Raytheon tapped for DBR System Support | Delta IV rocket launched following heavy delay | Cheetal helicopter facing rotor blade problems

Americas

The Naval Sea Systems Command contracted Raytheon’s Integrated Defense System business with $38.1 million for engineering services for the Dual Band Radar (DBR) System. Raytheon’s DBR is capable of simultaneously operating over two frequency ranges (S-band and X-band), coordinated by a single resource manager. It does not require a dedicated operator or manned display consoles. Its separate band radar arrays provide extensive search, track and multiple missile illumination capacity. DBR also provides target illumination and uplink/downlink capabilities for SM-2 and Evolved SeaSparrow missiles. Per the terms of the contract, Raytheon conducts technical engineering services for DBR system upgrades, product support services, test equipment procurement, installation integration support, combat system integration testing, program management support, along with other studies and analysis. Work will be performed in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia. The company will utilize 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy), and fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funds for the task.

The Navy awarded a $250 million contract to Global PCCI for the Emergency Ship Salvage Material (ESSM) System. The ESSM system is used to provide the fleet with salvage and pollution abatement equipment to augment their organic equipment or specialized equipment not normally carried in their allowance. Examples of specialized ESSM equipment are hydraulic submersible pumping systems, welders, electric power generators, fly away deep ocean salvage systems, lift bags and portable command vans. Pollution equipment includes open ocean boom and skimming systems, specialized inland and arctic response systems, floating storage and pollution offload systems. Global PCCI is a joint venture between Global and PCCI, established in 1987, which was awarded the Emergency Ship Salvage Material Maintenance contract in 1989. With Global as the managing partner, ESSM has been successfully retained through multiple bids. Under the new contract, Global PCCI manages the facilities with emergency response equipment stockpiles, pre-positioned to support and augment the Navy fleet capabilities in the areas of salvage, diving, pollution response and underwater ship husbandry. Work for this deal will be performed worldwide and is scheduled to be finished by January 2024.

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy Rocket into orbit carrying a spy satellite launched Saturday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California after bad weather and technical problems delayed the sendoff for more than a month. Delta IV is an expendable launch system designed to launch payloads into orbit for the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. The program, which started in the 90s, is intended to assure access to space for payloads from the Department of Defense. The mission launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy, comprised of three common booster cores powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine producing a combined total of more than 2.1 million pounds of thrust. The second stage was powered by an AR RL10B-2 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine. United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a provider of spacecraft launch services and was formed in 2006 as joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Saturday’s launch was the 232nd successful launch since the company’s formation.

Middle East & Africa

The Cote d’Ivoire signed a firm order for a single Airbus C295 medium transport aircraft. The C-295 is a tactical airlifter conducting multi-role operations worldwide under all weather conditions. The C295 was also a major bidder for the US Army US Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft, which in the end was awarded to the L-3 Communications/Alenia team in 2007. Airbus’ aircraft was considered a higher risk by the Army due to its use of a new operational mode to meet altitude and range requirements. The aircraft carries 71 troops, 50 paratroops and 5 pallets. The Cote d’Ivoire is now the 28th nation to operate the C295. Airbus Defense and Space has sold 91 aircraft to 17 countries in Africa. 35 C295s are contracted by Egypt, Algeria, Ghana and Mali.

Europe

Meggitt won a $751.2 million deal to provide advanced engine components for Pratt and Whitney. Meggitt is a British engineering business established in the 1940s. It specializes in aerospace equipment. Pratt and Whitney is an American aerospace manufacturer that supplies engines for US fighter jets. The 10-year contract with the engine maker is to supply advanced components for the F119 and F135 engines which power the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The F119 and F135 are afterburning turbofan engines with the F135 being a derivative of the F119.

Italy gears up to launch its program for a new multirole submarine rescue vessel this year, Jane’s reports. The Special and Diving Operations – Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SuRS) is supposed to replace the aging salvage ship, Anteo. The Anteo A5309 was commissioned to the Italian Navy in 1980 and is fitted with a SDC system for submarine rescue up to 250 m deep,a SRC Submarine Rescue Chamber for submarine rescue up to 120 m deep, and a SRV-300 deep-submergence rescue vehicle for submarine rescue up to 300 m deep. The new vessel will have a modular design in order to carry out its three main tasks of submarine rescue in addition to supporting special forces and diving operations carried out by the Italian Navy’s Comando Subacquei ed Incursori (COMSUBIN) special forces and divers command. The ship will also be capable of embarking US Navy and NATO submarine rescue systems.

Asia-Pacific

The Indian Air Force warns of quality issues related to the license production of upgraded rotor blades for the Cheetal fleet by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). HAL failed to manufacture the rotor blades critical for the light helicopters. HAL started making the blades after Airbus Helicopter stopped making them in 2012. However, 12 blades that HAL had manufactured showed high level of vibration and thus were rendered unsuitable. The Cheetal is the re-engined version of the Cheetah helicopter aimed to enhance high altitude operational capabilities and maintainability. The five seater Cheetah helicopter is versatile, multi role, multi purpose, highly maneuverable and rugged in construction. It holds the world record in high altitude flying among all categories of Helicopters. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is now down to its last few rotor blades that were ordered before 2012, questioning their ability to support the helicopters in service.

Today’s Video

Watch: US Army Getting Major upgrades are on the way for the Army’s missiles, tanks and artillery