Class 1 MAV
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DID’s October 2005 article covering various new American Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designs and contracts tended to focus on the larger Class II company and Class III battalion-level options, while our FOCUS Article covering the RA-8B Fire Scout addressed the Class IV brigade-level UAV for the Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. The smaller “Class I” platoon-level UAV options were addressed only in passing, largely because that aspect of the program wasn’t yet at the same level of development.

The FCS Class I UAV will be used for reconnaissance, security and target acquisition operations in nearly all terrain, including urban environments. Each system of two vertical take-off and landing air vehicles, a dismounted control device, and associated ground support equipment will be carried by selected platforms and dismounted soldiers, and will use autonomous flight, navigation, and recovery.

This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the Class I effort, which survived the 2007 reorganization of the FCS program – and may be slated for use soon over… Miami.

• The Class I MAV
• The MAV Program
• Contracts & Key Events
• Additional Readings
  
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Iraq’s new rifles
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As Iraq’s military gets back to its feet, it has received armored vehicles, up-armored Hummers, and assorted weapons, vehicles, and aircraft. The initial priority on armed combat forces that could be supported by American combat logistics has started to give way to a buildup of Iraq’s own logistics and maintenance capabilities.

On March 21/08, the US DSCA announced a formal request by Iraq’s government for various vehicles, small arms and ammunition, communication equipment, medical equipment, and clothing and individual equipment as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $1.39 billion.

Items requested include:

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VH-71 Concept
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In June 2005, the U.S. Navy selected the US101 for a new fleet of “Marine One” helicopters for the President of the United States. The US101 is an American variant of AgustaWestland’s successful EH101 multimission medium helicopter; it beat out Sikorsky’s S-92 Superhawk, which is already in use as a VIP state transport in countries like South Korea. Lockheed Martin, which leads Team US101 as prime contractor, received a $1.7 billion contract from the Navy for the Marine One program’s systems development and demonstration phase.

Based on the current contract schedule, the first US101 ready to transport the President is expected to be available in 2009, with the entire fleet of 28 US101s scheduled for delivered to the Marine One squadron by late 2015.

This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the program. Amidst questions surrounding the program, and rumors of cutbacks or cancellation amidst delivery schedule slippage for the key Increment 2 helicopters, the Navy has reached an agreement to proceed with the VH-71 – despite a cost per aircraft that now approaches the President’s Air Force One 747s…

• VH-71: The New Marine One Helicopter Program
• VH-71 Marine One: Contracts & Events
• Additional Readings
  
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MSgt. Moreland: Fixed
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(Thanks to readers for pointing out the error in the previous version of this post.)

You’re in Afghanistan, at Bagram Air Base. The base needs water, which means drilling a well. The machine is shipped from Nellis AFB, NV to a port in Pakistan, but it’s loaded onto a flatbed trailer that gets the the 34-ton piece of equipment stuck in a tunnel. It’s put on a different trailer, but the transport breaks and during the transfer process the rig comes off the trailer and flips over on its side. Total estimated damage is $413,000, and it’s considered non-repairable – but the rig is one of just 2 in the USAF’s inventory.

The manufacturer doesn’t want to send its people anywhere dangerous to look at the device or fix it (note to self: find other manufacturer next time). The next step is the USA’s Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office, which will turn it into scrap. But Master Sgt. John Moreland, the 819th Red Horse Sqn. metals technology NCO in charge, insists that his team has the ability to attempt a fix. After 3 months, he is given permission to try – as long as no money is spent.

He succeeds.

USMC MOUT exercise
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Virtexco Corporation in Norfolk, VA won $14.1 million for firm-fixed-price task order #0004 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract (N40085-06-D-4010). They will improve the Military Operations Urban Terrain (MOUT) training at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, adding an urban combat training area of approximately 75 buildings and training structures. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, NC, and is expected to be complete by Oct. 2009. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic in Norfolk, VA received 3 proposals for this task order.

Urban operations are seen as a consistent feature of future conflicts, as well as current operations. Heavy investments have also been made in the USMC’s California facilities at Twentynine Palms.

Guam
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DID has covered a number of base improvement efforts and other contracts related to the USA’s pacific territory of Guam, including construction of an RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV complex for the Pacific Rim, and extensive base improvements/ expansion for Guam’s airfield, harbor, et. al. DID will use this post to shine a bit of a spotlight on contracts related to that territory from the beginning of FY 2007 onward. Military.com offers a broader article detailing the build up; it’s useful as a frame for activities to date, and also a a context reference for our ongoing coverage (hyperlink below added to enhance context):

“The 2006 agreement between the United States and Japan to shift 8,000 U.S. Marines from bases in Japan to the island of Guam by 2014 is likely to have more far-reaching implications than just a change of address for some units of the Marine Corps’ III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF). The move is accelerating the return to prominence of Guam in the U.S. defense posture and fostering a higher level of cooperation among the U.S. armed forces in the Pacific region….

Congress authorized $193 million in military construction funds for Guam in the fiscal year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act, a $31 million increase over 2006 funding. “Guam is likely to see between $400 million and $1 billion in military construction in military construction each year for a period of six to 10 years,” [Guam’s representative in Congress, Madeleine Z. Bordallo] said.”

Our latest update involves major upgrades to the fresh water system, work on Kilo Wharf, and a very informative big-picture profile of the coming changes on the island…

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MQ-8B Fire Scout
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The USA’s RQ/MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has had a colorful history. The program was begun with promise by the US Navy, canceled, adopted by the US Army, and finally revived by the Navy as well. The MQ-8B Fire Scout is currently linked with two major new defense programs: the Future Combat Systems program and the USA’s new Littoral Combat Ships (LCS); this is both helpful to the program because of the implicit commitments, and harmful because it ties the UAV to a pair of programs that have endured stormy histories and may face more turbulence ahead. Meanwhile, a competition expected in 2008-2010 may see the Fire Scout used by the US Marines, and the US Coast Guard’s Deepwater program is another potential buyer.

Fire Scout-related awards to Northrop Grumman and Raytheon have been quite varied. DID lists them, along with budgetary figures from official DoD documents, and also explains the Fire Scout’s history and capabilities. The latest developments include news re: integration on additional ships beyond the LCS, and interest from the US Coast Guard, maritime radar testing, and a contract for a “multi-sensor suite”...

• MQ-8: The Platform (i.e. Continue reading…)
• MQ-8: The Program
• Fire Scout Program Budgets
• Fire Scout Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

General Dynamics C4 Systems in Taunton, MA won a ceiling $375 million firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Tactical Data Network Data Distribution System – Modular (TDN DDS-M). Delivery of the production quantities of TDN DDS-M is expected to begin in Sep. 2008. Work will be performed in Taunton, MA and is expected to be complete March 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $692,327 will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively awarded under a full and open, best value competition, with 4 offers provided. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, VA issued the contract (M67854-08-D-7036).

Based on commercial-off-the-shelf equipment, the TDN DDS-M comprises routers, switches, computers, power supply and other equipment needed for deployed Marine maneuver elements to use the Defense Information System Network (DISN), Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) and Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet), as well as coalition and joint-forces networks. components include the LAN Services Module (LSM), Application Service Module (ASM), Communication Security Module (CSM), LAN Extension Module (LEM), Power Module (PM), WAN Service Module Version 1 (WSMV1), WAN Service Module Version 2 (WSMV2), Data Storage Module (DSM), Multimedia Distribution Module (MDM), Multimedia Control Module (MCM), Enterprise Switch Module (ESM), Information Assurance Module (IAM), and controller laptop PCs with a hard carrying case. The TDN-DDS-M system is an upgraded version of the Tactical Data Network (TDN)-Data Distribution System-Replacement (DDS-R), which was first awarded to General Dynamics in November 2006. Initial deliveries of TDN-DDS-M systems are scheduled for the third quarter of 2008. GD-C4S release | November 2006 pre-solicitation notice.

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Hydra-70 is a family of unguided rockets offering a variety of warhead configurations, from smoke and illumination rounds, to flechettes (hundreds of anti-personnel darts), submunition carriers, and unitary warheads up to 317 pounds. These versatile and relatively inexpensive rockets can be fired from a variety of aircraft, from attack helicopters to jet fighters to light helicopters like the OH-6 Little Bird, the new Bell 407 ARH, et. al. Hydra-70s have seen use in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they are arguably the world’s most widely used helicopter-launched weapon system. Magellan’s 70mm CRV-7 rockets and Thales’ 68mm SNEB system are its main Western competitors, while countries using Russian equipment have a variety of choices that begin with the 57mm S-5 family, extending through the 80mm S-8 family, and continuing up to the 266mm S-25.

While 70mm Hydra rockets are low cost weapons, and easy to carry in numbers, they are not a very accurate weapons system by modern standards. This makes them problematic choices for urban warfare if limitations exist on the use of force, and sharply limits their value to platforms like UAVs. The US Army intended to scale back production of the rocket system in 2003, but Congress, led by Senator Leahy’s [D-VT] efforts, reversed the decision with a $900 million contract.

Production continues under that contract, even as technology developments promise to make Hydra rockets a multi-headed battlefield threat once again…

• Leahy’s Leverage
• Hydra Rockets: Contracts
• Hydra Precision: APKWS et. al.
• Additional Readings
  
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Nowhere to run?
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Force Protection’s CFO Michaek Durski resigned recently, after management “discovered significant accounting errors during its year end review.” The firm has also seen American MRAP vehicle orders for its Force Dynamics joint venture tail off, even as competitors like BAE Systems and Navistar continue to receive large orders. A March 15/08 Bloomberg report claims that the firm has has enough orders to last 8 more months in production, plus ongoing maintenance and support business. Which explains why their new manufacturing facility in Roxboro, NC designed to enhance manufacturing capacity, may shut down before it ever ramps up.

With at least 4 shareholder lawsuits underway, the latest news raises questions concerning the company’s survival, as talk of buyouts and even collapse floats in the air. Force Protection’s management says the firm has the resources to continue. A look at the firm’s difficulties and its resources, however, show a challenging set of business problems ahead…

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