Strong’s JPADS,
Afghanistan

The dilemma for airdropping supplies has always been a stark one. High-altitude airdrops often go badly astray and become useless or even counter-productive. Low-level paradrops face significant dangers from enemy fire, and reduce delivery range. Can this dilemma be broken?

A new advanced concept technology demonstration shows promise, and is being pursued by U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center at Natick, the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command (USAF AMC), the U.S. Army Project Manager Force Sustainment and Support, and industry. The idea? Use the same GPS-guidance that enables precision strikes from JDAM bombs, coupled with software that acts as a flight control system for parachutes. JPADS (the Joint Precision Air-Drop System) has been combat-tested successfully in Iraq and Afghanistan, after moving beyond the test stage in the USA… and elsewhere.

• JPADS Systems
• The JPADS Program & History
• JPADS: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
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3 firms added to 5-year SITEC multiple-award contract. (July 14/11)

US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM) has been extremely busy since Sept 11/01. That is creating corresponding demands on their support infrastructure, much of which is contracted. SOCOM is famous for having a practical, results-oriented, “get it done now” approach to contracting, which creates more freedom for contractors but also means a certain degree of added pressure. Much like the lives of SOCOM’s operators.

The L-3 Communications conglomerate does a lot of work with US SOCOM, and this article covers a few of those key contracts. Their Joint Operations Group’s profile describes the nature of their work with SOCOM – and it is extensive:

U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, IL provides more than just airlift services. For heavier items, sealift is more economical, and can even be faster given required sortie rates for very large shipments. Hence the USA’s Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program, where shipping companies provide services between the continental USA and Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico; and from Alaska to Guam.

This article covers contracts from 2010-2011…

ADF in Iraq

Global services giant Serco Group plc recently announced a new 4-year contract with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to provide logistics and base support services in the Middle East. The contract is structured as 2 base years for “over” A$50 million (over $54 million), plus 2 more 1-year options. The British multinational already provides these kinds of services to Britain, Canada, Germany, and the USA, and has provided support services to all 3 of the ADF’s military branches for over 15 years.

Under this contract, Serco will deliver “fully integrated support for ADF bases… in areas such as maintenance and ground refuelling, together with healthcare, accommodation and other support functions. The services will be implemented in a staged approach, with all services fully operational by the end of September 2011.” Ongoing ADF operations in the Middle East include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, and Sudan. Serco | Arabian Business.

• The US Army may have to spend at least $441 million to replenish prepositioned equipment to meet combatant command planning requirements, part of the $4.5 billion needed to fully reconstitute the Army’s prepositioned stocks, the GAO says.

• Russian President Dmitry Medvedev fires weapons plant officials and defense ministry officials over delays in deliveries of new weapon systems, after musing about the good old days when they would have enjoyed “hard physical labor in the fresh air.” Getting Russia’s defense industry back on its feet won’t be easy – but the money is there. It will happen. Eventually.

• White House unveils [PDF] an international cyberspace strategy that includes a call for tightening global defenses against cyber attack and using “all necessary means” to defend networks. Until the US can go on offense, it doesn’t matter much since there’s no cost to attacks.
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• The Australian government is cutting A$2.7 billion from its defense budget over the next four fiscal years, including a reduction in the costs of acquiring a 5th C-17 aircraft.

• Russian President Dmitry Medvedev chastizes military for delaying tenders on major weapon systems.

• Up to $450 million to Lockheed Martin to provide Instrumented Ranges/Digital Range Training Systems (IR/DRTS) to the US Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation.

• General Dynamics snags contract worth up to $125 million to provide IT network services to the US Special Operations Command.

• AAR gets $23 million contract to supply flat racks to the US Army for transportation of materials and containers via trucks and other ground equipment.

• UK Ministry’s DSTL developing a display system to reduce helicopter “brownout” crashes when dust clouds kill visibility – and sometimes, landing helicopters.

The U.S. Air Force’s 2006 Industrial Product-Support Vendor (IPV) contract manages all supply chain items for production depot maintenance activities at the 3 USAF Air Logistics Centers in Ogden, UT (OO-ALC); Oklahoma City, OK (OC-ALC – opportunities available); and Warner Robins, GA (WR-ALC). The contract extends well beyond Lockheed Martin’s own aircraft and missiles; together, the ALCs provide worldwide engineering, maintenance and logistics management for all USAF fighters, transports, missiles and munitions.

April 22/11: The Pentagon announces that Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Johnston, PA is receiving a maximum $500 million contract modification, exercising the 2nd option year on the current fixed-price with economic price adjustment, industrial product-support vendor contract, running until April 19/13 (SPM540-06-D-BP01, P00184).

Oddly, Lockheed Martin’s own April 13/11 release gives an estimated value of just $176 million. Asked about the contract, Lockheed Martin representatives said: “For details on how the DoD arrived at the $500 million amount, I would need to refer you back to the DoD for the terms of this particular calculation.”

• Researchers find that helmets with 1/8 inch more foam padding would offer better protection against soldiers’ brain injuries.

• DoD issues 27 contracts totaling $191 million under the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative program for academic research projects [PDF] with potential military applications.

• DARPA is looking for industry help in developing “flexible/robust energy storage systems” that can use renewable energy sources for forward operating bases.

• Up to $163 million [PDF] to General Dynamics for demilitarization of 8 munitions families including high explosive bombs, improved conventional munitions, fuzes, Explosive D bombs and ammunition ranging for 25mm to 106mm calibers at the US Army Contracting Command in Rock Island, IL.

• Japan is seeking stronger military ties with the US, says Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa.

• AME conducts first test flight of Fury 1500 STUAS powered by a heavy-fuel engine at the Fort Hunter Liggett range on California’s central coast.

• Calibre gets contract worth up to $45 million contract to provide IT and program management support services to the Army National Guard’s Logistics and the Aviation and Safety Divisions.

• DoD wants to speed adoption of mobile and and cloud IT technologies, says Chief Information Officer Teri Takai.

• Up to $2.5 billion to 13 companies for mobilization and deployment planning support to the US Army Forces Command under the OPTARSS II contract.

• US Army to shut down Accessions Command, which oversees initial entry training programs for recruits.

• BAE Systems gets $62 million contract modification to provide energy absorbing seats, gunner protection, and laser designation for the US Army’s Bradley fighting vehicle.

• Fire and Brimstone: The US and French air forces are considering acquiring the MBDA’s Brimstone anti-armor missile used by RAF Tornado fighters in Libya.

• EU countries’ defense spending totals $280 billion, according to ASD Reports.

• South Korean F-15K Slam Eagles begin flying with their new Lockheed Martin Sniper surveillance and targeting pods. When did that contract happen?

• If you want to field a 2 foot long, 13 pound bomb for small UAVs, the first thing you need is a really good small warhead. Raytheon turned to Nammo Talley for its new STM Small Tactical Munition.

• The Indonesian Navy successfully tests Russian-made Yakhont anti-ship missiles for the first time. The P-800 (Russian)/ SS-N-26 (NATO) missile was used as the basis for the Indo-Russian Brahmos, and “Yakhont” is the name used for P-800 export versions.

• Is the US Army losing its best officers?

• UK Public Accounts Committee report cites GBP 3.5 billion in cost overruns for RAF Typhoon fighter program; MoD says program is “under control and back on track.”

• Republican US senators send letter to President Obama, opposing reported proposal giving Russia “red-button” sway over European missile defense shield, and sharing sensitive information about the program.

• Boeing Military Aircraft president Christopher M. Chadwick discusses India’s potential orders for 4 more P-8i sea control jets, and 10 C-17 heavy aerial transports.

• DARPA wants to explore the science of storytelling. Otherwise known as “Neurobiology of Narratives.”

• David Axe offers front-line descriptions of recent combat in Afghanistan.

• Recent NASA R&D funding involves new “magic skin” outer layers for composite airframe structures – incl. conductive film and energy-absorbing foams.

• L-3’s Platform Integration division gets approval to begin low-rate initial production of the ISR mission avionics suite for the US Navy’s EP-3E Spiral 3-configured electronic eavesdropping aircraft.

• Russian Navy floats out 3rd Steregushchy-class corvette (Boyky) from the St. Peterburg Severnaya Verf shipyard.

• UK completes Route Trident extension linking Lashkar Gah and Gereshk in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.

• General Atomics opens a UK division to support its British customer, who has received 6 MQ-9 Reapers and awaits the arrival of the other 4.

• GD NASSCO launches USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) dry cargo/ammunition supply ship at its San Diego shipyard.

• US falls short on efforts to develop and acquire medical countermeasures for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear) agents, says GAO [PDF]. As the Japanese are learning, those countermeasures can have civilian applications, too.