Archives by date > 2020
Jan 07, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
Bushido Associates won a $7.5 million deal for cyber threat analysis and reporting from the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF). This contract is for forensic analysis reports and recommendations provided by embedded cyber threat forensic and cyber threat intelligence analysts in the NCIJTF. The NCIJTF is a unique multi-agency cyber center, which has the primary responsibility to coordinate, integrate, and share information to support cyber threat investigations, supply and support intelligence analysis for community decision-makers, and provide value to other ongoing efforts in the fight against the cyber threat to the nation. The NCIJTF also synchronizes joint efforts that focus on identifying, pursuing, and defeating the actual terrorists, spies, and criminals who seek to exploit our nation’s systems. To accomplish this, the task force leverages the collective authorities and capabilities of its members and collaborates with international and private sector partners to bring all available resources to bear against domestic cyber threats and their perpetrators. Work will take place at Chantilly, Virginia. Expected completion date is November 20, 2025.
The US government has placed restrictions on software companies on the export of artificial intelligence software used for analyzing satellite imagery, the Washington Post reports. Software that can automatically detect objects such as houses or vehicles are required to have a license starting from January 6 if they are to be sold overseas. The Commerce Department said this could give the US a significant military or intelligence advantage. A special license would be required to sell software outside the US that can automatically scan aerial images to identify objects of interest, such as vehicles or houses. The new export rules are the result of Congress passing a law in 2018 that updated national security-related export controls to protect “emerging and foundational” technology that could end up in the hands of foreign governments.
Middle East & Africa
According to Reuters, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeated his plans to deploy the Self-Defense Forces to the Middle East to ensure the safety of its ships, even as tensions in the region erupt in the wake of the United States’ killing of one of Iran’s top military commanders. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose country has a military alliance with the US and good ties with Iran, told a news conference Monday that Tokyo was deeply concerned about rising tensions. The comments were Abe’s first since the attack, and came hours after Iran said it would abandon limits on uranium enrichment, leaving a landmark 2015 nuclear deal dead in all but name. Trump has doubled down on threats to Iran, saying Sunday that cultural sites are among 52 targets he plans to hit if Iran retaliates for Qassem Soleimani’s death. A US strike killed Soleimani on January 3 at Baghdad International Airport, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. At least six people were killed in the strike. The attack was fired from the MQ-9 Reaper drone of the US Air Force.
Bulgarian Military reports that British military intelligence aircraft Global Express Sentinel R.1 was spotted in the area of the Russian military bases in Syria. according to the news platform this indicates that London decided to try to get closer to the Russian S-400 Triumph air defense systems. The British Global Express Sentinel R.1 electronic intelligence aircraft carried out a long reconnaissance mission along the entire coast of Syria, as well as Lebanon. The Sentinel R.Mk 1 provides long-range, wide-area battlefield surveillance, delivering critical intelligence and target tracking information to British and coalition forces. The aircraft has been operationally deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali, and is currently deployed in support of British and Coalition operations in Iraq and Syria.
Europe
Following a competitive evaluation, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support selected the MBDA Enforcer weapon system to meet the German Armed Forces’ ‘Leichtes Wirkmittel 1800+’ requirement, which is a lightweight disposable day/night precision-guided shoulder-launched weapon system with an effective range of more than 1,800 m. The other contender for this requirement was reportedly Eurospike, a joint venture between Diehl Defence GmbH, Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which was competing the 170 mm Spike SR weapon system. Launched in October 2018, Leichtes Wirkmittel 1800+ provides for the eventual acquisition of some 3,100 munitions for the Bundeswehr Special Forces Command. With a lock-on before launch capability, the fire-and-forget Enforcer missile provides precision capabilities against lightly armored static and moving targets, targets behind cover and in urban environments at up to 2,000 m. It can be operated from cover and in enclosed and confined spaces.
Asia-Pacific
Three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters are being transported to Australia to help fight local bushfires. The helicopters will start their journey to Royal Australian Air Force Base Edinburgh from today and are expected to remain there till end of January. The NH90 helicopters will have 55 aircrew and support personnel from RNZAF Base Ohakea. They comprise of aircrew, and staff for maintenance, logistics, communications, medical needs, refueling, security, and analysts. The NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter. It has the distinction of being the first production helicopter to feature entirely fly-by-wire flight controls.
Today’s Video
Watch: U.S. Army Soldiers Deploy To Middle East Hotspot (JAN 2020)
Jan 06, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
DynCorp won a $21.9 million contract modification, which exercises an extension for organization, selected intermediate, limited depot level maintenance and logistics services in support of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center’s (NAWDC) F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet aircraft; the EA-18G Growler Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft; the MH-60S Multi-Mission Knighthawk Helicopters; the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft; and the E-2C Hawkeye Early Warning and Control Aircraft. The NAWDC provides service to aircrews, squadrons and air wings throughout the US Navy through flight training, academic instructional classes, and direct operational and intelligence support. The name was changed from NSAWC to NAWDC to align with the naming convention of the Navy’s other Warfare Development Centers. Work will take place at NAWDC, Fallon, Nevada. Estimated completion date is in July 2020.
A critical High Cycle Testing for the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system has been successfully completed, General Atomics announced on January 3. The testing over a two-day period was carried out at the Runway Arrested Landing Site (RALS) in Lakehurst, New Jersey in October 2019. During the testing, the AAG sustained an aircraft arrestment rate of nearly one per minute. Simulating the operational tempo of carrier flight operations at sea. High cycle testing is part of the verification and validation of AAG System requirements. The AAG system test program has completed more than 5,000 arrestments at the land-based test facilities at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and 747 arrestments aboard CVN 78 during the ship’s initial sea trials. The Navy has also issued an Aircraft Recovery Bulletin for the fleet air wing, clearing the AAG system for use on all Ford Class carriers.
Middle East & Africa
L3 Technologies won a $28 million deal for F-16 training system upgrade. The contract provides for the upgrade to existing Hellenic Air Force F-16 Aircrew Training Devices to the F-16V configuration. Greece boasts a fleet of some 150 F-16 fighters. Earlier this month, Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos told the parliament that 84 of them would be upgraded to the advanced Viper class by 2027. The total cost of the upgrade program is estimated to reach $1.5 billion, according to the AP news agency. Work will take place in Arlington, Texas and is expected to refinished by December 31, 2027.
Europe
Collins Aerospace won a $10.8 million deal for repair coverage of the digital engine control unit of the F402 engine.The Rolls Royce F402-RR-408 Pegasus is the powerplant for the AV-8B Harrier II. It develops the powerful thrust required for vertical lift of the AV-8B aircraft. The variable direction exhaust from these allow the aircraft to take off vertically or in the normal horizontal runway mode. Work will take place in Birmingham in the UK. Estimated completion will be by December 2024.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has taken delivery of 2 H125 helicopters. The rotorcraft arrived in Kyiv this week. On July 14, 2018, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the purchase of 55 H225, H145 and H125 helicopters for the ministry. The unified aviation security and safety system of Ukraine is set to be replenished with 55 helicopters. Of these, the State Border Guard Service will receive 24 helicopters. Before that, specialists who will service aviation and radio-electronic equipment, as well as pilots, had gone to France to undergo training.
Asia-Pacific
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems won a $9.4 million deal for follow-on support sustainment of the Republic of Korea Peace Pioneer program. The deal provides for repair and return on the prime mission equipment and System Integration Laboratory (SIL) equipment, support of the field service representative, program management, core/field engineering, SIL depot sustainment, depot inventory, and obsolescence management. The Peace Pioneer program was notified to Congress in 1995 for a signal intelligence collection system with prime mission equipment, attendant ground links, and ground processing equipment. Work under the new contract will take place in Greenville, Texas, and Seongnam, South Korea. Estimated completion will be by December 31, 2020.
Today’s Video
Watch: Indian Defence Updates : AGNI-V Induction 2020,1st Su-30 Squadron With BrahMos,New Light Weight BPJ
Jan 03, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
Bell Boeing won a $23.3 million contract modification, which exercises an option for on-site support, engineering and technical analysis of flight test for V-22 aircraft for the Navy, Air Force and the government of Japan. Bell-Boeing’s primary product, V-22 Osprey, is a family of multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft, with both vertical as well as short takeoff and landing capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter, with long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. This military aircraft can carry 24 combat troops or up to 20,000 pounds of internal cargo or 15,000 pounds of external cargo. Work will take place in Maryland, Texas and Pennsylvania and is expected to be completed in December.
The Argentine Air Force returned to service one of its Fokker F28 medium transport jets, Jane’s reports. The last of the aircraft was grounded in August 2019 due to structural problems with the type, after finding the service had no budget to fund a replacement fleet. The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a twin-engine short range jet airliner designed and built by Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. On December 27, with the F28’s tests flights concluded, FAA chief Brigadier General Enrique Amrein used the aircraft for one of his visits to the main FAA bases across the country and, as a former F28 pilot, was in control of it for part of his journey.
Middle East & Africa
Leidos won $23 million for Foreign Military Sales to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The deal provides for General Electronic Test Station (GETS-1000) test equipment and test program set hardware and software, test equipment upgrades and repair parts; and services including test equipment installation, training, in-country technical assistance, and engineering services support. Leidos’ GETS-1000 is a depot test equipment supporting the military equipment in missile weapon systems such as Lockheed Martin’s LMT Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles and Raytheon’s RTN M3 Hawk surface-to-air missiles. Work will take place in Huntsville, Alabama and estimated completion date is December 31, 2020.
Rapiscan Systems won a $12.3 million Foreign Military Sale to Iraq. The contract is for contractor logistics support services for M60 High Energy Mobile Scanning Vehicle Systems and associated equipment. The US company Rapiscan Systems specializes in walk-through metal detectors ans X-ray machines for screening luggage and cargo. Contracting Activity is the US Army Contracting Command. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will take place in Iraq and expected completion will be on November 30, 2020.
Europe
A UH-60M helicopter carrying Taiwan’s Chief of the General Staff Gen. Shen Yi-ming has crashed this morning. The aircraft went down in Yuanshan Township. Eight Taiwanese military officers including General Shen Yi-ming were killed. Thirteen people were on board the UH-60M Black Hawk, part of the Air Force Rescue Team, which took off from Songshan Air Force Base in Taipei just before 8 a.m. It was headed for a military base in Dongao, in the northeast, as part of an inspection before the Lunar New Year holiday later this month, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported. The helicopter disappeared from radar screens about 10 minutes after takeoff, crashing in a mountainous area between the capital and the coast. It was not clear what caused the crash of the Black Hawk.
Asia-Pacific
The Indian Air Force has reactivated the 222 Squadron with the Su-30MKI. The unit was number plated back in 2011 after flying the MiG-27. The 222 Squadron ‘The Tigersharks’ of Indian Air Force got resurrected on January 1, with state of the art Su-30 MKI Multirole Fighter aircraft. “#Resurrection: 222 Sqn ‘The Tigersharks’ got resurrected today with state of the art Su-30MKI Multi-role Fighter aircraft. Raised on 15 Sep 69 with Su-7, the Sqn was later equipped with #MiG27 Ground Attack Aircraft prior to getting number plated in 2011.,” IAF said in a tweet.
Today’s Video
Watch: Indian Defence Updates : India’s New ORCA Fighter Jet,MWF Gets Next Gen WAD,New Su-30MKI Squadron
Jan 02, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
The Navy awarded Lockheed Martin with a $1.9 billion deal, which procures recurring logistics services for delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Air Systems. The contract is in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy as well as non-DoD participants and Foreign Military Sales customers. Services to be provided include ground maintenance activities, action request resolution, depot activation activities, automatic logistics information system operations and maintenance, reliability, maintainability and health management implementation and support, supply chain management and activities to provide and support pilot and maintainer initial training. On December 30, Lockheed Martin reached its 2019 target to deliver 131 F-35 fighter jets to the United States and its allies, as the defense contractor built 47% more jets this year. The world’s largest defense contractor delivered a total of 134 of the stealthy jets this year and aims to deliver 141 F-35s in 2020. Work under the $1.9 billion contract will take place in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, California as well as the UK. Estimated completion date is in December 2020.
Lockheed Martin won a $138.5 million contract to exercise options for AEGIS Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) efforts for the design, development, integration, test and delivery of Advanced Capability Build (ACB) 20. Under this contract, the AEGIS CSEA develops, integrates, tests and delivers computer program baseline Advanced Capability Builds; supports Technology Insertions (TI) (a replacement and/or upgrade of combat system computing hardware and associated middleware/firmware-design development); develops engineering products to support ship integration; supports developmental test/operational test events; develops training and logistics products; and provides field technical support for designated AEGIS baselines. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for Aegis CSEA efforts. The systems engineering, development and integration work under this contract will begin with Advanced Capability Build (ACB) 16 and technology insertion 16, and continue with a future ACB/TI through the period of performance of the contract. Work will take place in Moorestown, New Jersey. Estimated completion will be by December 2020.
Middle East & Africa
SOS International LLC won a $124.2 million contract modification for base life support and security services at Camp Taji Green Zone, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. The deal is to enhance security at the US base north of Baghdad. In June, the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria confirmed that rockets landed inside the base but no soldiers were killed or wounded. Work will take place in Taji, Iraq. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $ 42,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award.
The US Army Contracting Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $114 million for accelerated delivery for Foreign Military Sales to the United Arab Emirates of Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target Advanced Capability-3 missiles with associated ground support equipment and initial spares. The accelerated delivery of its Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept of Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles calls for sales of Lockheed’s guided air and missile defense system, ground support equipment and spares to the United Arab Emirates, with work expected to be completed by December 31, 2024. The success of the PAC-3 missile helped Lockheed executives raise their 2019 sales guidance for the company’s Missiles and Fire Control business segment to $9.95 billion in October.
Europe
According to local media, Estonian Defense Minister Jüri Luik, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, and the Finnish Permanent Defense Secretary Jukka Juusti signed a letter of intent in Tallinn on December 17 for a joint AFV research and development. “The letter of intent signed today is the beginning of the joint undertaking between Estonia, Latvia, and Finland in acquiring new armored vehicles. We have agreed to carry out joint research and development,” Luik said. “We have a very positive long-term relationship with Finland in procurement and have bought self-propelled artillery and radar systems together. We want to extend this co-operation to Latvia,” he explained further.
Asia-Pacific
Indonesian aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) unveiled a prototype of an indigenously developed medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The strike-capable UAV, which has been dubbed Elang Hitam or Black Eagle, was unveiled to the public on December 30 at PTDI’s facilities in Bandung. The platform is the product of an Indonesian consortium that includes state-owned electronics company PT Len, the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU), and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space. The Elang Hitam is 8.65 m long, 2.6 m high, has a wingspan of 16 m, and has incorporated several design aspects of China’s CH-4 UAV.
Today’s Video
Watch: Newest USAF Helicopter Unveiled • MH-139A Grey Wolf
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