The AN/PED-1 Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder (LLDR) is used by US Army Forward Observers and Forward Air Controllers to target enemy positions during the day, at night and even through haze, smoke, fog or rain. Using the system, an FO or FAC can use the LLDR to recognize a target, find the range with an eye-safe laser, calculate grid coordinates with built-in GPS, and add elevation and azimuth. The NATO-coded system can then transmit this information to other units, or directly illuminate targets for semi-active laser-guided munitions and laser spot trackers.
LLDR is not the only laser designator/ rangefinder in use by the US military; Elbit Systems’ subsidiary Kollsman supplies the USMC [PDF]. Litton, who became Northrop Grumman, has nonetheless won a pair of significant contracts aimed at modernizing the US Army’s inventory. Major contracts were announced in September 2006 and October 2009, totaling over $800 million. Delivery orders continue…
The US air cargo industry is struggling. Cargo volumes and revenues are down and fuel prices are up. Brown is feeling mighty blue these days. According to the most recent figures published by the Air Cargo Management Group, the industry saw traffic volumes plunge 10% and revenues dropped 3%.
On March 23/10 USTRANSCOM awarded 5 contracts worth a total of $869.5 million to haul military freight around the US CENTCOM’s area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East and Central Asia. The winners contractors will compete for task orders to deliver cargo door-to-door for USCENTCOM.
Up to $160M to ManTech to support LRSW space launch operations. (March 23/10)
The US Air Force’s Launch and Range Systems Wing (LRSW) is modernizing the US space launch ranges – the Eastern Range (Patrick AFB, FL) and the Western Range (Vandenberg AFB, CA)
A focus on LRSW’s modernization efforts is the US Launch & Test Range System (LTRS), which consists of ground-based surveillance, navigation, flight operations and analysis, command and control, communications and weather assets located at the Eastern Range and the Western Range.
The majority of the equipment supporting the US space launch ranges was installed during the 1960s and 1970s. Multiple LTRS upgrade efforts are underway including the Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) program, ongoing Instrumentation Modernization (IM) projects, numerous recapitalization efforts, and various depot support projects to reduce operations and sustainment costs. The current modernization efforts is replacing approximately 20% of the system.
The LRSW uses contractors to support its modernization work…
ITT recently announced a contract from U.S. Army Contracting Command to provide supply, food service, transportation, public works, community service, medical, safety, environmental, fire, and postal operations support at Camp As Sayliyah, and other American military facilities in Qatar. The award has a 1-year base period with options for up to 4 more years, and would be worth about $125 million with all options exercised. Work will be performed by ITT Systems, whose headquarters is in Colorado Springs, CO.
While the air base and aerial refueling hotspot at Al Uedid attracts more attention, Camp As Saliyah’s role as a pre-positioning facility located just outside the capital city of Doha makes it an important piece of the USA’s overall presence in the Persian Gulf. It is reportedly the largest pre-positioning facility outside the USA, and ITT Federal Services International has been involved in associated contracts for some time now.
Raytheon in Marlborough, MA received a $28.1 million firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00039-08-C-0115) for 8 submarine high data-rate (Sub HDR) SATCOM antenna systems.
The Sub HDR (OE-562) antenna, which provides 2-way 256 Kbps data rates via satellite, is deployed by raising a mast-mounted antenna above the surface while the submarine remains submerged at periscope depth.
The OE-562 Sub HDR antenna, along with the OE-538 multi-function mast antenna, replaced the AN/BRA-34 submarine antenna…
As the saying goes, knowledge is power. And for one US airman it proved to be the key to carry out a challenging task in a difficult environment – to set up an armory in Baghdad in the months following the March 2003 US invasion of Iraq.
He had no idea how to begin. So he logged onto the US Air Force Knowledge Now site, an online community for USAF personnel to share information on a wide variety of topics. He sent out an SOS to the community on security forces for help.
Low and behold, he received a reply from a senior master sergeant in the US who had lots of experience setting up armories in the field. The sergeant gave him detailed instructions on how to do it, along with instruction manuals. The airman was able to get the armory up and running quickly.
The Air Force Knowledge Now site was launched in 1999 by the USAF and software developer Triune Group of Dayton, Ohio. Triune recently received a $48.5 million contract to continue to operate and maintain the site…
The US Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) multiple award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to Parsons Infrastructure and Technology Group in Pasadena, CA (N62470-10-D-2019) and HDR Engineering in Colorado Springs, CO (N62470-10-D-2020) for planning and engineering services at US Navy and US Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities worldwide.
The maximum dollar value, including the base period and 4 option years, of the 2 contracts combined is $60 million.
The two companies will provide project planning documents, cost estimates, planning studies, visioning and scenario workshops/planning, geo-spatial information and services, and other planning and engineering services for construction projects…
