Virginia Class Cutaway
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DefenseLINK notes that General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT received a $1.1 billion modification to previously awarded multiyear contract N00024-03-C-2101. It provides full FY 2006 funding for SSN-774 Virginia Class attack submarine construction at Electric Boat, covering work on SSN 781 (name TBD), $167.7 million in advance procurement funding for FY 2007 submarine construction [SSN 782] and $40 million in Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) funding for each of the FY 2007 and 2008 submarines [SSN 782 & 783]. The General Dynamics news release agrees but lists 208 million for SSN 782, which would bring the total to $1.35 billion.

Over at Military.com, Joe Buff has some kind words for the Virginia Class, and puts its intended mission and procurement program into perspective. One thing Buff didn’t cover, however, is this submarine class’ construction program – which is highly unusual.

Upgraded T-72M4 CZ
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The Czech Republic’s Ministry of Defence recently issued a modernization report for 2005 that detailed a number of its ongoing modernization projects as it seeks to become a NATO-interoperable force. There were a number of noteworthy projects in 2005, ranging from modernization of its T-72 tanks to its recently-concluded $1 billion armored personnel carrier competition, acquisition of Bofors’ laser-riding RBS-70 anti-air missiles, full incorporation of all 14 JAS-39 Gripen 4th generation lightweight fighters, modernization of its Mi-17 and Mi-24 (now Mi-35) helicopters, night vision devices, artillery radars, and modernization of several bases.

Defence-aerospace.com has the full release; meanwhile, the Czech Ministry of Defence also has a page that lists and links to many of its major modernization projects.

Indonesia

Agence France Presse reports that Indonesia is considering buying submarines from Russia, South Korea or China, and plans to buy 12 of them before 2024. Navy spokesman First Admiral Malik Yusuf was quoted as saying that: “We have received offers from several countries, including Russia. If we can buy them at cheaper prices, why not? We don’t want to depend on one country.” The navy currently operates two German-made Cakra Class (Type 209/1300) submarines delivered in 1981; Adm. Yusuf said Indonesia’s capability to defend its waters remained weak due to a lack of submarines, frigates and corvettes. See Hazegrey’s listing of the ships in Indonesia’s current navy.

DID recently covered the US State Department’s decision to waive the US embargo on supplying Indonesia’s military, just as that nation seeks to modernize is forces despite serious procurement corruption issues. They had initially given priority to buying C-130 Hercules aircraft, which aroused little controversy as they have a key secondary role in areas devastated by the December 2004 tsunami. Recent moves toward Sukhoi SU-30 fighters and now submarines, however, risk unease among neighbours. Plans for a fleet of 12 submarines are likely to be especially controversial in the region, as their value for standard coastal patrol and important anti-piracy activities is low and a 12-submarine fleet would be twice the size of Australia’s.

AGM-154 JSOW

Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ is being awarded a $97.7 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-03-C-0001) to exercise an option for the FY 2006 full-rate production of 420 AGM-154C Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW-C) missiles and 421 containers. In addition, this option provides for the procurement of one lot of technical data, one lot of administrative/financial data, one performance characterization Test Vehicle-C (PCTV-C), one Performance Characterization Test, and one lot unique identification nonrecurring engineering. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ and is expected to be complete in February 2008. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

Unlike Lockheed’s JASSM which shares its weapons interface, JSOW are unpowered. This really makes them GPS-guided glide bombs with a range of 15-70 km, but the USAF gave them a missile designation anyway. The JSOW-C incorporates an imaging infrared seeker for high precision and adds a BROACH multi-stage warhead with hard target penetration and blast-fragmentation capability.

The University of Dayton Research Institute in Dayton, OH received a $24.9 million cost-reimbursement, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract with task orders. The objective of this program is to develop materials for Air Force electronic and optical applications. The range of materials to be investigated in this program includes bulk compound semiconductor materials, epitaxially engineered semiconductor materials, optical materials, and high-temperature superconducting materials. Advances made in the program are expected to lead to improved materials and devices for digital, microwave, infrared detector, opto-electronic, nonlinear optical, power generation and control applications.

A partial list of UDRI’s capabilities and foci can be found here. Research tasks shall be accomplished primarily on-site using government furnished equipment, materials, and facilities in a complementary/ collaborative mode with other ongoing government supported in-house research projects. In certain cases, research may be performed off-site when it clearly represents the most advantageous method for accomplishing the research task. This work will be complete by January 2010. The Headquarters Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8650-06-D-5401).

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) is a $30.5 billion business, and one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses. Over the next few weeks, its operations will be consolidated into three business profit and loss centers organized around capabilities. There will also be an Advanced Defense and Security Systems unit headed by George Muellner. It will include all advanced programs, but will continue to be linked with Boeing’s Phantom Works business unit.

IDS’ reorganization structure is as follows:

NOC example

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems and Solutions in San Jose, CA received a $2.02 billion cost-plus award fee contract for the Transformational Satellite (TSAT) Communications’ ground-based Mission Operations System (TMOS).

Consortia led by Raytheon and Northrop-Grumman had also been competing for this award. So what’s TMOS all about?

A Viking comes ashore

Eight months after the contract was signed, BAE Systems Hagglunds has delivered the first of 74 armored BvS-10 Viking armored all terrain vehicles to the Dutch Army. The purchasing process was accomplished in less than three months, and the lead-time between contract and serial delivery has been only 8 months. “We are very content with Hagglunds and the company’s ability to keep to the time agreed for the first delivery. A key to the success has been the unconventional but flexible way of working, regarding the processes of development, purchase and production” said Brig.Gen. Paul Opgenort.

The BvS-10 is the successor to the wildly popular Bv-206, 11,000 of which have been sold to 40 countries around the world – including the USA (M978). Singapore has developed and manufactured an improved variant of its own called the Bronco ATTC, and Finland and Norway have their own local Bv-206 variants. What makes this unusual-looking vehicle family so popular?

See DID’s Focus Article for this family of vehicles, and find out.

Kuwaiti F/A-18C

Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. in St. Louis, MO received a $19.75 million firm-fixed-price delivery order (0037) under previously awarded basic ordering agreement contract (N00383-02-G-001H) for avionics repair facility support. This contract provides for repair of various F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II aircraft components, and includes a foreign military sale for Malaysia, Kuwait, and Spain (less than 1% of the total effort). Malaysia, Kuwait, and Spain all operate F/A-18s, and Spain also operates the AV-8B.

Work will be performed in Lemoore, CA (54%); Cecil Field, FL (43%); and Philadelphia, PA (3%), and is expected to be complete by September 2006. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Inventory Control Point.

Brooks City-Base

The Headquarters Human Systems Group at Brooks City-Base, TX recently issued contracts for advisory and assistance services which includes management and professional studies, analyses and evaluations, and engineering and technical support to supplement government organic resources of the Human Systems Group and 311th Human Systems Wing. They are firm-fixed-price, time-and-material and cost-plus fixed-fee contracts of the indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity type. The US Air Force can issue delivery orders totaling to the maximum amount indicated below, although actual requirements may be less. Solicitations began August 2005, negotiations were complete in January 2006, and work will be complete by January 2012.

According to its Statement of Commander’s Intent, the 311th Human Systems Wing is to be “the birthplace, home, and future of aerospace medicine.” It sits within the Brooks City-Base Project, an innovative joint partnership with the City of San Antonio, TX.

• Core6 Solutions LLT in San Antonio, TX received a $99 million contract (FA8902-06-D-1000, FA8902-06-D-1002).
• Terra Health Inc. in San Antonio, TX received a $99 million contract (FA8902-06-D-1002).
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