A-10 over Germany
(click to view full)

The Precision Engagement modification is the largest single upgrade effort ever undertaken for the USA’s unique A-10 “Warthog” close air support aircraft fleet. when complete, it will give them precision strike capability sooner than planned, combining multiple upgrade requirements into one time and money-saving program rather than executing them as standalone projects. Indeed, the USAF has accelerated the PE program by 9 months as a result of its experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The entire A-10 fleet will be modified over 4-5 years, at an estimated total cost of $420 million. While A/OA-10 aircraft continue to outperform technology-packed rivals on the battlefield, this set of upgrades is expected to help keep the aircraft current until the fleet’s planned phase-out in 2028. Overall, an April 2, 2007 GAO report places the potential total cost of upgrading, refurbishing, and service life extension plans for the A/OA-10 force at up to $4.4 billion.

This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the PE program, and for other modifications to the A-10 fleet. It covers the A-10’s battlefield performance and advantages, the elements of the PE program, other planned modifications, and the contracts that have been issued each step of the way. In the latest updates, the 100th A-10C has rolled off the line, and Boeing is laying the foundations for the wing replacement program…

• A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II: Experiences on the Ground
• The A/OA-10 Precision Engagement Modification Program
• A-10 PE, Other Planned Improvements
• Contracts & Key Events
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

SSN-688I Class
(click to view full)

Radant Technologies, Incorporated in Stow, MA received a sole-source $14.1 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for submarine communication antenna radomes and related engineering services, with firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee provisions. This contract allows for the procurement of up to 100 radomes, at a rate of 20 radomes per year for the 5 year life of this contract, along with the procurement of special tooling needed for the manufacturing of these radomes. This contract also includes services for the testing, inspection and evaluation of damaged radomes, plus engineering services to include studies, upgrades, technical improvements, and life cycle refurbishment.

Radar on submarines may seem like a strange concept, but it makes a lot of sense as a situation awareness and surveillance tool when the boat is on the surface – especially in the modern age, when submarines fire radar-guided anti-ship missiles. The cutaway diagram above shows the positioning of the radar on an American Improved Los Angeles Class attack sub.

Work will be performed in Stow, MA and work is expected to be complete by January 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $177,191 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured by the The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Newport, RI (N66604-08-D-0660).

CEC Concept
(click to enlarge)

Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) is a sensor netting system that allows many ships to pool their radar and sensor information together, creating a very powerful and detailed picture that’s much finer, more wide-ranging, and more consistent than any one ship could generate on its own. The data is then shared among all ships via secure frequencies.

Yet CEC is far more than a mere data-sharing program, or even a sensor fusion effort. Indeed, it may well be the most revolutionary capability available to the modern US Navy. This DID FOCUS Article explains CEC’s mechanics and implications; it will also track ongoing research, updates, and contracts related to CEC capabilities from 2000 forward. The latest is an engineering services support contract…

• Co-operative Engagement Capability: How It Works (i.e. Continue reading…)
• CEC: Contracts and Key Events, 2000 – Present [updated & backfilled]
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

AAAV/ EFV, swim mode
(click to view full)

The US Marine Corps’ AAVP7 Amtracs have been their primary ship to shore amphibious armored personnel carrier for a long time; the AAV7A1 was initially fielded in 1972, and underwent a major service life extension program and product improvement program from 1983-1993. The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle is the USMC’s plan to replace the aging AMTRACS that continue to see extensive service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The personnel version of the new EFVs will have a high-tech weapons station: a stabilized ATK 30mm MK 44 Bushmaster cannon with advanced sights replace the AAV’s .50 caliber machine gun, and the new vehicle will carry a crew of 3 plus a reinforced rifle squad of 17 combat-loaded Marines. A command variant will carry an array of communications and computer systems and staff personnel. The EFV is one of the U.S. Marine Corps’ the top land acquisition priorities, with a number of new capabilities surpassing the AA7 Amtracs it would replace – along with a much heftier price tag. Indeed, before recent program reductions, the US GAO reported that EFV had accounted for 25.5% of the Corps’ total acquisition budget during FY 2006-2011.

This DID article addresses some of the EFV’s capabilities, and tracks ongoing contracts related to the program as works toward successful system design & development. The most recent updates involve new pictures, a pair of contracts to help address the EFV’s technical issues, and some sharp scrutiny and comments from both sides of the political aisle in the Congressional Seapower and Expeditionary Forces subcommittee…

• EFV: Capabilities & Characteristics (aka. “Continue reading…”)
• EFV: The Program
• EFV: Controversies & Arguments
• EFV: SDD Phase Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

Small business qualifier Chemical Specialists and Development, Inc. in Conroe, TX received a minimum $11.6 million fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for fuel system icing inhibitor. This is a 12 month contract with a 30-day carryover period, and the date of performance completion is January 30, 2009.

Work will be performed in Conroe, TX and in Georgia, New Jersey, California, and Washington. The proposals were originally solicited by FBO with 3 responses to the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) at Fort Belvoir, VA (SP0600-08-D-0752).

From these…

At various times, DID has covered advance materials procurement and other contracts under the program to modify some of the USA’s nuclear-powered Ohio Class SSBN nuclear missile submarines to become long range conventional strike and special operations SSGN “Tactical Tridents.”

Four ultra-stealthy Ohio-class SSBNs are having their 24 Trident II D-5 nuclear ballistic missiles removed and replaced with up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The USA is also adding accommodation for 66-102 special forces troops, special attachments for new Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) or older Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV) “mini-subs,” and a mission control center. In future, the SSGNs may also carry UUV underwater robotic vehicles and even UAVs for aerial operations.

...to these
(click to view full)

These modifications provide the USA with an impressive and impressively flexible set of conventional firepower, in a survivable and virtually undetectable platform that can remain on station for very long periods.

DID has updated its previous material and discusses the origins of this conversion program, the key players, the timeline, and the key technologies involved. We also offer comprehensive coverage of the announced contracts under this $1.4 billion refurbishment and conversion program to date, including a number of related ancillary contracts and programs. This will remain the updated DID Focus article for all materials related to the SSGN program.

• The US Navy’s New SSGN Platform
• SSGN Conversions: Timelines & Program Contractors
• SSGN Tactical Trident: Contracts and Key Events
• SSGN Tactical Trident: Ancillary Programs
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

CG-47 modernization
(click to view full)

On Oct 31/07, BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair in San Diego, CA was awarded a $31 million contract to undertake maintenance, repair and modernization of the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill [CG-52] during its scheduled Depot Modernization. Work is scheduled to take place in San Diego from Feb 13/08 through February 2009. The project, which includes dry-docking and pier-side work, will involve an average of 300 workers a day and include: all-electric modification to replace steam-operated equipment; stainless steel sanitary space upgrades; corrosion control enhancements; tank, underwater hull and freeboard preservation; and extensive weapons, sensor and communication system upgrades.

USS Bunker Hill, a CG-47 Ticonderoga Class AEGIS cruiser, was launched in 1985. The Ticonderoga Class remains critical to American seapower, functioning as the fleet’s most powerful anti-air defense, and contributing substantial anti-ship and anti-submarine combat power to its assigned naval groups. With the DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class destroyer program reaching prohibitive cost levels at $3 billion per ship, and plans for the CG (X) class in flux, modernizing the Ticonderoga ships via planned upgrades and future possibilities like AESA radars will be critical to the USA’s naval and ballistic missile defense security.

CG-52 at Pearl
(click to view full)

Contract funds in the amount of $21.9 million will expire at the end of FY 2008, and this contract was competitively procured and advertised via the Internet, with 2 proposals received by the US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington Navy Yard, D.C. NAVSEA’s ’s Southwest Regional Maintenance Center will administer the contract (N00024-08-C-4401). BAE Systems Ship Repair has carved out a strong competitive position in the USA for non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion, with major operations in Norfolk, VA; San Diego and San Francisco, CA; and Hawaii. See also BAE’s Jan 15/08 release.

S30 Tupi
(click to view full)

The Marinha do Brazil’s 4 diesel-electric Tupi Class submarines (1,440t U-209/1400 variant) and single 1,550t Tikuna Class (Improved Tupi) boat must suffice to patrol a very large ocean zone, along one of the world’s longest navigable coastlines. The S30 Tupi was commissioned in 1989, the other 3 Tupi class subs were commissioned in 1996-1999, and the Improved Tupi Class, aka. S34 Tikuna, was commissioned into service in 2005. Both submarine classes were designed by HDW.

The Tupi and Tikuna boats are currently listed as being capable of launching indigenous Brazilian torpedoes, as well as the British BAE Stingray. Adding the Mk48 heavyweight torpedo would increase the subs’ attack punch, and upgrading the combat system would also offer an easy path to integration of anti-ship missiles like the Harpoon if the Brazilians wished. In the intervening years, other electronics have also advanced, and keeping the Tupi Class modern requires an upgrade. Hence the recent contract with Lockheed Martin MS2…

Continue Reading… »

In “Saudis Seek Sniper ATP Supplementation for F-15S,” DID noted gathering opposition in the US Congressthat was slowing weapons requests, and had resulted in postponement of the planned request for JDAM GPS-guided bombs. On Jan 14/08, the US DSCA annouced the Government of Saudi Arabia’s official request for 900 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits: 550 GBU-38s for the 500 pound MK-82 bombs, another 250 GBU-31s for the 2,000 pound MK-84s, and 100 GBU-31s for BLU-109 2,000 pound “bunker buster” bombs). Also included are bomb components, mission planning, aircraft integration, publications and technical manuals, spare and repair parts, support equipment, contractor engineering and technical support, and other related elements of program support. The estimated cost is $123 million, and Boeing would be the prime contractor.

The JDAMs are specifically noted as being “for use on RSAF F-15S aircraft”; though its Tornado GR4 fleet would also present a logical set of candidates, JDAM requires a MIL-STD-1760 data bus. Implementation of this sale would require the assignment of approximately 4 contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia to provide technical assistance to integrate the weapons into the operational units, plus annual 1 week Program Management Reviews in Saudi Arabia with U.S military and contractor personnel.

If the sale goes through. Congressional opposition hasn’t gone away, and the Saudi sale will face a serious fight…

Continue Reading… »

The small to mid-tier acquisition engine continues in the US defense industry. Fresh from its acquisition of BAE Systems’ Surveillance and Attack business in Lansdale, PA, British firm Cobham plc has reached agreement to purchase SPARTA Inc. for to $416 million on a debt and cash free basis. The acquisition is expected to complete in the second quarter of 2008, subject to regulatory and SPARTA shareholder approvals, and Cobham expects that the acquisition will be earnings enhancing in 2008.

The purchase price represents a 12.1x EBITDA multiple; SPARTA’s FY 2006 operating profit was $28.6 million on revenue of $297.3 million, with $122 million in gross assets. $381 million will be payable on completion and satisfied from Cobham’s existing cash and debt facilities. SPARTA an employee-owned US company which is SEC registered, but unquoted; the balance of up to $35 million will be paid over the next 3 years to holders of unvested options who remain with the company. Cobham plc release.

SPARTA, Inc. specializes in systems engineering, and has done a lot of work on missile defense projects, including Project Hercules. Subject to approvals, SPARTA will become a separate strategic business unit within Cobham’s North America Division. Cobham CEO Allan Cook sees SPARTA as providing: ”....an exciting platform for growth in the Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance segment, which is complementary to our existing US intelligence and defence capabilities. This is a major step forward in the implementation of Cobham’s technology strategy and the creation of a significant Tier 2 business supplying the US DoD and intelligence markets.”