research Agreement (ICERA), Australian small businesses will receive funding to develop “ambitious, game-changing” capabilities for the ADF.
Support of up to $300,000 per proposal will be provided for projects for up to 18 months.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said ICERA is being funded through Defence’s Next Generation Technologies Fund, in a new scheme that will provide $36m over six years.
“Australia’s strategic context is changing significantly and our defence strategy is responding to these changes,” said Minister Price.
“This change is something which has been clearly highlighted in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update that was released recently.
“Our small business sector has a more important role than ever in contributing to Defence’s science and technology research priorities that support ADF capability needs.
“Which is why I welcome that the first focus of the ICERA initiative is targeting on cyber defence and cyber security.”
Later rounds of ICERA are expected to focus on a range of other priority areas, including integrated intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, medical countermeasures, space, and trusted autonomous systems.
Defence adds that successful projects may be considered for further funding or opportunities through other avenues and mechanisms.(Source: Defence Connect)
18 Aug 20. Australia launches scheme to fund ‘innovative’ defence projects. The Government of Australia has launched a new programme to encourage ‘innovative’ projects that have the potential to bolster the capabilities of the Australian Defence Force. The Defence Industry Competitive Evaluation Research Agreement (ICERA) is designed to fund local small businesses involved in the development of such projects.
According to the Australian Department of Defence, the programme will provide up to A$300,000 per proposal for 18 months.
The first round of the ICERA initiative aims to fund projects that will help in improving cyber defence and cyber security capabilities.
In the subsequent rounds, ICERA is expected to focus on other priority areas, such as integrated intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, medical countermeasures, space, and trusted autonomous systems.
Australian Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said: “Australia’s strategic context is changing significantly and our defence strategy is responding to these changes.
“This change is something which has been clearly highlighted in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update that was released recently.
“Our small business sector has a more important role than ever in contributing to defence’s science and technology research priorities that support ADF capability needs.
“Which is why I welcome that the first focus of the ICERA initiative is targeting on cyber defence and cyber security.”
The ICERA support will be provided through Defence’s Next Generation Technologies Fund.
The Australian Government recently ramped up its investments in the defence industry in a bid to expedite economic recovery post-Covid-19.
Earlier this week, the government extended a contract with BAE Systems Australia involving the delivery of technical support services for the army’s armoured personnel carrier (APC) fleet. (Source: army-technology.com)
18 Aug 20. Airborne electronic warfare deal inked with US DoD. The US Department of Defense and Australian Department of Defence have established an international agreement concerning the co-operative development of Airborne Multi-Platform Electronic Warfare capabilities.
Under the AMPEW Project Arrangement, personnel from the US and Australia will continue to engage daily to develop technologies under the six-year agreement.
Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, AM, CSC, said the agreement builds upon the long history of close collaboration.
“The AMPEW Project Arrangement establishes a co-operative project to jointly design, develop, test, and demonstrate dynamic multi-platform electromagnetic manoeuvre warfare resource allocation management (EMW RAM) tools and decision aids,” said AVM Roberts.
“The primary objective is to decrease aircrew cognitive workload and automate command and control of manned and unmanned EW systems from stand-in to stand-off ranges.
“The Project Arrangement serves as the mechanism under which the United States Navy and Australia are executing the EMW RAM Coalition Warfare Program project and Future Naval Capability.
“This is a partnership between Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division Office of Naval Research; Naval Air Systems Command; Royal Australian Air Force; Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group; and industry for both the US and Australia.”
The AMPEW deal will also see Defence capabilities collaborating with partners in the US DoD to jointly undertake studies to identify future co-operative development opportunities directed towards increased airborne multi-platform EW capabilities. (Source: Defence Connect)
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American Panel Corporation
American Panel Corporation (APC) since 1998, specializes in display products installed in defence land systems, as well as military and commercial aerospace platforms, having delivered well over 100,000 displays worldwide. Military aviators worldwide operate their aircraft and perform their missions using APC displays, including F-22, F-18, F-16, F-15, Euro-fighter Typhoon, Mirage 2000, C-130, C-17, P-3, S-3, U-2, AH-64 Apache Helicopter, V-22 tilt-rotor, as well as numerous other military and commercial aviation aircraft including Boeing 717 – 787 aircraft and several Airbus aircraft. APC panels are found in nearly every tactical aircraft in the US and around the world.
APC manufactures the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Large Area Display (LAD) display (20 inch by 8 inch) with dual pixel fields, power and video interfaces to provide complete display redundancy. At DSEI 2017 we are exhibiting the LAD with a more advanced design, dual display on single substrate with redundant characteristics and a bespoke purpose 8 inch by 6 inch armoured vehicle display.
In order to fully meet the demanding environmental and optical requirements without sacrificing critical tradeoffs in performance, APC designs, develops and manufactures these highly specialized displays in multiple sizes and configurations, controlling all AMLCD optical panel, mechanical and electrical design aspects. APC provides both ITAR and non-ITAR displays across the globe to OEM Prime and tiered vetronics and avionics integrators.
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