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16 Apr 19. Curtiss-Wright launches solutions aircraft maintenance. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions has launched commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based usage monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions for the avionics market, the company announced on 9 April.
The flexible COTS solutions have been launched for predictive maintenance, health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS), condition based maintenance (CBM) and data monitoring applications.
Curtiss-Wright’s customers include airframe manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, helicopter operators and government agencies.
The company is offering four distinct solution types for deploying data acquisition capabilities on aircraft. They include data acquisition systems to support a large number of configurations through the simple integration of I/O modules; Fortress flight data recorder, which can be easily expanded to support HUMS capabilities to monitor the health of the aircraft’s avionics systems; production fit instrumentation package; and COTS-based aircraft condition maintenance systems solutions.
Lynn Bamford, senior vice president and general manager, Defense Solutions division, said: ‘Customers benefit from our leadership position in the development and deployment of FTI and flight data recorder products, bringing unmatched expertise in open architecture design and rugged packaging to give MRO, fleet and OEM customers more control over their configurations and speed delivery of next generation capabilities.’ (Source: Shephard)
17 Apr 19. Airbus Helicopters awarded Australia’s ARH Tiger support contract extension. Airbus has been awarded an extension of the Australian Army’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Tiger through-life support (TLS) contract by the Australian Department of Defence. Airbus Australia Pacific Managing Director Andrew Mathewson said that the five-year, TLS contract extension reflected the current standing of the Tiger in Australia.
“Airbus is committed to ensuring the success of the Australian ARH Tiger fleet, and we have worked closely with the Australian Army and our industry partners to improve the fleet‘s performance over many years,” he said.
The TLS extension covering the ARH programme until 2025 includes:
- More extensive aircraft and component deeper maintenance;
- Operational maintenance of aircraft allocated to training;
- Aircrew and technician training including maintenance of training devices;
- Design services including OEM design incorporation;
- Systems and software development and testing;
- Complete parts support including MRO, purchasing, storage and distribution;
- Technical publications; maintenance policy; and fleet management.
“I’m proud that more than 200 full time positions will remain in Australia to carry out this very important work supporting the Army Aviation Australia-wide, including the creation of apprenticeships in Darwin,” he added. “Moreover, our Airbus engineering capabilities continue to expand thanks to this contract, with key software and modifications being developed on Australian soil.”
Mr Mathewson also said that there would be a cycle of continuous improvement as Airbus continues to learn from the extensive operational experience gained by Tiger helicopters in other countries. “This is an aircraft type that will serve on into the 2040s in the worldwide fleet. “We will endeavour to provide the best armed reconnaissance helicopter capability in Australia over the same timeframe,” he said.
The two-seater ARH Tiger attack helicopter serves as a key asset for the Australian Army. Today, the fleet of 22 ARH Tiger has flown over 30,000 hours, deployed for day-and-night surveillance and fire-support missions. Globally, 181 Tigers have been delivered to Australia, France, Germany and Spain, and have accumulated over 115,000 flight hours to date. First deployed by the French Army in Afghanistan in 2009, the Tiger continues to demonstrate its essential role on theatres of operation as a highly versatile, stealthy, and maneuverable attack helicopter.
15 Apr 19. ACC-RI selects four companies for $82bn LOGCAP V contract. Fire protection is an important service provided by LOGCAP. The US Army Contracting Command-Rock Island (ACC-RI) has selected four companies for its $82bn Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) V services contract to support the US Military worldwide. The four indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity, multiple award task order contracts were signed with Fluor, KBR, PAE-Parsons and Vectrus Systems. These services are aimed at supporting the Geographical Combatant Commands and Army Service Component Commands throughout the full range of military operations.
Initially, the ordering period for each basic contract will be for five years with options for five additional one-year periods.
The award received by Fluor for LOGCAP V covers Africa Command and KBR’s award covers European Command (EUCOM), Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and Afghanistan. PAE-Parsons’ award covers Southern Command, while Vectrus’ contract covers Pacific Command and Central Command.
KBR’s global government services business KBRwyle secured contracts for setting the theatre and associated performance task orders to support the US EUCOM and NORTHCOM.
KBR president and CEO Stuart Bradie said: “We believe these awards in aggregate will ultimately provide an increase to our business levels compared to the work we are currently performing.
“However, given the complexity of this procurement and attendant transition times, we do not believe this will have a material effect until 2020 and therefore is not expected to change our 2019 outlook.”
KBRwyle will serve troops and allies through LOGCAP V by assisting the US Army in carrying out theatre support services on three different continents. In 2002, the company was the initial LOGCAP contractor in Afghanistan. (Source: army-technology.com)
11 Apr 19. Semtech’s LoRa® Technology Enabling Innovative Asset Tracking Solutions in Aerospace Manufacturing. Semtech Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, announced that Ineo-Sense, a developer of intelligent and autonomous sensors for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, has integrated Semtech’s LoRa® devices and wireless radio frequency technology (LoRa Technology) into its “Clover-Core” series of sensor products for smart asset tracking in manufacturing settings.
“Semtech’s LoRa Technology allows production managers and engineers to remotely monitor the use, status, functionality, and location of expensive manufacturing assets in real-time,” said Olivier Guilbaud, Founder and CEO of Ineo-Sense. “Previously, there was no way to effectively do this in a manufacturing setting, leaving companies to track assets themselves at facilities which can often be over 100,000 sq. ft. in area. With the help of our LoRa-based sensors, they are now able to do this remotely and accurately without the risk of a costly human error, resulting in a large drop in cost of energy and time, as well as operational cost for the facility.”
Ineo-Sense has signed a major contract with Lauak Group, a leader in the manufacture of parts and sub-assemblies for the aerospace industry in France. The contract calls for 14,000 Ineo-Sense’s LoRa-enabled asset tracking sensors to one of Lauak’s assembly sites in France. The sensors will be integrated in fourteen thousand of Lauak’s manufacturing containers for accurate monitoring of the parts, which are constantly in transit throughout the large manufacturing facilities. Following this private network deployment based on the LoRaWAN™ protocol, the asset tracking solution will be expanded to Portugal, where Lauak Group has a 100,000sq. ft. plant. As a result of the sensor network’s benefits, Lauak Group is expecting up to 20% of a reduction in its production lead time.
“Ineo-Sense recognized the benefits and opportunities of creating its sensor products with LoRa Technology, since it offers proven reliability with flexible, long range capabilities,” said Marc Pegulu, Vice President of IoT for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “According to industry research, the asset tracking market is expected to grow 27.1bn by 2023 and LoRa is positioned to be the ideal platform for this industry. Tracking crucial asset data and diagnostics across entire grids, fleets and networks is simple with a LoRaWAN-based network infrastructure that is scalable and easy to deploy.”
About Semtech’s LoRa® Devices and Wireless RF Technology
Semtech’s LoRa devices and wireless radio frequency technology is a widely adopted long-range, low-power solution for IoT that gives telecom companies, IoT application makers and system integrators the feature set necessary to deploy low-cost, interoperable IoT networks, gateways, sensors, module products, and IoT services worldwide. IoT networks based on the LoRaWAN™ specification have been deployed in 100 countries and Semtech is a founding member of the LoRa Alliance™, the fastest growing IoT Alliance for Low Power Wide Area Network applications. To learn more about how LoRa enables IoT, visit Semtech’s LoRa site. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
14 Apr 19. KBR Wins Three LOGCAP V Contracts to Continue Legacy of Supporting U.S. Troops. KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today that its global government services business, KBRwyle, has been awarded multiple prime contracts to provide logistics support services to the U.S. Army, coalition partners and other federal agencies under the $82B Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) V contract. This indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract has an initial five-year ordering period and options for five additional one-year ordering periods. Under LOGCAP V, KBRwyle received a large performance task order to provide LOGCAP logistics support services in Afghanistan. It was also awarded contracts for setting the theater and associated performance task orders to support the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and Northern Command (NORTHCOM). Each task order has its own period of performance.
“These awards are a direct result of the excellent work of our people and our unmatched track record providing reliable mission critical services to U.S. and allied troops,” said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and CEO. “We are honored to continue our long service to the U.S. Army as a trusted LOGCAP partner.”
KBRwyle won three of the seven major contracts the U.S. Army awarded under LOGCAP V.
“We believe these awards in aggregate will ultimately provide an increase to our business levels compared to the work we are currently performing. However, given the complexity of this procurement and attendant transition times, we do not believe this will have a material effect until 2020 and therefore is not expected to change our 2019 outlook,” Bradie continued.
Through LOGCAP V, KBRwyle will serve troops and allies by assisting the Army in executing theater support services on three different continents. KBRwyle has provided global base life support and logistics services through multiple LOGCAP contracts for more than two decades. During LOGCAP III, the company conducted the largest government services contract in United States history. The company was the initial LOGCAP contractor in Afghanistan in 2002 and set the theater for Operation Enduring Freedom.
KBRwyle serves U.S. and allied military forces, and diplomatic and civilian personnel deployed around the world. Its commitment to improving military readiness began in WWII when it provided a home away from home to troops on the frontlines. Today, KBRwyle is known for its theater-opening expertise and providing contingency support services anytime, anywhere, even in the most extreme environments.
12 Apr 19. Milrem signs contract for the Latvian BV206 maintenance. Patria’s subsidiary Milrem LCM has signed a framework agreement for the maintenance and repair of BV206 tracked vehicles with the Logistics Command of the Latvian National Armed Forces. The agreement is valid for eight years. There are around a hundred BV206 vehicles with different configurations in Latvia. Most of the repairs are extensive, and Milrem will work in close cooperation with Patria’s Finnish subsidiary Millog, that has a solid experience of BV206 including upgrade packages.
“We are looking forward to a close cooperation with the Latvian Armed Forces and to grow it further. We have a solid know-how of partnerships with defence forces in life-cycle support services, particularly in northern Europe. And we believe that this agreement is a good basis for us to grow further in the Baltic countries”, says Ugis Romanovs, Managing Director of Milrem SIA in Latvia.
Milrem LCM is a subsidiary of Patria and a part of its International Support Partnerships business unit. Patria owns 60% of Milrem LCM and 40% is owned by Mootor Grupp. Milrem LCM provides services for the defence and security sector offering life cycle support services for heavy and armored vehicles, weapon systems and other military equipment. The company provides maintenance and repair works for the Estonian Defence Forces’ XA-180, XA-188 and CV90 as well as other military vehicles in Tallinn and Võru. Milrem SIA is the Latvian subsidiary of Milrem LCM.
11 Apr 19. KBRwyle Wins $100m to Continue Providing Crucial Support to F-35 and Other Air Force Aircraft. KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today that its global government services business, KBRwyle, has been awarded two contracts totaling almost $100m under the DoD Information Analysis Center’s (IAC) Defense Systems Technical Area Task (DSTAT) multi-award contract. These contracts were awarded by the Air Force Installation Contracting Agency (AFICA).
- KBRwyle was awarded a $41.9M defense systems task order to provide the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) with analysis, research, and product support for aeronautical systems. KBRwyle will perform engineering, airworthiness, system security and assurance, risk management, and safety analyses for aircraft in the center’s portfolio. This work will assist the AFLCMC’s Engineering Directorate in providing cutting-edge weapon systems support for infrared countermeasures, cyber resiliency and survivability and vulnerability analyses of the latest stealth and materials technology. A trusted partner of the U.S. Air Force, KBRwyle has supported AFLCMC’s Engineering Directorate since 2007.
- KBRwyle was awarded a $54.6M defense systems task order to provide the AFLCMC Special Projects Office with detailed acquisition strategy development, sustainment, engineering, cybersecurity, strategic planning, and business process improvement. KBRwyle will also continue assisting the Air Force’s efforts in standing up its F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator organization, F-35A Fleet Management Office, and other new programs. KBRwyle has carried out similar work for the Special Projects Office for three years, and holds more than 24 years of experience with the F-35 program.
The award period for both cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders is 42 months and the work will primarily be performed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The company won a seat on the DSTAT contract in June 2014.
“KBRwyle is honored to partner with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center in managing weapons systems from inception to sundown,” said Byron Bright, KBR President, Government Services U.S. “Through these task orders, KBRwyle will continue to provide our technical expertise across the center.”
KBRwyle performs work at several other major units at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, including the Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Force Institute of Technology.
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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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