…And Eurocopter Makes 3: EADS To Compete for $2B U.S. LUH Program

UH-60 Blackhawk

In a recent DID post, we covered the US Army’s upcoming Light Utility Helicopter competition, which aims to replace the old UH-1H Hueys and OH-58 Kiowa aircraft in the U.S. Army and National Guard with approximately 320 new LUH helicopters between 2006-2015. These commercial, Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Type Standard Certified helicopters will fill the niche missions in which the Army’s standard UH-60 Black Hawk‘s size, capability, and operating expenses may be unnecessary, performing a wide range of general support missions in the United States and overseas. Transport of personnel and supplies, disaster relief operations, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, drug interdiction, and homeland security will all be likely tasks.

Dark horse competitor

Now there’s a third contestant in the ring. Airbus parent EADS declined to compete for the recently awarded $2.2 billion Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter contract, but they’ve thrown their hat in the ring for the LUH – and they may have a winner.

Kuwait Runs Apache Longbow Contract to $262.2 M

Kuwaiti Longbow

Yesterday, DID covered an offer by the Kuwaiti government to purchase up to $295 million in support for the nation’s 40 F/A-18C&D fighters. Now Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co. in Mesa, AZ has received a $27 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for training device suites for the Government of Kuwait.

Previous awards under this contract included:

DRS Delivering on Bradley IBAS Upgrades

M3A3 Bradley

DRS Optronics Inc. in Palm Bay, FL received a delivery order amount of $15.8M as part of a $26.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for the Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS). DID has covered and explained the IBAS targeting enhancements before, though that contract was a direct purchase by Bradley Maker United Defense LP (now BAE Systems Land & Armament) for inclusion in the digitized M2A3 and M3A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

Work will be performed in Palm Bay, FL (90%), and Dallas, TX (10%), and is expected to be completed by Aug. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were two bids solicited on Jan. 22, 2004, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL issued the contract (W31P4Q-05-D-0026).

$64.2M to Convert Martinsburg for Giant C-5 Aircraft

C-5 Refuels from KC-135
Note KC-135 = 707 airliner!

Clark Construction Group L.L.C. in Bethesda, MD won a $64.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for an Airlift Wing Base Conversion from C-130 Hercules to C-5 Galaxy Aircraft. Work will be performed in Martinsburg, WV and is expected to be complete by Aug. 19, 2007. There were an unknown number of bids solicited via the World Wide Web on March 11, 2005, and four bids were received. The U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Buckhannon, WV issued the contract (W912L8-05-C-0005).

CH-53E Helicopter Night Vision Turret Order Rises to 109

CH-53E Super Stallion

Raytheon Co. Space and Airborne Systems in El Segundo, CA is being awarded a $38.8 million firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-04-D-0070) for the procurement of 83 AN/AAQ-29A night vision system kits. These are turreted FLIR units (Forward Looking Infra-Red, feeds images to a display screen inside) and system electronics to be installed on and in CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters.

Up to $7M for Scheduled Overhaul of USN Tsunami Relief Support Vessel

USNS Concord

Guam Shipyard in Santa Rita, Guam, is being awarded a $5.2 million firm-fixed-price for the regular overhaul of USNS Concord (T-AFS 5). USNS Concord is one of Military Sealift Command’s five Mars Class Combat Stores Ships and is part of the 36 ships in the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force. Along with her sister ship the USNS San Jose, she was active during the recent tsunami relief efforts.

This contract contains options that will bring the total cumulative value of the contract to $7 million if exercised. Work will be performed in Santa Rita, Guam, and is expected to be complete by November 2005. This contract was a sole source procurement by the U.S. Navy’s Sealift Logistics Command Far East (N62404-05-C-0014).

More Than Just Simulators Will Defend US Navy Ships in Port

Yesterday, DID described how a sims-style video game was training attack sub sailors to be prepared for security threats while in port. Apparently, the US Navy isn’t stopping there. Northrop Grumman Corp. Electronic Systems in Annapolis, MD received a $6 million firm-fixed-price/cost type contract for the Shipboard Protection System (SPS). The purpose of the SPS system is to enhance the ability of surface naval vessels to defeat terrorist attempts or counter other threats while moored to a pier, at anchor, or during restricted maneuvering like canals, narrow littoral channels, etc.

Capabilities for Increment I include: Integrated Surface Surveillance System, and Non-lethal weapons/devices. The surface surveillance system integrates EO/IR sensors, radar, and stabilized guns into a common tactical surveillance system. Non-lethal weaponry will also be included.