In a September 2005 article, DID referred in passing to several recent advances in US mine detection technologies, including a new AQS-20A mine detecting sonar array, and airborne laser systems mounted to MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopters. All of this is in the service of the USA’s new naval emphasis on littoral warfare and accompanying doctrinal changes.
So, what’s the AN/AQS-20? And how is it also related to a new US ship class, not to mention a new undersea robot?
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Warfare Systems in Manassas, VA received a $5.1 million cost reimbursement contract modification to provide all resources necessary to perform tasks to achieve and overall objective of “producing a chalcogenide based, radiation hardened for megabyte” [DID: we think they may mean “4 MB”] non-volatile memory. This work will be complete by May 2007. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM issued the contract (FA9453-94-C-0052/P00007).
Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc. in Arlington, VA received $15 million for Task Order 0020 under its $500 million maximum “emergency response” contract with the US government. DID covered the particulars of that contract on Monday; they set out a number of specifications that leave just a handful of global firms able to meet them.
CACI International Inc announced today that it has been awarded a five-year, $188 million prime contract to support the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command’s Program Executive Office for Littoral and Mine Warfare (PEO-LMW).
The contract, which has a one-year base and four option years, calls for CACI to support a wide range of current and next-generation mine countermeasure programs and combat systems. What kinds of systems?
Northrop Grumman Corp. Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems in Melbourne, FL received a $124.5 million firm-fixed-price/ incentives letter contract for 3 Low-Rate Initial Production units of the AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS).
Rear Admiral William E. Landay, the U.S. Navy’s Program Executive Officer for littoral and mine warfare (q.v. recent U.S. doctrinal changes in that area), said ALMDS “represents the first new technology to be applied to mine [hunting] since the advent of sonar.” In addition, Northrop Grumman has now released additional information about the devices and the program.
Small business qualifier Digital Information Solutions LLC in Kansas City, MO received an $8.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for Construction of an Army Reserve Training and Support Facility in Gardner, KS. Work is expected to be complete by April 30, 2007. There were 173 bids solicited on May 2, 2005, and four bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Louisville, KY issued the contract (W912QR-05-C-0028).
