BAE EIS Sending Its CREW to the Front Lines (updated)

BAE Systems’ Information & Electronic Warfare Systems group in Nashua, NH produces electronic IED jammers that disrupt the remote signals (often cell phones) used to set off land mines in Iraq, Afghanistan, et. al. They’re referred to as “Dismounted Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems” and what’s different is that they’re “dismounted,” i.e. not placed in vehicles but described as wearable.

This contracts cover urgent procurement and support of CREW systems, to be used by forces in each of the military services of the Central Command Area of Responsibility (AOR). So, just what do we know about the CREW system? A bit more, now…

Japan to Upgrade Another AEGIS Destroyer, Buy SM-3 ABMs

DDG-176 Chokai

On June 8/07, the US DSCA announced Japan’s request for Ballistic Missile Defense upgrades to one AEGIS Weapon System (Lockheed-Martin Maritime System and Sensors in Moorestown, NJ), AEGIS BMD Vertical Launch System ORDALTs (BAE’s Mk41 modifications, Minneapolis, MN), 9 SM-3 Block IA STANDARD missiles (Raytheon in Tucson, AZ) with MK 21 Mod 2 canisters, containers, spare and repair parts, publications, documentation, supply support, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related elements of logistics support. The systems will be installed on Japan’s Kongo Class AEGIS destroyers, and the total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $475 million.

A subsequent Lockheed release strongly suggests that this is for the JDS Chokai [DDG-176], which is the last of the current Kongo Class destroyers; the 5th and 6th Improved Kongo Class ships currently under construction will reportedly have AEGIS BMD capability pre-installed. The JMSDF is working closely with the USA on missile defense activities, which includes modification and improvements to the SM-3 long-range anti-air/ABM missile as the outer layer of Japan’s ABM system, deployed from its Kongo Class AEGIS destroyers. Air Force cooperation has also improved by leaps and bounds, allowing for much closer coordination with the USA in all aspects including missile tracking. This article covers the elements of that request as they are fulfilled…

Elbit Acquires Ferranti Technologies

On July 26/07, Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that it has acquired the entire share capital of the UK company Ferranti Technologies (Group) Limited (“FTL”) for GBP 15 million (about $31 Million). FTL are specialists in the manufacture and design of wide range of electronic power management and control systems for application on air, land and seaborne platforms, with emphasis on the aerospace industry and on reliable operation in harsh climatic and electromagnetic environments. FTL’s comprehensive customer logistic support services cover repair, overhaul, modification, integrated logistic support, and post design services.

Elbit sees the acquisition as a way of enhancing support for its products in Europe, in conjunction with UAV engine company UEL and the U-Tacs joint venture behind the UK’s Watchkeeper UAV system.

FTL is located in Oldham, UK, and was established in 1994. It was formerly part of Ferranti International Group, and owns the former Ferranti name. In 2006, the Company reported annual sales of over £16 million/ $33M), with a workforce of 180 employees. The firm was sold by The Fifth Causeway Development Fund (advised by ABN AMRO Capital Ltd.) and by FTL’s management; it will continue its business growth in its Oldham facility in North West England.

SeaBees ‘Can Do’ in Djibouti

Djibouti & region

DID is always happy to report stories from the front lines that demonstrate real creativity and address key problems or save money. Djibouti sits at the entrance to the Red Sea, astride the passage from the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal. It has become a key berthing base for western warships combating the rampant piracy off of the Somali coast, and also plays an important role in the Global War on Terror and intertwined efforts to stabilize the northwest Africa region. Both the US Marines and the French Foreign Legion base troops in and around Djibouti.

As that force grows and improvements are made to the facilities at Camp Lemonier, however, a need for power follows. This kind of imperative around the world has driven efforts to field containerized renewable power units, and at least one 5kw THEPS unit is scheduled to deploy in the Djibouti region soon. Meanwhile, more conventional approaches are being used to meet the required load. “Right now we can’t power all of the containerized living units we have,” said Camp Lemonier commanding officer Capt. John Heckmann Jr. Which is why the camp recently received 6 generators weighing 11,000 pounds each and producing 1 Mw each – enough power for approximately 1,000 American homes. The generators will primarily be used to support the camp’s $30 million berthing project.

The problem was, how to offload them without a crane? Renting one would be expensive and difficult, and take time. Seabees from Camp Lemonier Public Works, Mobile Utilities Support Equipment out of Port Hueneme, CA, and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 were assigned to the problem, and thought about the railway industry, which uses electric jacks to perform maintenance on their box cars. If they could lift a boxcar, how about a generator? On July 24-25, they discovered the answer was “yes,” executed the project ahead of schedule, and saved $300,000 in crane rental fees. US Navy Newsstand story.

SAIC Picks Up $200M Year 1 Option for Benchstock Management

In May 2007, “BRAC Leads to $6.2B Privatization Contract for DLA” discussed SAIC’s major win to manage key inventory stocks on behalf of the US Defense Logistics Agency, and the growth of SAIC’s partnership with that body. That contract was really the culmination of a relationship that has been ongoing for some time; for instance, SAIC has been providing consumable parts management services since 1998 to major U.S. military maintenance depots and the mechanics that maintain front-line aircraft, ranging from bench stock to aircraft subassemblies, engine and landing gear components. This work has helped SAIC develop its own “sense and respond” system using adaptive agents (software programs) that review sensor data, compare it with data from command and control systems and other sources, and decide what supplies should be ordered and when. These kinds of systems are in use within the corporate sector, but SAIC’s development of a system for defense use has helped position them as a key outsourcer for certain kinds of logistics services.

The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA recently exercised a $200 million 1st option year on a fixed price with economic price adjustment, integrated prime vendor contract for the material and material management of benchstock items. Performance by SAIC will take place in San Diego, CA, North Carolina and Florida, on behalf of the US Navy. There were 12 proposals originally solicited, with 4 responses. Date of performance completion is July 22, 2009 (SPM500-04-D-BP13).

Elbit Wins ORCWS Turret Orders

ORCWS-30, firing

A number of countries buying new armored personnel carriers, or refurbishing old ones, are abandoning conventional turrets and/or top-mounted machine gun stations in favor of unmanned turrets with multi-spectral sensors (zoom camera, infrared/thermal, night vision, et. al.) and launchers for smoke grenades et. al. – all controlled from within the vehicle using a joystick and screen. While there are many competitors at the lower end of the Remote Weapons System field, Israeli firms RAFAEL (RCWS-30, wins include Czech Republic) and Elbit Systems (ORCWS-30, wins include Belgium) have also fielded higher-end offerings that pack 30mm autocannons with 7.62mm coaxial machine guns, and can add anti-armor and/or anti-aircraft missiles for extra punch. These systems add less weight than conventional turrets, don’t offer the same profile exposure, and can even fold flat for air transport.

On July 25/07, Elbit Systems announced a pair of contracts worth $55 million with Eastern European countries for its ORCWS systems…

$8.1M for VHE Solar Cell Research

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., on behalf of the DuPont-University of Delaware Very High Efficiency Solar Cell Consortium in Wilmington, DE received an $8.1 million increment of a $12.2 million “other transaction.” That transaction was a prototypes agreement to design and develop very high efficiency solar cells. Work will be performed in Wilmington, DE and is expected to be complete July 2008. DARPA issued a solicitation in Federal Business Opportunities on January 1, 2005, and over 100 proposals were received by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va. (HR0011-07-9-0005).

2007: SAIC to Conduct Health Studies of Servicemember & DoD Populations

Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) in San Diego, CA received a $9.1 million one-year follow-on contract under previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-reimbursement contract (N66001-04-D-2504) to exercise an option to provide support for the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), San Diego, to include studies of symptoms, morbidity, hospitalizations, reproductive outcomes, mortality, and other health-related issues among service members and Department of Defense beneficiary populations.

The The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine has also received awards under this contract for this purpose; the original 2-year contract included three 1-year options, and this award represents exercising of the 2nd option year. The cumulative potential value of the contract, if the third option is exercised, is $45 million. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA (90%) and at NHRC Detachment at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio (10%), and is expected to be complete July 2008. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego, CA issued the contract.

SAIC Responds to Possible TRICARE Information Compromise

On July 20/07, SAIC went public with the news that the personal information of certain uniformed service members, family members, and others was found at risk of potential compromise while being processed by SAIC under several health care contracts for the Department of Defense (DoD). The information was held on a single, SAIC-owned File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server at a small SAIC location in Shalimar, FL, and was used for work being done in connection with the TRICARE health benefits program for the uniformed services, retirees and their families. The server was not behind a firewall, did not contain adequate password protections, and sometimes transmitted unencrypted files over the Internet. SAIC stopped using this server when security concerns were raised, and has conducted a forensic audit. The audit does not indicate that the information was ever compromised – but this is one of those “absence of proof is not proof of absence” situations.

SAIC is notifying approximately 580,000 households, some with more than one affected person. There are a total of some 867,000 unique individuals in these households, including minors and infants. The firm is also taking an intelligent approach to crisis response & correction, with a full mini-site covering the situation, a company-wide team to coordinate both the internal response and assistance for those involved, and the services of Kroll, Inc.’s IDTheftSmart identity restoration service on retainer for all families affected. See also Tricare MA release.

POP Goes the Navy: EO Upgrade from IAI

MiniPOP

Israel Aerospace Industries’ Tamam Division has won a $15 million contract to supply electro-optical observation systems to the Israeli Navy as part of a comprehensive upgrade. The systems are based on the POP (Plug-in Optronic Payload) and MiniPOP systems, which will be integrated with ship weapons and navigation systems to improve the vessels’ battle capabilities, and allow 24/7, all-weather operations. IAI release.

IAI’s POP and MiniPOP systems are based on unique designs combining a plug-in “slice” system within a gyroscopically stabilized unit. The plug-in principle is the basis for system upgrades and improvements using more sophisticated electro-optical sensors, as the payload is able to host different slices containing a variety of sensor combinations such as Focal Plane Array (FPA) Thermal Imager (IR), color CCD, Laser Pointer and Laser range finder. The “slice” can be easily replaced in the field within minutes, without the need for special calibration or adjustment. POP family systems are typically used on aircraft, on UAVs, or mounted on small ships.