E-6B TACAMO
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The USA’s E-6 Mercury (aka. TACAMO, as in TAke Charge And Move Out) “survivable airborne communication system” airplanes support their Navy’s SSBN ballistic missile submarine force and overall strategic forces. With the advent of the new “Tactical Trident” converted Ohio Class special operations subs, their unique capabilities become even more useful. The E-6B version also has a secondary role as a “Looking Glass” Airborne National Command Post, and in recent years they have seen use as communications relay stations over the front lines of combat.

Delivery of the first production E-6 aircraft took place in August 1989, with delivery of the 16th and final airplane coming in May 1992. This is DID’s FOCUS Article concerning the E-6 system, which includes details concerning the capabilities and associated contracts. They’re mostly maintenance and training-related contracts, these days, but the latest contracts involve support, and some upgrades that the military hopes will see very little use…

• E-6 Mercury: Messenger from On High
• E-6 Mercury: Contracts and Key Events [updated]
  
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FALCON HTVs
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The path toward a hypersonic space plane has been a slow one, filled with twists and turns one would expect given the technological leap involved. Speeds of Mach 8+ place tremendous heat and resistance stresses on a craft. Building a vehicle that is both light enough to achieve the speeds desired at reasonable cost, and robust enough to survive those speeds, is no easy task.

Despite the considerable engineering challenges ahead, the potential of a truly hypersonic aircraft for reconnaissance, global strike/ transport, and low-cost access to near-space and space is a compelling goal on both engineering and military grounds. The question, as always, will be balancing the need for funding to prove out new designs and concepts, with risk management that ensures limited exposure if it becomes clear that the challenge is still too great.

In October 2008, the US Congress decided that FALCON/Blackswift had reached those limits. That decision led to the program’s cancellation, though some activities will continue.

• The FALCON Hypersonic Vehicle: Program & Challenges [updated]
• The FALCON Hypersonic Vehicle: Industrial Teams [new]
• FALCON Hypersonic Vehicle: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources

Message received…

Rockwell Collins, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa received a cost plus award fee, firm-fixed price, cost plus fixed fee and time and material contract modification for $27.5 million. The award will “rebaseline” system development and demonstration completion, low rate initial production (LRIP), and production and deployment of the USA’s KG-3X cryptographic modernization program.

KG-3X units are used in the Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network (MEECN) and the Fixed Submarine Broadcast System (FSBS) for strategic transmission of Emergency Action Messages (EAMs). The program entails box replacements, card set replacements, and reprogramming of 921 units Of these, 445 units will require organic service reprogramming, while industry will be contracted to handle 476 units. Funds will be allocated as needs arise by Air Force Materiel Command’s Electronic Systems Center, 653rd Electronic Systems Wing at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA (FA8722-04-C-0004, P00026).

Stage 3…
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The Headquarters 526th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT has issued a pair of cost-plus fixed-fee contract modifications. Their R&D effort is aimed at technologies that might be used in a replacement to the third stage of the USA’s existing LGM-30 Minutemean III nuclear ICBMs. The 30+ year old missiles are undergoing upgrades that will keep them in service, now that the newer and more advanced MX Peacekeeper missiles have all been retired under arms control agreements. See all DID coverage of the Minuteman missiles.

Phase II involves detailed design test and manufacturing reviews of motor hardware to be fabricated. The reviews shall include detailed drawings, analysis, and any data generated to support the design of hardware to be test fired. The contractor will fabricate motor and test hardware and conduct any checkout testing identified in the preliminary Phase II test and instrumentation plan and coordinate test requirements with the Air Force. This action exercises the Phase II Option of the contract and implements a period of performance form 1 June 2006 through 31 May 2010.

• ATK Thiokol Propulsion in Corinne, UT received $17.6 million (FA8204-06-C-0013/P00001)
• Aerojet General Corp. in Sacramento, CA, received $17.5 million (FA8204-06-C-0014/P00001)
  
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Layered ABM defense
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Defense Update editor Tamir Eshel writes to let us know that Raytheon Company and Rafael Armament Development Authority have been selected by the Israel Ministry of Defense’ Defense Research and development Directorate (DDRD) to develop a new terminal missile defense interceptor for low-cost, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) threats. Israeli planners see SRBMs as cheap, plentiful, easily concealed, largely exempt from international arms control accords, and capable of being transformed into deadly threats if/ when fitted with unconventional warheads and deployed in large quantities.

Accordingly, Israel and the US have agreed to jointly develop a new Short Range Missile Defense (SRMD) capability that will complement its existing Arrow and Patriot PAC-2 GEM+ systems, one optimized via its design and cost to defend against rockets with ranges of 70 – 200 km….

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Into darkness:
the final stage
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The Headquarters Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, UT has issued a pair of contracts to Northrop-Grumman Space and Mission Systems in Clearfield, UT. The contracts are related to the LM-30 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

With the recent treaty-driven retirement of the more-modern MX Peacekeeper missiles, the Minuteman III missiles remain as the land-based leg of the USA’s nuclear triad. In order to keep them viable significant refits, upgrades, and other measures are underway. These two modifications are part of that effort, under contract # F42610-98-C-0001…

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Minuteman III launch

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in Clearfield, UT received a $225.2 million cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-award-fee contract modification re: the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) propulsion replacement program. Full Rate Production (FRP) options FRP5, FRP6, and FRP7 restructure modification for two-hundred and twelve (212) stage 1, 2 and 3 rocket motors, production quality assurance, ordnance production, and contractor cost data reports. Since this is the USA, the motors will be placed on its Minuteman III missiles as part of the overall modernization program to keep them in service. See all DID coverage related to the Minuteman III.

Negotiations were complete in May 2005, and work will be complete in March 2008. The Headquarters 528th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT, issued the contract (F42610-98-C-0001, no modification number assigned yet).

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Avoid this.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, CA received an $869 million cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-award-fee contract from the US Navy to provide funding for fiscal 2006 Trident II (D5) Missile Production and Deployed System Support. The Trident D-5 is a very accurate submarine-launched nuclear missile, and can be found on the US Navy’s Ohio Class SSBNs and the Royal Navy’s Vanguard Class SSBNs. It is the most survivable, capable, and important facet of these nations’ nuclear deterrent forces.

So, where is all this money going? Didn’t America already buy the required missiles back in the 1980s-1990s, when it deployed the submarines?

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Falcon HTV concept

Booz-Allen and Hamilton in McLean, VA received a $5.5 million contract modification for advisory and assistance services that focus on acquisition program management and systems engineering/ analysis capability. This will support future system programs that include, but are not limited to: land based strategic defense, common air vehicle (the hypersonic spaceplane portion of the FALCON program), intercontinental ballistic missile demonstration/ validation, integrated applications programs, and ICBM long-range requirements planning studies.

This action exercises option one of the contract, and implements a period of performance from December 1, 2005 through November 30, 2006. The location of performance is Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. Headquarters 526th ICBM Systems Wing at Hill Air Force Base, UT issued the contract (FA8204-05-C-0022/P00002).

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Ohio class, 6 tubes open
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Carried on SSBN-726 Ohio Class submarines, The Trident II D-5 is the US Navy’s submarine launched nuclear missile, with exceptional range for a sea-launched weapon and accuracy figures that rival or even exceed land-based ICBMs. These missiles are arguably the most important and effective component of the US nuclear deterrent, and they constitute Britain’s entire nuclear deterrent as well.

The US Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs in Washington, DC has issued a number of contracts recently related to the Trident II D-5 SLBMs, totaling $215.6 million. DID has grouped them all into this post, using subheadings. Readers may also note that none of these efforts were competitively procured. Mind you, “built by the lowest bidder” may not be an overly comforting thought in this particular area…

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