The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
Murtha Known Across The Pond. Allan Cameron, chairman and CEO of Thales North America Inc., tells a Jane’s U.S. Defense Conference crowd April 22 he “can’t think of the technology that we’ve brought into the United States to date that hasn’t created jobs into the United States.” The French company, he notes, is shifting manufacturing and design support for a sonar system stateside. “Manufacturing has actually started in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. I wonder why we’re there,” Cameron says, spurring laughs. The powerful HAC-D Chairman Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) hails from Johnstown.
Etter On The Move. Delores Etter–the Navy’s assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition until late last year–is leaving her teaching gig at the U.S. Naval Academy and heading to Southern Methodist University in Texas this summer. She’ll join the faculty at the electrical engineering department, holding a Texas Instruments endowed chair, and work at a new institute focused on reinvigorating engineering education, she says at the April 22 Jane’s conference. “I do believe that we are at one of those points, much like the Sputnik point, and unless we turn around engineering education, that this is going to drive things that are going to go on that really are eroding our capabilities in national security,” she says.
Tanker Porkers? Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) names Reps. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) April Porkers of the Month for their talk of halting the Air Force’s Feb. 29 tanker contract award to a Northrop Grumman-European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. team. CAGW points to Dicks’ talk of cutting funding and Tiahrt’s distribution of a list of ways to disrupt the deal. “These members of Congress and others promoting parochial interests are meddling with the defense procurement process to the detriment of taxpayers across the country,” CAGW says April 22.
…”Baseless Charges.” Tiahrt rebuts CAGW’s criticism of what he calls his “efforts to ensure the KC-X tanker competition was the best decision for American taxpayers, workers, and manufacturers.” CAGW’s “baseless charges” may “weaken CAGW’s credibility as an independent, non-partisan advocate for taxpayers,” the congressman says in an April 22 letter to CAGW President Tom Schatz. “Congress has an important role to play in DoD acquisition,” Tiahrt writes. Read more on the lawmaker’s “tanker blog:” http://www.house.gov/tiahrt/tankerblog.
MRAP Money On The Move. The Pentagon is shifting $293 million from its well-stocked joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP) fund to various services. An April 21 reprogramming document shows $120 million is pegged for the Marine Corps for fielding MRAPs in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan; $70 million is slated for the Navy to test vehicles for additional capability; $68 million is pegged for buying government-furnished equipment for U.S. Special Operations Command’s MRAPs; and $35 million is marked for airlifting SOCOM’s vehicles.
Wanted: Ultra-Long Endurance Plane. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is tapping Boeing for a $3.8 million contract for the first phase of the Vulture air vehicle program, an effort to create a new category of ultra-long-endurance aircraft, the company says April 21. DARPA ultimately wants a vehicle that can deliver and maintain an airborne payload on station for an uninterrupted period of more than five years using a fixed-wing aircraft. Boeing’s contact is for conceptual system definition, formal reliability and mission success analysis, and conceptual designs for demonstrators.
B-2s Above Us. The 53-day “safety pause” of the B-2s is over, and one of the bombers flew to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., on April 15, the service says. A Northrop Grumman-built B-2 crashed Feb. 23 following take off at Andersen AFB in Guam, spurring the pause in flights of the 21-bomber fleet. While an Accident Investigation Board is still probing the crash, Air Force and Air Combat Command maintenance and safety experts have given 509th Bomb Wing officials the green light to fly, the service reports April 21.
Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye. Hollywood’s cooking up a Transformers II movie, and the Air Force Entertainment Liaison Office in Los Angeles is recruiting service members to work on the film this summer. Not surprisingly, volunteers need to be familiar with weapons and ground combat operations, according to Air Force Materiel Command. The film is based on the transformer action figures, alien robots that disguise themselves by turning into machinery.
Collecting Tanker Quotes. Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.), a new HAC member, is distributing a “dear colleague” letter in favor of Northrop Grumman’s tanker contract, which will be a huge economic boon to his district if it prevails. Bonner includes quotes against Congress overturning the contract from Pentagon acquisition czar John Young and former acquisition chief Jacques Gansler. And Bonner throws in April 21 comments from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, including this one: “I think that some things unrelated to what the law says we can consider are being thrown into the mix at least on Capitol Hill and that’s a concern.”
Tanker Legislation? Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) continues to say tanker contract foes are considering all options for trying to change the decision, but she hints at a possible direction April 24, after SAC-D heard from defense officials on military construction. “I was astonished that they said they had never been contacted by the Air Force to find out what the additional cost would be in terms of military construction because of a heavier plane, or a plane that required larger hangers,” she says. “I think that raises large questions about what the out-year cost of this [is], and we’re considering what we should be doing in terms of that.”
Petraeus In The Hot Seat. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) doesn’t see any lawmakers trying to block the confirmation of Gen. David Petraeus, now commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, as the new head of U.S. Central Command. But Reid wants the Army general to answer some questions during his SASC confirmation hearing. Reid tells reporters April 24 he’ll submit questions on the training of Iraqi troops and misplaced ammunition. And, Reid says, “I want to find out what his plan is when we have a new administration. Is he willing to listen to a new commander in chief?”
Hypersonic Collaboration. The Army is “working closely” with the Air Force and U.S. Strategic Command on an advanced hypersonic weapon (AHW), according to Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. The Army wants AHW technology it is working on to be used in the Air Force’s Prompt Global Strike effort, Campbell tells the SAC-D April 23. “I think that the technologies are going to be very important for a Prompt Global Strike weapons system in the future,” he says.
Seeing Ahead On CSAR-X. The Air Force releases amendment 6 to its request for proposals for the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR-X) replacement helicopter contract on April 22. As expected, the amendment delays the contract award date, updates development timelines and schedules, realigns funding, and incorporates changes to specialty metals law. It also “adjusts the award fee plan to increase the objective measurable criteria in accordance with the latest OSD guidance, and shifts the date for the Initial Operational Capability,” the services says, adding the “performance-based requirements have not changed.”
Shhh. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announces that the President nominated Navy Rear Adm. David Dorsett for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as director of naval intelligence, N2, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Dorsett is currently serving as director for intelligence, J2, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Rear Adm. Tony Cothron is the current director of Naval intelligence. “Intelligence demands and structures, similar to the national intelligence community, have changed,” Cdr. Jeff Davis tells Defense Daily. “The criticality of intelligence and speed of information demands experience and enhanced coordination with operational forces. This change brings the Navy in alignment with the broader national intelligence community.”
…Rising Star. “Elevating the DNI position to three-star rank reflects the post-9/11 and 21st Century imperatives that increase the criticality of Naval Intelligence in every aspect of Navy’s operations,” Davis says. “This shift will enable us to significantly broaden the Navy’s ability to influence the development and deployment of critical intelligence and intelligence-driven capabilities and systems required for the maritime strategy.”
…Full House. Under Title X, the Navy is authorized to have 25 three-star billets, Davis adds. The addition of a three-star as director of DNI will give the service 24 three-star billets.
Carried Away. The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition made its annual pilgrimage to Capital Hill last week to remind lawmakers why it is important to continue funding carriers. At the groups’ breakfast, local lawmakers ventured down to the basement of the Rayburn Office Building to offer their words of encouragement. Rep. Thelma Drake (R-Va.) tells the gathering of suppliers that she is distressed at any thought of dropping the carrier fleet down to 10 ships. “We want 11 carriers functional and operational at all times,” says Rep. Robert Whitman (R-Va.). However he adds that that is getting to be a challenge.
…From The Webb. Gordon Peterson, Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-Va.) military legislative assistant tells carrier suppliers that his boss is working hard to get more robust funding for shipbuilding.
…Low On Fuel. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) tells the gathering that all of the Navy’s major combatants are now going to be nuclear powered. “I’m pleased the Navy is going nuclear. It’s the right thing to do.” Bartlett, ranking member on the HASC seapower and expeditionary warfare subcommittee, and Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), chairman of the subcommittee, have both been stumping for moving the Navy to begin adding nuclear propulsion to surface combatants, especially in light of the rising cost of a barrel of oil. “We hope to make every surface combatant where it makes sense to be, nuclear,” Taylor adds. “I intended to keep the language requiring the future cruiser (CGX) to be nuclear.” Taylor and Rep. John Murtha, chairman of the HAC-D both support a goal of 10 ships in the Navy’s budget. “[We’re] getting some push back from the Navy. It’s time for them to get over it,” Taylor says.
A Better Idea. Although Navy officials have maintained there is no interest in looking at a modified Coast Guard National Security Cutter for potential use as a frigate, Taylor tells Defense Daily the Navy is considering possible uses for the hull. “I know some very senior uniformed people in the Navy very interested in it.” While Taylor acknowledges that any thought of taking the NSC and designing it as a surface combatant will require some tweaking and massaging of the ship, he says there are people in the Navy doing that.
…51. Even though Navy officials have scoffed at the idea of restarting the DDG-51 production line, Taylor is still very much in favor of the idea. Taylor disagrees that the cost to restart the supplier line would make the destroyer too expensive. The Navy would have tremendous leverage with suppliers, he adds, because “what’s the alternative?”
Keep On Moving. Canadian and American officials sign on to continue the defense transportation treaty on Integrated Lines of Communications (ILOC). Established in 1979, the ILOC agreement allows Canada and the United States to share military transportation resources when the operational requirements of both nations converge. For example, since 2001, the ILOC agreement has allowed for both the transportation of Canadian troops, equipment and supplies to Afghanistan by American aircraft, and for the re-supply of U.S. forces using Canadian aircraft. The renewed agreement means both countries will continue to station exchange officers within their respective organizations to oversee air transport logistical details. The officers will have greater flexibility and access to information to do their jobs. Additionally, eliminates an obligation to officially “activate” ILOC before sharing resources, making it faster, more flexible and easier to implement.
New Boss. Manroy Engineering, the privately owned British machine gun company sells a 50 percent stake to U.K. defense entrepreneur Glyn Bottomley, CEO and a shareholder of AEI Systems Ltd. Roy and Madeleine Swainbank created Manroy Engineering in 1975 to support the weapon spares requirements of the British Army. The company has grown steadily and is in full time production of not only the 0.5″ HMG & QCB, but also the 7.62 GPMG, a full range of weapon cradles, weapon spares and support activities for these products. Manroy also is a major world-recognized manufacturer of machine guns and has all the necessary equipment, knowledge and skills to carry out a full factory repair service of customer weapons when necessary. All Manroy products are in regular service with NATO forces.
Find Out About It. The Army Electronic Proving Ground (USAEPG), Fort Huachuca, Ariz., hosts Industry Days on June 18-19 to increase awareness of contracting opportunities among potential contract sources with demonstrated capability and capacity to satisfy all or the majority of requirements associated in support of its assigned developmental testing mission for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Sensors, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems and advanced technologies. USAEPGs goal is to provide quality, efficient, timely, and value added test services for the DoD acquisition process; and ensure equipment, systems, system-of-systems, and proven network performance is available to the war fighter, decision makers and those supporting the extended Global War on Terrorism. If you’re interested in attending, RSVP by e-mail to Virginia Miller no later than 12:00 p.m. MST June 520-533-8232; e-ail [email protected].
Get Your Game On. Tomorrow and Wednesday the Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, will support the third annual Defense GameTech Users’ Conference at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Fla. “The conference will focus on how gaming enhances the training of Warfighters now and in the future,” Kristy Murray, customer advocate at PEO STRI, says. “It is also a great forum for industry and government to discuss technical challenges associated with game technologies to enhance training.” Gaming experts from the Army, Navy, Army War College, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and Office of the Secretary of Defense will discuss the current state of game technologies in DoD. The presentations will highlight how gaming has been applied to meet training gaps throughout the military. The symposium is open to government and industry personnel.