The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
Partisan Divide. House Democrats are praising the FY ’11 defense authorization bill that cleared their chamber via a 229-186 vote last Friday. “This defense bill makes counterterrorism a priority, improving the ability of our military to protect themselves at home and abroad and providing them with the additional tools they need to disrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies,” HASC Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) says. Yet many Republicans are upset with a change to the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy on gays in the military. HASC Ranking Member Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), who voted against the bill, says he is “disappointed” with how Democrats voted to repeal the policy before the Pentagon completes a review.
Global Hawk Home Base. Northrop Grumman on May 21 opened an office to provide support for the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) being assigned to Grand Forks AFB, N.D. The office could eventually employ more than 100 people in North Dakota and attract suppliers and subcontractors as the number of aircraft increase at the base, the company says. Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) were on hand for the ceremonies. George Guerra, Northrop Grumman vice president for High Altitude-Long Endurance (HALE) Systems, presented a $25,000 grant to the University of North Dakota for the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, recognizing its advances in the area of unmanned systems research. The University of North Dakota is the first school to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations. Global Hawk has been flying more than 12 years, including operations in national airspace in the U.S. and other countries. It is still the only UAS to receive both a U.S. Air Force airworthiness certificate and a Federal Aviation Administration certificate of authority, allowing routine operation in civil airspace.
Ka-Band Satellite Terminal. Northrop Grumman has successfully completed flight testing of an airborne satellite communications system, part of a network that is expected to significantly enhance communications capabilities for the Pentagon. This represents the first airborne terminal system to be certified for connection to the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS). The flight test used the communications terminal system installed on a modified business jet aircraft to connect with a WGS via the Ka-band link. The test, which measured terminal performance including high data rates, is the second of three phases required to certify the airborne communications system for WGS operations. Northrop Grumman is performing the certification under the Multi-Role Tactical Common Data Link (MR-TCDL) Developmental and Operational Test program contract. The MR-TCDL system provides combat personnel with critical real-time networking connectivity by enabling extremely fast exchange of data via ground, airborne and satellite networks. The Defense Micro-Electronics Activity awarded the 30-month, $69 million MR-TCDL contract to support CERDEC. The Ka-band WGS link uses a less-congested frequency band than other satellites and enables high data-rate information assimilation by airborne and ground-based terminals.
Lynx Linked To Predator UAS. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems says last week that it has successfully completed a set of flight tests of its next generation Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI) radar, the Lynxr Advanced Multi-channel Radar (AMR), on the company’s Predator B UAS. The flights were completed on May 7 at GA-ASI’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., following software testing and aircraft payload integration. During the flight tests, the radar was specifically evaluated for dismount (personnel walking or running) detection performance over its full field-of-regard. The flight test campaign included evaluation of the currently operational Lynx SAR in nose-on geometry at Predator B loitering speeds. Lynx was able to detect slow-walking people without modifications to the currently operational software. This effectiveness was verified through several instrumented tests.
Don’t Lase Me, Man. For the second time, the Navy shoots down a UAV using a commercially available laser technology. The May 24 event was the first Detect-Thru-Engage laser shoot-down of a threat representative target in an over-the-water, combat representative scenario, NAVSEA says. A total of two UAV targets were engaged and destroyed off San Nicholas Island, Calif., during the testing, the second series of successes for the Navy’s Laser Weapon System (LaWS) Program, NAVSEA adds. In each of the demonstrations, the Navy has fired a laser through a beam director on a KINETO Tracking Mount, controlled by a MK 15 CIWS. This raises to a total of seven UAVs destroyed by the surface Navy’s first tactical development for fielding a Directed Energy weapon system.
Open. PEO-IWS releases version 2.0 of the Naval Open Architecture (NOA) Contract Guidebook for program managers, NAVSEA reports. The initial NOA Contract Guidebook was released by the OAET in July 2006 as a compendium of contracting best practices and lessons learned from across the Naval Enterprise. It was first updated in October 2007. “This new version is particularly timely because it supports the Navy’s redoubled efforts to reduce total ownership cost by encouraging software reuse and increased competition in source selection, as well as promoting the prudent use of open source software,” says Chris Deegan, executive director, PEO IWS. This latest version of the guidebook contains new information and contract clauses, including a new H clause, requiring contractor identification of open source software in deliverables; statement of work (SOW) language on using integrated development environments; SOW language on software code walkthroughs; product re-use demonstrations; and references to Naval Air Systems Command’s Key Open Sub-Systems tool. The guidebook is undergoing additional review of the Specific H Clause section. A temporary version is available at the Naval Open Architecture Frequently Used Tools and References section at https://acc.dau.mil/oa. Once complete, the final version will be posted at the same location, NAVSEA adds.
Deep In The Heart of…The Pacific. The USS Texas (SSN-775) departs its homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, the first deployment conducted by a Pacific- based Virginia-class submarine, the Navy says. In 2009, Texas and USS Hawaii (SSN-776) changed homeports from Groton, Conn., to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, marking the first Virginia-class submarines to be stationed in the Pacific. In preparation for Texas‘ deployment, the submarine underwent a scheduled pre-deployment upkeep at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNS & IMF), demonstrating the shipyard’s ability to conduct maintenance on Virginia-class submarines.
Groundbreaking. NSWC Indian Head held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Energetics Systems and Technology Laboratory Complex-Phase I, NAVSEA says. The multi-phase project will provide convenient access for engineers and scientists to collaborate in product development, design, in-service engineering, acquisition engineering, and ordnance assessment. Phase I will provide office space for approximately 100 engineers, technicians, and support personnel. The $11.6 million facility will also include an inert workspace and an engineering laboratory, NAVSEA adds. Currently, engineering personnel are housed in 10 buildings in different locations at the Indian Head facility in buildings averaging 68 years of age.
To Service And Support. The FAA selects Northrop Grumman to provide national maintenance services and logistic support of several critical FAA communications products and systems, including the Integrated Communications Switching System (ICSS), Rapid Deployment Voice Switching System (RDVS), Enhanced Terminal Voice Switch (ETVS), and Small Tower Voice Switch (STVS), the company says. Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman will ensure the existing communications systems, hardware, firmware, and documentation are supported into the year 2015. The company will supply round-the-clock technical assistance support, including next day delivery of critical repairs. The-five year contract encompasses one base year and four additional one-year options with a not-to-exceed value of $32 million. The ICSS, RDVS, ETVS and STVS systems are the primary communications links between air traffic controllers and air crews onboard commercial aircraft.
…NextGen. The FAA awards three separate Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) contracts totaling up to $4.4 billion over 10 years. Under the contracts, Boeing, General Dynamics and ITT will perform work that will demonstrate NextGen procedures in real time on a large scale within the current air traffic system, the FAA says. The three contracts, like one for $280 million awarded last month to CSSI, Inc., are part of System Engineering 2020 (SE2020). Two more contracts are expected under SE2020, which has a ceiling of $7 billion, making it the largest set of awards in FAA history. Boeing, General Dynamics and ITT will conduct large-scale demonstrations, including the use of aircraft as flying laboratories, to see how NextGen concepts, procedures and technologies can be integrated into the current system, the FAA adds.. The FAA will work with these companies to develop and demonstrate new procedures in four dimensions, adding the element of time to the current three-dimensional profile of an aircraft’s latitude, longitude and altitude. Introducing time to this profile means that under NextGen, pilots and controllers will know not only where an aircraft is with greater precision but when the aircraft is supposed to be there. Unlike the current system of “roads in the sky,” 4-D operations will allow aircraft to fly from Point A to Point B more directly, while taking into consideration factors such as heavy traffic and bad weather, the FAA says..
Does Size Matter? The Army is moving quickly to get its Gray Eagle Extended Range Multi-Purpose UAS out to the troops, displaying it in the Pentagon courtyard last week with other service UAVs. UAS generate major excitement, almost like the early days of flight when Charles Lindbergh flew the Atlantic alone in the Spirit of St. Louis. A million flight hour UAS bash at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum last week, where the Spirit of St. Louis now hangs, gave a chance to compare some basic numbers. Gray Eagle is bigger: The Spirit of St. Louis has a 46-foot wingspan versus 56 feet for Gray Eagle. The Spirit of St. Louis is 27 feet 8 inches long, while Gray Eagle is four inches longer. But Spirit of St. Louis outweighs Gray Eagle–5,135 pounds to 3,200 pounds. The Spirit is painted silver, Gray Eagle, is well, gray.
…UAS Changes. UAS are changing how the U.S. military conducts operations and they are very much used by the joint force. The Project Office Unmanned Aircraft Systems offers a joint usage chart showing the Army uses the ERMP/Predator for division level reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. The Army, Navy, Marines and SOF use Shadow, a brigade-level asset; the Army, Marines, Air Force and SOF use Raven, the small unit UAV and the Army and Navy use the gMav/Class 1 UAV.
First Shipment. Oshkosh Defense ships its first Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle trucks and trailers to the Army ahead of schedule. “These Oshkosh vehicles represent a major milestone for the FMTV program, and exemplify our history of meeting commitments to the U.S. Army,” says Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager, Army Programs, Oshkosh Defense. “We’ve leveraged our proven manufacturing expertise and a substantial pre-award program investment to ensure that all of our customer’s requirements and original schedules are met. We look forward to delivering these mission-critical vehicles to our country’s Warfighters.”According to the Army’s original FMTV program timeline, Oshkosh will begin delivering production units in October. Production deliveries under existing orders run through December 2011.
New Complex. Lockheed Martin dedicates the expansion of its state-of-the-art Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile production complex in Camden, Ark. Lockheed Martin anticipates the new facility will allow for continued production expansion and modest employment growth over the next several years. The new 72,000 square-foot PAC-3 All Up Round (AUR) II building is located on Camden Operations’ campus adjacent to the existing 52,000-square-foot PAC-3 AUR I facility. Richard McDaniel, director of the PAC-3 Programs for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, says in a statement. “Through this expansion, we will be able to maintain the high level of quality and performance that our customers demand and accommodate future program growth.”
Successful Demos. Rockwell Collins says it recently conducted successful demonstrations of the Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) and Quint Networking Technology (QNT) at the Joint Expeditionary Forces Experiment (JEFX) 10-3 held at Nellis AFB, Nev. The focus of JEFX 2010 was irregular warfare with initiatives centered on command and control (C2), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and close precision engagement. TTNT and QNT were utilized to enable quick communication, collaboration and networking capability to units at the tactical edge, reducing the Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage and Assess timelines associated with ground fighter engagement. Platforms utilizing TTNT and QNT included E-2C, E-3 C2,, F-16, the Northrop Grumman Litening targeting pod, Orion UAV surrogate and special operations forces on the ground. Bruce King, vice president and general manager of Surface Solutions for Rockwell Collins, says in a statement: “TTNT and QNT are the most mature advanced tactical data links providing airborne networking capability for warfighters. This capability has been proven and demonstrated through more than 1,000 flight hours on over a dozen airborne and ground platforms.”
The P25 Slog. After 21 years of work on a set of standards for public safety communications interoperability for land mobile radios, just 1.5 of eight standards that specify the open interfaces among the various components of the radios are complete, hampering progress toward interoperability, an official with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), tells a House Science and Technology panel. The public safety community and the Telecommunications Industry Association joined in 1989 to create a standards development organization to launch Project 25, commonly called P25, to achieve interoperability between land mobile radio systems made by different manufacturers. In addition to little progress being made on the finalizing standards, other impediments to interoperability include a lack of an industry-led formal compliance assessment program, only some of the P25 radio systems being manufactured are standards based, and it “isn’t clear to public safety agencies what a P25 system entails,” says Dereck Orr, program manager at NIST for Public Safety Communications Systems.
…Misleading Marketing? Orr says that land mobile radios that carry the P25 logo today have basically been through compliance testing their respective manufacturers “in whatever manner they each determined was sufficient for validation of their products.” He goes on to say that “the P25 logo has instead been used by manufacturers as a marketing logo to convey to users that their product was developed to P25 standards specifications. However, many safety agencies that we speak with incorrectly assume that the logo is a certification stamp signifying the completion of a formal and uniform test regime.”
Final Coast Guard C-130J. The Coast Guard last month took delivery of its sixth and final Lockheed Martin-built HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft. The HC-130Js feature a 360-degree surface search radar, new engines and propellers for greater speed, range and altitude versus the HC-130H, and the ability to operate with a smaller crew size, which saves on operating costs.