New CR? The House plans to pass a “short-term” continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government running when the current CR expires Dec. 8, according to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The length of the CR is still under discussions, “so stay tuned on that,” Ryan said at a press conference Nov. 30. Ryan told reporters he hopes the CR does not encounter a threatened filibuster in the Senate over immigration. The CR is needed because Congress has not finished its 12 fiscal year 2018 appropriations bills.US_Capitol_Building_at_night_Jan_2006

F-35 Bombs. The Air Force has awarded a $59.7 million contract to Raytheon to provide 1,200 GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II bomb guidance kits to give the F-35A Lightning II the ability to hit moving ground targets. “The F-35 is operational and combat ready, and integrating the GBU-49 with the aircraft makes the F-35 even more lethal than it already is,” says Brig. Gen. Todd Canterbury, director of the Air Force F-35 Integration Office. The Air Force says that GBU-49 flight testing with the F-35A is scheduled to begin this month and that it expects to receive the initial 400 guidance kits by the end of January.

GBSD Milestone. Boeing says its Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) effort completed its first major review with the Air Force in November. The system requirements review was designed to ensure that Boeing fully understands the system’s requirements. In August, Boeing and Northrop Grumman both received three-year contracts to conduct technology maturation and risk reduction for the new, nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile.

UCA RFI. NAVAIR in November posted a Request for Information to for an Integrated Communication System (ICS) capable of transporting voice communications from a ground-based operator to other audio terminals in the Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA) program. The Navy specifically wants to transmit ground operator voice communication to local audio switches, local radio terminals, and remote radio terminals for retransmission and reception.  The UCA program office, PMA-268, is requesting industry information for building an ICS that can be integrated with the shipboard UCA Mission Control Station, called the MD-5 A/B, and interface with existing carrier communication systems.

Stingray Summer. Rear Adm. Mark Darrah, program executive officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons in the U.S. Navy, tells reporters at a conference that the MQ-25 Stingray may be awarded by late next summer. The MQ-25 is planned to be a carrier-based unmanned tanker. The award will be limited to Boeing, General Atomics, or Lockheed Martin, with Northrop Grumman having withdrawn earlier this year. Darrah also highlights that while people focus on the aircraft itself, the Navy is also working on the ground control and carrier integration segments of the program. “We’ve been working on those other two elements for the past several years, getting that all ready to go, so that when we get that award, we go as quickly as we can.”

New RPA Wing. The Air Force has picked Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida as its preferred location for a new wing of 24 MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. The Air Force will make a final basing decision after an environmental analysis is finished. The aircraft, built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., would begin arriving at Tyndall in 2022.

SBIRS Shipment. The Air Force’s fourth Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO Flight-4) satellite has been shipped to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida for its January launch, according to prime contractor Lockheed Martin. The missile-warning satellite arrived in the Sunshine State on a C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft from Sunnyvale, Calif., where it was built. It will lift off on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket.

JPSS-2 Review. The second Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-2) satellite underwent a critical design review in October, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and spacecraft builder Orbital ATK. The weather satellite’s launch is scheduled for 2021. JPSS-1, built by Ball Aerospace, was launched Nov. 18.

New Counter WMD Office. The Department of Homeland Security this week is expected to open a new office to better focus its efforts against weapons of mass destruction. Elaine Duke, the department’s acting secretary, says the Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction will “consolidate and elevate DHS efforts to guard against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.” In written testimony provided to the House Homeland Security Committee for a Nov. 30 hearing on global threats, Duke says DHS is concerned with both threat actors and threat agents. She adds that DHS’ approach to countering CBRN threat “was inadequate and our organization for this mission has been fragmented.” The new office will “achieve unity of command,” she tells the panel.

…Oversight Hearing Planned. This Thursday the committee will host a hearing to examine DHS’ efforts in the counter WMD area and to review the new office. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-N.Y.), chairman of the Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee, will oversee the hearing. A committee advisory says the hearing will allow members to “examine” the department’s organization and ability to meet WMD threats. Witnesses haven’t been announced.

Executive Changes. Booz Allen Hamilton says that Joseph Logue, leader of the firm’s defense and intelligence businesses, will retire next June. Logue, who also at one time led the firm’s global commercial information technology business, will be succeed by Karen Dahut, who will be in charge of the defense business, and Christopher Ling as head of the intelligence business effective April 1, 2018. Dahut currently leads Booz Allen’s commercial and civil businesses and Ling runs the international business. Kristine Martin Anderson, who runs the firm’s health business, will take charge of the civil business. ManTech International says it has appointed Richard “Rick” Wagner to be president of its Mission, Cyber & Intelligence Solutions Group starting Jan. 1, 2018. Wagner, who has been executive vice president and chief operating officer of the group since 2016, succeeds Bill Varner, who is retiring.

Navy Assignments. Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) John Richardson announced two new assignments. Rear Adm. James Bynum is assigned director of the Assessment Division, N81 in the Office of the CNO. Bynum is currently chief of Naval Air Training. Rear Adm. Randy Crites is assigned as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Budget and director of the Fiscal management Division, N82, in the Office of the CNO. Crites previously served as director of the Assessment Division, N81, in the Office of the CNO.

Union Deal. Shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries says that the five unions at its Mississippi-based Ingalls Shipbuilding Division have approved a four year extension of their contracts covering 7,300 employees. This contract extension “rewards our employees for their role in Ingalls’ success and positions us competitively for future shipbuilding competitions,” says Brian Cuccias, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. The new agreement provides for $2,500 payments in December and again next March to eligible employees, and a 65-cent raise on the journeyman rate in March 2019, a 67-cent raise in March 2020, and an 82-cent raise a year later. Ingalls builds amphibious assault ships and destroyers for the Navy and the National Security Cutter for the Coast Guard.

LCS-22 Keel. The U.S. Navy held a keel laying and authentication ceremony for the future Littoral Combat Ship USS Kansas City (LCS-22) at Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala. Ship’s sponsor is Tracy Davidson, wife of Commander of Fleet Forces Command, Philip Davidson. The Kansas City is set to be an Independence-variant of the LCS.

New Coast Guard C-130J. The Coast Guard in late November accepted delivery of its 11th Lockheed Martin-built C-130J long range surveillance aircraft. The aircraft will head to L3 Technologies’ facilities in Waco, Texas, where it will receive the Minotaur mission suite of integrated radar, sensor and communications systems. Once the Minotaur package is installed, the aircraft will be redesignated as an HC-130J. Lockheed Martin is under contract to deliver two more C-130Js in 2019 and one in 2020.

New Committee Member. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired Brigadier General in the Air Force who was elected to Congress a year ago, has been named to the House Homeland Security Committee where he will serve on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, and Border and Maritime Security Subcommittees. Rep. Tom Garrett (R-Va.), also a member of the committee, will keep his position on the Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee, and will now also serve on the Oversight and Management Efficiency Subcommittee.

Mattis Travels. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis embarks on a trip to the Middle East, West Africa and South Asia. Mattis begins his engagements with a visit to Egypt on Dec. 2, where he will meet with that country’s president and minister of defense. He then travels to Jordan, where he will participate in the Aqaba Process, a meeting on countering violent extremism in West Africa, hosted by King Abdallah II of Jordan. Mattis then visits Pakistan on Dec. 4, where he is planning to meet with that country’s prime minister and army chief. The trip concludes with a visit to Kuwait Dec. 5, where he will meet with Emir Sabah Ahmad al-Sabah and other Kuwaiti leaders.

Training Contract. General Dynamics Information Technology received the Mission Training Complex Capabilities Support contract. The multiple award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract has a ceiling value of approximately $975 million with a five-year ordering period. Work under the contract consists of simulation and training support including live, virtual, constructive and first-person gaming exercises. Additional support will include technical, logistical and administrative services for designated mission training complexes. “As a leader in mission-command and integrated training capabilities, General Dynamics is well positioned to support the active Army and the National Guard in strengthening readiness,” says Rich Farinacci, vice president and general manager of GD IT’s professional services and training solutions sector.

Vehicle Maintenance. The Army awarded ManTech International an $847 million task order for vehicle engineering maintenance and operations support (VEMOS). Under the 5-year agreement, ManTech will provide a range of sustainment support services (operational engineering and logistics support) globally for some 25,000 vehicles including the Army’s mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAPs). “ManTech’s support of the U.S. Army’s VEMOS initiative is an integral component to safeguarding the lives of America’s fighting men and women, and ensuring the success of their missions,” says Daniel J. Keefe, president and chief operating officer of ManTech’s Mission Solutions and Services Group. “In 14 years of continuous service, ManTech has set the standard for operational, engineering and logistics support for U.S. Army MRAP vehicles, and sustained a 96 percent operational readiness rate ensuring these vital assets were consistently available for critical missions.”

F-135. Naval Air Systems Command awarded United Technologies’ Pratt & Whitney segment a $353 million modification under a previous undefinitized contract for performance-based logistics sustainment for the F-135 engine for the F-35 fighter. This award covers F-35s for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, non-Defense Department participants, and Foreign Military Sales customers. It provides for maintenance of support equipment, common program activities, unique and common base recurring sustainment, common replenishment spares, and unique take-off/landing services for both the carrier and short take-off and landing variants. Work is expected to be finished by Nov. 2018.

NATO Cyber. NATO held its largest cyber exercise, Cyber Coalition, last week in Estonia. The training event brings together over 700 participants from NATO members and industry partners to test tactics used to protect the alliance and its member’s critical networks. The three-day event examined potential malware threats, information operations challenges and discussions on the legal framework of carrying out cyber missions.

MDA Targets. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded Lockheed Martin an $81 million contract to acquire ballistic missile target re-entry vehicles (RVs) used during tests of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, Aegis ballistic missile defense, and Ground-based Midcourse Defense systems. Contract options include extra numbers, integration, analysis, and mission support. This is incrementally funded starting with $8 million in fiscal year 2017 RDT&E funds. Work will occur in Huntsville, Ala., and is expected to be finished by Dec. 2022. Lockheed Martin is the incumbent, having won an award in 2003.

E-2D Trainer. The U.S. Navy selected Rockwell Collins to deliver a fourth tactics trainer for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Integrated Training Systems (HITS) III program under a $34.5 million award. The company says the value rises to $86 million when including other E-2D training systems currently in service. Rockwell Collins says this is a realistic and adaptable training option for the vehicle that can be integrated into other trainers the U.S. uses and supports high-fidelity training in a live, virtual, constructive environment. This latest trainer will be installed at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, Calif., and is expected to be finished by Aug. 2020.

UUV Award. The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded SeeByte a $22.6 million five-year contract to provide engineering, technical support, and training services for the MK18 Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) family of systems. The award will allow the Navy to execute task orders with the company to provide supplies and services including upgrades to the SeeTrack Common Operator Interface for Navy EOD software modules, purchase autonomy software licenses for the MK18s, and software and configuration control management and upgrades. The NAVSEA award notice highlights the most important selection criteria directing it to SeeByte is the applications’ inherent open architecture, allowing it to interface with 3rd party equipment for data transfer and reporting.

Sea Giraffe. General Dynamics awarded Saab a follow-on order to deliver the naval variant of the Sea Giraffe AMB medium-range 3D surveillance radar for the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)-29 and LCS-30 units. The radar is designated AN/SPS-77. The radar was already previously installed on Independence-variant LCS ships, the USS Independence (LCS-2), USS Coronado (LCS-4) USS Jackson (LCS-6), USS Montgomery (LCS-8), USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), and USS Omaha (LCS-12). Saab also says it has received a further GD contract with options to deliver more radars to the LCS program through 2024.

New Russian Ships. Russia’s Pacific Fleet plans to receive up to 10 new warships and support vessels in 2018 according to the TASS Russian News Agency. The new vessels include the Steregushchiy-class corvettes Gromky and Gremyashchy as well as the first improved Kilo-class Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarine. This also includes the Sovershenny corvette, which arrived in Pacific Fleet headquarters Vladivostok in 2017. The new submarine type is being built specifically for the Pacific Fleet and can carry the Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles. TASS also reports the fleet will receive new anti-sabotage boats, support ships, and a modern tugboat.

Engility For Navy. The U.S. Navy awarded Engility two contracts supporting naval aircraft operations worth $50 million total. The first award is a $30 million re-compete contract to support the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Facility in modernizing systems engineering and aircraft launch and recovery equipment capabilities. The company will help the Navy with launch, recovery, and visual landing aids as well as maintenance of aircraft aboard naval ships and Marine Corps airfields. The award has one base-year with four option years.

…Radar And Traffic. Engility also received a $20 million task order to maintain the AN/SPN-43 radar and associated air traffic control (ATC) systems as well as develop upgrades for the systems. This includes ATC systems on all aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. Engility will also install and integrate system components for tests and analysis. This is a new contract with one base-year and three option years.

MTS Undocked. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNS) undocked the USS La Jolla (SSN-701), which will stay pier-side to finish the final portion of converting into a moored training ship (MTS). The process began Feb. 2015 and SSN-701 is the first of two platforms undergoing conversion into a unit used to train nuclear officers and sailors at the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, S.C. The USS San Francisco (SSN-711) arrived at the shipyard for conversion in January. These MTS units will supersede the current two MTS submarines, which were commissioned in 1964 and have trained nuclear officers since the early 1990s.

Fitzgerald HVAC. Naval Sea Systems Command plans to award Huntington Ingalls Industries a set of modifications under the contract to repair, restore, and modernize the damaged USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) destroyer. Modifications include extended dry-docking Selected Restricted Availabilities (EDSRA) maintenance, structural heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) repairs, EDSRA modernization, and additional collision repair items. 

State Department IT. The State Department issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Nov. 30 seeking industry input on supporting a Managed Trusted Internet Protocol Service for the department’s network. The department is gathering market research to determine a possible acquisition plan for network solutions that meet the Department of Homeland Security’s Trusted Internet Connection (TIC) program. Specifically, the State Department is exploring vendor TIC capabilities that will grow its network bandwidth without requiring significant re-engineering of its perimeter network. Responses are due by Dec. 30.