DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated July 23, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated July 23, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued July 23, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - July 24, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued July 23, 2010 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Propper International, Inc., Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is being awarded a maximum $78,800,418 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for coats and trousers. Other locations of performance are Mississippi, North Carolina and various locations throughout Puerto Rico. Using service is Army. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is July 22, 2012. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM1C1-10-D-1073).

Graybar Electric, St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a maximum $66,000,000 indefinite/delivery, indefinite/quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations supplies. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with six responses. This contract is exercising the fifth option year period. The date of performance completion is July 28, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM500-04-D-BP11).

Science Applications International Corp., Fairfield, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $40,000,000 indefinite/delivery, indefinite/quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations supplies and related services. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with six responses. This contract is exercising the fifth option year period. The date of performance completion is July 28, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM500-04-D-BP12).

Tullahoma Industries LLC*, Tullahoma, Tenn., is being awarded a maximum $29,283,504 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for coats and trousers. Other locations of performance are Alabama and Mississippi. Using service is Army. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is July 23, 2012. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM1C1-10-D-1074).

Supply Core, St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a maximum $17,000,000 indefinite/delivery, indefinite/quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations supplies. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with six responses. This contract is exercising the fifth option year period. The date of performance completion is July 28, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM500-04-D-BP10).

Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md., is being awarded a maximum $13,997,317 firm-fixed-price, sole-source, time and materials contract for operational development, sustainment and maintenance for defense civilian personnel data system. Other location of performance is Texas. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, federal civilian agencies, the Executive Office of the President and Broadcasting Board of Governors. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. This contract is exercising the sixth option year period. The date of performance completion is September 28, 2012. The Defense Logistics Agency Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SP4700-05-C-0020).

ARMY

Aardvark Tactical, Inc., La Verne, Calif., was awarded on July 19 a $62,151,795 five year firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for procuring commercial supply functions associated with the acquisition, handling, distribution, of entry control point (ECP) commercial components to various forward operating bases in Afghanistan. Non-lethal, ECP commercial components for personnel borne/vehicle borne improvised explosive devices will consist of distinct modules of equipment in several different configurations and will help uncover harmful devices or triggers for improvised devices. Work is to be performed in La Verne, Calif., with an estimated completion date of July 19, 2015. One bid was solicited with two bids received. Army Contracting Command, JM&L Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-10-C-0062).

VIASAT, Inc., Carlsbad, Calif., was awarded on July 20 a $ 37,659,021 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for an indefinite/delivery, indefinite/quantity effort to procure blue force tracking 2 (BFT-2) for Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2). BFT-2 is the next generation of the BFT transceiver/network. With BFT-2, FBCB2 will have the capability to upgrade position reports in seconds rather than minutes. Thousands of platforms will share a single satellites channel, resulting in reduced recurring cost. Icons on a computer screen will more accurately represent a vehicles location. The FBCB2 system is the Army’s digital battle command information to tactical combat leaders and soldiers from brigade to platforms an across platforms within a brigade task force. It enables war fighters to pass orders and graphics to visualize the commander’s intent and scheme of maneuver. The BFT-2 platform equipment is installed on a variety of host vehicles, such as high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, Bradley, Abrams, Paladin, and Aviation. Work is to be performed in Carlsbad, Calif., with an estimated completion date of July 19, 2016. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with two bids received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-10-D-C420).

Honeywell International Inc., Clearwater, Fla., was awarded on July 16 a $23,500,000 indefinite/delivery-indefinite/quantity contract. This contract is for Inertial Navigation Unit sole source to Honeywell International Inc. Work is to be performed in Clearwater, Fla., with an estimated completion date of May 15, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army TACOM Contracting Center, CCTA-AR-VB, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-07-D-0285).

The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded on July 16 a $15,017,184 firm-fixed-price contract for the performance based logistics for the Apache D unique components. Work is to be performed in Mesa, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Aviation & Missile Command Contracting Center, CCAM-AL-D, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-04-C-0203).

BAE Systems, Ordnance Systems Inc., Kingsport, Tenn., was awarded on July 15 a $12,472,247 firm-fixed-price contract for the production and supply of 946,302 pounds of cxm-7 explosives to support the bomb program. Work is to be performed in Kingsport, Tenn., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 31, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center, Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-09-D-0003).

Talon Industries Inc., Arlington, Texas, was awarded on July 16 a $11,194,900 firm-fixed-price contract. This firm-fixed-price contract is to construct a new aircraft fuel storage complex located at Duluth ANG, Minnesota. Work is to be performed in Duluth ANG, Minn., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 07, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with five bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-10-C-0057).

Jaynes Corp., Las Vegas, Nev., was awarded on July 20 a $8,618,286 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of unmanned aerial system extended range multi purpose, Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Work is to be performed in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 19, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with 17 bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Los Angeles, Calif., is the contracting activity (W912PL-10-C-0031).

BAE Systems, Ordnance Systems, Inc., Kingsport, Tenn., was awarded on July 16 a $7,498,315 firm-fixed-price contract. The services procured are for phase III of the water distribution system upgrade at Holston Army Ammunition Plant. Work is to be performed in Kingsport, Tenn., with an estimated completion date of July 15, 2013. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (DAAA09-98-E-0006).

Odyssey International, Lancaster, Pa., was awarded on July 16 a $7,033,619 firm-fixed-price contract. This project consists of construction of an addition to an existing Criminal Investigation Division lab at Fort Gillem, Ga. Primary facilities included additional space for the latent prints lab; trace evidence testing lab; serology/DNA lad and other areas needed for operation and support of the expanded mission; growth in personnel and insufficient space in the current facility; provide energy monitoring and control systems connection and building information systems. Install a mass notification system, fire protection system, and an intrusion detection system. Supporting facilities include electrical; water; sewer and gas services; paving; storm drainage; site improvement and landscaping; information systems; and antiterrorism measures; demolish pavement; curb and gutter and selected utilities. Self-contained heating and cooling units will be required. Accessibility for individuals with disability will be required. Anti-terrorism measures include laminated windows and door glass. The resulting contract will be firm-fixed-price. Work is to be performed in Fort Gillem, Ga., with an estimated completed date of Jan. 27, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with six bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-10-C-0044).

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on July 20 a $6,903,328 cost-plus-award-fee contract. This contract is to provide a soil investigation and soil removal action at two military construction Army projects at Sagami General Depot, Japan. Work is to be performed in Sagami General Depot, Japan, with an estimated completion date of July 30, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska, Contracting Division, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Ark., is the contracting activity (W911KB-06-D-0006).

GSC Construction, Augusta, Ga., was awarded on July 21 a $6,816,963 firm-fixed-price contract for base items 0001-0003. This procurement is a design-build project for a single dinning facility at Fort Knox, Ky. Work is to be performed in Fort Knox, Ky., with an estimated completion date of July 21, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District Contracting Office, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (W91236-10-C-0064).

MOCA Systems Inc., Newton, Mass., was awarded on July 21 a $ $6,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineering services for nationwide cost engineering support for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District-Directorate & Center of Expertise. Work is to be performed in Newton, Mass., with an estimated completion date of July 21, 2014. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with seven bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, CECT-NWW, Walla Walla, Wash., is the contracting activity (W912EF-09-D-0003).

Engineering Research and Consulting, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded on July 19 a $5,765,171 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This is an indefinite/quantity contract, with five year ordering periods. Order period 1, task order 0001, with funding modification 01-07 for firing test division test and evaluation support. Funds are obligated upon the issuance of each order period 1 modification. The contractor shall provide support to Redstone Test Center for testing, evaluation, and other associated activities scheduled to be conducted by the flight test branch, field sensors test brach, and telemetry, and data management test branch of the firing test division. Work is to be performed in Redstone Arsenal, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 30, 2015. Five bids were solicited with five bids received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Contracting Center Research Development & Engineering Command, CCAM-RD-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-10-D-0009).

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC., Oak Brook, Ill., was awarded on July 19 a $5,518,525 firm-fixed-price contract for the maintenance dredging 15PT channel, Newburyport, Mass. Work is to be performed in Newburyport, Mass., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 13, 2011. Bids were solicited via Federal Business Opportunities Web site with three bids received. Department of the Army, New England District, Corps of Engineers, Concord, Mass., is the contracting activity (W912WJ-10-C-0018).

Primal Innovations LLC, Winter Springs, Fla., was awarded on July 20 a $5,278,888 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for the geotechnical and structural laboratory are in contract with Primal Innovations for research and development and development efforts for persistent surveillance and near surface monitoring. Work is to be performed in Winter Springs, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 5, 2011. Bids were solicited via a Broad Agency Announcement with one bid received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ERDC Contracting Office, Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity (W912HZ-10-C-0043).

Bates Engineers/Contractors, Inc., Bainbridge, Ga., was awarded on July 19 a $5,023,576 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is to construct a new 1,400 square meter addition to tan existing simulator facility. Construction will consist of structural steel, concrete masonry unit, exterior and a standing seam metal roof. Heating ventilation, air condition, fire detection suppression and access control/intrusion detection systems are required. A bridge crane, emergency generator, unlimited power supply, furnishing all utilities and parking are included. Construction phasing and leadership energy environmental design certification are required. Unexercised options in the amount of $200,000 are available for future execution by the government. Work is to be performed in Hulbert Field, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 18, 2011. Bids were solicited via Federal Business Opportunity Web site with 27 bids received. Corps of Engineers-Mobile Regional Contracting Center, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-10-C-0092).

NAVY

Northrop Grumman Corp., Aerospace Sector, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $29,715,101 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide operations and maintenance services in support of U.S. Navy Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration. Work will be performed outside the U.S. (50 percent); Patuxent River, Md. (30 percent); and San Diego, Calif. (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $29,715,101 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River Md., is the contracting activity.

L-3 Services, Inc., Mount Laurel, N.J., is being awarded a $22,621,166 modification to previously awarded contract (N61331-08-D-0007) for the procurement of engineering logistics and material support for Mine Roller In-Service program. The contractor will provide all personnel, materials, equipment and services for the engineering and technical support required to provide logistics and material support. Work will be performed in Panama City, Fla., and is expected to be completed by June 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $2,000,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity.

Nutmeg Companies, Inc.*, Norwich, Conn., is being awarded a $7,904,800 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of the Marine Corps Reserve Center in Brunswick for A Company, 1^st Battalion, 25^th Marine, 4^th Marine Division. A specialty constructed weapon’s storage area; assembly hall; classrooms; locker and shower rooms; workshops; and electrical and mechanical utilities that include a fuel oil tank. Construction will also include security lighting; paved tactical vehicle parking with perimeter fencing; paved privately owned vehicle parking; and security lighting systems. Sustainable design will be integrated into the design, development, and construction of the project in accordance with Executive Order 13123 and other directives. The construction and sitting will comply with all applicable Anti-Terrorism/Force protection guidance for a primary gathering facility. The contract also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $7,942,800. Work will be performed in Brunswick, Maine, and is expected to be completed by July 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic Northeast Integrated Product Team, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N40085-10-C-9413).

*Small business

DTN News: Raytheon Joint Standoff Weapon C-1 Completes Captive Flight Test Series

DTN News: Raytheon Joint Standoff Weapon C-1 Completes Captive Flight Test Series

Source: DTN News / Raytheon

(NSI News Source Info) FARNBOROUGH, England - July 24, 2010: The U.S. Navy completed a series of three captive flight tests on Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Joint Standoff Weapon C-1, putting the program closer to achieving initial operating capability in 2012. JSOW is a family of low-cost, air-to-ground weapons that employs an integrated GPS- inertial navigation system and terminal imaging infrared seeker, guiding the weapon to the target. JSOW C-1 adds moving maritime target capability and the two-way Strike Common Weapon Datalink (SCWDL) to the combat-proven weapon. "The Raytheon-U.S. Navy team completed a test series that showed JSOW C-1's seeker can detect moving maritime targets. The tests also demonstrated that JSOW C-1 can communicate via its two-way SCWDL," said Phyllis McEnroe, Raytheon's JSOW program director. "The JSOW platform is a 'truck' with many options that continues to evolve to meet emerging threats. Though not a program of record, we are working on a JSOW extended range variant with an objective range of up to 300 nautical miles (345 statute miles)." JSOW ER completed its first demonstration flight in October 2009, flying more than 260 nautical miles. "The warfighter asked for a Link-16 network-enabled standoff weapon that can engage moving maritime targets while maintaining the capability to attack stationary land targets," said Cmdr. Douglas Phelan, the U.S. Navy's JSOW Integrated Product Team leader. "JSOW C-1 will meet this requirement." Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide.

DTN News: Raytheon And Elcome Marine Complete Phalanx Maintenance For Indian Navy

DTN News: Raytheon And Elcome Marine Complete Phalanx Maintenance For Indian Navy

Source: DTN News / Raytheon

(NSI News Source Info) FARNBOROUGH, England - July 24, 2010: Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Elcome Marine Services of Mumbai, India, completed inspection and maintenance on two Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems for the Indian Navy. "Raytheon and Elcome worked together to complete this project in just a few days," said Cynthia Davis, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of International Business Development. "The Indian Navy now has two highly effective Phalanx systems to defend the INS Jalashwa and its sailors." In 2007, the U.S. government transferred the INS Jalashwa to India. The landing platform dock arrived in India with two Phalanx Block 1 systems on board. Maintenance on the Phalanx systems included the replacement of circuit cards and other work. The Phalanx Block 1 configuration features a proven 20 mm Gatling gun, which fires armor-piercing rounds at 3,000 or 4,500 shots per minute. Phalanx Block 1 also includes an advanced search and track Ku-band radar with closed-loop spotting technology to provide autonomous target detection and engagement. The system can interface with virtually any ship combat system and can provide target designation for other shipboard weapons. "We are talking with the Indian Navy about upgrading its Block 1 systems and acquiring additional Phalanx systems, as well as other Raytheon products to defend India's fleet and sailors," Davis added. Raytheon has produced more than 890 Phalanx systems for 25 nations around the world. Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide.

DTN News: Rolls-Royce Inks $1.7 Billion In Airshow Orders

DTN News: Rolls-Royce Inks $1.7 Billion In Airshow Orders

Source: DTN News / Reuters

(NSI News Source Info) FARNBOROUGH, England - July 24, 2010: British aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce (LSE:RR.L - News) said it secured $1.7 billion in orders at the Farnborough Airshow, including deals for its Trent 700 engine, the leading engine for the Airbus (Paris:EAD.PA - News) A330. Rolls-Royce said on Friday it won orders totaling more than $1 billion for Trent 700s to power 17 Airbus A330s from Russia's Aeroflot and Garuda Indonesia Airlines. Rolls-Royce also signed new service agreements with Sichuan Airlines, and extended service deals with Garuda and Air Transat at the show in south-east England. International Aero Engines, in which Rolls-Royce is a partner, received orders for V2500 engines from Yemenia, China Southern and Vietnam Airlines, with a value to Rolls-Royce of about $470 million, and its defense business won a $70 million contract to support the Canadian Air Force CC-130J fleet. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Dan Lalor)

Related Headlines

*Rolls-Royce inks $1.7 billion in airshow orders - Reuters *Air show orders fuel economy hopes - Reuters *Another $14 billion day at Farnborough - Reuters *Corrected: Superjet seals $900 million plane deal - Reuters *United Tech beats Street view, sees better demand - Reuters

DTN News: AIRSHOW-Drones Set To Gain From Defense, Troop Cutbacks

DTN News: AIRSHOW-Drones Set To Gain From Defense, Troop Cutbacks

* Afghanistan drawdown won't hit drone demand, cos. say * UAVs could benefit from troop withdrawal * Environmental use, Middle East markets, robust

Source: DTN News / Reuters By Golnar Motevalli

(NSI News Source Info) FARNBOROUGH, England - July 23, 2010: Makers of unmanned military planes said cuts in defense spending and Western troop withdrawal from Afghanistan would not hit demand, and they stood to benefit from fewer boots being on the ground in the future. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones, are used extensively in Afghanistan. Some companies exhibiting their UAVs at the Farnborough Airshow this week said they are likely to benefit from a general drive to let robots do dangerous or boring work, taking soldiers out of harm's way. "(Cuts) will always have an effect ... but intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tends to be the first thing deployed before a battle begins and the last thing before it ends," Ed Walby, Northrop Grumman's business development direct for the Global Hawk, told Reuters. "In theory, something like a Global Hawk should do well in a budget tightening," he said on the sidelines of the airshow. The Global Hawk has been used by the Pentagon in Afghanistan since 2001 when U.S. and Afghan forces ousted the Taliban in a military operation following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Unlike General Atomics' Predator, which is used extensively in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, the high-altitude Global Hawk is unarmed and is primarily used to collect satellite and infrared images of land. The Global Hawk also costs significantly more than the Predator, with a price tag of at least $30 million, something which Walby defended on grounds that it lasts for many years, making it less disposable than a Predator. Both Washington and London have said they want their troops out of Afghanistan within the next five years and U.S. President Barack Obama sees his troop withdrawal timetable starting as early as next year. The scale-down by NATO's top two contributors in the conflict does not faze France's Thales (TCFP.PA) either, which is the only company making drones for Britain's Defence Ministry (MOD). Thales has developed the Watchkeeper drone for the MOD and expects it to be used in Afghanistan from next year. At least six of its Hermes 450 UAVs are leased to the MOD in Afghanistan. "The MOD still has a big pot of money it has to spend," Thales spokeswoman Kathryn Bell said. "As soon as Watchkeeper goes into theatre we'd expect to see interest turn into much stronger interest." Walby also emphasised Global Hawk's use in environmental disasters where it has been used to survey the forest fires which devastated parts of California in 2008 and the Haiti Earthquake in February. General Atomics has reached out to markets beyond the U.S. and Western Europe, tapping strong demand in the Middle East and North Africa for an unarmed version of the Predator. It has also applied for a license to sell to Pakistan. General Atomics' head of business development, Christopher Ames, told Reuters earlier this week that the Predator's relatively low cost of $4 million to $15 million an aircraft, sparked growing demand from U.S. homeland security officials, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Spain. (Additional Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Richard Chang)

DTN News: AIRSHOW-US Continuing To Work With Saudis On Arms Deal

DTN News: AIRSHOW-US Continuing To Work With Saudis On Arms Deal

* Deal said to include 84 Boeing F-15 fighters * Timetable uncertain given changes in Saudi leadership

Source: DTN News / Reuters

(NSI News Source Info) FARNBOROUGH, England - July 23, 2010: The United States is working closely with Saudi Arabia on a possible arms sale worth close to $30 billion that includes 84 Boeing Co (BA.N) F-15 fighter jets, U.S. government officials familiar with the plan said on Thursday. The arms sale package, still subject to congressional approval, would include dozens of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters built by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp (UTX.N), missile defense equipment and ships. "Those are all work in progress," Navy Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa, director of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, told Reuters in an interview at the Farnborough Airshow. "We'll just continue to move forward." Wieringa, who oversees foreign arms sales, said he could not give any timetable for completion of the deal, given recent appointments of new air force and navy chiefs in Saudi Arabia. "They may have different defense visions and I need to be respectful of the new leaders," said Wieringa, who is due to retire at the end of the month. "It's important for us to work together." Boeing declined comment. No comment was immediately available from United Technologies. The arms sale would also likely include new coastal warships. The U.S. Navy is expected to pick the winning designs for the new warships in mid-August. Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and the U.S. unit of Australia's Austal (ASB.AX) are competing for the deal, valued at well over $5 billion. Defense industry executives at the air show outside London have said they saw strong interest in U.S. weapons from cash-rich Gulf nations this week. They say the Obama administration has taken strong steps to encourage arms sales to U.S. allies given its interest in promoting security cooperation. U.S. officials say Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are worried about Iran's alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. In the interview with Reuters, conducted on Monday, Wieringa said the phrase "security cooperation" was mentioned 22 times in the U.S. quadrennial defense review completed earlier this year, versus five times in the previous defense review. He said he was receiving strong support from senior Pentagon leaders for arms sales around the world, and in this case, from the military services as well. Once the United States and Saudi Arabia reach agreement on a deal, the Pentagon will conduct discussions with congressional aides to ensure the support of U.S. lawmakers and address any concerns. Then, Wieringa's agency would send a formal notification to Congress, giving lawmakers 30 days to object to the deal. Generally, notifications are not sent unless lawmakers have already generally agreed to the sale. Saudi Arabia was the biggest buyer of U.S. weapons during a four-year span of 2005 through 2008, with $11.2 billion in deals, according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-ESa with additional reporting by Adam Entous; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

DTN News: Eurofighter Typhoon Squares Up To F-35 Challenge

DTN News: Eurofighter Typhoon Squares Up To F-35 Challenge

Source: DTN News - - this article / report compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including BBC News By Jorn Madslien reporting from Farnborough Air Show

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 23, 2010: The Eurofighter Typhoon is unique in modern combat aircraft in that there are four separate assembly lines. Each partner company assembles its own national aircraft, but builds the same parts for all 683 aircraft (including exports). A fifth assembly line will be established for the final 48 Saudi aircraft.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine canard-delta wing multirole aircraft designed and built by a consortium of three companies: Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems, and EADS working through a holding company Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986. The project is managed by NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency) which acts as the prime customer. The series production of the Eurofighter Typhoon is underway, and the aircraft is being procured under three separate contracts (named "tranches"), each for aircraft with generally improved capabilities. The aircraft has entered service with the British Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe, the Italian Air Force, the Spanish Air Force and the Austrian Air Force. Saudi Arabia has signed a contract worth £4.43 billion (approx. €6.4 billion c. 2007, $9.5 billion) for 72 aircraft.

Typhoon fighter jet test pilot Craig Penrice no longer flies. Seven years ago he ejected from a jet with engine failure and ended up with a broken back and a new career. These days Mr Penrice is a member of Eurofighter's business development team, pitching the Typhoon to air crews, air forces and defence ministries around the world. "I want the boys who do the jobs I used to do to have the best equipment available," he says. When the Typhoon was introduced in the mid 90s, Mr Penrice was the first Royal Air Force pilot to fly it. The aircraft was built to meet criteria hammered out by four European defence ministries - those in the UK, Spain, Germany and Italy. It is now in series production, being built by a consortium of European military manufacturers, including BAE Systems in the UK, the Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aeronautica in Italy and the European aerospace and defence giant EADS. "Eurofighter is a plane that's really found its time," BAE Systems' group business development director Alan Garwood tells the BBC. "It's a multi-role combat aircraft that delivers for the Royal Air Force, for the Saudis and the other European nations that have bought it so far a really tremendous fourth generation capability that will survive for years." Eurofighter's Craig Penrice says jets should be judged on performance, not politics.

Fast and nimble At Farnborough, BAE Systems test pilot Nat Makepeace looks relaxed as he gets ready for the mission of the day. Mr Makepeace is preparing to fly a Eurofighter Typhoon, complete with six air-to-air missiles, four laser-guided bombs and three fuel tanks, in the air show aerial display. "Fingers off buttons," he quips, though the biggest challenge will be the weight added to the fully loaded aircraft as he sets out to showcase the jet's manoeuvrability. A trial in a flight simulator in the Eurofighter challet gives a taster of what he will have to contend with, and what the jet can do. The Typhoon is a hugely capable fighter jet, according to Mr Penrice. "In performance terms, it is very similar to an F-22," he insists, pointing to how both aircraft are very nimble and can fly at great heights and at high speed.

Ideal combinations In a world without political considerations, Eurofighter's Typhoon and Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor might have been rival multijet combat jets, according to Mr Penrice. In the real world, however, they are not. The Pentagon does not to permit Lockheed Martin to sell the much admired jet outside the US. Instead, the Raptor programme was halted last year, effective from 2011, leaving the US Air Force with 187 F-22 Raptor jets. The F-22 is to be used alongside the F-35 Lightning II, or Joint Strike Fighter, a jet currently in development. A similar and equally suitable jet combination for European nations could be the Typhoon and the F-35, Mr Penrice says. Both combinations would benefit from the F-35's capabilities, which includes using it for bombing raids, with the speed and agility of either the Raptor or the Typhoon, he reasons. About 100,000 European jobs are supported by the Eurofighter programme Instead, in the world of defence budgets the F-35 has emerged as a rival to the Typhoon. This was highlighted by a decision by Italy this week to cancel a 2bn euros order for its final 25 Typhoons - about a fifth of its original order - while at the same time saying it will go ahead and buy F-35 aircraft. With defence budget cuts looming in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, many at Farnborough predict that other customers will follow suit. The F-35 is often described as a fifth generation aircraft, and as such it could be deemed superior to the Typhoon. But Mr Penrice disputes this, insisting they are both good planes, but they are built for different purposes.

Performance, price, politics The F-35 cannot supercruise, it is not extremely agile, and its so-called stealth, or technology that makes it harder to detect, is limited, he claims. Indeed, Mr Penrice even challenges the notion of fifth generation jets, insisting it is a term that seems to be mainly used for marketing purposes. As such, he reasons, it creates "mis-understandings and spreads mis-information". The way Mr Penrice sees it, three factors are considered when a fighter jet is chosen: performance, price and politics. And these days, he insists, it is politics that rules. For starters, when governments choose to pour money into a jet programme, they want industrial expertise and they want manufacturing jobs in return. With the Typhoon, they have got that in spades, he insists, pointing out that some 100,000 European jobs are supported by the Eurofighter programme. Many of those are the sort of jobs that maintain skills that enable Europe to remain autonomous rather than relying on the US, he reasons.

Key criteria In the skies above Farnborough, Mr Makepeace wows the crowds with his aerial acrobatics. But defence ministry and industry officials are also treated to a display by United States Air Force F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team Commander Major Dave 'Zeke' Skalicky, giving them first-hand views of the two planes' performance. As a pilot, Mr Penrice would have liked performance to be the key criteria for countries choosing which fighter jets to buy. But he also realises that defence budgets are cut both in Europe and the US, price and politics may play ever greater roles going forward. And with many countries being "unwilling to move away from American products" for political reasons, he fears some pilots will be flying the wrong jets for their missions.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com. and may be forwarded or republished on your website with attribution to http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/

DTN News: Russian Air Force Will Receive New Su-35S Multi-Role Fighter In 2010

DTN News: Russian Air Force Will Receive New Su-35S Multi-Role Fighter In 2010

Source: DTN News - - this article / report compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including Aviation Week

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 23, 2010: The modernized Su-35's new nose holds an improved passive electronically scanned array radar and the aircraft featured many other upgrades to its avionics and electronic systems, including digital fly-by-wire and a rear-looking radar for firing Semi-Active Radar missiles.

The Russian air force will take delivery of its first Su-35S fighter by the end of 2010, with a Libyan deal for the aircraft also anticipated to be concluded in the same time-frame Sukhoi CEO Mikhail Pogosyan, speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow, confirms that the air force would begin to receive the latest upgrade of the Su-27 Flanker before the year is out. The Su-35S, sometime also known as the Su-27M2, matches the Flanker airframe with more powerful 117S engines, thrust vector control and new avionics and systems. Sukhoi executives say the aircraft’s radar signature has been reduced through the use of radar absorbent coatings as well as reducing the number of protruding sensors. Preliminary testing of Su-35 has now been concluded according to the company. The initial flight test program was completed using two rather than the planned three aircraft after the third was lost as a result of a fire following a problem during taxi trials. So far 270 flights have been made totaling 350 flight-hours. A further focus during the initial trials was at the fighter’s onboard equipment. The Su-35 is equipped with the NIIP Tikhomirov Irbis passive phased-array radar. The radar is intended to be able to track 30 airborne targets and engage 8 of them while at the same time tracking 4 and engaging 2 ground targets. According to Pogosyan, during the trials the radar showed a maximum detection range against the airborne targets of 400 km. The Su-35’s infra-red search and track was able to detect and simultaneously track several targets at ranges in excess of more than 80 km. The reported service life of the new aircraft is 6,000 flight hours, with a planned operational life of 30 years. The intended service life of NPO Saturn 117S engines is 4,000 hours, say the designers. Suhkoi is now moving into joint evaluation trials with the Russian Air Force, pilots from the latter are already participating in the test program. The Russian air force presently has an order for 48 Su-35S aircraft to be delivered by 2015. The aircraft was initially promoted to the Russian military as an interim platform until the fifth generation fighter being developed by the Sukhoi enters in service in 2016. Now Pogosyan is sure the air force will continue the procurement of Su-35 beyond this date – a second batch for the same number is anticipated in the latter half of the decade. The T-50 fifth-generation prototype is now in the early stages of flight testing. Tripoli will likely be the launch export customer. Alexander Mikheev, deputy head of Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-owned arms export agency, confirmed at Farnborough that the contract for delivery of undisclosed number of aircraft to Libya, one of the traditional recipients of Soviet armaments, is expected to be signed this year. The first export production slots are available from 2012. Pogosyan says he has “no knowledge” of a purported 40-60 aircraft government-to-government Indian deal for the Su-35 that could be proposed if the aircraft does not make the short list for India’s medium fighter competition, expected to be decided at year’s end. In addition to the Su-35, the Su-30 also has “good export prospects,” he says, mainly from existing customers. Pogosyan says the T-50 will make its public debut at the upcoming Moscow Air Show in August. He expects that ultimately the PAK FA will be available to export customers at a price that is higher than fourth-generation models but still “affordable” compared to competing Western fighters. “Russian fighters have always been competitive on the global market,” he notes, “and the PAK FA will not be an exception.” The absence of Russian combat aircraft here, he says, was dictated by a pure business decision to display the aircraft only at shows that have a reasonable chance of generating sales, rather than for reasons of prestige. Legal issues involving a Swiss creditor, which have kept fighters away from Farnborough in past years, played “absolutely no role this year,” he says. However, a broad palette of combat aircraft will be shown at the upcoming Moscow Air Show, including the T-50. Pogosyan admits that Russia will be faced with an increasing challenge from China, which practices even lower pricing. He agrees that China’s Shenyang J-15 is a “copy” of the Su-33 and that this raises intellectual property issues. However, he insists that lower pricing will be offset by poorer performance. “We’re not afraid of competition, even when it’s unfair. Learning how to integrate complex advanced fighter technology takes time.”

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com. and may be forwarded or republished on your website with attribution to http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/