Last updated: Friday Feb 28, 2020 - 05:00 UTC ()
Moving Target: Raytheon’s GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb II
Timely Defenders: Keeping Patriots in Shape
Rapid Fire | Friday, February 28, 2020, 05:00 UTC ()
Raytheon Tapped For SDB II Technical Support | DoS Approves FMS To Jordan | France Intends To Lease Chinooks
Americas
Raytheon won a $15 million deal for Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) technical support. The total value of the IDIQ contract will increase from $100,000,000 to $115,000,000. This contract provides for lifecycle technical support throughout engineering and manufacturing development (EMD), production, and sustainment phases. The Small Diameter Bomb II, or SDB II, is designed to destroy moving targets in all kinds of weather, such as small groups of ISIS or terrorist fighters on-the-move in pick-up trucks. The US Air Force Air Armament Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, awarded a $144m contract to Raytheon in April 2006 for risk reduction work of the SDB II bomb, also known as GBU-53 / B. The work was completed in August 2009. Work will take place in Arizona and estimated completion date is July 25, 2024.
Hamilton Sundstrand won an $11.6 million contract to procure recurring and non-recurring engineering associated with the H-53E (aircraft) and T-64 (battle tank) fuel control production line stand-up. In addition, this contract provides for the procurement of special tooling, test equipment and support equipment. The CH-53E Super Stallion is the Marine Corps’ primary heavy lift helicopter and has been in service for over 30 years. There are currently 152 CH-53E aircraft in operation. The Super Stallion incorporates GPS, doppler radar, FLIR, and ANVIS-HUD sensors, and carries 7.62mm and 50 caliber guns (as a mission kit). The T-64 is a Soviet second-generation Main Battle Tank introduced in the early 1960s. A revolutionary feature of the T-64 is the incorporation of an automatic loader for its 125-mm gun, allowing one crew member’s position to be omitted and helping to keep the size and weight of the tank down.
Middle East & Africa
CAS Inc. won a $35.5 million modification for technical engineering services in support of the Lower Tier Project Office. The Lower Tier Project Office (LTPO) performs Army centralized management of the PATRIOT System products that include; the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) family of interceptors to include PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI) and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS). Work will take place in Alabama. Estimated completion date is February 28, 2021. Foreign Military Sales to Bahrain, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates are obligated at the time of the award.
The US Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Jordan of up to seven hundred (700) Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) software license copies and related equipment for an estimated cost of $300 million. The Government of Jordan has requested to buy up to seven hundred (700) Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) software license copies with a tailored, international ballistic kernel. The Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) is the Fire Support Command and Control (C2) system employed by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps units to provide automated support for planning, coordinating, controlling and executing fires and effects. The upgrade and expansion of the AFATDS fire control system will allow the JAF to defend its borders and ground forces with indirect fire weapon systems. The prime contractors for the AFATDS and supporting equipment include Raytheon Company and the Harris Company. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.
Europe
The French military has indicated that it intends to lease some CH-47s before it acquires a heavy lift helicopter from 2025. Combat experience in Central Africa has exposed the need for a heavy lift rotorcraft to support French special forces. It currently relies on three British CH-47s in Mali. France is one of a handful of European countries that do not operate heavy lift helicopters, instead relying on types like the NHIndustries NH90, the Airbus H225M Caracal and Super Puma for troop lift and battlefield support operations. But France’s recent experience in Central Africa has prompted the need for a logistics heavy lifter.
Asia-Pacific
The Indonesian House of Representatives’ committee on defense and foreign affairs has cleared the acceptance of 14 ScanEagle Unmanned Air Vehicles and three Bell 412 helicopters from the United States. Under the country’s law, every grant provided to the Indonesian government needs to first be approved by the House of Representatives. Indonesia, has a defense cooperation with several countries, including the US. In the framework of the cooperation, giving primary weapons defense system as a grant is reasonable.
Today’s Video
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More In-depth Contract News & Updates
The New Chinooks: Boeing’s Modern H-47 Heavy-Lift Helicopters
| The French military has indicated that it intends to lease some CH-47s before it acquires a heavy lift helicopter from 2025. Combat experience in Central Africa has exposed the need for a heavy lift rotorcraft to support French special forces. It currently relies on three British CH-47s in Mali. France is one of a handful of European countries that do not operate heavy lift helicopters, instead relying on types like the NHIndustries NH90, the Airbus H225M Caracal and Super Puma for troop lift and battlefield support operations. But France’s recent experience in Central Africa has prompted the need for a logistics heavy lifter. More »
From Dolphins to Destroyers: The ScanEagle UAV
| The Indonesian House of Representatives’ committee on defense and foreign affairs has cleared the acceptance of 14 ScanEagle Unmanned Air Vehicles and three Bell 412 helicopters from the United States. Under the country’s law, every grant provided to the Indonesian government needs to first be approved by the House of Representatives. Indonesia, has a defense cooperation with several countries, including the US. In the framework of the cooperation, giving primary weapons defense system as a grant is reasonable. More »
EA-18G Program: The USA’s Electronic Growler
| Boeing won a $7.4 million delivery order, which procures 30 A1 G-Model kits and 66 A3 E-Model kits in support of F/A-18E/F and EA-18G modifications. The US Navy F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet is a maritime strike attack aircraft. The first low-rate initial production aircraft was delivered in December 1998, and all 12 of the first batch were delivered by November 1999. EA-18G Growler is an airborne electronic attack aircraft, which operates from either an aircraft carrier or from land-bases. The Growler was developed as a replacement for the United States Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft that entered service in 1971 and is approaching the end of operational life. Work will take place in California,Missouri and Texas. Estimated completion is in October 2023. More »
Aging Aircraft: USAF F-15 Fleet Sees Renewed Interest
| Tapestry Solutions won a $29.4 million award for the F-15 mission planning software development and maintenance. The deal provides for the F15 software development of the v6.1 Mission Planning Environment and supports the F-15 Organizational Flight Program Suite 9.1 through sustainment of the previously-fielded v5.0 Mission Planning Environment for the Air Force and foreign country specific releases for the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) client nations as well as the in-test v6.0 Mission Planning Environment. The Foreign Military Sales effort allows continued support to incorporate requirements to provide country specific versions of Air Force Mission Planning Environment updates in accordance with each country specific FMS Letters of Acceptance between the US government and the foreign government. The Mission Planning Environment updates will be fielded outside the continental US to the FMS costumers with current Letters of Acceptance in place with the U.S. government. Work will take place in Missouri. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2023. More »
Snakes and Rotors: The H-1 Helicopter Program
| Taiwan formally handed over two Bell UH-1H helicopters to the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force Air Wing on February 21, the Taiwanese embassy in Eswatini announced. Eswatini media reported that five UEDF Air Wing pilots and five ground technicians were trained by Taiwan to operate the new helicopters. King Mswati III, Eswatini’s current ruler, was reported as saying the aircraft would provide a useful disaster-relief capability that could be used to help neighboring countries. He also said they would support the Royal Eswatini Police Service with air mobility and medical evacuation. More »
