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31 Jan 19. NetCentrics Corp., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $268,464,985 firm-fixed-price contract to provide Information Technology (IT) Support Services – Service Delivery. The specific tasks of this service delivery requirement will consist of satisfying Joint Service Provider (JSP) user needs for secure, accessible, and stable IT support. Service delivery services requires an understanding of the current operating environment of the JSP and the ability to leverage mature capabilities and industry best practices to improve efficiency and reduce complexity in order to enhance JSP’s IT support services. Through the Service delivery requirement, the JSP seeks to deliver responsive IT services and support to its users in the most efficient manner as possible. Work performance will take place primarily in the National Capital Region, including the Pentagon, Mark Center, and Crystal City, Virginia. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $268,464,985 are being obligated on this award. The expected completion date is Feb. 27, 2023. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-19-F-0093).
30 Jan 19. Stagnant F-35 Reliability Means Fewer Available Jets: Pentagon. Durability testing data indicates service-life of initial F-35B short-takeoff-vertical landing jets bought by Marine Corps “is well under” expected service life of 8,000 fleet hours; “may be as low as 2,100″ hours, the Pentagon test office says in 2018 annual report obtained by Bloomberg that’s scheduled for release this week. That means some jets are expected to start hitting service life limit in 2026. Furthermore, there’s no “improving trend in” aircraft availability to fly training or combat missions as it’s remained “flat” over the past 3 years. Details come a day after Defense Sec. Pat Shanahan told reporters the F-35 “has a lot of opportunity for more performance.”
“Interim reliability and field maintenance metrics to meeting planned 80% goal not being met, test office director Robert Behler says in new assessment, as improvements “are still not translating into improved availability,” [with] Current fleet performance “well below” that benchmark. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Bloomberg News)
24 Jan 19. Naval Group Wins the Call for Tenders for the Maintenance of the Ten French Mine Hunters (CMT). The Naval Group Services Department was awarded by the French Navy at the end of December 2018 the 5-year maintenance and service contract called “CMT 19”. As part of the tripartite mine hunter program (CMT), jointly conducted by Belgium, the Netherlands and France, Naval Group built ten of these minehunters for France in the 1980s. This new contract covers all the technical stops to be carried out on ten French CMTs, seven of them home-ported in Brest and three in Toulon, for a total of eight 8 major technical stops and 34 intermediate technical stops. All technical stops will be carried out at the Brest and Toulon naval bases.
The contract also provides for several developments during technical shutdowns: electric factories, air fridges, PAP self-propelled underwater drones (supplied by ECA Robotics), refurbishment of diesel fuel bunkers etc. Finally, it will also include the retirement from active service, in a few years’ time, of two of these vessels: FS Orion in Toulon and FS Cassiopée in Brest.
Maintenance at the core of Naval Group innovations
Naval Group accompanies its customers to ensure the availability of ships throughout their life cycle. With its ability to sustain (or maintain operational condition, MCO) complex military vessels, in France for its Navy or for other naval customers, Naval Group innovates and is generalizing I-maintenance.
Thanks to the implementation of this “smart” maintenance (IMS) approach aboard ships, predictive maintenance activities will allow a continuous optimization of support services. Data is structured and stored and provides a history of in-service facility monitoring, before being subjected to powerful algorithmic systems highlighting anomalies and monitoring points.
The FREMM Aquitaine is the first to have benefited from this new approach in November 2018 in Brest. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Naval Group)
30 Jan 19. Uncertainty over future of IAF’s Jaguars. Will the IAF pay $2.4bn to refit 80 Jaguars with powerful Honeywell engines? The plan to extend the service life of the Indian Air Force’s Jaguar fleet, by equipping 80 of the fighters with new engines, is in trouble.
Indian planners believe Honeywell, the sole vendor in the project, is demanding an exorbitant price to replace the Jaguar’s existing Rolls-Royce engines. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which is leading the project, has written to Honeywell protesting its ‘high and unacceptable quote’, which HAL says will ‘kill’ the plan to re-engine the Jaguar. The IAF, HAL, and Honeywell sources confirm that the United States firm has quoted $2.4bn for 180 engines — which include 160 engines for 80 twin-engine Jaguars — and 20 spare ones. This amounts to $13.3m (Rs 95 crore/Rs 950m) per engine. It has taken the cost of ‘re-engining’ each Jaguar to a prohibitive Rs 210 crore (Rs 2.10bn), including Rs 20 crore (Rs 200m) per aircraft that HAL will charge to integrate the new engines in the fighter and to flight-test and certify those.
This correspondent learns that, given Honeywell’s high quote, the IAF has put on hold the next step of the Defence Procurement Procedure, which is to obtain the defence ministry’s ‘acceptance of necessity’ for the project.
The IAF has six Jaguar squadrons, comprising 120 fighters.
Of these, only 80 latest ones are getting new Honeywell engines, while the older 40 Jaguars will fly with their original Rolls-Royce engines.
If the ‘re-engine’ project fails, all six Jaguar squadrons will retire.
The IAF did not respond to queries.
This correspondent examined a detailed protest note that HAL sent to Honeywell this month, arguing that the US firm’s current $2.4bn quote, which can be reduced to $1.9bn, prices each engine at twice that of an earlier quote, submitted by Honeywell in 2013.
That quote was submitted when the plan was for Honeywell to supply 275 engines.
That included 240 engines for all 120 Jaguars, plus 35 engines spare.
For all these engines, Honeywell had demanded $1.634bn, or just under $6m per engine.
HAL’s note to Honeywell points out that its current quote of $13.3m per engine is more than double the 2013 quote.
Even if a consolidated order were placed, which would bring down Honeywell’s cost to $1.9bn, or $10.6m per engine, that is still 75% higher than the 2013 price.
In 2013, Honeywell was also responsible for integrating the F-125IN engines with the Jaguar, flight-testing and certification, developing a new alternator to power the other aircraft systems, and providing maintenance know-how.
The US firm had quoted an additional $2.1bn for all this, taking the 2013 quote to $3.734bn.
Given the unaffordability of this, HAL undertook to lead the project, assuming responsibility for integrating the F-125IN engine with the Jaguar, and carrying out all the airframe modifications, aero analysis, flight-testing, and certification that Honeywell was responsible for in the 2013 tender.
While Honeywell had quoted $1.6bn for this work in 2013, HAL has now quoted under $300m. Since Honeywell has not yet submitted a formal quote, it still has the opportunity to reduce its costs. The figures which it has is for determining ‘rough order of magnitude’ cost, or a rough, ballpark figure for the IAF to obtain a green light from the defence ministry for the ‘re-engine’ project. Honeywell’s high quote is forcing the IAF to rethink, but a revised ROM could set things back on track.
However, Honeywell sources tell this correspondent that, after years of delay and expenditure on the ‘re-engine’ project, the company has concluded that the IAF is not serious about the contract and that it would serve no purpose to spend more money, resources and mind space on this.
Honeywell sources say they have spent at least $50m, including, buying two old Jaguar fighters to physically integrate the F-125IN engine with those airframes. Another $50m has been spent on expenses relating to the contract. So exasperated is Honeywell that it insisted on charging HAL $73,000 for two visits by HAL officials in 2017 to its facility in Phoenix, Arizona, to examine the integration work already done by Honeywell.
“We will not spend a dollar more on this,” says a Honeywell executive.
Honeywell’s pessimism is also evident in the company’s decision not to participate in the Aero India 2019 show in Bengaluru next month.
The F-125IN engines, were India to order them, would be built in Taiwan by the International Turbine Engine Company, a joint venture between Honeywell and the Taiwanese government’s Aerospace Industrial Development Cooperation. ITEC builds the F-124 engine, which powers Taiwan’s F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter. The F-125IN is the same engine, with an afterburner to increase peak thrust. The Jaguar’s current Rolls-Royce Adour 804/811 engines deliver a maximum thrust of 32.5 KiloNewtons. In comparison, Honeywell’s F-125IN engines generate 40.4 KiloNewtons each, with full afterburners, providing it a significant combat edge. (Source: News Now/www.rediff.com)
30 Jan 19. Vectrus Systems wins $151m US Navy C4I support contract. Vectrus Systems has received a $151m contract to continue to provide end-to-end engineering support for command, control, communications, computer, intelligence (C4I) systems under the US Navy’s Fleet Systems Engineering Team (FSET) programme. The cost-plus-fixed-fee task order was awarded under the Navy’s SeaPort-e contract. The company will deliver the support services until January 2024, including all option periods.
Vectrus president and CEO Chuck Prow said: “Vectrus has provided continuous complex C4I support under FSET since the programme’s inception in 1999 and we look forward to continuing to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional performance to our Navy client.
“Our afloat teams provide a full range of keyboard to antenna support services that are integral to the readiness of US Navy ships. Importantly, under this task order Vectrus will now perform as a prime contractor.”
The FSET contract involves providing end-to-end C4I systems engineering support to the US Navy’s floating force comprising command ships, ballistic missile defence ships, strike groups as well as specific shore facilities. In addition, Vectrus will provide systems engineering and technical support. The work will be in support of facilitating the rapid introduction of new capabilities into the Fleet through fleet experimentation and operational fleet exercises. The company will deploy fleet systems engineers to observe C4I system performance and provide critical feedback regarding computer network defence status.
The engineers will also work on quickly restoring C4I systems in the event of system malfunction, attack, cyber-attack, or other system impacting incident.
Prow added: “Through our FSET programme, Spectrum Management Next Generation contract, and recent Naval Station Guantanamo Bay base maintenance win, Vectrus has been successful in expanding its Navy footprint and we look forward to further expanding our relationship with this important client.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
28 Jan 19. CCAD to begin overhaul of US Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The US Department of Defense’s Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) is set to begin the modernisation process of the Army’s Lima-model UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. CCAD industrial engineer Jackie Allen said that the depot will start the nine-step recapitalisation process on the Black Hawk this fiscal year and is expected to convert 760 Black Hawks to Victor-model in the next decade.
The modification of the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter to a Victor (V) model will focus on the introduction of technological upgrades on the cockpit and the electronic components within the helicopter.
CCAD aircraft production director Don Dawson said: “[Lima models] have old analogue dial instrumentation. What this [upgrade] does is gives [the Victor model] a full glass cockpit.”
The glass digital suite cockpit will be similar to the UH‑60M Mike model and allows for enhanced pilot vehicle interface (PVI).
According to Program Executive Office, Redstone Arsenal Aviation product manager lieutenant colonel Andrew Duus, the digital cockpit with open architecture will allow for quick addition of capabilities in the future.
Duus said: “The open system architecture will significantly minimise the time getting new technology uploaded into the aircraft.”
Currently, US Army pilots are undergoing training on Sikorsky UH-60M aircraft that are already equipped with the digital cockpit.
Dawson added: “[The upgrade] will speed up the cost of training for new pilots, because they now can learn, essentially, one cockpit instead of two.”
Last year, Northrop Grumman delivered a digital cockpit software to the US Army for the UH-60V Black Hawk helicopter. The company was selected to supply the Integrated Avionics Suite for the upgrade. The Northrop Grumman system is nearly identical to the UH‑60M PVI. Black Hawk helicopters are deployed to perform missions such as air assault, general support, aeromedical evacuation, command and control, as well as special operations for combat, stability and support missions. (Source: army-technology.com)
28 Jan 19. Engineering company invests in low volume cell. Coventry-based steering system manufacturer, Pailton Engineering has invested in a low volume cell (LVC) specifically for small batch orders and pre-production sample manufacturing. This collection of new high-quality machines is set to increase work-flow efficiency and cut lead times significantly. The investment has also reduced changeover times between batch and full-scale production.
The investment includes three full CNC machines from Haas, and three semi-CNC machines from XYZ. These high-quality machines form the upgraded low volume cell to provide the business with a dedicated area for small batch processing, away from the main factory floor. This will result in faster processing of complex small batches that would have otherwise taken up resources on the main shop floor.
When new steering parts are requested, samples are produced, proven and validated by Pailton Engineering before they are sent to the client as part of the pre-production phase. By upgrading the machines in the low volume cell and redirecting this part of the business away from the main production, overall manufacturing efficiency has been boosted.
A large part of the efficiency boost is that the new machines remove the need for production changeovers in the main production line. These were previously required to get small batches through the pre-production phase. The new high-spec machines also bring benefits of increased metal-working capabilities and complex machining techniques.
The new machines use the same programs as the main shop, making the transition from pre-production to volume-production seamless.
“By upgrading the low volume cell, we have taken a more streamlined approach to small batch production,” explained Richard Poole LVC tooling manager at Pailton Engineering. “The new machines have smoothed out the entire process. For example, the new machines have reduced our need to grind certain parts later in the process as the initial quality has improved. This has cut down on the time that it takes to make a variety of products, cutting lead times considerably.”
With this new development, Pailton Engineering has added to its already broad skill range, taking the quality of its steering products to the next level.
28 Jan 19. GKN Aerospace delivers 10,000th standard parts order to RNLAF.
- Total support solution for RNLAF fleet of Apache, Chinook, Cougar, F-16, PC-7, C-130 and KDC-10 aircraft
- Solution covers standard parts and services
- Record of 10,000 orders delivered in 18 months
In December 2018, GKN Fokker Services delivered its 10,000th order for standard parts to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). The order was delivered at the Air Force Base of Eindhoven. This milestone was reached 18 months after the implementation of the total support contract. This customized solution is offered by GKN Fokker Services in Hoofddorp (NL) and provides the RNLAF with one single point of contact for all standard parts requirements.
The total support solution covers the delivery of the standard parts and additional services such as transportation, management of storage systems, forecasting and stock storage.
RNLAF’s fleet of Apache, Chinook and Cougar helicopters, as well as the F-16’s, PC-7’s and the KDC-10 tanker aircraft, are included in the agreement. All orders are processed via GKN Fokker Services’ secure and dedicated customer portal, which is seamlessly integrated with back-office systems.
Jeroen Ridderhof, Supply Chain Management at the RNLAF said: “This solution provides us with the anticipated advantages and the high level of unburdening, a cleaner and simplified supply chain against an increased availability of parts. We are happy that we can look back at a successful implementation and reached this important milestone with our strategic partner GKN Fokker”.
Marcel van Hilten, Business Development at GKN Fokker Services said: “We are proud of the successful implementation of this jointly developed solution. We look forward to expand our relationship with RNLAF. The success of the total support solution for this specific group of parts and services will strengthen the position of GKN Fokker in the military support market.”
25 Jan 19. BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4416); Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4417); and General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4418), are each awarded firm-fixed-price modifications under previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contracts to exercise Option Period Three for complex, emergent and continuous maintenance and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) availabilities on surface combatants (DDG and CG) homeported in San Diego, California. These three contractors will have the opportunity to provide offers for individual delivery orders during option period three, with an estimated cumulative value of $90,275,086. Exercising these options ensures continued facilities and human resources capable of completing complex, emergent and continuous maintenance, repair, modernization and CNO availabilities on surface combatant ships assigned to or visiting the port of San Diego, California. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by March 2020. No funding will be obligated at time of award. Operations and maintenance (Navy) funds will be obligated as the delivery orders are issued. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.
25 Jan 19. Fujitsu has secured a $99m support services contract from the Australian Department of Defence. The company will provide desktop services, VIP support, audiovisual services, warehousing, and asset management under the three-year contract. Fujitsu will collaborate with multiple small and medium-sized enterprises to provide its services to approximately 100,000 defence personnel across more than 450 locations in Australia. Fujitsu is an information technology equipment and services provider based in Tokyo, Japan. (Source: army-technology.com)
Jan 19. Innovative logistics tool benefits British Army. The Land Equipment Operating Centre at DE&S have developed an innovative tool to accommodate the fluctuating logistic needs of the British Army. Activity and Resource Planning (A&RP), which has been agreed to be carried out by DE&S and Director Support in Army Headquarters, is a five-stage process for forecasting logistics enabled by a software tool called Veritas. The process has been designed to align DE&S around a single forecasting plan to optimise inventory purchasing and repair decisions against a defined Army activity plan. The tool’s successful implementation has resulted in three high level outcomes: improved service to the end customer, decreased cost of inventory provisioning and inventory levels optimised. Colonel Charles Story, of the British Army, said: “A&RP and Veritas provide me with a much-improved understanding of equipment and logistic costs, enabling me to make informed decisions that will facilitate operational success and deliver best value for money for Defence.” (Source: U.K. MoD desider)
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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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