USAF LRSW Modernizes US Space Launch Ranges
Up to $160M to ManTech to support LRSW space launch operations. (March 23/10)
The US Air Force’s Launch and Range Systems Wing (LRSW) is modernizing the US space launch ranges – the Eastern Range (Patrick AFB, FL) and the Western Range (Vandenberg AFB, CA)
A focus on LRSW’s modernization efforts is the US Launch & Test Range System (LTRS), which consists of ground-based surveillance, navigation, flight operations and analysis, command and control, communications and weather assets located at the Eastern Range and the Western Range.
The majority of the equipment supporting the US space launch ranges was installed during the 1960s and 1970s. Multiple LTRS upgrade efforts are underway including the Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) program, ongoing Instrumentation Modernization (IM) projects, numerous recapitalization efforts, and various depot support projects to reduce operations and sustainment costs. The current modernization efforts is replacing approximately 20% of the system.
The LRSW uses contractors to support its modernization work…
Contracts and Key Events
Unless otherwise noted, the contracts are awarded by the US Air Force’s Launch and Range Systems Wing in El Segundo, CA.
March 23/10: ManTech SRS Technologies in Arlington, VA received a $15.4 million contract to provide system engineering and integration services to support LRSW by providing space launch operations for current and future launches.
ManTech will provide mission assurance for the LRSW’s Eastern and Western range launches. The support includes: systems engineering and integration, mission integration management, systems safety engineering, systems environmental engineering, systems security and information assurance, product assurance, launch schedule management and launch risk management (FA8811-10-C-0002).
In its release, ManTech says the contract is worth up to $160 million of all options are exercised over a 10-year period. The release says that ManTech will support the EELV program and the LTRS.
Dec 8/09: Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, VA received a $38.4 million contract to provide systems engineering support to the US LTRS. Under the contract (FA8811-09-C-0006), a team led by Booz Allen will provide systems engineering and integration support to modernize the US space launch ranges operated by the LRSW’s Spacelift Range Group in Los Angeles, CA. The BAH team includes Arinc, Cirrus Technology, Ensco, and Lockheed Martin Enterprise Integration. The 4-year contract also provides a risk reduction and capability maturation program to develop and maintain current and future space launch architectures.
June 13/06: ITT Industries System Division in Cape Canaveral, FL received a $9 million cost-plus-award fee, cost reimbursable, and firm-fixed-price contract modification to provide radar open system architecture technology and electrometric incorporated transmitter (ETM) and integrate it with the TPQ-18 antenna at the Vandenberg Air Force Base radar site. It also modifies the facility to allow the ETM transmitter installations and upgrades the antenna with new rotary joints. This project will enhance the LTRS by improving reliability, maintainability, availability, and LTRS standardization, reducing life cycle costs; and increasing radar capability for the 30th Space Wing. This work will be complete October 2009. The Space and Missile Systems Center Logistics Group at Peterson Air Force Base, CO manages the contract (F04701-01-C-0001/P00324).
April 28/05: ITT Industries Systems Division in Cape Canaveral, FL received a $5.7 million contract modification that consists of 2 projects. The 1st project provides the Eastern LTRS with metric optics subsystems that have the capability to verify and quantitatively validate the focus quality of large aperture, optical telescope instruments equipped with film and charge-couple device based camera sensors. The 2nd project is for the automated meteorological profiling system software upgrade. The location of performance is ITT Industries Systems Division at Patrick AFB, FL (75%) and Vandenberg AFB, CA (25%). The Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson Air Force Base, CO, manages the contract (F04701-010001, P00229).
