Posts Tagged ‘ contracts – awards ’

Somewhere, over the rainbow… (click to view full) Nuclear reactors save a lot of diesel fuel, but until the new CVN-21 carriers arrive, there’s a catch. Mid-way through the ships’ 50-year life, the nuclear reactor needs to be refueled – a long, complex, and expensive process. Anyone who has ever done home renovations knows that the opportunity to make upgrades can be nearly irresistible in these situations, and in truth, this stage in the carrier’s life is a very good time for that kind of work. The USS Abraham Lincoln [CVN 72] was built by Northrop Grumman’s Newport News sector . Commissioned on Nov 11/89 and homeported in Everett, WA, CVN 72 is expected to remain in service until 2039. As it approaches its mid-life stage, however, its mid-life upgrade and reactor refueling approaches. Its counterparts USS Carl Vinson [CVN 70] has jus completed its RCOH, and USS Theodore Roosevelt’s [CVN 71] is underway. CVN 72 is just getting ready to deploy, but in a few years she will become the 6th American carrier to undergo this procedure… (more…)

Continued here: Shall Not Perish: RCOH for CVN-72, USS Abraham Lincoln

Looking a little dated (click to view full) The Navy recently awarded an $83 million contract for e-CASS development, production and testing. The AN/USM-636(V) Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS) is the US Navy’s standard automatic test equipment family. It provides intermediate, depot and factory level support, both ashore and afloat, for testing all Navy electronics, from aircraft to ships and submarines. CASS has been around since 1990, and it’s time for an upgrade. The Navy is planning to replace the existing 5 CASS mainframe systems with the next-generation electronic CASS (e-CASS) system. US Naval aviation currently uses 713 CASS stations for testing of aircraft electronics. CASS is also used at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and in 9 foreign countries… (more…)

Here is the original post: US Navy’s Got CASS: Updating a 1990s Vintage Automatic Test System

Back in June 2006, “ Boeing, Raytheon Teams Readying US Border Security Submissions ” covered preparations for a big border surveillance contract. It was all part of the USA’s Secure Border Initiative (SBI), a comprehensive plan to secure U.S. borders and reduce illegal immigration, including an array of technical aids and elements on both the northern Canadian border and the southern border with Mexico. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency would lead and execute both the SBI and related SBInet “virtual fence” efforts, mirroring similar programs underway around the world. As promised, a winner was announced in September 2006 – and it was Team Boeing. Now, however, funding has been frozen. This article reports on current developments, and traces the project’s history through a series of GAO reports… (more…)

View post: The USA’s SBInet Border Security Project

US “Chair” Force? (click to view full) UAVs have played a crucial role in gathering intelligence in the US military’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are thousands of UAVs gathering and distributing valuable data on the enemy, but each system uses its own proprietary subsystem to control the air vehicle as well as receive and process the data. Yet commanders need access to information gathered by all types of UAVs that are flying missions in their area of operation. Recognizing this shortcoming, the Pentagon began an effort in 2008 to break down the proprietary barriers between UAV systems and create a single GCS that will fly all types of drones. This free-to-view DID Spotlight article examines the problem of proprietary UAV systems and efforts to break down barriers to sharing vital UAV-generated information. Ground Control to Major Tom Come Together Are You Going STANAG? Masters of the Universe One is the Loneliest Number Red ROVER, Red ROVER Too Close to the Sun Contracts and Key Events Additional Readings (more…)

Read more: It’s Better to Share: Breaking Down UAV GCS Barriers

MK13 flash-bang grenade American Rheinmetall Munitions (ARM), a Stafford, VA-based subsidiary of Germany’s Rheinmetall Defence, received a $28.8 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract from the US Navy for an improved flash-bang grenade. ARM currently supplies the MK13 Mod 0 BTV-EL flash-bang grenade to US special ops forces and other US military customers. The MK13 is a stun grenade that produces a blinding flash and deafening noise levels sufficient to daze and disorient the target, without causing permanent injury, the company explains. The MK13 uses a delay fuze that detonates the grenade 1.5 seconds after the fly-off lever is released… (more…)

Read more here: Flash, Bang!: Rheinmettall Gets $28.8M Contract for Stun Grenade

Yellow gear on aircraft carrier Small business qualifier LPI Technical Services in Chesapeake, VA received an $84.1 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to furnish repair, maintenance, modernization, logistical, and technical support services for material handling equipment (yellow gear) and hull, mechanical, and electric (HM&E) machinery and systems for ship operation and performance. HM&E equipment includes a broad range of shipboard equipment, ranging from appliances to transformers. Material handling equipment known as “ yellow gear ” is used for aircraft handling, servicing, maintenance and fire fighting on aircraft carriers… (more…)

View post: LPI Gets $84.1M US Navy Contract for Yellow Gear, HM&E Support

K-707, F/A-18, EA-6B Aerial tankers are essential when moving large quantities of men and materials long distances, or stretching the range and length of fighter combat air patrols. Most are government-owned, but a segment of semi-privatized services may be set to grow alongside existing military fleets. Could DID readers find themselves flying to an Azores vacation on a chartered aerial tanker during its “spare hours”? As Britain’s proposed FSTA public-private aerial tanker partnership comes to fruition, that’s exactly what could happen. The USA’s KC-45 competition was set to buy up to 179 aircraft for the USAF’s fleet instead, and may yet do so. Even here, however, some outsourcing is going on. Enter Omega Refueling Services, Inc… (more…)

Read the original post: US Military Contracts for Private Aerial Refueling Services

South African JAS-39D c. Gripen International (click to view full) Swedish upgrade project, issue with India competition, BAE divesting, South African fleet just for show? (March 10/10) As a neutral country with a long history of providing for its own defense against all comers, Sweden also has a long tradition of building excellent high-performance fighters with a distinctive look. From the long-serving Saab-35 Draken (“Dragon,” 1955-2005) to the Mach 2, canard-winged Saab-37 Viggen (“Thunderbolt,” 1971-2005), Swedish fighters have stressed short-field launch from dispersed/improvised air fields, world-class performance, and leading-edge design. This record of consistent project success is nothing short of amazing for a country whose population over this period has ranged from 7-9 million people. This is DID’s FOCUS Article for background, news, and contract awards related to the JAS-39 Gripen (“Griffon”), a canard-winged successor to the Viggen that was built as one of the world’s first 4+ generation fighters. Gripen remains the only lightweight 4+ generation fighter type in service, its performance and operational economics are both world-class, and it has become one of the most recognized fighter aircraft on the planet. Unfortunately for its builders, that recognition has come from its appearance in Saab-Volvo TV commercials, rather than from hoped-for levels of military export success. With its 4+ generation competitors clustered in the $60-120+ million range vs. the Gripen’s claimed $40 million/ $50-60 million for Gripen NG, is there a light at the end of the tunnel for Sweden’s lightweight fighter? JAS-39: The Gripen Program JAS-39NG: A Way Forward? JAS-39 Gripen: Sales Opportunities JAS-39 Gripen: Major Events [updated] JAS-39 Gripen: Contracts & Awards [updated] Additional Readings & Sources (more…)

Read more: The JAS-39 Gripen: Sweden’s 4+ Generation Wild Card

EU warns US about protectionism in KC-X tanker RFP. EU release Brazil’s president not yet sure what fighter to buy . Raytheon gets $152 million order to provide engineering services for the Patroit anti-air missile defense system . Up to $600 million to Rolls-Royce to provide logistics support for the AE 1107C-Liberty engines powering MV-22 and CV-22 Ospreys . USJFCOM ready to deploy Valiant Angel system that uses commercial technology to access, retrieve and store large data files for US troops in Afghanistan.

View post: Rapid Fire: 2010-03-10

QF-4: the QF-16 predecessor (click to view full) QF-16s [pdf] are former F-16 fighters that will be fitted with remote-control equipment and used as aerial targets and decoys for testing against missiles and radars. Boeing in St. Louis, MO recently received a $69.7 million contract to provide QF-16 full scale aerial targets. The USAF expects to buy 220 QF-16 with full rate production expected in FY 2014. The QF-16 is a follow-on to the QF-4 aerial target drone… (more…)

Link: QF-16s: Look Ma, No Hands!