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03 Oct 19. Marshall containers selected by Kongsberg for NASAMS air defence system. Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has been selected by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) to provide container systems to house the Fire Distribution Centre (FDC) for one of its key customers.
KONSGBERG will supply the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and has selected Marshall to manufacture and provide its modular, reconfigurable containers following a competitive tender.
“We selected Marshall because of their competitive prices, their high standards of design and manufacture, speed of response and willingness to work collaboratively with KONGSBERG,” said Kjetil Myhra, Executive Vice President of
KONGSBERG. “We look forward to working with them on this contract and delivering the highest quality solution to our customer.”
Marshall’s container systems provide operators with a comfortable and protected working area even when deployed in extreme environments and can be rapidly reconfigured to suit changing deployment needs. The robust containers are installed with advanced equipment that is protected from the rigours of military transport on land and in the air.
Marshall ADG CEO, Alistair McPhee, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by KONGSBERG to support their customer with this dynamic solution. We hope this will be the beginning of a long and productive relationship, as KONGSBERG continues to achieve further success with NASAMS in its key markets around the world.”
Marshall provides a high volume modular container production line at its Cambridge base that enables the company to meet customer demand quickly and efficiently.
02 Oct 19. Transcom Ensures Troops, Gear Move Quickly to Project Power. Projecting power by quickly moving people and equipment around the world based on the combatant commands’ needs is a top priority for U.S. Transportation Command, Transcom’s commander said.
And to meet that global need, Transcom holds regular exercises and is exploring the use of artificial intelligence, Army Gen. Stephen R. Lyons told the Defense Writers Group today in Washington.
Transcom moves people and equipment by directing the transportation elements provided by the various branches, including the Navy’s Military Sealift Command, the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command and the Army’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.
Lyons said exercises help officials evaluate, for example, how rapidly Transcom can activate a mix of Military Sealift Command and Transportation Department Maritime Administration ships on the East, West and Gulf Coasts. Activated ships are directed to transition from a reduced operating status to a fully crewed status — with quarters made habitable and cargo and gear ready — within five days. Activations commonly are followed immediately by a sea trial.
Transcom began such a readiness exercise Sept. 16, Lyons said.
Such exercises usually involve only a few ships, the general said, but this event activated 32 vessels so officials could better assess their readiness. An exercise of this scale also tests the capabilities of the support network involved in maintaining, manning and operating the nation’s ready sealift forces, Lyons said.
It was a pressure test of the whole system, he said, and it validated the ability to activate ships to task. Of those 32 ships, most performed well, Lyons said, but Transcom is still awaiting the final results, which will be known in the coming weeks.
Lyons, who assumed command of Transcom in August, said Transcom’s ships are old — averaging 43 years — while commercial shipping averages about 15. Even so, he told the writers, they performed well during the exercise, even in the face of some storms that blew through.
The general said he encourages creative thinking that gives multiple options to commanders and dilemmas for adversaries. Artificial intelligence, for example, is a promising option, he said.
“We’re definitely looking at it,” he said. “We’re trying to be disciplined in the approach. I absolutely see the power of data, particularly in the logistics enterprise.”
Because much of Transcom’s logistics is unclassified, there are opportunities to leverage commercial technologies in AI and machine learning, Lyons said, noting that it could improve decision making, forecasting and other important areas.
Lyons said Transcom has already developed an enterprise data environment as a proof of principle and moved a limited number of systems to the cloud. Over time, he added, the entire architecture will be moved to the cloud. Transcom has nearly 100 information technology systems, so it will take a lot of work to bring it into a cloud computing environment to leverage the data, he said.
“But it’s not a magic ‘snap your fingers and you’re there,'” he said. “It’s a very arduous journey over time. We’re a long way from AI today, but we’re working through the fundamentals.”
30 Sep 19. IDC study reveals A&D organisations increase productivity and cut costs with IFS software. IFS has published the findings from an IDC end-user study which calculated the business value customers from all industries derived from using IFS enterprise software. Specific to A&D, the study revealed that A&D customers running IFS software:
- Complete up to 20% more work orders per day
- Save up to 60 hours per week during maintenance operations
- Save ms of dollars per year in materials costs
The A&D findings are part of a broader independent evaluation based on qualitative research with billion-dollar revenue organisations from across the world operating in the A&D, manufacturing, engineering & construction, energy & utilities, and service industries. Collectively, the study showed that the average IFS customer can be 18 percent more productive and that they hit breakeven on their investment in just 15 months. The research found that the biggest contributors of value were based on the ability to:
- Realise operational efficiencies: 47% of total value achieved
- Capture higher revenue*: 43% of total value achieved
- Improve user productivity: 10% of total value achieved
In addition to an 18 percent increase in user productivity, customers across all industries also reported:
- 28% more work orders completed
- 14% faster delivery of orders/products
- 21% faster budgetary cycles
This research is an in-depth qualitative analysis on how customers realise business value and it validates what we hear everywhere in the marketplace. Through providing customers choice in what they buy and how it gets implemented and managed, we deliver faster time-to-value and increased financial and productivity benefits compared to industry peers. The study of these large global customers also showed that the amortisation period of an average IFS customer is around half the industry average at just 15 months. This once again is clear confirmation of our superior market position through independent research.
The IDC research also dispels the commonly held misperception that field service management (FSM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and enterprise asset management (EAM) systems only deliver value in the form of operational efficiencies, such as time saving, resource optimisation, and error reduction. While all these things are true, it is not the whole story, according to the findings. Respondents cited better sales team performance, the ability to bid for more business, improved net promoter scores (NPS), winning more deals and keeping customers for longer.
Organisations, regardless of their unique industries, are being disrupted by competitors, customers, and their own outdated vision of incremental innovations. They are looking to technology, and specifically digitalisation, to solve some of their innovation challenges and more importantly help scale the business to deliver new revenue streams, enhanced customer experiences, and more efficient processes across various functions of the organisation.
01 Oct 19. Philippine Air Force seeks suppliers for S-211 trainer seat repairs. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is seeking suppliers or contractors to repair and overhaul six ejection seats of its SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainers.
Prospective bidders are required to have experience in a similar project within the past five years. The deadline for submission and opening of bids is 4 October.
In a bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, PAF Bids and Awards Committee chair Carlo Bueno N Buena said: “The Philippine Air Force reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.”
The SIAI-Marchetti S.211 turbofan-powered military trainer aircraft is the basic jet trainer of the PAF.
The aircraft can also be used for ground attack and patrol missions. It was designed and originally marketed by Italian aviation manufacturer SIAI-Marchetti.
During the early 90s, the PAF originally acquired 24 units as a support for its Northrop F-5 Tiger fighter fleet. Nearly three to five units are still operational.
In addition to the PAF, the SIAI Marchetti S211 military jet pilot trainer is in operation with the airforces of Haiti and Singapore.
SIAI-Marchetti commenced the development of S-211 in 1976 as a private venture initiative, announcing its existence during the following year. The first prototype performed its maiden flight on 10 April 1981.
The Singapore Air Force placed the initial order for ten aircraft in 1983. Around 60 aircraft have been sold to airforces across the world. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
01 Oct 19. Ontic and GE Aviation sign C-130 Hercules parts licence agreement. Ontic has entered a licence agreement with GE Aviation’s Integrated Systems unit to supply parts for the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. Under the agreement, Ontic will provide a Winch, Flap Brake and Shock Mount Tray. These products are used on all C-130 variants, including the ‘J’ series.
Ontic president Gareth Hall said: “Ontic is pleased to add these C-130 products to our existing portfolio with GE Aviation. Ontic is the leader in providing extended life solutions for maturing and legacy aerospace platforms and this latest agreement expands our offer on military platforms.
“Ontic has a long relationship with GE Aviation and we look forward to continuing our work with them.”
Ontic supports original equipment manufacturers with new and serviceable spares and repairs for aircraft parts.
The company has manufacturing and maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) US facilities in Chatsworth in California, Creedmoor in North Carolina, Plainview in New York.
It also operates plants in Cheltenham, UK, and in Singapore.
Ontic supports a range of military aircraft, including E2-C Hawkeye, CH-47 Chinook, F-15, F-16, V-22 Osprey, Sea King, B-52 and Typhoon.
GE Aviation provides flight management systems (FMS) for the C-130J aircraft. Earlier this month, GE Aviation business unit Dowty Propellers received a contract to provide R391 propellers and spares to support the C-130J aircraft. Ontic operates as a subsidiary of British aviation services company BBA Aviation. In July, BBA Aviation reached an agreement to sell Ontic to CVC Fund Vll for an enterprise value of $1.36bn. (Source: Defense News)
25 Sep 19. US Navy’s NAVAIR delivers redesigned MH-60s gunner seats. The US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has delivered the first two redesigned MH-60S Seahawk gunner seats to the fleet. The redesigned MH-60S were delivered, installed and demonstrated by the Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA-202) to Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific (HSCWP) at Naval Air Station North Island. Aircrew were unable to sit in for a long period of time with the original MH-60S Gunner Seat, which also posed long-term health issues. The redesign focused on the health of the aircrew, offering improved crash protection and enhancing strength.
In addition to crashworthiness, the redesign has adjustable lumbar support and height, as well as energy absorbers with a selectable weight profile integrated into the seat. The seat received approval prior to delivery.
NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm Dean Peters said: “The gunner seat redesign is a great example of how taking measured risks for an urgent fleet need and incorporating direct fleet input allowed us to deliver capability with far greater speed. The result will be increased aircrew endurance and mission performance.”
The programme office established a gunner seat task force to allow the fleet to offer real-time input during every step of the prototype’s development.
The government team served as the lead systems integrator and model-based systems engineering was utilised to accelerate the interim flight clearance decision, and support rapid design decisions.
NAVAIR said the component fit/functionality was quickly assessed using additive manufacturing before cutting complex metallic components.
Rapid prototyping was provided by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division AIRWorks office in order to bring the redesign to life in six months. The Aircrew Systems Program Office allows the navy and marine corps to be combat effective by providing and sustaining aircrew systems that work every time. (Source: naval-technology.com)
25 Sep 19. The US Navy Just Got Fighter Jet Readiness Above 80%. The Challenge Will Be Keeping It There. US Navy officials announced this week that they surpassed the Pentagon’s call to get the service’s fighter jet readiness rates way up after years of aviation readiness problems — but the work isn’t over, a one-star told reporters.
“Now we need to sustain it,” Rear Adm. Shane Gahagan, the program executive officer for the Navy’s Tactical Aircraft Programs, said Wednesday. “Now we have an equally challenging goal of sustaining these efforts.”
When the military services were ordered to get 80% of their tactical aircraft ready for the fight, Navy officials decided to try to push the numbers even higher. They wanted 341 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets and 93 EA-18G Growlers mission-capable and ready to deploy.
It was a daunting task. Only about 50% of the service’s Super Hornets were considered mission-capable at the time. That meant about 260 were ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. Leaders wanted 341 to be ready.
“It was a number chosen internally to improve our aviation forces’ ability to surge in time of need,” Gahagan said the day after the service announced it had 343 Super Hornets and 95 Growlers ready to deploy.
To meet the call from former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to push mission-capable rates on F-18s, F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons up to 80%, the Navy turned to outside experts who deal with plane maintenance issues every day: commercial airliners.
They looked at how they could speed up maintenance, make fleet readiness centers operate more efficiently, and improve the supply chain so parts could get out to the fleet faster, Gahagan said.
“The commercial [partners] came and said, ‘Hey, there’s probably a better way to do some of those things,'” he said, with the biggest change being the addition of new maintenance operations centers and aircraft-on-ground, or AOG, cells.
A Navy news release that describes the AOGs said the concept had proven successful with commercial airliners. The idea is to have representatives from supply, engineering and industry quickly resolve problems on aircraft that have been grounded for a short time — those that have flown in the last 160 days and have fewer than 10 problems.
“We have all the entities right there making decisions on what aircraft to go after,” Gahagan said. “… That has proven very effective.”
If the Navy is going to be ready to take on a near-peer adversary, it must maintain its high mission-capable rates on fighter aircraft, he added. Planes’ readiness rates are assessed daily, he said, so they’ll know quickly if they begin to see those levels dip again.
“When it gets to that number, that shows there’s indicators that we’re not sustaining,” Gahagan said. “[We’ll have to look at] where is that? What organization? And how can we stop those problems and get it back to where we are? “We will know every day.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Military.com)
30 Sep 19. US Navy FRCE concludes fly-in maintenance on USMC Harrier jet. The US Navy Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has completed planned fly-in maintenance on the last US Marine Corps (USMC) AV-8B Harrier vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) aircraft. FRCE delivered the completely assembled Harrier jet to Marine Attack Training Squadron 203.
The Harrier was the 121st AV-8B aircraft to have undergone Planned Maintenance Interval 1 (PMI-1) at the depot. FRCE will undertake PMI-D service on the V/STOL aircraft. The PMI-D will see the depot induct an already disassembled aircraft and deliver it the same way.
The USMC will phase out the AV-8 aircraft by 2025 and extend the service life of the F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters.
FRCE AV-8 and In-Service Repair branch head Ike Rettenmair said: “We won’t have any PMI-1 aircraft, but we’ll still get special rework AV-8s, crash-damaged AV-8s for example, or we’ll send our artisans out for squadron work via in-service repair.
“We’ll see opportunities like that come up on occasion, and we’ll be the support facility for those instances, in addition to the PMI-D work.”
The depot is currently the sole provider of PMI-1 service to the aircraft and will deliver the final AV-8B PMI-1 jet to the Italian Navy next month.
FRCE AV-8 Harrier programme aircraft task manager Bob Henke said: “The shift is based on the eventual drawdown on the AV-8 platform, and the transition to the F-35. The AV-8 is still a valuable asset, but this is how the cycle works, retire an existing platform and start a new one.”
The FRCE and FRC Southwest (FRCSW) will be designated as PMI-D hubs. FRCSW will end providing services to the aircraft in 2021, while FRCE will operate as the sole depot-level service provider and continue to provide PMI-D until 2026. The transition to PMI-D reduces the total workload on the depot. (Source: naval-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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