• CSC survey: US aerospace and defense execs see growth opportunities in cybersecurity, renewable energy, and physical and information infrastructure.

• Self-organizing, supra-military networks on the battlefield: Saving British Soldier X, and an account of what it took in deployed resources.

• Chilean earthquake hits Talcahuano NB hard, reportedly totaled 2 U209 submarines in ASMAR shipyard; full shipyard recovery could take up to 5 years [video, with subtitles].

• Forecast International: Report predicts $28.4 billion will be spent on electronic warfare systems over the next 10 years.

• Taiwan defense ministry issues report that warns China has better fighter jets. Well, yes. More of them, too.

• China is also sporting digital camouflage on its uniforms, and vehicles. They’re early adopters for vehicles, but not the first.

• South Africa’s new Gripen fighters, MEKO frigates, and U209/1400 submarines: just for show?

• USAF test of X-51 hypersonic cruise missile delayed, DangerRoom reports.

• Weather pushes A400M testing to Toulouse, France, as 2nd test plane is handed over.

• DARPA is looking for industry proposals for development of non-volatile logic technologies that can be used in remote sensors, small UAVs, and high-performance computers.

• Air Force Research Lab is asking for white papers on integrating C2 capabilities across cyber, air and space domains.

Boeing Delta IV Heavy
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Delta IV rocket launches 3rd GOES weather satellite into space. (March 4/10)

The EELV program was designed to reduce the cost of government space launches through greater contractor competition, and modifiable rocket families whose system requirements emphasized simplicity, commonality, standardization, new applications of existing technology, streamlined manufacturing capabilities, and more efficient launch-site processing. Result: the Delta IV (Boeing) and Atlas V (Lockheed Martin) heavy rockets.

Paradoxically, that very program may have forced the October 2006 merger of Boeing & Lockheed Martin’s rocket divisions. Crosslink Magazine’s Winter 2004 article “EELV: The Next Stage of Space Launch” offers an excellent briefing that covers EELV’s program innovations and results, while a detailed National Taxpayer’s Union letter to Congress takes a much less positive view.

This DID Spotlight article looks at the Delta IV and Atlas V rockets, as well as the contracts that have been placed since the merger, which formed United Launch Alliance…

• Delta IV
• Atlas V
• Military Satellite Payloads
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

• Australian government continues to update their Defence Capability Plan 2009-2013 online, as promised

• POGO says US Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) is resisting meaningful reform, advocates independent agency status.

• Is a deal to modernize India’s Mirage 2000 fighter fleet any closer? Depends on whom you ask.

• DARPA is looking for commercially available smart phone apps that can be used on the battlefield.

• NCI told to stop work on task order to support BRAC-mandated C4I/IT move to Fort Meade because of protest filed with GAO.

• Curtiss-Wright to supply $25 million Advanced Mission Management System to Northrop Grumman for US Navy’s BAMS UAS program.

• Lockheed Martin gets $23 million contract to provide computer systems for modernization of the USAF’s Launch & Test Range System.

FALCON HTVs
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Blackswift canceled, but HTV-2 to fly in April 2010. (Feb 22/10)

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
• The FALCON Hypersonic Vehicle: Industrial Teams
• FALCON Hypersonic Vehicle: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

• Feb 10: RF notes Tory shadow minister’s comment that Britain must be capable of acting unilaterally. Today: read Liam Fox’s full speech to the RUSI re: Britain’s coming defense review and challenges.

• Hollywood scriptwriters are preparing scenarios for the Cyber Shockwave exercise on Feb 16/10 involving top US government officials. The event is sponsored by industry and will be covered by CNN.

• France’s DGA procurement agency offers 2009 summary [ in French], says average program delays will be slightly longer.

• VCCT simulators improve convoy training, give US and allied forces an OODA loop advantage.

• Pros and Cons of Stryker wheeled APCs in Afghanistan. The Canadians know this debate well.

• Pentagon set to create a project office to manage “non standard” helicopter buys for allies – like Mi-17s for Iraq and Afghanistan.

• First flight of revamped German CH-53GA helicopter at Donauworth.

• Northrop Grumman delivers 1st AN/ZPY-1 STARlite radars for the Army’s Warrior ER/MP UAS under a $78.5 million contract.

• Northrop Grumman clarifies its SPQ-9B radar contract.

• General Dynamics awards an $18 million contract to Northrop Grumman to produce LRS-2000 rate sensor assemblies for US Army’s M1A1 Abrams tank.

• SAIC to develop integrated crew member simulators for the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters under the US Army’s $17.5 billion STOC II contract vehicle.

• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne hot-fire tests RS-68A upgraded engine for Delta IV rocket.

• VTOL UAV funding from… the State of Maryland.

• Iranian president warns Israel against pre-emptive attack.

• Japan and South Korea are demanding that North Korea return to talks to end its nuclear weapons program.

• Ike’s copy of Germany’s WW II surrender document up for sale – just $2.95 million.

• Russia’s revised official military doctrine to include preemptive nuclear strikes.

• France expects to decide in the coming weeks whether to sell 3 additional Mistral class amphibious assault ships to Russia.

• Russia’s PAK-FA stealth fighter: more than 1 development aircraft flying?

• US defense appropriations subcommittee chair John Murtha [D-PA] dies.

• BAE Systems agrees to pay $450 million in fines to settle misconduct cases in the UK & USA.

• France says “non” to financing deadline for A400M military airlift program.

• USA to make surplus MRAP mine-resistant vehicles available to allies as quickly as possible.

• US SOCOM putting portable ultrasound machines on the front lines.

• The Pentagon is studying ways to sustain the rocket motor industrial base after planned cancellation of Constellation program.

• Iran has launched UAV production lines and plans to deploy a missile air defense system comparable to the Russian S-300 system, according to the Iranian defense minister.

• Lockheed Martin and Kaman Corp. demonstrate an unmanned resupply helicopter for use in Afghanistan. The helicopter is competing against Boeing’s A160T Hummingbird.

• Bell Helicopter Textron secures $50.4 million contract from the USMC for long lead materials for new and remanufactured AH1Z and new UH-1Y helicopters.

• BAE gets $32 million order to RESET 417 M113 armored personnel carriers.

• Irvine Sensors snags subcontract to supply clip-on thermal imagers under $37.8 million US Navy special ops night vision contract.

The US Air Force’s Launch and Range Systems Wing (LRSW) awarded a $38.4 million contract to a team led by Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, VA to provide systems engineering support to the US Launch & Test Range System (LTRS).

Under the contract (FA8811-09-C-0006), Booz Allen’s team will provide systems engineering and integration (SE&I) support to modernize the US space launch ranges operated by the LRSW’s Spacelift Range Group in Los Angeles, CA. The BAH team includes Arinc, Cirrus Technology, Ensco, and Lockheed Martin Enterprise Integration.

The 4-year contract also provides a risk reduction and capability maturation program to develop and maintain current and future space launch architectures…

Continue Reading… »

OM Group in Cleveland, OH agreed to acquire EaglePicher Technologies, a Joplin, MO-based manufacturer of batteries, battery management systems and energetic devices for the defense, aerospace, and medical industries, from EaglePicher Corp. for $171.9 million.

In fiscal year 2009, EaglePicher recorded revenues of approximately $125 million, of which approximately 60% came from its defense business, approximately 31% from its aerospace business, and the balance from its medical and other businesses…

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LGM-30G Minuteman III
(click to view full)

For 50 years, land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) have been part of the US primary strategic deterrence capability, the nuclear-armed triad that also includes submarine-launched ballistic missiles and long range heavy bombers.

Although the main target for the US deterrent – the Soviet Union – imploded in 1991, other threats – such as nuclear-armed rogue states and non-state actors – have emerged. To address these new threats, the US Air Force undertook a major ICBM modernization program.

To carry out this program, the USAF awarded a 15-year ICBM Prime Integration Contract (F42610-98-C-0001) in 1997 to a team led by Northrop Grumman. Since then, the team, which includes Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and ATK, has been carrying out a major modernization of the ICBM system to ensure its readiness…

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Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) in McLean, VA received a prime contract from the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) to provide signature measurement, prediction, and analysis support.

US weapons developers require [pdf] signature measurement of foreign missiles and space weapons to support detection, early warning, discrimination, tracking, engagement, and assessment.

The single award, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract has a 3-year base period of performance, two 1-year options, and a total value of more than $19 million if all options are exercised.

Based at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, MSIC manages and produces scientific and technical intelligence on foreign missile and space systems.

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