The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
Tanker Legislation Standoff. As expected, Boeing backers and Kansas Republicans Sen. Pat Roberts and Rep. Todd Tiahrt introduced legislation in the House and Senate on June 26 that prohibits the use of any Defense Department funds on the KC-X tanker unless the Pentagon outright awards the tanker contract to Boeing or to opts to “fairly recompete” the contract. But the measure hit a snag June 27 when Northrop Grumman tanker contract supporter Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) placed a hold on the legislation in the Senate. Sessions is “holding the bill to give the Air Force time to respond and develop a way forward that served the best interest of the military,” his office says. The hold effectively requires a 60-vote majority before the Senate can consider the measure.
… New Rules. Tiahrt and Roberts’ identical bills call for the Air Force to weigh additional factors, that it did not previously consider, in such a new tanker competition. “Under the new competition rules set forth by the legislation, the DoD must consider national security and industrial base concerns. It would also expand the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to foreign companies, require an independent cost estimate, and ensure the DoD considers the impact of additional regulatory burdens placed on American companies whose foreign competitors do not face such burdens,” Roberts, Tiahrt and fellow Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback announce.
Rep. DeLauro: Redo Tanker. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and approximately 70 supportive lawmakers sent a letter to acting Air Force Secretary Michael Donley June 27, calling for the service to heed the Government Accountability Office’s June 18 recommendation to reopen the aerial refueling tanker bid process because of a faulty award to a Northrop Grumman-European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. team. “In light of the seriously flawed review process that appears to have taken place with this award, we believe that anything less than a re-opened competition that judges without prejudice each offerors’ ability to meet the needs of the Air Force at the best value to the American taxpayer will only further call into question your service’s acquisition process,” DeLauro writes. A bipartisan mix House lawmakers from states including Connecticut, Washington, and Kansas co- signed the letter.
It’s Official. The White House officially nominated Donley as Air Force secretary June 25, though it hasn’t–as of June 27-made a peep on nominating U.S. Transportation Command head Gen. Norman Schwartz as new Air Force chief of staff. Donley–who’s been acting Air Force secretary since June 21–and Schwartz are Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ picks for the two air service posts. SASC hasn’t yet received both nominations and scheduled a confirmation hearing. Meanwhile, outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley’s (forced) retirement has been approved for Aug. 1. The departure ceremony for Moseley, who remains on the job, is likely to be held July 11.
Petraeus Movement. SASC approved on June 26 the nomination of Army Gen. David Petraeus, now commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, as U.S. Central Command leader. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been complimentary of Petraeus, who was dubbed “the next Eisenhower” last week by Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee ranking member Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). The Senate panel also approved Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno to replace Petraeus as the main commander in Iraq. The nominations await full Senate confirmation.
Supp’s Up. After months of delay, Congress late last week sent the White House a supplemental spending bill with $161.8 billion in war funding for much of FY ’08 and FY ’09. The legislation the Senate passed the night of June 26 contains $3.6 billion less war funding that lawmakers previously eyed, though the specific impacts of the reduction made two weeks ago remain unclear. Because lawmakers passed the supplemental before the Fourth of July recess, the Pentagon will not reprogram $1.6 billion in operation and maintenance funds to cover Army civilian salaries–a requested reprogramming Senate appropriators would only OK if the supplemental was still tied up in Congress at the holiday break’s start. The Pentagon already reprogrammed $5.7 billion to cover uniform personnel’s pay as it waited for the spending bill.
Nuke Watch. Frederick Celec, the White House nominee for assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear and chemical and biological defense programs, says nuclear- oversight shortcomings at the Air Force are “cultural in nature,” and defense officials need to keep watch to ensure coming cultural changes are sustained. “The Air Force is currently reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure that they’re current,” he tells the SASC during his June 26 confirmation hearing. “The real question is will the leadership insist that they be followed to the letter of the law as well. In the past the leadership focus has just been diverted elsewhere…It’s going to take the focus of the leadership of the Air Force and the secretary of defense, and that’s where I hope to participate to oversee that.”
Zumwalt Update. Navy Secretary Donald Winter tells Defense Daily at last week’s ASNE conference the service is proceeding along in its efforts to build DDG-1000. “The contract activities are going well…we are in continuing dialogue with Congress regarding our future plans,” he says. “This is a matter we need to work through with Congress to make sure we and they are all able to come up with a common understanding of what we need to do and the best course of action to take to achieve those objectives.”
…Impacting CG(X). Winter says he doesn’t see the issues that DDG-1000 is facing as defining CG(X), the Navy’s next-generation cruiser. “CG(X) is a main-line activity. It’s a crown jewel effort. It is going to be one of our largest acquisitions. It’s going to have a very significant set of functions for the future. We’ve got to get it right,” he adds. Winter acknowledges there are couplings between DDG-1000 and CG(X), but the cruiser stands on its own. “There are couplings…how do we deal with one to the next in terms of industrial base. So I won’t say they are totally disconnected, but I see the challenge of developing the requirement set and specifications for CG(X) as an activity that stands of and by itself.”
Improving The Sub Fleet. “I am very very encouraged with what the program office, PEO Subs, and the shipbuilders are doing collectively to look at the affordability while at the same time working toward improvements in capability. And those two are generally two mutually exclusive terms that don’t come together,” Rear Adm. Cecil Haney, director Submarine Warfare Division, tells Defense Daily. “Having lived up in Groton where I got to see magic go on at Electric Boat, but also visiting Northrop Grumman Newport News, [and seeing the] ships being built in both of those [yards] and seeing the workforce come up with innovative solutions to do just that, was pretty remarkable.” Haney adds.
Gator Sighting. G/ATOR, the Marine Corps’ new radar, moved a step closer to production with the successful conclusion of the formal PDR at Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector headquarters, the company reports. The new multi-mission radar system will provide the Marines with enhanced capabilities to detect, track and provide target quality data to engage hostile aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned air vehicles, and provide location of hostile rockets, mortars and artillery. Intended as a replacement for five existing Marine Corps radars, G/ATOR will also provide robust air traffic control capabilities to enhance the safety of Marine Corps air operations, Northrop Grumman says. The PDR involved an extensive U.S. government review and subsequent approval of the G/ATOR system and subsystem design for both hardware and software including a program management review of cost and schedule.
Alion Flap. Alion Science and Technology receives a new $2 million contract from the Marine Corps Systems Command to support the EFV alternate bow flap concept development, the company says. Alion will analyze the current design of the EFV bow flap, and a new concept developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, making any needed modifications to improve structure, reliability and performance. As part of this contract, Alion will design, build, install and test a new EFV bow flap prototype using its program management, system engineering, naval architecture, hydrodynamic analysis, mechanical design and ProE computer-aided design experience. The plan is to build and test the prototype off the coast of California, the company adds.
Virtually Ready. The Air Force is gearing up for its October plan to fully operationalize a new command devoted to protecting cyberspace, Col. Felipe Morales, deputy director of cyberspace policy at Air Force headquarters, says. “We are working on new doctrine and operational concepts and examining how to change what we do to prepare for this new command,” he says in a discussion at the Center for National Policy. The Air Force has not yet decided where to set up the permanent headquarters for its new Cyberspace Command and recently pushed back the deadline for a decision from the end of this year until next year. Service officials have previously said that the command will initially have a “virtual” headquarters, and its 500 headquarters employees will be dispersed among 13 or 14 bases.
New Role. The Royal Air Force plans to declare its new Typhoon aircraft multi-role capable this week, according to a June 27 RAF press statement. The multi-role capability means that Typhoons can now carry out precision ground attack as well as air defense tasks. The declaration is expected to be made by the Commander-in-Chief Royal Air Force Air Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader. A flight demonstration of ground attack is also scheduled for the July 1 event at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
Hard Hat Area. BAE Systems tomorrow holds a ground breaking and technology demonstration for its future development center for command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems at the Liberty Station complex in Point Loma, Calif. The event will include presentations from BAE executives and local officials. There also will be technology demonstrations highlighting the company’s advanced capabilities, such as network interoperability and modeling and simulation. The new 80,000-square-foot facility will focus on research, development, testing, and integration of large-scale C4I network systems to help solve current, emerging, and future customer mission requirements. Construction is expected to be complete in August 2009.
Make It Clearer. New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff has endorsed a recommendation for strengthened and more transparent reporting systems for defence acquisition projects, recommended in a report by the Auditor General. Phil Goff said he welcomed agreement between Defence agencies and the Auditor General to work together to provide better and more complete information on management of acquisition of defense assets. “I am pleased that the Auditor General has indicated that his office is not asserting poor performance or negligence by Defence in managing defence acquisition projects,” he says. “I, however, support the desirability of fuller reporting on projects as they proceed. The Auditor General notes large defence acquisition projects worldwide are prone to difficulties, delay and cost increases.
Protecting Secrets. General Dynamics says the National Security Agency (NSA) has certified General Dynamics C4 Systems’ FASTLANEr KG-75A encryptor for securing high- speed, high-volume transmission of voice, video and data, classified up to Top Secret, across two common network platforms: Synchronous Optical Networks (SONET)/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks. Used by the military, government and public networks worldwide, the FASTLANE KG-75A provides a software- based, graphical user interface that enables users to transition between ATM and SONET/SDH functionality without hardware change or modification, simplifying integration and operation for either network.
Working On It. Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement Greg Combet says the government and Defence Materiel Organisation are working to solve challenges faced by Defence Small to Medium Sized enterprises (SMEs) and reform contracting to make it easier for them. Combet says, “SMEs are extremely important within the defence industry and are often the source of innovation. Currently SMEs receive approximately 15 per cent of the direct procurement and sustainment budget and have the greatest export intensity within the industry.” Issues include lack of access to available finances and financial management training, inability to access the latest production processes and technologies, manage complex contracts, and face a shortage of skills. A survey indicates 81 percent of defense industry participants found financing an issue. Despite this, only 22 per cent of defense companies surveyed have a focus on improving their financial processes. The government is already launching initiatives, Combet says, including Australian Industry Capability Program to help SMEs access global supply chains.
More Jointness. Rep. Thelma Drake (R-Va.), a member of the HASC, tells a Joint Warfighting Conference this month she wants suggestions for the new bipartisan National Security Interagency Reform Working Group. The new caucus is led by Reps. Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and Geoff Davis (R-Ky.)–both HASC members. All the members are interested in educating improving interoperability and jointness for a whole of government approach to problems. “You’re breaking new ground,” Drake tells conference attendees working on ensuring the military was relevant and prepared for future conflict.
New Leader. Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola, former Chief of the Italian Defense Staff, is now Chairman of the NATO Military Committee–NATO’s top military officer. DiPaola succeeds Canadian Gen. Ray Henault, who will return to Canada to retire after three years as the Chairman and 40 years of military service. “I am strongly committed to continuing the process of shaping NATO military structures and policies. Building on the relationships we have with new partners and new members-to-be will also be a top priority of mine,” he says. The Chairman of the Military Committee is the principal military adviser to the Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council and the conduit through which consensus- based advice from NATO’s Chiefs of Defence is brought forward to the political decision-making bodies of NATO.
New Center. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody June 6 signed a memorandum approving the transformation of the Army Aviation Warfighting Center into the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE). The concept of the Center of Excellence is a Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) initiative that works to consolidate operations and missions within TRADOC to ensure standardization, effectiveness and consistency of training and doctrinal development. In October, USAACE will take control of the Army Aviation Logistics School at Fort Eustis, Va. When USAACE is transformed, it will consist of two brigades, the 1st Aviation Brigade and the 110th Aviation Brigade, and eight battalions including the 3rd Battalion, 210th Aviation Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas, the Unmanned Aerial Systems Training Battalion at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and the 1st Battalion, 222nd Aviation Regiment at Fort Eustis.
Connections. Crawford Communications Inc. is now in a long-term agreement to provide content aggregation, media relations, Internet and satellite services for the military’s Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS). Its mission is to provide a reliable connection between the global media and the military. DVIDS is a network of 106 portable Ku-band transmitters located with deployed military units and a central distribution hub located at Crawford’s teleport. In addition to the core media and distribution services, the company provides training classes; staffing; analysis; Web support; and video and print editing services. Also, Crawford offers an asset management solution for the project’s extensive content library. Crawford maintains a 24/7 DVIDS media desk, editing team and technical operations crew to handle support requirements any time of the day or night.
….Sub Work. Crawford Satellite Services, a service area of Crawford Communications Inc. has been awarded a multi-year sub-contract that offers full-time satellite space segment to Arrowhead Global Solutions. A wholly-owned subsidiary of CapRock Communications, Arrowhead focuses on delivering end-to-end managed communications solutions to federal government customers worldwide. With Crawford as its sub-contractor, Arrowhead was selected by the Defense Information Systems Agency to support DoD efforts. Through this agreement, the Army secures 39 MHz of satellite capacity for its DVIDS project, a 24/7 operation that provides a reliable connection between the media and the military.
Hang Two. Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) says its Bedek Aviation Group has opened two new giant hangars–about 1.6 million square feet–for converting B747-400 aircraft from passenger to freighter configurations. The Bedek group that does the conversions has always represented a significant part of IAI’s business, particularly in the commercial sector, says Itzhak Nissan, IAI’s president and CEO. “We aspire to gain a balance in the volume of commercial and military activities and the addition of modern infrastructures to Bedek will help reach this goal.”
Future Transport. In Seville, Spain, EADS just rolled out the first Airbus A400M, the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) future transport aircraft that the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) says is expected to take to the air for the first time later this year. “This eagerly awaited new aircraft will support the deployment of all three Services in peace, crisis and wartime roles,” Air Marshal Sir Barry Thornton, Chief of Materiel (Air) in MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support organization says. The long-range turbo-prop A400M will replace part of the RAF C-130 fleet early in the next decade with 25 on order for the UK.
Stretching is Bad. A new U.K. National Audit Office (NAO) report on the MoD’s C-130 Hercules tactical fixed-wing airlift capability says the MoD is meeting requirements despite a number of obstacles stemming from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Long flights and rough airstrips are causing material stress and fatigue and shortages in spare parts, the report says. “Under difficult circumstances, [the MoD] has ensured the armed forces have the Hercules aircraft they need,” says Tim Burr, head of the NAO. “But delays to the A400M aircraft, as well as the stresses and strains caused by sustained operational use of the existing Hercules fleet, are stretching both aircraft and aircrew and could in time pose risks to their future effectiveness,” he adds.
…No Achilles Heel. With more than 40 flights a day, the Hercules is successfully delivering essential equipment and personnel to the heart of operations in hostile environments, with limited infrastructure and difficult climates, U.K. Defence Minister Baroness Ann Taylor says in response to the NAO report. “To boost our capacity for long- range airlift, we have procured two additional C-17 aircraft, which will free up the Hercules to concentrate on the shorter flights within theater,” Taylor says. “Working closely with industry, we are turning around upgrades to communications systems and defensive aids with the minimum delay and minimum impact to operations,” she adds. The report acknowledges that the MoD has improved the speed which spares are provided. Taylor attributes this to a May 2006 contract with BAE, which is improving the availability of spares to maintain the operational tempo.