Rapid Fire 2010-10-22: Cyber Diversification

Britain Moves Forward on Harrier Support Agreements

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Latest updates: End of the Harrier fleet – and carriers.
Harrier takeoff
HMS Illustrious takeoff

Future Contracting for Availability” involves the removal of traditional “parts and hours” maintenance contracts in favor of fixed-price long-term support for vehicles throughout their service lives, plus performance awards based on number of vehicles available. It has become a fixture in the British defense industry, and a pillar of British procurement policy going forward. As our in-depth coverage of the ATTAC Tornado support contract shows, however, it isn’t a “big bang” process. Smaller contracts are signed for sub-components, trust and knowledge are built up, and the contracts become more comprehensive over time.

BAE Systems has won a number of these contracts, and back in January 2006, they were on their way to adding Britain’s vertical/short takeoff and landing Harrier GR7/GR9A fleet to the list. The UK MoD continued to expand these contracts, culminating in a new half-billion pound contract to support the fleet through to the end of its life… which is coming a lot sooner than the contracting parties thought.

Rapid Fire 2010-10-21: HawkerBeechcraft’s AT-6C

Rapid Fire: 2010-10-20

Rapid Fire 2010-10-19: Britain’s National Security Strategy

Rapid Fire: 2010-10-18

Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle 2010 09/10

DJE Map
(c) DJ Elliott

DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.

This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format. Reader feedback and tips are encouraged. This month’s developments include:

Rapid Fire: 2010-10-15

  • Indian Aid: India pledges to assist Vietnam in modernizing its military equipment.

  • Show US the Money: US wants NATO countries to put their money where their mouths are.

  • Cyber Team: US government increases military role in thwarting cyber attacks on civilian infrastructure with signing of DoD-DHS memo [PDF].

  • Noteworthy: Raytheon sells $2 billion in notes to pay off existing debt.

  • ATK repurchases $275 million in convertible notes due 2024.

  • CSC wins contract worth up to $270 million to provide support to the Missile Defense Agency.

  • Lockheed Martin gets $24 million contract extension from the US Navy to provide acoustic processing and tracking capabilities to detect and track submarines.

2010-10-13: $141M in Stryker-related Contracts

M1127
M1127 Stryker Recce

Oct 13/10 saw over $140 million in announced contracts related to the US Army’s Stryker fleet. The US Army’s 8×8 Stryker family of wheeled armored vehicles were originally put forward as a C-130-portable medium armor fleet, which might eventually replace heavy and medium tracked vehicle altogether. Battlefield reality ended up pouring very cold water on that notion, as the resulting vehicles could not be carried by C-130s in ready to fight condition, had trouble handling difficult terrain, and can’t be relied on to face enemy heavy armor.

On the other hand, the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams have proven to be very mobile on roads, using their relative silence to tactical advantage, making good use of their advanced computers and communication gear in counter-insurgency fights, and handling certain weapons like land mines and enemy RPG anti-tank rockets better than most people expected they would. The economic lifeline that roads represent will always be an important aspect of any American-style counterinsurgency fight, and Strykers have obvious value for domestic emergencies as well. Hence the fleet’s ongoing popularity.

Rapid Fire: 2010-10-14

  • WIRED’s Danger Room offers a look at the key defense controversies and issues likely to land in the next Congress, after America’s November 2010 elections. Part 1: Missile Fights! Shipyard Showdown! | Part 2: Stealth Jet Faceoff! Wars Over War!

  • Cash and Carry: Veritas Capital to pay $815 million in cash for Lockheed Martin’s Enterprise Integration Group, a supplier of engineering and management services to US DoD and other US federal agencies.

  • Catching a Wavestream: Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks agrees to pay $130 million for Wavestream, a San Dimas, CA-based maker of high-power solid state amplifiers for the defense and broadcast satellite markets.

  • Up to $300 million to BAE Systems for virtualization upgrades to the US Defense Intelligence Agency’s computer workstations.

  • Drug Deal: CSC wins contract worth up to $95 million to operate DoD’s Pharmacy Data Transaction Service.

  • Cambridge International Systems to provide $6 million maritime surveillance system for the Iraqi Navy under a US Navy SPAWAR contract.

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