General Dynamics has agreed to pay $643 million to acquire Axsys Technologies, the world’s leading diamond turning optical manufacturer and a supplier of electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors and stabilized cameras to the U.S. military and homeland security agencies. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems will pay $54 per share for Axsys’ outstanding common stock.
According to a General Dynamics spokeswoman, Axsys supplies electro-optical cameras, infrared sensors, and multi-axis stabilized sensors for the following U.S. military systems:
RIA Novosti recently quoted Lt. Gen. Viktor Kachalkin, commander of Russia’s 61st Air Army,as saying that Russia intends to step up buys of modern military transports beginning in 2012. Meanwhile, the current strategic fleet of AN-22 “Cock” turboprops, IL-76 “Candids”, and the huge AN-124 Ruslans will be modernized for another 20 years of service. Many of the planes in Russia’s current fleet entered service in the 1960s and 1970s.
The IL-76MD-90 project has already begun to install new avionics and engines in some planes, and expects to deliver 12 modernized aircraft by 2010. A similar program is contemplated for the AN-124s, whose modernized AN-124-100 version is operated by commercial charters on behalf of global outsize heavy lift customers – including NATO. The AN-22s could end up being supplanted by the AN-70, however, an A400M-sized turboprop which recently experienced a $300 million program defibrillation.
In the light transport category, Russia plans to field the IL-112V, which will also have a commercial IL-112T version. The 20-tonne medium lift category is expected to feature the jet powered Indo-Russian MRTA.
EOD Technology (EODT) in Lenoir City, TN received a $99.9 million indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract to provide security services to the coalition’s Task Force Duke. TF Duke operates in the north-eastern provinces of Konar, Nanganhar, Laghman and Nuristan; they sit between Kabul, Afghanistan and Peshawar, Pakistan, which are connected by the road that leads through the famous Khyber Pass.
The first task order under the contract, worth $8.5 million, is for EODT to provide security for Task Force Duke’s Forward Operating Base Fenty, located at Jalalabad Airfield. EODT will manage access at entry control points, blocking unauthorized personnel, contraband, weapons or explosives from entering installations; man the guard towers and conduct surveillance and counter-surveillance of the installation perimeter and vicinity. They are authorized to employ force. Their deployment in this fixed role frees up more soldiers for “tip of the spear” duties, while offering less risk of that contractor accountability issues that were present in Iraq, or of problems involving local civilians.
The contract was awarded by the Combined Joint Task Force 101 (CJTF-101). It serves as both the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reporting directly to the Commander, United States Central Command. It also serves as the International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command – East. EODT release.
Base infrastructure contracts are a quietly substantial portion of defense spending in any country, including the USA. Which is why DID covers them on a semi-regular basis, and notes trends in key areas, even though this coverage are only a fraction of the contracts issued. A December 2007 announcement by the US Army has significant implications for base infrastructure projects at a number of locations, however, as the push to grow the US Army by 74,200 troops and 6 brigade combat teams (BCTs)/ 8 support brigades continues, and so does partial relocation of US troops deployed abroad. A June 2009 announcement cut the number of new BCTs in half to 3, and will affect construction and stationing on 3 important Army bases.
The following lists offer updated breakdowns of the associated relocations and new unit stand-ups, first by timeline, and second by location:
CACI International received a $30 million contract to provide support for Naval aviation training, part of the Naval Aviation Production Process-Sustainment (NAPP-S) program. Sponsored by the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), the award is for 1 base year and 4 option years. CACI will provide management, technical, data analysis, and IT support to CNATRA. This contract extends CACI’s 11-year support of this program.
Based at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, TX, CNATRA trains approximately 1,800 pilots and military flight officers as well as approximately 2,000 enlisted aircrew students each year. They also operate the famed Blue Angels aerobatic team. In 2007, CNATRA’s 722 aircraft logged 366,949 flight hours, nearly a third of the Department of the Navy total. To put those numbers in perspective, the school flew 28% of the combined Navy and Marine Corps flight hours with 19% of the aircraft.
CACI will provide technical and subject matter experts on the Navy’s current training process and metrics; process management and improvement consulting for senior naval leadership; data quality and analysis, and web-based data collection application maintenance and upkeep. The company will provide program oversight and on-site support, and manage the progress of trainees to deployment. CACI release.
