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LOCATIONS
LAND
07 Apr 20. Temporary mortuary facility to be created in Cambridge at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group hangar. A hangar at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group will be turned into a temporary mortuary for if needed. A temporary mortuary facility will be created in Cambridge for if existing provision is not sufficient during the coronavirus pandemic.
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has provided one of its hangers to Cambridgeshire County Council and work will begin tomorrow (Wednesday, April 8) to ensure the facility is ready, if needed. The facility will be a prefabricated building inside the hangar and will only be used by funeral directors and those looking after the site and run to the highest standards. There will be no public access or post-mortem activity taking place at the site.
Cambridgeshire County Council leader Cllr Steve Count said: “Local authorities have a duty to ensure that temporary mortuary facilities are available, and while we hope we don’t have to use them, we have to be ready. We’re grateful to Marshall Aerospace and Defence in playing their part in helping us deal with this emergency situation and we really appreciate them coming forward in this way.” (Source: https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/)
06 Apr 20. Australia awards contract to Lendlease for new navy facilities. The Australian Government has awarded a $365m managing contract to Lendlease Building Contractors for the first tranche of works on new defence facilities at HMAS Stirling and the Australian Maritime Complex in Henderson. The contract will boost the economy and generate up to 750 construction jobs. The facilities will support new Perth-based ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). They will also support the increased number of navy personnel living and training at HMAS Stirling, which will provide living-in accommodation and a specialist training centre. The centre will train navy crews in operating and maintaining the new Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). The RAN will use Australian Maritime Complex site for operational maintenance and through-life support of the Arafura class.
Australian Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said: “Major infrastructure projects like these will continue to support our defence and construction industries at a time of great uncertainty during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Morrison government has ensured local industry is given maximum opportunity to be involved, with Lendlease committing to an 85% target for local sub-contract work under our Defence Policy for Industry Participation.
“These works are the third package to be delivered under the Navy Capability Infrastructure sub-programme, which will total approximately $2.1bn of new facilities and infrastructure to be delivered across Australia over the next six years.”
The announcement follows the commencement of the construction of the remaining ten new Arafura-class OPVs under development at the Civmec shipyard in Henderson. The first two OPVs are being built in Adelaide. HMAS Arafura, the first of the Arafura-class vessels, is based at HMAS Stirling. The vessel will commence trials next year and join the service from 2022. (Source: naval-technology.com)
MARITIME
09 Apr 20. Huntington Ingalls Industries Begins Fabrication of Destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128). Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division officially started fabrication of the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128) on Monday. The start of fabrication signifies the first 100 tons of steel have been cut.
“As we begin this important milestone in the construction of another great warship, we look forward to continuing production and carrying on the extraordinary legacy of the Navy destroyer fleet,” Ingalls DDG 51 Program Manager George Nungesser said.
The ship’s name honors former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, who served as a pilot in World War II and later as a senator representing Alaska. At the time he left office in 2009, he was the longest-serving Republican U.S. Senator in history.
Ingalls has delivered 31 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction include Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Frank E. Peterson Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) and Jack H. Lucas (DDG125).
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States’ military strategy. The guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Apr 20. Major milestone for Australian Navy’s multibillion-dollar OPV program. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price and Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, have welcomed another major milestone in the delivery of the Royal Australian Navy’s future Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels.
Minister Reynolds and Minister Price have welcomed the next stage in the government’s $90bn Naval Shipbuilding program with the ceremonial keel laying of the second Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) in Adelaide.
The keel laying is an important shipyard and naval tradition that brings good luck to the build of the ship and the life of the vessel by placing a coin under the keel.
Minister Reynolds said the keel laying reinforces the continued progress and ongoing success story of this Morrison government’s $90bn continuous shipbuilding endeavour in Australia.
“The Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels are larger than the Armidale Class patrol boats currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy, and will offer greater endurance and capability for patrolling Australia’s maritime borders,” Minister Reynolds said. (Source: Defence Connect)
07 Apr 20. HMS Audacious Sets Sail for Her Home Base. HMS Audacious, the fourth of seven Astute-class attack submarines being built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, set sail from our Barrow-in-Furness site today.
New ways of working and amended protocols have been introduced at the site, in line with Government guidelines, to enable a small team of employees to provide vital support to the Royal Navy ahead of the boat’s departure, while protecting their health and wellbeing.
The submarine was guided into open water for the first time before setting off on her inaugural journey to Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, the home of the UK’s Submarine Service.
Cliff Robson, Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines, said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for employees, their families and the community but, as is often the case in times of great adversity, it has been truly humbling to see everyone come together to support the Government’s critical defence programmes and help deliver HMS Audacious.”
Ian Booth, Chief Executive of the Submarine Delivery Agency, said: “The departure of HMS Audacious from Barrow is a key milestone in the Astute Class programme. The delivery of our incredibly complex submarine programmes depends on the extremely skilled submarine workforce and close collaboration with our industrial partners across the supply chain to deliver a first class product for the Royal Navy. I am extremely grateful to everyone involved in the significant efforts to meet this milestone and the key roles they have played in the shadow of these unprecedented circumstances to get HMS Audacious to sea.”
The boat’s departure comes days after the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, thanked the defence industry for its efforts to continue to deliver critical and nationally important defence operations and programmes during the difficult and unprecedented times the country is facing.
The 97 metre, 7,400-tonne Astute-class submarines are the most capable submarines ever built for the Royal Navy. The first three submarines, HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful are in service, while the final three Astute-class are at various stages of construction at Barrow. (Source: ASD Network)
07 Apr 20. Philippine Coast Guard’s 84m OPV arrives home. A French-built 84m offshore patrol vessel (OPV) that will be in service with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has arrived home. The vessel, which will be known as BRP Gabriela Silang (8301) once it is commissioned, arrived in Manila Bay on 7 April, the PCG disclosed on the same day. The OPV was launched by OCEA, at Les Sables d’Olonne in July 2019 and handed over to the PCG in December the same year. Gabriela Silang is powered by twin MTU 16V 4000 M73 diesel engines, and has a contractual maximum speed of 22kt with a range of 8,000n miles at 12kt. (Source: Jane’s)
06 Apr 20. Covid-19: French helo carrier Dixmude deploys to the Caribbean. The Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude (L9015) departed from Toulon on 3 April to support French overseas territories in the Caribbean to combat the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The ship is carrying equipment and supplies to help local authorities improve their capacities to deal with the crisis. Dixmude will then “be stationed in the area, where it can be used for logistical or transport missions” to help local populations, according to a 3 April press release by the French navy (Marine Nationale). Dixmude will not interact with Covid-19 patients, but rather will help local hospitals take care of patients that have non- coronavirus health issues, the French media added. (Source: Jane’s)
06 Apr 20. Iran plans to construct 6,000-tonne destroyer. Iran is planning to build a destroyer that displaces about 6,000 tonnes, according to an interview with Admiral Amir Rastegari, the head of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL)’s Maritime Industries Organisation. Admiral Rastegari identified the “heavy destroyer” as the Negin in an interview published on the MODAFL’s website on 4 April, saying that its design had been completed and that he hoped its construction will start in the Persian year 1399, which began on 20 March. He said that its size would enable it to conduct long-range patrols for up to two months, giving the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) a strategic capability. (Source: Jane’s)
04 Apr 20. U.S. Navy Attack Submarine USS Delaware Joins the Fleet. The U.S. Navy commissioned USS Delaware (SSN 791), the 18th Virginia-class attack submarine, today, April 4, 2020. Although the traditional public commissioning ceremony was cancelled due to public health safety and restrictions of large public gatherings, the Navy commissioned USS Delaware administratively and transitioned the ship to normal operations. Meanwhile, the Navy is looking at a future opportunity to commemorate the special event with the ship’s sponsor, crew and commissioning committee.
“This Virginia-class fast-attack submarine will continue the proud naval legacy of the state of Delaware and the ships that have borne her name,” said Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly. “I am confident that the crew of this cutting edge platform will carry on this tradition, confronting the many challenges of today’s complex world with the professionalism and agility the American people depend on from the warriors of the silent service.”
Vice Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, Submarine Forces, said he is pleased to welcome the ship to the U.S. submarine fleet and contribute to its unmatched undersea warfighting superiority.
“The U.S. Navy values the support of all those who contributed to today’s momentous milestone and will look for a future opportunity to commemorate this special event,” Caudle said. “The sailors of USS Delaware hail from every corner of the nation and from every walk of life. This crew, and the crews who follow, will rise to every challenge with unmatched bravery and perseverance to ensure the U.S. Submarine Force remains the best in the world.”
The ship’s sponsor, Dr. Jill Biden, offered congratulations to everyone who played a role in delivering USS Delaware to service.
“I know this submarine and her crew of courageous sailors will carry the steadfast strength of my home state wherever they go,” she said. “The sailors who fill this ship are the very best of the Navy, and as you embark on your many journeys, please know that you and those whom you love are in my thoughts.”
Delaware’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Matthew Horton, said today marks the culmination of six years of hard work by the men and women who constructed the submarine and are preparing her to become a warship. He said he is especially thankful to the crew and their families, Dr. Biden, the USS Delaware Commissioning Committee and the Navy League of Hampton Roads for all their hard work and support.
“As we do our part to maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy well into the future, today marks a milestone for the sailors who serve aboard USS Delaware. Whether they have been here for her initial manning three years ago, or have just reported, they all are strong, capable submariners ready to sail the nation’s newest warship into harm’s way,” Horton said. “I am equally proud of the families who have stood by through the long hours of shift work, testing, and sea trials and supported our mission with patriotism and devotion.”
This is the first time in nearly 100 years the name “Delaware” has been used for a U.S. Navy vessel. It is the seventh U.S. Navy ship, and first submarine, to bear the name of the state of Delaware. Delaware is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; delivery of special operations forces; strike warfare; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and mine warfare.
The submarine is 377 feet long, has a 34-foot beam, and will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. It will operate for over 30 years without ever refueling. Delaware’s keel was laid April 30, 2016, and was christened during a ceremony Oct. 20, 2018. It is the final Block III Virginia-class submarine, before the next wave of Block IV deliveries. (Source: US DoD)
03 Apr 20. India set to deliver Myanmar’s first submarine. New Delhi is preparing to deliver a Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine that was in service with the Indian Navy as INS Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy. The transfer will also include operational and maintenance training to the Myanmar Navy, which will be operating a submarine for the first time. However, it is unclear if this represents a lease or a permanent transfer. Sindhuvir was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1988 and was in service as part of the 11th submarine squadron, which is based at Vishakhapatnam. The boat completed a refit at the state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. from August 2017 to February 2020. (Source: Jane’s)
AIR
07 Apr 20. Malian Super Tucano crashes. In a major blow to the Malian Armed Forces’ (FAMa’s) counter-insurgency capabilities, one of its four Embraer EMB 314/A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprops crashed on 7 April. The FAMa announced details of the crash later that day, saying it happened near Sévaré Camp in central Mali. The Malian Air Force’s Base Aérienne 102 is located at Sévaré Airport. Chief of Staff of the Air Force Brigadier General Souleymane Doucouré held a press conference during which he identified the aircraft (TZ-04) and the two Malian pilots who were killed. (Source: Jane’s)
08 Apr 20. RAN’s MH-60R helicopters to begin first-of-class flight trials aboard LHD. First-of-class flight trials for Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) MH-60R ‘Romeo’ maritime multirole helicopters aboard landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel HMAS Adelaide will begin shortly, the RAN announced on 7 April.
The trials, which will take place off the Queensland coast, will determine the safe operating limits of the Lockheed Martin-made anti-submarine- and anti-surface warfare-capable helicopters aboard the 27,500 tonne LHD in a range of sea states and wind speeds at both day and night.
They will also include aviation facilities assessments, equipment calibration, and evaluation of the interface between a particular helicopter type and class of ship.
“While MH-60R aircraft have been used on HMA ships Adelaide and [sister ship] Canberra for some time, new tests are required to determine what new safe operating limits they can achieve when working together,” said Lieutenant Commander Chris Broad of the RAN’s Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit. Deliveries of 24 MH-60Rs to the RAN began in 2013 and were completed in August 2016. (Source: Jane’s)
07 Apr 20. New Squadron Is Rafale Prize for Qatar. The Qatar Emiri Air Force has now received three batches of Dassault Rafales, totalling 15 aircraft, and the first squadron is working up at the new Tamim Air Base at Dukhan in western Qatar. Qatar originally signed a €6.3bn ($6.92bn) memorandum of understanding covering the supply of 24 Rafales (six of them two-seat trainers) in May 2015, on the opening day of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX). Its purchase of the Rafale follows earlier acquisitions of the Dassault Mirage F1, the Alpha Jet and Mirage 2000. Qatar paid a deposit for the Rafales on December 16, 2015, reportedly funded by Japanese banks. Twelve more Rafales were added to the original order in December 2017 and Qatar retains an option to buy up to 36 more. The first Qatari Rafale, a two-seater, made its maiden flight from Bordeaux-Merignac, in France, on June 28 2016, and the country’s initial single-seat Rafale EQ took off for the first time on March 27 2017. These early aircraft were quickly transferred to the French Air Force flight-test centre at Istres Airbase for testing. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Arabian Aerospace)
08 Apr 20. Saab conducts cold climate test for Gripen E aircraft. Saab has conducted cold climate tests for Gripen E multirole fighter aircraft in northern Sweden to examine its operation in adverse climates. The tests were conducted in Vidsel Air Force Base (AFB) in Sweden as part of World Wide Climate campaign. Operation of the aircraft was tested with regard to its maintenance, normal start-ups, flights, landings and braking on a naturally snow and ice-covered landing strip. The tests were performed in extreme weather conditions in temperatures spanning from -20°C to -26°C. Following the tests, the result and data received were recorded for further review.
Saab test aircraft coordinator Katarina Milososka said: “The result was above expectations and we got a lot of really valuable data to review.”
Gripen E is scheduled to undergo hot climate tests to be conducted in Sweden. Hot and humid tests in Brazil will follow. The two-seater Gripen is expected to be an important addition to Saab’s product line, for Brazil and other customers. Last month, Saab started manufacturing the first two-seater fighter aircraft Gripen F for the Brazilian Air Force. The programme commenced after the company performed the first metal cut for the fighter aircraft. In February this year, Saab completed its participation in the Finnish Air Force testing and evaluation event with Gripen E and GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. The aircraft was evaluated as part of the capability assessment in the Finnish HX Challenge event at Pirkkala AFB for the procurement of new fighter aircraft for the Finnish Air Force. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
03 Apr 20. German Tornados leave Jordan. Tornado reconnaissance aircraft of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader (Tactical Air Force Wing) 33 returned to their home base at Büchel from Al-Asraq, Jordan, on 2 April, the Bundeswehr announced on its website the same day.
Their homecoming ended a four-year mission against the Islamic State, starting from Incirlik, Turkey, in January 2016, and continuing from Al-Asraq starting in October 2017. During that period, the four Luftwaffe Tornados clocked up 7,500 flying hours during 2,467 missions, including more than 870 from Al-Asraq, collecting about 114,000 images for Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’, according to the Bundeswehr. The German Ministry of Defence said on its website on 26 March that the Tornado reconnaissance mission would be taken over by other coalition partners after previously specifying Italy. The Luftwaffe will continue to provide aerial refuelling to the anti-Islamic State coalition with an A400M air-to-air refuelling (AAR) version deployed to Al-Asraq since July 2019, which is the only German aircraft remaining there. The AAR mission has also been conducted by a Luftwaffe Airbus A310 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). (Source: Jane’s)
05 Apr 20. Images emerge of possible ASW-capable variant of China’s Z-20 helicopter. Images have emerged on Chinese online forums showing a second naval variant of the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG) Z-20 medium-lift tactical helicopter that has apparently been undergoing flight trials. The photographs show that the apparent anti-submarine-warfare (ASW)-capable variant, which is being commonly referred to as the Z-20F, is equipped with a radar under its front fuselage that is similar in appearance to the AN/APS 147/153 multimode radar fitted on the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. The variant is also fitted with small stub-pylons mounted above the front landing gear for external stores, a ‘bubble’ observation side window, and what appears to be a provision for a dipping sonar to be deployed from below the aircraft. (Source: Jane’s)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
10 Apr 20. Boeing considers potential 10% cut to workforce – WSJ. Boeing Co (BA.N) is considering a plan to cut its workforce by about 10%, which could involve buyouts, early retirements and involuntary layoffs, the Wall Street Journal reported here on Thursday. The potential job cuts are expected to largely target Boeing’s commercial arm, the report added. Boeing was not immediately available for comment outside office hours. (Source: Reuters)
07 Apr 20. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper Accepts Resignation of Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly. Today, Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper accepted the resignation of Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly and announced that he is appointing current Army Undersecretary Jim McPherson as Acting Secretary of the Navy. For Secretary Esper’s statement, please click here https://media.defense.gov/2020/Apr/07/2002276820/-1/-1/1/SECRETARY-OF-DEFENSE-ESPER-ACCEPTS-RESIGNATION-OF-ACTING-SECRETARY-OF-THE-NAVY-THOMAS-MODLY.PDF (Source: US DoD)
05 Apr 20. Boeing is extending the temporary suspension of production operations at all Puget Sound area and Moses Lake sites until further notice. These actions are being taken in light of the company’s continuing focus on the health and safety of employees, current assessment of the spread of COVID-19 in Washington state, the reliability of the supply chain and additional recommendations from government health authorities. During the suspension, the company will continue to implement additional health and safety measures at its facilities to protect employees. These measures include new visual cues to encourage physical distancing, more frequent and thorough cleaning of work and common areas and staggering shift times to reduce the flow of employees arriving and departing work, among many other improvements.
“The health and safety of our employees, their families and our communities is our shared priority,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal. “We will take this time to continue to listen to our incredible team and assess applicable government direction, the spread of the coronavirus in the community and the reliability of our suppliers to ensure we are ready for a safe and orderly return to operations.”
The volunteers who have been supporting essential site and services work should continue to report to their assigned shifts. Puget Sound area and Moses Lake employees who can work from home should continue to do so. As the suspension of operations continues, Boeing will monitor government guidance and actions on COVID-19 and associated impact on all company operations. Boeing sites that remain open are being monitored and assessed on a daily basis.
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
09 Apr 20. BG John J. Allen, director of civil engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to commander, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland, Texas.
09 Apr 20. BG (select) William H. Kale, chief, House Liaison Division, Office of the Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to director of civil engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
07 Apr 20. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper announced that he is appointing current Army Undersecretary Jim McPherson as Acting Secretary of the Navy. (Source: US DoD)
07 Apr 20. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer, currently assigned as the command senior enlisted leader for NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan and Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, has been selected to replace Command Sgt. Maj. Robert A. Flournoy as the command senior enlisted leader for Special Operations Command – Central, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
06 Apr 20. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Jones, currently assigned as the command sergeant major for U.S. Army Pacific Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, has been selected to replace Sgt. Maj. Bryan K. Zickefoose as the command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida.
07 Apr 20. Navy Command Master Chief Peter C. Musselman, currently assigned as the Naval Special Warfare Unit Two and Special Operations Command Forward – Southern Europe command master chief, Stuttgart, Germany, has been selected to replace Command Sgt. Maj. Bruce W. Holmes as the command senior enlisted leader for Special Operations Command – Europe, Stuttgart, Germany.
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
09 Apr 20. SAP NS2 and Ossia Announce Strategic Alliance Partnership. SAP NS2® and Ossia partner to provide end-to-end IoT solution to defense, intelligence and regulated industry customers. SAP National Security Services, Inc. (SAP NS2®), a U.S. based independent subsidiary of SAP, today announced an alliance partnership with Ossia Inc. (Ossia), the company behind Cota® Real Wireless Power™. By joining forces, SAP NS2 and Ossia will together deliver unparalleled end-to-end enterprise solutions that helps turn customers’ businesses and operations into intelligent enterprises.
Ossia’s FCC-certified Cota technology efficiently delivers targeted energy to devices at a distance without wires, cables, or charging pads. SAP NS2 brings best-in-class capabilities to enhance innovative computing, analytics, and cloud solutions for the commercial, aerospace & defense, and intelligence community customers.
The timing of the announcement of this partnership comes at a time when organizations are in dire need of critical infrastructure, technology, and innovation. As the COVID-19 crisis continues to upset the status quo, companies across sectors are looking for digital solutions that help them navigate the IoT landscape. In the words of FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, at a January 15, 2020 hearing before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, “…wireless power may be vital for the success of future connectivity and productivity.” SAP NS2 in partnership with Ossia is proud to play a part in bringing these solutions to the forefront for enterprises.
SAP NS2 customers can now get access to Cota-enabled wireless power technologies, provided by Ossia and its rapidly growing network of partners, to efficiently architect and support SAP’s IoT-based solutions. Leveraging Ossia’s Cota technology, customers can more broadly deploy smart devices and sensors without the traditional constraints of wires and batteries, thereby creating a more extensive network of devices for data collection, insights, and actions.
In addition, SAP NS2 will showcase Cota-enabled products at its NS2 Labs located in Chantilly, Virginia. A leading co-innovation space, the NS2 labs are focused on solving problems for national security by providing access to the most innovative and state-of-the-art technologies available, agnostic of industry.
Ossia continues to license its Cota technology to a growing ecosystem of equipment makers, battery manufacturers, telecommunication providers, and infrastructure installation partners. Ossia has received two FCC certifications for Cota wireless power systems last year, with many more planned as Cota-enabled products continue to develop.
Combined with SAP Digital Core Software Extensions and hyperscaler integration, Ossia’s FCC-certified wireless power solutions will allow SAP NS2 to provide new opportunities for its customers to extend device integration when fixed power sources are not available or practical. Paired with SAP NS2’s secure cloud offerings, which provide enterprise and public sector customers with secure SAP technical services and infrastructure, SAP NS2 customers will also be able to leverage Ossia’s capabilities to capitalize on the following trends:
- Reduced reliance on wires and disposable batteries to transmit power to IoT devices,
- The need to prepare customers for enterprise use cases in support of the 5G telecommunication standard,
- Demand for new products that service global track and trace tracking for large assets through the supply chain, and
- Increased enterprise visibility to assess and remediate battery charge levels of IoT devices
“Our alliance with Ossia allows us to better navigate the complex IoT environment that currently exists for businesses and contractors working with the public sector – particularly as it relates to supporting mission-focused solutions,” said Kyle Rice, CTO, SAP NS2. “We believe this partnership will allow us to provide better, more streamlined solutions to our customers in A&D and national security, while also raising the standard for IoT solutions.”
“This partnership drives synergy across NS2, SAP, and Ossia. Together, we will deliver real customer value aligned with the strategic advisory, implementation, and center of excellence services provided by U.S. citizens on U.S. soil,” said Mario Obeidat, CEO of Ossia. “The SAP digital platform with Cota wireless power solutions, combined with NS2’s powering of the Secure Intelligent Enterprise, delivers on the complex and unique requirements of highly regulated, secure customers.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
PERSONNEL
08 Apr 20. A look at how DOD’s workforce may shift post-coronavirus. Social distancing, masks and virtual meetings are the new normal across government, including at the Department of Defense. But what will working in DOD look like on the other side of the COVID-19 curve?
“I don’t think the world’s going back,” said Dave Mihelcic, the Defense Information Systems Agency’s former CTO who now consults with DMMI, noting that he’s already setting up virtual meetings on mobile devices to keep business going domestically and internationally. “There’s some big advantages to letting people work from home.”
Lower facility costs and better recruiting capabilities are easy wins with the majority of a workforce being remote. And there are several areas that will see significant changes in the near future: The explosive demand for secure devices being chief among them.
“You will see more interest in general in mobility and telework, specifically within organizations other than DOD that have to deal with very sensitive information. And much more interest in better security, and the ability to do multiple levels of security on single devices,” said Terry Halvorsen, a former DOD CIO and now Samsung’s CIO and executive vice president for IT and mobile business.
Mihelcic said with that demand will come the need for IT workers to provision devices without touching them.
“DOD may need to rethink parts of how it does IT and be better prepared for how to do things remotely in a no-touch environment,” he said. “How do you minimize the number of people who have to touch an item?”
Mihelcic predicted those solutions, whatever they are, will not only need to work with all of DOD’s mission partners but support a culture shift where data collection, sharing and analysis are all more precise.
Data access and processing at edge environments will become paramount post-pandemic.” Halvorsen said, because “you’ve got the ability now to store amazing amounts of data at the edge…. The phone I’m talking to you on, I’ve got a terabyte of storage on it.”
The computing power now available for edge devices paired with “augmented intelligence” that can be used to “filter the big volumes of data” will make working remotely much easier, he said.
“One of the other problems you’ve got when people are all working on edges, some of the tools that help people filter in and cut the data down are not available,” he said. “Today we flood people generally with data, not so much valuable information, but lots of data.”
Halvorsen said applications and data access aren’t guaranteed even when the network is available — an issue for government and industry.
“I think you will see an explosion in secure applications that allow this to be done more securely and to actually do more with the data, more analytical tools that can operate in a mobile fashion,” he said.
But there’s no large-scale data sharing without cloud, which will definitely become more important in future emergency events, Mihelcic said.
“If there was an environment that supports edge computing and edge cloud better — that’s the future and that’s helpful,” he said.
When asked how the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, the Pentagon’s embattled $10bn cloud effort that’s under protest, would be helpful if it were already in place and running before the coronavirus infections spread throughout the U.S., Halvorsen said DOD is already on the path to more edge computing power and cloud usage.
“If there was an environment in place that supported edge computing and edge cloud better, and I think that’s where DOD is going to go, regardless of how JEDI turns out.” (Source: Defense Systems)
07 Apr 20. New naval facilities to provide 750 construction jobs. Works set to commence later this year on new Defence facilities at HMAS Stirling and Henderson will bring a much needed economic boost to Western Australia and create 750 new jobs. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price announced the award of a $365m managing contract to Lendlease Building Contractors for the first tranche of works at HMAS Stirling and the Australian Maritime Complex.
The new facilities will support Navy’s new Perth-based ships, as well as the increased number of Navy personnel living and training at HMAS Stirling.
Minister Price said the government’s record investment in defence capability was more important now than ever.
“Major infrastructure projects like these will continue to support our defence and construction industries at a time of great uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Price said.
“The Morrison government has ensured local industry is given maximum opportunity to be involved, with Lendlease committing to an 85 per cent target for local sub-contract work under our Defence Policy for Industry Participation.
“These works are the third package to be delivered under the Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub-program, which will total approximately $2.1bn of new facilities and infrastructure to be delivered across Australia over the next six years.”
The facilities at HMAS Stirling include living-in accommodation and a specialist training centre to train Navy’s crews in operating and maintaining the new Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
The Australian Maritime Complex site will be used by Navy, in concert with key industry partners, for operational maintenance and through-life support of the Arafura Class.
The announcement follows the commencement of construction of the remaining 10 new Arafura Class OPVs, being built at the Civmec shipyard in Henderson. The first two OPVs are being built in Adelaide.
The first of the Arafura Class vessels, HMAS Arafura, will be based at HMAS Stirling and is planned to commence trials in 2021 and begin operational employment from 2022. (Source: Defence Connect)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
06 Apr 20. The President of the Republic has ratified the proposal made by Naval Group’s Board of Directors to appoint Pierre Éric Pommellet as Chairman of the group’s Board of Directors and to delegate to him the duties of Chief Executive Officer. As the terms of office of several directors just came to an end, the Board of Directors has been partly renewed.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
03 Apr 20. Dedrone, the market leader in counter-drone technology, has appointed Aaditya Devarakonda as President and Chief Business Officer. Devarakonda will join Dedrone co-founders Joerg Lamprecht (CEO), Rene Seeber (CTO), and Ingo Seebach (COO) as a key executive overseeing global sales, marketing, business development, product, and finance. He will be based in Dedrone’s headquarters in San Francisco, CA. (Source: PR Newswire)
06 Apr 20. FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) today announced that Paula M. Cooney has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources (HR) Officer. Ms. Cooney will report to President and CEO Jim Cannon and will assume a strategic role in the growth and organizational health at FLIR. As the global leader for FLIR Systems’ HR team, Ms. Cooney will be responsible for leading the human resources function and ensuring that the human capital agenda supports the company’s business objectives. She will be a strategic business partner to Jim Cannon and the broader executive leadership team and will work with the group to develop and align human resources strategies. She will focus on all elements of organization transformation (structure, culture, employment brand, talent, succession planning, change management, engagement, and acquisition integration).
06 Apr 20. Eric Chewning, a former defense official who most recently served as chief of staff to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, has returned to consulting giant McKinsey & Company. Starting Monday, the former official will return as a partner, picking up a role he held from 2014-2017 before departing for the Pentagon.
“We’re excited to have one of the world’s most respected experts on the defense industry rejoin McKinsey,” Varun Marya, senior partner and Americas leader of McKinsey’s aerospace and defense practice, told Defense News. “Eric will bring his expertise to support clients across several pillars of the U.S. economy, including aerospace and defense, electronics and semi-conductors.”
In 2017, Chewning was confirmed as deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial policy, a time period that included him playing a major role in a presidentially-mandated study of the defense industrial base. Coming out of that study, Chewning spearheaded the efforts to use the Defense Production Act to bolster vulnerable production lines.
Then in January 2019, he was tapped by then-acting secretary of defense Pat Shanahan to serve as chief of staff. When Shanahan departed and was replaced by now-secretary Esper, Chewning stayed on, before departing earlier this year.
Chewning returns to the consulting firm at a time when the defense industry, in particular the small and mid-tier firms he attempted to bolster while holding the industrial base job, are reeling from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. (Source: Defense News)
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