The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
Dough For Iron Dome. The U.S. government plans to provide $70 million to the Israelis this year to support the Middle Eastern country’s short-range rocket and mortar-defense systems known as Iron Dome, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says. Panetta announced the aid following a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak, at the Pentagon on Thursday. Panetta says more money will be made available in the future. “My goal is to ensure Israel has the funding it needs each year to produce these batteries that can protect its citizens,” Panetta says in a statement. “That is why going forward over the next three years, we intend to request additional funding for Iron Dome, based on an annual assessment of Israeli security requirements against an evolving threat.” The amount brings total U.S. support for Iron Dome so far to $205 million, and that comes on top of the $3 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel–more than of any other country receives from Washington.
Commissioning. The Navy was to commission the newest San Antonio-class (LPD-17) amphibious transport dock ship over the weekend, the San Diego (LPD-22). The ceremony was to take place in the California city it’s named for on Saturday. The LPD-22 is the sixth ship in the San Antonio-class and fourth naval vessel ever named after the city, which will also be the ship’s homeport. The LPD-22 was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The transport dock ships operate to deploy combat and support elements of Marine Expeditionary Units and Brigades.
Power Recovery. The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (S&T) branch, the Department of Energy and partners from the electric power industry tomorrow are launching a one-year operational evaluation of new, prototype recovery transformers that can be operational in just a few days following transformer-related outages. The prototype extra-high voltage (EHV) transformers are smaller and lighter-weight than typical EHV transformers, which are critical components of the nation’s electric transmission system but are too large to transport by road and are difficult to replace. Earlier this year S&T, DoE and their industry partners, the Electric Power Institute, CenterPoint Energy, and transformer manufacturer ABB, Inc., successfully tested the rapid recovery transformers, which were disassembled in St. Louis, trucked to Houston, reassembled and connected to the grid, all within five days.
Screening Deadline. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that beginning on Dec. 3, 2012, all international passenger flights bound for the United States must have all their cargo screened for explosives. The agency says that through its work with other governments the screening deadline builds additional risk-based, intelligence driven procedures into the pre-screening process to determine screening protocols on a per-shipment basis. This means higher risk shipments get enhanced screening and lower risk shipments will undergo other physical screening protocols. “Harmonizing security efforts with our international and industry partners is a vital step in security the global supply chain,” TSA Administrator John Pistole says in a statement. “By making greater use of intelligence, TSA can strengthen screening processes and ensure the screening of all cargo shipments without impeding the flow of commerce.”
New Second At Coast Guard. Vice Adm. John Currier on Friday became vice commandant of the Coast Guard, relieving Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara who is retiring from the service after a 37 year career. Currier, the service’s 28th vice commandant, most recently served as the Coast Guard’s first deputy commandant for mission support, responsible for oversight of human capital, life-cycle engineering, acquisition, telecommunications and information technology. Brice-O’Hara was vice commandant for two years, responsible for executing the commandant’s strategic intents, managing internal organizational governance and serving as the component acquisition executive.
Atlas, Delta Deal. The Air Force awards United Launch Alliance, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin partnership, a $398 million firm-fixed-price contract for Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch service and Delta IV EELV launch service, according to a Defense Department statement. Atlas V is in support of a Mobile User Objective System-4 (MUOS-4) mission and Delta IV is in support of a Global Positioning System (GPS) mission. MUOS-4 is geosynchronous satellites. The cost of the GPS launch is not to exceed $183 million and the MUOS-4 launch is not to exceed $215 million, according to an Air Force spokeswoman. These are also two of 11 EELV launches planned for fiscal year 2014, according to a spokeswoman.
Phalanx Missiles. The Navy awards Lockheed Martin a $57.8 million contract to upgrade and overhaul nine Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems and to manufacture two SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense systems, according to a company statement. The agreement also includes the purchase of 20 radar upgrade kits. Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defense systems. SeaRAM uses advanced Phalanx Block 1B sensors and replaces the gun with an 11-round Rolling Airframe Missile guide. SeaRAM is aboard the USS Independence (LCS-2) and USS Coronado (LCS-4) and will soon be in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense force.
Export Excitement. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) welcomes House action on satellite export control reform in the fiscal year 2013 defense bill. AIA CEO Marion Blakey says in a statement that “the language would return authority to the president for determining export controls for satellites and related technologies and is an important step towards strengthening our national security and opening export opportunities.” Blakey also in her statement urges the Senate to address this issue to ensure the U.S. space industrial base stays “second to none.”
Think Lessons Learned. Australia issued a call for papers for the 8th International Lessons Learned Conference to be hosted in Sydney Dec. 3-6. The conference is held in a different country each year and provides a forum for discussion and debate about the issues that impact on the planning and conduct of operations including conflict, peacekeeping and disaster response missions. This is the first time the conference will be held in Australia. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Mike Kelly, says “The focus of the 2012 International Lessons Learned Conference is on transitions–this will provide civil-military practitioners from around the world with a dedicated forum in which to discuss and debate what we have learned from conducting peacemaking operations such as those in Afghanistan, Iraq, Solomon Islands and East Timor, as well as disaster response missions in Haiti, Pakistan and Indonesia.
New Component Success. Northrop Grumman says it has successfully demonstrated its new Target Location Module (TLM), a key component of the battle-proven, man-portable Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder High Accuracy (LLDR 2H). LLDR 2H allows troops to perform surveillance, identify and engage threats at safe distances, accurately position troops, and engage enemies while limiting collateral damage and protecting troops being transported within hostile areas, the company says. In support of the Stockpile Reliability Test program at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., the company demonstrated the LLDR 2H by successfully acquiring the locations of two separate tank-size targets from extended ranges from the observation post. The targeting module reported grids commensurate with accuracies required for GPS guided munitions. The two Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles used the location data to score direct hits on both targets, demonstrating the high accuracy of the TLM. Operating under the terms of a indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with a not-to-exceed value of $661 million, Northrop Grumman begins production deliveries of the LLDR 2H in August 2012 and will continue through June 2013.
New Machine Gun. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products unveils a next-generation Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG) at the Joint Armaments Conference. Identifying an unmet warfighter need, the company conducted its own research and development program to develop the LWMMG in just over one year. The weapon is designed for low-cost production and for maximum effectiveness at the small unit level, where weight and lethality are decisive factors. Steve Elgin, vice president and general manager of armament systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, says: “Weighing in at 24 pounds and featuring a fully collapsible stock, the LWMMG offers superior mobility and portability in both mounted and dismounted operations.” The LWMMG uses the efficient .338 Norma Magnum cartridge for increased accuracy and lethality out to 1,700 meters, a distance currently gapped in the operational capabilities of warfighters.
EAPS Success. Lockheed Martin says it successfully conducted a series of target tracking tests against Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (RAM) targets using its Extended Area Protection and Survivability (EAPS) miniature hit-to-kill interceptor system. The tests were conducted during the first week of April at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., in collaboration with the Army Research Development & Engineering Command/Aviation Missile Research Development & Engineering Center (RDECOM/AMRDEC). The tests demonstrated EAPS can track targets launched from tactical ranges for the duration of their trajectory. This test series supports the upcoming EAPS Integrated Demonstration flight tests, consisting of a non-targeted test flight in the May timeframe followed by a several guided flights against tactical targets in the summer of 2012. The Lockheed Martin EAPS round is an extremely agile, small hit-to-kill interceptor that weighs approximately 3 kilograms. It is less than 50 millimeters in diameter and less than one meter long. The interceptor is designed to be affordable and will meet the AMRDEC Average Unit Production Cost goal at specified quantities. Paired with a fire control sensor, EAPS defeats targets through body-to-body impact at tactical ranges.
Australian Abrams Goes Flying. For first time, an Australian army M1A1 Abrams tank has been flown on board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster III transport. On May 11, the C-17A carried the Abrams from RAAF Base Darwin to the Capricornia region as part of Exercise Hamel, where it will participate with other units in the Shoalwater Bay Field Training Area. Air Commodore Gary Martin, Commander Air Lift Group, says the Abrams is one of the heaviest single loads that can be carried on board the C-17A. “At 61 tons, the Abrams comes close to the total payload capacity of 70 tons for the C-17A,” Martin says. Commander of the Darwin based 1st Brigade, Brig. Gus McLachlan, AM, says the airlift demonstrates the high level of interoperability now available among the branches of the military force. “It demonstrates the great capability now afforded to the Australian Defence Force and shows the Australian public that we have the ability to deliver our forces, if needed, with relative ease to any place we need them to be.”