$30M to Maintain USA’s Avenger LLAD Units

Avenger System

Boeing Co. in Huntsville, AL received a $30 million firm-fixed-price contract for engineering services for the Avenger fire units. The Avenger is a Hummer-mounted system that combines Stinger missiles with .50 cal machine guns for low-level air defense. The US Army has also discovered that their advanced sensors and “slew to cue” capabilities can be used in other contexts, and back in May 2005 DID covered the conversion of some Avenger vehicles into gun trucks to protect convoys in Iraq.

Work on this contract will be performed in Huntsville, AL and is expected to be complete by Nov. 28, 2006. This was a sole source contract initiated on April 17, 2006 by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-06-C-0338).

USA Adds $5.2M for 66 Chinook GPS Navigation Systems

CAAS cockpit for H-47s

Honeywell Inc. Defense and Space Electronic Systems in Clearwater, FL received a $5.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, exercising an option to purchase 66 embedded global positioning system/ inertial navigation system (EGIs) production install units for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Work will be complete by June 2008, and will be conducted through the tri-service EGI office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson AFB issued the contract (FA8626-06-C-2065/P00002).

GPS/INS navigation systems as production installs tend be limited to two varieties of Chinook these days: the new CH-47F Chinooks and the Special Forces MH-47Gs, which share the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit.

RAND Report re: Alternative US Aircraft Carrier Missions

RAND’s National Defense Research Institute does a lot of work for the US military and defense intelligence communities under joint contract DASW01-01-C-0004. One recent piece addresses the future of America’s carrier fleet, whose size and capabilities make it unique in the world. The report’s introduction notes:

“Because they offer unparalleled mobility, provide sustained military presence, can send signals of U.S. concern and possible actions, and free the United States from having to conduct flight operations from foreign bases or obtain permission from foreign powers to fly over territory, aircraft carriers likely will continue to be an asset of choice for years to come. Indeed, it is entirely possible that, as the United States seeks ways to stretch its defense dollars, pursue the Global War on Terrorism, and meet other national-security challenges, policymakers will increase their reliance on aircraft carriers, using them more often and in more situations than they have in the past, especially if the vessels have the additional capabilities to respond appropriately.

The current and expected use of aircraft carriers led the U.S. Navy in fall 2004 to commission the RAND Corporation to explore new and nontraditional ways that the United States might be able to employ aircraft carriers in pursuit of traditional and emerging military and homeland defense missions…”

Read “Leveraging America’s Aircraft Carrier Capabilities: Exploring New Combat and Noncombat Roles and Missions for the US Carrier Fleet ” in full [PDF].

Batteries suck. Can QinetiQ Find a Better Idea?

Modern technology gives soldiers many capabilities considered unthinkable 50 years ago, from ubiquitous night vision, to laser sighting that dramatically improves marksmanship, to GPS devices that make it possible for soldiers to know where they are at all times, and more. All these wonders come with a severe penalty, however: batteries. Power-hungry devices “eat” them quickly, and the batteries are not standardized for different systems. As a result, combat loads for already-overtaxed soldiers can easily go up by 10 pounds or more, just to accommodate the batteries.

This problem will only get worse as various “future infantry” programs continue to advance, bringing even more electronics in their train…

Turkey Delays Utility Helicopter & Trainer Aircraft RFPs

S-70 Seahawk

Back in May 2005, DID looked at Turkey’s launch of a $700 million helicopter competition to provide 32 military utility helicopters and 20 fire fighting helicopters. Last week, the Turkish Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) extended the submission date for the TSK Helikopter Program RFP from June 15, 2006 to September 15, 2006. The original reply date had been December 5, 2005. In addition, the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued on January 6, 2006 for the Turkish Basic Trainer Aircraft (TEU) Program has been extended until July 14, 2006, at the request of the potential bidders that received the RFP. Defense-Aerospace.com carried both the TSK helicopter and the TEU trainer releases.

AirLaunch’s FALCON Entry Succeeds in 2nd Drop from C-17

Yes, I do have a
rocket up my…

On Sept 8, 2005, DID noted that AirLaunch LLC would soon be negotiating with DARPA to begin negotiations for a development contract under the FALCON/Common Aero Vehicles program, which aims to launch small satellite payloads and possibly even hypersonic aircraft into space for less than $5 million, and on only 24 hours notice. This would give the USA a unique capability that could be extremely useful in crisis situations, and is one aspect of “operationally responsive space.”

One of the most innovative ideas is AirLaunch LLC’s QuickReach small satellite booster, which is launched by rolling it out the back of a C-17 transport plane…

Australian Procurement Changes: DCP 2006-2106

Australian Minister of Defence Brendan Nelson recently released the public version of Australia’s Defence Capability Plan (DCP) 2006-16. outlining more than $51 billion of major capital equipment proposals.

The DCP 2006-16 is a major document produced periodically from an ongoing review of capability requirements. “Australia’s National Security – A Defence Update 2005″ fed into this review process, and heavily influenced the DCP. The new document also comes on the heels of an additional $2.4 billion invested over fiscal years 2011-12 to 2015-16, and can be set into the context of the currrent government’s commitment to increase annual defence spending by 3% per year over the next decade. Key features of the DCP 2006-2016 include:

Australia Tightens Eurocopter Ties With A$ 2B Buy of 34 NH90s

NH-90 on deck

In June 2006, Australian Minister of Defence the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson announced that Government has approved an A$ 2 billion (USD $1.475 billion at current rates) buy of 34 more NH90 multi-role helicopters.

Australia had already signed a contract for 12 “MRH-90″ multi-role helicopters in June 2005 as additional troop lift for the Army, and delivery of that batch is scheduled from December 2007 – December 2009. These additional aircraft will bring the total MRH-90 fleet to 46. Initial deliveries of all MRH90s are still slated for December 2007, with 3 more MRH 90 delivered in 2008 and then 7-8 per year delivered until 2014. Deliveries of Australian-assembled helicopters will commence in December 2008. As these new helicopters are delivered, Australia’s old Sea Kings will be retired in 2010, followed by progressive replacement of the smaller S-70A-9 Black Hawks between 2011-2015.

Anticipated benefits from this consolidation into a single helicopter type include greater operational flexibility and efficiency through common operational, training and logistic systems and a capability to rotate personnel, aircraft, spare parts and role-specific equipment between troop lift, special operations and maritime support commitments. Some of the language and initiatives in the Minister’s statement may also have long-term implications for Australian procurement…

DARPA Awards Contracts for its FCS Class II UAV Contenders

LSI Class II competitor:
Piasecki’s Air Scout

DID’s Oct 2005 article “Four FCS UAV Sub-Contracts Awarded” noted that the Piasecki’s innovative Air Scout UAV would compete against DARPA’s OAV-II, under development by Aurora Flight Sciences’ team (GoldenEye UAVs), another team led by Honeywell International, and BAE Systems as a third contender. The final winner would equip company-sized units with a Class II UAV under the Future Combat Systems program, and are expected to be part of the program’s Phase II or Phase III spinouts.

DARPA recently began awarding incremental funding under a pair of Organic Air Vehicle-II contracts worth a total of $77.4 million. Who were the lucky two?

Sweden Expands Bv206S Fleet for Rapid Reaction Force

Bv206 in Afghanistan

A Jan 2006 DID article covered the reasons behind the Bv206 family’s popularity around the world, via BAE Hagglunds vehicles and local variants. Their outstanding air transportability, amphibious all-terrain capability, and multiple variants covering a wide range of functions and make them well-suited to a role as infantry enhancement vehicles. While they are not substitutes for a full APC like Hagglunds’ own CV90 or the wheeled General Dynamics LAV III/Stryker, they do offer air-portable infantry mobility with small arms protection; additional carrying capacity over all terrains to reduce soldiers’ burdens; and firepower enhancement via its weapon mount options, heavy weapon storage inside, and towing capabilities (incl. mortars, howitzers et. al.). The result is a combination of APC and Jeep benefits in a more mobile, all-terrain platform capable of 3rd-dimension envelopment and rapid ground response.

Now BAE Systems Hagglunds AB has received a SKr 260 million ($35 million) rush order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for 52 additional Bv206S vehicles, with an option for more. The order amounts to 52 vehicles with an option to acquire additional vehicles, bringing the Swedish Armed Forces up to a total of 93 Bv206S. The goal driving the FMV is: