The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
Hill Happenings. Congress is back in session this week–following the August recess and two presidential nominating conventions–and has a long list of legislative matters to address, including a federal budget for the new fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) informally agreed in July to take up a continuing resolution (CR) in each of their chambers this month, and then address the budget for the Pentagon and other agencies next spring. The two leaders discusses a CR that funds the federal government for the first six months of fiscal year 2013 at levels set in the Budget Control Act of 2011, which total $1.047 trillion for the entire government. Also on Capitol Hill, lawmakers will continue discussing ways to prevent so-called sequestration budget cuts from starting next January and committees will get back to work. HASC hearings this week include Oversight and Investigations subcommittee gatherings on Navy shipbuilding Tuesday afternoon and on Pentagon auditing challenges Friday morning. The HASC’s Tactical Air and Land Forces subpanel also is planning a hearing on F-22 pilot physiological issues Thursday morning.
Romney Retort. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is pushing back at criticism that he didn’t talk enough about the military during his speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa two weeks ago, and his campaign issues a memo last week about President Barack Obama’s “foreign policy and national security failures” during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. The missive from Romney Policy Director Lanhee Chen lists 10 alleged failures of Obama’s. They are: “No Results In Slowing Or Stopping Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program;” “Endangering Our Mission In Afghanistan And Weakening Our Relationship With Pakistan;” “‘Unconscionable’ Leaks Of Classified Counterterror Information From The White House That Have Been ‘Devastating;’” “‘Devastating’ Defense Cuts That Will Cede Our Status As A “Global Power;” “A Damaged Relationship With Israel And A Moribund Peace Process;” “No Coherent Policy To Stem The Humanitarian And Strategic Disaster In Syria;” “A ‘Reset’ With Russia That Has Compromised U.S. Interests & Values;” “Emboldening The Castros, Chávez & Their Cohorts In Latin America;” “Getting Beaten Badly By Competitors On Trade;” and “Putting Our Interests At Risk By Mismanaging The Transition In Iraq.”
EELV Move. Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall says he decided to take milestone-decision authority for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program away from the Air Force and give it to his office when he conducted a so-called Nunn-McCurdy review of the rocket effort. The review was required under law following rising unit costs with the United Launch Alliance (ULA). “I really thought that in the situation we were in we’d be prudent to bring it back under my direction and control as an acquisition executive,” Kendall says, noting the Air Force does not have an official acquisition czar right now. “It’s also a program which has got a great deal of attention. There’s a lot of interest in increase in competition for EELV and making that program more efficient. So I wanted to work with the Air Force to try to help to make sure that that happens.” Speaking at the ComDef 2012 conference at the National Press Club on Sept. 4, Kendall says he has not yet looked at new EELV bids that have come in from ULA, the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture.
Big DHS Award. US Investigations Services (USIS) says last week it has received a potential five-year, $889 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to provide biometric capture services in support of applications for various immigration benefits and U.S. citizenship. USIS’ Professional Services Division will perform the services at more than 130 Application Support Centers located across the U.S. and in U.S. territories. USIS is part of Altegrity.
Final of the First. The last ship of the original buy of 62 Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyers is readying for commissioning in New York City Oct. 6, Naval Sea Systems Command says. The future USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) departed the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard Sept. 5. “This sailaway is a poignant milestone for both this ship and the program,” Capt. Mark Vandroff, the DDG 51 class program manager, says. “This has been, and continues to be, a tremendously successful shipbuilding program.” The Navy decided to restart the DDG-51 program after deciding to terminate plans for a next generation cruiser. The first ship under the restart, the John Finn (DDG-113), is scheduled to join the fleet in 2016. The DDG-112 is named after Lt. Michael Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as leader of a Navy SEAL team in Afghanistan.
Design Specs For Next Boomers. The Navy has signed off on key specifications for the design of the next generation of ballistic submarines to replace the current fleet of Ohio-class boomers. The specifications are for the design and construction of the common missile compartment, which will be used by the United States and United Kingdom in their replacement fleet of ballistic missile subs. The specification establishes a common design and technical requirements for the four missile tubes and associated equipment that comprise each quad pack of cells. “This document marks significant forward progress for both the U.S. and U.K. future strategic submarine deterrent programs,” says Capt. William J. Brougham, the Ohio replacement program manager. “It is a direct result of the engineering rigor and professionalism of government and industry partners on both shores of the Atlantic.” The Navy, facing a budget squeeze, earlier this year delayed construction on the new class by two years to 2021. Twelve next generation subs are slated to begin succeeding the current fleet of 14 Ohio boomers starting at the end of the next decade.
DRS in Alabama. DRS Technologies opens a state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance/overhaul facility in the southern Alabama city of Andalusia, the company says in a statement. The facility, co-located with South Alabama Regional Airport, provides maintenance, modification, repair and overhaul services for fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The center, dubbed the Gulf Coast MRO Center, includes two hangars with shop space and an engineering/administrative building totaling more than 70,000 square feet of space. DRS Technologies is a division of Finmeccanica.
Honeywell KC-390. Honeywell signs a contract with Brazilian manufacturer Embraer to provide its eNfusion AMT-3800 Inmarsat High-Gain Antenna system on Embraer’ s upcoming KC-390 military transport aircraft for multiple customers, including the Brazilian Air Force, according to a Honeywell statement. The antenna will provide the KC-390 with voice and data communications capabilities using the Inmarsat network to deliver advanced data link features for Communications Navigation Surveillance (CNS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM). Using the network, data can be sent and received in real time, enabling a continuous stream of communications to help flight crews maximize operations, both on the ground and in the air.
He’s Baack. It’s no big secret this time, as the U.K. MoD says Prince Harry, or Capt. Wales as he’s known, is back in Afghanistan. Late last week Wales arrived at Camp Bastian in Helmand province starting a four-month operational tour as an Apache helicopter pilot. He’ll be working as part of the Joint Aviation Group (JAG) that provides helicopter support to ISAF and Afghan forces operating throughout Regional Command (South West). Wales’ squadron will provide surveillance, deterrence and, when required, close combat attack as well as escort duties for other aircraft. Wales qualified as a co-pilot gunner in February and was posted to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, to gain further flying experience and to operate the aircraft on a number of exercises. He has been trained to fly in the front seat as the mission commander, a role that equips him to fly the aircraft from the back seat but the majority of the time involves operating the Apache’s sights, sensors and weapons systems.
Building Relationships. Third Army/ARCENT soldiers join more than 1,000 military members from six other countries for multi-national peacekeeping exercise Steppe Eagle 12 at Camp Illisky, Kazakhstan. The exercise provides an opportunity for forces to exchange ideas and build relationships while training together. “Steppe Eagle is an important example of how Kazakhstan and its partners are working together to improve interoperability,” says Col. John Rogers, Third Army/ARCENT chief of exercises and Exercise Steppe Eagle 12 director. During the next 13 days, soldiers, supporting elements, and Kazakhstani soldiers will maneuver their personnel in response to training scenarios. Scenarios include a variety of field-training settings that will provide opportunities to demonstrate interoperability in convoy operations, security and resupply via air. The efforts by the multi-national forces during Steppe Eagle 12 will reinforce teamwork and cooperation and continue Third Army/ARCENT’s mission of shaping the future, the command says in a statement.
Increasing Safety. Cobham says it has been awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at some $15 million to supply On-Board Inert Gas Generating System (OBIGGS) Nitrogen Inert Units for Army AH-64 Apache helicopters. Cobham is providing a new configuration of Nitrogen Inert Unit (NIU) that will increase safety, improve supportability, and extend sustainment for another 30 years. The OBIGGS fulfills a critical aircraft safety system role by displacing fuel tank vapors with inert nitrogen gas, reducing the risk of explosion. Kelly Coffield, president of Cobham Life Support, says: “In 1985 Cobham pioneered the first OBIGGS application on the US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter and we continue to enhance our products with the latest technology.” More than 1,500 Apache helicopters with Cobham NIUs have been delivered worldwide.