Buzz Creates a US Navy Solid-State Lighting Initiative

In August 2011, Energy Focus, Inc. in Solon, OH received a $23.1 million firm-fixed-price contract to design and manufacture “energy efficient, solid state lighting for general illumination on Navy ships to upgrade all the legacy lighting systems with new energy efficient, solid state lighting as part of the Navy’s green initiative.” Work on this first delivery order will be performed in Solon, OH, and is expected to be completed by Dec 1/11, while $1.2 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11. This contract was competitively awarded on a best-value basis, with 3 offers received by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Ship System Engineering Station in Philadelphia, PA (N65540-11-D-0009).

The SSL program actually began when a submarine sonar technician, irritated by the constant buzz of his LED bunk lamp, asked if the Navy could find an LED replacement…

Rapid Fire 2011-08-08: EC135 Helicopters for Japan

• As politicians send condolences to families of servicemen killed in the CH-47 Chinook helicopter crash, consideration is given to the development of countermeasures to protect military aircraft from low-tech weapons.

• An internal audit of Ferrostal by American-based law firm Debevoise and Plimpton concludes that the firm paid R300 million (about $43 million) in bribes to South African politicians, including current President Zuma, as part of the U209-1400 submarine sale in 2000.

• Israel’s Knesset rejects the Defense Ministry’s request to increase its budget by ILS620 million ($175 million) over concerns that the increase will be used to pay debts with defense industries.

• Raytheon has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to provide support to its Anomaly Detection at Multiple Scales (ADAMS) project to understand ‘insider’ threats to information systems.

• EADS’ Eurocopter subsidiary delivers 3 EC135 helicopters to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces (JMSDF).

• The Bulgarian Government is to sell its 35.8% stake in arms and munitions manufacturer Arsenal Kazanlak. Bids will be welcomed from companies involved in weapons production.

• The Brookings Institution think tank will hold a panel discussion on August 12 to analyze the impact of deficit reduction plans on US national security and foreign policy.