The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
Inefficiencies. Seven Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee are questioning the Pentagon’s efficiencies initiative, saying it would “severely impact critical services managed by the civilian workforce and lead to continued overreliance on private contractors to support vital missions.” In an April 5 letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Reps. Maurice Hinchey (N.Y.), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), Steve Rothman (N.J.), Sam Farr (Calif.), José Serrano (N.Y.), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (Ill.), and Chaka Fattah (Pa.) argue against the Pentagon’s move to freeze its civilian workforce at 2010 levels, as the needs it fills continue to grow. “As a result, private contractors will need to be hired to fill critical gaps created by the civilian workforce freeze, which will lead to increased costs for the public, the outsourcing of inherently governmental functions, and offset significant savings assumed by the “Efficiency Initiative,” they argue.
…Changes. They call for the Pentagon to undertake three reforms: implement a service contractor inventory required by law and integrate the results into the budget process; manage the civilian workforce by budgets and workloads, instead of by what they call “arbitrary constraints;” and ensure Pentagon managers can make performance decisions between civilian employees and contractors on the basis of cost, policy, risk, and the law.
Missile Worries. Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee, continues to raise concerns about funding for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system for national missile defense. Speaking at an April 6 Capitol Hill event trumping the “importance of missile defense to U.S. and global security,” Turner says the national system’s capabilities are uncertain in light of two recent test failures of ground-based interceptors. He is concerned about a $445 million GMD funding reduction in FY ’10, and $1 billion dip in out-year spending plans compared to levels projected last year. His panel is expected to call for increased GMD funding when it marks up its portion of the FY ’12 defense authorization bill next month.
Ryan’s budget. The Republican-controlled House Budget Committee approves a budget FY ’12 resolution on April 6 that nearly matches the Pentagon’s budget plans. The resolution, which the House has not taken up, calls for a $692.5 billion defense budget, which includes war spending, and endorses $178 billion in savings over the next five years endorsed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) and 28 committee members, though, want to boost the Pentagon’s $553 billion based defense budget request by $7 billion.
Cyber Future. The Air Force’s chief information officer says that, despite budget constraints, the service must remain vigilant in cybersecurity and applications management. Lt. Gen. William Lord addressed modern cyberspace threats at the Air Force Association’s Cyber Futures Symposium earlier this month. The general says Air Force officials are beginning to put their applications through rigorous testing. They then plan to apply program management office money to fill any gaps, as opposed to funding the next new release of capability. “Information technology allows us to be a much smaller force but to be infinitely more effective,” Lord says. “There’s huge pressure to bring new devices on and at the same time be able to manage that in an environment where we want to ensure that our data is available.” The general says cyber operations will drive many of the changes on the horizon. “The future of nanotechnology, biocomputing and genetics research will be enabled by the process power of computers, the network and the ability to collaborate and share information among lots of entities.”
AEHF-1 On The Move. The first Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite crossed the half-way mark to geosynchronous orbit late last month, with its perigee climbing above 17,893 km. altitude, the Air Force says. Orbit-raising for AEHF-1 is continuing as planned, according to officials. Shortly after the Aug. 14, 2010 launch, the orbit-raising plan was modified as a result of an anomaly with the bi-propellant propulsion system, which was intended to place the spacecraft near its operational orbit. The new plan entails two phases: one phase using hydrazine thrusters, which is now complete; the other using AEHF’s Hall Current Thruster electric propulsion system. The satellite is safe, the Air Force says, continues to operate as planned and is expected to reach geosynchronous orbit in late summer 2011.
Automated Aerial Refueling. Northrop Grumman’s Relative Navigation system exceeded accuracy requirements during recent flight tests for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) program, the company says. The objectives of the AAR program are to demonstrate critical technology to enable refueling of unmanned aircraft and develop tools to support airworthiness certification for integration with the existing Air Force tanker fleet. Employing a Learjet as a surrogate for an unmanned aircraft and a modified refueling tanker, Northrop Grumman’s Relative Navigation software operating in the company’s LN-251 embedded global positioning system (GPS)/fiber-optic inertial navigation system (INS) provided the precise positioning information required in support of the simulated aerial refueling mission. A series of eight flight tests demonstrated that the software hosted in the LN-251 produces consistent and predictable real-time accuracy performance across data link drops and varying time delays, close proximity and mid-range vehicle separations.
Rocketing Ahead. Dave Caldwell, director for Missile Defense and Strategic programs in the Aerojet’s company’s Washington, D.C. Operations office, will assume the added responsibility of supporting the company’s efforts to foster a sustainable and innovative U.S. rocket propulsion industrial base. He also will continue to support Aerojet’s activities across the full spectrum of the missile defense and strategic sectors. “Dave Caldwell has played a vital role in advancing Aerojet’s missile defense and strategic sector endeavors,” says Aerojet’s vice president and deputy to the President, Dick Bregard. “He brings unique operational experience and capabilities to the Aerojet team, working to create a sustainable and innovative U.S. rocket propulsion industrial base.” Caldwell joined Aerojet a year ago with a risk management background in support of several DoD acquisition programs. A career Navy Surface Warfare Officer, Caldwell has significant operational experience, having served in a variety of Navy ship classes on both U.S. coasts. He served ashore at the Missile Defense Agency where he was a direct liaison for Asia-Pacific regional governments seeking involvement in U.S. ballistic missile defense activities.
Reaper Notching Hours. The United Kingdom’s Predator MQ-9 Reaper has achieved 20,000 operational flying hours over Afghanistan, the MoD says. Reflecting on the achievement, Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Phil Osborn, says: “The RAF’s Reaper force has proven itself time and again in combat and is an essential element of the RAF’s combat intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capability. Reaper was introduced in October 2007, and, with its array of high tech sensors and precision-guided weapons, it can carry out a wide range of missions to support forces in Afghanistan.
HEMTT Protection. Oshkosh Defense will deliver more than 400 underbody armor protection kits for the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A4 vehicles following its first order for the armor from the Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC). The armor was developed in response to an urgent need in the field to increase protection for HEMTT wreckers and Light Equipment Transporters (LET) recovering Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles in Afghanistan’s challenging terrain. Additionally, more than 15 uparmored Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) wreckers were ordered by the Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) to protect Marines recovering MRAPs in theater. Deliveries of the HEMTT underbody kits for the TACOM order are scheduled to be completed in July 2011. The order is valued at more than $26 million. Deliveries of the LVSRs are scheduled to take place between June and September 2011. The MARCORSYSCOM order is valued at approximately $12 million.