$125.3M for USN/USMC Brite Star II Turrets

FLIR Systems Inc. in Wilsonville, OR received a $125.3 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery contract for its AN/AAQ-22E BRITE STAR Block II sensor and targeting turret. The initial delivery order from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division in Crane, IN is for $67.3 million. The complete contract for the USMC and Navy involves 116 NTIS AN/AAQ-22E BRITE STAR II turrets, 25 upgrades of AAQ-22D turrets to the AAQ-E configuration, non-warranty repairs of AAQ-22 C-E BRITE STAR turrets, and associated data and training.

Work will be performed in Wilsonville, OR and deliveries for the initial $67.3 million order are expected to run from early 2009 – early 2011; the entire contract is expected to be complete by October 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $9.3 million expired at the end of FY 2008 (Sept 30/08). This contract was not competitively procured, as the BRITE STAR II has already been selected for the platforms that use it (N00164-08-D-JQ40). See also FLIR Systems release.

UH-1N w. BRITE STAR DP

The AN/AAQ-22E BRITE STAR II surveillance and targeting turret combines color optical imagery and an Improved Navigational Thermal Imaging System (NTIS) with magnification up to 97x, providing longer range day and night surveillance. It also packs a Nd:YAG designation and targeting laser with a range of up to 10 km/ 6 miles. In the United States, has been selected for the Army’s new ARH-70 Arapaho scout helicopter and the joint Army/Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter UAV. The Marines are fielding BRITE STAR turrets on their UH-1N Hueys, and their successor the UH-1Y Venom scout and utility helicopter will use BRITE STAR II turrets as standard equipment.

Maintaining Pakistan’s Cobra Attack Helicopters

AH-1F, Cobra Gold 97

In June 2008, US GAO auditors released a report that documented issues with the USA’s billions of dollars in “coalition support fund” aid to Pakistan. One of the items cited involved Pakistan’s 20-28 AH-1F “TOWCobra” helicopters; despite reimbursements of $55 million to maintain Pakistan’s MI-17 utility and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, the Pakistani army was not in fact maintaining them, causing poor readiness rates for these critical assets.

A recent DSCA announcement indicates that Pakistan may be getting more serious about maintaining its attack helicopters. Whether it becomes more serious about using them in areas under al-Qaeda’s control is another matter…

USMC Building Quarters for Wounded Warrior Battalion – West

USMC WWR
(click for site)

Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc. in San Diego, CA won a $23 million firm-fixed-price task order under a multiple award construction contract to design and build a 100-room Wounded Warrior Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The facility will include modified sleeping rooms with private bathrooms, specifically modified for its Wounded Warrior Battalion – West occupants. Community and service areas are also placed within the quarters in order to provide one-stop services to the extent that this is possible, and this task order contains an option that could raise the contract’s value to $24 million. Work will be performed in Oceanside, CA and is expected to be complete by March 2010. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest in San Diego, CA received 4 proposals for this task order (N62473-06-D-1059, #0003).

Other task orders under this contract have not involved the USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment, which stood up in April 2007 (see video). During their own treatment and recoveries, 24th MEU Lt. Colonel Tim Maxwell and Master Sgt. Ken Barnes realized that a place where wounded could recover together and help each other heal was a missing element in the traditional treatment approach. A support group grew into a barracks, which was renamed “Maxwell Hall” in November 2005. As the program expanded, it evolved into the current regiment, with an established battalion on the east coast and a newer battalion on the West Coast at Camp Pendleton. The goal is a comprehensive program that tracks and supports ill or injured Marines/Sailors, providing assistance to them and their families until they have been returned to duty, or have been medically discharged and have successfully reestablished in civilian life. Efforts include cutting edge medical treatments and rehabilitation, to personal and family counseling, to assistance with the military bureaucracy. Master Sgt. Barnes:

“It allows them to share ideas about healing… he’s not alone, he’s not the only guy in the world that this is happening to… We’re not just saying, ‘We helped you up to this point.’ We’re not leaving it at that. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Always a Marine.”

$10M to N.M. State for Civil UAV Research

Hermes 450,
note civil #

Sept 30/08: New Mexico State University of Las Cruces, NM received a cost reimbursement no fee contract for a maximum of $9.95 million. This contract will establish Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Program for UAS research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), including operations in the USA’s National Airspace System (NAS). At this time $2.1 million has been obligated. AAC/PKET at Eglin AFB, FL is managing this contract (FA9201-08-D-0093, Orders 0001, 0002, and 0003).

The popular Predator UAV is about the size of a Cessna, which means a collision with another aircraft is going to ruin everybody’s day. UAVs are good at looking at limited sections of ground. So far, they aren’t very good at noticing other aircraft around them – aside from final glimpses of a Russian MiG-29. The ability to fly UAVs safely in civilian airspace would open up a huge new market, and is is currently the subject of a concerted MIDCAS research and planning effort by Europe’s EDA, as well as private research. A Hermes 450 UAV has achieved civil registration in Israel, and Lockheed Martin’s UAMS experiment is looking at ways to give smaller UAVs the capabilities they’d require.

Additional Readings

• DoD Buzz (Oct 6/09) – FAA Acts or Drones Stop Flying. “Army drones will have to curtail training and operational flights by fiscal 2012 in the United States unless the FAA approves some form of UAS deconfliction, a top Army UAS official says.”

Up to $13M for SEAL Ops Facility in Little Creek

Fun at BUDS

Sauer Incorporated in Jacksonville, FL won a $12.4 million firm fixed price contract for design and construction of the SEAL Team Operation Facility at the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, NA. The contract also contains two options, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative contract value to $13 million. Sauer isn’t the only firm to receive contracts of this sort for work at Little Creek; just the most recent.

Work will be performed in Norfolk, VA and is expected to be complete by March 2010. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 4 proposals received by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic in Norfolk, VA (N40085-08-C-9746).