Back on May 20, 2005, DID covered advance materials procurement as part of the program to modify one of the USA’s Ohio Class SSBN nuclear missile subs to become long range conventional strike and special operations SSGN “Tactical Trident” submarines. To that end, four ultra-stealthy Ohio-class SSBNs are having their ballistic missiles removed and replaced with up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles – as well as accommodation for 66-102 special forces troops, Advanced SEAL delivery system (ASDS) “mini-subs,” and a mission control center. In future, they may also carry UUV robotic vehicles. These modifications provide the USA with an impressive and impressively flexible set of conventional firepower, in a survivable and virtually undetectable platform that can remain on station for very long periods.
General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT is the prime contractor, and they recently received a new $162.4 million contract modification for work on the USS Georgia [SSBN 729]. The conversion to SSGN status will be conducted concurrently with the ship’s engineered refueling overhaul, and work is expected to complete by September 2007. Work will be performed in Norfolk, VA (77% – where the refueling overhaul takes place), Quonset Point, RI (16%) and Groton, CT (7%). The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. issued the contract.
…to these
We have updated and moved our DID Focus article for the SSGN program. In it, we discuss the origins of these conversions, the key players, the timeline, and some of the technologies involved. DID also offers comprehensive coverage of the announced contracts to date under this $1.4 billion refurbishment and conversion program, and even includes a section with a number of ancillary contracts and programs. Read “SSGN “Tactical Trident” Subs: Special Forces and Super Strike.”
RAND Corp. in Santa Monica, CA received a $210.6 million cost-reimbursement plus fee-for-need contract to provide for RAND Project Air Force, Research of Air and Space Power. Originally known as Project RAND (an acronym for research and development), PAF was established in 1946 by General H. H. “Hap” Arnold as a way of retaining for the United States Air Force (USAF) the considerable benefits of civilian scientific thinking that had been demonstrated during World War II. Since its founding, PAF has focused entirely on studies and analyses rather than systems engineering or scientific laboratories. Publications include the F/A-18 E/F and F/A-22 program lessons learned report that DID covered earlier today.
This is a five-year option period, which extends the contract to a ten-year period. Solicitations began August 2005 and one proposal was received; work will now be complete in September 2015. The Air Force District Washington in Rosslyn, VA issued the contract (FA7014-06-C-0001). For more information, contact the 11th WG/PA at 202-767-7561.
Since the late 1980s, the U.S. Air Force has pursued the F/A-22 Raptor supersonic stealth fighter that incorporated numerous breakthrough technologies, while the US Navy developed the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet based on the existing F/A-18. Unsurprisingly, the F/A-22 program has experienced significant cost growth and schedule delays and is still in the testing stage. In contrast, the Super Hornet completed its development on cost and without significant delays, and has already been used in combat.
RAND’s Project Air Force looked at both programs with the intent of understanding how each project’s history turned out the way it did, what underlying factors might be at work, and what lessons might be learned.
The French Navy has awarded shipbuilder DCN a pair of contracts to support French warships. The contracts are worth EUR 288.5 million (about $350 million), and cover a wide variety of platforms including the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc, Type-F67 Tourville-class anti-submarine warfare frigates, Type-F70 Primauguet-class ASW frigates, Type-A69 patrol frigates, and the ballistic missile nuclear submarine SSBN Le Temeraire.
To be more specific, the first contract is worth EUR 127.5 million, and covers through-life support services (TLS) over the next 3.5 years for Brest-based front-line warships on France’s Atlantic seaboard. The contract covers TLS for the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc, 2 Type-F67 Tourville-class anti-submarine warfare frigates, Type-F70 Georges Leygues-class ASW frigates, and 5 Type-A69 patrol frigates.
Northrop Grumman Corporation recently rolled out the U.S. Army’s first two high-tech command post systems built under the Standardized Integrated Command Post System (SICPS) program. These common design, mobile, digitized command centers include advanced technologies including Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade-and-Below software (aka “Blue Force Tracker” displays) and other Army automated battlefield-command systems. SICPS are generally mounted on an expanded capacity Humvee jeep, though the standardized enclosure could be merged with other vehicles and may even be moved from one vehicle to another.
Small business qualifier Trident Systems Inc. of Fairfax, VA received a not to exceed $25 million Phase III, Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program contract for Topic SOCOM03-004. The objective of the topic is to further develop capabilities to develop radio frequency (RF) bridging equipment to move raw sensor data via legacy and emerging manned and unmanned RF communication nodes, correlating it, displaying it integral with command and control software while providing the needed sensor data directly to the front line.
As DTIC’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/STTR – SITIS Archive notes…
ManTech International Corporation in Fairfax, Virginia received a $19 million contract from the United States Department of Justice, National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC). This competitively awarded contract is a one year contract with an option year, for a total potential value of $19 million. ManTech will provide services to NDIC including Intelligence support, technical support, document exploitation, training and administrative support.
NDIC is the nation’s principal center for strategic domestic counterdrug intelligence. They provide national policymakers and law enforcement with strategic domestic drug intelligence, support the counterdrug efforts of the Intelligence Community, and produce national, regional and state drug threat assessments. ManTech has had a support relationship with them since 1996.
