General Dynamics C4 Systems in Scottsdale, AZ received a $78 million cost-plus-award-fee indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract, to develop the next iteration of their Command Post of the Future computing system. It’s actually more of a present-day reality than the name suggests, as the original CPOF contract was awarded in 2007. Over 3,000 systems have now been fielded, and over 1,200 systems deployed from Corps to Battalion. Work on this next major release will be performed in Scottsdale, AZ, with an estimated completion date of Sept 26/13. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army CECOM at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (W15P7T-11-D-C206).
CPOF operators have always operated on the idea of “See What You Think,” using customized screen displays, shared views, and information transfer without keystroke combinations of forced input. This development cycle looks to build on that…
In fall 2011, Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ received a $26 million firm-fixed-price contract from Egypt and Turkey for 174 Stinger FIM-92H Block 1 missiles, 10 Electronic Component Assemblies, and spare parts. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by the US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-09-C-0508).
A similar contract was issued in June 2009. Stinger is usually carried by soldiers as a shoulder-fired (MANPADS) missile, and that very portability has led to increased concern about keeping MANPADS weapons out of the hands of terrorists. Egypt recently revived the production line for HMMWV-mounted “Avenger” low-altitude air defense systems. They combine the Stinger missile with a .50 caliber machine gun, and advanced detection and tracking sensors. Turkey is also one of the missile’s many customers, and Roketsan handles license production of rocket motors within the European Common Stinger Production Consortium. They have their own Self-Propelled(Autonomous) Low Altitude Air Defence Missile System Project, which appears to use the M113 as their base platform.
Small business qualifier Skill Metric Machine & Tool, Inc. in Delray Beach, FL recently received a 5-year, maximum $48.5 million, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for AM-2 metal matting accessory packages, in support of the Expeditionary Airfield program. Those packages contain items that help assemble, secure, and lock/stake the mats into place, so they can act as emergency airfields for USMC fighters, transports, etc. Work will be performed in Delray Beach, FL, and is expected to be complete in October 2016. $1.5 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as an 8(a) small business set-aside competition via electronic request for proposals, and 1 offer was received by the US Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ (N68335-12-D-0001).
This sounds boring, but it’s critical to the way the US Marines fight. Anywhere in the world, the Marine Corps can install 4,000 feet of AM-2 steel matting and begin operating its airpower. At the 2010 Battle of Marjah, for instance, the Marines expected a really difficult fight, and needed consistent close air support. All with limited aerial tanker support, and just 10 AV-8B Harrier jets based over 150 miles away, at Kandahar Airfield. That would mean too much flying back and forth, and not enough time over the battlefield. Instead, a 4,000 foot expeditionary airfield was built at FOB Dwyer, just 10 miles from the battle, as a forward arming and refueling point (FARP). Result? Just 30 minutes from departure to a fully-fueled return, and full close-support coverage thanks to a 4x aircraft sortie rate.
In June 2009, Chile’s formal request to buy a variety of artillery-related systems and equip a new mechanized artillery battalion was cleared by the US state Department, and allowed to go forward. The request centered on BAE’s M109 tracked self-propelled howitzer, but it also includes necessities like shells, tracking radars, and accompanying personnel carriers. Chile already operates the M109 self-propelled howitzer, and this order could double its available fleet, to a total of 48.
Chile’s current stock of 24 M109s are the KAWEST version, which were upgraded by Switzerland’s RUAG and sold to Chile at the end of 2004 (Cooperativa.cl, in Spanish). The Swiss upgrades included an L47 gun with 27 km/ 36 km assisted range and 3-round burst capability over 15 seconds, 6 crew members instead of 8, carriage of 40 rounds and 64 charges, improved electrical systems, an integrated inertial navigation and positioning system, day and night capability, and added protection against fire, nuclear EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse radiation), and NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) threats.
Similarly to his predecessor Robert Gates, US SecDef Leon Panetta told NATO members that they would have to step up defense spending otherwise the alliance would “hollow out” [DOD transcript]. Meanwhile British defense secretary Liam Fox lambasted as duplicate “nonsense” proposals to increase defense integration at the European Union level.
The Institute for the Study of War published a report on Iran’s recent naval reorganization [PDF]. The move towards more procurement self-sufficiency, and base realignment and openings, show the country’s intent to increase its strategic depth and its operational reach.
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to clarify the requirements for the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) to submit data other than certified cost or pricing data. CCC administers most DoD contracts with contractors located in Canada.
Speaking of DFARS, its latest change revises the definition of “qualifying country end product.” The updated rule “eliminates the component test for qualifying country end products that are commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items.” This MS Word document shows where the rule’s language was updated.
The US House Republican Cybersecurity Task Force is making a series of cybersecurity recommendations [PDF] that include updates to federal and defense acquisition regulations. Among several recent leadership changes at the DoD, Eric Rosenbach has been appointed deputy assistant secretary of Defense for cyber policy.
Wind farms can affect air defense radars but this can be mitigated, says a report prepared by Atkins Limited last year for the British government, and now released publicly in a sanitized format [ZIP file with 3 redacted PDFs inside].
