Monday, August 01, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated August 1, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated August 1, 2011
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 1, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued August 1, 2011 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

ARMY

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded a $904,184,088 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure 6,963 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with three bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0159).

Hellfire Systems, L.L.C., Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $159,018,990 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of 3,097 Hellfire missiles in containers; 16 Hellfire II guidance test articles; and engineering, equipment, and production services. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. One sole-source bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-11-C-0242).

Wilhelm Commercial Builders, Inc., Annapolis Junction, Md., was awarded a $49,999,999 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity task-order contract. The award will provide for the construction services for the Baltimore-Washington corridor with availability to be utilized throughout the continental United States. Work location will be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of July 29, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with nine bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-11-D-0017).

Olin Corp., East Alton, Ill., was awarded a $29,372,473 firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract. The award will provide for the procurement of 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 small caliber ammunition. Work will be performed in East Alton, Ill., with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2017. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-11-C-0038).

Okland Construction, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, was awarded a $22,282,136 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the design and construction of the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group hangar at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz. Work will be performed in Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, with an estimated completion date of July 18, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 15 bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, Calif., is the contracting activity (W912PL-11-C-0007).

Delfasco, L.L.C., Afton, Tenn. (W15QKN-11-D-0198), and Conco, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (W15QKN-11-C-0192), were awarded a $19,859,690 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award-task-order contract between two contractors. The award will provide for the facilities, personnel and equipment for the manufacture of the PA 117 container. Work location will be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of July 11, 2020. Four bids were solicited, with four bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity.

AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded an $18,682,819 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for the engineering services in support of the Shadow 200 unmanned aircraft system. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2013. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-11-C-0103).

Alliant Lake City Small Caliber Ammunition Co., L.L.C., Independence, Mo., was awarded a $7,968,389 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the production base support projects at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. Work will be performed in Independence, Mo., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2012. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (DAAA09-99-E-0002).

BWAY Corp., Atlanta, Ga., was awarded a $7,366,564 firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract. The award will provide for the procurement of 797,986 M2A1 ammunition containers in support of various contracts for small caliber ammunition production. Work will be performed in Atlanta, Ga., with an estimated completion date of April 26, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-09-C-0030).

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Corp., Archbold, Pa. (FA8213-11-D-0008), and Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Ariz. (FA8213-11-D-0007), are being awarded a $475,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Paveway II laser-guided bomb computer control groups (seekers) and GBU-12 air foil groups (tail kits). The Ogden Air Logistics Center/GHGKA, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity.

The University of Dayton Research Institution, Dayton, Ohio, is being awarded a $24,510,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursement contract to provide testing, evaluation, and the incidental research and development of advanced polymer materials, equipment and processes, and to provide for the operation and maintenance of the Coatings Technology Integration Office, Special Test and Research facilities, and Erosion facilities at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where work will be performed. The Air Force Research Laboratories/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-11-D-5602).

ITT Industries, Inc., Systems Division, Cape Canaveral, Fla., is being awarded a $13,465,960 cost-plus-award-fee contract modification for Spacelift Range System contract support for increased depot level software maintenance for the operationally accepted Range Standard Architecture System, to include the transition and ongoing sustainment of range standard architecture for both the Eastern and Western ranges. Work will be performed at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The Space and Missile Systems Center Space Logistics Group/PK, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity (F04701-01-C-0001, P00693).

Planning Professional, Ltd., Allen, Texas, is being awarded a $12,418,640 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for event planning services in support of the Air Force Reserve Command Yellow Ribbon Program. Work will be performed at Allen, Texas; Summerfield, N.C.; and Twinsburg, Ohio. The Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command/A7KA, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA6643-11-D-0004).

BAE Systems, Nashua, N.H., is being awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for one Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance-Imaging System with options for two additional systems. The Air Force Materiel Command, Aeronautical Systems Center, 645th Aeronautical Systems Group/WIJK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-11-G-4029 0008).

Chugach Management Services, J.V., Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded an $8,811,927 firm-fixed-price contract for civil engineering management services. Work will be performed at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center/PKOC, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is the contracting activity (FA9401-11-C-0010).

NAVY

General Electric Aircraft Engines, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $71,484,930 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0088) to exercise an option for the supplemental engine requirement to procure (18) F414-GE-400 engines and (18) F414-GE-400 engine device kits. The F414-GE-400 engine powers the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass. (44.8 percent); Madisonville, Ky. (18.1 percent); Evandale, Ohio (14.1 percent); Hooksett, N.H. (10.4 percent); Rutland, Vt. (3.9 percent); Dayton, Ohio (2.2 percent); Jacksonville, Fla. (1.5 percent); Muskegon, Mich. (1.4 percent); Terre Haute, Ind. (1.4 percent); Bromont, Canada (1.2 percent); and Asheville, N.C. (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed in July 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Network Centric Solutions, Marlborough, Mass., is being awarded a $67,030,102 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus fixed-fee/cost-plus incentive-fee/firm-fixed-price hybridcontract for the procurement of highly specialized engineering services to meet the Navy’s Satellite Communications Program requirements to include, but not limited to, the following systems produced by Raytheon: Extremely High Frequency (EHF); Super High Frequency (SHF) WSC-6 (v)5/7; Global Broadcast Service (GBS); Submarine High Date Rate (SUB HDR); and Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT). Work will be performed in Marlborough, Mass. (84.49 percent), Chula Vista, Calif. (13.51 percent), and Sterling, Va. (2 percent). Work is expected to be completed by August 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured because Raytheon Co., Network Centric Solutions, is the sole manufacturer and current maintainer of the EHF, SHF (AN/WSC-6 (v)5/7), GBS, SUB HDR, and NMT systems and is the only source that possesses the detailed knowledge and unique expertise necessary to provide the required engineering services without substantial duplication of cost to the government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-11-D-0045).

Oceaneering International, Inc., Chesapeake, Va., is being awarded a $47,429,395 modification to previously awarded contract (N65540-05-D-0012) to provide continuing Subsafe engineering and technical services to support submarine, Subsafe, and Level I material work onboard Seawolf (SSN 21) class, Los Angeles (SSN 688) class, Ohio class (SSBN), and Virginia class submarines. Work will be performed in Puget Sound, Wash. (60 percent), Norfolk, Va. (30 percent), and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by May 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $15,000,000 dollars will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Ship Systems Engineering Station, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

Toyon Research Corp.*, Goleta, Calif., is being awarded a $12,109,000 indefinite- quantity/indefinite-delivery contract for the procurement of various antennas and ancillary parts, which are integrated into communication jamming pods and electronic warfare laboratories, spares, and the incidental engineering required to fabricate, modify and/or maintain the antenna and feed assemblies. Work will be performed in Goleta, Calif., and is expected to be completed in August 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Center, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-11-D-0027).

Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded a $8,657,273 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-5124) to exercise options for fiscal 2011 technical and engineering support and related operation and maintenance of the Navy’s Combat Systems Engineering Development Site and technical engineering support of the SPY-1A test lab and Naval Systems Computing Center. Work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J., and is expected to be completed by October 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

SoBran, Inc.*, Dayton, Ohio, is being awarded an $8,453,652 modification to a previously awarded time-and-material, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N68936-05-D-0042) to provide 308,072 hours of logistics production support for the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast, Jacksonville. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla. (95 percent), Oceana, Va. (3 percent), and Beaufort, S.C. (2 percent). Work is expected to be completed in May 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $7,351,328 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-5448) for three refurbished and upgraded rolling airframe missile MK 49 Mod 3 Guided Missile Launch Systems with associated hardware for LHA 7 and LCS 5. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by March 2013. 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.

Pathfinder Systems, Inc.*, Arvada, Colo., is being awarded a $6,717,214 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project under Topic N03-190 forthe Phase III operational prototype Marine Common Aircrew Trainer (MCAT) prototype two. This SBIR Phase III project will implement a baseline configuration upgrade based on the previously delivered MCAT prototype one and will build upon previously demonstrated and delivered Phase II simulation technologies. Work will be performed in Arvada, Colo. (95 percent), and the Naval Air Station Miramar, Miramar, Calif. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This Phase III contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-5. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61340-11-C-0021).

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $6,693,470 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-5437) for engineering and technical services in support of the MK15 Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System. The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System is a fast reaction terminal defense against low- and high-flying, high-speed maneuvering anti-ship missile threats that have penetrated all other ships’ defenses. The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System is an integral element of the fleet defense in-depth concept and the Ship Self-Defense Program. Operating either autonomously or integrated with a combat system, it is an automatic terminal defense weapon system designed to detect, track, engage, and destroy anti-ship missile threats penetrating other defense envelopes. Phalanx Close-In Weapon System is currently installed on approximately 187 Navy ships and is in use in more than 20 foreign militaries. This effort includes the governments of Japan and Saudi Arabia (1 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by April 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $200,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Meggitt Polymers, Rockmart, Ga., was awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, requirements type contract with a maximum $9,500,706 for aircraft fuel tanks. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. The date of performance completion is July 2017. The Defense Logistics Agency Procurement Operations, Warner Robins, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (SPRWA1-11-D-0016).

General Petroleum*, Rancho Dominquez, Calif., was issued a line item modification on the current contract SP0600-11-D-0360/P00002. Award is a fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract with a maximum $6,920,760 for marine gas oil. Other location of performance is San Francisco, Calif. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. The date of performance completion is April 30, 2015. The Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity.

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DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistan US Relations Downhill - China Relation Uphill

DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistan US Relations Downhill - China Relation Uphill
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 1, 2011:

U.S. being preoccupied with its debt crisis during entire month of July, 2011 was unable to entertain ISI Head, Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha’s US visit and withheld $800 million economy and military aid with some exceptions.

The U.S. decision to defer nearly $800 million in counterterrorism funding to Pakistan in recent weeks was a necessary step, given the ejection of U.S. military trainers from Pakistan, ongoing concerns over the misuse of U.S. aid dollars, and mounting evidence of Pakistani complicity with insurgent groups.

It is believed on

General Ahmad Shuja Pasha's return from U.S.,

and unable regain the flow of U.S. aid with Washington, the Pakistani

were

displeased and

took some retaliatory actions against Obama

administration with immediate effect for CIA to close shop and imposed restrictions on American embassy staff

travel

movements in Pakistan. The top US military chief warned that US-Pakistan military-to-military ties were at a “very difficult” crossroads, allowing that a path to progress on that front was not yet clear.

In the interim, China consoled Pakistan with an offer to provide a squadron of the advanced J-10B fighter aircraft, a media report said. According to reliable sources, China's cost per J-10 fighter aircraft is RMB 190 million or US$ 27.84 million and for a squadron of 16 aircrafts, the tag price would be US$ 500 million.

The offer was made by senior Chinese military leaders to visiting Pakistan Army's Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Waheed Arshad, the Urdu daily Jang reported on Saturday, quoting defence sources.

The J-10B fighters are equipped with the latest weapons and Pakistan will be the first country, after China, to have these advanced aircraft, it said.

The J-10B fighter aircrafts are the crossroad between US and Pakistan relations which will take it's course in conjunction with Afghanistan, it is times to be seen by the pundits further downgrading US relations since Obama ordered the raid at Osama's Abbottabad in Pakistan.

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DTN News - OSHKOSH DEFENSE NEWS: Oshkosh Defense To Deliver Nearly 7000 Additional FMTV Trucks And Trailers To The U.S. Army

DTN News - OSHKOSH DEFENSE NEWS: Oshkosh Defense To Deliver Nearly 7000 Additional FMTV Trucks And Trailers To The U.S. Army
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / OSHKOSH, WI – August 1, 2011: Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), will deliver nearly 7,000 additional Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) trucks and trailers to the U.S. Army following an order from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC). Oshkosh has now received orders for nearly 26,000 FMTV trucks and trailers, and is delivering vehicles to meet the Army’s delivery schedule.

“We continue to support the Army on this successful program with the on-time delivery of very high-quality, Oshkosh-built FMTV trucks and trailers,” said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager of Army Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “Our robust manufacturing capabilities, combined with the exceptional value Oshkosh brings to this program as a specialty vehicle manufacturer, prompted the Army to order more vehicles at an earlier point in the program than they had anticipated before the award to Oshkosh.”

The FMTV supports Army and National Guard units at home and abroad in combat operations, relief efforts, unit-resupply missions and other functions. The FMTV is a series of 17 models ranging from 2.5-ton to 10-ton payloads. Vehicles have a parts commonality of more than 80 percent, resulting in streamlined maintenance, training, sustainment and overall cost efficiency.

Oshkosh has more than 90 years of experience mobilizing the U.S. military, and the company is the only supplier of the Army’s medium and heavy tactical wheeled vehicle fleets. Oshkosh incorporated its rigorous quality checks and production standards into its work on the FMTV program to ensure delivery of high-quality trucks and trailers.

This is the latest order under the five-year FMTV contract awarded to Oshkosh Defense for the production of trucks and trailers, as well as support services and training, through calendar year 2015. The order is valued at more than $904 million and deliveries are scheduled to be completed in June 2013.

About Oshkosh Defense

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visit www.oshkoshdefense.com.

About Oshkosh Corporation

Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline, SMIT, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, visit www.oshkoshcorporation.com.

®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the expected level and timing of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) procurement of products and services and funding thereof; risks related to reductions in government expenditures in light of U.S. defense budget pressures and an uncertain DoD tactical wheeled vehicle strategy; the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially during periods of global economic weakness, tight credit markets and lower municipal spending; the Company’s ability to produce vehicles under the FMTV contract at targeted margins; the duration of the ongoing global economic weakness, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets and/or a slower recovery in the Company’s cyclical businesses than equity market expectations; the impact on revenues and margins of the decrease in M-ATV production rates; the potential for the U.S. government to competitively bid the Company’s Army and Marine Corps contracts; risks related to work stoppages and other labor matters, especially in light of the pending contract expiration for union employees at the Company’s Oshkosh defense facilities; the consequences of financial leverage, which could limit the Company’s ability to pursue various opportunities; increasing commodity and other raw material costs, particularly in a sustained economic recovery; the ability to pass on to customers price increases to offset higher input costs; risks related to costs and charges as a result of facilities consolidation and alignment, including that anticipated cost savings may not be achieved; risks related to the collectability of receivables, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; the cost of any warranty campaigns related to the Company’s products; risks related to production delays arising from supplier quality or production issues; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; the potential for disruptions or cost overruns in the Company’s global enterprise resource planning system implementation; the potential for increased costs relating to compliance with changes in laws and regulations; risks related to disruptions in the Company’s distribution networks; and the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this press release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.

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DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Army Selects Lockheed Martin’s SMSS Autonomous Vehicle For Afghanistan Deployment

DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Army Selects Lockheed Martin’s SMSS Autonomous Vehicle For Afghanistan Deployment
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / DALLAS, TX - August 1, 2011:

The U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force, through the Robotics Technology Consortium, selected the Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) to deploy to Afghanistan for a first-of-its-kind military assessment. SMSS will deploy as the winner of the Project Workhorse Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) competition sponsored by the Army.

The largest autonomous vehicle ever to be deployed with infantry, the 11-foot-long SMSS can carry more than half-a-ton of a squad’s equipment on rugged terrain, easing the individual soldier’s burden, which can often exceed 100 pounds.

“SMSS is the result of more than a decade of robotic technology development, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate this capability in theater, where it can have an immediate impact at the squad level,” said Scott Greene, vice president of ground vehicles in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business. “The Army has tested the system’s capabilities in three domestic user assessments, and SMSS has been deemed ready to deploy.”

As part of the three-month Military Utility Assessment (MUA), four vehicles and a field service representative will support light infantry in theater as the service evaluates how autonomous vehicles can support or ease the equipment burden for deployed troops. A fifth vehicle and an engineering team will remain in the U.S. for analysis and additional support. The Army plans to begin the Afghanistan assessment late this year, after a period of evaluations and training.

“An in-theater assessment is the next logical step in the process of informing the requirements for the Army’s future squad-sized UGV developments,” Greene said.

A fully-loaded SMSS is internally transportable on board CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters, providing new logistics capability to light and early-entry forces. The SMSS Block I variant, which will be deployed, has a range of 125 miles and features three control options: supervised autonomy, tele-operation or manually driven. The SMSS sensor suite allows it to lock on and follow any person by recognizing their digital 3-D profile (captured by the onboard sensors), and it can also navigate terrain on its own following a trail of GPS waypoints.

In addition to a month-long MUA at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2009, SMSS has been selected for further evaluation as part of the Army’s Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) Spiral G in November this year. While SMSS has already demonstrated its ability to reduce soldier loads and provide portable power, the November experiment will evaluate its ability to field a reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition mission equipment package.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

Craig Vanbebber, (972) 603-1615, email craig.vanbebber@lmco.com

For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/mfc

Lockheed Martin Related News;
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