Defense Watch

The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense

Hill Happenings. The House will return from holiday recess tomorrow, and defense hearings will start up again Wednesday with a HASC session on recent security developments in China. U.S. Pacific Command Adm. Robert Willard and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Wallace Gregson will testify. The committee is expected to hold additional hearings on Navy shipbuilding and Air Force nuclear security later this month. Defense types on Capitol Hill will be anxiously awaiting the Pentagon’s unveiling next month of its fiscal year 2010 budget proposal and 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review report. The Senate will return from recess next week.

No Nukes Review. The Pentagon will not complete the delayed Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), which is required by the fiscal year 2002 defense authorization act, by the most-recent deadline of Feb. 1, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense James Miller says in a Dec. 29 letter to SASC Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.). Instead, Miller says, the report on the nation’s nuclear weapons arsenal will be delivered to Congress on March 1. “We would welcome the opportunity, however, to provide classified briefings on NPR analysis and conclusions to you and your committee in early February 2010,” Miller writes to Levin. The Pentagon official blames the “complexity” of the issues being addressed for the delay. The Departments of State and Energy also are contributing to the NPR.

Tanker Timing. The Pentagon expects to issue the final request for proposals (RFP) for the Air Force tanker aircraft “hopefully by the end of the month, if not early next month,” Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell tells reporters Jan. 6. Pentagon officials are reviewing comments from the two contract competitors and Congress, he says. “No final decisions have been made yet about the RFP, but I think it is safe to say at this point that there will be changes to the draft,” Morrell says at the Pentagon. “We’ve gotten feedback, some of it quite helpful. Some of this we just have realized ourselves. And, so I think the team is in the process of correcting mistakes and altering the acquisition strategy a bit, and that will be reflected in the final request for proposals.” Any changes made to the solicitation should not be construed as an attempt to favor anybody, and the Pentagon is trying to make it “as fair and as transparent as possible,” he adds.

Afghan Truckin’. As of Jan. 5, 164 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) were fielded to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Morrell says. As of that date, 239 of the blast-deflecting trucks were delivered and 12 were awaiting transport. Yet he says many more were produced and awaiting delivery. Sending the vehicles to theater will be no easy task, considering the “herculean” effort to deliver 30,000 additional troops and their equipment into the mountainous nation, he adds. “And as (M-ATVs) vie for space for airlift and absorption in Afghanistan, they are being used, many of them, for training purposes domestically,” Morrell says Jan. 6. “This is going to be a test of our (U.S. Transportation Command) TRANSCOM folks, as well as (U.S. Central Command) CENTCOM. And they have a priority list based in terms of space available, what has the top priority to flow in at what time.” The Pentagon had planned to buy 6,644 M-ATVs. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council, though, last week increased the overall requirement for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected family of vehicles by 4,000. Those added vehicles are expected to be mainly or all M-ATVs.

Hovering. The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) model of the Pentagon’s new Joint Strike Fighter engaged its STOVL propulsion system in flight for the first time last week, prime contractor Lockheed Martin says. The test is the first in a series of planned STOVL-mode flights that will include short takeoffs, hovers and vertical landings, according to a Jan. 7 company statement. The aircraft is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 engine driving a Rolls-Royce LiftFan. The system, which includes a Rolls- Royce 3-bearing swivel duct that vectors engine thrust and under-wing roll ducts that provide lateral stability, produces more than 41,000 pounds of vertical thrust. The BAE Systems test pilot last week climbed to 5,000 feet and engaged the LiftFan propulsion system at 288 mph, then slowed to 207 mph with the system engaged before briefly accelerating and converting back to conventional-flight mode. The STOVL propulsion system was engaged for a total of 14 minutes during the flight. Most STOVL-mode testing will be conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

Repositioning. U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Space Command have initiated an effort aimed at improving global coverage for users of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation, the Pentagon says. The plan entails repositioning satellites to improve coverage. The constellation replenishment strategy positions new GPS satellites close to older satellites which, according to the Pentagon, protects against possible failing satellite vehicles. The current strength of the constellation will allow it to be spread out and improve GPS access worldwide. The move was prompted by the need to support military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where terrain in geographically challenging areas can degrade complete coverage of GPS signals, according to the Pentagon. The initiative will take up to 24 months to fully implement as satellites are repositioned within the constellation based on constellation health. The beneficial impact to all GPS users, including civilian users, will be slowly realized during that time period, the Pentagon says. Over the next two years, the number of GPS satellites in view from any point on earth will increase, potentially increasing accuracy of GPS receivers.

Launching. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center has awarded United Launch Alliance a contract modification to perform the launch services for the Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite aboard a Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle. The anticipated launch period is December 2011 – February 2012 from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., the Air Force says. The WGS-4 mission will be the fourth satellite of the WGS system and the first in the Block II series. The WGS satellites are from the space component of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to U.S. troops in the field for the next decade and beyond. WGS enables more robust and flexible execution of Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), as well as battle management and combat support information functions. WGS-4 will join the existing constellation of the WGS-1, 2 and 3 satellites and provide additional information broadcast capabilities. WGS-1 and WGS-2 were both launched previously on ULA Atlas V rockets in 2007 and in 2009, respectfully. WGS-3 was launched on a Delta IV in 2009. The new mission will be launched by the Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) configuration using a single common booster core with a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 main engine with four Alliant Techsystems GEM 60 solid rocket motors, a PWR RL10B-2 upper stage engine and a five-meter diameter upper stage and composite payload fairing.

Know Your Rights. As the Navy’s open architecture efforts look to provide more opportunities to small businesses, one issue that periodically surfaces is the maintaining data rights–often the life’s blood of small tech companies. From a intellectual property perspective, GoAhead Software is using COTS products that were rooted in the telecom and additional commercial markets, says Tyson Moler, director of federal operations. “There is not a lot–in fact there is zero Navy specific development going on–where we would have to turn over those rights because the Navy paid for and, of course, [owns] it.” GoAhead works extensively with the Navy to gather the service’s requirements, Moler adds, and builds those into GoAhead’s commercial releases. “But the data rights issue has not come up as a problem for us, again, because of the commercial nature of our business and our technology.”

…Missed Opportunities? “The one thing we had to be very aware of is the request for DoD-specific development,” Moler says. “To some extent, perhaps we missed out on some innovative opportunities to evolve our products for DoD-specific missions. That’s been a conscience decision we had to make because we want to maintain the data rights and the commercial viability of our products.”

Seeking Cyber Solution. ONR issues a BAA (http://www.fbo.gov) seeking innovative proposals for technologies that support “pro-active cyber network defense and information assurance,” which can be adapted and integrated into an advanced prototype offering leading edge capabilities. This advanced prototype will ensure maximum continuity of cyber operations and availability of national assets and data during cyber conflict. The prototype will lead to new concepts for protecting data traversing Navy networks and will provide decision management, intelligent decision aids, data fusion and correlation, and visualization capabilities, ONR says. “With the explosive growth of new adversarial capabilities, there is a major need for computer network and information assurance technologies to identify and mitigate real-time threats while at the same time ensuring continuity of essential operations and access to assured data during attacks. This need is due to the increasing complexity and quantity of malware and the emergence of new technology risks with continued risks from users. Unfortunately, the current network defense tools and capabilities that address these threats are reactive and inflexible, focus on configuration management, and do not allow for a real-time response capability. Further, these tools do not provide intelligent decision aids essential to combating the threat,” ONR adds.

…Schedule. The government estimates a start date of Oct. 30 for Phase I, subject to date of final award and availability of funds. A Phase II task order will be issued to various IDIQ contract holders contingent upon a government decision to pursue the Phase II approach. The government estimates a start date of April 30, 2011, subject to date of final award and availability of funds. The total amount of funding: maximum of up to $5.3 million over three to five years per award, ONR says. The Navy anticipates up to five IDIQ contracts, each with one or more associated task orders.

Super Heavy. Sikorsky says its CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter program has charted a course for Critical Design Review in 2010. In November, the CH-53K program team held a two-day meeting pulling together key collaborators for an in-depth discussion on system design compliance and verification, design integration and cross-discipline system design attributes, the company says. “This IDR meeting reinforced the joint efforts that are keeping the CH-53K helicopter on track to meet its objectives, which include design compliance and verification planning,” says Mark Cherry, Sikorsky VP, Marine Corps Systems. The CH-53K helicopter will maintain virtually the same footprint as the CH-53E aircraft, but will nearly triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under “hot high” ambient conditions. The CH-53K helicopter’s maximum gross weight (MGW) with internal loads is 74,000 pounds compared to 69,750 pounds for the CH-53E aircraft. The CH-53K’s MGW with external loads is 88,000 pounds as compared to 73,500 for the CH-53E helicopter. The new aircraft program is planned to include production of more than 200 new aircraft. Initial Operational Capability milestone is scheduled in early 2016, the company adds.

Shh. The NSA certifies General Dynamics C4 Systems’ Secterar vIPer(tm) Universal Secure Phone enabled with Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connectivity for voice communications classified at the Top Secret level and below. The Sectera vIPer Phone with PSTN Connect allows U.S. military and government personnel to make both classified and unclassified calls using traditional telephone networks via one high-end office desktop phone. Sectera vIPer Phone remains the only Voice over IP Phone certified by the NSA to protect voice communications classified Top Secret and below over commercial, wired VoIP networks, the company says.

Small Is Good. For the second time in three years, the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) Small Business Program receives the Secretary of the Navy’s Cup Award for exemplary achievements. MCSC primarily earned the award for significantly increasing the number of contracts awarded to small businesses in fiscal year 2008. The Command increased growth over the prior year by 102 percent for Historically Underutilized Business Zone small businesses, 72 percent for women-owed small businesses and 233 percent for serviced-disabled veteran-owner small businesses. “MCSC’s outreach efforts increased its supplier base, which was key to the Command’s successful small-business programs,” says Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy Eric Fanning. MCSC received the award in November ’09.

New USCIS Data Center. General Dynamics IT opens an enterprise data center in Westminster, Colo., to serve as the Technology Operations and Maintenance Infrastructure Support program’s IT operations center on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the company reports. This new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified operations center will meet the need for centralized, around-the-clock nationwide information technology (IT) enterprise service support with enhanced network and security monitoring, adds General Dynamics. Once fully staffed, the facility will employ approximately 100 skilled IT workers.

On Tap. The annual SNA conference kicks off Jan. 12 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. This year’s line-up features a bevy of flag officers and senior officials including Navy Secretary Ray Mabus; Under Secretary of the Navy Robert Work; Vice Adm. Derwood Curtis, commander naval surface force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Adm. John Harvey, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Rear Adm. Frank Pandolfe, director surface warfare division (N86); Rear Adm. William Leigher, deputy commander, Fleet Cyber Command; Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway; and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen.

Filing A Claim. German Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH (RDE) files an arbitration claim against the Finnish Defence Forces, concerning the delayed delivery of an anti- aircraft defense system delivered by the RDE to the Finnish Defence Forces. This is the first time that arbitration has been filed against the Finnish Defence Forces. The Finnish defense administration sees the allegations of RDE groundless.

War Support. General Dynamics Land Systems will support the Army under an $84 million contract for battle-damage assessment, repair services and materials for Stryker brigades deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, General Dynamics was awarded $28 million for 474 hull protection kits and spare parts for the Stryker family of vehicles. The contracts support the U.S. Army’s Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The work will be performed at the General Dynamics Land Systems headquarters in Sterling Heights, Mich.; at the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Ala.; and in Doha, Qatar. The assessment and repair of the Strykers will be completed by Dec. 31. The hull protection kits and spare parts will be delivered by Feb. 28, 2011.

Tank Build. General Dynamics will build 140 M1A1 Situational Awareness (SA) tanks for Iraq under a $198 million contract from the U.S. Army. The SA enhancements to the M1A1 for Iraq include a second-generation forward-looking infrared (FLIR) thermal sight, a driver’s vision-enhancer thermal viewer and Tank Urban Survivability Kit (TUSK) improvements, which provide better crew protection in urban warfare environments. In addition, engines developed through the Army’s Total Integrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER) program will be installed and pulse-jet filter cleaning systems added to improve performance while reducing maintenance requirements and costs. The contract will be completed by May 31, 2011.

Rear-view Camera. Oshkosh receives an award valued at more than $33 million from the Army to install rear-view camera systems on more than 2,250 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M- ATV). Work under the delivery order is expected to begin in March and be completed in May. With this delivery order, a total of 4,400 M-ATVs will be integrated with the camera system. The camera system, which integrates with existing vehicle video displays, provides excellent rearward visibility under all operating conditions. The system uses an infrared camera core in an LED-equipped tailgate assembly and provides visibility through dust, obscurants and incremental weather in both day and night operations. To date, Oshkosh has received six orders valued at more than $3.3 billion to supply 6,619 M-ATVs.

Foreign Sale. Navistar Defense, LLC announces it has made a new foreign military sale to Israel. Under the $12 million contract, Navistar will deliver 114 medium tactical vehicles by June 2010. Based on Navistar’s commercial Internationalr WorkStarr, or 7000 Series, platform, vehicle variants for Israel will include cargo, recovery and tow trucks. Parts and service are not included in the contract. In addition to the Israel contract, the company also received a second four-year, System Technical Support (STS) contract for up to $78 million to support its Internationalr MaxxPror Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from the U.S. Army.

HIMARS Work. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control wins a $151 million firm-fixed-price contract. The contract includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) full-rate production Lot 5 launchers in support of the Army, to include 46 Army launchers; one Army launcher rebuild; launchers loader module trainer kit; product definition data package maintenance tack; new equipment training; and support equipment. The work will be done in Grand Prairie, Texas, and East Camden, Ark., and completed March 30.

Reading The Omens. Those clever analysts at Northrop Grumman’s Analysis Center have taken the pulse of Beltway insiders to come up with their take on 2010.