The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
Back To The Hill. When lawmakers return to Capitol Hill this week after the Memorial Day recess, they’re expected to pass the fiscal year 2009 war-funding supplemental and continue FY ’10 defense budget hearings. Hearing highlights will include new Navy Secretary Raymond Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, and Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway before the SAC-D Tuesday, HAC-D Wednesday, and SASC Thursday; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Secretary Michael Donley with the HAC-D Wednesday, SAC-D Thursday; and Special Operations Command head Adm. Eric Olson before a HASC subcommittee, also Thursday.
Watchdog Watch. President Obama intends to nominate Gordon Heddell, the acting inspector general (IG) at the Department of Defense since last year, to hold the position on an official basis, according to a May 28 White House announcement. Heddell, also the IG at the Labor Department, served with the Army in both Korea and Taiwan during the Vietnam War before spending 29 years in the Secret Service. He garnered attention in the Pentagon oversight post last December when he issued a report chastising DoD for not fielding Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicles faster than it did.
North Korea And MDA. North Korea’s May 25 underground nuclear test and subsequent short-range-ballistic missile launches has hawkish lawmakers calling for a reversal of President Obama’s proposed Missile Defense Agency budget cuts. “North Korea’s brazen act of aggression should strengthen our resolve for a multi-layered missile defense system, capable of protecting our nation and our allies,” says House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). Senior SASC member Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I/D-Conn.), in reaction to North Korea’s “latest provocations,” says: “It is essential that we continue developing an integrated missile defense system that can protect our homeland, our forward deployed troops, and our allies throughout the world.” He adds he met with Defense Secretary Robert Gates in May “to discuss my concerns about proposed cuts to the Missile Defense Agency, and will fight to restore this critical funding for our security.”
Sub Prime. As the Navy moves toward building two Virginia-class submarines a year, begins determining what it needs in a future ballistic missile submarine, and starts deploying the converted guided-missile submarines (SSGN) to both the Atlantic and Pacific, the necessity for a submarine fleet is even more relevant, Capt. Tom Calabrese, CO of the USS Florida (SSGN-728), tells Defense Daily in a recent interview. “I think you can look at the maritime strategy that was signed out in October 2007 by the [leaders of the] maritime forces for the U.S., the CNO, Commandant of the Marine Corps and Commandant of the Coast Guard. If you look at the core capabilities that are in there, a few of which are forward presence, deterrence, power projection, sea control, and maritime security, a submarine can do all that,” he says. “The submarine force has adapted somewhat over the last 20-plus years, but we directly support core capabilities of the maritime power for our country, I am convinced of that.”
…Sub Role. “The SSBNs are a big part of that deterrence…the nuclear deterrence piece, but the SSGN, SSN…we are there for the conventional deterrence piece,” Calabrese adds. “As you compare the SSN to SSGN, I think you really have to go to those two key points–the increased payload and then the increased sustainability for the SOF forces. That’s where the SSGN, I believe, really makes its mark in supporting the submarine force, which is obviously here to support the maritime strategy and ultimately the national security strategy as set out by the president.”
…Unseen. “Yes, we are relevant,” Calabrese says. “We do things as a submarine force that surface folks can’t do. We have the persistent presence, we have the stealth, we can position covertly and quickly respond with little or no warning. Those are some of the things that only submarines can do.”
Arresting. NAVAIR’s Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Program is gearing up for extended reliability testing (ERT) of the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system with full system start scheduled to begin in San Diego, the Navy says. AAG is a modular, integrated system consisting of energy absorbers, power conditioning equipment and digital controls that will replace the Mk 7 arresting gear, the Navy adds. The system is also designed to allow arrestment of a broader range of aircraft, from the lightest unmanned aerial vehicles to the heaviest manned fighters, the Navy says.
…Added Benefits. “This is the beginning of the future for carrier-based naval aircraft and by allowing a more diverse range of aircraft landing access on our carriers, we’re giving our fleet an undeniable advantage at sea,” Capt. Randy Mahr, NAVAIR’s Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment program manager, says. Program experts note that the AAG architecture, Health Monitoring Assessment and Prognostics technology and digital control system provides for built-in test and diagnosis, resulting in the system requiring less maintenance and manpower to operate than the Mk 7. This change in architecture is designed to provide higher reliability and safety margins, while allowing sailors to focus on other areas of need, the Navy adds.
Done. Northrop Grumman and the Navy completed the latest set of fully autonomous MQ-8B Fire Scout flight operations onboard the USS McInerney (FFG-8) in support of dynamic interface testing. This was a critical step for the Navy Fire Scout toward OPEVAL, scheduled for later this summer, the company reports. The Navy Fire Scout completed test flights in areas of shipboard deck motion and wind envelope expansion and landings, including the use of the grid and harpoon system. All flights onboard the McInerney included use of the shipboard UAV Common Auto Recovery System (UCARS) used for vehicle position data during shipboard landings. During the five days of testing, the ship/aircraft team compiled 19 flight hours during 12 flights, which included 54 landings, 37 of which were into the NATO standard grid. Operations were conducted with ship speeds up to 14 knots, ship roll up to five degrees, and wind over deck of up to 25 knots, Northrop Grumman says.
Bidding Tools For Small Biz. California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC), a private, nonprofit corporation, is providing services to several small manufacturers that enable them to find and bid on DoD procurement opportunities. As the current recession has significantly impacted manufacturing both in Southern California and nationwide, small and medium-sized manufacturers are looking to find new markets and see the DoD as a potential stable market for selling parts and assemblies to expand their sales, the organization says. CMTC has developed new tools and methods to enhance the ability of small manufacturers to identify and compete for open and competitive solicitations published daily by the DoD. The tools reduce the time consuming complexity for bidding on DoD solicitations by sorting, filtering, and prioritizing opportunities based upon specific manufacturer’s capabilities and interests. CMTC assistance also employs new techniques to convert the associated DoD technical data packages to a more user friendly format so they can be applied. The new CMTC tools are currently being piloted with about 12 manufacturers to bid, primarily on parts and assemblies for fielded or “legacy systems” vital to the U.S. military readiness procured by the Defense Logistics Agency’s Defense Supply Centers, CMTC says.
New CIO. Priscilla Guthrie is the new Associate Director of National Intelligence and Intelligence Community Chief Information Officer (CIO) at DNI. Guthrie, a former Deputy CIO at DoD, will help lead the Intelligence Community’s (IC) strategy to strengthen sharing, integration and management of information across 16 intelligence agencies, DNI says. The CIO’s office is responsible for establishing common information technology standards across the Intelligence Community and for directing and managing all IT-related procurement for the IC. The CIO is also tasked with developing IT architecture to support information sharing policies and objectives throughout the IC, DNI adds.
No Mid Life Crisis. The USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) successfully completed sea trials May 21 and became the Navy’s first dock landing ship to complete its comprehensive mid-life modernization availability, the service says. The work began in July 2008 at Metro Machine Corp. in Norfolk, Va., and included major upgrades to the ship’s control system, local area network and machinery control system, propulsion systems, HVAC, as well as replacement of the ship’s boilers and evaporators with an all-electric services system, the Navy adds. All 12 ships of the LSD-41 and LSD-49 classes are scheduled to undergo the mid-life upgrade over the next five years to ensure they remain capable assets and can meet mission requirements through 2038. Two ships will be upgraded each year through 2013, and the last ship will be modernized in 2014. Ships homeported on the East Coast will be undergoing their upgrades at Metro Machine, and ships based on the West Coast will be receiving their upgrades at NASSCO in San Diego, the Navy adds. Major elements of the upgrade package include diesel engine improvements, fuel and maintenance savings systems upgrades to achieve greater fuel economy, advanced engineering control systems, increased air conditioning/chill water capacity, and replacement of air compressors. The ships also replaced steam systems with all-electric functionality that will significantly decrease maintenance and support of legacy steam systems, the Navy says.
Granted. The CGC Bertholf (WMSL-750) was granted Authority to Operate (ATO) for its C4ISR systems, clearing the way for the lead ship in the new class of National Security Cutters (NSC) to join the fleet in fully operational status, the Coast Guard says. ATO is another in a long series of accomplishments including final acceptance, which occurred on May 8. Final acceptance marked the completion of Bertholf‘s acquisition warranty period and the cutter’s transition from an acquisition project to the operations and sustainment phase of her service life. A key factor in granting Bertholf‘s ATO was the successful completion this spring of a rigorous, two-year TEMPEST inspection and testing process. TEMPEST is a U.S. government term referring to the prevention and detection of compromising emanations (CE) from information technology systems. TEMPEST inspection and testing ensures systems processing classified information have been correctly installed and shielded, thereby reducing the risk of CE from a facility, ship or aircraft.
Seventh Heaven. Raytheon’s newest variant of AMRAAM completed its seventh test flight continuing to demonstrate its advanced warfighting capabilities, the company says. The test took place in March. During the test, the AIM-120D AMRAAM was fired from an Air Force F-15D. Initial analysis shows the missile achieved all primary test objectives, the company notes. The Navy and Air Force have tested AIM-120D on both the F/A-18 E/F and F-15C/D fighter aircraft. During the sixth flight test, accomplished two weeks before the most recent test, the AIM-120D achieved a direct hit on the target, Raytheon adds.
An Eye On The Brickyard. During the recent 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500, Raytheon deployed a 17-meter (approximately 56-foot) aerostat equipped with a sensor package that relayed real-time information to the command center within the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The system provide enhanced security and situational awareness. The system’s primary payload is an EO-IR sensor and can be complemented with other stand-alone capabilities, such as radio frequency data and video transmission, acoustic detection, flash detection and elevated communications relay, the company adds. The system is similar to the combat-proven systems currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan that provide security to warfighters, further enhancing both the foreign and domestic components of national security, Raytheon says.
Latest On Display. The Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier exhibits some of the latest equipment and technologies soldiers are using at the 2009 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa, Fla., tomorrow through Thursday. SOFIC’s 2009 theme is: “Science and Technology for Special Operations Forces–Improving Operator Capabilities for Fighting the Global War on Terrorism.” PEO Soldier Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller says: “The conference theme reflects our relentless efforts to procure, develop and field the world’s best products, as a result of our ever-improving technology.” On display will be the Land Warrior System, on schedule to be fielded to a SOF battalion in 2010, and the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle, currently being fielded to SOF.
Big Gun Orders. BAE Systems announces it has received orders worth about $118 million for 63 more M777 howitzers, taking the order total to exactly 800 guns. The United States is buying 38 guns for the Marines and Army while Canada is acquiring 25 more through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program to add to the 12 it already has in service. BAE has also received a $3 million contract to reset 33 U.S. howitzers returning from operations in Afghanistan.
Production Time. Raytheon’s Surface Launched Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (SLAMRAAM) program receives Army approval for a long-lead acquisition, not to exceed $30 million, for long-lead purchases leading to low rate initial production. “SLAMRAAM represents a revolutionary step forward in the defense of our troops on the battlefield as well as our nation and allies,” Pete Franklin, vice president for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems’ National & Theater Security Programs, says. “SLAMRAAM will field the first command and control air defense system supporting the Army’s vision of system of systems.” SLAMRAAM is a tailorable, state-of-the-art air defense system that can defeat current and emerging cruise missile threats, unmanned aerial systems and a wide range of air breathing threats.