DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated February 22, 2012

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated February 22, 2012

 Source: U.S. DoD issued No. 127-12 February 22, 2012

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 22, 2012: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued  February  22, 2012 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

            Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., is being awarded a $58,337,555 firm-fixed-price contract for a not-to-exceed (NTE) option exercise to Lockheed Martin.  This modification will exercise the NTE option for the acquisition of a third C-130J-30 aircraft for the government of Israel minus the planning and advance long lead procurement of aircraft components to support the third Israeli aircraft, which was previously authorized under another FA8625-11-C-6597 undefinitized contract action.  The location of the performances is Marietta, Ga.  Work is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2014.  ASC/WLNN, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-11-C-6597/P00085).

            Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., is being awarded a $7,846,866 firm-fixed-price contract for C-130J and HC/MC-130J spares for Moody Air Force Base.  The location of the performances is Marietta, Ga.  Work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2013.  Air Force Material Command, Aeronautical Systems Center, ASC/WLNNC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-11-C-6597 P00085).

NAVY

            Harris Corp., Lynchburg, Va., is being awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity base year contract plus four options years with a possible maximum value of $49,000,000.  This contract is for the procurement of Marine Corps enterprise land mobile radio, multi-band radio subscriber units consisting of portable, mobile, and base station radios with various accessories.  Delivery orders will be issued and funded based on the program’s requirements.  Work will be performed in Rochester, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 21, 2013.  With options exercised, work will continue through February 2017.  Contract funds will be provided for each delivery order on an as needed basis.  This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received.  The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M68909-12-D-1001).

            Rolls Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $45,200,467 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-09-D-0020) to exercise an option for contractor logistics services and technical engineering services in support of the KC-130J aircraft propulsion system for the Marine Corps, which includes the AE 2100D3 turboprop engine and the R 391 propeller.  No funding is being obligated at time of award.  Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind., and is expected to be completed in February 2013.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

            Wood Group Turbopower, L.L.C., Hialeah, Fla. (N00019-09-D-0012); Rolls-Royce Engine Services, Oakland, Calif. (N00019-09-D-0013); and StandardAero (San Antonio), Inc., San Antonio, Texas (N00019-09-D-0014), are each being awarded modifications to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to exercise options for depot-level repair for the T56 Series III engine.  Depot-level repair of the T56 Series III engine modules is required to support fielded P-3 and derivative aircraft, as well as T56 powered C-130 and C-2 aircraft.  The estimated values of the individual modifications are $40,827,642 for Wood Group Turbopower; $33,870,204 for Rolls-Royce Engine Services; and $39,694,188 for StandardAero.  Funding will not be obligated at time of award.  The places of performance are Miami Lakes, Fla., for Wood Group Turbopower; Oakland, Calif., for Rolls-Royce Engine Services; and San Antonio, Texas, for StandardAero.  Efforts under these options are expected to be completed in February 2013.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity.

            L-3 Services, Inc., Mount Laurel, N.J., is being awarded a $9,536,470 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-09-D-0009) to exercise an option for technical and engineering support for the Naval Air Systems Command Structures Division (AIR 4.3), to include data analysis, information systems, and software functions of the Structural Appraisal of Fatigue Effects Program.  Funds will be obligated at the individual task order level.  Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Md., and is expected to be completed in February 2013.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

            Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is being awarded $9,499,995 for delivery order 7001 under a five-year basic ordering agreement contract (N00383-11-G-003D) for the repair of eight weapon replacement assemblies for the CH-53 helicopter and the V-22 Osprey.  The work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla. (84 percent), and McKinney, Texas (16 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 28, 2012. The applicable Navy Working Capital funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured.  NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. DoD issued No. 127-12 February 22, 2012
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Third MEADS Battle Manager Arrives In Huntsville For Integration Testing

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Third MEADS Battle Manager Arrives In Huntsville For Integration Testing
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada /ORLANDO/MUNICH/ROME - February 22, 2012: Lockheed Martin has begun integration testing on the third completed Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)  battle manager at its facility in Huntsville, Ala.  

Integration testing on the third battle manager will continue throughout 2012 in support of a ballistic missile intercept test planned at White Sands Missile Range in 2013. Two other battle managers are already supporting system testing at Pratica di Mare Air Force Base in Italy and Orlando, Fla.

The MEADS battle manager controls an advanced network-centric open architecture that allows any combination of sensors and launchers to be organized into a single air and missile defense battle element. Through a capability called plug-and-fight, sensors, shooters or other battle managers act as nodes on the network. From the MEADS battle manager, a commander can add or subtract nodes as the situation dictates without shutting down the system.

MEADS International President David Berganini said, “Following the successful first MEADS flight test in November, the team continues to evolve MEADS’ battle management software and the plug-and-fight network, demonstrating coverage and flexibility that other systems cannot provide, including a 360-degree defense that protects our warfighters against next-generation threats.”

Using its 360-degree defensive capability, the advanced MEADS radars and  PAC-3 MSE

Missile, MEADS defends up to eight times the coverage area with far fewer system assets and significantly reduces demand for deployed personnel and equipment, which reduces demand for airlift.

MEADS International, a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Fla., is the prime contractor for the MEADS system. Major subcontractors and joint venture partners are MBDA in Italy and Germany, and Lockheed Martin in the United States.

The MEADS program management agency, NAMEADSMA, is located in Huntsville, Ala.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Sikorsky For Rework On 2 VH-3D And 1 VH-60N Helicopters

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Sikorsky For Rework On 2 VH-3D And 1 VH-60N Helicopters
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN News & U.S. DoD  issued No. 125-12 February 21, 2012 
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 22, 2012: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $20,521,388 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-07-D-0004) for special progressive aircraft rework of two VH-3D and one VH-60N executive helicopters, including vendor repairables and component overhaul.  

Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued.  

Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed in September 2012.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by the HMX-1 "Nighthawks" squadron, either the large VH-3D Sea King or the newer, smaller VH-60N "WhiteHawk", both due to be replaced by the VXX program. A Marine Corps aircraft carrying the Vice President has the call sign Marine Two.


*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN News & U.S. DoD issued No. 125-12 February 21, 2012 
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: Koran Burning In NATO Error Incites Afghans

DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: Koran Burning In NATO Error Incites Afghans
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Alissa J Rubin, Sangar Rahimi also Sharifullah Sahak and Jawad Sukhanyar contributed reporting -  New York Times 
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / BAGRAM, Afghanistan - February 22, 2012: Word that NATO personnel had burned an undisclosed number of Korans and were preparing to dispose of many more by incineration set off an angry protest here on Tuesday. NATO officials rushed to apologize publicly and profusely, trying to head off what they feared could be a nationwide outburst of violence as news of the burning was gradually broadcast across the country.

About 2,000 Afghans descended on the largest American air base in their country in the bitter cold to protest what is generally regarded as one of the most offensive acts in the Muslim world.

“I offer my sincere apologies for any offense this may have caused, to the president of Afghanistan, the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and, most importantly, to the noble people of Afghanistan,” the NATO commanding general, John R. Allen, said in a statement that was recorded and sent to local television and radio networks here, explaining that the burnings had been unintentional.

Within a few hours of learning about the episode, General Allen ordered an investigation, and by day’s end he issued an order for every coalition soldier in Afghanistan to complete training in the next 10 days in “the proper handling of religious materials.”

But 10 years into the Afghan war, foreign officials and Afghans alike were shocked that any member of the foreign forces in Afghanistan did not know just how offensive desecrating the Muslim holy book could be, or recognize the potential for violence it could unleash in a country where news of the burning of a single Koran — by a preacher in Florida — provoked mobs to ransack a United Nations office and kill 12 people in April.

Because Afghans are fiercely protective of the sanctity of their Islamic faith, the Afghan authorities moved quickly to try to control the protest at one of the gates of Bagram Air Base. The local police and government officials also persuaded the crowd at a large demonstration in nearby Kapisa Province to disperse peacefully.

According to Afghan workers who witnessed the events, around 10 or 11 p.m. on Monday a dump truck escorted by a military vehicle drove up to the landfill at Bagram Air Base, where 20 or so Afghans work. Two uniformed NATO personnel, a man and a woman, began unloading bags of books from the back of the truck and throwing them into a pit for incineration. NATO officials said it was not yet clear if the two people were troops or civilians. Some civilians also wear military uniforms and can easily be mistaken for soldiers. The Afghan workers described the pair as Americans.

Accounts from some of the workers at the landfill suggested that the two people were oblivious to the significance of what they were doing. They made no attempt to hide the books, instead appearing to be routinely carrying out their duties.

“When we saw these soldiers burning books, we moved closer to see what was going on, and one of the boys said, ‘It is Holy Koran,’ ” said one of the laborers, Zabiullah, 22. “And we attacked them with our yellow helmets, and tried to stop them. We rushed towards them, and we threw our helmets at the vehicles.”

Abdul Wahid, 25, another of the laborers, said he and two friends had shouted at the two people: “Don’t burn our holy book! We will give it to our mullahs!”

The two NATO personnel drew back, but two bags of books they had already thrown into the pit had begun to burn.

“We tried to put out the fire with bottles of water, and then we pulled back the bags, and the boys also pulled out the half-burned books,” said Zabiullah, referring to his co-workers.

Protests began hours later, as Afghan workers who had witnessed the burning emerged from the base, one or two of them carrying damaged Korans hidden in their clothes. Protests swelled through the morning and became violent as hundreds of infuriated Afghans set tires on fire and burned an external checkpoint at one of the entrances to the air base.

Shouting “Death to America” and “We don’t want them anymore,” they closed the district government building and stopped people trying to go to the center of the town, witnesses said. Some in the crowd sang Taliban songs, and several Urdu speakers, described as Pakistanis, made speeches.

In his apology, General Allen confirmed the burnings, but portrayed them as absolutely unintentional.

“When we learned of these actions, we immediately intervened and stopped them,” his written statement said. “The materials recovered will be properly handled by appropriate religious authorities.”

“We are thoroughly investigating the incident, and we are taking steps to ensure this does not ever happen again. I assure you ... I promise you ... this was NOT intentional in any way.”

While General Allen and his recent predecessors have tried to improve soldiers’ cultural training and, according to many Afghans, have succeeded in some measure, events like the one late Monday threaten to seriously undermine those gains. Previous complaints about the behavior of foreign forces have involved their actions in night raids, in detention facilities and in day-to-day relations with Afghans.

“They have burned our Holy Korans,” said Mohammed Asif, 30, who was demonstrating in front of the gates of Bagram Air Base. “We are Muslims and we are created by God and the Koran is our God’s book; we have to defend it. This means they burned our faith, our honor and our lives. The person who did this must stand trial.”

The number of burned Korans appeared to have been around 10 to 15, said Farid Ahad Shafaq, a member of the provincial council in Parwan who went into Bagram Air Base to meet with NATO officials. “We saw the burned copies,” he said. “Some were burned completely, and some were burned a little bit, and some were just exposed to heat.”

Still unclear was how many Korans NATO had planned to burn, said Mr. Shafaq, adding that he and others had not been told exactly where the Korans in the detention center’s library had originally come from. He said military officers had said that “we have gathered all these Korans and holy books during our operations and night raids and house searches, and some have been given to the military personnel as gifts by Afghans working with Americans on the base.”

That did not make sense to Mr. Shafaq, however, because all the copies that the officers showed him were new, he said. “I mean they looked absolutely unused,” Mr. Shafaq said.

The Taliban condemned the American action, calling it a “wild act” of disrespect to the Muslim Afghan people. Anti-Americanism already runs strong here, and after previous desecrations, military leaders have denounced them for putting foreigners’ lives at risk.

 
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*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Alissa J Rubin, Sangar Rahimi also Sharifullah Sahak and Jawad Sukhanyar contributed reporting -  New York Times 
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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