Patriot PAC-2
(click to view full)

A 2007 US National Intelligence Assessment [redacted NIE summary] believes Iran’s nuclear program has stopped, but others, including the United Nations and Israel are more skeptical. Intelligence is always a very uncertain and ambiguous exercise, and occasionally features assessments like the infamous NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) whose 1962 judgment was that there were no Soviet missiles in Cuba [1]. Uncertainty creates perceptions of risk, and perceptions of risk lead to behaviors aimed at reducing that risk. Iraq is no longer a missile/WMD threat, Iran’s regular and Revolutionary Guards air forces remain relatively weak, and Iran’s ballistic missiles based on North Korean designs lack accuracy. Still, even a lucky conventional missile could create havoc in some Gulf states if it hit important oil-related infrastructure, or hit the larger and more nebulous target of business confidence.

Arms spending is an incomplete but very concrete way of tracking a state’s real assessment of threats and priorities. It’s becoming clear that Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, have stepped up their defense spending in recent years. Those expenditures cover a range of equipment, but anti-ballistic missile capabilities appear to be rising to the top of the priority list.

In June 2008, over $10 billion worth of December 2007 Patriot missile upgrade requests in the UAE and Kuwait shone a spotlight on the region’s new defense priorities. In December 2008, a multi-billion dollar Patriot missile contract from the UAE seemed to lock in that shift, and Kuwait is proceeding with upgrades to its own Patriot systems. Upgrades that have led to recent contracts, and sales requests…

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FMTV Family
(click to view full)

The 14 variants in the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) form the core of the USA’s new state-of-the-art medium military transport truck fleet. Which in turn forms the core of the “mature logistics capability” seen in the Iraqi theater and elsewhere. FMTV trucks are all automatic transmission, and range from 2.5-ton cargo and van models to 5-ton cargo, tractor, van, wrecker, tanker, specialty, and dump-truck models in various 4×4 and 6×6 configurations. Some models also have attached trailers that increase their carrying capacity. Even so, the use of common engines, transmissions, drivelines, power trains, tires, cabs, etc. create over 80% parts commonality between FMTV models. Where possible, commercial components are used for added savings.

There have been 3 main phases of the FMTV program, including the last “SO23” open competition in 2003. All told, more than 50,000 FMTV trucks in various models have been delivered to the US Army. A bridging order to BAE will continue production in Sealy, TX from 2008 through 2010, but unless something changes, the 4th phase re-compete will see a new firm begin FMTV production – alongside heavy truck production for the Army (FHTV) and Marines (LVSR), and medium trucks for the US Marine Corps (MTVR) – unless the GAO protests now underway short-circuit that award.

BAE recently released additional details regarding its protest, and recent GAO hearings. Lobbying from the Houston area is well underway to keep BAE’s Sealy facility, while Oshkosh discusses local tax deals to expand its own manufacturing in Wisconsin by adding an E-Coat facility – a discussion that triggers a sharp BAE response…

• FMTV Program & Production
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
  
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Sauer in Jacksonville, FL received a $14.7 million firm-fixed price task order #0004 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N69450-09-D-1274) for Hangar 1552 repairs at Naval Station Mayport in Florida.

Under the task order, Sauer will reconfigure administrative spaces; replace the hangar heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; upgrade foundations and cladding; renovate bathroom/shower spaces; replace hangar doors; repair or replace the 400 hertz flight-line distribution system; and replace aqueous film-forming foam system and seismic retrofit.

Located on the St. Johns River, Naval Station Mayport occupies 3,400 acres where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

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Italian Eurofighters
(click to view full)

On Nov 17/09, Eurofighter GmbH signed a 5-year contract with NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency) to provide operational support for the Italian Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. This Integrated Supply Chain Management Service (ISCMS) contract is worth over EUR 600 million. Thus far, Italy has ordered a total of 96 Eurofighters (28 Tranche-1, 47 Tranche-2, and 21 Tranche-3A) to serve as its primary air superiority fighter, with secondary strike capabilities on some newer models.

Eurofighter GmbH CEO Enzo Casolini described the Aeronautica Militare’s ISCMS service as similar to Britan’s Typhoon Availability Service model, which revolves around performance based on availability rates, rather than hours worked or parts consumed. ISCMS will include equipment availability, repair of general systems equipment, provision of spares, and the maintenance of aircraft ground equipment. A separate performance-based contract with BAE covers the Italian Typhoon fleet’s CAPTOR radars and DASS defensive systems.

The ISCMS contract will support the Italian Air Force at the air bases of Grosseto, Gioia del Colle; and at the main logistic base of 1st RMV, Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli of Cameri. Work will be led by Eurofighter consortium partner Finmeccanica, who will undertake the job on behalf of Eurofighter GmbH using its subsidiaries Alenia Aeronautica, SELEX Galileo, SELEX Communications; and the firm ELETTRONICA SpA Finmeccanica release [PDF].

RAF Eurofighters, Nevada
(click to view full)

BAE’s growing expertise with “contracting for availability” performance-based support are netting it important international contracts, as well as British ones.

Britain is already implementing the Typhoon Availability Service (TAS) for its Eurofighter fleet. With 4 of 72 Typhoons delivered to the Royal Saudi Air Force, and flying operations commencing, on Oct 12/09, BAE systems announced a detailed 3-year contract for “The Salam Support Solution.” This is a full availability-based service contract, which also includes Saudi pilot training in the UK and training for RSAF maintenance technicians. The deal’s value was not disclosed, but Saudi support contracts tend to be very large due to the range of contractor services they need.

BAE Systems followed that up by announcing a 5.5 year performance-based contract worth more than GBP 400 million (currently about $654 million), to support the ECR-90 radars and defensive aids sub systems (DASS) on the core partner nations’ Eurofighter fleets. Now, SELEX Galileo is announcing a large sub-contract…

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Rome Research Corp., a Rome, NY-based subsidiary of PAR Technology Corp., received a 5-year contract worth up to $43.1 million to provide operator level personnel to the 21st Signal Brigade for its work operating and maintaining US Army Global Information Grid (GIG) facilities within the continental United States.

The US Department of Defense’s GIG represents a globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities and processes for collecting, processing, and managing information for US troops, policymakers, and support personnel. Each US military service operates a segment of the GIG…

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AIM-120C from F-22A
(click for test missile zoom)

Raytheon’s AMRAAM has become the world market leader for medium range air-to-air missiles. It was designed with the lessons of Vietnam in mind, and of local air combat exercises like ACEVAL and Red Flag.

One of the key lessons learned from Vietnam was that a fighter would be likely to encounter multiple enemies, and would need to launch and guide several missiles at once in order to ensure its survival. This had not been possible with the AIM-7 Sparrow, a “semi-active radar homing” missile which required a constant radar lock on one target. To make matters worse, enemy fighters were capable of launching missiles of their own. Pilots who weren’t free to maneuver after launch would often be forced to “break lock,” or be killed – sometimes even by a short-range missile fired during the last phases of their enemy’s approach. Since fighters that could carry radar-guided missiles like the AIM-7 tended to be larger and more expensive, and the Soviets were known to have far more fighters overall, this was not a good trade.

Enter AMRAAM – the AIM-120 Advanced, Medium-Range Air to Air Missile. This DID FOCUS article covers successive generations of AMRAAM missiles, international contracts and key events from 2006 onward, and even some of its emerging competitors. New materials will be highlighted in green type. The most recent additions involve US government approval for 3 Middle East allies to buy AMRAAMs, as well as a request by Chile to buy $145 million worth of AMRAAMs and accessories…

• Some MRAAM History, and AMRAAM’s Design Approach
• AMRAAM: Versions & Derivatives
• AMRAAM’s International Competitors
• AMRAAM: Contracts & Key Events, FY 2006-Present [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
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WGS-2 Launches
from Cape Canaveral
(click to view full)

ITT Corp.’s Systems Division in Cape Canaveral, FL received a $7 million task order to support the US Air Force’s Eastern and Western missile ranges.

The task order was issued as part of a 10-year, $1.3 billion contract awarded to ITT by the USAF.

The contract calls for ITT to modernize the USAF Spacelift Range System (SLRS). This work includes support for spacecraft launch, as well as ballistic missile and aeronautical testing.

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Terex’s MAC-50 Crane
(click to view larger)

Terex Corp. in Fredericksburg, VA received a $7 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract from the US Marine Corps (USMC) to provide maintenance logistics support for the company’s 50-ton military all-terrain cranes (MAC-50) in Afghanistan and Iraq. This contract contains an option, which if exercised, will bring the total contract value to $8.9 million.

Terex will provide maintenance and supply support for the cranes and technical assistance to units operating the crane outside the continental United States. The company will provide personnel, material, services and support documentation; field service representatives; maintenance and parts.

The USMC ordered up to 130 MAC-50 cranes from Terex in 2005.

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ManTech International Corp. in Chantilly, VA won a 5-year, $286.5 million cost-plus-award-fee contract to provide scientific and engineering support services for the US Army Electronic Proving Ground (EPG) at Fort Huachuca, AZ.

ManTech will support testing of command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I), navigation, and sensor systems for reliability, availability and maintainability, electromagnetic interference and compatibility, and security.

The EPG, part of the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC), is the Army’s primary test facility for C4I systems…

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