$469.5M to L-3 Link for F-16 Simulator Support

Greek F-16 TS

In an age of expensive fighters, expensive fuel, limited flight time, and cheaper computing power, high-fidelity simulators have become an important component of pilot training. L-3 Link Simulation and Training in Arlington, TX is a global leader in this segment, with a very strong position in fighter plane simulators, and their associated Mission Training Centers. They’re often partnered with another major contractor in those efforts. Boeing is L-3’s partner for F-16 Mission Training Centers, for instance, even though the F-16 is a Lockheed Martin plane.

In October 2011, L-3 Link received a maximum $469.5 million firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursement contract to support 183 of their their F-16 TS (training system) installations around the world for the USAF (33 global locations, incl. Hill AFB, UT), and F-16 customers Bahrain, Greece, and Jordan. The contract doesn’t involve any simulators, but “support” means more than just simulator maintenance, training operations that include other devices, and keeping up the associated databases of simulated objects. It also involves change management to install simulator upgrades if requested, and keeping each simulator remains faithful to changes and upgrades in the real F-16 fleets. The USAF’s ASC/WNSK, at Wright Patterson AFB, OH, manages this contract for ther USAF, and acts as the agent for its Foreign Military Sale clients (FA8621-12-D-6337).

Rapid Fire 10-24-11: DOTE Oversight List | VA vs. MD | Bell Backlog

• After recent contradictory news reports, President Obama confirmed that all American troops would leave Iraq by 2012. The US’ request for troop immunity was the deal breaker with the Iraqi government. Thousands of private contractors will stay there though.

• US SecDef Leon Panetta turns his attention to Asia where he is currently traveling for the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM). A meeting with Indonesian leadership may lead to increased military ties between the two countries.

• The US DOD’s DOT&E Oversight List has been updated (CAC required for access). Last year’s version is publicly accessible here [PDF].

• Defense IT spending likely to buck the budget pressure trend.

• Retired Rear Admiral Kenneth Deutsch will lead CSC’s Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) bid.

• DCNS delivered the 1st Gowind Offshore Patrol Vessel L’Adroit to the French Navy. The ship was designed and built on private funds and remains under DCNS ownership. It went through sea trials last summer.

• Textron’s revenues for Q3 ’11 grew by 13.5% to $2.8B. Its subsidiary Bell delivered 9 V-22s and 7 H-1s. Textron’s statement included a $781M “reduction in the backlog primarily to correct an error made in the fourth quarter of 2009 which recorded as backlog the full value of a V-22 contract rather than Bell’s proportionate share”. At 12% of the remaining $6.4B backlog, this is quite a sizable error. Meanwhile, Flir Systems’ Q3 2011 financial results: stable income, 12% topline growth and $55M added to the government division’s backlog – a 17% increase.

• US liberal lawmakers led by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) intend to use a new DOD report on fraud [PDF] to pressure the supercommittee to enact deep defense spending cuts. See also POGO’s take.

• Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell likes to tease his counterpart from Maryland, the state where Lockheed Martin currently has its 5,000-people HQ.

• Missouri House of Representatives to Boeing: we love you too.