Mantech Telecommunications and Information Systems Corp. in Chantilly, VA received a $106 million time & materials contract for one lot of “route clearance equipment contractor logistics support services” in Iraq and Afghanistan (W56HZV-08-C-0516). ManTech International Corporation’s release describes the award as having a value of up to $820 million over its 1-year base and its two 6-month option periods. There was one bid solicited on March 15/08, and one bid was received by US Army TACOM in Warren, MI. Actual program support is connected to the Army’s Project Manager (PM), Force Protection and PM Assured Mobility Systems.
ManTech has been maintaining US Army maintain counter-mine systems and equipment since 2003, including mine detection systems, mine retrieval systems, and medium and heavy mine protected vehicles. Services include managing the field personnel, parts analysis and purchases; and field logistics and maintenance management. ManTech also provides system training and curriculum support, resource management, and acquisition and administrative support.
The M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System faced issues since deployment in combat situations began in 2007. The Stryker MGS’ most prominent feature is a 105mm auto-fed gun mounted on its wheeled LAV-III/ Piranha-III APC chassis. M1128s have anti-tank capabilities, but they are more properly termed assault guns, and are generally intended to provide direct fire support for infantry. They have about 70% commonality with other Stryker family APCs.
Despite the controversies surrounding field performance, the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command recently awarded General Dynamics Land Systems a contract for 62 Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS) vehicles, involving initial funding of $145 million and a total potential contract value of $326.5 million. Work will be performed in Anniston, AL; Sterling Heights, MI; Lima, OH; Scranton, PA; Tallahassee, FL, and London, Ontario, Canada, and is expected to be complete by February 2010. GDLS release.
The nature of the current war puts a high premium “persistent, pervasive stare” capability, also known as technical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). America has been reminded (yet again) that these tools cannot replace human intelligence and social networks, but when used properly they create significant advantages for a counter-insurgency force. Right now, about 80% of the U.S. military’s aerial ISR assets – from UAVs to planes like the U-2 – are busy in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations. Most of those are in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been pushing the ISR idea. He’s pressing the US military to speed up procurement, and deploy more ISR platforms in theater. He’s also putting his money where his mouth is. A task force was set up, and approval was given to “reprogram” funds from other areas, in order to fund these additional ISR projects. Congressional defense committees have now approved a FY 2008 request to reprogram $1.2 billion. According to Pentagon sources, these monies will buy 21 manned ISR aircraft, add to the RQ-11 Raven, RQ-7 Shadow, MQ-5 Hunter, MQ-1 Predator, and MQ-9 Reaper UAV systems in theater, and buy more Scan Eagle UAV detachments for the Navy and Marines.
These changes will do much more than just improve surveillance.
