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Chemical weapons disposal
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EG&G Defense Materials, a division of URS Corp., in Tooele, UT received a $181.3 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Phase 2 chemical agent munitions disposal system (CAMDS) closure as well as CAMDS & Deseret Chemical Depot secondary waste and nerve gas tabun (GA)/Lewisite disposal.

The US Army’s CAMDS, located at Deseret Chemical Depot, ceased chemical munitions disposal in 2005. Initial closure activities were carried out by the Tennessee Valley Authority, who was replaced by private contractor EG&G Defense Materials.

The closure process is currently in phase II, with equipment already removed from the buildings. More detailed closure plans are being written for CAMDS and final closure is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2012…

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• The US House Armed Services Committee Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform approves a final version of its report [PDF] on the defense acquisition system.

• Water desalination on a chip could be a game-changer for post-disaster scenarios, expeditionary militaries.

• Britain consolidating work of 6 government departments, 2 research councils, a technology committee and the Met Office into one new UK Space Agency.

• US Defense Secretary orders internal review of the Pentagon’s intelligence operations policy in response to allegations that private contractors conducted unauthorized “intelligence operations” in Afghanistan. Wall Street Journal | Washington Post | Associated Press

• DoD, NIST document puts forward common information security guidelines for contractors and federal government.

• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) pushes WESTEC Advanced Productivity Exposition to biennial, adds new AeroDef Manufacturing Exposition in alternate years.

• Hitchin’ a Ride: DARPA scraps plans for Rapid Eye UAV that would be deployed by an ICBM.

• IARPA (no, that’s not a typo) asks industry’s help in assessing virtual reality intelligence applications.

• France completes urgent operational order for Sperwer NG/ SDTI UAVs.

• Turkish T-129 attack helicopter prototype crashes in Italy.

• Rented German Heron UAV has a fender bender at Mazar-e-Sharif Air Base, Afghanistan.

• It’s just like the real thing, except for the birds: UK orders virtual reality parachute trainers.

• Curtiss-Wright gets $10.5 million order from Northrop Grumman to supply, improve radar processors for E-8C JSTARS ground surveillance planes.

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L-3 Learjet, EW-Equipped
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L-3 Flight International’s modified Learjets include uprated on-board power systems, internal electronics, and the ability to carry a range of external pods to help them simulate enemy radar and communications jammers in Navy training exercises. The aircraft can also tow targets for gunnery training, and perform related tasks.

L-3 has performed this role for many years now, and chartered aircraft of various kinds play a significant role in US Navy exercises…

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Husky w. trailers
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$7.2 million USMC order for VMMD spare parts. (March 24/10)

Detecting and defusing IEDs and mines has been a preoccupation of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The South Africa-based RSD, a division of Dorbyl, has developed a vehicle mounted mine detector (VMMD) system that it is supplying to the US Army and US Marine Corps through its US marketing arm Critical Solutions International (CSI).

The VMMD system is a route-clearing system that includes a mine detection vehicle, detonation trailers with a prime mover, and support packages. The VMMD is based on the earlier Interim VMMD system, which consisted of a Meerkat mine-detection vehicle, and a Husky prime mover and detonation trailer system.

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• UK parliamentary panel says defense budget gap could reach GBP 36 billion, 6 times the MoD’s estimate. Defense programs could be slashed. Panel report | Reuters | Bloomberg | Telegraph | Daily Mail

• World Trade Organization hands down ruling on Airbus subsidies from 2004 case. Airbus plans to continue launch subsidy practices for the post-case A350, however, lengthening EADS’ odds in any KC-X tanker bid.

• US House of Representatives approves Rep. Skelton’s [D-MO] TRICARE Affirmation Act (H.R. 4887) 403 – 0. The bill explicitly deems that TRICARE and nonappropriated fund (NAF) health plans meet all of the minimum requirements under Obama’s new health care laws, and will not force military families to buy extra coverage or face fines.

• US Missile Defense Agency chief takes contractors to task over quality control, even as review confirms the growing need for ABM/BMD capabilities.

• Israelis finally lift the lid on their G550 Eitam AWE&C/ Shavit ELINT fleet, may have an eye on potential orders from India.

• Lockheed employee says General Atomics has a customer for its “Predator C/ Avenger” jet-powered, high-altitude UAV.

• Israelis going slower on the AirMule ducted-fan vertical take-off and landing cargo and medical evacuation UAV.

• Pakistan tells US it wants more military aid for war on terror. Christian Science Monitor | Reuters | Wall Street Journal | New York Times | AFP | See also “US GAO Criticizes Aid to Pakistan”

• The human element: USAF, Chilean medics learning from each other in EMEDS facility post-quake. US DSCA director is also in town.

• Red Hot Chili Peppers: India’s chili grenade delivers deep kick if dosed. Future versions may offer one hot minute to one big mob.

• General Dynamics gets $37 million contract to beef up M-1 Abrams tank design.

The US air cargo industry is struggling. Cargo volumes and revenues are down and fuel prices are up. Brown is feeling mighty blue these days. According to the most recent figures published by the Air Cargo Management Group, the industry saw traffic volumes plunge 10% and revenues dropped 3%.

On March 23/10 USTRANSCOM awarded 5 contracts worth a total of $869.5 million to haul military freight around the US CENTCOM’s area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East and Central Asia. The winners contractors will compete for task orders to deliver cargo door-to-door for USCENTCOM.

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Up to $160M to ManTech to support LRSW space launch operations. (March 23/10)

The US Air Force’s Launch and Range Systems Wing (LRSW) is modernizing the US space launch ranges – the Eastern Range (Patrick AFB, FL) and the Western Range (Vandenberg AFB, CA)

A focus on LRSW’s modernization efforts is the US Launch & Test Range System (LTRS), which consists of ground-based surveillance, navigation, flight operations and analysis, command and control, communications and weather assets located at the Eastern Range and the Western Range.

The majority of the equipment supporting the US space launch ranges was installed during the 1960s and 1970s. Multiple LTRS upgrade efforts are underway including the Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) program, ongoing Instrumentation Modernization (IM) projects, numerous recapitalization efforts, and various depot support projects to reduce operations and sustainment costs. The current modernization efforts is replacing approximately 20% of the system.

The LRSW uses contractors to support its modernization work…

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E-8C JSTARS: Before
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USAF order value rises to $283M, program clarified (March 18/10)

The USA’s E-8 JSTARS is a Boeing 707-300 derivative that provides a picture of the ground situation analogous to the E-3 AWACS’ picture of the air situation. JSTARS aircraft use their radars to determine the direction, speed and patterns of military activity of ground vehicles, helicopters, and even groups of people. They then send this information via secure data links with air force command posts, army mobile ground stations and centers of military analysis around the world. These surveillance and communications relay capabilities are somewhat unique, and have proven extremely useful in a series of conflicts from Desert Storm in 1991 to the present day. Europe originally intended to field a similar, smaller AGS aircraft based on the Airbus A321, but that project has now been cut to a small fleet of RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs. With the Global Hawk limited by its payload capacity, and the USA’s E-10A program canceled, the USA’s 17-aircraft JSTARS fleet is likely to remain very popular for some time to come.

The question is how to keep that fleet relevant, flying, and allocated among all of the units clamoring for their attention. A range of upgrades were ordered in 2005, and a recent study claims that the structural improvements and other modifications could allow the aircraft to fly safely for another 40-50 years. The number one issue with the JSTARS fleet, however, remains its old JT3D-3B engines, whose core design was first introduced in the 1950s. An upgrade program is underway to address that, and the US Air Force finally appears to be on board. Mostly.

• The Engines
• Program: Current State [updated]
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  
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• Oppenheimer analyst boosts Boeing’s rating, cuts Lockheed Martin’s.

• Australia’s first 3 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets begin their flight to Australia.

• Helibras breaks ground on new manufacturing facility for Brazil’s EC725 medium helicopters.

• Carafano: US Army needs to keep experimental units.

• Lund, developer of Tickle Me Elmo dolls, develops less lethal rifle.

• US, Canada discuss beefing up NORAD, expanding Hemispheric defense.

• Canada issues another search & rescue aircraft competition backgrounder. Any RFP yet? No.

• KOR Electronics gets $44.4 million to develop and deliver advanced RF jammers.

• USTRANSCOM awards SAIC $18 million order for improved business processes.

The US Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) multiple award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to Parsons Infrastructure and Technology Group in Pasadena, CA (N62470-10-D-2019) and HDR Engineering in Colorado Springs, CO (N62470-10-D-2020) for planning and engineering services at US Navy and US Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities worldwide.

The maximum dollar value, including the base period and 4 option years, of the 2 contracts combined is $60 million.

The two companies will provide project planning documents, cost estimates, planning studies, visioning and scenario workshops/planning, geo-spatial information and services, and other planning and engineering services for construction projects…

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