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MK 41s in action
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The naval MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) hides missiles below decks in vertical slots, with key electronics and venting systems built in. A deck and hatch assembly at the top of the module protects the missile canisters from the elements et. al. during storage, and the hatches open to permit missile launches of various types.

Lockheed Martin is the system’s prime contractor, and BAE Systems Land & Armaments also makes components and cannisters for the MK 41 system. This post will serve as a DID FOCUS article, and a collection point for related information and contracts. The latest addition involves a support services contract, and a small order for Turkey…

• A Naval Swiss Army Knife: The MK 41 VLS
• MK 41 VLS Contracts
  
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Small business qualifier Donovan Commercial Industries, Inc. in Nortonville, KY is being awarded an $8.9 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for the Low Hazard Flexible Linear Shaped Charge. It’s a form of explosive cutting tape, which is typically used to produce precise cuts in metal and other substances. Think of it as an instant and very powerful plasma torch, whose design makes it safer to carry and much faster to use. The V-shaped charge enclosed in foam comes in 5 lengths and various grains per foot of explosive, in order to provide precise calibration to the difficulty of the job. This design also produces less shrapnel, which makes it a lot safer than existing explosives used for this purpose by the military, and by civilian construction firms building bridges and other large structures.

Work will be performed in Nortonville, KY and is expected to be complete by June 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $67,523 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with proposals solicited via Federal Business Opportunities, with 1 offer received by the energetics specialists at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division in Crane, IN (N00164-08-D-JM11).

Donovan’s product is available to qualified civilian firms, and is picking up market share on that front as well. The executive we spoke to did express a desire for a qualified individual who could help them with the growing volume of media and other PR-related inquiries they’re receiving. Nortonville is about 75 miles NNW of Nashville, or 50 miles west of Bowling Green.

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Trophy on Stryker
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In May 2006, “No Trophy for FCS, Iraq Troops – Raytheon HTK APS Selected” explained RAFAEL’s Trophy active protection system, which can defend against threats like anti-tank missiles, incoming tank shells, and even EFP land mines. Israel had delayed full deployment on own its tanks and APCs for budgetary reasons, but the lessons of the 2006 war in Lebanon drove home the need, and Trophy is headed into production and fielding as part of Israel’s Tefen procurement plan.

Now, the USA may have reached similar conclusions. From FBO Solicitation #N0017808R1002:

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ORCWS-30 on Piranha IV
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Elbit Systems and General Dynamics’ MOWAG subsidiary have signed a contract valued at EUR 44.8 Million (currently about $58 Million) to equip Belgium’s initial set of 138 Piranha III wheeled armored personnel carriers (similar to the Stryker /LAV-III base platform). The ORCWS-30 Overhead Remote Control Weapon Station shares a number of features with the RAFAEL RCWS-30 mounted on Czech Pandurs, including stabilization for firing on the move, missile options, and fold-flat features for air transport; but it isn’t the same system.

Other media reports confirm the contract amount and place the delivery dates at 2007-2012, but are unclear re: specific systems or numbers. A full vehicle type breakdown can be found in DID’s February 2006 in-depth coverage of the Belgian Piranha III deal.

UPDATE: DID has talked to MOWAG. This Elbit Systems order covers only 32 ORCWS-30s for the Piranha III C30s, plus electro-optical systems (i.e. thermal sights et, al.) and electronics for the entire Belgian Piranha III fleet.

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IAAG
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Thales acquisition ADI Limited in Australia received a $6.9 million firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for Australian Acoustic Generators (AAG), Infrasonic Australian Acoustic Generators (IAAG) that can sound like ships, and related components. Tjhis equipment will be used by the USA’s Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Fleet. The contract also contains a provisioned spares contract line item, procured on a firm fixed-price basis.

Work will be performed in Uraidla, South Australia, and is expected to be complete by November 2009. The contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, FL (N51331-07-D-0006).

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Israel Military Industries, Inc. in Ramat Hasharon, Israel received a $13.4 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-03-C-6518). It covers a Class I engineering change proposal for 19 ADM-141C improved tactical air-launched decoys (ITALD), to convert them to 18 advanced ITALD flight test vehicles and one advanced ITALD E3 test vehicle. IMI is the sole supplier to the US Navy of the aircraft-launched standoff decoys, which appear as “dummy” targets on enemy radar screens.

Work will be performed in Ramat Hasharon, Israel (84.2%); Eatontown, NJ (4.1%); the United Kingdom (3.7%), Lancaster, PA (2.7%), Hollister, CA (1.2%); San Diego, CA (1.2%); and Williston, VT (0.8%), and is expected to be complete in November 2007. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

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Smerch 9K58 firing
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After nearly five years of negotiations, IANS reports that India finally signed a $500 million deal with Russia on December 31, 2005 for SPLAV’s Smerch-M BM 9K58 long-range 300mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Compare them to India’s older truck-mounted 122mm Grad rocket launchers, and the capability boost quickly becomes apparent. The Smerch-M contract includes 28 wheeled MAZ-543A vehicles with 12-tube 9A52-2 launchers, plus logistics supply and fire-control vehicles. The systems will arm two artillery regiments of 12 Smerch-Ms each, with 4 platforms being kept in reserve.

So, what kind of capabilities does this weapon bring to the table? It may not be the Soviet NKVD’s dreaded World War 2 SMERSH (“death to spies”) investigations units, who sometimes acted to stiffen defenders’ resolve by waiting in vehicles with machine guns just behind the front lines. The Smerch 9K58s may stiffen resolve on the front lines for different reasons, however, and they may also end up being justly feared.

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F/A-22 Cutaway
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Touted as the world’s next-generation stealthy jet fighters and attack aircraft, the F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) may also excel in another area: electronic eavesdropping. The aircrafts’ combination of powerful phased array AESA radars, passive electromagnetic antennas and sensors embedded throughout their frames, powerful onboard computer processing, and secure high-bandwidth communications will give them capabilities once available only to dedicated electronic attack aircraft.

As both of these aircraft programs come under threat of further reductions or cancellation, Pentagon officials are becoming more willing to discuss some of these additional capabilities – and their implications.

Earlier generations of electronic warfare aircraft have taken one of three paths:

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Combat Diver: Before

The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA has awarded 3 prime vendor contracts for the supply of tactical equipment, lifesaving equipment, diving equipment, search and rescue equipment, safety gear, hyperbarics, flight crew safety and deck crew safety items for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. This is a two-year base period contract whose completion date is Aug. 5, 2007, with 5 one-year option periods. If all contract options are exercised, the total contract value could exceed $500 million.

There were 21 proposals solicited and 10 responded. Three companies were then selected as Prime Vendors for qualified organizations to efficiently acquire certain equipment at fixed volume pricing, using an existing DSCP contract, where key items are warehoused by the manufacturers not the military in order to save money. The Prime Vendor program was initiated to serve the immediate needs of the war fighter and first responder where the hassle and delays of receiving critical equipment is not an option – so if you belong to a qualifying organization, you may wish to check out our links to the winners’ web sites, below…

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