YRH-70 test, 2005

AAS budget realities; Article updates. (Jan 30/12)

The US Army’s ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) program aimed to replace around 375 Bell Textron OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters, after the $14.6 billion RAH-66 Comanche program, was canceled in 2004. Instead, the Army would buy a larger number of less expensive platforms, with reduced capabilities. Bell Helicopter Textron initially won the ARH competition with a militarized version of its highly successful 407 single-engine commercial helicopter, but despite significant private investment after Army funding stopped in March 2007, spiraling costs killed the ARH-70 in October 2008.

What hasn’t changed is the battlefield need for on-call, front-line aerial surveillance and fire support. With its existing OH-58D stock wither wearing down, or shot down, the Army needs to do something. But what? This will serve as DID’s FOCUS Article for the ARH program, and its potential successor the Armed Aerial Scout. It includes updated background, coverage of contracts and key events, and additional research materials:

• The ARH Program: What Happened? [updated]
• ARH: Now What? [updated]
• The ARH Program: Contracts & Events [updated]
• Appendix A: Weary Warriors – The Army’s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Fleet [updated]
• Appendix B: Initial Winner – Bell’s ARH-70
• Appendix C: Additional Readings & Sources
  Continue Reading… »

67% of the fleet

Guns for DDG 1002. (Jan 31/12)

The prime missions of the new DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class destroyer are to provide naval gunfire support, and next-generation air defense, in near-shore areas where other large ships hesitate to tread. There has even been talk of using it as an anchor for action groups of stealthy Littoral Combat Ships and submarines, owing to its design for very low radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures. The estimated 14,500t (battlecruiser size) Zumwalt Class will be fully multi-role, however, with undersea warfare, anti-ship, and long-range attack roles.

True, or False?

That makes the DDG-1000 suitable for another role – as a “hidden ace card,” using its overall stealth to create uncertainty for enemy forces. At over $3 billion per ship for construction alone, however, the program faced significant obstacles if it wanted to avoid fulfilling former Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter’s fears for the fleet. From the outset, DID has noted that the Zumwalt Class might face the same fate as the ultra-sophisticated, ultra-expensive SSN-21 Seawolf Class submarines. That appears to have come true, with news of the program’s truncation to just 3 ships. Meanwhile, production continues. DID’s FOCUS Article for the DDG-1000 program covers the new ships’ capabilities and technologies, key controversies, associated contracts and costs, and related background resources…

• Zumwalt Class: Program and Participants
• DDG-1000 Key Technologies and Features
• DDG-1000 Issues and Controversies
• Zumwalt Class: Contracts and Key Events, 1998 – Present [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  Continue Reading… »

1991: HMCS Protecteur &
USS Wisconsin battleship

HMCS Preserver damaged in collision. (Nov 4/11)

The Canadian supply ships and oilers HMCS Protecteur, and HMCS Preserver have contributed to humanitarian aid missions in Florida and the Bahamas, peace-making off Somalia and East Timor, and have been poised for the evacuation of non-combatants from Haiti, to name but a few of their recent endeavors.

As part of its spate of military modernization announcements issued just before Canada Day (July 1) 2006, the Canadian government issued an RFP that began the process of defining and building 3 “Joint Support Ships.” The aim was to deliver 3 multi-role vessels with substantially more capability than the current Protecteur Class oiler and resupply ships. In addition to being able to provide at-sea support (re-fueling and re-supply) to deployed naval task groups, the new JSS ships were envisioned as ships that would also be capable of sealift operations, as well as amphibious support to forces deployed ashore.

JSS v1.0
(click to view larger)

This was expected to be a C$ 2.9 billion (USD $2.58 billion) project. This article describes the process, the 4 pre-qualified industry teams participating, and some of the issues swirling around Canada’s very ambitious specifications. Specifications that ultimately sank the whole project, in a manner that was predictable from the outset. Leaving Canada’s navy with a serious problem. Will a second go-round in 2012-13 help any?

• Take 2: Lessons, Process, and Contenders
• JSS: Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Appendix A: The JSS v1.0 Procurement Process
• Appendix B: DID Op-ed/Analysis – June 30, 2006
• Appendix C: Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

• After recent contradictory news reports, President Obama confirmed that all American troops would leave Iraq by 2012. The US’ request for troop immunity was the deal breaker with the Iraqi government. Thousands of private contractors will stay there though.

• US SecDef Leon Panetta turns his attention to Asia where he is currently traveling for the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM). A meeting with Indonesian leadership may lead to increased military ties between the two countries.

• The US DOD’s DOT&E Oversight List has been updated (CAC required for access). Last year’s version is publicly accessible here [PDF].

• Defense IT spending likely to buck the budget pressure trend.

• Retired Rear Admiral Kenneth Deutsch will lead CSC’s Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) bid.

• DCNS delivered the 1st Gowind Offshore Patrol Vessel L’Adroit to the French Navy. The ship was designed and built on private funds and remains under DCNS ownership. It went through sea trials last summer.

• Textron’s revenues for Q3 ‘11 grew by 13.5% to $2.8B. Its subsidiary Bell delivered 9 V-22s and 7 H-1s. Textron’s statement included a $781M “reduction in the backlog primarily to correct an error made in the fourth quarter of 2009 which recorded as backlog the full value of a V-22 contract rather than Bell’s proportionate share”. At 12% of the remaining $6.4B backlog, this is quite a sizable error. Meanwhile, Flir Systems’ Q3 2011 financial results: stable income, 12% topline growth and $55M added to the government division’s backlog – a 17% increase.

• US liberal lawmakers led by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) intend to use a new DOD report on fraud [PDF] to pressure the supercommittee to enact deep defense spending cuts. See also POGO’s take.

• Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell likes to tease his counterpart from Maryland, the state where Lockheed Martin currently has its 5,000-people HQ.

• Missouri House of Representatives to Boeing: we love you too.

In October 2010, the Canadian government issued a Solicitation of Interest and Qualification to 5 short-listed firms, for the opportunity to be be part of the Conservative Party government’s 30-year National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. Up to 28 major ships would be built over that period, to equip the Canadian Navy and Coast Guard. One yard would build all combat ships, and the runner up would build the support ships. Up to C$ 33 billion in future work was at stake.

That set up a difficult political situation, in a country with deep regional divides and a high-quality but shaky shipbuilding industry. The USA’s Jones Act makes major sales to the neighboring American market virtually impossible, some foreign shipbuilders are subsidized by up to 40% by their home governments, and Canadian military needs are too small and infrequent to sustain an industry by themselves. In October 2011, the government announced their decision:

• Decision and Reactions, 2011
• Contracts & Key Events
• Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

• CSC’s Chairman and CEO Michael W. Laphen announced he’s retiring. He’s ready to stay around for up to a year until his replacement is found. Laphen started his career and CSC in 1977 and was appointed to his current position in 2007.

• Several US veteran groups are voicing their concerns about the damage defense budget cuts might do.

• To be able to meet budget constraints while avoiding crippling effects, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) is suggesting DoD to change the way it approaches [PDF] compensation/benefits, the use of unmanned systems, and the relative burden it takes relative to US allies.

• The US Senate’s Armed Services Subcommittee on readiness and management support had a hearing with acting Under Secretary of Acquisition Frank Kendall and other DoD staffers in the wake of the Commission on Wartime Contracting’s findings in Iraq and Afghanistan: archived webcast.

• US lawmakers are getting worried by the Deficit/Debt Supercommittee’s lack of apparent progress so far. Despite initial promises of transparency the committee has mostly met behind closed doors.

• Think Defence has a good round-up of UK Parliamentary question and answers from ministers relevant to defence issues.

• Starting Nov. 1, all US Airmen will have to be wearing the Airman Battle Uniform and ABU items.

• The video below shows some of the analytical work done by the Institute for the Study of War on how the rebellion in Libya unfolded:
  Continue Reading… »

AEDC at work: X-29

Another $208.5M. (Sept 8/11)

The Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), named for U.S. Air Force pioneer Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, bills itself as “The World’s Premier Flight Simulation Test Facility.” Nearly half of the AEDC’s 58 test facilities are unique in the U.S., and 14 are unique in the world. These specialized test facilities have played a crucial role in the development and sustainment of virtually every high performance aircraft, air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon, missile, and space system in use by all four of the U.S. military services today. The Center has also been involved in the development of every NASA manned space system, many satellites, and numerous commercial aircraft and spacecraft systems.

In 2003, the Air Force consolidated the test operations contract and the base services contract into a single contract for operations, maintenance, information management, and base support, which was awarded to Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) in Tullahoma, TN…

• AEDC Services
• AEDC Contracts [updated]
• Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

TCOM 17M RAID Aerostat

$9.5M in tower sensors; $10M in spares; Full public access enabled. (Aug 23/11)

The RAID program is a combination of cameras and surveillance equipment positioned on high towers and aerostats, in order to monitor a wide area around important locations and bases. The RAID concept began with a smaller TCOM 17M aerostat as the base platform, instead of the TCOM 71M JLENS aerostats used for cruise missile and air defense. Its sensors were also optimized for battlefield surveillance, rather than JLENS’ focus on powerful air defense radars. The result is a form of survivable and permanent surveillance over key areas that has been deployed to Afghanistan & Iraq.

“Aerostats” has actually become something of a misnomer, however – RAID can also be deployed as a tower system, and this “Eagle Eye/ GBOSS” deployment is turning out to be the preferred mode. Raytheon continues to receive contracts from the US Marine Corps and US Army for new towers, as well as maintenance of existing systems…

• RAID: Components and Features
• RAID: Contracts & Key Events, FY 2006-2011 [updated]
• Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

• Just how deep is the US Navy’s budget crisis? Very deep, and it will soon spread to the other services. In the Navy’s case, the Congressional Budget Office says it’s underestimating the total cost of its 30-year shipbuilding plan by nearly 20%. That’s actually business as usual, but what if there’s less future money, not more? Information Dissemination asks: Perhaps it’s time for an unbalanced force?

• Russia in talks to buy 500 light armored vehicles for $260 million from French defense firm Panhard General Defense.

• Up to SEK 1.655 billion (about $260 million) to Saab to provide anti-armor projectiles for the 84mm Carl-Gustaf M3 man-portable weapon system. That’s a lot of rockets. For which customer? They won’t say.

• GAO says US Navy failed to consider alternative acquisition approaches to its $50 billion Next-Generation Enterprise Network, which is replacing the Navy Marine Corps Intranet.

• US Navy’s forthcoming MQ-4C BAMS long-range surveillance UAV finishes, but does not close out, its system-level Critical Design Review. The Global Hawk derivative is said to remain on schedule.

• US Army issues a sources-sought notice for RSTA components for Cerberus portable sensor tower, which is used at forward operating bases.

• DARPA kicks off voting for eXperimental Crowd-derived Combat-support Vehicle Design Challenge.

• Crunch time for General Dynamics and Boeing cases. They argue that the government improperly invoked the state secrets privilege, in order to hide information that would help them prove their side of cases surrounding the A-12 naval stealth fighter’s program cancellation liabilities.

• Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system is a “stupid idea” driven by the French military, according to OHB-System CEO Berry Smutny. Sorry, former CEO.

• Lockheed Martin says the Chinese J-20 unveiling has added urgency to F-35 sales discussions with JSF consortium partner Singapore, plus Japan and South Korea – with all 3 countries in active discussions with US officials.

• EADS CEO offers a rosy outlook on life, including the A400M and Talarion UAV programs. Time will tell, but Airbus is raising commercial aircraft prices as a sign of general confidence, and recent huge A320 orders cannot hurt his disposition.

• Defense firms still irritated by the Pentagon’s proposed 5%/2% withholding rule for contractors whose accounting and pricing systems don’t meet desired standards. The move was proposed in response to significant Pentagon bookkeeping issues.

• British firm Meggitt is paying Danaher $685 million to acquire Pacific Scientific Aerospace, which includes military ball screw and electro-mechanical actuator supplier Thomson Aerospace and Defense.

• Up to $287 million to Lockheed Martin to provide Urban Operations Training Systems for the US Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard.

• Advanced Defense Vehicle Systems says it is pulling out of the US Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle RFP, the service’s effort to replace its Bradley IFVs.

• Up to $177 million to General Dynamics to support US Army logistics in Southwest Asia.

• Telos snags $15.8 million in task orders to modernize the information transport system at 10 Air National Guard sites, under the USAF $9 billion NETCENTS contract.

• Up to $30 million to CSC for cybersecurity services to the USAF’s 33rd Network Warfare Squadron.

• Seattle Times provides a peek inside NORAD.