Raytheon Co. of El Segundo, CA received a $275 million not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-03-C-0364) for the procurement of 80 Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) full rate production (FRP) III units for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Navy Reserve’s F/A-18 fleet. This modification also includes spares and associated engineering. Work will be performed in McKinney, TX (79%) and El Segundo, CA (21%), and is expected to be completed in March 2008. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the modification.
Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors in Mannassas, VA received a $101.3 million firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for acoustic system upgrades to the P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and associated engineering services. The contract includes 69 USQ-78B P-3C acoustic system upgrade kits, 53 USQ-78B acoustic system retro-fit kits, 7 T-78 acoustic system trainers, 68 CPU-54 cards, and 17 plasma programmable entry panels – including 1 for the Government of Norway. Work will be performed in Manassas, VA (57%); Anaheim, CA (24%); Hamstead, MD (15%) and Tazewell, VA (4%) and is expected to be completed in September 2011. This contract combines purchases for the U. S. Navy (99.97%; $101.26 million) and the Government of Norway (.03%; $34,172) under the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract (N00019-05-D-0018).
Oshkosh Truck Corp. of Oshkosh, WI received $23.9 million for delivery order 0012 under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price requirements contract (M67854-04-D-5016) for low rate initial production amd test support of 92 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) trucks, Tractor Variant. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, WI and is expected to be completed December 2006. The Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA issued the contract
Lockheed Martin recently completed a successful Critical Design Review (CDR) for the radar carried in the E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning and battle management aircraft’s next generation. In August 2003, Lockheed received a $413.5 million contract to begin the critical radar component’s System Development and Demonstration (SD&D) phase. During the SD&D phase the company will produce two Engineering Development Models and four pre-production radar systems that will be used by Northrop Grumman for qualification, reliability and flight testing. Lockheed’s partners for this phase include Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and Raytheon Electronic Systems.
A full-scale production program will follow to equip the 75 Advanced Hawkeye aircraft that the Navy plans to procure by 2020. The radar will be housed in the same circular dome enclosure used for the AN/APS-145 airborne radar in the current Hawkeye 2000 series, but will feature additional range and enhancements that will help it track threats to allied forces operating amidst near-shore clutter. DefenseTalk.com: Successful Critical Design Review for Advanced Hawkeye Radar Development.
The UK government has named a European consortium as its preferred bidder for a GBP 13 billion (USD $25 billion; EUR 19 billion) contract to build refuelling and operate aircraft for the RAF, and will now move on to negotiations. The preferred AirTanker group is led by European defence giant EADS, and includes British firms Rolls-Royce and Cobham. AirTanker plans to use 15 to 20 Airbus A330-200 planes to refuel RAF fighter jets and military planes (EADS owns 80% of Airbus, and Britain’s BAE Systems owns 20%). The A330-200 has also been mentioned as a competitor to the Boeing KC-767 for the Pentagon’s controversial air-air refueling contract.
Under Britain’s public-private partnership proposal, the private sector would own and maintain the refuelling tankers on behalf of the RAF. When not in use for refuelling, the tankers would be converted to passenger planes or used for military transport purposes. This arrangement bears some similarities to Boeing’s KC-767 leasing deal that created such controversy in the US, so the impact of a successful UK deal on the Pentagon’s pending contract may be somewhat mixed. The British deal is expected to run for 27 years, with the first tanker coming into service in 2010.
Colorado Springs, CO firms Arctic Pipe and Materials LLC and TDF Construction Joint Venture received a $150 million indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements (SABER) construction contracts for Peterson Air Force Base (AFB), Pinon Canyon, and Ft. Carson Post around Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, CO. The Air Force can issue delivery orders totaling up to $150 million, although actual requirements may be lower. Future funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued. Solicitation began August 2004, negotiations were complete January 2005, and work will be complete November 2005. The 21st Space Wing at Peterson AFB, CO issued the contracts (FA2517-05-D-5001 and FA2517-05-D-5002).
Last month Turkey’s defense officials pushed the button for a huge consolidation plan when Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI), the country’s second largest defense company, and Turkish Aircraft Industries (TUSAS), TAI’s parent company, agreed to merge under a single corporate identity. TAI and TUSAS formalized the merger plan at their extraordinary general meeting of Feb. 18, 2005. TAI assembled F-16 fighter jets at its plant in the 1980s and 1990s, and presently manufactures parts for Boeing Co. of Chicago and U.S. helicopter maker Sikorsky. The company also is a participant in the multinational Joint Strike Fighter and Future Large Aircraft programs.
Now the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) plans to create a Turkish Defense Industry Holding Inc., or Turk Savunma Sanayi Holding A.S., as a parent entity for the country’s top defense companies presently owned by the government and/or the military.
BAE Systems Technologies Inc. in Rockville, MD is being awarded a $6.6 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-01-C-0192) to exercise an option for engineering and technical support for Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, MD (88.5%) and San Diego, CA (11.5%), and is expected to be completed in March 2006. The Naval Air Systems Command Aircraft Division in St. Inigoes, MD issued the contract modification. BAE Systems Technologies, Inc. is part of the Eurosystems merger deals recently approved by the EU.
The Naval Air Systems Command Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, MD issued four $100 million ceiling-priced, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts to provide engineering and technical services in support of the Naval Air Systems Command’s Avionics Department and its sensor systems. This contract was competitively procured under an electronic request for proposals as a 100% Small Business Set-aside; four offers were received, and all four were accepted. Each approved contractor will be provided a fair opportunity to compete for individual task orders, and work awarded under each task order awarded will be performed at individual contractor facilities located in California, MD; Alexandria, VA; and Bowie, MD (20%) and at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, MD (80%). The contracts are expected to be completed in March 2009.
European regulators have approved a deal between Finmeccanica SpA of Italy and Britain’s BAE Systems PLC to create Eurosystems, a set of joint ventures in defense electronics. A BAE spokesman said the deal would create a clearer management structure would also increase the chances of landing contracts in an industry dominated by heavyweight manufacturers. The deal breaks down as follows:
