Lockheed Martin Systems of Owego, NY recently received two contracts related to the H-60R Seahawk Multi-Mission Helicopter (MMH). The first is a not-to-exceed $49 million definite-delivery/definite-quantity order under a basic ordering agreement contract (N00383-01-G-004N) to purchase spares for the Seahawk’s multi-mode radar system. Work will be performed in Farmington, NY (70%) and Owego, NY (30%), and is expected to be completed by December 2006. The Naval Inventory Control Point issued the order (Order 0023), which was not competitively procured.
LMS also received a $6.3 million cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-03-G-0014) to exercise an option and generate engineering change proposals for the MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters’ Link 16 data link system, including the middleware software and audio management. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, with completion expected by December 2005. The Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, MD holds this agreement.
Northrop Grumman Ships Systems of Pascagoula, MS is being awarded a $10M cost-plus-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-02-C-2302), in order to provide greater detail into the DD(X) Program Life Cycle Cost Estimate. The Navy’s DD(X) program is a family of surface combatant ships expected to serve until 2061, including destroyers, cruisers and smaller LCS craft for near-shore operations. Work on the Program Life Cycle Cost Estimate will be performed in Tewksbury, MA (35%); Pascagoula, MS (23%); Bath, ME (18%); Minneapolis, MN (7%); Moorestown, NJ (4%); Farmington, UT (4%); King George, VA (4%); Chantilly, VA (3%); and Alexandria, VA (2%), and is expected to be completed by March 2005. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, issued the contract.
Aero Thermo Technology Inc. of Huntsville, AL is being awarded a $6.2 million firm-fixed-price contract to provide technical, analytical and program support services for SSBN (submarine launched) and ICBM (land launched intercontinental) nuclear missile guidance systems. This contract contains options would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $25.4 million. The Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, DC issued this contract (N00030-05-C-0035), which was not competitively procured.
Harris Corp. RF Communications Division of Rochester, NY received a maximum $75M firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract for High Frequency Manpack Radios (HFMR AN/PRC-150C), components, spares, and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) training. The AN/PRC-150 (see PDF Fact Sheet) provides long-range, tactical communications. It includes advanced voice and data encryption options, plain-text interoperability with VHF radios, and a high-speed data rate. It is considered a component of “signal transformation” within the military, and is in use by Special Forces, Army, Navy and USMC units. This contract comes at a point where the House Appropriations Committee is specifically increasing tactical radio and related appropriations for 2005.
Work on this contract will be performed in Rochester, NY (85%) and various training locations (15%), and is expected to be completed March 2009. The Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA issued this sole source contract (M67854-05-D-7015).
Raytheon Co., IDS of, Portsmouth, RI received a $12.7M firm fixed price contract upgrades to modify existing Japanese MK 48 vertical launch units to launch more modern Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM). The contract provides for Ordnance Alteration (ORDALT) support and test equipment, updated technical documentation, training, and associated material. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, RI (60%) and Sudbury, MA (40%), and is expected to be completed by July 2007. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC awarded this contract (N00024-05-C-5483) in support of the Government of Japan under the Foreign Military Sales program; it was not competitively procured.
The USA’s Government Accountability Office has released its report on the condition of the F/A-22 Raptor and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programs, expressing concern at the state of both efforts. The GAO says the $10 billion in cuts in President Bush’s 2006 budget proposal would “have significant implications for the [F/A-22] program’s viability and modernization efforts.” It also expressed concerns about the structure of the JSF program, and advocates putting its business case on a new footing before proceeding.
United Technologies Corp. of East Hartford, CT received a $10M firm fixed price contract and cost-plus fixed-fee contract to provide 48 Lot 6 F119 jet engines and associated support. The F119-PW-100 is manufactured by the Pratt & Whitney Military Engines subsidiary, and powers the new F/A-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. Solicitation began August 2004 and this work will be complete by January 2008. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8611-05-C-2851).
The F-15K Strike Eagle made its first flight in St. Louis last week. Flown by Boeing Chief F-15 Test Pilot Joe Felock and Chief Weapons Systems Officer Rick Junkin, the F-15K completed an aggressive speed run easily surpassing Mach 2, accomplished both engine shut-downs and restarts, and passed instrument and avionics checks of primary backup systems.
The Republic of Korea (ROKAF) selected the F-15K advanced derivative of the F-15E Strike Eagle for its Next Generation Fighter Program in 2002. Under a $3.6 billion contract, Boeing will deliver 40 aircraft to the ROKAF beginning this year and ending in August 2008. The formal F-15K rollout ceremony will take place on March 16, 2005 in St. Louis, MO. Boeing: Boeing’s Newest Fighter Aircraft Makes First Flight
Despite threats of program cancellation in the Pentagon’s upcoming budget, the Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office of Patuxent River, MD is being awarded an $8.4M cost-plus-award-fee delivery order against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00019-04-G-0007) to exercise an option to provide continued flight test and data integration efforts for the MV-22 Osprey. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, MD and is expected to be completed in September 2005. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD issued the order.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the U.S. Air Force will reinstate Boeing as a “good corporate citizen” after an 18-month suspension, so it can once again bid for rocket orders that could be worth as much as $4B. In July 2003, the USAF imposed this suspension and took away about $1B of rocket orders after federal investigators found that two Boeing employees had stolen proprietary rocket documents from rival Lockheed Martin Corp. Sources said the suspension would be lifted after a 25-page administrative agreement was reached, including a financial settlement of up to $170M to cover the cost that the Air Force says it incurred as a result of the suspensions. Boeing could also wind up paying a portion of the $200M that the Air Force is paying Lockheed to build a West Coast launch pad for the rockets.
In other space-related news at Boeing, Boeing recently folded its commercial BSS division into a new Satellite Development Center under Boeing’s Space and Intelligence Systems, in order to focus on government-satellite work.
