Jan 03, 2006 08:39 UTC
C-17 Globemaster III
The FY 2006 House defense budget bill included $3.5 billion for C-17 Globemaster III strategic transports, but DID has also covered reports that the Pentagon will recommend that the aircraft cease production in 2008 at 180 planes, despite heavy demands on the aircraft that are shortening the service life of the existing fleet.
The Washington Post’s December 28, 2005 article, “Campaigning for the C-17,” describes the efforts underway in Long Beach, CA (near Los Angeles) to reduce Boeing’s costs and hopefully encourage further orders.
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Jan 03, 2006 06:03 UTC
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Arms and Strategic Technology Investigations (ASTI) division is responsible for investigating illegal exports of military products and sensitive technologies. ICE are not alone, however, nor are they the only lever available to the USA.
On December 27, 2005, the US State Department declared that it was imposing sanctions on 9 companies (6 in China, 2 in India, and 1 in Austria) on the basis of credible information that the companies had transferred equipment or technology in violation of the Iran Nonproliferation Act (Public Law 106-178). A citation means that companies have sold materials to Iran that are included in international export control lists, or can be used in the production of missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The sanctioned firms are:
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Jan 03, 2006 05:57 UTC
Japanese E-2C
The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD has recently issued several contract modifications and delivery orders related to the E-2 Hawkeye carrier-capable airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft. AWACS aircraft have long-range radars that can scan 360 degrees, identifying threats, passing on communications, and coordinating defensive or offensive responses. The Hawkeye’s AN/APS-145 radar, for example, is capable of tracking more than 2,000 targets and controlling the interception of 40 hostile targets at ranges over 550 km/350 miles.
The contracts total $113 million, and include both US and international orders:
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Jan 03, 2006 05:29 UTC
Mmm, Parmesan Chicken…
Even civilians are familiar with the USA’s MREs, or Meals Ready to Eat. While there are reports that the French RCIR (Ration de Combat Individuelle Rechauffable) has superior trade value on the front lines, MREs are generally considered to be a significant improvement over earlier US rations. As our readers will see later in this article, they can also have a useful secondary function as RPG protection.
MREs have to come from somewhere, however, which explains three firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity type contracts recently issued by the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA. There were 32 proposals solicited and 4 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, and the completion date is Dec. 19, 2006. Winners included…
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Jan 03, 2006 05:18 UTC
F/A-18F with tanks
Smiths Aerospace Mechanical Systems – Santa Ana Inc. in Santa Ana, CA received a $13.1 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00421-00-C-0433) to exercise an option for the procurement of 216 each 480-gallon external fuel tanks for F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet aircraft. The previous contract reported by DefenseLINK was an $8.25 million order for 198 fuel tanks, and was issued to small business qualifier Integrated Aerospace Systems Corp. in Santa Ana, CA on April 21, 2005.
Smiths Aerospace is involved in a wide variety of aviation-related defense contracts. Work will be performed in Santa Ana, CA and is expected to be complete in December 2007. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.
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