Lockheed Martin [LMT], which along with Raytheon [RTN] is gunning for the Air Force’s multi-billion dollar Space Fence contract, expects a contract to be awarded by the end of May, according to a key executive.
Lockheed Martin Vice President for Space Surveillance Systems Steve Bruce told reporters Tuesday the company issued a final proposal in February after the Air Force issued a revised request for proposals (RFP) for Space Fence, which is the Air Force’s next generation space surveillance radar. Space Fence is estimated to be worth $3.5 billion.
“I think the program is well supported by the Air Force and I think the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is going to allow Air Force to award it,” Bruce said.
Bruce said he believed the second Space Fence site in western Australia was still “up in the air.” The Air Force has committed to placing a Space Fence radar in Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, but has cited budget pressures for not committing to the second location. Bruce said the Space Fence active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar at Kwajalein Atoll will have 80 percent capability. Space Fence radars will operate in the S-band frequency range.
The Space Fence award has been years in the making after numerous delays. The Air Force originally wanted an award by spring 2013, before sequestration-related budget caps realigned Air Force spending priorities. The service originally planned initial operational capability (IOC) for fiscal year 2017 and full operational capability for FY ’20. Bruce said the new IOC goal of FY ’18 was “low risk.”
Raytheon spokesman Michael Nachshen said Tuesday the company is confident of its Space Fence solution and looks forward to the Air Force’s decision. The Air Force in December issued both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin contracts worth $10 million combined to perform risk reduction studies for Space Fence (Defense Daily, Jan. 2).