The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
On Your Marks. At least three weeks of frantic legislative activity begin this week, as lawmakers return from the August recess and try to wrap up the congressional session by Sept. 26. The House Appropriations Committee (HAC) has scheduled its markup of the fiscal year 2009 defense appropriations bill for tomorrow, and the Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee is expected to tackle its version of the legislation as well this week. Expect a full House debate next week, aides say.
…Lost in Space. The HAC wants the Pentagon to create a “major force program category for space” in the future years defense program, according to the report accompanying the FY ’09 defense appropriations bill the committee plans to take up tomorrow. The report also calls for the designation of an official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense “to provide overall supervision of the preparation and justification of program recommendations and budget proposals to be included in the space major force program.” While the Air Force is the executive agent for space, House appropriators are concerned about the service’s “recent choices regarding the prioritization of space programs and responsibilities,” and its ability to act as an “impartial” executive agent, the report says.
Good Timing. A request for proposals to replace the Air Force’s aerial refueling tanker could be released this week, Pentagon sources said on Friday. Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman last month told reporters that the RFP was expected last week. But Boeing’s threat to pull out of the competition unless the timeline were extended to give it the opportunity to submit a different proposal could be holding up the release, according to one Pentagon source. “The special interests in Congress are not going to let this one go easily,” the source said. “So the acquisition folks really have to dot their i’s and cross their t’s before stepping out on this again.” A top Air Force official last week raised concerns that, regardless of how the Defense Department handles the issue, more industry protests are inevitable.
In The Mix. A top Air Force official sees no need for a new C-17 variant that could make the giant plane more tactically effective. Boeing officials have warned that their C-17 plant will close in less than two years if there are no new orders for the aircraft. The Air Force is instead purchasing the Lockheed Martin C-130J for the types of tactical missions the revised C-17 is aimed at undertaking. “Right now…we don’t see as much a requirement for that” new C-17, Gen. Arthur Lichte, head of the service’s Air Mobility Command, said last week. However, the four-star added that the creation of Africa Command and Army and Marine Corps end-strength increases in the coming years will likely bolster the need for classic C-17s. An airlift mix analysis is pending.
Foreign Fuel. An F-22 Raptor has for the first time performed aerial refueling using a synthetic fuel, officials at Edwards AFB, Calif., said on Friday. The fuel, a 50/50 mix of JP-8 jet fuel and a natural gas-based fuel, was dispensed by a KC-135 Stratotanker using a standard refueling process. It is the first time any Air Force aircraft has refueled mid-air using an alternative jet engine fuel, according to the service. The test was done as part of the secretary of the Air Force’s initiative to certify the entire fleet on synthetic fuel to lessen dependence on foreign oil, according to an Air Force press statement. F-22 Combined Test Force officials, the Air Force Research Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Pratt and Whitney, and Honeywell conducted the effort.
Strike Out. The Navy conducted multiple launches of Tomahawk cruise missiles from USS Virginia (SSN-774) last month in the Gulf of Mexico as part of the program’s developmental and operational testing efforts, the Navy says. The test launches, the first ever for a Virginia-class submarine, included the launch and extended flight of multiple missiles to demonstrate the Virginia‘s launch capabilities. “The Virginia class was conceived and designed as a multi-purpose warship and these flight tests are another indication of the significant capabilities a Virginia submarine brings to the fight,” says Capt. David Johnson, Virginia-class program manager.
…OPEVAL. The Virginia class is currently executing OPEVAL testing designed to evaluate the submarine’s war fighting capabilities in operationally realistic and demanding scenarios across its seven mission areas: anti-submarine; anti-surface ship; strike; naval special warfare; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; battle group support; and mine warfare. The OPEVAL testing, conducted by the Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force, continues through the fall of 2008, the Navy adds.
All’s Well. NAVSEA field activities throughout the Gulf Coast region report minimal damage following the Sept. 1 landfall of Hurricane Gustav. All NAVSEA Gulf Coast activities took hurricane protection provisions early to ensure safety of personnel and government assets. Overall, minimal damage was incurred though some assessment continues, the Navy says.
…Back To Work. All shipyards in the impacted areas were back to work by Sept. 3, with the exception of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale and Gulfport Operations, which are expected to return to work by today, the Navy adds.
…Close Call. “Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding reports that we avoided major damage to our Gulf Coast facilities from Hurricane Gustav. Production will resume at all facilitiestoday. However, we are anticipating the return to work plan for Avondale in New Orleans could be affected by local and regional infrastructure issues,” adds Northrop Grumman.
For The Cheese Heads. The Navy took delivery of Green Bay (LPD-20) from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) last month. This is the fourth ship of the San Antonio class of amphibious transport dock ships that NGSB has delivered, the Navy says. During the next two-and-a-half months, as Northrop Grumman Avondale Operations puts the finishing touches on the ship, the crew will be participating in various inspections and crew certification events, including a Light-Off Assessment before they depart New Orleans, the Navy adds. In late November, Green Bay will transit through the Panama Canal en route to its homeport of San Diego, where it will join sister ship USS New Orleans (LPD-18). In late January 2009, Green Bay will be commissioned in a formal ceremony in Long Beach, Calif.
Energy Savings. The DoE selected NSWC Carderock for 2008 Federal Energy and Water Management Award Aug. 18, the Navy reports. Carderock is one of two Navy commands to win the award for its energy efficiency/energy management program in the organization category. These awards recognize outstanding achievements in the following areas: The conservation and efficient use of energy and water; the use of renewable energy sources; implementing sustainable practices for high performance buildings; and implementing sustainable practices for vehicle fleet management. The Navy’s worldwide energy program currently is exceeding the Energy Policy Act goals, saving taxpayers more than $400 million (inflation adjusted) each year, the Navy adds.
Afghanistan Benchmarks For Canada. Canada Friday released a series of benchmarks for the six priorities and three signature projects it is implementing in Afghanistan between now and 2011. Canada’s new direction in Afghanistan focuses on working with the Afghan government to improve the lives of Afghans and, in particular, the residents of Kandahar province, the Canadian government says. The benchmarks developed in consultation with the Afghan government in some cases provide numerical targets–such as creating 10,000 seasonal jobs as a result of the Dahla Dam project and building, expanding or repairing 50 schools. In other cases, there are qualitative measures that include gauging public perception or assessing the implementation of policies and programs, an example being increased dialogue between Pakistani and Afghan officials about border issues. Together these benchmarks, along with the quarterly reports, will help tell the story of how efforts are proceeding, the Canadian government adds.
Centennial Celebration. During the month of September the Army marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Army aviation. In 1898, Samuel Langley receives an Army grant to develop first heavier-than-air flying machine. Sept. 3, 1908 the Wright Brothers began Wright Flyer test flights at Fort Myer, Va. On Sept. 17, 1st Lt. Thomas Selfridge becomes the first military air casualty in Wright Flyer crash at Fort Myer. Saturday, Ft. Myer held an open house celebrating Army aviation’s achievements, and included reproductions of the Wright Flyer. The airfield, however, no longer exists. From modest beginnings, Army aviation continues to shape today’s Army, the service says. The centennial web site is full of information about Army aviation’s first 100 years: http://www.army.mil/aviation/
Humming Along. Retired Army Gen. Paul Kern is now president and COO of AM General, the Indiana-based company that produces the Humvee for the military and its civilian version, the Hummer H2.Kern replaces James Armour, who remains at the company as chairman and CEO. Kern will take over from Armour as CEO by the end of 2009. Armour will continue with the company as chairman through 2011. Kern, who served in Vietnam and in first Gulf War retired as commanding general of the Army Material Command. AM General manufactures the Hummer for General Motors Corp., but GM officials have said they might sell the brand because of slumping sales of the sport utility vehicle.
New Leader. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Cosumano is the new president and CEO of Agility Defense & Government Services’ Taos Industries unit. Cosumano succeeds John Hamilton, who becomes chief operating officer at Taos under a company restructuring. Taos, based in Huntsville, provides logistics services, base operations, inventory and facilities management, and materiel disposal and reutilization services to the Department of Defense, NATO and other customers. Dan Mongeon, president and CEO of Agility DGS, said, “Joe’s four decades of leadership in the private sector and the Army, along with his deep ties to the Huntsville community, will help Taos strengthen its relationships with some of its most valued customers.” Before joining Taos, Cosumano held senior management roles at KBR and ATK. Cosumano served in the Army from 1970 until 2004, holding a variety of command and senior staff positions such as commander of Space and Missile Defense Command.
Securing The Edge. Throughout the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-28, Picatinny’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Testbed Emergency Operations Center supported the Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership . The partnership was responsible for providing enhanced situational awareness and information sharing to the many agencies responsible for overall security during the convention and better prepared them for emergency situations.”The New Jersey Business Force, along with the New Jersey Institute of Technology, approached ARDEC (in July) and asked us to help facilitate the NJBF Business Emergency Operations Centers here at our EOC,” Eugene Olsen, Homeland Defense Systems project manager says in a statement. The Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership is a newly established private and public sector collaboration enterprise based in Denver. “ARDEC’s EOC is such a modern state-of-the-art facility that the CEPP relied on its technology to provide them with real-time information several thousand miles away,” Olsen said.
New Science Chief. Australia announces Robert Clark will be the new Chief Defence Scientist and head the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon, says “Professor Clark brings significant national and international expertise and a strong background in scientific research and is an eminent scientist in the field of quantum computing. Clark joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Cadet Midshipman in 1969. Clark was appointed from a competitive field of public and private sector candidates, and will assume the role of Chief Defence Scientist in October.
New Facility. General Dynamics Canada opens a new engineering facility in Halifax. The event coincides with the company’s 60th anniversary and represents a long-term commitment by the defence company to Atlantic Canada. The new building will serve as the company’s Maritime In-Service Support (ISS) Centre of Excellence, significantly strengthening and expanding the company’s ISS capability. The new facility is a state-of-the-art 48,000-square foot environmentally friendly building designed and owned by Millbrook First Nation. The four-story building is already home to more than 30 employees and will eventually accommodate more than 150 skilled technology workers to provide systems integration and software support for a variety of General Dynamics Canada programs.
New Team. Honeywell says it has entered into a teaming agreement with LOM PRAHA s.p. of the Czech Republic to provide platform logistics–helicopter overhaul and maintenance, inspections, parts supply chain management, pilot training, and aftermarket services. “Honeywell and LOM PRAHA have forged a new agreement to offer helicopter operators an extensive line of critical aircraft services,” Paolo Carmassi, Honeywell Aerospace president, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, said Friday. “With the finalization of this agreement, we create a strategic relationship to offer a full range of services for the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters. Jindrich Ploch, CSc, CEO, LOM PRAHA, says: “Our mutual interest is to provide the customers with the high quality and prompt service. We are certain our long term cooperation will bring a mutual exchange of ideas and best industry practices and opens for us new business opportunities.”
Son Of NMCI. The Navy holds an industry day today to provide information on the upcoming RFP for the follow-on to NMCI, called NGEN–the next generation enterprise network. The NMCI contract with EDS will expire Sept. 30, 2010, and the Navy is looking to build on the lessons learned in operating NMCI, including the need to including the need to improve reliability, interoperability, information access, and security as well as enhanced government network visibility and operational command and control. The highest levels of Navy and Marines Corps leadership are actively engaged and guiding the NGEN initiative, a Navy source tells Defense Daily.
…Light Reading. Companies that pre-registered for the industry day have received the requirements package and CONOPS brief, a total of 700 pages combined, Pat Tracey, EDS’ client industry executive for Navy and Marine Corps programs, tells Defense Daily. “The documents are not RFP documents. It’s not clear what the acquisition strategy will be,” she adds. “We are very happy with the directions we see them taking. There are some very positive things. NMCI was an administrative network that ended up, as a consequence of post 9/11 requirements, being used in a much more central fashion for command and control than was envisioned when the network was designed and procured.” This set of documents takes into account what the Navy and Marine Corps have learned about the central role their networks play and the ability to command and control forces and to do the support functions for the forces when they are employed….that is reflected in these documents, Tracey adds.
…Strategy. “I think where we have for sometime been interested in having a bit better visibility in what the Navy’s information strategy is,” Tracey says. “They write a lot about needing to become net centric in order to achieve faster, better decision making capabilities, both in their warfighting environment and in their business or warfighting support environment. That’s all about how they plan to manage their legacy applications and manage their data. We’d like some insight on where they are on those strategies.”