Italy to be punished for sole source aircraft contracts

October 17, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Agusta Westland, Contract Awards, Italy, Military Aviation, commercial aviation, production program

Earlier this year the European Union had judged that Italy violated contract laws by awarding helicopter contracts only to state owned Agusta. Now that Italy has failed to take any mitigating steps they are moving to punish the country. Italy had claimed national security reasons for only considering Agusta to provide the aircraft. This is part of an effort by the EU leadership to allow competition across at least the countries of the EU.

For more see Rueters.com.

Tags: Contract Awards, contract laws, european union, helicopter, Italy, leadership, national security reasons

US Navy continues production of Fire Scout

September 29, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Contract Awards, Military Aviation, Northrop Grumman Corp., U.S. Navy, development program

The MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV made by Northorp Grumman for the Navy entered LRIP last year with a successful Milestone C decision. The Navy has continued production by executing the second year of Low Rate production. The Fire Scout lands and takes off vertically and can operate from the helicopter decks of Navy ship. The system will enter Technical Evaluation this year. The contract is worth over $32 M and is the second of three years of LRIP. Once LRIP and testing is complete the Navy will conduct a Full Rate Production decision to allow the Navy to buy larger quantities with a proven system. The US military has invested heavily in USV over the last ten years with some successes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

See the press release at MarketWatch.com

Tags: 8b, decks, fire scout, grumman, helicopter, lrip, milestone, navy ship, news story, northorp grumman, Northrop Grumman Corp., production decision, proven system, quantities, scout story, technical evaluation

Army to buy more CH-47 aircraft

August 26, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Contract Awards, Military Aviation, U.S. Army, production program

The Army awarded Boeing a 5 year contract for CH-47F cargo helicopters. The number procured is 181 with 10 options. There will also likely be some FMS sales from this contract. The CH-47F is the latest variant of the helicopter with sophisticated avionics and improved capabilities. 48 have been built to date. The CH-47F is one of the programs that was birthed from the Comanche termination. The others being the UH-60M, UH-72A and the JCA fixed wing aircraft. The CH-47F is especially effective in Afghanistan due to its high altitude and temperature capabilities.

To see the press release go to the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch here.

Tags: afghanistan, army contract, Boeing, cargo helicopters, comanche, helicopter, high altitude, news story, press release, sophisticated avionics, temperature capabilities, wall street, wall street journal, wing aircraft

BAE may expand Michigan facility

March 24, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: BAE Systems, Michigan, development program, production program

This story is about how BAE Systems possible expanded production of MRAP’s and their submission of a bid for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) contract may allow them to enlarge their Michigan facility. Right now no production is done there, but the demand for the MRAP or JLTV may lead that to be done at their Sterling Heights facility. While there has been consolidation in the US defense industry since 1990, the demands of the current budgets have made it possible for the companies to invest in physical plant to increase production and repair of key items. Read more

Tags: anniston al, army depots, bae systems, budgets, columbus ms, consolidation, EADS, helicopter, M1, m2, michigan facility, mobile al, MRAP, Protest, sterling heights, submission, subsidiary, UH-72A, us defense industry

EADS and Tata ink agreement

February 19, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: BAE Systems, EADS, India, Sikorsky, Tata, commercial aviation

Tata just does not make the cheapest car in the world, but has now begun forging agreements with foreign defense companies to bid on Indian contracts. See The Financial Times for more on this. Tata has joined with EADS to begin preparation for bidding on a communication contract. They have signed with Sikorsky to make helicopter cabins, and is also in talks with BAE. This is a sensible way for the large company to begin getting into the defense business. Of course, with the US companies the export controls may limit what they can do.

Tags: defense business, export controls, financial times, helicopter, indian contracts

Connecticut politicians lobby for Sikorsky for VH-71 contract

February 9, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Contract Awards, Federal Budget Process, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky, U.S. Navy, commercial aviation, development program

A group of 11 Congressman, mainly from Connecticut, wrote a letter to DoD asking for the Lockheed contract be canceled and put out for re-bid. See Hartford Courant for more. The hope is that Sikorsky will win the recompete. Read more

Tags: capability, congressman, Connecticut, hartford courant, helicopter, helicopters, increment, lockheed, sac, time frame, U.S. Navy, vh

Army signs contract for development of composite helicopter drivetrain components

January 30, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Contract Awards, U.S. Army, V Systems Composites, development program, logistics

According to Rotorhub.com, the US Army has awarded a ID/IQ development contract to V Systems Composites worth up to $20M. The contract is to rapidly develop and implement composite rotorcraft drive train components. See the press release here. For more information on V Systems Composites see this as well. Obviously the development of non-metal transmission parts may offer benefits in reliability and weight. How easy it will be to design and fabricate such parts will have to be seen.

Tags: helicopter

U.S. Army and Navy Sign Five Year Production Contract with Sikorsky for UH-60 Aircraft

December 21, 2007 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Cobham Defense Electronic Systems, Contract Awards, Sikorsky, U.S. Army

The US Army awarded Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (SAC) a five year contract for the production of UH-60 utility helicopters. The UH-60 is the primary transport aircraft in service with the US Army. It also operates off of US Navy ships in a variety of roles such as logistic support and anti-submarine warfare. The contract is for over 500 aircraft and has a potential value of over 11 Billion dollars. See the SAC Press Release.

Tags: helicopter, Military Aviation, UH-60

EADS North America Celebrates A Strong Year Of The UH-72A Program

December 21, 2007 by Dagpotter · 1 Comment
Filed under: EADS, U.S. Army

EADS North America is the prime contractor for the Army’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program. The LUH aircraft is a variant of the EC-145 aircraft and is designated the UH-72A Lakota by the Army. The press release, EADS North America completes a strong year of achievement for the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter, published 11 December describes the program’s successes in the last 18 months since contract award. As EADS NA states “During the past 12 months, the LUH program has achieved all of the Light Utility Helicopter Program’s targeted milestones – including full-rate production authorization from the Army, the issuance of FAA production certification authority for U.S.-built UH-72As, and the Lakota’s service introduction with Army units.” The original contract was awarded 30 Jun 06 and the first option in October, 2006, were for 42 aircraft, training and logistics support.

Tags: EC-145, helicopter, Lakota, LUH, Military Aviation, UH-72A