The USA’s Army Combat Uniform (ACU) has undergone significant redesign over the last few years, along with the addition of a new fractal camouflage scheme called ACUPAT. Because of the wide variety of areas in which ACUPAT may have to operate and the desire to keep the number of potential uniform schemes to a minimum, ACUPAT is not as locally optimized as other advanced fractal patterns like Hyperstealth’s KA2 for Jordanian forces. It is also very closely derived from the US Marines’ MARPAT, rather than incorporating some of the more recent advances in the field. For all this, it’s an improvement over past conventional camouflage patterns. It also complements the advances in ACU design undertaken by US Army’s “PEO Soldier,” drawing on feedback from the troops and an iterative testing cycle.
The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA recently issued a slew of firm-fixed-price contracts for the ACU coat and trousers, exercising option year 1. The total value of these six contracts is $97.7 million. Proposals were Web-solicited and 36 responded; date of performance completion is April 5, 2007. Unless otherwise indicated, work will be performed at the contract winner’s prime location only. Winners included:
The US Marine Corps will soon spend between between $257 – 307 million to acquire 130 new LAVs in assorted variants. In parallel with these efforts, the Marines are also upgrading the thermal sights on their existing LAVs and M1 Abrams tanks. SpaceWar.com notes that Raytheon recently recently received $96 million to produce, install and support 416 Improved Thermal Sight Systems (ITSS) for the Corps’ Light Armored Vehicles, and another $25 million in Firepower Enhancement Program (FEP) funds to outfit another 150 of their 403 M1A1 Abrams tanks with night vision systems that include 2nd generation FLIR, laser rangefinders, and updated targeting computers.
The implications
Wider modernization efforts are under consideration for these platforms, of which ITSS and FEP are just a part. ITSS/FEP systems will offer better performance and longer sensor “reach” than current systems. In full-scale warfare, that can mean the difference between firing first and/or setting up your opponent unobserved, vs. a nasty surprise followed by incoming fire. It will also enhance these vehicles’ ability to offer broader persistent surveillance by sitting in advantageous locations, a capability that is especially helpful in the lower intensity “pop-up target” scenarios that define most of the Global War on Terror’s “Small Wars” campaigns.
The U.S. Army has awarded IAP Worldwide Services a base operations support services contract for Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC. The five-year contract is valued at more than $120 million. IAP will support administrative, managerial, and operational support services at WRAMC. These services include support services at the garrison headquarters, safety office, and environmental support, transportation functions; community activities; military personnel services; information management; logistics; and public works.
IAP notes that it has has successfully made the transition of government workforces at Ft. Gordon, Ft. Meade, Ft. Lee, Ft. Dix and other government installations as part of its facilities management services. The competitive A-76 contract award decision becomes final upon conclusion of a brief public review period.
Raytheon Co. in Tucson, AZ is being awarded a $14.1 million modification to a previous firm-fixed-price all-up-round full-rate production multiyear contract (N00019-04-C-0569). This covers the difference in materials and labor between Britain’s previous order for 65 vertically launched BGM-109 Block IV Tactical Tomahawk all-up-rounds, and the version that’s launched from submarine torpedo tubes. Britain’s submarines are the exclusive carries of its Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile inventory.
Work will be performed in Huntsville, AL (50%); Bethel, CT (12%); Ontario, CA (11%); Tucson, AZ (8.4%); Santa Ana, CA (5%); Los Alamitos, CA (3%), and miscellaneous locations across the United States (10.6%), and is expected to be complete in February 2009. This contract is exercised through the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, MD.
Raytheon Co. in Tucson, AZ is being awarded a $21.4 million firm-fixed-price modification under a previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5482) to exercise options for additional missiles and shipping containers to satisfy FY 2006 requirements. Budgeted quantities for FY 2006 are 116 missiles for a total of $98.5 million. The modification will provide 31 (ea) RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles and 22 shipping containers to satisfy FY 06 requirements for The United States.
ESSM has been a multi-national program from the start, and work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (38%), Andover, MA (10%); Camden, AZ (5%), Minneapolis, MN (1%), Australia (13%), Canada (7%), Germany (7%), Norway (7%), The Netherlands (6%), Spain (3%), Denmark (1%), Greece (1%), and Turkey (1%), and is expected to be completed by October 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC issued the contract.
