Back on March 5/05, DID described the AAFARS forward refueling system for helicopters, and covered order #9 in a $100 million contract for 372 total AAFARS systems. BAE Systems recently received order #14, a $31.6 million order from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command for 119 portable combat helicopter refueling systems. Work is performed in Ontario, CA. The production run that now totals 362 units, bringing the total contract value to date to $94.3 million. See BAE release.
The Phelps/Kiewit Joint Venture in Chantilly, VA received an initial $23.1 million increment as part of a $286 million firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a multi-story regional security operations center at Fort Gordon, WI. Work is expected to be complete by June 29, 2010. There were 8 bids solicited on Feb. 14, 2006, and 3 bids were received by the U.S. Army Engineer District in Savannah, GA (W912HN-07-C-0006).
Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ received a $67.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for 222 of the new AIM-9X Sidewinder thrust-vectoring short range air to air missiles (SRAAM), Lot 7 Production. The AIM-9X is the USA’s most advanced SRAAM, with a number of capabilities that significantly exceed the previous AIM-9M still found in service. Other components in the sale were 153 Captive Air Training Missiles, that look like the AIM-9X and have working seekers – but no motors; and 105 missile containers. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ (93%) and Andover, MA (7%) and is expected to be completed in April 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-07-C-0008).
The U.S. Navy will receive 126 missiles, 48 Captive Air Training Missiles , and 49 missile containers ($32.6 million; 48%).
The U.S. Air Force will receive 96 missiles, 87 training missiles, and 51 missile containers ($31.7 million; 47%).
The government of Switzerland will receive 18 training missiles and 5 containers ($3.4 million; 5%). They would be mounted on its F-18 Hornets.
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence has announced that they intend to strike an agreement with the German Federal Ministry of Defence for the sale of 96 Leopard 2A4 tanks (66 front-line, 30 spares) plus training and supporting equipment from the German Armed Forces to the Singapore Armed Forces. SAF soldiers will be trained by the German Army to operate the tank in the later part of 2007.
Singapore Today Online quotes Defence Minster Teo Chee Hean as saying that the first Leopard 2A4s will enter service in about a year or a year and a half. “We looked at a number of different alternatives and the German offer of refurbished Leopard tanks is a very cost-effective option for us to start replacing some of the SM1s.” Given Germany’s past Leopard sales, this point is hardly surprising; what might be surprising is that Singapore plans to keep its upgraded 1960s-era AMX-13s in service even after the Leopards arrive.
General Dynamics C4 Systems in Scottsdale, AZ received a $230.8 million modification to previously awarded contract M67854-02-C-2052, exercising options for 49 Regimental Unit Operations Center (UOC) capability sets, and 116 Battalion UOC capability sets. Work will be performed in Scottsdale, AZ and is expected to be complete by June 2009. The Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA is the contracting activity.
Science Applications International Corporation announced that it won a contract from J63 Enterprise Command and Control Advanced Technology Services (EC2ATS). Under the single award, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract, SAIC and its teammates will provide a spectrum of engineering, acquisition, implementation and operational sustainment support to branches of the military and federal agencies. Work will be provided through the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center in Charleston, SC, to the Charleston, SC; Tidewater, VA; and Washington, DC metro areas.
The contract has a one-year base term with 2 one-year options and 4 one-year award term options, for an overall potential length of 7 years and an estimated value of $423 million if the customer exercises all options. This is SAIC’s first prime contract with SPAWAR Charleston. See SAIC press release.
The Norwegian firm Kongsberg just announced that it has signed a contract valued at NOK 345 million (about $60 million) with the Netherlands for deliveries to the Dutch Army under the Future Ground Based Air Defence (FGBAD NL) program. These fully mobile systems are based on the AIM-120 AMRAAM, and will protect Dutch forces against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Initial Operational Capability (IOC) contract awarded in October 2004 covered 3 TRML-3D mobile surveillance radars, and mobile command and control operation shelters including a radio-based communications system. The components of the system in this round are 2 TRML-3D mobile surveillance radars from EADS, mobile command and control operation centres provided by EADS and Rheinmetall subsidiary Oerlikon-Contraves, a digital radio communication network from Oerlikon and 6 Norwegian NASAMS II systems (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) supplied by Kongsberg. Each system has a number of trucks with missiles, in addition to other elements of the package. To ensure weapon coordination, all components of the FGBAD NL are networked in a wireless LAN communications infrastructure for secure, real-time exchange of information between the radar units and the command vehicle and weapon systems.
Variants of the SM-2 Standard missile are the USA’s primary fleet defense anti-air weapon, and in service with 13 navies worldwide. The most common variant is the RIM-66K-L/ SM-2 Standard Block IIIB, which entered service in 1998. It includes a number of modifications over previous versions, including greater capability at even lower altitudes, a more powerful fragmentation warhead, and a side-mounted infrared seeker developed in the Missile Homing Improvement Program (MHIP) to supplement the missile’s semi-active radar guidance system. These missiles work best when paired with the AEGIS radar and combat system, but can be employed independently.
On December 1, 2006, DID published “Sikorsky Parts Issues Receiving Media Attention,” covering work by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) and WTNH TV re: “high visibility issues” related to Sikorsky helicopters and parts.
Now WTNH’s Alan Cohn reports in “Shake-up at Sikorsky following Defense Department letter” that the Defense Contract Management Agency has escalated Sikorsky to a Level III Corrective Action Request. This gives Sikorsky 30 days to fix recurring problems in Black Hawk quality control, and demands “immediate action to mitigate mounting risk.” The letter says “management oversight is out of control” and describes quality problems as “mounting in seriousness”. In response Sikorsky has reportedly fired its VP operations and is making other moves. The complete DCMA letter is reproduced below:
With Turkey’s Defense Industry Executive Committee convening on December 12, 2006 to discuss the F-35 Lightning II’s looming production MoU milestone (among other issues), Eurofighter officials said that the group has made Turkey an offer of its own for the estimated $10-12 billion fighter program. The consortium is offering Turkey “equal partnership with equal voting rights as other member nations” and a sliding scale of local work share depending on the number of fighters bought. The offer reportedly includes a $9 billion local work share with a 120 fighter buy, $6 billion with 80 aircraft, or $3.2 billion with a 40 aircraft purchase.
