Rapid Fire Nov. 28, 2012: Autonomous Systems Must Be Kept on Short Leash

Nov 28, 2012 09:50 UTC

• The US Department of Defense released directive 3000.09 [PDF] stating that autonomous weapon systems are to be designed in a way that ensures humans call the shots:

“Semi-autonomous weapon systems that are onboard or integrated with unmanned platforms must be designed such that, in the event of degraded or lost communications, the system does not autonomously select and engage individual targets or specific target groups that have not been previously selected by an authorized human operator.”

• The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) think tank ran a series of budgeting simulations last summer that required its participants to make meaningful choices and tradeoffs in a way that tries to preserve strategic interests within budget constraints. Navigating Austerity [PDF]. Their tool was set up to force the consideration of weapon systems and force structure elements to be funded (or not). Too often budget discussions are either too broad (procurement vs. R&D vs. maintenance as if they were lump sums) or too granular and parochial (don’t you dare touch this program in my county!).

Overlander is On! Australia’s A$ 3B+ Vehicle Program

Aug 07, 2012 13:58 UTC

Out with the old…

LAND 121 – also known as Project Overlander – is the largest land project in Australia’s Defence Capability Plan. Overall, this is currently estimated as an A$ 7.5 billion (USD $7.6 billion) investment in the Australian Army to replace its fleet of Army trucks, patrol vehicles, trailers and modules. Australia’s “Hardened and Networked Army” meta-program needed to pay attention to these vehicles as well, given an existing fleet that was bought between 1959-1994. As Defence Minister Hill said in 2005:

“Our current fleet is ageing and is becoming more costly to maintain and upgrade. The vehicles will range from lightweight four-wheel drives to heavy trucks and prime movers with interchangeable modules to increase operational flexibility.”

This article looks at Project Overlander, with a particular focus on the major vehicle buys from Phase 3 onward. Some parts of Overlander are even linked to America’s JLTV program, though Australia is also preparing a domestic competitor.

Up to $150M to Help DARPA’s Tactical Tech Programs

Oct 27, 2011 17:37 UTC

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Tactical Technology Office has 3 major focus areas. Advanced Platforms does a lot of work in robotics, from load carriers that walk like a dog (LS3) to UAVs designed to stay up for months (Vulture). They also do work in areas like hypersonic vehicles, however, and helicopter rotors that work better by changing their shape. Advanced Space Systems deals with programs like MOIRE flat-lens surveillance, and F6 fractional/clustered satellites. Advanced Weapons Systems covers projects like the naval LRASM missile, the Triple Target Terminator missile for fighters, or guided small-caliber sniper rounds (EXACTO).

In October 2011, US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) Atlantic in Charleston, SC issued a multiple-award contract for FY 2012, whose options could drive it to $150 million, and extend work through FY 2014.

Rapid Fire 2011-05-05: Body Armor Vests

May 04, 2011 21:22 UTC

• Boeing charged the US Army $13 million more than the “fair and reasonable” price for 18 parts, the DoD Inspector General concludes [PDF]; so far, Boeing has refunded $1.6 million.

• House Armed Services Committee panels release details of FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act markups.

• Australia’s DoD adapting to new disclosure rules for all government agencies.

• Australia delivers its initial report on its MRH-90 (NH90) helicopter program. Short version? The program’s on probation.

• US AFSOC begins running a transportable $7.5M waste to energy plasma system at Hurlburt Airfield, FL. It has 5x more capacity than the next biggest system using this technology.

• The textile specialists at Ehmke Manufacturing have designed a new system of body armor vests and attachments they call “Higher Ground.” They’ve put some thought into it, too… check it out.

• NATO-related spending is expected to fuel a turnaround in the Romanian defense market, from a 1.5% decline from 2006 to 2010 to 2.8% annual growth through 2015, according to iCD Research.

• ATK receives more than $488 million in US Army orders to produce a mix of 5.56mm, 7.62mm and .50 caliber military ammunition at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo.

• A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch the first satellite (GEO-1) of the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS)-High satellite constellation on May 6 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL.

• MCR in McLean, VA wins an $8.8 million contract to provide management and acquisition support for NATO’s Consultation, Command, and Control Agency.

US Ammo Shortage: GD Now A Second Source Prime as it Delivers Guns, Ammo

Jul 05, 2010 15:45 UTC

Ma Deuce, raising demand…

In July 2005, “Pass The Ammunition: Army Taking Action on Small-Cal Shortages” began covering some of the steps the US Defense Department was taking to address this issue. Few reserves, a low production rate, and some of the oldest assembly-line machines on the supply side, coupled with skyrocketing demand, had made for a difficult situation. The Us military went on the invest substantial funds, in order to help modernize the World War 2 era Lake City ammunition plant, which had become the USA’s sole source of small caliber military ammunition.

Even so, the situation was creating both front line shortages, and strategic risk. In 2005, therefore, the Army took steps to move General Dynamics into an important second source supply role, and awarded GD OTS a substantial contract…

Up to $2B for US Army Munitions Orders to Alliant Techsystems

May 04, 2010 17:10 UTC

$372 million in US Army orders for small caliber ammunition. (May 3/10)

On March 20/09, Alliant Techsystems (ATK) in Minneapolis, MN received a 4-year indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract (W52P1J-09-D-0027) from the US Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, IL to produce 5.56mm, 7.62mm and .50-caliber ammunition at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) in Independence, MO. The contract has a potential value of $2 billion.

ATK began operating the LCAAP in 2000 and is the largest supplier of small-caliber ammunition to the US military, producing a mix of 5.56mm, 7.62mm, .50-caliber, and 20mm cartridges, as well as ammunition links.

Working in partnership with the Army, ATK has expanded manufacturing capacity at the plant, and is also under contract to modernize the facility…

General Dynamics Looks to Canada for Ammo-Related Acquisition

Feb 27, 2006 09:32 UTC

In September 2005 General Dynamics had just become a second-source prime for small-caliber ammunition to the US military, as a result of the Army’s small-caliber ammunition shortage. This broke Alliance Techsystems’ sole lock on the prime supplier position from its single remaining plant in Lake City, MO. That award may be having ripple effects now, as General Dynamics has just entered a definitive agreement to acquire Canadian ammunition system integrator SNC Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., for approximately $275 million (CDN$ 315 million).

$156.4M Delivery Order to ATK for Small-Cal Ammo

Dec 28, 2005 06:35 UTC

Alliant Lake City Small Caliber Ammunition Co. LLC in Independence, MO received a delivery order amount of $156.4 million as part of a $166.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for “small caliber ammunition.” In the USA, this designation usually refers to ammunition of .50 caliber (12.7mm) or lower. DID has featured ongoing coverage of the USA’s small-caliber ammunition shortages, some of the steps being taken to address them, and recent expansions of the supplier base. ATK’s protest of the recent second-source award to General Dynamics was recently withdrawn.

Work on this delivery order will be performed in Independence, MO and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2006. This was a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 5, 2005 by the Army Field Support Command in Rock Island, IL (DAAA09-99-D-0016). DID has covered developments related to this contract before.

Modernization Continues at Lake City, Radford Ammo Plants

Aug 15, 2005 02:51 UTC

DID has covered the U.S. military’s small caliber ammunition shortages before, and explained the manufacturing, outsourcing, and modernization efforts under way to address it.

As a follow-up, Alliant Techsystems subsidiaries have recently received $38.1 million from The U.S. Army Field Support Command in Rock Island, IL, in order to modernize a pair of facilities associated with small-caliber ammunition manufacture.

More .50 cal Ammunition on the Way

Jul 19, 2005 00:42 UTC

In a recent article, DID described the U.S. Army’s shortage of small-caliber ammunition, and some of the steps being taken to address that shortage.

As a concrete example, Alliant Techsystems of Independence, MO just received a delivery order amount of $6.4 million as part of a $405.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for .50 Caliber cartridges. Work will be performed in Independence, MO and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on May 19, 2005 by the U.S. Army Field Support Command at Rock Island, IL (DAAA09-99-D-0016).