The Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD has issued a pair of delivery orders for outer tactical vest conversion kits in the new universal camouflage pattern. The kits comprise a base outer shell carrier, ballistic yoke and collar, ballistic groin protector, and ballistic throat protector. They will be used in the Interceptor Body Armor ensemble. There were an unknown number of bids solicited via the World Wide Web on March 2, 2006, and six bids were received.
DHB Industries subsidiary Point Blank Body Armor Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL received a first delivery order for $37.3 million as part of a 3-year, $169.4 million firm-fixed-price contract. Work will be performed in Pompano Beach, FL, with production and supply expected to begin this quarter and to be complete by Aug. 8, 2008 (W91CRB-06-D-0030). Larry Ellis, President and Acting CEO of DHB Industries said that “year to date, DHB has announced contracts with potential awards in excess of $290 million for its various product lines…”
Small business qualifier Specialty Defense in Dunmore, PA received a first delivery order amount of $35.8 million as part of a 3-year, $172 million firm-fixed-price contract for outer tactical vest conversion kits in universal camouflage. Work will be performed in Dunmore, PA and is expected to be complete by Aug. 8, 2008 (W91CRB-06-D-0031).
DID has covered Australia’s A$6 billion SEA 4000 project, which aims to produce 3 AEGIS air defense destroyers for fielding between 2013-2017. The competition has sorted itself out in part, with Raytheon Australia as the combat system integrator and ASC as the shipbuilder. In the current design phase, two alternative designs are competing for the project. A variant of Navantia’s F100 Alvaro de Bazan Class 5,800t AEGIS frigate with Australian equipment is the “Existing Design” option. There will also be an “Evolved Design” by renowned naval design firm Gibbs & Cox, which has more commonality with the USA’s DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS destroyers designed by that firm. A final choice will be made some time in 2007.
The first images of the Evolved Design for Australia’s Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project were unveiled on August 3, 2006 by Minister of Defence Brendan Nelson at the opening of the new AWD Systems Centre in Adelaide. At 7,370t/8,100t full load, the ship is much closer to the DDG-51 destroyers in size, with 64 vertical launch missile cells, 2 close-in defense weapons, 2 helicopter hangars, extended range, and good future growth capabilities. As a matter of comparison, Britain’s new Type 45 Daring Class anti-air warfare destroyers reportedly weigh in at 8,000t full load. Gibbs & Cox is working on the new design in conjunction with ASC Shipbuilder Pty Ltd, Raytheon Australia, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, and Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation; and the firm is rapidly growing its workforce in Adelaide. See Gibbs & Cox release for full details, and also the Minister’s “Doorstop Interview” at the AWD Systems Centre on August 3rd.
Those trends came together in May 2006, and the PILR R&D award has now morphed into a new surveillance turret from Lockheed that could give them a real edge in the electro-optical market for UAV, helicopter, and aircraft systems.
General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, MI received the full delivery order amount of $134.7 million as part of a firm-fixed-price contract for Abrams M1A2 SEP (system enhancement package) retrofits to 60 existing M1A2 Abrams tanks, along with total package fielding material for initial fielding. The M1A2 SEP is the latest, most technologically advanced Abrams variant, and the contract also includes a $145 million option to upgrade 60 more M1A2s.
So, what’s the difference between an M1A2 and an M1A2 SEP?
Small business qualifier RMR Joint Venture in Minot, ND received a $41.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for construction of family housing at Minot Air Force Base, ND, and is expected to be complete by June 12, 2008. There were 190 bids solicited on October 12, 2005, and 2 bids were received by the Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha, NB (W9128F-06-C-0032).
Mainot’s most visible unit is the 5th Bomb Wing, making it one of two B-52H Stratofortress bomber bases in the USAF. The base also hosts the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles assigned to the 91st Space Wing. With 2,447 family housing units (426 officer units; 255 senior enlisted and 1,766 for junior enlisted), Minot AFB has one of the largest housing complexes in the US Air Force.
