Jan. 22 - 24 -- Institute for Defense and Government Advancement 5th Annual Conference Image Fusion 2007: Improving Visualization for Better Situational Awareness, Hilton Old Town, Alexandria, Va. For more information call (800) 882-8684 or (973) 256-0211, fax: (973) 256-0205, www.idga.org. Jan. 24 -- AHS Federal City Chapter Dinner Meeting, The Military Helicopter Industrial Base," Army/Navy Country Club, Arlington, Va. For more information call (703) 684-6777.
FLEET MODERNIZATION: The German government is eyeing modernization of its aging VIP transport fleet, with a contractual decision due this year. The air force currently operates six Challenger CL-601 for those missions, but in recent months the government has realized it needs a replacement. Rather than fielding a common aircraft type, the government is looking to acquire two larger aircraft, with a 48-seat capacity, and four smaller, business-jet sized aircraft that can accommodate 12 people, according to a Defense Ministry official.
JUST SAY YES: The House Armed Services Committee, now under Democratic leadership, wants to know more about the U.S. military's counterdrug operations, capabilities and record of achievement, and shortfalls. For fiscal 2007, the DOD received more than $1 billion in counterdrug funding - which "reflects DOD's role as the leading federal agency in the detection and monitoring of the aerial and maritime transit of illegal narcotics into the United States," HASC staff say.
PACIFIST NO MORE?: Look for Japan and the U.S. to establish by September a strategic planning office in charge of drawing up medium- and long-range defense policies, now that Japan has upgraded its Defense Agency to a full-fledged government ministry. Post-World War II pacifism overcame the idea of a ministry for 40 years, and the Agency was run as a subordinate part of the cabinet with a budget that went through the prime minister's office instead of being submitted directly to the Finance Ministry.
NAVY CONTRACTING: U.S. Navy acquisition officials are promulgating a potential rule in drafting a proposed Navy Marine Corps Acquisition Regulation Supplement contract clause or statement-of-work requirements that will persuade contractors to use "continuous process improvements" on major defense contracts.
WEAPON SIGHTS: BAE Systems said Jan. 17 that it received two U.S. Army orders totaling $80 million for production of thermal weapon sights. BAE also said that unidentified funds awarded early in 2006 will go to advanced microbolometer technology to cut the size, weight and cost of future weapon sights. The company, with help from the Defense Department, recently completed a $150 million factory modernization, providing a new specialty production capability to manufacture precision microelectronics.
PROTECTION FROM ABOVE: Army aviation leaders want Pentagon funding for more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to fight against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which have been a big threat in Iraq.
ANTI-SAT HEARING: An AVIATION WEEK online report that China destroyed an aging weather satellite with an anti-satellite weapon has prompted Bush administration officials to conduct a highly classified briefing for lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "China's successful test raises serious concerns about the vulnerability of our space-based assets," said Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.), one of those who attended the Jan. 19 briefing.
The U.S. Air Force is counting on its recently awarded Air and Space Operations Center Weapons System Integrator (AOC WSI) program to cut costs, particularly in personnel and equipment, while streamlining 48 different systems now used by roughly 20 air and space operations centers globally, according to Lt. Gen. Charles Johnson II. But the program likely will go slow, be required to go through internal budget debates competing with other Air Force priorities and possibly lead to changes within the program itself.
After years of investing in Army aviation protection against infrared (IR)-seeking munitions, the service needs to research ways to thwart attacks on helicopters and other airborne platforms using radio frequencies (RF) or other elements of the electromagnetic spectrum, says Edward Bair, service program executive officer for intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors.
While the Army has decided to cut some money in fielding Future Combat Systems (FCS) to make it more affordable, shifting missions to different parts of the program should keep most of its capabilities intact, said service Brig. Gen. Thomas Cole, deputy program manager, program integration (platforms), for FCS. "We've made some adjustments," Cole said Jan. 19 during a briefing at the Association of the United States Army's Institute of Land Warfare Aviation Symposium and Exhibition.
Defense industry representatives say efforts are under way on newly Democratic-controlled Capitol Hill to accelerate the starting date of 3 percent contract withholding to offset increases in various legislative proposals this year. Under a law passed last year, all governments, local to federal, will deduct and withhold 3 percent from their nonwage payments to contractors starting in 2011 (DAILY, May 30, 2006).
The purchase of the UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is prompting the U.S. Army to adjust its acquisition processes and devise new policies for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) purchases, according to service officials.
The Army has underfunded aviation science and technology development and is taking steps to invest more in those areas, says Paul Bogosian, service aviation program executive officer. "We are going to pay attention to drive S&T development," Bogosian said Jan. 18 during a briefing at the Association of the United States Army's Institute of Land Warfare Aviation Symposium and Exhibition in Arlington, Va. Concern for the lack of S&T funding became apparent after the cancellation of the Comanche helicopter program, Bogosian said.
The U.S. Marine Corps and the Army are accelerating a program to make and deploy new V-shaped-bottom armored vehicles for their ground forces. But lawmakers are concerned with industry's ability to meet the manufacturing goal, and defense officials acknowledge they cannot supply Iraq-bound troops with them fast enough.
CACI International Inc. said Jan. 17 that it should take in less revenue for its fiscal 2007 based on "unexpected" reductions in demand on Defense Department contracts supporting certain unidentified operations and maintenance activities. "This is the result of the continuing high priority of funding for the warfighter in Iraq and Afghanistan," the Arlington, Va., federal information technology contractor said.
Northrop Grumman officials have internally decided not to submit a bid for the Air Force's KC-X tanker competition based on early results from a key acquisition meeting at the Pentagon this week. However, an official announcement is not expected until the Air Force releases its final request for proposals (RFP), as changes could still be made to the competition up until the last minute.
The Army should be ready to move on a source selection for the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program by next month, says Paul Bogosian, service aviation program executive officer. JCA program officials are about a "month and a half away" from moving ahead on a contract for the aircraft, Bogosian said Jan. 18 during a briefing at the Association of the United States Army's Institute of Land Warfare Aviation Symposium and Exhibition in Arlington, Va.
ITAS SUPPORT: Raytheon Co. has received another $11.7 million from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command for the Tube Launcher Optically Guided Weapon Improved Target Acquisition System, according to a Jan. 17 announcement from the Defense Department. The award, for contractor logistics support, will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be finished by the end of 2011. The command awarded a $161.78 million contract modification for system production last fall under a $285.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for ITAS production (DAILY, Nov. 29, 2006).
Bush administration officials are declaring alarm over an apparent Chinese anti-satellite (asat) test and are organizing allies to denounce it as well. White House spokesman Tony Snow said Jan. 18 that he did not know whether the alleged Jan. 11 test was meant to be provocative, but it has triggered virtual alarm bells. "We are concerned about it, and we've made it known," he said.
NEW SKIES LAUNCH: Sea Launch is set to orbit the SES New Skies NSS-8 spacecraft Jan. 25 on a Zenit-3SL from its floating Odyssey platform in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The 5.9 metric ton Boeing-built satellite, equipped with 56 C-band and 36 Ku-band transponders, will be the sixth unit to be operated by New Skies, and the first to be launched by Sea Launch this year. NSS-8 will be placed at 57 degrees east longitude over the Indian Ocean, a slot currently occupied by NSS-703.
