Friday, August 13, 2010

DTN News: US To Supply 2,526 Humvees To Afghan Forces

DTN News: US To Supply 2,526 Humvees To Afghan Forces
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including Reuters ~ Reported by Jim Wolf and Edited by Gary Hill
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 13, 2010: AM General, LLC, has been awarded an U.S. Army contract valued at $619 million for 2,526 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, or Humvees, for the Afghan police force and National Guard, the U.S. Defense Department said on Friday. Work is to be performed in South Bend, Indiana, with a projected completion date of Dec. 31, 2013, the Pentagon's daily contract digest said. The contract was awarded July 30. One bid was solicited with one bid received, the notice said. AM General is privately held. In December 1999, AM General and General Motors Co GM.UL finalized a deal to jointly pursue product, marketing and distribution opportunities for HUMMER brand vehicles much like their Humvee military cousins. The High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) uses independent suspensions and portal geared hubs similar to portal axles to make for a full 16 inches of ground clearance. The vehicle also has disc brakes on all 4 wheels, and 4-wheel double-wishbone suspension.
The brake disks are not mounted at the wheels as on conventional automobiles, but inboard mounted disk brakes, which are attached to the outside of each differential.
The front and rear differentials are Torsen type, and the center differential is regular, lockable type. There are at least 17 variants of the HMMWV in service with the United States armed forces.
HMMWVs serve as cargo/troop carriers, automatic weapons platforms, ambulances (four litter patients or eight ambulatory patients), M220 TOW missile carriers, M119 howitzer prime movers, M1097 Avenger Pedestal Mounted Stinger platforms, MRQ-12 direct air support vehicles, S250 shelter carriers, and other roles. The HMMWV is capable of fording 2.5 ft (76 cm) normally, or 5 ft (1.5 m) with the deep-water fording kits installed.
In June 1981, the Army awarded AM General a contract for development of several more prototype vehicles to be delivered to the U.S. government for another series of tests, and the company was later awarded the initial production contract for 55,000 HMMWVs to be delivered in 1985. HMMWVs first saw combat in Operation Just Cause, the US invasion of Panama in 1989. The HMMWV has become the vehicular backbone of U.S. forces around the world. Over 10,000 were employed by coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
International versions
*EQ2050/SQF2040 - Chinese versions of the HMMWV. There are at least two Chinese automobile manufacturers building HMMWV copies. Both HMMWV copies rely heavily on imported U.S.-made parts including chassis, gear box, and diesel engine. It appears that at least one company, Dongfeng Motor Corporation (DFM), has the full consent and cooperation of the General Motors Corporation. Both manufacturers claimed that they will be able to gradually increase the percentage of indigenously made content on the vehicles in the future, since the PLA is unlikely willing to accept any equipment that relies largely on foreign made parts. *Bulgaria - Bulgarian HMMWVs have been fitted with PKS heavy machine guns. Bulgaria usually replaces western machine guns on its vehicles to simplify maintenance, since the country is an active producer of Soviet/Russian-type ammunitions. *Greece - Greek unarmored M1114, built entirely by ELBO in Greece, equipped to fire the Russian 9M133 Kornet ATGM. It has storage room for 10 missiles. Israel's Plasan has developed armored versions of the HMMWV, assembled by ELBO in Greece as the M1114GR and M1118GR. *Plasan has also designed and supplied an HMMWV Armored Protection Kit for the Portuguese Army and a different version assembled by Automotive Industries in Nazareth for the Israel Defense Forces. *Poland - Polish Land Forces currently operate 222 different variants of HMMWVes (5 unknown variants are operated by special forces). Over 200 are used by the 18th Airborne Battalion which is a part of the 6th Air Assault Brigade. The used variants are designated as follows: Tumak-2 - M1043A2, Tumak-3 - M1025A2, Tumak-4 - M1097A2, Tumak-5 - M1045A2, Tumak-6 - M1097A2 (variant used for transport of special containers), Tumak-7 - M1035A2. All vehicles are modified to meet Polish rules of the road and are equipped with Polish communication devices. 140 HMMWVes are equipped with Fonet digital internal communication device. 120 M1025A2s and M1043A2s have a rotatable mount which can be fitted with either the UKM-2000P 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun or the NSW-B 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. M1045A2s are used by anti-tank subunits and are armed with Spike-LR which can be dismounted in field conditions. Additionally Polish forces of ISAF operate 120 HMMWVes on loan from the US forces. *The Swiss MOWAG Eagle light armored vehicle, designed for reconnaissance surveillance, liaison, escort, border patrol and police missions. Early versions of the Eagle utilize the HMMWV chassis, although the latest uses a Duro III chassis. It is an NBC-tight, air conditioned and armor protected vehicle. Eagle is in service and available in several configurations with varying levels of armor protection. The Eagle can be fitted with a wide assortment of armaments which can be manually or remotely operated turrets. *Egypt - AOI has a project of fitting HMMWVs with anti armor weaponry, options include: TOW, Milan, or HOT missiles.
HMMWV replicas
Due to the popularity of the HMMWV, kits have been produced for the general market to build a HMMWV-lookalike at home. While the kits do not allow you to build a HMMWV from scratch (kitcar), they do allow you to turn a sedan into a HMMWV lookalike. An alternative is to buy a preconstructed (or "turnkey") wombat. Various kits exist, but one of the most famous names is the "Wombat" (previously called a HummBug). The former vehicle can be purchased for US$18,000; this puts it considerably cheaper than the actual HMMWV ($56,400.00), or Hummer. In Australia, a Gold Coast-based company called Rhino Buggies produces replicas of the Hummer H1 based on the Nissan Patrol 4WD vehicle for around AU$30,000. Some local vehicle assemblers in the Philippines even make small and full-sized replicas of the HMMWV. They are usually mounted on chassis intended for jeeps, jeepneys, or (in case of the full-sized replica) small trucks, and is powered by surplus gasoline or diesel engines. It looks like a real HMMWV, but it is smaller in size, and is priced the same as an ordinary "owner-type" jeep (Php80,000 upwards).

DTN News: Aerospace/Defense Headlines - News Dated August 13, 2010

DTN News: Aerospace/Defense Headlines - News Dated August 13, 2010
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 13, 2010: Comprehensive daily news related on Aerospace/Defense for the world of TODAY.
*Comprehensive daily news related on Aerospace/Defense for the world of TODAY.

Friday August 13, 2010

Thursday August 12, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated August 13, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated August 13, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued August 13, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 13, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued August 13, 2010 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

ARMY

AM General, LLC, South Bend, Ind., was awarded on July 30 a firm-fixed-price contract with the estimated face value of $618,974,038. The purpose of the contract is to purchase 2,526 M1152A1B2 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles with area troop enclosures for the Afghanistan police force and Afghanistan National Guard. Work is to be performed in South Bend, Ind., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2013. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM, Warren, CCTA-ATA-A, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-C-0405).

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on Aug. 11 a $40,766,120 firm-fixed-price contract. This procurement is for a total of 292 explosively formed penetrator protection kits to support the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012. Five bids were solicited with five bids received. TACOM, AMSCC-TAC-ADCA, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on Aug. 11 a $17,992,344 firm-fixed-price contract. This procurement is for a total of 59 field service representatives for 708 months to be located in Afghanistan and locations in the contiguous U.S. to support the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012. Five bids were solicited with five bids received. TACOM, AMSCC-TAC-ADCA, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

Hamilton Builders, Inc., Mountain Home, Idaho, was awarded on Aug. 10 a $14,190,178 firm-fixed-price construction contract. This contract is for the construction of the logistical readiness center at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Work is to be performed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, with an estimated completion date of June 20, 1012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with nine bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Seattle, Wash., is the contracting activity (W912DW-10-C-0028).

Medico Industries, Inc., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was awarded on Aug. 11 a $10,333,511 firm-fixed-price contract. This acquisition of Operations IV quantities is for the 60mm M720A1 and 81mm M821 shell bodies. Work is to be performed in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012. Two bids were solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions & Lethality Contracting Center, CCJM-CA, Combat Ammo Center, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-07-C-0065).

Lifecycle Construction Services, LLC, Washington, D.C., was awarded on Aug. 11 a $7,461,785 firm-fixed-price contract. The contractor shall design and construct the new Air Traffic Tower (ATCT) at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. The ATCT shall consist of 11 stories, plus catwalk level, and shall not exceed 9,040 square feet. The building shall include toilets/showers and lockers areas; administrative areas; break room; ready room; training room; mechanical area; electrical areas; chases for mechanical and electrical; stairwells; and an elevator. The project shall include modifications to an existing parking lot to achieve adequate stand-off distance, connection sidewalks, landscaping and fencing. The contractor shall design and construct the new control tower including all parking, site work, force protection, utilities, storm water management, permitting, and landscaping as described. Supporting utilities shall include gas, sewer, and underground electrical and communication services. The project also includes the demolition of the existing control tower. Work is to be performed at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 8, 2012. Six bids were solicited with five bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-09-D-0012).

Science Application International Corp., San Diego, Calif., was awarded on June 30 a $6,348,387 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This modification is to provide technical support to the U.S. Army Element, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives headquarters office in Edgewood, Md., during the design, construction, systemization, pilot testing, operation and closure of Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant and Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant. Work is to be performed in Abingdon, Md., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Research Development & Engineering, Command Contracting Office, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W911SR-07-D-0006).

NAVY

General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $115,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-09-C-2229 for long-lead time material and advanced design efforts for Ship 1 of the Mobile Landing Platform program. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (27.1 percent); Pittsburgh, Pa. (18.2 percent); Beloit, Wis. (11.2 percent); Chesapeake, Va. (9.2 percent); Crozet, Va. (8.6 percent); Busan, South Korea (7.1 percent); Santa Fe Springs, Calif. (4.3 percent); Iron Mountain, Mich. (2.8 percent); Houma, La. (2.5 percent); Hamburg, Germany (2.4 percent), Bremen, Germany (1.8 percent); Allendale, N.J. (0.9 percent); Mobile, Ala. (0.9 percent); Houston, Texas (0.7 percent); North Tonawanda, N.Y. (0.7 percent); Wageningen, The Netherlands (0.4 percent); Knoxville, Tenn. (0.4 percent); Annapolis, Md. (0.3 percent); and various other locations (0.5 percent). Work is expected to be complete by April 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Absher Construction Co., Puyallup, Wash., is being awarded a $38,229,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of an officer training command quarters at Naval Station Newport. The work to be performed provides for the construction of a new high-rise multi-story structure that will contain berthing for Officer Training Command (OTC) students, common areas, building utility rooms, and training support/administrative spaces for OTC Command and administrative support. This contract also contains an unexercised option which, if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $46,389,000. Work will be performed in Newport, R.I., and is expected to be completed by February 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 27 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic Northeast Integrated Product Teams, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N40085-10-C-9405).

Panda Machine Tools, Inc., Chicago, Ill., is being awarded a $10,939,712 firm-fixed-price contract for installation and supply of a propulsion shaft lathe at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Work will be performed in Bremerton, Wash., and work is expected to be completed by August 2012. Contract funds will not expire by the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively awarded, with eight offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Puget Sound, Bremerton, Wash., is the contracting activity (N00406-10-C-1028).

ITT Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems, Clifton, N.J., is being awarded a $9,838,468 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for investigations of anomalies; software engineering; systems engineering; software and firmware maintenance; support tools and facilities maintenance; documentation; and hardware maintenance and upgrade software support for the electronic warfare jammers AN/ALQ-165 and AN/ALQ-214. Work will be performed at Clifton, N.J. (90 percent), Point Mugu, Calif. (5 percent), and China Lake, Calif. (5 percent). Work is expected to be completed in August 2015. Contract funds in the amount of $1,010,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($8,264,313; 84 percent); and for the governments of Australia ($393,539; 4 percent), Switzerland ($393,539; 4 percent), Finland ($393,539; 4 percent), and Taiwan ($393,538; 4 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-10-D-0057).

Lockheed Martin, MS2 Division, Syracuse, N.Y., is being awarded a $9,555,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-5201) to modify the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 systems from four cabinets to six cabinets. The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 is a surface ship combat system with the capabilities to search, detect, classify, localize and track undersea contacts; and to engage and evade submarines, mine-like small objects, and torpedo threats. The work will be performed in Lemont Furnace, Pa. (50 percent), Syracuse, N.Y. (25 percent), and Eagan, Minn. (25 percent). Work is expected to be completed by January 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Harper Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $8,476,768 modification to increase the maximum dollar value of a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N62473-09-C-1208) for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E)/collateral equipment for bachelor enlisted quarters (BEQ) at Marine Corps Base and Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton. The work to be performed provides for furniture, FF&E/collateral equipment for: three 200-room and one 299-room BEQs that includes a multipurpose room, administrative duty room, and centralized laundry facility in each BEQ. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $133,146,955. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by June 2011. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Turner-Penick, JV, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $8,345,391 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N62473-09-C-1234) for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E)/collateral equipment for bachelor enlisted quarters (BEQ) at Marine Corps Base and Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton. The work provides for FF&E/collateral equipment in the four BEQs that each includes 200 rooms, a multipurpose room, administrative duty room, and centralized laundry facility. The total contract amount after exercise of this modification will be $117,923,644. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by August 2011. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on Aug. 12 a $7,064,140 fixed-price delivery order #0080 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-06-D-5028). This delivery order is issued against exercised priced options for the purchase of six logistic vehicle system replacement production tractor vehicles; two wreckers; 50 400 amp alternators; 50 suspension kits; and 50 armor kits. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis. (65 percent), and in Israel (35 percent), and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

General Atomics, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $6,562,856 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-4222) for engineering services that support the development of a proof-of-concept hybrid electric drive (HED) system for a full-scale demonstration. HED is aimed at improving the operating efficiency of the engineering plant on DDG 51 class ships and is intended to demonstrate the capability for significant fuel savings by incorporating advanced electric machine technology. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (50 percent), Milwaukee, Wis. (25 percent), and Hudson, Mass. (25 percent). Work is expected to be completed by June 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Inmarsat Navigation Ventures, Ltd., London, England, is being awarded a $18,038,126 firm-fixed-price contract (HR0011-10-C-0149) to develop and certify a transceiver terminal for the Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service provided by the I-4 constellation that is capable of operation from on-board a low earth orbit satellite; make appropriate modifications to the BGAN network to support space-based terminal equipment; support the integration of the space-based BGAN terminal with a government demonstration satellite; and support the on-orbit connectivity via the BGAN network for the demonstration satellite mission. Work will be performed in London, England (20.60 percent); Golden, Colo. (64.76 percent); Aylesbury, England (11 percent); Nørresundby, Denmark (2.15 percent); and Ottawa, Canada (1.49 percent). Work is expected to be completed in September 2015. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Receives Contract from Naval Air Systems Command to Support Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Receives Contract from Naval Air Systems Command to Support Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System * Corporation to Maintain and Upgrade Tomahawk Weapon System Software
Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) PHILADELPHIA, U.S. - August 13, 2010: Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been awarded a contract from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to continue software development to sustain the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS). TTWCS is a system that integrates the launch hardware and software to provide weapon control for variants of the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. The initial contract value is $16.6 million, and the total contract value could reach $50.7 million if all four option years are exercised. “For the past decade, Lockheed Martin has worked closely with the Tomahawk Weapons System program office in the evolution of Tomahawk and making that vision a reality,” said Jim Quinn, vice president with Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions-Defense. “We look forward to continuing to apply our systems, software, and hardware engineering expertise to ensure that Tomahawk remains a viable and responsive weapon system for our warfighters.” TTWCS is one of three major components that comprise the Tomahawk Weapon System, an unprecedented war fighting capability that provides the U.S. Navy with high volume offensive strike firepower across many classes of combatant ships. Integrated with the ship's navigation, communication, situational awareness and launch systems, TTWCS computes the missile's route to strike targets. The system also provides the capability to plan new missions aboard the launch platform and communicate with multiple Tomahawks to rapidly retarget and redirect the missiles in flight. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will provide systems engineering, software development, hardware support, and management required to continue the system upgrades to address significant hardware, software, and interoperability obsolescence issues. Ship classes programmed for the Tomahawk capability include the CG 47 class cruisers, DDG 51, and Zumwalt class destroyers, SSGN, SSN 688, SSN 21, and SSN 774 class submarines. Integration of the Tomahawk Weapon System with these various launch platforms provides the fleet with an enhanced capability to satisfy the Navy's vision elicited in Sea Power 21, specifically the Sea Strike pillar. Additionally, the Tomahawk Weapon System provides the United Kingdom Navy the same firepower capability to its Astute and Trafalgar class submarines under a Foreign Military Sales program. Lockheed Martin has supported the TTWCS program since being awarded the initial development contract in 1999. As part of the Tomahawk System Development Activity, Lockheed Martin, together with Navy labs in Dahlgren, Va., Newport, R.I., and Port Hueneme, Calif., helps maintain current fleet released products and develops new products that address emerging fleet priorities. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.5 billion.
Media Contact: Suzanne Smith, 303-932-5230; e-mail, suzanne.m.smith@lmco.com For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com
Lockheed Martin Press Releases

DTN News: Brigade Combat Team Modernization Increment 1 Test Results Demonstrate Substantial Improvement Across the Board

DTN News: Brigade Combat Team Modernization Increment 1 Test Results Demonstrate Substantial Improvement Across the Board Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS, - August. 13, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced positive results from the recently completed Tec
hnical Tests for Increment 1 of the Brigade Combat Team Modernization (BCTM) program. "The results demonstrate substantial improvement across the board in terms of system performance, usability, and most importantly, reliability," said Paul Geery, Boeing vice president and BCTM program manager. "As a result of an aggressive, ongoing risk reduction effort, we were able to meet or exceed test requirements in numerous areas. We will now focus our efforts on the Limited User Test and delivering the best possible product to the U.S. Army." The month-long tests, which ended in early July, involved Army engineers, Boeing, SAIC [NYSE: SAI], industry partners and Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF) soldiers at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), N.M. The tests were conducted in an operationally-relevant environment -- seven times larger than previous tests -- that simulated conditions in Afghanistan, where the capabilities are scheduled to be initially fielded in 2012. All test activities were completed 10 days early, while still exceeding the required number of test hours. Since the end of the 2009 testing cycle, the program has implemented more than 160 hardware and software improvements, including 86 design changes, as part of its design-for-reliability efforts. The Increment 1 capabilities that were evaluated included the Network Integration Kits (NIKs), Tactical and Urban Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS), the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) and the Class 1 Unmanned Air Vehicle (CL 1 UAV). The NIKs demonstrated significantly improved performance during the Technical Tests. Composed of the Integrated Computer System and the Joint Tactical Radio System Ground Mobile Radios and powered by the most current battle command software, the NIKs integrate and fuse sensor data to form the common operational picture from the solider up through brigade level. Fielded on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles that formed a network greater than 900 square kilometers and utilizing the most recent versions of the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) and Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW), the test demonstrated NIK-to-NIK communications using WNW at ranges exceeding 28 kilometers as well as on the move. The SRW also exceeded the threshold requirement for both connection and transmission distance. The NIKs also demonstrated improved reliability, with a number of upgrades identified so that the system can meet the LUT requirements. The Technical Tests also generated strong improvements in sensor image transfer time and quality, as well as connection time and distance to the NIKs. For example, the Tactical-UGS exceeded the image transfer time objective for the test while the Urban-UGS exceeded both the connection time and distance requirements to the NIKs. The SUGV exceeded the image transfer requirement for the test. It also increased the distance it can recognize personnel in daylight by almost 700 percent and met the distance recognition requirement at twilight. The CL I UAV completed 250 successful flights without a hard landing, while exceeding the test’s image transfer requirement and meeting the requirement for operating distance from the NIK. BCTM Increment 1 capabilities also took part in the Army Brigade Combat Team Integration Exercise (BCT IE) conducted July 12-16 at WSMR. The exercise demonstrated the integrated network’s ability to function with the Army’s current force systems and the future force represented by the BCTM program. Soldiers from the AETF executed several vignettes using all Increment 1 capabilities, demonstrating the importance of the NIK to the Army’s tactical network strategy. In addition to the Technical Tests and the BCT IE, the Boeing-led industry team held a System of Systems Common Operating Environment (SOSCOE) demonstration at Boeing’s Huntington Beach, Calif., facility the week of June 21. SOSCOE is the tactical middleware, or software that connects command and control systems to services, legacy systems and operating system software. It forms the backbone that helps the NIKs connect to the different sensor platforms, including current force capabilities and Increment 1 systems. The demonstration also featured a SOSCOE-enabled smartphone that demonstrated an initial capability to extend network capabilities to dismounted soldiers. A team of West Point cadets working at Boeing on summer assignment developed two applications for the demonstration after receiving a brief SOSCOE tutorial. SAIC is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company's approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of $10.8 billion for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2010. For more information, visit http://www.saic.com/. SAIC: From Science to Solutions® A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.
Contact: Matthew Billingsley
Network & Tactical Systems Communications
Office: 703-647-1444
Mobile: 703-203-9435
SAIC Media Relations
Office: 703-676-6762

Network Integration Kits -- Also known as B-Kits, the Network Integration Kit or NIK provides initial network connectivity to transfer sensor and communication data to and from existing tactical wheeled vehicles. The B-Kit consists of an integrated computer system hosting the latest communications and radio systems, limited battle command and Systems of Systems Common Operating Environment software it will be initially integrated onto the HMMWV platform.

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Class I Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) -- The Class I UAS provides the Infantry Soldier with reconnaissance and surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA). It utilizes autonomous flight and navigation but also interacts with the Network and Soldier to dynamically update routes and target information. The Class 1 UAS provides dedicated reconnaissance support and early warning to the squad and platoon level in environments not suited for larger assets. It is also capable of maintaining constant surveillance of potential targets.

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Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) -- Soldiers can use the SUGV to conduct extended reconnaissance of urban and complex terrain and subterranean areas to gain reconnaissance information. Provides vital information regarding buildings, field fortifications, tunnels, sewers, subways, bunkers, facilities, and other structures in support of military operations, peace keeping, and other Stability and Reconstruction Operations. The Soldier will be able to conduct reconnaissance of a building, investigate suspected IED's or send the SUGV into caves or tunnels to seek out the enemy.

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