U.S. military export controls haven't kept up with the defense industry's increasing globalization and are hurting the competitiveness of American companies in world markets, according to a new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
BAE SYSTEMS has been awarded a U.S. Navy contract worth $11.7 million to integrate its Broach warhead onto the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW). The first production contract for the multi-stage warhead is scheduled for fiscal year 2003.
Honeywell Inc., Engines and Systems, Phoenix, Ariz., is being awarded $56,523,238 as part of a $167,989,868 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for 81 T55-GA-714A engines and associated spare parts for the CH-47D Chinook helicopter, with fiscal year 2001 option for 28, and fiscal year 2002 option for 132. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Ariz. (73%), and Greer, S.C. (27%), and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2004. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 4, 2000. The U.S.
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems, Manassas, Va., is being awarded a $6,034,912 modification to a cost-plus-award fee/fixed-price contract to provide software upgrades for the Department of Defense Global Transportation Network (GTN). The GTN provides the ability to track the identity, status and location of DoD unit and non-unit cargo, passengers, patients, forces and military and commercial airlift, sealift and surface assets from origin to destination. At this time $4,907,378 of the funds have been obligated. The work will be completed July 13, 2002.
Alliant Techsystems said its ATK Aerospace Propulsion Co. of Magna, Utah, successfully completed a static test firing of its independently developed Material Qualification Motor (MQM). The MQM incorporates new technologies in rocket motor propellant formulation, nozzle materials, and insulation to reduce costs and enhance reliability, the company announced April 30.
Lockheed Martin rolled out its first Atlas V rocket in a ceremony here April 30. The $1.5 billion heavy-lift satellite launcher, powered by the Russian-built RD-180 engine and designated AV-001, will be shipped this month to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., for launch early next year from Launch Complex 41.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN has delivered the 10th E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint Stars) production aircraft to the U.S. Air Force's 93rd Air Control Wing, based at Robins AFB, Ga.
McDonnell Douglas Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Boeing Company, Long Beach, Calif., is being awarded a $19,986,563 (not-to-exceed) modification to a cost-plus-award fee contract to provide various spare parts in support of the Readiness Spares Package for the C-17 aircraft. At this time $9,993,281 of the funds have been obligated. Deliveries will be scattered over calendar years 2002 and 2003. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-01-C-2002, P00012).
Boeing Military Aircraft and Missile Systems Group, Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a $5,350,000 modification firm-fixed-price contract to provide for Phase Three of the Penetrator modification supporting the conversion of the AGM-68B nuclear air launched cruise missile into the AGM-86D conventional air launched cruise missile. Phase Three encompasses completed conversion of 48 missiles and four training missiles, and associated technical orders. This work is expected to be completed July 2002. This will be performed by Boeing, St.
(Editor's note: The following is excerpted testimony from the responses by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics-nominee Edward Aldridge to written questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee. He testified April 26.) Q: What specific steps could the Department of Defense take to reduce cycle time for major acquisition programs?
NASA's X-43A hypersonic research vehicle had a successful first captive-carry flight along with its Pegasus booster, according to the space agency's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. The X-43A and Pegasus were carried beneath the wing of a B-52 for nearly two hours as the aircraft left Dryden, flew over the Pacific Missile Range and returned to Dryden on April 28. After the flight data is evaluated, the test could lead to the first flight of the X-43A and Pegasus "stack" in the middle of May (DAILY, April 19).
The U.S. Army is laying the groundwork today for coalition warfare in the future as the service moves forward with its Objective Force. Under the framework of the Army's Transformation War Game, just finished here at the Army War College, U.S. military members worked alongside coalition partners exploring concepts and capabilities for the Objective Force.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $7,020,098 modification to firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract DAAJ09-97-C-0005, as a definitization of a modification for two Egyptian aircraft, along with program support, including spares. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2003. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 17, 1995. The U.S. Army Aviation&Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
Honeywell Aircraft Landing Systems, South Bend, Ind., is being awarded a $7,822,057 long-term requirements contract for the procurement of 2,132 rotor assemblies, 44 multiple disk brakes, 385 main wheel assemblies, 197 nose wheel assemblies, 193 carrier assemblies, and 410 hydraulic bleeder valves to support F/A-18 C/D aircraft. This contract contains an option, which if exercised, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $15,715,549. Work will be performed in South Bend, Ind., and is expected to be completed by December 2005.
GE-P&W (Pratt&Whitney) Engine Alliance said yesterday the GP7000 engine being developed for the Airbus A380 remains on schedule with the successful completion of a second full-scale engine test, Aerospace Daily affiliate Aviation Daily reported. The test also supported the GE90-115B engine, which shares a common core architecture and aerodynamic technology level. The GP7000 is scheduled to be certificated at 81,500 pound thrust in mid-2005. First flight of the A380 is scheduled for January 2006.
The Aerospace Industries Association of America called April 30 for increasing research and development spending to help the industry meet the challenge of increased global competition in a market now driven by export profits. John Douglass, president and chief operating officer of the association, said during a press briefing that the current system of R&D funding is a carryover from the Cold War era of large defense budgets.
A day after space shuttle Endeavour finished up its work at the International Space Station Alpha, a Soyuz carrying two cosmonauts and California businessman Dennis Tito pulled up to the orbiting complex early April 30 for a week's stay. The Soyuz TM-32, flying on autopilot, gently docked with the station at 3:58 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time as both spacecraft soared about 245 miles over Central Russia north of the Mongolian border, Aerospace Daily affiliate AviationNow.com reported.
Honeywell International, Tempe, Ariz., is being awarded a $12,015,033 (estimated) modification to a firm-fixed-price contract to provide 3210 (best estimated quantity) kitsto upgrade the secondary power system components on the F-15 aircraft. At this time, $4,071,244 of the funds have been obligated with further funds being obligated asindividual delivery orders are issued during a five-year ordering period. The work will be performed by Honeywell in Tempe, Ariz. Ogden Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F1608-98-D-0003).
Israeli officials have approached the U.S. government about the possibility of jointly developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that could detect and destroy ballistic missile launchers, an Israeli defense industry official said April 30.
With its new management team in place and a new business strategy underway, things are looking up for Iridium Satellite LLC, according to the company's recently named Chief Executive Officer, Gino Picasso. "We are unique," Picasso said. "We are the only telecommunications service to truly have global coverage."
Quick lifecycle turnaround in the microelectronics industry is resulting in avionics obsolescence based on supply shortages rather than technological advances. When avionics systems in aging military aircraft go in for repair, vendors are often unable to find appropriate replacement parts and must spend considerable time and money looking for substitutes.
SBIRS SOFTWARE: The U.S. Air Force expects to finish the development test/operational test phase for SBIRS Increment 1 software May 1 and start the initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) phase about mid-May, says Booen. IOT&E will last about 90 days, and the software is slated to be turned over to Air Force Space Command in November. Increment 1 will consoliDATE APRIL 30, 2001the SBIRS command and control and data processing elements on the ground in Denver.
EW EFFORTS:The U.S. Air Force is actively involved in the Navy-led large-scale Electronic Warfare (EW) Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) currently underway, says Maj. Gen. John Baker, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations. The study is to determine the EW needs and capabilities of the U.S. military about five to 10 years out. The Air Force is involved because the service relies heavily on the Navy's aging EA-6B Prowler as an airborne jammer for force protection.
TELESCOPE TEST: The U.S. Air Force plans to use a powerful telescope at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex in Hawaii during an upcoming National Missile Defense flight test in hopes of learning how to resolve problems discriminating between decoys and warheads, according to Col. Michael Booen, director of the Air Force's Space Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) program.
The Pentagon should be cautious of any procurement strategy that would lock the military into weapon systems and platforms that may be inappropriate for future threats as they continue to evolve, a defense policy expert said on Capitol Hill April 27.
