On July 21, 2004, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced far-reaching changes in the shape of Britain’s armed forces. “Our need in the future is for flexible and adaptable armed forces properly supported to carry out the most likely expeditionary operations,” Hoon wrote in the foreword to a planning document entitled Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities.
The document also set the ability to handle “three concurrent small and medium scale operations” as a goal. This is an increase on the two currently planned for (small being the equivalent of Sierra Leone, medium corresponding to Afghanistan). The British army should also have the capacity to contribute to large-scale operations such as Iraq, while maintaining another small-scale operation. But to achieve these gains, deep and controversial cuts are being made elsewhere despite increases in the overall UK defence budget. Dr. John Hill offers his analysis of some of the directions and tradeoffs underway, in this article for the International relations and Security Network (ISN), Center for Security Studies in Zurich, Switzerland. See all UK-related items on DID.
The Israeli Air Force has placed a USD $50+ million order for Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Heron (Machatz 1) medium altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The IAF cited increased need for surveillance UAVs following withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The first Heron will be supplied in the next few days, and the order also includes a long-term maintenance contract.
Sigarms, Inc. and Heckler & Koch, Inc./HK Defense) both recently won monster pistol contracts for up to 65,000 pistols, each from the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. Approved pistols include 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 SIG caliber weapons. Total contract values were $49.9 million.
Sigarms’ pistol contract is worth $23.7 million. The SIG-Sauer pistols chosen by DHS are the SIG P226R-DAK, SIG P229R-DAK, and SIG P239-DAO. The Heckler and Koch (HK)/HK Defense pistol contract is valued at $26.2 million, and includes the HK P2000 US, HK P2000 SK Subcompact, and the USP Compact/LEM (Law Enforcement Modification). DefenseReview.com has the links and explanations.
Northrop Grumman Defense Mission Systems Inc. in Reston, VA received a $5.2 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based contract to provide technical support for integration, development of interfaces, deployment, testing, and transitional operations and maintenance of an integrated Investigative Data Warehouse and FBI Automated Messaging System (FAMS, which provides for secure email interlinks). This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring its cumulative value to an estimated $9.8 million.
Work will be performed in Charleston, SC (10%) and Washington, DC (90%), and is expected to be complete by August 2006 (August 2007 with options). The Request for Proposal was posted on the SPAWAR Systems Center E-Commerce website, with one offer received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston, SC issued the contract (N65236-05-D-6853).
Small business qualifier TJC Engineering Inc. in Louisville, KY received a $5 million firm-fixed price contract for Hurricane Katrina stabilization and recovery at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian. Work to be performed includes re-roofing of most buildings, barracks, debris removal from the entire base, water mitigation, mold mitigation, interior and exterior repairs to most buildings, waste treatment plants, and all incidental related work.
Work will be performed in Meridian, MS and is expected to be complete by September 2006. This contract was a sole source negotiated procurement under the U.S. Small Business Administration program by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southern Division in North Charleston, SC (N62470-05-C-0196).
