OM Group in Cleveland, OH agreed to acquire EaglePicher Technologies, a Joplin, MO-based manufacturer of batteries, battery management systems and energetic devices for the defense, aerospace, and medical industries, from EaglePicher Corp. for $171.9 million.
In fiscal year 2009, EaglePicher recorded revenues of approximately $125 million, of which approximately 60% came from its defense business, approximately 31% from its aerospace business, and the balance from its medical and other businesses…
Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, CA received a not-to-exceed $851 million cost-plus-incentive-fee/ cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide support for production of Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles as well as maintenance of deployed D-5 and C-4 missiles.
An Oct 23/09 DefenseLink announcement identified a maximum contract value of $853.3 million, but a Dec 8/09 Lockheed Martin release gave a maximum value of $851 million. Lockheed Martin’s Lynn Fisher explained that the DefenseLink announcement was an “undefinitized contract action;” as a result of the contract being “definitized,” the maximum value was lowered slightly.
Under the contract, Lockheed Martin is providing D5 missile hardware production support and reentry system hardware, as well as operations and maintenance to support the readiness and reliability of missile systems deployed aboard the US Navy’s Trident II Ohio-class SSBNs…
The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA received 2 contract modifications worth a combined $243 million to provide engineering support and repair services for the Trident II D5 guidance system.
The Trident II D-5, the sixth generation member of the US Navy’s fleet ballistic missile program, is a 3-stage, solid propellant ballistic missile with a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles.
Deployed aboard Ohio Class SSBNs and British Vanguard Class SSBNs, the Trident II uses the Mk6 LE inertial guidance system for navigation.
State-owned DCNS is France’s only warship supplier, just as BAE Systems has become Britain’s sole warship supply and maintenance source. In November 2009, DCNS received 2 major contracts for through-life support services of France’s nuclear-powered submarine fleets. The 1st is covers France’s 6 nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSNs) for 5 years; the 2nd covers French nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs) for 5.5 years.
The contracts have a of number provisions related to specific ships. They break down as follows:
Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors in Mitchel Field, NY received a $62.9 million cost-plus incentive fee/ cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide navigation subsystem engineering support services to the US and UK fleet of Trident II (D5) ballistic missiles. The contract contains options, which if exercised, would bring its cumulative value to $141.4 million.
The Trident II D-5, the sixth generation member of the US Navy’s fleet ballistic missile program, is a 3-stage, solid propellant ballistic missile with a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles.
Deployed aboard Ohio Class SSBNs and British Vanguard Class SSBNs, the Trident II uses the Mk 6 LE inertial guidance system for navigation.
In the 1960s dark comedy Dr. Strangelove, a rogue US Air Force general succeeds in usurping the US “fail-safe” security system preventing unauthorized use of nuclear weapons. As a result, a nuclear weapon is dropped on the Soviet Union, the doomsday machine is activated, and the protagonists argue about who gets to ride out the war in mine shafts.
In the 21st century, the US Air Force is taking steps to make sure that nuclear-tipped ICBMs stay securely in their silos. Through the ICBM Security Modernization Program, the USAF has launched a number of initiatives to beef up silo security.
One of those initiatives is the Remote Visual Assessment Program, which is designed to improve the situational awareness of the security staff around the ICBM silos. To support that program, the USAF awarded Northrop Grumman a $31 million contract…
L3 Interstate Electronics Corp. in Anaheim, CA received a $39.2 million cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide data acquisition, processing, and analysis for Trident missile flight test missions of the United States and United Kingdom. This contract contains options, which if exercised, would bring the contract value to $49.4 million.
The US Navy recently tested 2 D-5 Trident ballistic missiles from the USS West Virginia [SSBN 736] submarine in the Atlantic Ocean.
ITT Corp.’s Systems Division in Cape Canaveral, FL received a $7 million task order to support the US Air Force’s Eastern and Western missile ranges.
The task order was issued as part of a 10-year, $1.3 billion contract awarded to ITT by the USAF.
The contract calls for ITT to modernize the USAF Spacelift Range System (SLRS). This work includes support for spacecraft launch, as well as ballistic missile and aeronautical testing.
As oil prices remain high, and natural gas has become a critical fuel for Europe, Russia’s strategy for geopolitical action and leverage has revolved around energy. After the disastrous collapse of communist Russia’s illusion economy, high energy prices are lifting the Russian economy – and with it, available funds for Putin to spend on military modernization.
Russia’s military has declined from 4 million men to 1.1 million, and the vast majority of its equipment consists of holdovers from the Soviet Union. During the 1990s, weapons procurement was almost completely halted; indeed, there were frequent reports of Russian soldiers in uniform, begging in the streets. Times have changed, and Russia’s military is set to change and modernize. The invasion of Georgia shows a Russia that is once again prepared to use military power beyond its borders. Budgets are rising, and will rise further.
The question is whether Russia’s industry and political system can keep up…
Naval Base Kitsap is one of the homes for the USA’s fleet of Trident nuclear missile submarines; the Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific stores both propellant and nuclear warheads. One report claims that this location has the highest concentration of nuclear warheads in the USA with more than 2,300 warheads, about half of which are sailing aboard America’s Pacific fleet of ballistic-missile submarines at any given time.
A set of contracts begun in 2008 aim to make improvements to this facility. They aren’t cheap, but one can argue that they’re worth it…
