Raytheon Deploys Civil Communications Solutions Demonstration
Filed under: Raytheon, Syndicated Industry News, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
February 1, 2010
Traveling facility will demonstrate seamless communications to first responders
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has developed a mobile civil communications solutions demonstration that allows first responders to experience seamless communications capabilities that could help save lives when crises strike.
The mobile demonstration is a high-tech experience where public safety professionals can fully immerse themselves in rescue scenarios and realize the benefits that interoperable communications provide.
The mobile civil communications demonstration will begin in Los Angeles and provide demonstrations around the country to first responder agencies at the state and local levels. It travels on a 33-ton, 53-foot, 18-wheel vehicle that expands to 733 square feet -- twice its normal size -- when stationary. It is also a self-contained unit, complete with all the necessary equipment for a variety of live, interactive demonstrations using Raytheon's array of civil communications products.
The experience features Raytheon's open architecture solutions, which allow users who operate on different types and frequencies of legacy communications networks to communicate locally and regionally, or in systems that span the United States.
First responders receiving the demonstrations are encouraged to bring their own radios and use them to communicate with any radio on another system or frequency.
"For more than 40 years, Raytheon has provided soldiers on the battlefield access to seamless, interoperable voice, video and data communications systems, without the benefit of existing infrastructure," said Jerry Powlen, Raytheon Network Centric Systems vice president of Integrated Communications Systems. "We have now taken that proven technology and applied it in a public safety environment, virtually eliminating barriers to communication when it matters most."
"When police officers and firefighters from different municipalities respond to emergencies, incompatible radios can hinder basic communication," said Mike Bostic, a Raytheon NCS director of civil communications and 34-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. "The technology exists to solve that problem, so we want to visit our public safety professionals, and let them see for themselves how a truly interoperable communications system can help make them safer."
Technorati Tags:
Raytheon (NYSE:RTN), Homeland Security
Coast Guard Awards Northrop Grumman Data Management Contract
Filed under: Business Line, Contract Awards, IT, Northrop Grumman Corp., U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, USCG
The U.S. Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security, awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to develop the core data exchange capability for the Automatic Identification System (Nationwide AIS). The press release is at MSNBC.com. Nationwide AIS will be a system that combines transponder data from ships with other data collection to track and identify ships as they approach the U.S coast line. The contract is worth about $11 million but has the potential to be worth over $65 million.
USCG Cutter Contract Protested
Filed under: Contract Awards, Protest, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, production program
One of the losing bidders on a contract to build new cutters for the US Coast Guard, Marinette Marine, protested the award to Bollinger Shipyards for a new class of small ships the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.. The initial contract is for $80 M and will begin a program that might see up to 34 ships procured. This program arose out of a failed attempt to upgrade existing USCG ships by extending the hull and adding capability. Bollinger was heavily involved in that program, and some feel that the past performance there should have disqualified them from participating in this contract. Marinette Marine has previously built other ships for the USCG as well. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has 100 days to rule on the protest. Normally the contract is put on hold while the protest is resolved.
C-STAT marketing contract awarded
Filed under: Contract Awards, IT, TSSI, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, logistics, training
Western Solutions who are contracted to establish and run the Center for Security Training and Technology (C-STAT) have hired Total Security Services International, Inc. (TSSI) to promote and market the center. C-STAT will be located at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) to provide multi-hazard response training for companies as well as Federal, State and Local personnel. The TSSI contract also provides program support to C-STAT.
See the press release at MarketWarch.com.
Its just not defense
Filed under: Contract Awards, IT, Lockheed Martin, SETA, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, logistics
Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract by the Department of Homeland Security to provide human resources support to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). See an article here. The contract could last eight years and have a value of over $1 B dollars. The company will provide support to all aspects of the TSA’s personnel system.
Decline in Federal spending may reduce business for contractors
Filed under: Congress, Department of Defense, Federal Budget Process, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
This article in FederalTimes.com states that due to cutbacks in spending in the President’s 2009 budget the Federal government will reduce what it spends on contractors a substantial percentage. This is not only in DoD but also in Homeland Security and the State Department as well. Part of this is budget cuts to the various programs but also the predicted removal of US troops from Iraq. Whether this will really pan out will have to be seen. The final 2009 budget won’t be out until October-December, and there also may be various supplementals to support the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. At some point the wars will be winding down and this will have a significant effect on Defense’s spending. Historically the US budget for these activities have gone from boom to bust very quickly.
USCG Deep Water problems lead to end of Bell UAS program
Bell was building a tilt-rotor Unmanned Aeriel System (UAS) for the USCG as part of the Deep Water modernization and upgrade program. The whole Deep Water program has been hit with problems and criticism from Congress to the point where the USCG is restructuring. As part of this they canceled the tilt-rotor UAS that Bell Helicopter was building for them based on V-22 technology. See a story here. Read more
US Department of Homeland Security gives BAE a contract to evaluate missile defense
Filed under: BAE Systems, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, commercial aviation, development program
BAE Systems was awarded a contract to evaluate missile defenses on civil airliners. Three aircraft will be tested with an existing BAE system. See this story here. Although no airline aircraft has been shot down in the West with a Man Portable Air Defense (MANPAD) system; there is a significant threat. El Al airliners have long been rumored to be equipped with these types of defense systems.
iSys to be purchased by Widepoint
Filed under: Acquisitions, IT, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Widepoint
Widepoint, an Illinois based company, will buy iSys. Details can be found here. This will broaden Widepoint’s business in Federal information management and identity assurance. iSys currently has contracts with DoD and Home Land Security. Of interest, it looks like iSys is significantly larger than Widepoint.
Raytheon Awarded Stand-Off Radiation Detection System Contract
Filed under: Contract Awards, Raytheon, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
Raytheon has been awarded a $2.9 million, six-month contract, by the Department of Homeland Security, to begin developing a Stand-Off Radiation Detection System (SORDS). This is the second award for the company in the area of radiation detection systems. More details on the award can be found at Trading Markets and at Mass High Tech.



