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26 Jul 19. The first Container Systems have left Marshall on their way to the Netherlands as part of the multi million pound DVOW contract awarded to Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group by the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) at the end of 2018. The units are part of the major Dutch Defensiebrede Vervanging Operationele Wielvoertuigen programme, or DVOW, to update the Dutch Armed Forces with new vehicles, containers and support equipment. These initial warehouse units will be used to train operators in handling the containerised systems and to fulfil a training commitment for their vehicles.
“Marshall has worked hard to meet our requirements not only in terms of quality but also delivery times and fulfilling an early commitment to support our driver training programme, this gives us real confidence that they will keep to the programme over the next five years,” said Programme Manager Kol ir. L.J. Jacobs.
“We are delighted to be delivering these container systems only seven months after the contract was awarded,” said Alistair McPhee, Chief Executive of Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, adding “this is a tremendous effort by our Land Systems team demonstrating their agility to respond to customer requirements and their innovation in developing a rapid development and manufacturing programme for these containerised systems.”
The units will be used after training for warehousing and are the first of the 1400 container systems being delivered over the next five years. These include Command and Control and Medical container systems, Workshops, controlled atmosphere and basic stores units, together with an initial 10 year fully integrated availability support package. As part of the design work Marshall is also providing a new expandable container which uses lighter materials but maintains the strength of its in-service Matrix Expandable products.
The contract comprises two main elements, the production of the various containers and a full support programme. The latter encompasses a full availability-based fleet management package, which utilises a bespoke Fleet Management System to provide assured fleet availability and performance and ensures that the units are maintained to the latest standards, together with a significant training commitment.
Marshall Aerospace Netherlands BV based in Leiden, is providing engineering and supply chain management and acting as a focus for the ongoing maintenance and support contract.
Marshall has had a presence in the Netherlands since 1995 when it provided command and control shelters. Subsequently it has supported the country’s C-130 fleet, provided ambulances, flat racks, and fitted out the Boxer AFV ambulances.
25 Jul 19. Rolls-Royce and DSTA to optimise engine maintenance using AI. Rolls-Royce is partnering with Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) to develop and deploy new digital technologies to optimise the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) engine maintenance.
In July last year, Rolls-Royce and DSTA entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on digital service solutions.
Through the collaboration, DSTA intends to improve the availability and performance of RSAF aircraft. Rolls-Royce engines power the RSAF’s C-130 Hercules aircraft, G550 early-warning aircraft and A330 multi-role tanker transport.
The partnership will look to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse images and videos in order to optimise time and resources dedicated to engine maintenance.
DSTA air systems director Ang Jer Meng said: “There is much value and potential in tapping AI to enhance the efficiency of the RSAF’s overall engine maintenance processes. We will continue to team up with global partners such as Rolls-Royce, as we unlock innovative technological solutions for Singapore’s defence.”
In a joint statement, the organisations stated that the machine vision technology will be used for engine borescope applications.
Borescopes are optical inspection instruments that feature a tool-mounted camera that allows for inspection of engine parts.
Rolls-Royce and DSTA are keen to automate this process with AI to achieve enhanced efficiency and performance.
The partners will work together to develop and test a solution for improving borescope inspection procedures.
Rolls-Royce senior vice-president for India and South Asia Louise Donaghey said: “This collaboration with Singapore will propel us forward in achieving our vision of becoming the world’s leading industrial technology company, by helping us overcome the challenges that come with developing and deploying new technologies.”
In addition to data analytics, the project will involve aircraft engine digital twins to enable modelling of different scenarios digitally in order to achieve improvements in engine design.
In July last year, an inter-disciplinary DSTA team collaborated with the Republic of Singapore Navy to boost the efficiency of maintenance processes on board stealth frigates using augmented reality (AR) technology. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
24 Jul 19. AASKI Technology wins US Army sensor maintenance support contract. AASKI Technology has received a $673m US Army task order to provide sensor technology operations and readiness maintenance (STORM) support.
The order has been awarded under the US Army’s Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services (RS3) contract vehicle.
Under the contract, AASKI will provide support to the US Army Program Executive Office, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S), Project Manager Sensors – Aerial Intelligence (PM SAI), and Product Manager, Manned Aerial Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems (PdM MARSS).
Contract services will include providing operations and sustainment, as well as modification and integration for the mission equipment payloads.
The company is also required to undertake tasks such as training, test, certification, cybersecurity, logistics and engineering.
AASKI Technology CEO Bharat Parikh said: “It is an honour to support the deployed warfighter once again on the STORM programme, having done it previously on the M3-MAISR programme.
“The support we will provide, along with our strategic teaming partners, is crucial to the intelligence community and the army. Winning this effort is based once again on our motto, ‘Mission Focused, Customer Centric’, and a result of the hard work put in by AASKI and partner personnel.”
In August last year, the request for proposals for STORM was issued and the department of the army received five proposals.
The agency rated four of the proposals to be unacceptable under a technical factor, while AASKI’s proposal was considered for the award.
Following this, Virginia-based company United Support Services (USS) protested the issuance of a task order to AASKI.
USS said the evaluation of its proposal was unreasonable, and the agency ‘treated USS and AASKI disparately in the evaluation, and improperly failed to hold discussions’.
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) considered and reviewed all of USS’s assertions.
Last month, GAO noted that it found no basis to sustain the protest and that the agency’s evaluation was reasonable.
In April 2017, AASKI won a prime position on a potential five-year, $900m contract to provide field support and technical services to the Army‘s Project Management Office, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PM UAS). (Source: army-technology.com)
19 Jul 19. US Navy issues UUV contract modifications. The US Navy has awarded two Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) contracts. General Dynamics Missions Systems was awarded a contract modification for engineering services in support of ongoing development, test, and production of the Surface Mine Countermeasure UUV programme, also known as Knifefish.
The Knifefish programme is an ongoing effort to provide a UUV that will provide persistent mine hunting ability in a contested environment.
Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems also received a contract modification for engineering support services in support of UUV subsystem development. Engineering services will be used to develop and study UUV subsystems and concepts initially developed under the Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) programme, including navigational capabilities, autonomy and payload deployment. Work on both contracts will run through to mid-2020. (Source: Shephard)
19 Jul 19. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has reaffirmed its collaboration with Cobham Aviation Services UK for through-life support strategies for the Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). First delivery of the GA-ASI-developed RPA to the Royal Air Force (RAF) is expected in the early 2020s.
Cobham has been providing technical and maintenance support for the RAF Reaper Ground Control Stations at RAF Waddington since 2015 and were involved in the historic trans-Atlantic flight of GA-ASI’s SkyGuardian, which landed at RAF Fairford in July 2018. Protector RG Mk1 is based on SkyGuardian.
“Working with Cobham, we’ve established an excellent support network for the RAF and the Protector RPA,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “We’ve teamed with Cobham to support a number of customers over the years, and we’re excited to continue to work together to develop this long-term through-life sustainment solution for the Protector program. With the RAF Reapers on continued deployed operations we want to ensure a robust and seamless transition from Reaper to Protector.”
The support services include developing maintenance strategies that provide lower cost sustainment over the life cycle of the product and providing distribution and other logistical support. GA-ASI and Cobham Aviation Services have had a long-lasting relationship and are well-suited to provide world-class sustainment to the UK Protector programme.
Cobham Aviation Services Senior Vice President Paul Armstrong said, “Cobham is proud to be extending its commitment to both General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and to the RAF to provide long-term UK support to the Protector programme.”
19 Jul 19. Leidos wins USAF ACC contract to support ISR operations. Leidos has received a contract from the US Air Force (USAF) to support the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support services programme. The cost-plus-award-fee task order was awarded by Air Combat Command (ACC). The contract includes a base period of one year and four one-year options. If the ACC chooses to exercise all options, the total value of the contract could reach around $900m. Leidos will perform ISR support contract work at USAF sites in Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, and California. ACC is the provider of combat-ready forces for various US Unified Combatant Commands for rapid deployment. The command organises, maintains, trains and ensures the availability of strategic air defence forces to meet challenges.
Leidos is required to provide full-spectrum ISR support to troops.
Services covered under the task order include intelligence analysis and targeting, training and operational support, as well as processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED).
Leidos Defense group president Gerry Fasano said: “ACC ISR represents a significant accomplishment in our C4ISR growth campaign across each military service, the combatant commands, and strategic international partners.
“It allows us to bolster our already significant ISR capabilities and further assist our customers in addressing their enduring mission requirements. This award recognises Leidos’ strong performance as an industry leader in airforce intelligence analysis, targeting, and training.”
The company is recruiting personnel for the ACC ISR support services programme. In 2014, Leidos secured a contract to provide ISR and targeting support to the ACC. The company secured a prime position on a potential five-year, $750m contract to provide ISR support to the US Special Operations Command the following year in December.
Last month, the company was awarded a contract from the USAF’s Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) to provide support for counterintelligence operations. (Source: airforce-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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