BERLIN — A Michigan lab is exploring an idea for generating energy from low-frequency ambient sound using tiny ceramic piezoelectric generators — a concept of interest to military planners looking for ever-smaller, cheaper and more durable power sources for sensors. Researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Wireless Integrated Microsystems plan to publish a scheme for a low-frequency-powered ceramic piezoelectric generator in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems.
As the U.S. Navy targets greater ballistic missile defense (BMD) roles for its ships, radars and other assets, some in the submarine community are trying to generate interest in using undersea platforms for those missions.
The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) is set to receive three of the 24 Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft which will form a central part of its modern fleet of fighters.
Opponents of a controversial plan for the U.S.’s first offshore wind farm, in Nantucket Sound near Massachusetts, say they will appeal the FAA’s determination that the 130-turbine project does not pose a threat to air navigation. The FAA determined the proposed Cape Wind project would not interfere with three radar sites used for air traffic control within the Nantucket Sound area because the turbines will be beyond 2.4 nm from the radars.
Unmanned surface vessels are proving to be quite capable hunters and destroyers of mines in recent tests and large-scale U.S. Navy exercises like Trident Warrior. Undersea mine protection has become a major mission concern for the Navy, especially as it operates in congested and dangerous waterways in the Middle East.
Sweden plans to buy 40-60 Saab JAS 39E/F fighters after reaching agreement on the joint development, acquisition and operation of the next-generation Gripen with Switzerland, which plans to buy 22. Initial operational capability is scheduled for 2023, and Swedish Defense Minister Karin Enstrom says the estimated life-cycle cost over 30 years for the new Gripen fleet will be SEK90 billion ($13.6 billion).
U.S. Air Force General Atomics Aeronautical Systems of San Diego, Calif. (FA8620-10-G-3038 0013) is being awarded an $87,338,761 firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee contract for MQ-9 Reaper FY10/11 retrofit kits and installations for up to 80 aircraft. The location of performance is San Diego, Calif. Work is to be completed by August 17, 2016. The contracting activity is AFLCMC/WIIK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.
U.S. AIR FORCE Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz. (FA8682-12-C-0002) is being awarded $81,839,791 firm-fixed price contract for Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammers. Work is to be completed by Aug. 31, 2014. The contracting activity is AFLCMC/EBJM of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. U.S. NAVY
NEW DELHI — The Indian air force (IAF) will start taking deliveries of Swiss Pilatus PC-7 MK II turboprop aircraft beginning in February 2013. Deliveries of the 75 trainer aircraft will last until August 2015, Defense Minister A.K. Antony told the Indian parliament. The contract, signed in May, is worth more than 500 million Swiss francs ($520 million). It also covers an integrated, ground-based training system and a comprehensive logistics support package.
Raytheon officials are preparing for the second guided-test-vehicle flight of the developmental Small Diameter Bomb II after a successful, albeit delayed, first shot in July.
CYBERSECURITY REQUIRED: The Pentagon, NASA and the General Services Administration are proposing a new contracting requirement for the “basic safeguarding of contractor information systems that contain information provided by or generated for the government.” The proposal was announced Aug. 24 in the Federal Register; comments can be submitted at Regulations.gov through Oct. 23.
Click here to view the pdf Fiscal 2013 Senate Defense Appropriations Markup ($ in thousands) Fiscal 2013 Senate Defense Appropriations Markup ($ in thousands) Line Description Request SAC %
NEW DELHI — Swedish defense, aerospace and security company Saab AB has joined with Indian ship-builder Pipavav Defense and Offshore Engineering Ltd. for a $38 million initiative for the construction and maintenance of military hardware. In addition to the Memorandum of Understanding signed on Aug. 24, the two sides also have entered into a technical partnership agreement involving further cooperation and relevant projects.
Construction of two new research ships funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) officially earlier this month in Anacortes, Wash. The design and construction of both Ocean-class Auxiliary General Purpose Oceanographic Research (AGOR) vessels will be managed by the Naval Sea Systems Command. Each is expected to be completed in the next 30 to 36 months, with delivery scheduled for late 2014 for AGOR 27 and early 2015 for AGOR 28.
The Pentagon’s massive civilian workforce will be hit hardest and fastest if potential across-the-board federal budget cuts take hold in January, a Washington-based budget analyst says.
TEL AVIV — Israeli intelligence analysts are trying to create a template to predict why governments falter, when their influence fails and what then happens to their armies and weapons.
The U.S. Navy says it will cost about $450 million to repair the fire-damaged attack submarine SSN-755 USS Miami, and the service expects to complete the work by April 30, 2015. The estimate includes “10 percent variability due to the unique nature of the repair and the cost impacts of shifting the planned maintenance availabilities of other ships and submarines,” the Navy says.
While defense analysts continue to hammer the U.S. Navy’s spending practices for its ships and other large-expense items, one of the service’s initiatives has quietly been able to save the Navy an average of about $10 million annually for such items as office supplies, wireless services and global business support services. The Navy Supply Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) San Diego “strategically sourced solutions” have already saved the Navy more than $42 million in the last four fiscal years, the service estimates.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Army is making headway with plans to demonstrate the utility of nanosatellites and small, low-cost, mobile launchers to provide direct support to deployed forces, bypassing the traditional data processing and dissemination system located in the U.S.
