U.S. Congress Passes $441B Budget for FY 2006

In the wake of the U.S. Secretary of Defense’s FY 2006 budget requests for $419 billion after making a number of significant program cuts, the U.S. House of Representatives (Congress) passed H.R.1815, a $441 billion defense budget for FY 2006. The legislation passed on a 390-39 vote, but the budget will not be final until the U.S. Senate passes its own bill after June 6; the two bills must then be reconciled in committee before the U.S. President can sign a final budget.

Highlights of the Congressional Pentagon budget include:

Meteor Missile Will Make Changes to Accommodate F-35

Eurofighter & Meteor

European missile manufacturer MBDA plans adjustments to its long-range Meteor active radar guided air-to-air missile, to make it capable of deployment on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The MBDA Meteor will compete for orders with Raytheon’s medium range AIM-120C AMRAAM active radar missile, though the Meteor possesses longer range and several additional technological advances.

This move expands the Meteor’s original designated market, which was the Dassault Rafale, EADS Eurofighter Typhoon, and Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen fighter systems. MBDA’s move is interesting for a number of reasons, ranging from the convergence of different fighter system design philosophies to what it implicitly says about their projections re: future fighter exports.

Britain Places $212M Order for Arrowheads

(click to expand)

Defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. on Wednesday said it received a $212 million contract from Britain’s Ministry of Defense that authorizes production of Arrowhead sensor kits by its subcontractor Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando, FL.

Arrowhead is an advanced electro-optical & fire control system that AH-64 Apache helicopter pilots use for combat targeting of their missiles and other weapons, as well as safe flight in day, night, or bad weather missions. It is the successor to TADS/PNVS. Arrowhead’s forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors use advanced image processing techniques to give pilots the best possible resolution to avoid obstacles such as wires and tree limbs during low-level flight.

$24.9M Contract to Sikorsky for Long-Lead MH-60R Materials

MH-60R

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT received a $24.9 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price advance acquisition contract (N00019-04-C-0115) for long lead material and effort associated with the FY 2006 production and delivery of 12 full rate production MH-60R Multi-Mission helicopters. This award is similar to a recent $25.5 million long lead material advance acquisition contract issued to Lockheed Martin (N00019-04-C-0113).

Lockheed Martin is the mission systems integrator for the MH-60R Seahawk Multi-Mission Helicopter, and also provides the digital cockpit, which is common to all MH-60R and H-60S Knighthawk helicopters. Sikorsky designs and manufactures the MH-60R and H-60S aircraft, and is responsible for the mechanical and electrical modifications on the airframe.

$8.8M for CH-46 Sea Knight Rotor Blades

Just another day
at the office…

Boeing Helicopter in Ridley Park, PA is being awarded an $8.8 million ceiling-priced order for manufacture of blade assemblies used on the U.S. Navy and Marines’ H-46 Sea Knight helicopters. This venerable aircraft’s primary mission areas in the Navy as the UH-46D include Combat Logistics Support and Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), Search and Rescue, and Special Operations. As a Marine Corps platform, the CH-46E is used primarily during cargo and troop transport. The pictured aircraft in this post is a CH-46E.

$36M to Support USAF Flight Test Center at Edwards

TYBRIN Corp. in Fort Walton Beach, FL received a $36 million cost-plus award-fee contract. This action is a modification to extend their period of performance at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, CA.These services include system engineering and technical assistance services in support of aerospace research, development, test and evaluation programs, training, and related support activities. Work will be complete by January 2006. The Headquarters Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, CA issued the contract (F06411-00-C-0001, P00097).

$19.2M for M1A1 Tank Wheels

M1A1 Abrams

Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products in Cleveland, OH received a delivery order amount of $9.6 million as part of a $19.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for blank road wheels for the M1A1 Tank. This contract comes at a time when there is an AIM rebuild program underway that returns used M1A1 tanks to “zero-mileage” condition. Work will be performed in Cleveland, OH and is expected to be complete by May 19, 2006. There were three bids solicited on Dec. 30, 2003, and two bids were received. The Directorate for Contracting in Texarkana, TX issued the contract (W911RQ-05-D-0006).

$5.7M for 16,562 Convergent Seal Liners

F-15E Strike Eagles

Dynamic Gunver Technologies in Manchester, CT is being awarded a $5.7 million firm fixed price contract to provide a convergent seal liner, which protects the F-15 aircraft’s convergent seal assemblies from high exhaust gas temperatures. Quantities involved are 8,187 in FY 2006 and 8,375 in FY 2007. Solicitation began March 2005, and negotiations were completed May 2005. The Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, OK issued the contract (FA8104-05-D-0032).