Americas
Austal USA won a $43.4 million contract modification to exercise options for Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) class design services and Integrated Data and Product Model Environment (IDPME) support. Austal USA will provide class design services, including but not limited to, technical analyses, non-recurring engineering, configuration management, software maintenance, production assessments, diminishing manufacturing sources analysis, root cause analysis and sea frame reliability analysis. Austal USA will also maintain an IDPME that provides the Navy access to enterprise data management, visualization, program management applications, network management and control. The LCS is a family of surface ships for the US Navy. The LCS is a fast, highly maneuverable, networked surface combat ship, which is a specialized variant of the family of US future surface combat ships known as DD(X). Work will take place in Mobile, Alabama and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Estimated completion will be by June 2021.
Viasat won a maximum $8.9 million deal for AV-8B spare parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 US Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-month contract with no option periods. Using military service is Navy. The Harrier II Plus (AV-8B), manufactured by BAE Systems and Boeing, is a VSTOL fighter and attack aircraft operational with the US Marine Corps, the Spanish Navy and the Italian Navy. The Harrier II Plus extends the capabilities of the Harrier with the introduction of a multi-mode radar and beyond-visual-range missile capability. Location of performance is California, with a September 30, 2020, performance completion date.
Middle East & Africa
The US Air Force awarded a $524 million contract to a joint venture between Bahadir Construction Engineering Contracting and Trading Company & Impresa Costruzioni Giuseppe Maltauro to begin constructing an operational fighter wing for the F-15QA beddown at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in 2022. The 650 acre complex will support 3 squadrons of 48 F-15QAs. It will have approximately 35 buildings to include training, simulators, maintenance, supply, administrative facilities, and a mosque.
Europe
According to Reuters, the naval air arm of the German Navy will look for a replacement of its P-3C. The service has decided against upgrading the aircraft in favor of buying a new platform, a confidential ministry document reviewed by Reuters showed. It has become expensive to maintain the Orion. The alternatives being evaluated are the C295, RAS 72 and P-8A.
The Czech Republic government is offering to let Slovakia participate in the L-39NG program for the long-term if the latter opts to buy eight trainers. Slovakia’s Jaroslav Nad welcomed the proposal, saying the offer will be seriously considered. As part of the deal, Slovak instructors would train at the state-owned Czech tactical training centre LOM, in Prague, to which Aero Vodochody will supply an initial four L-39NGs, subject to final government approval. Further pilot training will take place in Slovakia.
Asia-Pacific
North Korea announced, it would deploy troops to the Kaesong Industrial Zone and Mt. Kumgang tourist area. These locations were once the sites of joint economic ventures with South Korea, as Pyongyang continued to ratchet up tensions a day after it demolished an inter-Korean liaison office. Reportedly, the North will also reinstall guard posts that had been removed from the Demilitarized Zone and conduct military drills in border areas,
Today’s Video
Watch: U.S MAY HAVE COVERTLY UPGRADED TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENSE IN SOUTH KOREA TO COUNTER CHINA !
