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09 Jan 19. RUAG Modernizes Eight Swiss Air Force Transport Helicopters. RUAG will upgrade eight Cougar helicopters belonging to the Swiss Air Force’s transport helicopter fleet. The corresponding agreement was signed in December by representatives of armasuisse and RUAG in Bern. RUAG is set to upgrade the Cougar helicopters with state-of-the-art technology at their facilities in Emmen by mid-2022. Procured in 1998, the helicopters’ electronic flight controls, navigation and communication systems require extensive modernization. The full scope of the upgrade includes new flight management computers, a precision navigation system for instrument flights, a collision avoidance system, which alerts pilots to aircraft in critical proximity, and a system developed by RUAG which emits an audible signal when the rotorcraft leaves a defined flight level. The package also features helmet-mounted displays, for projecting the most important flight data on the pilot’s visor, as well as the latest generation of radio equipment and satellite phones, for ensuring safe and efficient communication.
RUAG will also equip the helicopters with the latest IDAS-3 self-defense system. This system alerts the crew to radar, laser and electro-optical waves, as well as missiles. It also issues countermeasures, such as dispensing decoys.
In addition to the upgrade, RUAG is also tasked with conducting a full overhaul on the helicopters. The Cougar specialists at RUAG plan to disassemble the transport helicopters, check the relevant parts for wear and damages and repair or replace parts as necessary. The intent is that the helicopters will be returned to the Air Force as good as – or even better than – new.
“Ensuring the readiness of the Swiss helicopter fleet is an essential part of our core mission. This upgrade will provide the Air Force with a state-of-the-art transport helicopter system for the decade to come and, in doing so ensure mission success,” states Philipp Berner, Senior Vice President Military Aviation RUAG.
Besides the 10 Cougar helicopters, the Air Force operates 15 other transport helicopters, under the designation “Super Puma”, which were procured at the end of the 1980s. These older helicopters have already been modernized by RUAG between 2011 and 2014. Transport helicopters are flying, heavy-duty workers and life savers. They transport people and materials, support search and rescue missions for missing persons and are considered a highly prized tool in disaster relief missions in Switzerland and abroad. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/RUAG)
10 Jan 19. US DoD assigns F-35 global distribution to DLA and TRANSCOM. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has selected the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and US Transportation Command (US TRANSCOM) to handle the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II global transportation and distribution and North American regional warehousing. The F-35 Joint Program Office awarded the latest assignment after evaluating data submitted by F-35 partner nations, foreign military sales customers and DoD providers. The assignment enables the DoD to further the F-35 global sustainment strategy and is expected to facilitate the movement of materiel through a single integrator across the globe.
F-35 Program Executive Office vice admiral Mat Winter said: “As the F-35 enterprise continues to expand globally, the supply chain required to support and sustain the warfighter’s demands will need to grow as well.
“Our F-35 Global Supply Solution continues to expand in concert with our planned assignments to ensure we have affordable MRO&U capacity to meet the planned F-35 operational delivery timelines.”
The transition process is expected to be completed within the next 12 to 24 months. It comes after assignments that have previously designated airframe, propulsion and component repair maintenance, repair, overhaul and upkeep (MRO&U) providers. The F-35 Lightning II programme is designed to define affordable next-generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the navy, airforce, marines, and allies. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
07 Jan 19. Kessel Run Announces Hiring Event. Kessel Run is looking for talent who can help the Air Force tackle its most vexing software issues, including the global Air Operations Center Weapon System and the F-35 Lightning II’s Autonomous Logistics Information System, or ALIS. The Kessel Run Experimentation Lab is building off of success in a workspace in North Boston, moving downtown where they’ve taken over an entire floor of a shared workspace. The move is part of an expansion, and includes hiring authority for approximately 50 civilian employees, who will be hired on-the-spot during a Jan. 23-24 event.
“The Air Force is seeing, and I think we’re one of the ones showing them, how important it is to create and sustain your own software,” said Adam Furtado, Kessel Run’s lab director. “As with many small companies, our goal now is to hire the right people, expand our pipeline, and continue supporting the Air Force’s software needs.”
Furtado says Kessel Run will continue to revamp AOC software, while expanding to meet the needs of other major Air Force weapons systems like the Joint Strike Fighter. The F-35, which is the most technologically advanced aircraft ever fielded, houses software with millions of lines of code, providing warfighters and maintainers with visibility of the battlespace and onboard aircraft systems.
To date, Kessel Run has delivered approximately 12 completed applications to the AOC, which are in use in combat daily and during exercises where the Air Force plans strategic responses to global scenarios. It has expended nearly $140m since mid-2017, pulling funding from existing programs. With that investment, KREL has setup shared workspaces for 280 military, government civilian and contractors who generate and sustain applications. Air Force-led software teams have saved warfighters 1,100 man-hours per month by automating labor-intensive data entry at operations centers where combat is orchestrated.
“It’s an exciting time to come work for us,” said Furtado. “We’re offering not just the ability to work on extremely advanced systems, but something unique for government work: immediate hiring authority. If you clear all the hurdles, we can start you right away.” (Source: defense-aerospace.com/US Air Force)
07 Jan 19. Honeywell wins Kunsan Air Base infrastructure modernisation project. Honeywell has secured a contract to modernise infrastructure at Kunsan Air Base (AB), a US Air Force (USAF) Base located in South Korea.
The $28m project requires Honeywell to undertake facility upgrades aimed at improving infrastructure and equipment reliability. Once the project is completed by November 2020, the air base is expected to save approximately $7.1m of energy. Overall annual energy consumption is projected to be reduced by more than 14 million kilowatt-hours or more than 18%, while water consumption is set to be lowered by over 7%.
The energy savings performance contract, which was awarded by Kunsan AB, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center and Defense Logistics Agency-Energy, is valid for a term of 25 years.
Honeywell Building Solutions president John Rajchert said: “The changes and updates we’re able to provide Kunsan aim to not only improve its mission readiness, but help to improve the quality of life and work environment for the brave men and women on the base.
“The upgraded solutions and better visibility into building-level energy usage will help Kunsan greatly improve its environmental impact and fuel usage, helping it to be more energy resilient in its remote location.”
Under the contract, Honeywell will help upgrade building controls and centralise management of the air base using its Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI).
EBI will provide a single point of control, enable improved mission readiness and resiliency, and offer insights for swift identification of operational issues.
The integrated platform will also offer equipment scheduling capabilities that will help optimise energy demand and efficiency.
Additional enhancements at Kunsan Air Base include retro-commissioning of existing equipment in seven dormitories and an upgrade of controls in 14 buildings, as well as the installation of LED lighting upgrades, including wireless controls.
In order to boost water conservation efforts, Honeywell will also retrofit existing sink fixtures with flow control devices, as well as flushometer recommissioning and upgrades.
Kunsan AB houses 2,800 USAF members, soldiers, US civilians, and local national employees.
A total of around 630 buildings covering an aggregate area of 4.1 million square feet are located at the air base. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
04 Jan 19. US Army contracts DynCorp for aviation maintenance services. DynCorp International has been awarded a contract to provide aviation maintenance services on the US Army’s Theater Aviation Sustainment Management – OCONUS (TASM-O) contract. The $41.6m contract is a six-month extension for the continuation of the services in theatre globally.
DynAviation president Joe Ford said: “DI is proud to continue our decades-long legacy of providing safe and airworthy aircraft supporting army aviation around the world.
“Our aviation field maintenance teams take great pride in supporting our customer.”
Work under the contract will be carried out by the company at different locations worldwide, including Fort Worth in Texas, as well as Afghanistan and Iraq. The latest contract will be effective from 1 January and is expected to be completed on 30 June. The US Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is serving as the contracting activity. The company already received fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance army funds at the time of the award. DynCorp International was awarded the hybrid firm fixed price, cost-plus incentive fee contract by the US Department of Defense in October 2013.
The company received a $17.38m modification to the TASM-O contract in January 2018, with a period of performance from 1 January until 31 December 2018. Under the contract, the company was tasked to provide aviation field maintenance services in support of the US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Aviation Field Maintenance Division outside the continental US operations. (Source: army-technology.com)
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About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For decades Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support our customers’ missions. In addition, Oshkosh offers advanced technologies and vehicle components such as TAK-4® independent suspension systems, TerraMax™ unmanned ground vehicle solutions, Command Zone™ integrated control and diagnostics system, and ProPulse® diesel electric and on-board vehicle power solutions, to provide our customers with a technical edge as they fulfill their missions. Every Oshkosh vehicle is backed by a team of defense industry experts and complete range of sustainment and training services to optimize fleet readiness and performance. Oshkosh Defense, LLC is an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE: OSK].
To learn more about Oshkosh Defense, please visit us at www.oshkoshdefense.com.
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