DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated February 13, 2015

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated February 13, 2015
Source: K. V. Seth - DTN News + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-030-15 February 13, 2015
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 13, 2015: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued February 13, 2015 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS
 

ARMY
 

General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $49,771,971 modification (P00005) to contract W56HZV-14-C-0054 to acquire six M1A2 Systems Enhanced Package v2 Abrams tanks. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $6,019,674 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2017. Work will be performed in Lima, Ohio; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Anniston, Alabama; and Tallahassee, Florida. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
 

Palomar Display Products,* Carlsbad, California, was awarded a $28,594,810 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to produce Binocular Image Control Units, associated spares, repairs and engineering services. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 13, 2020. One bid was solicited with one received. Army Contracting Command, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W909MY-15-D-0003).
 

AIR FORCE
 

The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded a $402,787,272 fixed-price incentive firm and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (PZ0001) to previously awarded contract FA8730-15-C-0001 for Japan Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Mission Computing Upgrade Program. Contractor will provide upgrade of four E-767 aircraft and three ground support facilities. Work will be performed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2020. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to Japan. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity.
 

Decypher, San Antonio, Texas (FA8650-15-D-4052); Peerless Technologies Corp., Fairborn, Ohio (FA8650-15-D-4051); P3S, San Antonio, Texas (FA8650-15-D-4053); Prairie Quest Consulting, Fort Wayne, Indiana (FA8650-15-D-4054); Solutions Through Innovative Technologies Inc., Dayton, Ohio (FA8650-15-D-4055); SpecPro Technical Services, San Antonio, Texas (FA8650-15-D-4056), have been awarded a combined $20,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for services to units of the 711th Human Performance Wing. Contractor will provide advisory and assistance services, non- advisory and assistance services and personal services. They include administrative and functional support, medical and biomedical research assistance, clinical and clinical hyperbaric medicine services, environmental bio-terrorism support, technology evaluation and research studies support. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; St. Louis, Missouri, and other geographically separated units and is expected to be complete no later than Dec. 13, 2015. This award is the result of a limited competitive acquisition with six offers received. Fiscal year 2015 and 2016 defense health program, operations and maintenance and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the total amount of $800,309 are being obligated at the time of award. Each company is receiving different amounts. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
 

United Technologies Corp. doing business as Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford, Connecticut, has been awarded an estimated $16,663,785 for the second option to previously awarded requirements for firm-fixed-price contract FA8121-10-D-0008. Contractor will provide remanufacture of FI00-PW-I 00/200/220/220E/229 engine modules. Work will be performed at Columbus, Georgia, and is expected to be complete by April 22, 2015. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales for Chile, Egypt, Jordan, Thailand, Taiwan, Greece and Indonesia. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition and one offer was received. Air Force Space Command, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity.
 

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah, Georgia, has been awarded $13,006,223 in modifications to task orders 0015 and 0016 on previously awarded contract FA8106-13-D-0002. Contractor will provide seven additional months of services for logistics support for the Navy C-20 and C-37 fleet. Work will be performed at Savannah, Georgia; Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy; Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland; Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; and Marine Corps Base, Hawaii, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2016. Fiscal year 2015 Navy operation and maintenance in the amount of $13,006,223 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity.
 

Northrop Grumman Space Mission Systems Corp., San Diego, California, has been awarded a $6,926,501 modification (P00094) to previously awarded contract FA8726-09-C-0010 for risk management framework. Contractor will meet cybersecurity requirements using the new Risk Management Framework. Work will be performed at San Diego, California, and is expected to be complete by June 22, 2015. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal year 2015-operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,926,501 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity.
 

NAVY
 

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $39,608,596 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-13-C-0008) for procurement of electronic components in support of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, International Partners and the Governments of Israel and Japan. These components are in support of production, sustainment and operations and maintenance requirements resulting from diminishing manufacturing sources. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement, Navy and Air Force, international partner and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $28,894,731 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force ($16,843,735; 43 percent), the U.S. Marine Corps ($5,996,093; 15 percent), U.S. Navy ($3,710,236; 9.4 percent), international partners ($10,485,085; 26.5 percent) and the governments of Israel ($1,362,337; 3.1 percent) and Japan ($1,211,110; 3 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting authority.
 

Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Clearwater, Florida, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $30,656,796 ceiling priced contract for the manufacture, upgrade, repair and test assemblies of the AN/AAR-47 (V) Missile Warning Set comprised of electro-optic countermeasure sensors, countermeasure signal processors and countermeasure signal simulators for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and Governments of India, Norway, Spain and Australia. Work will be performed in Clearwater, Florida (45 percent); Austin, Texas (20 percent); Quebec, Canada (16 percent); and other various locations within the United States (19 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2017. Fiscal 2013, 2014, and 2015 aircraft procurement (Navy and Air Force), National Guard reserve, foreign military sales and working capital (Defense) funds in the amount of $29,587,778 will be obligated at time of award, $9,398,286 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This award combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($10,474,978; 35 percent), U.S. Air Force ($ 10,432,828; 35 percent), Defense Working Capital funds ($3,318,600; 11 percent), National Guard Reserve ($2,644,580; 10 percent) and the Governments of India ($1,080,884; 3.5 percent), Norway ($985,070; 3.2 percent), Spain ($610,068; 2 percent) and Australia ($40,770; .3 percent). This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-15-C-0030).
 

Rolls Royce Naval Marine Inc., Walpole, Massachusetts, is being awarded a $9,891,150 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-4203) for additional engineering services to complete development and delivery of one AG916RF gas turbine-generator set for Navy land-based testing. Rolls Royce will provide the engineering services and support for the design, development, fabrication, assembly and test of one Advanced Power Generation Module (APGM), designated as the AG916RF gas turbine-generator set, to be delivered to the Navy land based test site located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Ship Systems Engineering Station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This APGM set will be based on specifications established by the DDG-1000 shipyard for the lead ship installation and modified to suit the DDG 51 Flight III power requirements. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana (80 percent) and Walpole, Massachusetts (20 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2017. Fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation contract funds in the amount of $9,891,150 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
 

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
 

US Foods Lexington, Lexington, South Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $35,500,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for prime vendor food and beverage support in the South Carolina area. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. This is a nine-month bridge contract. Location of performance is South Carolina, with a Nov. 7, 2015 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-15-D-3146).
 

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY
 

Agile Defense Inc.,* Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a competitive $26,191,017 cost-plus-award-fee task order (HR0011-15-F-0002) with options for unclassified information technology services and support for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Mission Services Office Information Technology Directorate. The services and support include office computing, networking, communications services, design and development and technical support services. The task order was competed amongst all holders of the General Services Administration Alliant Small Business Government-wide Acquisition Contract. Seven offers were received. The base-year award has a 10-month period of performance. Fiscal year 2015 research and development funds in the amount of $18,309,770 are being obligated at time of award. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
 

*Small business

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-030-15 February 13, 2015 

*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - KOREAN PENINSULA DEFENSE NEWS: North Korean Fighter Jets Get A Makeover

DTN News - KOREAN PENINSULA DEFENSE NEWS: North Korean Fighter Jets Get A Makeover

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Korea Joongang Daily
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 13, 2015: North Korea recently changed the color scheme on its fighter jets, military sources told the JoongAng Ilbo, in an apparent attempt to improve performance during midair combat.

“We have obtained intelligence that the North has been redesigning its fighter jets since October,” a senior military official said. “We compared old photos of their jets with newly released photos and confirmed that the colors and designs were entirely different.”

In the past, the North colored its advanced fighter jets of MiG-29s with two tones. The top was painted in a dark green, while the bottom was a sky blue. The two-tone jet was featured in a photograph taken when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the air force’s 1017 unit at the end of January 2012. 

MiG-29s are known for their stability and maneuverability in low altitudes, and military sources said North Korea strategically selected both colors. When observed from the sky, the dark green would ideally serve as camouflage against the ground floor, while looking up, the bottom color would blend with the sky. 

However, the North was confirmed after October to have changed the colors on the MiG-29s to a general light gray, with the addition of dark gray patterns, which was likely done to mimic cloud patterns. The bottom of the fuselage is painted a light sky blue. 

“The change appeared to be intended to better prepare for midair combat, so that enemy pilots will have more difficulty visually detecting the MiGs,” an Air Force official said. 

South Korean intelligence authorities said the North is also changing the colors of its low-altitude infiltration aircraft, AN-2s, and its silver-colored MiG-23s. 

“The drones discovered last year in Paju were sky blue in color with some lighter patches, so that they could not be visually detected from the ground,” another military official said. “The North probably is changing the colors of its fighter jets for a new purpose.” 

The South Korean military said they had also received intelligence that North Korea had developed stealth paint in late 2000. 

In its brochures for arms exports, Pyongyang also claimed their weapons have stealth functions and that its guided-missile vessel, which was used Friday in its fire drill in the East Sea, also has a stealth function. 

But even if the North’s air and naval fleets are covered with stealth paint, they probably don’t have the capability to avoid radar detection, military officials said. 

“Just because you cover it with stealth paint, that doesn’t mean the weapons system will have stealth function,” a senior military official said. “Design and material are key in minimizing the radar cross-section of an aircraft or a vessel to be stealth.

“We no longer fight in combat with visual confirmation, like in World War II,” he said. “Today, it is long-distance combat, using radars to fire at targets from dozens of kilometers away. Just because North Korea changed its color scheme, it won’t bring about a significant improvement.” 

The military added that it is equipped with radar systems that cover the entire Korean Peninsula. Additionally, the Airborne Early Warning and Control System, known as Peace-Eye, can detect when North Korean fighter jets take off, even when they are only 10 meters (32 feet) above ground. 

Related Images - North Korean Fighter Jets Get A Makeover

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Korea Joongang Daily
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - EGYPT DEFENSE NEWS: Egypt Opts For The Rafale

DTN News - EGYPT DEFENSE NEWS: Egypt Opts For The Rafale
*France is to sell 24 Rafale fighter jets to Egypt along with a naval frigate and missiles in a deal worth more than €5 billion, President François Hollande said Thursday, the first time a foreign buyer has been found for the French-built warplanes

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Dassault Aviation & France 24
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 13, 2015: French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will travel to Cairo Monday to sign the final agreement with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Hollande said in a statement issued by his office.

“The Rafale fighter jet has won its first export contract,” Hollande said, confirming a report in French daily Le Monde published earlier Thursday that said a deal had been agreed.

“The Egyptian authorities have just let me know their intention of acquiring 24 Rafale planes, a multi-mission frigate as well as related equipment,” he added.

These last two items are believed to be a FREMM warship, currently used by the French and Italian navies, and a number of short and medium-range missiles built by MBDA.

The deal follows years of failed attempts by France to export the Rafale, described as one of the most effective and sophisticated fighter jets in the world, but also one of the most expensive.

A potential deal to sell the multipurpose warplanes to Brazil  fell through in 2013 when the country chose jets made by Sweden’s Saab instead.

And although manufacturer Dassault Aviation, which launched the Rafale more than a decade ago, has been in exclusive negotiations with India for the last three years, a final deal has yet to be signed.

The French government has reduced its order for the planes to 26 Rafale jets over the next five years, down from 11 a year so far, putting Dassault under further pressure to find a foreign buyer.

Credit facility

A potential deal with Egypt was first muted in November last year during Sisi’s state visit to Paris, according to Le Monde, where discussions were held about replacing Egypt's fleet of 18 Mirage jets, also built by Dassault.

Though funding issues were believed to be a concern, French business daily Les Echos reported earlier this month that the two countries were discussing using a credit facility – arranged by French credit insurer COFACE and involving some of France’s biggest banks – to finance as much as 50 percent of the sale.

France has a history of military hardware deals with Egypt: as well as being the first foreign buyer of the Mirage jet in 1981, Cairo signed a contract last year to buy four French-built naval frigates in a deal worth €1 billion.

Concerns over the rise of jihadist groups in neighbouring Libya and in Egypt’s Sinai province have also seen the countries establish closer ties in recent years.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Dassault Aviation & France 24
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS