2010: Options for [Fundamental] Change

June 8, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News 
2010: Options for [Fundamental] Change
June 9, 2010

The publication of documents outlining the 2010 British Public Spending Review and the Prime Ministerial address highlighting the scale of the UK budget deficit create a situation where the pending British defence review will be driven by resource constraints.

Given the reviews of recent decades (1966 'East of Suez', 1974, 1980 'Nott', 1990 'Options for Change', 1998 'SDR', 2009 'Green Paper') all the issues are known, all that remains is for the Defence Council to reach, take and implement the right decisions to build the right basis for meeting British National Security needs well into the 21st Century.

Moving away from 'salami-slicing' to taking fundamental decisions include some of the following more obvious measures;

1. Consolidate down to a dozen RAF Air Stations and reduce real estate. MOD is the biggest landowner in the UK - drastically reduce the figure.

2. Close Portsmouth Naval Base - base all Submarines on the Clyde and all surface combatants at Devonport.

3. Reduce army size and bases. Enact the super-garrison proposals of the mid 2000's and rationalise further, faster. Although Iraq and Afghanistan are Army led the future will likely be more specialist forces. Increase the Royal Marines by one Commando (Battalion), bring the Parachute regiment up to strength (3 battalions plus the re-roled one).

4. Nuclear deterrent - go for nuclear tomahawk from Astute class as multi-role SSN/SSBN (takes longer for the big bang but net effect is the same and big savings in terms of not designing a specialist SSBN (even the proposed stretched Astute)).

5. Cancel the Aircraft Carriers, fundamentally refurb existing ships (plans exist on the books) and build a new class of smaller more numerous surface warships to project influence and forward presence.

6. Cancel JSF and deploy UAV's and helicopters on the refurbished aircraft carriers. Applying Moore's Law from IT to UAV's higher payloads are on the immediate horizon.

7. Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Organisation - cut red tape and staffing by 75%. Ultimately bureaucracy has grown to man complex processes developed to defer decisions on procurement which cost the MOD money it does not have in-year. Adopt a 'simple procurement' strategy to succeed the 'smart procurement' of the late 1990s.

8. Rationalise RAF airframes to base on the Eurofighter for nearly all non transport / tanker operations. Retire the Tornado IDS, regardless of capability it is simply too expensive to maintain on the balance sheet.

9. Recreate DESO to support defence exports. Its dismantling was one of the more bizarre decisions of recent years.

10. Open up the archives to examine the organisation for defence in the Second World War and slim down the central staff accordingly. Reduce the numbers of one star plus officers in the three services. A General, Admiral or Air Marshal should be a rare sight and not seen chairing a laptop in Abbey Wood running a programme with no budget which was cancelled before they took post.


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Northrop Grumman Awarded $114 Million Long Lead Material Contract Modification on U.S. Navy DDG 51 Class Destroyer

April 23, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News, northrop grumman 

Northrop Grumman Awarded $114 Million Long Lead Material Contract Modification on U.S. Navy DDG 51 Class Destroyer
April 23, 2010

PASCAGOULA, Miss. — The U.S. Navy awarded a $114 million contract modification to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to provide long lead materials for the company’s 30th DDG 51 class Aegis guided missile destroyer. The materials purchased will be used in the construction of DDG 114.

In April 2009, the U.S. Navy announced Northrop Grumman would be awarded contracts for the first two destroyers in the DDG 51 program continuation. The company has delivered 26 of 28 ships, with two more ships currently under construction in Pascagoula.

This award is a modification of a contract awarded in December 2009 when the U.S. Navy awarded $171 million for long lead material purchases for DDG 113.

“The DDG 51 production line continues to be the most successful shipbuilding program in the history of our Gulf Coast operations and this contract fortifies that distinction,” said Bob Merchent, vice president of surface combatants for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Gulf Coast. “This award allows us to maintain focus on supply chain management and move forward in procuring equipment toward the construction of DDG 114. The improvements we’ve put in place throughout our facilities will ensure the Navy and our nation will receive a quality product for American Sailors, built by American shipbuilders.”

This contract modification will allow the company’s supply chain program to begin purchasing propulsion gas turbines, generators, controllable pitch propeller, and other components to support construction of DDG 114.

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DOD CONTRACTS for March 15, 2010

March 15, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: Department of Defense, Syndicated Industry News 
DOD CONTRACTS for March 15, 2010
March 15, 2010

NAVY

Navistar Defense, LLC, Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded a $178,262,162 modification to delivery order #0013 under previously awarded firm-fixed priced contract (M67854-07-D-5032) for the procurement of 1,222 independent suspension system kits and aluminum catcher plates for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Work will be performed in West Point, Miss., and the period of performance is expected to be completed by the end of March 2011. Contract funds will not expire by the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Corp., Integrated Systems, Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $94,629,000 not-to-exceed advance acquisition contract for long lead materials and support associated with the manufacture and delivery of four low rate initial production Lot 3 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y. (32.6 percent); various locations within the United States (23.7 percent); Bethpage, N.Y. (15.5 percent); Dallas, Texas (12.4 percent); Menlo Park, Calif. (9.8 percent); and Woodland Hills, Calif. (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0044).

L-3 Communications Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah, is being awarded a $37,490,848 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive contract (N00019-09-C-0059) to exercise an option for the manufacture, test, and delivery of 11 AN/SRQ-4(Ku) radio terminal sets for ship small surface combatants and 51 AN/ARQ-59 RTSs for the MH-60R aircraft, including technical data. These upgraded Ku-band systems will extend existing Hawklink connectivity from small surface combatants to the aircraft carrier and increase data rates between MH-60R to surface combatants. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is expected to be completed in March 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 Technical Services Co., LLC, Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded an $18,853,530 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously issued basic order agreement (N00019-05-G-0008) to exercise an option for the procurement of 36 LAU-115D/A launchers and 82 LAU-116B/A launchers for the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind., and is expected to be completed in September 2012. 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.

Maersk Line, Ltd, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded an $8,630,000 firm-fixed-price contract for a nine-month time charter of tanker MT Samho Moonstone, currently a foreign-flag vessel, which will be re-named and U.S.-flagged upon delivery to the government. The ship's primary mission is to move petroleum for the Department of Defense between ports in the Far East. This contract includes one 30-day option which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $9,500,000. Work is expected to commence May 2010 and is expected to be completed within 270 calendar days or, if all options are exercised, within 300 calendar days. The contract is expected to be funded in fiscal year 2010 and funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with 11 offers received. Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting authority (N00033-10-C-5410).

Insitu, Inc., Bingen, Wash., is being awarded an $8,576,814 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of technical services in support of the ScanEagle unmanned aerial system to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services. In addition, this contract provides for six critical spare kits and nine SkyHook recovery system modifications. Work will be performed in Bingen, Wash., and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $8,433,786 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-2. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0045).

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, San Diego, is being awarded a $7,500,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-5122) for the exercise of FY 10 options for performing as the platform system engineering agent for the Ship Self Defense System (SSDS). In the course of this effort, Raytheon will be responsible for the integration of complex war-fighting improvement - including components associated with the dual-band radar and Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2 - into the modular SSDS. SSDS is a combat system that intends to integrate and coordinate all of the existing sensors and weapons systems aboard a ship. Raytheon will integrate, test, and provide certification support for the government-furnished equipment/information required for the CVN/amphibious ship combat system. Work will be performed in San Diego (90 percent); Tewksbury, Mass. (2.5 percent); Portsmouth, R.I. (2.5 percent); St. Petersburg, Fla. (2.5 percent); and Tucson, Ariz. (2.5 percent). Work is expected to be completed by September 2010. 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.

AIR FORCE

Kaman Precision Products, Inc., Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $46,253,422.83 contract modification which will provide a quantity of 12,994 joint programmable fuze systems. At this time, entire amount has been obligated. 679 ARSS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (F08626-98-C-0006, P00130).

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $19,505,458 contract which provides an Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air-Missile system improvement program. At this time, the $2,770,000 has been obligated. 696 ARSS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-10-C-0105).

Booz Allen Hamilton, Herndon, Va., was awarded a $20,355,914 contract which will provide secure collaborative technologies and cyber security to Air Mobility Command. At this time, $455,000 has been obligated. 55 Contracting Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002).

Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was awarded an $11,111,767 contract modification which will provide for systems development, integration, and verification phase of the P5 range instrumentation waveform. This waveform is in support of the F-22 and F-35 aircraft. At this time, $5,000,000 has been obligated. 689 ARSS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8678-05-C-0141).

ARMY

Global Strategies Group North America, Inc., Frederick, Md., was awarded on March 10, 2010, an $18,745,406 firm-fixed-price contract for 103 containerized kitchens and authorize stockage list spares. Work is to be performed in Fredrick, Md., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with six bids received. U.S. Army Research, Development & Engineering Command Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (W911QY-05-D-0004).

Bethel Services, Inc., Bethel, Ark., was awarded on March 10, 2010, an $18,119,555 firm-fixed-price contract for 19 cold weather kits. Work is to be performed in Bethel, Ark., with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Research, Development & Engineering Command Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Divison, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (W911QY-05-C-0047).

Scott Reliance, JV, Chicago, Ill., was awarded on March 10, 2010, a $13,668,906 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of an Army Reserve Center. Work is to be performed in Joliet, Ill., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 3, 2012. Bids were posted on the World Wide Web with eleven bids received. U.S. Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-10-C-0013).

Honeywell, Minneapolis, Minn., was awarded on March 10, 2010, a $7,342,153 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, funding Honeywell to design, develop, and deliver a demonstration of a gyroscope with a goal capability of absolute reference navigation in a compact, four diameter optically integrated gyro-head. Work is to be performed in Minneapolis, Minn. (47 percent); Somerset, N.J. (19 percent); Pasadena, Calif. (17 percent); Glendale, Ariz. (16 percent); and King of Prussia, Pa. (1 percent), with an estimated completion date of May 7, 2010. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-09-C-0019).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

MOOG, Inc., East Aurora, N.Y., is being awarded a maximum $6,232,476 firm-fixed-price contract for V22 aircraft parts. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. There were originally two proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 2012. The Defense Logistics Agency, Philadelphia (DSCR-ZC), Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM4A1-06-G-0002-THA7).

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Lockheed Martin Delivers 1,000th Vertical Launch ASROC Missile

March 13, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: Japan, Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News 
Lockheed Martin Delivers 1,000th Vertical Launch ASROC Missile
July 6, 2009 9:03:00 AM

AKRON, Ohio, -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently marked the production and delivery of the 1,000th Vertical Launch ASROC (VLA) missile during a ceremony at the company's Akron, OH, facility. The milestone VLA missile is part of a contract for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.

The world's only urgent attack operational antisubmarine warfare (ASW) weapon for surface combatants, VLA missiles provide vessels with the capability to attack submarines beyond the submarine's attack range, even in adverse weather conditions. Lockheed Martin supplies VLA missiles to the U.S. Navy as well as the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force through a combination of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and direct commercial sales.

"The VLA missile has proven to be a very robust weapon," said Capt. Tom Wears, U.S. Navy program manager. "This weapon will be a critical component of the U.S. Navy's inventory for many years."

"This milestone demonstrates the longstanding teamwork and commitment from the VLA Program Team to our customers and to the warfighter," said Rick Perez, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Defense Systems market segment.

"We are pleased that the VLA missile is the primary ASW weapon for Japan's newest surface combatant ships," said Naoji Tomita, vice president and general manager, Mitsubishi International Corporation. Mitsubishi is Lockheed Martin's trading partner for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.

Development of the VLA missile began in 1984 and production units have been delivered to the U.S. and allied navies since 1992.

To provide defense against existing and future ASW threats, Lockheed Martin is currently extending the range of the VLA. This new missile, the VLA Extended Range (VLA-ER), will provide four to five times more range by adding a wing glide kit to the existing system. VLA-ER reuses nearly 90 percent of the existing VLA and includes a common configuration allowing both ship and air launch.

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General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Delivers Independence (LCS 2) and Lays Keel for Coronado (LCS 4) — Press Release

December 20, 2009 by Matthew Potter · View Comments
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, General Dynamics, Press Releases, production program 

General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Delivers Independence (LCS 2) and Lays Keel for Coronado (LCS 4)

MOBILE, Ala., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team today delivered Independence (LCS 2), its innovative high-speed trimaran combatant ship, to the United States Navy. The ship was constructed by team member Austal USA in Mobile. The delivery of Independence was preceded by the keel laying of its sister ship, Coronado (LCS 4), on Thursday, December 17.

Captain Dean Krestos, USN, Commanding Officer Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Bath, Maine, officially accepted custody of Independence (LCS 2), the Navy’s first warship configured with a trimaran hull form. After signing the custody transfer documentation, Captain Krestos noted, “It gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the United States Navy, to accept delivery of the LCS-2, Independence, bringing to the fleet the second ship of this exciting new class of surface combatants.”

A brief ceremony was conducted at Austal USA Headquarters to commemorate the ship’s delivery. Those present included RDML James Murdoch, USN, the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program manager; CDR Curt Renshaw and CDR Mike Riley, the ship’s Blue and Gold Crew Commanding Officers; Jim Baskerville, vice president of the LCS Program for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works; Bob Browning, Austal Managing Director; Joe Rella, Austal USA President and Chief Operating Officer; and other Navy and General Dynamics LCS Team representatives.

RDML Murdoch, speaking on behalf of the Navy, praised the combined efforts of the Navy / industry team in delivering LCS 2 and the characteristics of the ship itself. Speaking for the entire General Dynamics LCS Team, Baskerville said, “Delivering Independence is a significant accomplishment for our team. Today, we provide the Navy with a new and highly capable warship equipped with extraordinary aviation features, large payload capacity and an open architecture computing environment for future missions – all contained within an extremely fast, stable and efficient trimaran hull form to support the Navy’s needs today and tomorrow. We’ve designed Independence to fight – and we’ve built it to win.”

Independence (LCS 2) will remain in Mobile, Ala., awaiting its commissioning on January 16, 2010, marking the first time a Navy ship has been commissioned in the city since 1945. After commissioning, the Navy will operate the ship in preparation for the ship’s next set of trials in the summer of 2010.

High resolution still images and video clips of Independence at sea are available at www.gdlcs.com.

On Thursday, a brief keel laying ceremony was held in Mobile at Austal USA’s Assembly Bay 4 to record completion of the first major construction milestone for what will soon be the Navy’s second high-speed trimaran Littoral Combat Ship, Coronado (LCS 4). In attendance were a number of Navy representatives, including RDML James Murdoch, Navy Littoral Combat Ship Program Manager, and members of the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team, including members of the Austal USA work force. The keel module, a large outfitted section of the aluminum ship’s center hull, was the centerpiece of the ceremony.

In welcoming attendees, Baskerville said, “This is a significant day for the entire GD LCS Team and our Navy counterparts in Washington, Bath and Mobile. The lessons learned during the construction of Independence are already being applied to Coronado to ensure it will be, like Independence, a highly capable and effective platform to support the Navy’s needs.”

Speaking for the Navy, RDML Murdoch noted the significant facility and efficiency improvements being made at Austal to the benefit of Coronado and future LCS ships. He also expressed high confidence and respect for the sailors that will serve and take Coronado into harm’s way.

Coronado (LCS 4) is scheduled for delivery in June 2012.

Independence and Coronado are major parts of the Navy’s plan to address asymmetric threats in the 21st century. Intended to operate in coastal areas, the ships will be fast, highly maneuverable and equipped to support mine detection/elimination, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare mission.

The ships’ highly flexible OPEN CI design, developed and integrated by a General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems team, allows “plug and play” integration of both the core systems and the LCS mission modules. It meets Navy open architecture requirements, strictly adheres to published industry standards and facilitates the integration of commercially available products.

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is the prime contractor for the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team. Partners include shipbuilder Austal USA (Mobile, AL); General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (Fairfax, VA); BAE Systems (Rockville, MD); L3 Communications Marine Systems (Leesburg, VA); Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (Baltimore, MD); and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (Baltimore, MD).

Bath Iron Works employs approximately 5,500 people. Since 1991, BIW has manufactured and delivered 31 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers; the shipyard is also building the lead ship of the Navy’s Zumwalt (DDG 1000) class of guided missile destroyers.

Austal USA’s Mobile facility currently employs almost 1,000 workers and is one of the largest aluminum shipyards in the world. In addition to the LCS, recent projects have included construction of the largest-ever aluminum ferry in the United States. Austal is also in the pre-construction design phase on the first Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) for the U.S. Department of Defense.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a provider of end-to-end mission solutions in systems integration, development and operations support to customers in the defense, intelligence, space and homeland security communities. The company integrates land, air, sea, space and cyber assets to facilitate the collection, exploitation, analysis and dissemination of mission-critical intelligence information.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 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. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

Source: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works

CONTACT: Jim DeMartini, +1-207-442-1695, Fax: +1-207-442-1009,
jim.demartini@gdbiw.com

Web Site: http://www.gdlcs.com/

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BAE Systems Working On Future Royal Navy Ships

November 25, 2009 by Matthew Potter · View Comments
Filed under: BAE Systems, Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Countries, England, Events, development program, production program 

The Royal Navy has one major program underway right now. This is the new aircraft carrier which hopefully will deliver the two largest carriers used by the service in its history. Now BAE Systems has announced that they are designing the new surface combatants that will support these ships as well as perform general duties. The company has just started on a preliminary design for the two destroyers. If all goes well a production contract will be awarded in about ten years. The RN hopefully will buy up to twenty of these ships.

The U.S. Navy’s DDG-1000 and Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programs are their new warships but those programs have suffered from development and cost issues. Right now the DDG-1000 is on hold while the U.S. continues to build DDG-51 class ships. The LCS program was to have two different designs built by Northrop and General Dynamics but now a down select is planned for one ship only.

The British Government faces major budgetary pressures due to the world’s economic doldrums and social spending. This along with the cost of operations in Afghanistan may lead to limits on how many ships may be built in the future. The carrier program itself may be delayed if funding issues persist. Despite the need for new surface ships it is not necessarily the best time for programs like this.

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