(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 26, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March
NAVY
~Raytheon Co., Space and Airborne Systems, Goleta, Calif., is being awarded an $89,489,433 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract (N00019-09-C-0052) to exercise an option for the procurement of 96 Lot 12 full-rate production AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receivers for the Navy (68) and the governments of Switzerland (25) and Australia (three), including supplies and services. The AN/ALR-67A(V)3, which is installed on the F/A-18E/F aircraft, provides accurate identification, lethality, and azimuth displays of hostile and friendly emitters. Work will be performed in Goleta, Calif. (41 percent); Lansdale, Pa. (18 percent); Forest, Miss. (12 percent); Chatsworth, Calif. (11 percent); San Diego, Calif. (10 percent); Sydney, Australia (4 percent); Milwaukie, Ore. (2 percent); and McKinney, Texas (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($65,435,236; 73 percent), and the governments of Switzerland ($20,221,477; 23 percent) and Australia ($3,832,750; 4 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
~ERAPSCO, Inc., Columbia City, Ind., is being awarded a $59,993,918 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for 7,096 AN/SSQ-36B sonobuoys; 48,749 AN/SSQ-53F sonobuoys; and 14,449 AN/SSQ-62E sonobuoys in support of Navy antisubmarine forces for the mission of detection, classification, and localization of adversary submarines during peacetime and combat operations. Work will be performed in DeLeon Springs, Fla. (52 percent), and Columbia City, Ind. (48 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $192,293 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured by a limited source Lowest Price Technically Acceptable competition with three firms solicited and one offer received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-10-D-0011).
~AeroAstro, Inc., Ashburn, Va., is being awarded a $37,923,746 cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract for the purchase of a highly-capable, low-jitter, high-accuracy spacecraft bus to support the Joint Milliarcsecond Pathfinder Survey mission. This bus will be designed, built, and tested by AeroAstro, and will use the spacecraft conceptual design that was developed as part of the enhancement of the Small Business Innovative Research Phase II effort. This contract contains an option which. if exercised, will bring the contract value to $42,110,248. Work will be performed in Ashburn, Va., and work is expected to be completed March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a competitive award under the SBIR Phase III award authorized under 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5). Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N000173-10-C-2012).
~Martin-Baker Aircraft Co., Ltd., Middlesex, England, is being awarded an $18,188,511 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-07-C-0011) to exercise an option for 71 Navy aircrew common ejection seats for the Navy, including production support services. In addition, this option provides for the procurement of associated hardware, equipment, and technical data for the governments of Canada, Australia, and Kuwait. Work will be performed in Middlesex, England (50 percent), and Johnstown, Pa. (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps ($17,819,662; 98 percent), and the governments of Australia ($169,839; .93 percent), Canada ($103,549; .56 percent), and Kuwait ($95,461; .52 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
~Team Logistics JV, Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $17,357,014 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-01-D-0239) to exercise an option for 433,937 hours of maintenance planning and design interface and management support services for the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md.; the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md. and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J. These services include evaluating initial designs and proposed design changes, maintenance planning, and sustaining maintenance plans. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md. (90 percent), and Lakehurst, N.J. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
~General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $12,417,483 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-5396) for the exercise of a cost-plus-fixed-fee option for fiscal 2010 engineering services in support of the Surface Electronic Warfare program (SEWIP) Block 1B and firm-fixed-price options for fiscal 2010 SEWIP Block 1B1 production units and spares as well as Block 1B2 production units, modification kits, and spares. The SEWIP Block 1 provides enhanced electronic warfare capabilities to existing ship combat systems to improve anti-ship missile defense, counter-targeting and counter-surveillance capabilities, and improved battlefield situational awareness. Work will be performed in Fairfax, Va. (65 percent), and Annapolis Junction, Md. (35 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
~Serco Inc., Reston, Va., is being awarded an $11,366,107 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for support for the Hazardous Materials Control and Management program. This contract includes three one-year option periods which, if exercised, bring the total value of the contract to $84,741,244. Work will be performed in various locations inside and outside the continental United States, and is expected to be completed by September 2013. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with two offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00140-10-D-Z029).
~Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $10,964,857 cost-reimbursement delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00421-05-G-0001) for Phase 1.5 of the E-2C aircraft alternate core open architecture program. Phase 1.5 of this program will improve the core capability of the existing mission computer (MC) that enables fast platform integration and risk reduction by reuse of existing MC components. Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in July 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
~Utah State University Research Foundation, Logan, Utah, is being awarded a $9,999,998 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for design, development, testing, and fielding of future surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting systems for aircraft and ship operation and performance. Work will be performed in Logan, Utah (95 percent), and China Lake, Calif. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to the FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-10-D-0017).
~L-3 Services, Inc., Mount Laurel, N.J., is being awarded a $9,177,283 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract (N00421-09-D-0009) to exercise an option for technical and engineering services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Structures Division (AIR-4.3). Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Md., and is expected to be completed in March 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
~Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, is being awarded an $8,989,380 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Technical Assistance for Repairables Processing services. This contract includes a one-year base period and four one-year option periods which, if exercised, bring the total value of the contract to $47,008,054. Work will be performed in San Diego (24 percent); Philadelphia, Pa. (5 percent); Mechanicsburg, Pa. (5 percent); and various locations inside and outside the continental United States (66 percent). Work is to be completed by March 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with one offer received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00189-10-D-Z010).
~EG&G Technical Services, Inc., Germantown, Md., is being awarded $6,464,576 for task order #0092 under previously awarded contract (M67854-02-A-9011). The scope of this effort is to provide on-going technical, programmatic, and logistics support for the Marine Corps Systems Command, Armor and Fire Support Systems, Fire Support Systems (FSS) program office. Current FSS programs include the expeditionary fire support system (EFSS); the precision extended range munitions for EFSS; the high mobility artillery rocket system; the common laser rangefinder; the true north module; the portable lightweight designator rangefinder; the thermal laser spot imager; the modeled meteorological information manager; the ground counter fire sensor; and several other legacy systems. The scope of requirements includes providing support to the FSS program management office as well as supporting the three FSS sub-teams (weapons team, target acquisition team, and the program support team) and supporting the Internally Transportable Vehicle program’s fielding efforts. Work will be performed
in Marine Corps Command organizations at Quantico, Va., and is expected to be completed in April 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $3,185,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
~General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Poway, Calif., was awarded a $26,568,121 contract which will provide for the design and development of cockpit/human machine interfaces to build the foundation for ground control station flexibility and growth through an open, modular software approach. At this time, $19,736,066 has been obligated. 703 AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-05-G-3028).
~United Launch Services, Littleton, Colo., was awarded an $18,377,691 contract which will support the Department of Defense’s assured access to space efforts by implementing fiscal 2010 project improvement-ordnance box and fiscal 2010 fleet standardization-metallic LOX skirt capability improvement projects under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Launch capabilities contract. At this time, $959,219 has been obligated. SMC/LR, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8816-06-C-0002).
~Jacobs Technology, Inc., Tullahoma, Tenn., was awarded a $9,718,603 contract which will provide one year of contractor support for design, construction, reconfiguration, modification, test operations, and maintenance of experimental and support facilities used to perform research and development of rocket propulsion, space systems, and their components under the research operations support services contract. At this time, $4,192,135 has been obligated. 703 AFFTC/PK, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04611-99-C-0003 P00134).
~Calspan Corp., Buffalo, N.Y., was awarded an $8,805,257 contract which will provide the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School variable stability aircraft support. At this time, no money has been obligated. AFFTC/PKEW, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA9302-10-D-0001).
~Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., was awarded a $7,143,419 contract which will provide C-5 Avionics Modernization Program Lot VII components for one lot of C-5 avionics program kits, one lot of C-5 aircrew training device kits, one lot of readiness spares packages, and one lot of peacetime operating spares. At this time, $7,143,419 has been obligated. 703 AESG/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-98-C-0006).
~Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $6,698,562 contract which will provide support for a reliability information analysis center for research, test, and development, and deliver life-cycle cost estimates, alternatives analysis, requirements analysis, costs estimate methodology matrices, engineering performance analysis, and final baseline life cycle cost estimate performance studies. At this time, $244,000 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
~Data Link Solutions, LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a maximum $5,689,722 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for F-15 aircraft fighter data link system spare parts and installs. Other location of performance is in New York. Using services are Foreign Military Sales for Singapore, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 30, 2011. The Defense Logistics Agency, Warner Robins, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (SPRWA1-10-C-0010).
Source: DTN News / Associated Press
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia- March 26, 2010: Russia will help Vietnam build a submarine base and provide other military assistance, the Russian defense minister said Thursday. 
Russian news agencies quoted Anatoly Serdyukov as saying that Vietnam needs the base for the six diesel-electric submarines it has ordered from Russia.
Serdyukov, who visited Vietnam earlier this week, said that the country also wants Russia to help build a ship repair yard that could service visiting Russian navy ships.
Vietnam would also need rescue and auxiliary vessels and planes for naval aviation, but has asked for a loan to help finance the deals, he said.
The Soviet Union provided Vietnam with billions of dollars in economic and military aid during the Cold War, but ties unraveled after the Soviet collapse. In 2003, Russia withdrew from a Soviet-era naval base in Cam Ranh Bay, saying it wants to save money on maintenance costs.
Serdyukov said Thursday that the issue of the base hadn't been discussed during his trip.
Military cooperation between Moscow and Hanoi has increased in recent years, with Vietnam again becoming a top customer of Russian weapons industries.
The RIA Novosti news agency quoted Serdyukov as saying that Vietnam has signed contracts worth $4.5 billion for the purchase of Russian weapons in 2008-2009.
In addition to the six submarines, Hanoi has ordered frigates, missile boats and Su-30 fighter jets. The big purchases come amid tensions between Vietnam and China over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea.
Gates, testifying at a Senate hearing, said it was in the U.S. interest to try to help friendly nations get drone technology, despite limitations on exports imposed by an international pact.
"There are other countries that are very interested in this capability and frankly it is, in my view, in our interest to see what we can do to accommodate them," Gates said.
The drones have proven to be a crucial technological advantage for the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq, allowing it to remotely track and kill insurgents and giving troops eyes-in-the-sky battleground imagery in real time.
The CIA has used drones armed with missiles to ramp up its covert campaign to kill al Qaeda and Taliban targets in Pakistan.
"The reality is so far we have been in situations where (drone) technology cannot be used, or has not been used against our troops anywhere," Gates said.
But that might not remain the case, he said. He cited Iran, which he has said is providing limited support to Afghan insurgents, and which is developing unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.
"Iran has UAVs and that is a concern because it is one of those areas where I suppose if they chose to, in both Iraq and Afghanistan, they could create difficulties for us," Gates said.
Still, he called UAVs "relatively slow flyers" that could be neutralized by the Air Force if they threatened U.S. forces.
"I actually think our ability to protect our troops from these things particularly in a theater of combat like this is actually quite good," he said.
Militant groups, as opposed to other countries, were a bigger concern when it came to the spread of drone technology.
"My worry would be capabilities like this getting into the hands of non-state actors who could use them for terrorist purposes," Gates said.
PENT-UP DEMAND
The U.S. aerospace industry estimated in December that U.S. military demand for unmanned aircraft would double over the next five years after rising 600 percent since 2004. It is also hoping for growth abroad.
The industry wants to change the Missile Technology Control Regime, or MTCR, a pact among at least 34 countries aimed at curbing the spread of unmanned delivery systems that could be used for weapons of mass destruction.
Gates said he shared concerns of lawmakers about the spread of the technology to adversaries and "about these capabilities getting into the hands of those who are our adversaries."
But he also said the United States had only sold UAVs to Italy and Britain so far.
"With respect to export ... I think there are some specific cases where we have allies with whom we have formal treaty alliances who have expressed interest in these capabilities," he said.
"And we have told them that we are limited in what we can do by the MTCR, but I think it's something we need to pursue with them."
Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk, which provides surveillance capabilities, has drawn interest from countries including South Korea, Japan and Singapore as well as Britain, Spain and Canada, a company spokeswoman said in December.
Washington announced plans to give Pakistan surveillance drones but Islamabad also wants shoot-and-kill drones, like the Predator, which may be armed with Hellfire missiles.
(Editing by 
Northrop Grumman Technical Services is a subcontractor to Potawatomi Training LLC, Oklahoma City, for the program. The Joint Fires COE contract is an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with a potential value of more than $250 million over five years.
The Joint Fires COE provides training to all the military services emphasizing planning, coordinating and executing fires support in a joint operations environment. Northrop Grumman will provide training, training development and training analysis for joint fires courses at the COE.
"The Northrop Grumman team is mission-driven and dedicated to the success of the Joint Fires Center of Excellence," said Stephen Mitchell, program manager for the contract. "Northrop Grumman's performance culture ensures that we incorporate the latest proven tactics, techniques and procedures into the planning and execution of world-class training to our warfighters."
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
Phase 1 of the project, completed in 2006, upgraded the Canadian Hornet fleet’s avionics, radar, radio and weapons capabilities. Phase 2 provided the following improvements:
Intelligence Online, which is published in English on a bimonthly basis, states that the Southeast Asian island state helped finance the Iron Dome system designed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to intercept short-range missiles and rockets, in exchange for which it is supposed to receive several Iron Dome systems to deploy on its territory. Even more interesting is the possibility the article raises that Iron Dome was designed first and foremost for the benefit of Singapore - not for the protection of Sderot and the southern communities in Israel that suffered from Qassam rocket attacks and mortar fire for seven years and are still suffering (though Iron Dome is not capable of intercepting mortar shells).
Israeli media have previously hinted at this, but the Defense Ministry has vehemently denied it. The suspicions were bolstered by the fact that after the system was developed and one battery had been deployed as an Israel Defense Forces base, it turned out that the Defense Ministry had no budget for additional batteries. In that case, why was there a need to develop a system for which there is no budget and which the IDF does not intend to deploy? 
