Training for US SOCOM’s Best Friends

Aiiiirrrrborne!

In early June 2011, Vohne Liche Kennels, Inc. in Denver, IN received an $11.3 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for “multi purpose canine and handler training in support of U.S. Army Special Operations Command.” The contract includes a base year and 4 option years, which would extend it to 2016. U.S. Army Special Operations Command manages the contract (H92239-11-D-0002).

Many military dogs are German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, or Belgian Malmois, though other breeds may be used. SOCOM’s dogs became a topic of deep interest, after it was revealed that Osama Bin Laden was done in by 79 Navy SEALs… and one dog. As the humorous poster out there put it: “Man’s Best Friend… because you can’t strap a cat across your waist and parachute into Afghanistan.” The British SAS have reportedly bought American dogs for similar operations, and Austrian special forces jumped with dogs in a recent NATO exercise; they report that the dogs are actually quite calm about it. I guess it’s kind of like the world’s largest, best-ever car window. Vendors like K-9 Storm provide the associated parachute harnesses, camera vests, assault vests, and other gear. The accompanying picture is US special forces dog trainer Mike Forsythe and his working dog Cara, breaking a record by jumping from 31,000 feet, wearing K-9 Storm’s vest.

Rapid Fire: Evening 2011-06-13 | MoD’s Major Projects Review Board

• Fitch Ratings grades Lockheed Martin’s financial status as ‘A-‘. The ratings are supported by such factors as Lockheed Martin’s competitive position in the defense sector and growth prospects for several large programs. F-35 program restructuring and related cost growth gives cause for concern.

• The Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency says the Defense Department is streamlining the administration of the foreign military sales program. The move comes as foreign military sales average $30 billion for each of the last three years, up almost three-fold from the 2005-2008 timeframe.

• Honeywell announces that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EMS Technologies, Inc., a provider of connectivity solutions for mobile networking, rugged mobile computers, and satellite communications, for approximately $491 million.

Rapid Fire Morning 2011-06-13: Saab Export Efforts

• A new report from Pike Research predicts that global military agencies’ spending on renewable energy technologies will continue to rise rapidly over the next two decades, growing from $1.8 billion per year in 2010 to $26.8 billion by 2030. Portable soldier power, land, air, sea vehicles and facilities operations will account for the majority of expenditure.

• The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) plans to award QinetiQ a $40 million 5 year contract to develop and evaluate new ground-based missile-and air-defense systems architectures in the Architecture Characterization Program (A2CP).