Issues with Using Commercial Products in Defense Procurement

December 23, 2007 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: Bell, Contract Awards, U.S. Army 

The author in Government Computer News is talking about software, but it applies to DOD buying any type of commercial product. Of course, since this is Defense procurement there are three categories: Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS), Commercial Item, and Non-Developmental Item. The key sentence in the article is that the government is buying trust from the provider, trust that their product will work and meet their requirements. The key concept of commercial acquisition is that the product already meets your needs, so there is no need to develop anything. For an example of a program where this is how it was supposed to be, and did not end up see the RH-70. The article is here. Read about the RH-70 here.

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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.

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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.

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