DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 6, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 6, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued April 6, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - April 7, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued April 6, 2010 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY ~Air BP, Warrenville, Ill. is being awarded a maximum $124,754,182 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for aviation turbine fuel. Other locations of performance are Texas and Louisiana. Using service is the Defense Energy Support Center. The original proposal was Web solicited with 27 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is April 30, 2011. The Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-10-D-0474). ~Goodrich Corp.*, West Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a maximum $20,589,102 firm-fixed-price, sole-source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for jet engine fuel pump. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is April 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency (DSCR-ZBAB), Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (SPRTA1-10-D-0053). ~Avfuel Corp.*, Ann Arbor, Mich., is being awarded a maximum $5,212,150 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other location of performance is Washington. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. There were originally two proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 31, 2014. The Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-10-D-0026). ARMY ~JLG Industries Inc., McConnellsburg, Pa., was awarded on April 1 a $85,737,655 firm-fixed-price contract for 492 All Terrain Lifter Army Systems 10,000 pound lift capacity variable reach rough terrain forklifts. Work is to be performed in McConnellsburg, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. TACOM Contracting Center, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-D-A001). ~Combat Support Associates, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded on March 31 a $46,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is a six-month extension of the combat support contract for Kuwait. This procurement is for base operations support services, including security and logistics for supplies and services, which are critical to accomplishing the mission and functions of assigned and tenant units moving into, out of, and within the country of Kuwait. Base operation services also support the Coalition/Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration mission; promotes security and stability within the region; and provides operational support for Operation Iraqi Freedom, while simultaneously fulfilling international security commitments and theater deterrence in support of the Defense Cooperative Agreement between the United States and Kuwait. Work is to be performed in the Kuwait area of responsibility with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2010. O ne bid was solicited with one bid received. Rock Island Contracting Center, Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., is the contracting activity (DASA02-99-C-1234). ~Olin Corp., Winchester Division, East Alton, Ill., was awarded on March 30 a $43,442,000 sole-source indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price orders. This procurement is for the manufacture and delivery of caliber .50 M903 sabot light armor penetrator; M962 Sabot light armor penetrator tracer bulk; and the 4:1 linked configuration of the M903/M962. Delivery order #0001 will be issued at contract award. Work is to be performed in East Alton, Ill. (50 percent); Towanda, Pa. (26 percent); Jonesborough, Tenn. (8 percent); Independence, Mo. (6 percent); Hopkins, Minn. (4 percent); Wood Dale, Ill. (4 percent); and St. Marks, Fla. (2 percent), with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. One sole-source bid was solicited with one bid received. Joint Munitions & Lethality Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-10-D-0010). ~Science Application International Corp., McLean, Va., was awarded on March 30 a $39,999,302 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract will be issued under the Army Geospatial Center (AGC) Broad Agency Announcement in support of the Business Transformation Agency (BTA). This action is titled “Shared Approach for the Design, Development and Operation of Federated Information Systems/Services, Database and Dissemination.” The contractor will provide basic and applied research in the field of database development and will provide technical support to BTA’s business systems for service-oriented architecture implementation. It will also develop a federated architecture based on a common vocabulary and the primitives and patterns concept. These efforts, in support of the BTA and business mission area, will be applicable and transferable to AGC’s database development efforts and similar efforts across the Department of Defense. Work is to be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 28, 2015. Bids were solicited via Broad Agency Announcement with one bid received. Army Geospatial Center, Contracts Office, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W5J9CQ-10-C-0009). ~Science Application International Corp., Mclean, Va., was awarded on April 1 a $32,815,507 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The war fighter analysis and integration contract provides the Army, other services, and the Department of Defense an advanced capability for analysis and integration of defense issues. These defense issues include investigation of battlefield and battle space systems and technologies; impact of changes to force structures; analysis of training, tactics, procedures, and hardware-software; including specific efforts for simulation design; simulation engineering, implementation, integration, and maintenance; parametric modeling; data collection, reduction, and first- level analysis; and design, engineering, and integration of simulations and modeling to support evacuation of potential threats, doctrine and requirements, technologies, design and performance, manufacturing processes, logistics and manpower, and defense system interface architectures. Work is to be performed in McLean, Va., with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (DASG60-02-D-0006). ~Donjon Marine Co., Hillside, N.J., was awarded on March 30 a $30,932,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract consists of deepening of the existing 47-foot Federal Navigation Channel System to a depth of 52 feet. The project consists of dredging and disposal of non-rock, and possible drilling, blasting, dredging and disposal of rock. Work is to be performed in New York and New Jersey Harbor Channel Navigation with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. U.S. Corps of Engineers, CECT-NAN, New York, N.Y., is the contracting activity (W912DS-10-C-0006). ~Science Application International Corp., McLean, Va., was awarded on March 30 a $24,097,263 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract will be issued under the Army Geospatial Center Broad Agency Announcement. The contractor will develop the human resources architecture to align with the set of Web Ontology Language (OWL) ontologies and resources description framework data describing the operational requirements, domain concepts, and systems of the distributed Department of Defense human resources community. The foundation of this effort includes ontology architecture for modeling; processes on the Object Management Group/Business Process Management Notation standard; domain vocabularies based on the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) OWL standard; information systems and mapping to those systems based on database-to- resource description framework query; an open framework; and rules based on the draft W3C rule interchange format standard. These models will be collaboratively developed by a group of ontology experts, human resources subject matter and system experts, and business process engineers. Work is to be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 18, 2013. Bids were solicited via Broad Agency Announcement. Army Geospatial Center, Contracts Office, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W5J9CQ-10-C-0007). ~FLIR Systems, Inc., Portland, Ore., was awarded on March 30 a $12,516,015 firm-fixed-price contract. This requirement is for the purchase of 25 FLIR Star Safire II systems; three turret FLIR units; three central electronics units; and three hand control units. Work is to be performed in Portland, Ore., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, AMCOM Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-10-F-0004). ~Robertson Fuel Systems, LLC, Tempe, Ariz., was awarded on March 30 a $10,347,180 firm-fixed-price contract for 14 fuel tank kits for the UH-60 Blackhawk. Work is to be performed in Tempe, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2015. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aviation & Missile Commands Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-10-D-0029). ~The Ross Group, Tulsa, Okla., was awarded on March 30 a $10,225,685 firm-fixed-price contract for electrical work at multiple locations in Fort Sill, Okla. Work is to be performed in Fort Sill, Okla., with an estimated completion date of April 11. Three bids were solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (W9126G-06-D-0043). ~World Technical Services Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on March 30 a $9,363,352 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for logistics support services. Work is to be performed in Fort Sill, Okla., with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2010. One sole source bid was solicited with one bid received. Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sill., Okla., is the contracting activity (W9124-10-C-0002) ~DQSI, LLC, Covington, La., was awarded on March 30 a $7,666,836 firm-fixed-price contract for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 8(a) multiple-award task order contract for Atchafalaya Basin Floodway, Bayou Sorrel Lock, 2010 northwest guide wall replacement and new dolphins, Iberville Parish, La., (ED 09-140) (ED9140-10-M-0001). Work is to be performed in Plaquemine, La., with an estimated completion date of April 21, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-D-0047). ~Capco, Inc., Grand Junction, Colo., was awarded on March 30 a $7,063,501 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of the M192 light-weight ground mount. Work is to be performed in Grand Junction, Colo., with an estimated completion date of July 24, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with six bids received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality Contracting Center, Picatinny, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-09-D-0027). ~AeroVironment., Simi Valley, Calif., was awarded on March 30 a $6,781,162 firm-fixed-price contract. This effort exercises a priced option for 51 Marine Corps digital data link systems; 51 initial spares packages; and contractor logistics support. Work is to be performed in Simi Valley, Calif., with an estimated completion date of March 29, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command/CCAM-AR-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-05-C-0338). ~General Dynamics Armament and Technical Productions, Inc., Burlington, Vt., was awarded on April 1 a $6,760,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 8,000 barrels for the M2 machine gun. Work is to be performed in Saco, Maine, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2011. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. TACOM Rock Island, CCTA-AR-SA, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-04-D-0108). ~Sabre Defense Industries, LLC, Nashville, Tenn., was awarded on April 1 a $6,720,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 8,000 barrels for the M2 machine gun. Work is to be performed in Nashville, Tenn., with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2011. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. TACOM Rock Island, CCTA-AR-SA, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-04-D-0107). NAVY ~Lockheed Martin, Maritime Systems and Sensors, Moorestown N.J., is being awarded an $85,000,000 definitization modification to previously awarded letter contract (N00024-09-C-5103) for Aegis platform systems engineering agent activities and Aegis modernization advanced capability build engineering. This modification includes FY10 research, development, test, and evaluation incremental funding of $54,613,863 and the definitized contract with options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $450,000,000. Work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. ~Canadian Commercial Corp., General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, London, Ontario, is being awarded a $28,578,333 firm-fixed-priced modification to delivery order #0007 under contract (M67854-07-D-5028). The procurement is for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle engineering change proposal upgrades and associated non-recurring engineering costs to support the 250 low-rate initial production 17 MRAP RG-31A2 vehicles ordered. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colo., and Boston, Mass., and is expected to be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE ~Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $20,395,814 contract which provides for the trainers software development effort and the urgent response effort and to increase the not-to-exceed amount for the depot partnering effort. At this time, $20,395,814 has been obligated. 478 AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8611-08-C-2897,P00044). ~Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Clearfield, Utah, was awarded a $15,459,507 contract which provides for the Minuteman enhanced reliability accelerometer engineering and feasibility study, Phase III, prototype. At this time, $10,990,902 has been obligated. 526th ICBMSG/PKE, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F42610-98-C-0001). ~McDonnell Douglas Corp., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded a $10,264,377 contract which provided for the purchase of 89 carriage load crew trainers and 356 weapons load crew trainers to support F-16 Block 40/50, F-35, and F-22 integrations and training requirements. 681 ARSS/PK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8672-10-C-0013,P00004). ~EDO Corp., Lancaster, Calif., was awarded a $8,520,662 contract which will provide for standard high-power radar signal simulators (AN/PLM-4), 85 production units (AN/PLM-4) with millimeter wave option, and 6 production units. Two percent of this effort will support Foreign Military Sales efforts to Morocco. 542 CBSG/PKT, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8540-07-C-0004). ~Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Clearfield, Utah, was awarded a $7,476,242 contract which provides for detailed vendor technical data used during the production of the Minuteman missile propulsion replacement program. This data will help identify potentially significant future use to support age degradation analysis, and sustainment anomaly or failure investigations. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 526 ICBMSW/PKE, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F42610-98-C-0001). ~L-3 Communications Corp., Bristol, Pa., was awarded a $5,500,000 contract which provides for National Security Agency-certified telemetry support device products that will be used for both encryption and decryption of critical flight test data. At this time, no money has been obligated. AFFTC/PKEE, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA9302-10-D-0010). *Small business

DTN News: US Hopes To Ease Russia Fears On Missile Defense

DTN News: US Hopes To Ease Russia Fears On Missile Defense Source: DTN News / AP (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - April 7, 2010: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the U.S. will continue to try to seek common ground with Russia on missile defense despite the Kremlin's fear that such systems are aimed at crippling its nuclear arsenal. She told a Pentagon briefing she understands reservations being voiced by Moscow about a new nuclear arms reduction treaty to be signed later this week. Russia unsuccessfully sought to include limits on missile defenses during months of negotiations on the new arms treaty and on Tuesday said it reserves the right to withdraw from the pact if it deems U.S. missile defense systems in Europe as a threat. Clinton said that position is "no surprise." Related articles In Eastern Europe, Pact With Russians Raises Old Specters International Herald Tribune - 3 hours ago Obama set to reject 'nuclear posture' on eve of Start deal with Russia Times Online - 4 days ago Russia reserves opt-out of arms treaty with US The Associated Press - 9 hours ago

DTN News: China Cyber-Espionage Eyes Indian Defense

DTN News: China Cyber-Espionage Eyes Indian Defense Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - April 7, 2010: Sensitive security information linked to India's missile and armament systems may have been compromised by Chinese hackers believed to have broken into top secret files of the Indian Defense Ministry. The allegation stems from a report published by a group of U.S. and Canadian computer security researchers who monitored a spying operation, observing the trails of the hackers as they pilfered classified and restricted documents from India's Defense Ministry. Among the systems believed to have been hacked is the Shakti, the newly introduced artillery combat and control system of the Indian army, and the Iron Dome, the country's mobile missile defense system, local media reported. According to the report, researchers based at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto managed to provide a detailed account of the spying operation called Shadow Network, documenting not only what material had been hacked but accessing confidential documents, also, about India's relations in West Africa, Russia and the Middle East. While the identity and designs of the intruders have yet to be determined, the researchers traced the spy operation to computer servers in Chengdu, western China. The findings of the report have sparked concern within the ranks of the government in India, which said earlier this week that it was investigating the allegations. "This is a serious issue and we are looking into it," Sitansu Kar, a spokesman for the ministry, was quoted as saying in Business Week report. The allegations follow a move by Google Inc. to redirect users of its Chinese Web site to Hong Kong "to avoid the nation's censorship laws after the U.S. company said it had detected cyberattacks from mainland on human-rights activists," Business Week reported. At the time, the case underscored mounting concerns over the growing trend of cyber espionage. Ahead of the report's publication, India stopped short of acknowledging that government networks had been attacked by China, saying that "no one attempt had been successful." Chinese officials have since then rebuffed any allegation of involvement. "The Chinese government considers hacking a cancer to the whole of society," said Ye Lao, a state official in Western China. The Dalai Lama's office was also part of the research. "From what we are seeing, the people attacking our computers have a very systematic approach to reading our private communications," said Tenzin Takhla, the exiled Tibetan leader's secretary. "What the experts have told us is that they these are coming out of China, and that makes sense."

DTN News: Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Benefit Florida

DTN News: Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Benefit Florida Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) TALLAHASSEE, Fla., - April 6, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that the state of Florida will benefit from an estimated 1,900 total jobs with 14 suppliers and generate an estimated $95 million annual economic impact if the Boeing NewGen Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force's next tanker aircraft. The NewGen Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and updated with the latest and most advanced technology. Capable of fulfilling the Air Force's needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients, the combat-ready NewGen Tanker is being offered as a replacement for 179 KC-135 aircraft. Boeing is writing a proposal to meet or exceed the 372 mandatory requirements described in the service's final KC-X Request for Proposal released on Feb. 24. The Air Force is expected to award a contract later this year. "During these challenging economic times, the citizens of Florida value any opportunity to work in high-tech jobs," said Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. "Our state is proud to be part of Boeing's NewGen Tanker team and looks forward to the NewGen's selection as the next air refueling aircraft for America." Florida manufacturers ready to produce critical components on the NewGen Tanker include: *Vought Aircraft, Stuart -- doors, wing center sections, aft wheel well bulkheads, crown and side fittings *Goodrich Lighting Systems, Oldsmar -- interior lighting products *Pall Aeropower, New Port Richey -- filtration products *Parker Fluid Systems, Naples -- propulsion, hydraulic and fuel components Radiant Power Corp., Sarasota -- electrical components and batteries. "With unemployment rates across the state topping 12 percent, awarding the U.S. Air Force Tanker contract to Boeing will ensure that hundreds of hardworking, skilled Floridians have well-paying, meaningful jobs," said Frank Ortis, mayor of Pembroke Pines, Fla., and president of the Florida State Council of Machinists and the Broward County AFL-CIO. The NewGen Tanker will be made with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas as well as U.S. suppliers throughout the nation, with decades of experience delivering dependable military tanker and derivative aircraft. Nationwide, the NewGen Tanker program will support approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states. The Boeing NewGen Tanker will also be more cost-effective to own and operate than a larger, heavier tanker. It will save American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs over its 40-year service life because it burns 24 percent less fuel than the competitor's airplane. Boeing has been designing, building, modifying and supporting tankers for decades. These include the KC-135 that will be replaced in the KC-X competition, and the KC-10 fleet. The company also has delivered four KC-767Js to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is on contract to deliver four KC-767s to the Italian Air Force. Three of the four Italian tankers are in flight test, with the fourth airplane in production. More information on Boeing's NewGen Tanker, including video clips and an interactive tour of the aircraft, is available at www.UnitedStatesTanker.com. 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.

DTN News: Boeing 787 Final Assembly And Delivery, Charleston Facility Taking Shape

DTN News: Boeing 787 Final Assembly And Delivery, Charleston Facility Taking Shape *First steel column marks visible progress Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C., - April 6, 2010: NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) took another visible step toward full 787 Dreamliner production Monday by placing the first steel column for its Charleston 787 Final Assembly and Delivery facility. "This new facility will expand our production capability and strengthen the 787 program as we work toward rate," said Marco Cavazzoni, vice president and general manager of 787 Final Assembly and Delivery, Charleston, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "And that reflects our commitment to our customers, our team and our South Carolina community." Today, Boeing Charleston fabricates, assembles and installs systems for 787 aft fuselage sections and joins and integrates midbody fuselage sections from other structural partners. With the new, 1.2-million-square-foot (92,903-square-meter) building, Boeing will perform final assembly and deliver 787s from North Charleston to customers around the world. Construction on the new facility is on schedule, with production due to begin in July 2011. Boeing will deliver the first 787 built in Charleston in first-quarter 2012. To date, 90 percent of the Boeing direct-contracted dollars for the project have been with South-Carolina-based companies. The 787 Dreamliner will be more efficient, quieter and have lower emissions than other airplanes while offering passengers greater comfort and the convenience of direct, nonstop flights between more cities around the world. Fifty-seven customers around the world have ordered 866 787s since the program was launched in April 2004, making the Dreamliner the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history. Contact: Candy Eslinger Boeing Commercial Airplanes Communications

DTN News: USAF Rules Out New F-15s And F-16s To Narrow ‘Fighter Gap’

DTN News: USAF Rules Out New F-15s And F-16s To Narrow ‘Fighter Gap’ Source: DTN News / FlightGlobal.com By Stephen Trimble (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, U.S. - April 6, 2010: Delays and cost overruns for the Lockheed Martin F-35 have not changed the US Air Force's plans to deactivate about 250 fighters later this year, says its chief of staff, Gen Norton Schwartz. The USAF, however, has begun destructive tests on Boeing F-15s and Lockheed F-16s to prove the viability for a potential service life extension programme, says Schwartz. "At 10-15% of the cost [of a new fighter] you could perform a service life extension programme," Schwartz says, "which would get us close to where we need to be in, we think, a more affordable way." Schwartz rejected buying the latest "fourth-generation-plus" versions of the F-15 and F-16 despite a new two-year slip and nearly 90% projected cost overrun for the F-35. "To be sure, we do not think it prudent to utilise precious procurement dollars for anything but fifth-generation aircraft." But Schwartz added an important caveat, that the USAF still has not determined whether the service life extension programme would be technically or financially viable. The USAF has terminated Lockheed F-22 production with 186 aircraft in inventory after 2011, leaving only plans to acquire 1,763 F-35s over the next 30 years to modernise its fighter fleet. Meanwhile, the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review set the tactical aircraft requirement at about 2,000 fighters. During the F-35's projected lifetime in production, however, the USAF faces a growing fighter inventory gap made even more complicated by Lockheed's cost and schedule problems. In 2009 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported alarming trends. Twelve Air National Guard units today patrol US airspace with F-16s scheduled for retirement by 2020. As of late 2008, only one of the 12 units was scheduled to receive F-35s by 2020 to continue flying the mission. The increasing gap in the fighter inventory prompted a US lawmaker to predict the air force's dependence on the F-35 will be a "monumental mistake". "When these F-16s and F-15s are no longer able to fly and the F-35s still has problems because somebody hasn't figured it out, you're going to have air guard units that are not going to have planes," says Representative Frank LoBiondo, who represents a district that includes an F-16 base, during a 24 March hearing.

DTN News: First F-15SGs Arrive In Singapore

DTN News: First F-15SGs Arrive In Singapore Source: DTN News / FlightGlobal.com By Siva Govindasamy (NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - April 6, 2010: Singapore has flown home its first Boeing F-15SG fighters, just under a year after taking delivery of the first examples. Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots started training with US Air Force F-15s in July 2008, moving on to the F-15SGs at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, after the first of those were delivered in May 2009. The service has assigned the F-15SGs to the 149 Squadron, which is based at Singapore's Paya Lebar Air Base. "The F15SG is a major enhancement to Singapore's air defence capability, and will also play a significant role in the Singapore Armed Force's overall operations. The F-15SG squadron will increase the SAF's ability to deal decisively with future threats and meet our critical operational needs," says Singapore's defence minister Teo Chee Hean. Boeing has delivered 18 of the 24 F-15SGs on order. Five more aircraft are expected to arrive in Singapore over the next few months, while the other six aircraft that are on order will be delivered in 2011. Some aircraft will remain at Mountain Home where the RSAF maintains the Peace Carvin V F-15SG fighter detachment, part of the USAF's 428th Fighter Squadron. They will operate there for the next 25 years, says the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The F-15SG, which is powered by two General Electric F110-129 engines, includes the Raytheon APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array radar, Lockheed Martin Sniper targeting pod, infrared search and track sensor and reportedly an Israeli-supplied electronic warfare system. The aircraft has a maximum payload of 23,000lbs, allowing it to carry up to eight air-to-air missiles in an air-to-air configuration and up to fifteen 500lbs bombs in an air-to-ground configuration. Its weapons include the M61 20mm cannon, AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, Maverick air-to-ground missiles and laser-guided bombs.Singapore is considering the F-15SG for a follow-on buy even as it continues to study the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Industry sources say that it may hold a second competition to evaluate its options

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY April 6, 2010 ~ Karzai To Lawmakers: 'I Might Join The Taliban'

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY April 6, 2010 ~ Karzai To Lawmakers: 'I Might Join The Taliban'

*Afghan leader made threat twice at closed-door meeting, witnesses say Source: DTN News / Allauddin Khan - AP (NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - April 6, 2010: Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatened over the weekend to quit the political process and join the Taliban if he continued to come under outside pressure to reform, several members of parliament said Monday.Karzai made the unusual statement at a closed-door meeting Saturday with selected lawmakers — just days after kicking up a diplomatic controversy with remarks alleging foreigners were behind fraud in last year's disputed elections. Lawmakers dismissed the latest comment as hyperbole, but it will add to the impression the president — who relies on tens of thousands of U.S. and NATO forces to fight the insurgency and prop up his government — is growing increasingly erratic and unable to exert authority without attacking his foreign backers. "He said that 'if I come under foreign pressure, I might join the Taliban'," said Farooq Marenai, who represents the eastern province of Nangarhar. "He said rebelling would change to resistance," Marenai said — apparently suggesting that the militant movement would then be redefined as one of resistance against a foreign occupation rather than a rebellion against an elected government. Marenai said Karzai appeared nervous and repeatedly demanded to know why parliament last week had rejected legal reforms that would have strengthened the president's authority over the country's electoral institutions. Two other lawmakers said Karzai twice raised the threat to join the insurgency. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the reports were troubling. "On behalf of the American people, we're frustrated with the remarks," Gibbs told reporters. Pandering?

The lawmakers, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of political repercussions, said Karzai also dismissed concerns over possible damage his comments had caused to relations with the United States. He told them he had already explained himself in a telephone conversation Saturday with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that came after the White House described his comments last week as troubling. The lawmakers said they felt Karzai was pandering to hard-line or pro-Taliban members of parliament and had no real intention of joining the insurgency. Nor does the Afghan leader appear concerned that the U.S. might abandon him, having said numerous times that the U.S. would not leave Afghanistan because it perceives a presence here to be in its national interest. Karzai spokesman Waheed Omar's phone was turned off and another number for him rang unanswered Monday. Deputy spokesman Hamed Elmi's phone rang unanswered. The comments come against the background of continuing insurgent violence as the U.S. moves to boost troop levels in a push against Taliban strongholds in the south. NATO forces said they killed 10 militants in a joint U.S.-Afghan raid on a compound in Nangarhar province's Khogyani district near the Pakistani border early Monday, while gunmen seriously wounded an Afghan provincial councilwoman in a drive-by shooting in the country's increasingly violent north. NATO also confirmed that international troops were responsible for the deaths of five civilians, including three women, on Feb. 12 in Gardez, south of Kabul. 'Accidentally killed'

A NATO statement said a joint international-Afghan patrol fired on two men mistakenly believed to be insurgents. It said the three women were "accidentally killed as a result of the joint force firing at the men." International force officials will discuss the results of the investigation with family of those killed, apologize and provide compensation, he said. The two men killed in the Gardez raid had been long-serving government loyalists and opponents of al-Qaida and the Taliban, one serving as provincial district attorney and the other as police chief in Paktia's Zurmat district. Their brother, who also lost his wife and a sister, said he learned of the investigation result from the Internet, but had yet to receive formal notice. Mohammad Sabar said the family's only demand was that the informant who passed on the faulty information about militant activity be tried and publicly executed. "Please, please, please, our desire, our demand is that this spy be executed in front of the people to ensure that such bad things don't happen again," Sabar said. In the latest of a series of targeted assassination attempts blamed on militants, Baghlan provincial council member Nida Khyani was struck by gunfire in the leg and abdomen in Pul-e Khumri, capital of the northern province, said Salim Rasouli, head of the provincial health department. Khyani's bodyguard was also slightly injured. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the shooting, although suspicion immediately fell on Taliban fighters who often target people working with the Afghan government and their Western backers. One month ago, a member of the Afghan national parliament escaped injury when her convoy was attacked by Taliban insurgents in eastern Afghanistan. Female government officials regularly report receiving threats to their safety. Some women leaders, including a prominent policewoman, have been assassinated. The Taliban rigidly oppose education for girls and women's participation in public affairs, citing their narrow interpretation of conservative Islam and tribal traditions. Militants, who are strongest in the south and east, carry out beatings and other punishments for perceived women's crimes from immodesty to leaving home unaccompanied by a male relative. Also Monday, the organizer of a national reconciliation conference — known as a jirga — scheduled for early May said it would not include insurgent groups such as the Taliban. There has also been indications it would include discussion of the withdrawal of 120,000 foreign troops in the country. Ghulam Farooq Wardak, the minister of education who is organizing the conference, said it will focus on outlining ways to reach peace with the insurgents and the framework for possible discussions. Out of the jirga will come the "powerful voice of the Afghan people," Wardak said. "By fighting, you cannot restore security. The only way to bring peace is through negotiation."

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 5, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 5, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued April 5, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - April 6, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued April 5, 2010 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS ARMY General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc., Taunton, Mass., was awarded on March 24 a $164,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for Warfighter Information Network (WIN) Tactical Increment 2 (T INC2) low-rate production, urgent first order, for the procurement of equipment for three brigade combat teams, one division headquarters, four regional hub nodes, and one base equipment complement to support the initial operational test and evaluation for WIN-T INC2 for program manager, WIN-T. Work is to be performed in Taunton, Mass., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2010. One sole-source bid was solicited with one bid received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15PT-10-D-C007). BAE Systems, LLC, U.S. Combat Systems, York, Pa., was awarded on March 31 a $145,170,882 firm-fixed-price contract for the reset of 551 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems. Work is to be performed in York, Pa. (42 percent); Aiken, S.C. (8 percent); Fayette, Pa. (12 percent); and Texarkana, Texas (38 percent), with an estimated completion date of Aug. 30, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army, TACOM Contracting Center, CCTA-AHL-A, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-G-0005). Archer-Western Contractor, Ltd., Arlington, Texas, was awarded on March 30 an $112,247,806 firm-fixed-price construction contract. This contract is for Lake Pontchartrain and vicinity, levee enlargement for South Point to CSX railroad, and US 11 and US 90 highway crossing, Reach LPV 109.02, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Work is to be performed in Orleans Parish, La., with an estimated completion date of June 6, 2011. Bids were solicited via the the Federal Business Opportunities and Army Single Face to Industry Web sites, with seven bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hurricane Protection Office., New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-10-C-0059). Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on March 29 a $10,036,560 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 31 field service representatives, equal to 372 months, for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicle in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 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, CCTA-ADC-A, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0111). AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded on March 26 a $9,800,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for over-and-above efforts for government-owned, contractor-operated Units 1 and 2 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and overseas contingency operations. Work is to be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, CCAM-AR-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0016). Great Lakes Dredge a Dock Co., LLC, Oak Road, Ill., was awarded on March 26 a $9,663,200 firm-fixed-price contract for the dredging of the Mississippi River harbors. Work is to be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with two bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District Memphis, Memphis, Tenn., is the contracting activity (W912EQ-10-D-0011). Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., was awarded on March 26 a $9,464,423 firm-fixed-price contract. This procurement is for issuance of an undefinitized contract action for the purchase of AH-64 Apache modernized target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensors visible near infrared sight kits and associated spares for the United States government and the United Arab Emirates government. The March 26 obligation of $9,464,423 is 49 percent of the undefinitized contract action not-to-exceed amount of $19,315,150. Work is to be performed in Orlando, Fla., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Army Contracting Command, AMCOM Contracting Center, CCAM-AP-B, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-C-0169). Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., was awarded on March 26 a $5,759,507 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program that will develop and demonstrate an innovative multi-physics coupling software environment to enable rapid and accurate multidisciplinary performance design and analysis simulations for lightweight, multi-material Navy submarine rotors. Work is to be performed in Bowie, Md., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 18, 2011. Bids were solicited via Broad Agency Announcement with nine bids received. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-10-C-0082). The Ross Group Construction Corp., Inc., Tulsa, Okla., was awarded on March 26 a $5,726,551 firm-fixed-price contract. The intent of the project is for the repair and renovation of approximately 5,610 square feet of existing building space which comprises the second floor of Building 700, known as Knox Hall. Renovation will create new functional areas with offices. The renovation and repair will allow the facility to properly support its current mission. Building 700 is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Randolph Road and McNair Avenue on Fort Sill, Okla. The contractor is to purchase required materials and provide design, equipment, labor, and management to perform all the required work to design and construct this project to provide a complete and useable facility. Contractors are to coordinate with a submitted and approved construction schedule, work plan, and approved designs. Features of work include demolition and renovation of the existing second floor space, including wall layout, communications, electrical distribution system, fire arm and suppression system, lighting, mechanical duct work ,systems, and plumbing. Additional feature include renovation of elevator cab and operating systems, and stair wells. Work is to be performed in Fort Sill, Okla., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with one bid received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Tulsa Distinct, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (W912BV-09-D-2024). Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on March 29 a $9,223,633 firm-fixed-price contract for incorporating the recurring production of Engineering Change Proposal 628 (AV 10063R1), UH-HH-60M Black Hawk upturned exhaust systems. Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, CCAM-BH-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0003). I.L. Fleming, Inc., Midway, Ga., was awarded on March 29 a $7,811,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of Chapel Complex PN 61035, Fort Bragg, N.C. Work is to be performed in Fort Bragg, N.C., with an estimated completion date of July 15, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with ten bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-10-C-0012). AM General, LLC, South Bend, Ind., was awarded on March 29 a $7,717,067 firm-fixed-price contract to add 50 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles to contract. Work is to be performed in Mishawaka, Ind., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM Warren, CCTA-ATA-A, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-C-S001) Gulf Power Co., Pensacola, Fla., was awarded on March 26 a $5,586,210 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of Freedom Way substation and transmission line extension, Hurlburt Air Force Base, Fla. Work is to be performed in Hurlburt Field, Fla., with an estimated completion date of March 1, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-10-F-0035). NAVY M.C. Dean, Inc., Dulles, Va., is being awarded a $75,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N65236-07-D-5884) for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance initiatives and programs supported by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, European Office. The cumulative value of this contract, including this modification, is $239,013,981. Work will be performed in Europe (80 percent) and Southwest Asia (20 percent), and is expected to be completed by April 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command E-commerce Web site, with five offers received. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity. VSE Corp., Alexandria, Va., is being awarded a $42,510,858 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00174-10-D-0011) for decontamination and demolition support services for the industrial revitalization program. The government requires analytical, technical, and management support services for industrial revitalization efforts to include caretaking assistance, modernization, explosives/energetics decontamination, demilitarization, demolition, and divestiture support for the Navy and other Department of Defense (DoD) customers, and non-DoD customers. Work will be performed at Naval Surface Warfare Centers in Indian Head, Md., Crane, Ind., and Dahlgren, Va.; Naval Weapons Stations in Yorktown, Va., Seal Beach, Calif., Concord, Calif., and Earle, N.J.; and the Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plants in Texas, New York, Connecticut and Ohio. Work is expected to be completed by April 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, with one offer received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Md., is the contracting activity. EDO Communications and Countermeasures Systems, Inc., wholly owned by ITT Force Protection Systems, Thousand Oaks, Calif., is being awarded a $31,269,829 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus award fee, cost-only, firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract (N0024-09-C-6316) to exercise options for all material and services to support the system development and demonstration phase through critical design review for the three capabilities (dismounted, mounted, and fixed-site) of the joint counter radio-controlled improvised explosive device electronic warfare (JCREW) 3.3 system of systems, 71°C ambient temperature. JCREW systems provide combat troops protection against radio-controlled improvised explosive devices. Work will be performed at Clifton, N.J. (41 percent), Annapolis Junction, Md. (30 percent), and Thousand Oaks, Calif. (29 percent), and is expected to be complete by June 2010. Contract funds in the amount $8,500,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $13,632,188 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-05-G-0026) to complete the AESA waveform generator DDS II die parts obsolescence redesign engineering change proposal for the F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif. (87.7 percent), and St. Louis, Mo. (12.3 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 Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity. Souza Construction, Inc.*, Farmersville, Calif., is being awarded $10,221,050 for firm-fixed-price task order #0002 under a previously awarded multiple-award construction contract (N62473-09-D-1652) for facility energy improvements at Heat Plant 5 (HP-5) at Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow. Work will be performed in Barstow, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Funds for this project are provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Seven proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $6,123,474 not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-08-D-0013) to provide 300 hours of persistent unmanned aerial vehicle intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services in support of naval maritime missions. Work will be performed in Bingen, Wash. (96 percent), and St. Louis, Mo. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $3,980,257 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. BAE Systems, Land and Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded a $6,049,979 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-5407) to exercise an option for engineering services to support operation and capabilities of the MK 45 Naval Gun System, including system engineering and ammunition integration. The MK 45 Naval Gun System is designed to provide surface fire support for multiple ship platforms of the U.S. Navy and various Foreign Military Sales customers. These engineering services will provide design, development, production, logistics, testing, operational, and life-cycle support for the gun system. Work will be performed in Minneapolis, Minn. (87 percent), and Louisville, Ky. (13 percent), and is expected to be complete by September 2011. 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. AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronic Co., Woodland Hills, Calif., was awarded a $14,109,480 contract which provides for 252 embedded GPS inertial navigation system production units for the USAF F-16. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 647 AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8626-06-C-2066). Boeing Co., Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, Wichita, Kan., was awarded a $9,348,867 contract which provides additional funding on option period one for a contract to provide contractor logistics support for the VC-25A aircraft. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 727 ACSG/PKB, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-09-C-005). Choctaw Professional Resources Enterprise, Durant, Okla., was awarded a $20,000,000 contract which provides action to support the Family Advocacy Program, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, outside the contiguous United States. At this time, $2,998,319 has been obligated. AFDW/A7KM-S, Brooks City-Base, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA7014-10-D-0001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Mercury Air Centers Inc. dba Atlantic Aviation, Los Angeles, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $8,376,373 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for jet fuel. Other locations of performance include Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, Calif. Using services are the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and other federal civilian agencies. There were originally three proposals solicited with three responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 31, 2014. The Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-10-D-0048), is the contracting activity. *Small business

DTN News: Boeing To Spotlight Advanced Capabilities At National Space Symposium

DTN News: Boeing To Spotlight Advanced Capabilities At National Space Symposium Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 5, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] will spotlight its satellites, intelligence and security solutions, human spaceflight activities and advanced network technologies at the Space Foundation's 26th National Space Symposium. This year's event takes place April 12-15 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

"Whether we're building and launching satellites, processing payloads for human spaceflight missions or providing solutions that protect the United States from cyber attacks, our customers depend on our ability to deliver on our promises," said Roger Krone, president of the Network and Space Systems business unit of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "The National Space Symposium offers the aerospace industry the opportunity to demonstrate and showcase the broad, flexible array of proven space capabilities that make a world of difference for the warfighter and the public."

The Boeing exhibit will feature demonstrations of the company's support for the Iridium constellation, military satellite operations and Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF, the International Space Station and security systems. The exhibit also will contain interactive displays of the Space Based Space Surveillance system and hosted-payload capabilities that extend the breadth of satellite services Boeing provides.

Boeing's online press kit at www.boeing.com/bds/mediakit/2010/nss will be updated throughout the show with presentations from the briefings and schedule changes, if any. The site also contains program backgrounders, executive biographies and a link to high-resolution photos.

Note: All briefing times are local to Colorado Springs. Reporters interested in the news briefings are asked to confirm their attendance in advance with the contacts listed below no later than Thursday, April 8.

MONDAY, April 12 -- The Broadmoor Hotel

4:45 p.m.: Boeing Cyber Solutions -- Boeing Carleton Suite Following the conclusion of the symposium's Cyber 1.0 event, Steve Oswald, vice president and general manager of Intelligence and Security Systems, and Barbara Fast, vice president of Cyber and Information Solutions, will provide their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in cybersecurity and how Boeing is meeting the emerging need for secure cyber operations.

TUESDAY, April 13 -- The Broadmoor Hotel

7 a.m.: Breakfast Briefing: Overview of Boeing Network and Space Systems -- Crystal Room Boeing business leaders will discuss year-to-date activities in the commercial and military satellite business, space exploration, intelligence and security systems and advanced network systems. Speakers include Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Space and Intelligence Systems; Alex Lopez, vice president of Advanced Network and Space Systems; Steve Oswald, vice president and general manager of Intelligence and Security Systems; and Brewster Shaw, vice president and general manager of Space Exploration.

9:15 a.m.: Advanced Network and Space Systems -- Crystal Room On the verge of a history-making first test flight of the X-51 WaveRider, Alex Lopez, vice president of Advanced Network and Space Systems, will brief reporters on Boeing's work in hypersonics and the implications for the technology. He also will discuss Boeing's accomplishments on Operationally Responsive Space-related activities, including CubeSats and the use of miniature satellites in space, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed program, which will form the foundation for future self-deployed, high-mobility spacecraft to perform ultra-high-power communications, space radar, satellite transfer and servicing missions.

11:20 a.m.: Dennis A. Muilenburg Featured Industry Presentation -- International Hall Muilenburg is executive vice president of The Boeing Company and president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. He will discuss how customers, industry and government must work together to make the right decisions for the future of space.

2 p.m.: Commercial Crew Development -- Crystal Room John Elbon, vice president and program manager of Boeing Space Exploration's commercial programs, will discuss efforts to develop a commercial crew capsule to transport crews back and forth to the International Space Station and to Bigelow Aerospace's space station.

WEDNESDAY, April 14 -- The Broadmoor Hotel

8:30 a.m.: International Space Station -- Boeing Carleton Suite Joy Bryant, vice president and program manager of the International Space Station (ISS) Program, provides an update on Boeing's efforts to sustain and upgrade the ISS through at least 2020.

11 a.m.: Space Based Space Surveillance System -- Media Center, 2nd Floor, Colorado Hall Todd Citron, director of Space Superiority and Special Missions for Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, and Fred Doyle, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. vice president and general manager for National Defense, provide an update on the development and upcoming launch of the first Space Based Space Surveillance System (SBSS) satellite. SBSS will revolutionize U.S. space situational awareness as the only space-based sensor in the U.S. Air Force Space Surveillance Network that will detect distant spacecraft, debris and other space objects without interference from weather, atmosphere or time of day.

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.