Up to $471.9M for Multi-Level ABM Systems Development
Jul 26, 2005 03:00 EDT
note rocket booster
A series of contract announcements last week all point toward multi-level development of critical anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defenses and components in the USA, mirroring a similar series of recent announcements from its main partner Japan. Contracts included industrial partnership augmentation [added], SM-3 missiles, midcourse kill vehicles, sensor technologies, and algorithms, and totaled up to $471.9 million.
Firms involved in these contracts include Advanced Product Transitions Corp., Raytheon Missile Systems, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin Space and Missiles Co., and Trex Enterprises Corp.
—Advanced Product Transitions Corp. in McLean, VA received a cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery /indefinite-quantity contract with completion and level-of-effort task orders to establish, provide, operate, and manage an industrial partnership. The goal of the industrial partnership is to reach a wide variety of Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) industry primes, lower tier suppliers, and small business to address manufacturing, producibility and industrial base issues impacting BMDS development and deployment.
The contract will consist of a two-year, $51M base period with three one-year options. This base period will use fiscal years 2005 and 2006 research, development, test & evaluation funds. The total contract value, including all options, is $251.1 million. The principal place of performance will be Arlington, VA.
Technical R&D projects pursued under the Industrial Partnership include electro optics/infrared, radiation-hardened electronics and components, advanced materials and structures, power systems, radar and radio frequency and propulsion. The Missile Defense Agency issued the contract (HQ0006-05-D-0007).
—Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ received a $124.1 million cost-plus-award/ incentive-fee contract modification for the continued development and delivery of twelve Standard Missile-3 Block IA Missiles in support of the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense System. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ and is expected to be complete by April 2007. This contract was not competitively awarded. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. issued the contract (N00024-03-C-6111).
The SM-3 has performed relatively well in tests, though there are concerns about its ability to reliably intercept missiles with separating warheads. When coupled with AEGIS’ Cooperative Engagement Capability, however, it forms the early foundation of both the USA and Japan’s ABM systems.
—Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in Fairfax, VA received a cost-plus-award-fee contract modification to develop a Kinetic Energy Interceptor midcourse defense concept of operations, functional architecture, and physical architecture definition to provide a flexible, mobile, defense against adversary ballistic missiles.
The two-year drawing-board effort is estimated at $8.2 million. Work will be performed for the most part at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in Fairfax, VA and Huntsville, AL, and will also be performed in Tucson, AZ by Northrop Grumman’s major subcontractor, Raytheon Missile Systems. The effort associated with this contract modification is expected to be complete by September 2007. The Missile Defense Agency issued the contract (HQ0006-04-C-0004).
—Lockheed Martin Space and Missiles Co. of Sunnyvale, CA received a sole source indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantify, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for algorithm development and integration support.
Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will continue to develop techniques to improve capabilities of Lockheed Martin components of the layered Ballistic Missile Defense System via spiral development upgrades. The critical functions Lockheed Martin will focus on improving include threat tracking, discrimination and battle management support using surface based radar, space and missile seeker based visible and infrared sensors, and fusion of visible, infrared, and radar sensor data. Research and development funds have been provided for this five-year contract that will end in March 2010, and have a maximum value of $40 million. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, CA, and at the time of contract award, Delivery Order 0001 was issued in the amount of $2.9 million. The Missile Defense Agency issued the contract (HQ0006-05-D-0003).
—Trex Enterprises Corp. of San Diego, CA received a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop novel electro-optic sensor technologies that have improved spectral response, increased detection capability, increased resolution and enhanced tracking and target selection capabilities.
Under this contract, Trex Enterprises Corp. will develop advanced radar technologies to improve system robustness, reduce cost and enhance radar performance parameters for all-weather tracking of missiles. This effort will focus on increasing communications data rates to maintain full compatibility, improve in network security and speed, increase transmission ranges in all operational conditions to improve in size, weight power and costs. It will also explore the development of new materials for missiles and satellites that reduce the weight and improve the reliability of components such as optics, sensors and seekers. The four-year period of performance, inclusive of options, will have a maximum contract value of $48.6 million. The principal place of performance is Kilhei Maui and Lihue Kauai, HI and completion is expected by July 2006. Research and development funds are provided for this contract. The Missile Defense Agency issued the contract (HQ0006-05-D-0006).
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