Despite recent hype about the USA selling F-16 and F-18 aircraft to India, there is still much confusion concerning the exact offer and a long way to go before any deal is finalized.
India’s Air Marshal PS Ahluwalia reportedly told the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that the IAF was finding difficulties in managing over 20 different types of aircraft, and would not like to add new makes of aircraft that would complicate the inventory further. In response, the committee cleared the immediate purchase of 12 Mirage 2000-Vs from Qatar’s air force.
This news affects India’s upcoming decision regarding its purchase of 126 multi-role fighters.
Spy-satellite company Space Imaging Inc. of Thornton, CO is considering a sale of the company after competitor Orbimage Inc. of Dulles, VA won the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s NextView contract. Space Imaging’s IKONOS commercial 1-meter resolution satellite is expected to deteriorate around 2007.
Raytheon Company has announced a $200 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for continued production of 434 more AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air missile (AMRAAM). Work will be performed at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ and will be complete by the end of 2007.
AMRAAM was designed with the lessons of Vietnam in mind.
Aerojet General Corp. in Sacramento, CA is being awarded a $48 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract. The contractor will modify up to 40 SR19 Flex Sal rocket motors to allow the SR19 motors to be utilized as a Stage 1 booster systems. In addition, the government will establish and fully fund deliver order 0001.
While the purpose of this order was not disclosed, the SR19 is normally used as a second stage for Minuteman ICBMs, and as a booster system for Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) test targets. Negotiations were completed February 2005, and work will be complete by April 2010. The Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., issued the contract (FA88818-04-D-0018).
Smith’s Aerospace Inc. Electronic Systems in Grand Rapids, MI received a $6.5 million fixed-price delivery order against a previously awarded firm-fixed-price requirements contract (N00019-04-D-0080) for the procurement of 33 AV-8B Harrier Aircraft Warfare Mission Computers. Work will be performed in Grand Rapids, MI and is expected to be completed in March 2007. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., issued the contract. The U.S. Marines’ Harrier aircraft proven to be a versatile and useful asset in urban warfare operations within Iraq.
Small business qualifier Valley Apparel, LLC of Knoxville, TN, who booked $13.6 million in total 2004 sales, is being awarded a maximum $19.9 million firm fixed price indefinite quantity contract for men’s summer fire-resistant flyer jacket for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. This is a basic award contract with two one-year term options, and performance completion date is May 26, 2006. Proposals were submitted using Gateway with seven responses. Valley Apparel has fulfilled a number of clothing contracts in the past for the U.S. military. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA issued the contract (SP0100-05-D-4158).
A pair of Pentagon contracts have recently been issued related to chemical/biological preparedness. ITT Industries of Alexandria, VA received a $4.8 million increment as part of an $11,801,307 cost-plus-fixed-fee sole-source contract for the Joint Contaminated Surface Detector Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration. Work will be performed in Albuquerque, NM and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2008. The U.S. Army Robert Morris Acquisition Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD issued the contract (W911SR-05-C-0015).
On a more prosaic level, KCI Construction Inc. in Afton, MO won a $13.4 million firm-fixed-price contract to build a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training building. Work will be performed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2007. Bids were solicited via the Internet on Jan. 17, 2005, and four bids were received. The U.S. Army Engineer District, Kansas City, MO issued the contract (W912DQ-05-C-0011).
