$75M of Advanced Radio Support for U.S. Marines

AN/PRC-150 Radio

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 to Upgrade Japanese Fleet Defense

ESSM Launch

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.

GAO Releases Study of F-22, F-35 Programs

F/A-22 Raptor

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.

Pratt & Whitney Receives $10M for F-119 Engines, Support

F119 Engine:
Vectored Thrust

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).

F-15K’s First Flight Successful

F-15K [see video]

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

Bell-Boeing To Continue Some MV-22 Osprey Work

MV-22 Osprey

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.