Virtual Success: The military simulation and virtual training market reached $8.4 billion in 2009; the market is expected to grow, particularly in the Middle East, China and India through 2020, according to CompaniesandMarkets.com.
That’s so Tubular: The market for microwave tubes, which make up a key component in specialized military communications equipment among other uses, is worth $1 billion, ABI Research reports.
Meanwhile, US Army Vice Chief of Staff Chiarelli laments the difficulty of keeping up technologically with… the Taliban?!? Read about the acquisition process and see.
An upgraded version of Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk mini-UAV arrives in Afghanistan for UK forces as part of a GBP 3 million urgent operational requirement order; Desert Hawks were originally deployed to UK troops in Afghanistan in 2006.
Bad for Business: US pullout from Iraq is a logistics challenge, involving moving 2.2 million piece of equipment from 600 bases, and a blow to contractors providing food and logistics to US troops.
L-3, Applied Energetics team to pursue DoD counter-IED system contracts.
Small business qualifier SNC Telecommunications, LLC in Comerio, Puerto Rico received a maximum $15.9 million firm-fixed price, total set-aside contract for US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps duffle bags. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response, and the contract will run until Aug 24/11. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support in Philadelphia, PA manages this contract (SPM1C1-09-D-0014).
So, a small business telecom company in Puerto Rico is making US military duffle bags. And the explanation for all this is that… they’re actually from Alaska. Which just clears everything right up, doesn’t it? It may help to know that SNC Companies are controlled by Nome, AK based Sitnasuak Native Corporation, a certified 8a Alaskan Native Corporation. Hence the set-aside. Despite the firm’s name, they do a lot of fabric-related manufacturing. Read “Alaska Native Corporations: IGs and Issues” for more background on this phenomenon.
