ARMY BAE Systems Inc., Nashua, N.H., was awarded a $66,000,015 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of AN/AAR-57 common missile warning systems. The contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The work will be performed in Nashua, with an estimated completion date of March 6, 2015. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-13-C-C108).
AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., (FA8810-13-C-0002) is being awarded a $105,868,182 cost-plus incentive-fee and fixed-price incentive-firm contract for contractor logistics support, legacy sustainment and combined task force support for the Space Based Infrared Systems. The location of the performance is Colorado Springs. The work is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2016. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013. The contracting activity is SMC/ISK, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
Under pressure from a powerful member of Congress, NASA Inspector General Paul Martin is launching an audit of how the U.S. space agency handles access by foreign nationals to its facilities. Martin told Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) about the new audit after a face-to-face drubbing the day before, in which Wolf — chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA — told Martin he was “disappointed” in the way the Office of the Inspector General has enforced laws and regulations designed to protect sensitive technology.
Citing an increased threat in North Korea and Iran, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the United States now plans to purchase 14 additional Ground-based Interceptors and eliminate a developmental missile defense system that the U.S. had planned to deploy in Europe. The Pentagon also will deploy a second TPY-2 radar in Japan and begin conducting environmental impact studies for a third Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system site in the continental U.S. to counter the threat.
STOP START: Kansas lawmakers late March 15 called on the Department of Defense to reinstate the stop-work order on the U.S. Air Force’s Light Air Support Program (See related story). In a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Sen. Pat Roberts (R), Sen. Jerry Moran (R) and Rep.
The U.S. Air Force instructed Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to restart work to deliver 20 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft to the Afghan air force early in 2014, overriding the stop-work order it was required by law to issue after losing bidder Beechcraft protested the award of the $427 million contract.
LONDON — The German government and Eurocopter have come to an agreement on the number of Tiger and NH90 helicopters to be purchased for the German armed forces. Months of negotiations between the two parties came to an end March 15, with the signing of an agreement to purchase a reduced number of helicopters. As part of the deal, Germany will now buy 82 NH90s rather than 122 originally planned, while the number of EC665 Tiger UHT attack helicopters will fall to 57 from 80.
The Brazilian government has selected Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert two Boeing 767-300ERs into multi-role tanker transports for the country’s air arm. Brazilian air force (FAB) commanders announced the decision March 14. The two aircraft will be used to conduct refueling, strategic transport of troops and cargo as well as aero-medical evacuation, according to the requirements set down by the FAB. The will replace the 1960s vintage Boeing KC-137s currently in use.
LONDON — China’s defense spending is on course to be in parity with the United States in as soon as a decade, according to analysts with the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The IISS says that if China’s defense spending continues at its current 15% annual rise, including the military’s research and development efforts, China could be on parity with the U.S. as early as 2023, although this could be pushed back to as 2032 based on projections about the country’s economic growth.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) Mar. 18 - 21 — 2013 29th National Logistics Conference and Exhibition, "Optimizing Support Capabilities in a Resource Constrained Future," Hyatt Regency Miami, Miami, Fla. For more information go to http://exhibits.ndia.org/ndia/public/MainHall.aspx?eventid=683
Civil servants and contractors at NASA will have their wings clipped for the rest of the fiscal year by the automatic sequestration budget cuts that went into effect March 1, with sharp restrictions on travel to conferences and on training not considered essential to doing their jobs.
U.S. Army aviation officials are to brief industry on the results of flight demonstrations conducted late last year as they await a decision on whether they can acquire the new Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) helicopter to replace the Bell OH-58D/F Kiowa Warrior. Aviation-branch officials briefed Army and Pentagon leadership on the results of its AAS study earlier this year, recommending a new acquisition program rather than extending the service life of the 1980s-vintage Kiowa Warrior.
Raytheon has received a subcontract from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to deliver a fifth-generation, medium-frequency, hull-mounted sonar system as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (Darpa) Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (Actuv) program.
The additional crewmembers the U.S. Navy decided to put aboard its first-of-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-1), the USS Freedom, on its first deployment are working well, says Vice Adm. Richard Hunt, the director of Navy staff and head of the special LCS Council of leading service admirals empowered to get the program back on track.
The U.S. Navy is trying to get a handle on the best technology or combination of technologies for ship self-defense, says Vice Adm. Richard Hunt, the director of Navy staff and the head of the special LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) Council of leading service admirals empowered to get the program back on track. Asked whether the LCS would employ chaff, decoys or other ship-defense measures, Hunt said, “We’re looking at all of that. It’s bigger than LCS.”
Cerebrotech Medical Systems Inc. hopes to develop a non-invasive sensor to monitor brain fluid changes believed responsible for vision changes detected in astronauts assigned to long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station.
NEW DELHI — India’s state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) plans to develop an advanced aerostat and communication system to boost military air defenses and enhance surveillance. BEL director S.K. Sharma says the Bengaluru-based defense firm will jointly work with U.S.-based aerostat and airship maker TCOM to design and develop the aerosatat system. “The partnership will augment the surveillance capabilities of our defense services, security services and law enforcement agencies,” Sharma says.
AIR LAUNCH: A Payerne, Switzerland-based startup has joined with France’s Dassault, the European Space Agency and others to propose an air-launched, reusable, unpiloted space shuttle optimized for launching small satellites at low cost. Swiss Space Systems plans to use a vehicle based on Dassault Aviation’s Vehra airborne reusable hypersonic vehicle concept, and a throwaway upper stage, to orbit satellites weighing as much as 250 kg at altitudes of 600-800 km.
