Rapid Fire 2010-03-15: JPALS Preliminary Design Review

• USCG acquisition chief warns about declining readiness of cutter fleet [PDF], expects price tag for Deepwater program to reach $27.4 billion.

• UK’s SSN Trafalgar-class fast attack submarine HMS Triumph sets sail for sea trials after 6-year, GBP 300 million refit program that included installation of new sonar and C2 systems and an upgrade of the Tomahawk missile system.

• UK MOD inks GBP 400 million dealvto buy capacity on EADS Astrium’s Skynet 5D satellite, which is expected to be launched in 2013; the satellite capacity will be used for military communication, including Bowman radios.

$326M to GE for 80 F414 Engines, Equipment and Spares

F414-GE-400 engine
(click to see in sections)

General Electric Aircraft Engines business group in Lynn, MA received a $326 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0088), exercising an option for 80 F-414-GE-400 engines and modules and 2 spare engines for the US Navy.

They will be installed in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.

LPI Gets $84.1M US Navy Contract for Yellow Gear, HM&E Support

Yellow gear on aircraft carrier

Small business qualifier LPI Technical Services in Chesapeake, VA received an $84.1 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to furnish repair, maintenance, modernization, logistical, and technical support services for material handling equipment (yellow gear) and hull, mechanical, and electric (HM&E) machinery and systems for ship operation and performance.

HM&E equipment includes a broad range of shipboard equipment, ranging from appliances to transformers.

Material handling equipment known as “yellow gear” is used for aircraft handling, servicing, maintenance and fire fighting on aircraft carriers.