The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
Fixing F-35. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he would consider having fixed-price contracts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter once it enters production. “The Congress clearly likes that idea, and I’m certainly open to it,” he tells reporters Aug. 13. “But…let’s get through the development part of the program first.” He says rising costs with Pratt & Whitney’s F-35 engine do not alter his opposition to funding the second engine developed by General Electric and Rolls Royce. “There is always cost growth associated with a developmental aircraft,” Gates says, and notes funding the Pentagon requested to reduce the risk.
Export Review. President Obama has directed the National Security Council and the National Economic Council to review the U.S. export control system, including the dual-use and defense-trade processes. “The aim of the review is to consider reforms to the system to enhance the national security, foreign policy, and economic security interests of the United States,” the White House press secretary says Aug. 13. “The U.S. has one of the most robust export control systems in the world. But, it is rooted in the Cold War era of over 50 years ago and must be updated to address the threats we face today and the changing economic and technological landscape.”
…Review Reviews. Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Marion Blakey calls the review “a very welcome development.” AIA wants technologies on the U.S. munitions list to be reviewed and better licensing caseload management models to be implemented. “The economic and security challenges our country faces continue to grow more complex and we must have a modern export control system that protects U.S. technology while allowing us to cooperate and trade with our close allies and partners,” Blakey says. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.) says the review is “years overdue.” He says a “modernized export control system is needed to deal more effectively with the security threats posed by global diffusion of dual-use technologies and to maintain continued U.S. technological leadership.” Berman has launched a review of U.S. export controls on dual-use U.S. goods with commercial and military applications, and wants to file related legislation next year.
Chime In. Tomorrow through Thursday, the Army Training and Doctrine Command hosts its semi-annual TRADOC Senior Leaders Conference, called “Next Battles,” in Gettysburg, Pa., and for the first time, anyone interested can be involved. TRADOC has invited Small Wars Journal (http://www.smallwarsjournal.com) and The National Journal to bring the discussion to the public, reserving space on the SWJ Website for up-to-the-minute blog updates during sessions where one can follow the discussions, comment and ask questions on a discussion board. This is the first TSLC with public interaction.
Mobile Training. Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles (OSV), along with FAAC Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich., say they have received an order for eight Operator Driver Simulators (ODS) mobile trainer facilities from the Army National Guard. The simulators will train students how to operate a number of military vehicles, including Medium and Heavy Tactical trucks, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles through the practice of critical driving skills in a controlled environment. Delivery is expected by next month. OSV manufactures a systems-ready, mobile training environment and the ODS simulators are installed by FAAC at its facilities in Ann Arbor. OSV will provide both the 38-foot and 44-foot long enclosures, which are engineered as fully self-contained mobile trainers.
New Home Coming. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), in Laurel, Md., along with state and federal officials and industry representatives, broke ground Aug. 7 for the Laboratory’s new Space Department building. “Getting the majority of our staff in one location, convenient to our outside customers and scientific colleagues, will greatly increase the efficiency of our operations,” says John Sommerer, acting head of APL’s Space Department.” Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) says: “I think a hallmark of APL is it’s not just a place that develops exciting new technologies to support us in space and support the safety and security of our country, but it imparts a technological wisdom to society.” Set to open in mid-2011, the $60-million, five-story, 200,000 gross-square-foot green building, known as Building 200, will sit on a 35-acre site. It will include office space and technical facilities for approximately 550 scientists, engineers and support staff that contribute to the Space Department’s mission of creating innovative space systems that achieve national objectives for NASA and space-related DoD missions.
More Bots. iRobot Corp. says it has received a $5.1 million order from Army TACOM Contracting Center to deliver 14 iRobot PackBot 510s with FasTac Kit robots and spare parts. Spare parts include manipulator arms, cameras and ruggedized laptops. This is the 11th order for iRobot under the $286 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) xBot contract, raising the total contract value to approximately $86 million. The xBot contract has been moved from the Army PEO Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) to the Army TACOM Contracting Center. The PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit is a lighter alternative to other EOD robots. Soldiers and Marines in both Iraq and Afghanistan use it. “One of the reasons these robots are so important is that they have the ability to perform the role of point man on the battlefield,” says Joe Dyer, president of iRobot Government and Industrial Robots. “Warfighters can send the robot into a potentially dangerous area first. This gives them the opportunity to assess the situation from a safe place and allows more time to make decisions accordingly.”
New Vision. ITT Corp. continues to provide Enhanced Night Vision Goggles and associated parts under a $43 million in follow-on orders from the Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center. “Our unmatched capability, technology and customer support are at the heart of these most recent awards,” says Mike Hayman, president of ITT’s Night Vision business. “By continuing to deliver the industry’s most advanced night vision goggle, we are providing our warfighters with unrivaled capabilities required for current and future battlefield operations.” ENVG optically combines an image intensification image, and proven thermal infrared technology, allowing for improved mobility and situational awareness–through clear target detection and improved target recognition. The ENVG combines both technologies into one helmet-mounted unit, allowing warfighters to complete their missions more effectively, even when confronted by low-light or obscured conditions.
Better Safety. Rockwell Collins demonstrates its ability to adapt unmanned auto land technology to manned systems in an effort to enhance safety in the future airspace. At a press conference at AUVSI last week, David Vos, senior director of Control Technologies for Rockwell Collins, discussed a current project with Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) to explore and adapt advanced flight control technologies originally developed for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for future use in general aviation airplanes. “This project with HBC shows what is possible by leveraging our UAS technology to potentially serve as a digital parachute in emergency situations,” Vos says. “Advanced automation and sensing technology, such as the Rockwell Collins Athena 411 flight control system that was used on this project, can play a critical role in enhancing the safety operations of both manned and unmanned aircraft. This is especially important as we move toward a future airspace that integrates both platforms.”
New Move. EADS North American announces that Gary Bishop joins the company as vice president of its Armed Scout 645 program. EADS North America is offering the Armed Scout 645 combat helicopter to strengthen Army capabilities in aerial reconnaissance and security during operations in current and future conflicts. Bishop is a highly experienced helicopter program manager, and served in the Army where he led aviation and armor units, and performed assignments in the acquisition community. In the private sector, Bishop previously led the Boeing team responsible for the Army’s Apache Longbow programs in Mesa, Ariz. EADS North America’s Armed Scout 645 is based on the same airframe as the highly successful UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter it is currently delivering to the Army.
Virtual VUAS. Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System (VUAS) is featured in the latest version of the America’s Army 3 (AA3) computer game as part of an introduction to the game’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems integration. Launched in July 2002, America’s Army has become one of the world’s most popular computer game franchises. The America’s Army games provide players a virtual portal into the Army, from exploring the development of soldiers in individual and collective training to their employment in simulated missions in the global war on terrorism, the company says. In the America’s Army game, players are bound by rules of engagement and progress in their virtual Army careers by navigating challenges in teamwork-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. In the game, as in the Army, accomplishing missions requires a team effort and adherence to core Army values.
Highest Rating. Northrop Grumman announces its Electronic Systems sector campuses in Baltimore and Norwalk, Conn., have been appraised at Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI(r)) Maturity Level 5–the highest rating possible–for a broad range of systems, software and hardware engineering processes with aspects of manufacturing, program management, organizational management, logistics and supply chain management. Higher maturity levels signify lower risks for successful program execution, and fewer than five percent of all rated companies achieved Maturity Level 5 in 2009. Both Northrop Grumman campuses design, develop and manufacture advanced electronics for military, civil and commercial use.
Roomba Under The Sea. iRobot, the company famous for Packbot and the Roomba vacuum cleaner, is venturing into the maritime unmanned systems arena with Seaglider, a platform for gathering ocean data, and Ranger, designed for very shallow water mine clearance. Both systems were on display last week at the annual AUVSI expo in Washington, D.C. Ranger is designed to fill “manportable needs” for a small deployable system, Rick Vosburgh, executive director maritime for iRobot, tells Defense Daily. Ranger was developed by Raleigh, N.C.-based Nekton Research. The company was acquired by iRobot last September. The facility is now the headquarters for iRobot’s maritime systems operations, Vosburgh adds.
…Small Package. Ranger looks like a thermos on steroids. Vosburgh calls it “a maritime equivalent of Packbot.” Ranger was funded by both ONR and the Navy’s EOD office, he adds. While Ranger has a battery-operated propulsion system, a sister system dubbed “Transphibion” uses a flipper, mounted on Ranger’s tail, to maneuver, Vosburgh says. “[Ranger is] modular, open architecture. There is a lot of space for payload,” he adds. Ranger is light enough it could be carried by Special Operations personnel or Riverine forces and deployed by tossing it overboard, Vosburgh says.
Come Fly With Me. Northrop Grumman has been investing its own funds to line up partner companies to “come play’ with the Fire Scout VTUAS, John VanBrabant, manager V-UAS business development, tells Defense Daily at AUVSI. The company has formed a strategy council to look at payloads for Fire Scout, he adds. “In early ’10 we hope to conduct a weapons demonstration,” VanBrabant says. Northrop Grumman now wants do to guided weapon tests, he adds. The company will use its Navy variant, P-6, for testing out payload concepts, he notes. “P-7 will be dedicated to doing other things for the Army.” A lot of folks are developing payloads, VanBrabant says. Other ideas include using Fire Scout as a communications relay. “A wideband relay is envisioned in the future,” he adds. The Navy is planning to demonstrate AIS on Fire Scout some time in the future, VanBrabant says.
…On The Radar. Northrop Grumman anticipates issuing a RFP for a Fire Scout radar within the month. An award will occur after the company receives Navy funding, likely in the first part of 2010.
Improving Operator Conditions. Raytheon introduced its Universal Control System (UCS), designed for unmanned aircraft, at AUVSI. UCS is built around the operator, Michael Keaton, senior manager unmanned systems, tells Defense Daily. The system was developed from studying video gaming, he adds. “It immerses the operator in a visual environment.” Keaton adds UCS provides improved situational awareness for operators and the system is designed to interface with different UAVs. “The software is well tested-it’s based off of TCS,” Keaton says. And UCS is designed to combat operator fatigue with ergonomically designed systems including a seat with a memory system for long missions, thumb controls, hands on throttle and stick, adjustable hand and foot positions and ergonomically correct displays.
Summer School. The Navy has several LCS studies either currently underway or planned, to find ways to lower the cost of the ships. The LCS Total Ownership Cost (TOC) studies are looking at ways to lower TOC by analyzing a common C4I solution. The Navy is looking to implement the findings into the FY ’11 ships (LCS-8 and follow-on ships). The LCS Cost Reduction Initiative is examining candidates’ cost reductions for both LCS-1 and LCS-2. The LCS-1 Certification Readiness Review, planned for Sept. 10, will look at technical approaches to be used in the assessment of the warfare system performance and other certification and deployment requirements. The review will examine all available means for validating and verifying LCS-1 combat system and warfare system mission requirements, including shipboard testing, combat system and warfare system integration and interoperability tests. LCS-1 Platform Certification Assessment (PCA) is scheduled for this fall. “An LCS common combat system study is being conducted by a team of NAVSEA organizations including PEO IWS, PEO SHIPS and the NAVSEA 05C cost analysis group. It is anticipated that results will be available this fall,” Lt. Clayton Doss, Navy spokesman, tells Defense Daily.
Filing Urgent Comms Need. A team of Navy civilian engineers are working with warfighters in Afghanistan to evaluate and field test Netted Iridium radios designed to solve a communications problem in the country’s rugged and mountainous terrain, NAVSEA says. Since a September 2008 Limited User Evaluation (LUE), between three and five NSWC Dahlgren engineers have been conducting Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS) training and field support to warfighters. DTCS handsets will provide on-the-move, over-the- horizon, beyond line-of-sight voice and position location information without the need for ground infrastructure, NAVSEA adds. In Afghanistan, three NSWC Dahlgren engineers conducted a site survey and the LUE, a user evaluation which identified and developed processes and procedures for the long-term fielding and support of DTCS systems. This system allows each handset to display not only its own position on a map but also the location of other members of the same network, while still maintaining voice priority over data, NAVSEA says.
Aegis Down Under. Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Weapon System destined for Australia’s first Air Warfare Destroyer began a four month testing program today at the company’s Aegis Production Test Center, in Moorestown, N.J., the company reports. Upon completion of the testing, the Aegis Weapon System will be shipped to ASC Shipyard in Adelaide, Australia, where it will be installed in HMAS Hobart, the first of three Australian Air Warfare Destroyers under contract, Lockheed Martin says. The Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer will be the most advanced and complex warships ever built in Australia and will introduce the Aegis Weapon System to the Royal Australian Navy, Lockheed Martin says.
C-130s For Iraq. Lockheed Martin has won a contract valued at $140 million to provide two additional four-engine C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft to the Iraqi government, the Defense Department says. The U.S. Air Force contract includes non-recurring engineering and integration tasks associated with the new configuration of C-130Js, which are being built specifically for Iraq.
C-17s For Qatar. Boeing this month delivered the first C-17 Globemaster III airlifters to Qatar’s Air Force. Qatar was the first Middle East nation to order the C-17 when it signed an agreement with Boeing on July 21, 2008, for the purchase of two advanced airlifters and associated equipment and services. Boeing will deliver Qatar’s second C-17 later this year. The company will provide operational support, including material management and depot maintenance support, under the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership. There are currently 205 C-17s in service worldwide. With the Qatar delivery, 16 have been placed with international customers. The U.S. Air Force, including active, Guard and Reserve units, has 189 of the airplanes. International customers include Qatar, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability consortium of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. The United Arab Emirates announced on Feb. 24 that it also will acquire four C-17s.
New Wave. The Pentagon last week awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to develop a simulation model for the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) waveform. The modeling activity will enable the Air Force to devise improved tactics for use in anti-access environments. MADL allows coordinated tactics and engagement capabilities between low- observable platforms. The advanced tactical data link will offer a significant increase in operational effectiveness for fifth-generation aircraft operating in high-threat environments. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council has approved MADL for all low-observable platforms. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will define, design and develop a simulation model based on the MADL waveform the company is developing for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
Mobility C2. The Defense Department has awarded CSC a contract with a potential value of $50 million to provide applications infrastructure and systems support services, including information assurance, development testing, configuration management and training for Air Force Air Mobility Command’s command and control (C2) system. It is a one-year contract with three one-year options. CSC leads a team that includes Harris, Northrop Grumman and TRI-COR Industries.
Publicity Stunt. Lockheed Martin says it will investigate the rollover crash of one of its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) prototypes while it was being test driven by an upstate New York television news reporter. Neil St. Clair of Syracuse-based News 10 Now was driving the JLTV on Aug. 13 at Lockheed’s cross-country track in Owego, N.Y. The vehicle flipped onto its side while St. Clair was turning at the bottom of a hill. The driver, a photographer in the passenger seat and a Lockheed test driver riding in the back suffered minor injuries, according to the company. The accident occurred after Lockheed Vice President Louis DeSantis told local reporters that the vehicles are “very hard to tip over.”