Missile Defense corruption
Filed under: Alabama, Alaska, Congress, MDA, S&T, SMDC, U.S. Army, crime, development program, missile defense
Last year the US Government arrested two employees of the US Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) on charges that they were taking bribes to steer contracts to selected companies. Now the New York Times has done some further research on the issue and have found out that the main figure, the head of SMDC S&T center, had created a whole scheme to make Congress fund a large test program that would then be self-perpetuating. As part of this he broke Federal law by lobbying Congress directly.
The scheme he concocted was one that when I worked supporting the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), now Missile Defense Agency (MDA), never made much sense to me. The MDA had an issue with testing the systems against long range targets. They targets required could not be tested in the United States as there was no range big enough to hold them. The Navy invested in improving their range on the West Coast of Kuaii in Hawaii that faced a broad open area. Targets would be air launched and fired into the range. The Army looked at building a launch facility on Midway to fire that targets at their main range in Kwajalien. The gentlemen at the core of the scandal, Mr. Cantrell, worked a proposal directly with Congress and various contractors to build a facility in Alaska on Kodiak Island and then use an old Navy helicopter carrier to fire the targets at Kodiak. This never really made sense due to its cost and the creation of all new facilities and modifying the ship at some cost.
Ultimately the idea went nowhere, although a launch facility has been built at Kodiak which supports Air Force operations right now. MDA made the sensible decision to begin testing US Army systems in Hawaii using the range there. Now that it turns out the Mr. Cantrell and various Senators using the earmark system was doing this for personal gain.
See an article in the Huntsville Times here.
MDA awards SETA contracts
Filed under: Contract Awards, IT, MDA, SETA, Teledyne Technologies, development program, missile defense
The last round of BRAC moved a significant number of MDA assets to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. Now two SETA contracts were awarded recently to support the agency. DMD was given an ID/IQ contract that could be worth over $40 M if all options are executed. Teledyne Solutions was also awarded one that is worth over $150 M. Both contracts have multiple options, and with all ID/IQ contracts there is no guarantee any work will be given out.
See The Huntsville Times for more.
THAAD Video
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, MDA, Raytheon, development program, missile defense
As a follow-up to the post about UAE buying THAAD, here is a video from defensenet showing a recent test firing.
MDA awards launch services contract
Filed under: AADC, Contract Awards, MDA, missile defense, space
Alaska Aerospace Development Corp. (AADC) has won a ID/IQ contract to provide launch services at the Kodiak Island facility. This was built in order to launch targets for missile defense tests in the Pacific. The contract could be worth $50 M if all efforts are utilized. AADC has supported the facility for several years, and is payed by the launch. If there are no launches that year no pay is received.
For more see the Kodiak Daily Mirror.
Raytheon spreads the wealth around
Filed under: Contract Awards, MDA, Raytheon, Sonju Industrial, development program, missile defense, production program
Raytheon subcontracted with the small business Sonju Industrial to build missile components. See an article here. Sonju Industrial is a small business and will partner with Raytheon through the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) mentor-protege program. The contract will allow significant growth of Sonju Industrial. This is another example of how defense dollars flow to every part of the US and their significance to the nation’s economy.
First THAAD Battery stands up
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, MDA, U.S. Army, development program, missile defense
This is not a defense procurement issue but I have fond memories of working with THAAD ten years ago. The First Unit Equipped (FUE), Alpha Battery/4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command, was activated on 28 May. See a press release from Lockheed Martin here. THAAD is the Army’s long range ballistic missile defense system, layering on top of the existing PATRIOT systems.
AMCOM worries about local workforce
Filed under: Alabama, BRAC, Federal Budget Process, MDA, Military Aviation, Restructuring, U.S. Army, development program, missile defense, production program
According to this article the Commanding General of the Army’s Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) is worried about the potential supply of workers in the Huntsville, AL area in the future. The last round of BRAC moved two major commands to the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Many of the people working there will not move for a variety of reasons. Major General Myles is concerned that the vacancies will suck people out of the existing Aviation and Missile commands to work at the Army Material Command and Missile Defense Agency. On top of that it is predicted for every government job moved at least one contractor job will be created. These workers have to come from somewhere and MG Myles hopes that local government, industry and higher education will train them without relying on subsidies from the Army. As in the past people will move to Huntsville, like your humble correspondent, to get these jobs, but that may not be enough.
Navy awards AEGIS contract
Filed under: Contract Awards, General Dynamics, MDA, SETA, U.S. Navy, development program, missile defense, production program
General Dynamics won an engineering support contract from the Navy for support to the AEGIS missile system. See the story here. They will support the sea-based system that recently shot down the wayward spy satellite. The contract is worth $191 M.
Missile Defense Agency awards contract to Northrop Grumman
Filed under: Contract Awards, MDA, Northrop Grumman Corp., development program, missile defense
The MDA gave Northrop Grumman a contract to continue development of the Advanced Track Illuminator Laser (ATIL). See Bizjournals.com for more. This is Phase II of the program, and not surprisingly, Northrop Grumman did Phase I. The name of the project indicates that this is for a laser system to track and illuminate targets for intercept most likely with a missile.
Airborne Laser (ABL) Team finish 2007 with successes
Filed under: Boeing, MDA, Northrop Grumman Corp., U.S. Air Force, development program
Boeing and Northrop Grumman announced that they completed all major milestones relating to the ABL program for 2007. See this story here. The last two accomplishments were to refurbish the laser equipment after testing and expand the hanger at Edwards AFB. The current program plans a test where an ballistic missile target is intercepted in 2009. For more on the program see this.
US Army places PAC-3 missile contract with Lockheed
Filed under: Contract Awards, Lockheed Martin, MDA, U.S. Army, production program
Lockheed Martin received a contract for 148 Patriot PAC-3 missiles from the Army. See the article here. This contract is worth $556 M. The PAC-3 missile is smaller and lighter then the PAC-2 which allows a launcher to hold more missiles. This contract underscores the investment the United States in making in missile defense. Lockheed is also confident that it will sign at least one FMS contract this year for the PAC-3.
Lockheed Martin brags about missile defense successes in 2007
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, MDA, development program, production program
Lockheed Martin put out a press release, here, to brag about all the success they had last year in the missile defense arena. They were awarded several key contracts with Army programs’ THAAD and Patriot PAC-3. They also provide the AEGIS radar used by the US Navy for their missile defense system. They also build C3 systems and radars. If the US continues to fund the various programs at their current levels, Lockheed Martin is in line to have several more good years.
Lockheed-Martin wins contract to support Japanese AEGIS program
Lockheed-Martin was awarded a contract by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to provide AEGIS radars and support to the Japanese Navy. The contract is for $40 M and will be paid through Japanese FMS funds. It looks like it will outfit one Kongo class cruiser with the antennas and software. Who would have thought that MDA would be running FMS contracts? When I was there we did not even discuss it. More information on the contract award is here. More information on the Kongo class is available here.
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