Northrop Grumman Team Awarded CANES Development Contract
Northrop Grumman Team Awarded CANES Development ContractMarch 5, 2010
SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for the development phase of the U.S. Navy's Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program. CANES will streamline and update shipboard network systems to
improve interoperability and affordability across the fleet.
A team led by Northrop Grumman received a $17.4 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-incentive-fee,
cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract, one of two CANES Common Computing Environment system development contracts awarded by the Program Executive Office C4I, Tactical Networks Program Manager (PMW-160) in San Diego on March 4. Work under the contract is expected to be complete in April 2011.
If all options are exercised, the contract will include system production through September 2014 and be valued at $775 million.
IBM Global Business Services, Bethesda, Md., is Northrop Grumman's major technology and services partner on CANES.
The CANES program is an investment in a modernized command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) architecture that will increase security while significantly reducing development, deployment and lifecycle costs.
"As the Navy elevates information to a core warfighting capability and effects full maritime domain awareness, the foundational infrastructure must be based on a secure, reliable and interoperable network," said Linda A. Mills, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Information Systems sector. "The Northrop Grumman team is honored and 'at the ready' to take on this vital effort for information age operations."
Northrop Grumman builds more ships, in more ship classes, than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. The company also has more than 40 years of C4ISR experience and has fielded the majority of the Navy's C4ISR applications.
"Our team's approach focuses on providing required C4ISR infrastructure capabilities at minimal total ownership cost. We designed a technically and financially superior solution by applying the Northrop Grumman-developed Modular Open Systems Approach -
Competitive™ (MOSA-C(TM) ) process, an enduring, vendor- and product-neutral, model-based architecture that leverages our in-depth
knowledge and domain experience across the Navy," said Michael Twyman, vice president for Integrated Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence Systems at Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman's MOSA-C(TM) is a strategic business and engineering process that realizes the life-cycle benefits of open-systems architecture and commercial off- the-shelf (COTS) components and software. Applying MOSA-C(TM), the company verified "plug and play" modularity and the ability of multiple COTS and open source products to meet CANES current and future requirements, providing a low-risk solution verified through extensive testing. Northrop Grumman also integrated a service-oriented architecture and C4ISR applications with its CANES approach, reducing the risk in deploying the next generation of C4ISR solutions for the Navy.
The Northrop Grumman-led team also includes key small-business partners Atlas Technologies, Charleston, S.C.; Beatty and Company Computing, Juno Technologies, and Syzygy Technologies, Inc., all based in San Diego; and CenterBeam, Inc., San Jose, Calif.
The CANES program office for the Northrop Grumman team will be located in San Diego.
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Technorati Tags:
Information Technology (IT), Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), USN (US Navy)
Lockheed Martin Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod Program Receives William J. Perry Award
Lockheed Martin Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod Program Receives William J. Perry AwardMarch 3, 2010 2:03:00 PM
ORLANDO, Fla., -- The Precision Strike Association has awarded the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and U.S. Air Force Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) program the 14th annual William J. Perry Award. The award is presented annually to programs that strengthen the country's national security by applying precision strike capability to Department of Defense systems. The ceremony took place today at the Precision Strike Association's Winter Roundtable event in Arlington, VA.
The Sniper ATP program was selected based on its significant impact in combat operations by reducing aircrew workload, enhancing Warfighters' situation awareness, and shortening the timeline to engage enemy insurgents while helping avoid fratricide and preventing harm to the civilian population.
"The Precision Strike Association is very proud to present the William J. Perry Award to the United States Air Force and Lockheed Martin for their Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod," said Precision Strike Association chairman Andy McHugh. "This government-industry team has demonstrated the tenacity and innovation required to develop, test and field the most advanced technology for targeting and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance wrapped into a single aircraft mounted pod. The Sniper pod's advanced features are changing the way our armed forces operate in theater."
Featuring exceptional image quality and stability due to its next-generation design, the Sniper ATP delivers extremely precise weapon targeting for multiple fixed and moving targets, a high performance datalink for real-time coordination between aircrews and ground troops, and weapon damage estimation radius displays to reduce the potential for collateral damage real time in the cockpit. The Sniper pod is also heavily used as a non-traditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance asset for convoy route reconnaissance and battlefield situational awareness.
"The Sniper ATP is the most widely-deployed targeting pod in theater and we are honored to receive this recognition from the Precision Strike Association," said Ken Fuhr, Fixed-Wing Program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We remain dedicated to advancing precision strike technologies that help our customers meet their defining moments."
Deployed in theater on U.S. Air Force and coalition partner F-15, F-16, A-10 and B-1 aircraft, the Sniper ATP is also operational on the CF-18 and Harrier GR7 and GR9 aircraft. Platform expansion continues with the B-52, Tornado, Typhoon, unmanned aerial vehicles and additional aircraft.
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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)
Raytheon Delivers Targeting Pod 6 Months Ahead of Schedule
Raytheon Delivers Targeting Pod 6 Months Ahead of ScheduleMarch 3, 2010
MCKINNEY, Texas, -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) reached a milestone in January with delivery of its 414th Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared pod to the U.S. Navy six months ahead of schedule.
"This delivery reflects the true team effort, the open communication, and the tremendous amount of work, energy and skill by Raytheon and the Naval Air Systems Command," said Tim Carey, vice president for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems. "The delivery also demonstrates Raytheon's commitment to meeting our customer's requirements."
Operating at full production and eligible for foreign military sales, ATFLIR is the Navy's program of record for the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Raytheon also manufactures the pod for the air forces of Australia and Switzerland.
The first fully qualified ATFLIR pod was deployed in 2002. Eight years later, it remains the only targeting pod certified for carrier operations.
ATFLIR provides superior long-range target tracking and recognition, pinpoint targeting, high lethality, and enhanced aircraft survivability. Proved in combat with more than 500,000 operational flight hours, ATFLIR recognizes and tracks targets at altitudes and ranges substantially greater than other systems can.
Technorati Tags:
F-18 Hornet, Raytheon (NYSE:RTN), USN (US Navy)
Raytheon Targeting System Achieves 750,000 Flight-Hour Milestone
Raytheon Targeting System Achieves 750,000 Flight-Hour MilestoneFebruary 26, 2010
MCKINNEY, Texas, -- A Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) airborne targeting system whose video imagery helps soldiers, intelligence analysts and commanders in the field make critical operating decisions recently exceeded 750,000 hours of flight.
The Multi-Spectral Targeting System employs a full-motion video camera for long-range surveillance and high-altitude acquisition, tracking and laser designation from a manned or unmanned aircraft. In October 2008, C4ISR Journal magazine ranked the sensor among devices making "the biggest difference on the battlefield."
"Our solid partnership with the U.S. Air Force has enabled us to develop this unique system to meet defense requirements," said Tim Carey, vice president for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. "With 750,000 operational flight hours, this electro-optical infrared system offers proven reliability and capability that support the warfighter in operations around the world."
Raytheon developed the system for use by the Air Force on the Predator unmanned aircraft system. The company also supplies it to military forces throughout the world.
Technorati Tags:
C4ISTAR, Raytheon (NYSE:RTN), UAV
Air Force Seeks to Balance Current, Future Needs
Air Force Seeks to Balance Current, Future NeedsFebruary 23, 2010
WASHINGTON, – The Air Force’s budget request for fiscal 2011 provides the right balance between supporting the war efforts and other current-day commitments while posturing for future challenges, the top Air Force civilian and military leaders told Congress today.
The $119.6 billion request is designed to ensure the Air Force has what it needs to support four strategic priorities outlined in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley told the House Armed Services Committee.
“First, we must prevail in today’s wars,” Donley told the panel. “Your Air Force understands the gravity of the situation in Afghanistan, and as we continue to responsibly draw down the forces in Iraq, we are committed to rapidly fielding needed capabilities for the joint team.”
This, Donley said, includes surging intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets into the theater and maximizing air mobility to accelerate the flow of forces into Afghanistan.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz noted that in addition to providing critical air and space power for the joint and coalition team, airmen are providing battlefield medical support and evacuation, ordnance disposal, convoy security and other missions.
“The reality is, the country’s at war,” he said. “And if there is a demand, if there is a need for us to serve a wartime function, we will do so.”
Preventing and deterring conflicts across the spectrum of warfare is another priority in the budget request, Donley told committee members.
Continuing to strengthen the nuclear enterprise is a top Air Force priority, Schwartz said.
“The rigor of our nuclear surety inspections demonstrates a new commitment to the highest levels of performance,” he said. “But we must and we will do even more to ensure 100 percent precision and reliability in our nuclear operations and logistics 100 percent of the time.”
Donley pointed to the standup last year of Air Force Global Strike Command and the realignment of the Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile and bomber wings under a single commander. In addition, the Air Force stood up a nuclear weapons center to consolidate management of all nuclear weapons sustainment activities.
Meanwhile, the Air Force is increasing its engagement around the world, building partner capability in Afghanistan and Iraq while developing a training framework that emphasizes light attack and mobility capabilities that can benefit other nations as well, Donley said.
Another priority driving the budget request is the need to be prepared to defeat adversaries and succeed in a wide range of contingencies. “We need to ensure that we are providing the right capabilities with our strategic airlift and ISR platforms and ensure our space-based assets continue to deliver needed capabilities for the future,” Donley said.
At the same time, the Air Force must ensure its weapons systems – strained by two decades of sustained operations – are up to the task, the Air Force secretary said. This involves modernizing some aircraft and retiring and recapitalizing many of the legacy fighters and tankers, replacing them with F-35 Lighting II joint strike fighters and KC-X next-generation aerial tankers.
“Awarding a new aerial refueling aircraft contract remains our top acquisition priority,” Schwartz said. He called the F-35 program another imperative, noting that it will be the workhorse driving much of the Air Force and the joint force forward.
Both Schwartz and Donley emphasized the importance of long-range strike capability, supporting development of a family of systems that will provide penetration as well as standoff capabilities for the next 20 or 30 years.
“We need to get on with a long-range strike capability to replace the legacy bombers that we’re operating today, and to get ahead and stay ahead of evolving threats in that area,” Donley said.
Another principle driving the budget request is the need to preserve and enhance what Donley called the Air Force’s most valuable resource: its airmen.
“This budget request supports these airmen and our continuing efforts to rebalance the force, make difficult decisions on what we buy and sustain our needed contributions to the joint team,” Schwartz said.
Technorati Tags:
Defense Budget, USAF (US Air Force)
Oshkosh Defense Awarded $24 Million for M-ATV Upgrade Kits — Press Release
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Events, Oshkosh Truck Corp, Press Releases, logistics, production program
Oshkosh Defense Awarded $24 Million for M-ATV Upgrade Kits
OSHKOSH, Wis. — Feb. 18, 2010 — Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today it has received two awards valued at more than $24 million from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) for MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) kits for the support of communication equipment and electrical system upgrades. The combined undefinitized orders consist of more than 2,090 upgrade kits for the vehicles.
The kits will support the installation of Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) suites composed of electronic equipment such as communications hardware, jammer systems, tracking technology and driver vision enhancement. The kits also will support the addition of “silent watch” capability, which allows the M-ATV to operate C4ISR equipment for extended periods of time with reduced noise and heat signatures from the vehicle.
“The C4ISR technology and silent watch capability that these kits support will further enhance the M-ATV’s effectiveness in combat operations in Afghanistan,” said Andy Hove, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Defense. “Our advanced manufacturing capabilities, highly skilled workforce and available capacity ensure these upgrades can be completed without impacting our continued rapid delivery of any of our military vehicles under contract.”
Since January 2010, Oshkosh has been incorporating the M-ATV upgrades into the production process at both its M-ATV production facilities, Oshkosh and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command will install the upgrade kits on vehicles already built.
Oshkosh has exceeded the accelerated M-ATV delivery schedule for seven consecutive months. To date, the aggregate amount of awards Oshkosh has received for 6,619 M-ATVs, upgrade kits, spare parts kits and aftermarket support is valued at more than $4 billion. Existing Oshkosh manufacturing facilities have available production capacity for these M-ATV orders and all other Defense programs, including the U.S. Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), as well as any surges in production.
The Oshkosh® M-ATV uses the Oshkosh-patented TAK-4® independent suspension system for superior mobility in harsh environments, including 16 inches of independent wheel travel and a 70 percent off-road profile capability. The TAK-4 system has undergone more than 500,000 miles of government testing and is being retrofitted on more than 2,400 legacy MRAPs for improved mobility in Afghanistan. The TAK-4 system is featured on more than 10,000 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVR), used by the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy Seabees, as well as on the Army’s next-generation Palletized Load System (PLS) and the Marine Corps’ Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR).
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 Corp. 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, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.
®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.
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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 risks related to sustaining the required rate of production for the M-ATV contract and the amount, if any, of additional orders for M-ATVs that the Company may receive; the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially during a global recession and tight credit markets; the duration of the global recession, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets; the expected level and timing of U.S. Department of Defense procurement of products and services and funding thereof, risks related to reductions in government expenditures, the potential for the government to competitively bid the Company’s Army and Marine contracts and the uncertainty of government contracts generally; the consequences of financial leverage associated with the JLG acquisition, which could limit the Company’s ability to pursue various opportunities; risks related to the collectability of receivables during a recession, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; risks related to production delays as a result of the economy’s impact on the Company’s suppliers; the potential for commodity costs to rise sharply, including in a future economic recovery; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations; and the potential for increased costs relating to compliance with changes in laws and regulations. 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.
EchoStorm Releases Next Generation Software for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance — Press Release
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Events, ISR, IT, Press Releases, S&T, development program
EchoStorm Releases Next Generation Software for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
adLib Gives High and Low Bandwidth Users Unparalleled Access to Full-Motion Video and Data
Suffolk, VA – EchoStorm Worldwide, the global leader in video and data management technology, today announced the release of its latest product version, adLib 3.6, the company’s pioneering video and data management software for improved intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
The new version boasts unmatched capabilities for capturing, indexing, archiving, searching, and disseminating full-motion video (FMV) and associated data. The software can process a range of data formats to give low bandwidth users access to low-fidelity, situational awareness FMV and high bandwidth users access to high-fidelity, exploitation FMV.
“adLib supports both situational awareness and exploitation users better than any other ISR software in the marketplace,” said David Barton, President and Chief Technical Officer at EchoStorm. “By giving a wider range of users access to high impact, near real-time ISR, it becomes an indispensable force multiplier in the national defense and intelligence communities.”
adLib’s new features include the following:
§ Federation: Enabling access to content within the enterprise and across enterprise borders.
§ Open standards (WS-I) compliant Web service interfaces allowing for third-party integration.
§ Enhanced support for Motion Imagery Standards Board (MISB) standards including:
o Standard 0601.3 UAS Datalink Local Metadata Set.
o Standard 0604 Time
o EG 0104.5 Predator UAV Basic Universal Metadata Set.
§ New UAV platform supported:
o Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout support.
§ Chat ingestion: Allowing one or more chat rooms to be captured, indexed, searched, and related to FMV content. Both IRC and XMPP are supported.
§ New hardware options to greatly reduce power, space, and cooling requirements (including rugged configurations).
§ New Web-based mapping capability that supports multiple user selectable layers which can be configured to point at any WMS compliant server, including Pixia’s nuiGeoServer.
§ Support for FMV based mosaic imagery from EchoStorm’s adLib Image Processing Engine (aIPE) product.
adLib’s upgrades include:
§ Improved CDF support.
§ Improved geo-search accuracy.
§ Enhanced clip cart functionality allowing a number of clips to be selected and downloaded as a single clip.
§ Improved metadata quality and performance of data manipulation.
About EchoStorm
EchoStorm Worldwide LLC is the global leader in video and data management technology. Its products provide defense, intelligence, and supporting agencies with a single, aggregated point of access to all their full-motion video (FMV) and geospatial information. With this access – and the ability to interface with most standards-based systems – EchoStorm technology has become a force multiplier while increasing the reach of analysts and forward-deployed operators to high-impact, near real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) data.
EchoStorm is headquartered in Suffolk, Va., and it is a subsidiary of Earl Industries LLC.
For more information about EchoStorm Worldwide LLC, visit www.echostorm.net.
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Lockheed Martin Receives $59 Million For Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pods
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News
February 1, 2010 9:40:00 AM
Orlando, FL, February 1st, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received $59 million from the U.S. Air Force for additional Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP). This order represents the second increment on the U.S. Air Force’s Sniper ATP Lot 9 contract, originally awarded in September 2009, bringing the total value of the Lot 9 buy to $95 million.
Delivering the highest resolution imagery for precision targeting and non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, the Sniper ATP plays a major role in Air Force operations in theater, providing top cover for ground forces, as well as increasing the safety of civilian populations.
“This Lot 9 increment brings total Sniper ATP sales to more than 650 pods for the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and 12 international air forces,” said Ken Fuhr, director of Fixed-wing Targeting Programs at Lockheed Martin. “Recent orders have also been received from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and the Turkish Air Force.”
Lot 9 pods will be used to support additional U.S. Air Force deployments and allow the Air Force to allocate pod resources to home-station training, enabling aircrews to train with the equipment they will use in deployed operations. Deployed in theater on U.S. Air Force and coalition partner F-15, F-16, A-10 and B-1 aircraft, the Sniper ATP is the most widely used targeting pod in combat operations.
Lockheed Martin continues to infuse new hardware and algorithms into the Sniper ATP, expanding its missions and combat capabilities. Lot 9 Sniper pod technology will include a new data link capability, enhanced multiple moving target tracker, the capability to deliver legacy weapons and new weapon variants on moving targets, and weapon damage estimation radius displays to reduce the potential for collateral damage.
Since its first deployment in 2005, the Sniper ATP has enabled aircrews to operate well outside jet noise ranges, permitting forces to identify, track and defeat targets without detection. Its common software and hardware interface provide interoperability across aircraft fleets. The Sniper ATP is operational on U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and multinational F-16, F-15, B-1, F-18, Harrier and A-10 aircraft. Platform expansion continues with the B-52, Tornado, Typhoon, unmanned aerial vehicles and additional aircraft.
The Sniper ATP’s modular design facilitates easy field upgrade to pods already in service and enables rapid flight line repair to maintain a 98 percent fully mission capable rate.
Technorati Tags:
Contract $50m, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Sniper
Fiscal Year 2011 Department of the Navy Budget Submission
NNS100201-24. Fiscal Year 2011 Department of the Navy Budget SubmissionFebruary 2, 2010
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Department of the Navy (DoN) budget submission of $160.6 billion delivered today is consistent with the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, the basic tenets of the National Defense Strategy and the Maritime Strategy. The fiscal year (FY) 2011 baseline budget is a $4.6 billion, or 3 percent increase over the FY2010 level.
Navy and Marine Corps resources have been prioritized to prevail in today's wars, prevent and deter conflict in all domains, prepare for a wide range of contingencies and preserve the force.
Additionally, the FY 2011 request for overseas contingency operations (OCO) of $18.5 billion integrates sustained support for the warfighter. It includes incremental costs to sustain operations, manpower, equipment and infrastructure repair, as well as equipment replacement to support the focus on increasing threats.
The FY 2011 budget supports a deployable battle force of 284 ships including 11 aircraft carriers and 29 large amphibious ships. It also reflects a shift to support irregular warfare and includes funds for the littoral combat ship (LCS), expeditionary E/A-18G aircraft supporting national electronic warfare requirements, P-8 Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft supporting increased emphasis on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles.
In the area of ship procurement, this budget funds nine new construction ships in FY2011 and 50 ships across the Future Years Defense Plan (FY 2011 through FY 2015)including two Virginia-class submarines per year, 17 LCSs, 8 DDG-51-class ships to continue the DDG-51 program restart, three new Mobile Landing Platforms, the first LHA(R) and the second Ford-class aircraft carrier.
In addition, aircraft procurement funds 206 airframes in FY 2011 and 1,006 airframes across the FYDP.
Navy Operation and Maintenance resources are increased to tightly focus on meeting increased combatant commander operational tempo requirements, properly sustaining and resetting ships and aircraft to reach expected service lives, restoring base budget enduring flight hour requirements previously funded with overseas contingency operations funding, and funding price increases, most notably in fuel.
Military and civilian basic pay is increased by 1.4 percent. Commitment to our investments in science and technology, cyberspace capabilities, facilities sustainment, base closure and family housing is maintained.
For more DoN FY11 budget information, visit http://www.finance.hq.navy.mil/fmb/11pres/books.htm
Technorati Tags:
Defense budget, US Navy (USN)
Wyle to Develop Air Force Training and Operations for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems — Press Release
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Events, Press Releases, Wyle Labs
Wyle to Develop Air Force Training and Operations for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Wyle has signed an agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop formal flight and sensor operator training courses designed to enhance the proficiency and competence of Air Force Research Laboratory small unmanned aircraft systems flight operations with the goal of minimizing unmanned aircraft mishaps.
Wyle and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio will develop and validate detailed training, operations and related documentation for a radio-controlled aircraft system to support Department of Defense and other Federal agency intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and force protection missions.
“The objective of the agreement is to develop a commercial version of the AFRL small unmanned aircraft system for potential certification by the Federal Aviation Administration in the experimental aircraft category,” said Sam Carbaugh, who has led the project for Wyle. “This will assist in enabling both government and civilian use of small unmanned aircraft for research and development, flight demonstrations and aircrew training.”
The agreement transfers government aircraft technology directly to Wyle, enabling the company to provide training and cost-saving benefits to the Air Force. Development of a commercial small unmanned aircraft systems training course will also allow AFRL personnel to receive small unmanned aircraft systems flight qualification training during the course development phases and to obtain flight training on an as-needed basis without using limited and valuable research aircraft.
“Once we’ve proven our work with AFRL, Wyle plans to offer the training to other DoD operations, government agencies and contractors,” said Carbaugh. “As the military and other government agencies move towards more use of unmanned aircraft, there is a growing need for an adequate training program.”
To support the training portions of the program, Wyle will build and operate two aircraft, each weighing approximately 20 pounds with a wing span of approximately six feet. The aircraft are significantly modified versions of a common model radio controlled aircraft which AFRL uses for various sensor and flight control research projects.
The aircraft will be operated by a ground control unit with operator controls and a laptop computer which will program the aircraft and record operational data. An optical camera system will be installed as a sensor system.
Adaptation of commercially available hobby aircraft with advanced navigation, communications and computer flight controls for use in aviation sensor technology research has resulted in various configurations of aircraft that have proven reliable and useful. Wyle will evaluate these variants to select a configuration suitable for the formal training of small unmanned aircraft systems operators, observers and payload controllers.
Wyle is a leading provider of high tech aerospace engineering and information technology services to the federal government on long-term outsourcing contracts. The company also provides biomedical and engineering services for NASA’s human space missions; test and evaluation of aircraft, weapon systems, networks, and other government assets; and other engineering services to the aerospace, defense, and nuclear power industries.
Ref.: NR/10-04
Contact:
Dan Reeder
(310) 563-6834
Source: Wyle
Elbit Systems to Supply Various Types of Laser Based Systems Valued at $50 Million to the Israeli Ministry of Defense and to North American Customers — Press Release
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Countries, Elbit Systems, IT, Israel, Press Releases, development program
Elbit Systems to Supply Various Types of Laser Based Systems Valued at $50 Million to the Israeli Ministry of Defense and to North American Customers
HAIFA, Israel, January 21/PRNewswire/ — Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) announced today that it was awarded contracts in an aggregate amount of approximately $50 million to supply various types of laser based systems to the Israeli Ministry of Defense and to North American customers. The Israeli MoD will be supplied with laser systems, while in North America, Elbit Systems will supply two different customers with airborne laser systems. The orders were received by Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd. (Elop) and are to be delivered over the next two years.
Elop is a world leader in advanced laser technology, developing solutions based on diode-pumped lasers and fiber lasers, for applications such as laser designators, laser radars, and laser-based airborne defense systems. These technologies enable the implementation of high-quality, compact and lightweight laser systems for a wide range of applications.
Adi Dar, General Manager of Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop, commented: “We have been witnessing an increasing demand for advanced laser systems, mainly due to their ability to perform high precision identification and to prevent collateral damage”. Dar further noted, “In addition to laser systems designed for the use of Ground Forces, we have identified an increasing demand for airborne laser designators, a niche in which Elop has an extensive and robust portfolio of solutions”.
About Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of defense-related programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, airborne warning systems, ELINT systems, data links and military communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms and developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications.
For additional information, please visit us at: http://www.elbitsystems.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current fact. Forward Looking Statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others;differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.’s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.
UAV’s Are Like Other Aircraft — General Atomics To Support Fielded Systems
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Events, General Atomics, Military Aviation, Services, U.S. Air Force, development program, production program
When a company makes an aircraft for the U.S. military they not only get contracts to build them; they also get contracts to provide engineering support, modifications and maintenance. The U.S. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) fleet is just like their manned aircraft in this manner. It was announced yesterday that General Atomics received a contract to provide technical support to the Predator and Reaper UAV systems in use by the U.S. Air Force. Genral Atomics of course manufactures these weapons.
The two systems which are both armed have seen heavy use in Afghanistan and Iraq providing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) as well as precision strike. These type of contracts continue to provide a steady source of revenue for companies that make systems for the military. Eventually though they can go to any company and the bidding may become quite intense.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Market Blazes Ahead Due to Ongoing War Operations, Finds Frost & Sullivan — Press Release
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Market Blazes Ahead Due to Ongoing War Operations, Finds Frost & Sullivan
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ — Defense companies that wish to claim a stake in the intensely competitive unmanned aircraft system (UAS) market will find the task challenging. Mature technologies, coupled with increasing consolidation, are making the UAS market a difficult space to enter. These challenges are not likely to hold back the market, especially with the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) demand for UAS at an all-time high due to the ongoing war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Although the troop withdrawal in Iraq and lower defense budgets could have a long-term negative impact on the UAS market space, the market is expected to increase between 2009 and 2013.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.aerospace.frost.com/), U.S. Unmanned Aircraft Systems Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $3.16 billion in 2008 and estimates this to reach $3.81 billion in 2013.
If you are interested in more information on this research, then send an e-mail to Sarah Saatzer, Corporate Communications, at sarah.saatzer@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.
“By focusing on UAS subsystems, the U.S. defense industry will still be able to take advantage of a market space that is rapidly changing both technologically and competitively,” says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Lindsay Voss. “Six years after the onset of rapid UAS procurement, the U.S. DoD is still demanding more persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets in the air. This ensures growth in the UAS space while many other areas of aerospace and defense are contracting.”
Apart from the benefits of lower costs of purchase and operation, unmanned aircraft eliminate the need for an onboard crew, making it easier for the military to tackle more advanced missions. Warfighters are demanding more full-motion video and since unmanned aircraft are the foundation for this vital resource, they are emerging as critical assets in the battlefield.
“From nano and small systems weighing less than 2 pounds to the 10,000 pound Global Hawk, UAS is changing the dynamics of the military aviation market space,” notes Voss. “Companies that have traditionally provided manned assets to their military customers can no longer ignore the trend, and many are embracing unmanned aviation.”
The overwhelming demand for constant ISR from warfighters has kicked the UAS market into overdrive, stimulating dramatic growth for key UAS companies.
New participants are not likely to find the going as easy as the entrenched competitors. Companies that could provide an 80 percent UAS solution ten years ago dominate the market today across all key platform categories. Market domination by well-established companies has already driven some participants out of the market and forced others to diversify their product and/or service offerings.
“Diversification is proving to be an important strategy as new market participants seek to be profitable in the UAS space,” observes Voss. “Companies that are able to offer value to their military customers through current product offerings while expanding into key UAS market sub-segments are improving their competitive positions.”
The emergence of vital growth sub-segments such as UAS services and subsystems are creating numerous opportunities for participants, especially with UAS continuing to proliferate in the battle space. Companies will have to make the most of the opportunities in these diversified areas if they wish to solidify their positions in the market.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Market is part of the Defense Growth Partnership Services program, which also includes research in the following markets: U.S. DoD 2010 budget, U.S. military software defined radio markets, U.S. C4ISR services market, Middle East land ISR radar market assessment, European air ISR sensors, and maritime security assessment – EU. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company’s Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO’s Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com/.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Market
N600
Contact:
Sarah Saatzer
Corporate Communications – North America
P: 210. 477.8427
E: sarah.saatzer@frost.com
Elbit Systems Completes the Acquisition of the Assets of BVR Systems (1998) Ltd — Press Release
Elbit Systems Completes the Acquisition of the Assets of BVR Systems (1998) Ltd
HAIFA, Israel, November 19/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Elbit Systems Ltd.(NASDAQ:ESLT) announced today, further to the announcement on July 20 2009, that after receiving all the applicable approvals it completed the acquisition of the assets of BVR Systems (1998) Ltd. (OTCBB:BVRSF.OB) for a price of approximately $34 million.
BVR Systems (1998) Ltd, located in Rosh HaAyin, Israel, is engaged in the area of development and production of training, simulation and debriefing systems for air, sea and ground forces.
About Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of defense-related programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned air vehicle (UAV) systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, airborne warning systems, ELINT systems, data links and military communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms and developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications.
For additional information, visit: http://www.elbitsystems.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current fact. Forward- Looking Statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.’s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.
Contacts:
Company Contact:
Joseph Gaspar, Executive VP & CFO
Dalia Rosen, Head of Corporate Communications
Elbit Systems Ltd
Tel: +972-4-8316663
Fax: +972-4-8316944
E-mail: j.gaspar@elbitsystems.com
dalia.rosen@elbitsystems.com
IR Contact:
Ehud Helft / Kenny Green
G.K. Investor Relations
Tel: +972-1-646-201-9246
E-mail: info@gkir.com
Cobham Opens New Aerospace/Defense Cable Systems Plant in New Hampshire — Press Release
Filed under: Business Line, Cobham Defense Electronic Systems, Companies, Events, Press Releases, logistics, production program
Cobham Opens New Aerospace/Defense Cable Systems Plant in New Hampshire
EXETER, New Hampshire – Cobham has opened a new facility in Exeter, NH that will immediately accommodate 80 new jobs related to the manufacture of cable systems sold to the US Government and major aerospace and defense companies.
“This is the second 80,000 square foot Cobham facility at Exeter,” said Steve Schaefer, president of Cobham Sensor Systems. “These 80 new jobs will expand Cobham’s Sensor Systems employment base in New Hampshire to 350 staff members.”
Cobham Sensor Systems products manufactured at this facility support electronics warfare and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) applications, as well as a wide variety of major airborne, shipboard, ground-based, space-based and homeland security-related radar platforms.
About Cobham:
Cobham’s products and services have been at the heart of sophisticated military and civil systems for 75 years, keeping people safe, improving communications, and enhancing the capability of land, sea, air and space platforms. The Company has four divisions employing more than 12,000 people on five continents, with customers and partners in over 100 countries and annual revenue of more than £1.4bn / $2.1 billion.
Cobham Sensor Systems – a strategic business unit with Cobham’s Defense Systems Division – designs and manufactures all classes of active and passive microwave components, composites, radomes and integrated assemblies and subsystems for the aerospace and defense industries, and is the leading supplier of microwave products.
Contacts:
Greg Caires
Media Relations
Julian Wais
Investor Relations
+1 703 414 5319
+44 (0) 1202 857998
greg.caires@cobham.com
julian.wais@cobham.com
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates New Underwater Encapsulation Launch of Non-Marinized Payloads
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates New Underwater Encapsulation Launch of Non-Marinized PayloadsSeptember 14, 2009
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully demonstrated the underwater launch of a "non-marinized" payload -- a payload not designed to be subjected to the undersea environment -- by launching a Raytheon AIM-9X air-to-air test missile shape from a submerged Tomahawk Capsule Launching System (CLS).
Conducted at the Army's Aberdeen Test Center in Aberdeen, Md.,
under the Littoral Warfare Weapon (LWW) project, this test marks the
first time an AIM-9X test missile shape has been launched underwater.
The launch demonstrates a new degree of submarine self-defense
capability against threats from coastal surveillance aircraft,
helicopters and high-speed small craft. LWW is a joint teaming effort
between PEO Submarines, Northrop Grumman and prime contractor of the
project, Raytheon.
"This test demonstrates that underwater launch payloads no
longer need to be designed and built to withstand the rigors of the
undersea environment," said David Perry, vice president of Northrop
Grumman's Marine Systems business unit. "By adapting the encapsulation
technology Northrop Grumman pioneered for the Tomahawk CLS, we have
removed a significant barrier to launching many types of airborne
payloads."
Northrop Grumman's demonstrated encapsulation system opens the
door to submarine launch of a wide variety of defensive, offensive,
communications, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)
payloads without needing to adapt such payloads to survive in an
undersea environment.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security
company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products,
and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems,
shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial
customers worldwide.
# # #
Technorati Tags:
Naval Systems, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC)
Warfighters to Guide Command-and-Control Systems Design in Tactical Vehicles at New Taunton EDGE Innovation Facility
Warfighters to Guide Command-and-Control Systems Design in TacticalVehicles at New Taunton EDGE Innovation Facility
September 10, 2009
High-tech equipment within tactical vehicles to be reconfigured to work in concert with warfighters, improving operating efficiency, speeding training
TAUNTON, Mass. -- The EDGE Innovation Network, hosted by General Dynamics C4 Systems, today opened the sixth and largest EDGE facility, the Vehicle C4ISR Innovation Center in Taunton, Mass.
The new EDGE Innovation Center teams industry and academia with warfighters 'fresh from the fight' to design more user-friendly environments inside military vehicles. Command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems provide soldiers with information critical to their safety and effectiveness in the battlespace.
The EDGE Innovation Network is a collaborative, open-environment initiative enabling EDGE members from industry and academia, with government customer input, to work together to shorten the delivery cycle of new technologies and innovative capabilities to warfighters and first responders. The first EDGE Innovation Center opened in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2006.
Pete Palmer, director of the EDGE Innovation Network, summarized the focus of the new EDGE Innovation Center by saying, "We're taming the complexity associated with learning and operating C4ISR systems in the battlespace. We call it a clean 'SWEEP' as we overhaul Size, Weight, Ergonomics, Efficiency and Power in the vehicles we work on."
Projects currently underway at the Vehicle C4ISR EDGE include the ergonomic redesign of the C4ISR equipment found in High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles operating as communication hubs in the battlespace. During the redesign process, EDGE members and vehicle users will study every aspect of how soldiers go about routine tasks associated with operating the equipment.
Based on study results and continuous user feedback, the system's layout and design will evolve until the user and the system are in sync. Long-term benefits of this approach include improved personal ergonomics for the warfighter and reduced training and systems costs due to improved operator efficiency.
The Vehicle C4ISR EDGE Innovation Center joins a network comprising more
than 85 members from a wide range of industries, colleges and universities worldwide. EDGE Innovation Centers are currently operating in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Leavenworth, Kan.; Orlando, Fla.; and Oakdale, United Kingdom.
General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:
GD), is a leading integrator of secure communication and information
systems and technology.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,000 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.
Editor's Note: Images of the Vehicle C4ISR EDGE Innovation Center are
available from the General Dynamics C4 Systems Image Gallery.
Technorati Tags:
C4ISTAR, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC)
Northrop Grumman Wins Global Hawk Sustainment Contract
Filed under: California, Contract Awards, Events, ISR, Northrop Grumman Corp., U.S. Air Force
MSNBC reports that the U.S. Air Force gave Northrop Grumman a contract to provide support for the growing Global Hawk strategic UAV fleet. Northrop Grumman manufactures the long range intelligence surveillance aircraft. The contract is valued at over $275 million and will primarily be carried out at Beale AFB in California. Unlike the more tactical Predator and Reaper UAV the Global Hawk is a large aircraft that can fly at high altitudes and long ranges to collect different types of intelligence to support combat operations. The Global Hawk in many ways has replaced the U-2 type reconnaissance aircraft.
Applied Signal Technology, Inc. Appoints New Corporate Vice President to Lead Strategy and Business Development
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
Argon ST Awarded $49 Million U.S. Navy Contract for C4ISR Systems
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
Argon ST Awarded $49 Million U.S. Navy Contract for C4ISR Systems
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
L-3 Declares Quarterly Dividend
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
BAE Systems-Led Team Pursues Next Phase of Navy Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting System
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
ManTech to Acquire Sensor Technologies Inc.
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
ManTech Completes the Acquisition of Sensor Technologies Inc.
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
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