U.S. Marine Corps First to Procure Four Different AeroVironment Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems with $5.5 Million RQ-20A Puma Order

Posted by on May 14, 2012 No comments

AeroVironment announced that the U.S. Marine Corps is the first military service to adopt four different small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) from the company with the receipt of a firm fixed-price order valued at $5,558,479 for the RQ-20A Puma AE™ through an existing U.S. Army contract. Delivery is scheduled within two weeks. “The Marine Corps was the first military service to formalize the adoption of small unmanned aircraft systems and is now the first to adopt four of our systems, recognizing the life-saving value of this capability,” said Tom Herring, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment. “When time is shortest and risk is highest, small UAS deliver critical information that helps troops do their jobs more safely and effectively.”

In 2003, the Marine Corps became the first U.S. military service to establish a program of record for small unmanned aircraft systems with their competitive selection of AeroVironment’s RQ-14 Dragon Eye for the Small Unit Remote Scouting System (SURSS) program. In 2007, the Marines procured AeroVironment Wasp systems and then replaced their Dragon Eye fleet with AeroVironment’s RQ-11B Raven system starting in 2009. With the procurement of Puma systems the Marine Corps is the first service to adopt four different AeroVironment small UAS.

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) selected the Puma UAS in 2008 for its AECV program after a full and open competition, the fourth U.S. Department of Defense competition for programs of record involving small UAS and the fourth such competition won by AeroVironment. In 2011 the United States Army assumed management of the AECV program. Each Puma system consists of three air vehicles and two ground control systems. The air vehicle carries an integrated electro-optical and infrared gimbaled video camera, is designed for enhanced survivability in land and maritime environments, and can operate effectively in foul weather and over rugged terrain. Its quiet operation, stabilized imagery and precision landing capability make Puma systems easy to operate and recover. The Puma air vehicle weighs 13 pounds, is battery powered and has a flight endurance of two hours.

Harris Corporation Awarded $400 Million IDIQ Contract to Provide Falcon III Tactical Radios and Support to U.S. Special Operations Command

Posted by on May 14, 2012 No comments

Harris Corporation has been awarded an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a potential total value of $400 million to provide the U.S. Special Operations Command with next-generation communication capabilities. The new five-year IDIQ contract enables the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to acquire the Harris Falcon III® AN/PRC-117G manpack and AN/PRC-152 handheld radio systems and field support services as needed to address requirements for next-generation tactical communications. The contract is part of the Capital Equipment Replacement Program and represents an interim step in the modernization of the SOCOM tactical radio inventory.

“Harris Falcon radios will deliver transformational communication capabilities for SOCOM missions around the world,’’ said George Helm, president, Department of Defense business, Harris RF Communications. “Our Falcon III family provides enhanced situational awareness by providing a system solution that meets the need for integrated tactical communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The radios also deliver secure network connectivity to operators from anywhere in the world. Falcon III also is fully interoperable with other products developed under the Joint Tactical Radio System.”

The AN/PRC-117G is the first NSA Type-1 certified wideband manpack radio system. The AN/PRC-117G enables dismounted and vehicular warfighters to communicate via voice, video and data in real time. The wideband capabilities of the radio support network-enabled missions such as collaborative chat, video, e-mail, biometric enrollments and more from the field. The radio provides the highest level of information assurance connectivity to tactical units via NSA-certified High Assurance Internet Protocol Equipment encryption. Harris has shipped more than 20,000 AN/PRC-117G radios to U.S. and allied forces such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, other NATO countries and Australia. The AN/PRC-117G is the first radio to receive NSA Type-1 certification to operate the Soldier Radio Waveform, developed by the JTRS Joint Program Executive Office.

The AN/PRC-152A offers tactical users the broadest set of capabilities in any handheld radio. Wideband networking capabilities are initially provided by the Harris Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform (ANW2). The Soldier Radio Waveform will be added to the radio later this year. The AN/PRC-152A also hosts SINCGARS, VHF/UHF Line-of-Sight, HaveQuick, IW for tactical satellite communications and other combat net radio waveforms. This makes the AN/PRC-152A the only Type-1 certified wideband networking handheld radio that is also fully interoperable with deployed DoD radios.

Harris Falcon III® AN/PRC-152(C) multiband, multi-mode handheld tactical radios provide portable line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight voice and data communications. The AN/PRC-152(C) is the most widely deployed JTRS Software Communications Architecture-certified handheld radio, with more than 160,000 units shipped to U.S., NATO and other allied forces worldwide.

TriQuint Signs U.S. Army Agreement to Support GaN Device Development

Posted by on May 14, 2012 No comments

TriQuint Semiconductor announced that it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to explore and fabricate new high-frequency and mixed signal integrated circuits (ICs) based on TriQuint gallium nitride (GaN) technology. The CRADA is designed to accelerate new programs supporting communications, radar, electronic warfare and similar applications. The CRADA will give Army researchers dedicated access to TriQuint’s development, fabrication and packaging expertise. Researchers from both TriQuint and the ARL will benefit from the new co-development environment. Circuits created as part of the initiative are expected to be based on TriQuint’s new E/D (enhancement-depletion mode) GaN technology.

The new agreement leverages technology TriQuint created through on-going R&D programs. This GaN process has been utilized in Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiatives, including the Nitride Electronic NeXt-Generation (NEXT) program that TriQuint now leads. Through NEXT, TriQuint continues to establish benchmark performance standards for mixed-signal (digital and RF) devices. TriQuint GaN achievements also led to its selection as a prime contractor in the Microscale Power Conversion (MPC) program that is developing ultra-fast, high power DC-DC switch modulator technology for advanced integrated RF amplifiers. TriQuint’s role in MPC was recognized by Compound Semiconductor magazine on March 12 with a 2012 CS Industry Award.

“Creative partnerships through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements encourage outside businesses and university organizations to share in the discovery of and investment in technologies. In this case, ARL is leveraging industrial fabrication capabilities allowing ARL to maximize its return on investment,” said John Miller, Army Research Laboratory Director. “These advanced IC processes, coupled with ARL’s design expertise, could lead to innovations and advancements in both military and consumer applications in communications, radar and electronic warfare.”

“TriQuint’s gallium nitride research leads the industry. This new CRADA is another example of ways that our work in one program benefits other DoD agencies and service branches. We will provide access to our extensive development capabilities and the ARL will provide designs and test circuits in support of their advanced programs,” said James L. Klein, TriQuint Vice President and General Manager for Defense Products and Foundry Services.

TriQuint’s new agreement with the ARL is designed to stimulate high performance monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) development. The ARL’s design and testing capabilities will be leveraged with TriQuint’s MMIC fabrication, testing and packaging expertise. Both TriQuint and ARL researchers will work towards identifying circuits of mutual interest that have the potential to advance state-of-the-art design programs.

U.S. Air Force Awards NETCENTS-2 Contract to Iron Bow Technologies

Posted by on May 14, 2012 No comments

Iron Bow Technologies, an information technology solutions provider, announced that it has been awarded the Network Centric Solutions-2 (NETCENTS-2) Products contract by the United States Air Force. This Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract enables the Air Force to purchase advanced IT products needed for our nation’s joint warfighters. The contract has an estimated value of $6.9 billion with a three year base period of performance from the award date, and three additional one year option periods. The NETCENTS-2 contract vehicle will enable the Air Force to acquire a wide range of IT products, including: networking equipment, servers, storage solutions, peripherals, multimedia solutions, software, identity management and biometric hardware and software.

“Iron Bow is committed to providing innovative data center, collaboration, communications and critical biometric solutions and IT services to enable mission assurance for our nation’s defense,” said Rene LaVigne, President and CEO of Iron Bow Technologies. “Being awarded the NETCENTS-2 contract will enable Iron Bow to continue providing the best of breed IT necessary to ensure success across the wide spectrum of Air Force operations.”

The original NETCENTS contract vehicle was awarded in 2004 and expires in September 2012. The NETCENTS-2 contract provides a vehicle for the Air Force to acquire standard, interoperable IT solutions. In addition to providing increased opportunities for small business, the NETCENTS-2 contract is intended to effectively integrate the disparate, incompatible IT infrastructures found across the Air Force. The contract is also expected to bring all IT systems into full compliance with the Air Force’s enterprise cyberspace architecture.

Parker Aerospace Wins Thermal Management Systems Contract for Degraded Visual Environment Program

Posted by on April 20, 2012 No comments

Parker Aerospace has been selected by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) for its Helicopter Autonomous Landing System (HALS) program. Parker Aerospace’s thermal management systems (TMS) organization will provide SNC with thermal management solutions that enable HALS to be initially integrated on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. SNC was awarded a contract to fulfill the degraded visual environments (DVE) operational needs statement issued by the US Army Aviation Networks Mission Planning Program Directorate. SNC’s HALS combines real-time 3D imagery with digital terrain map, satellite imagery, and DVE specific guidance symbology to provide a complete DVE solution for takeoff, approach, and landing operations in fog, brownouts, and other DVEs. The initial HALS deliveries will be used in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“Parker is supplying us with the thermal management systems that will provide cooling and heating for our critical HALS electronics,” said Bob Lombard, SNC’s HALS program manager. “The systems we will be supplying the Army will be installed in extremely harsh environments with high levels of vibration, sand, dust, and heat,” added Lombard. “We have been very happy with Parker’s thermal management products and support over the last several years as we have progressed through a series of HALS development and flight testing phases.”

Parker Aerospace’s TMS organization is located in Liberty Lake, Washington, and Mentor, Ohio, and is part of the Parker Aerospace Gas Turbine Fuel Systems Division. The team specializes in thermal management systems, including liquid-cooled environmentally sealed enclosures, cold plates, and heat rejection products for harsh environments in defense, aerospace, and industrial applications. The TMS organization works with other Parker divisions to provide motors, controllers, pumps, valves, quick disconnects, and other fluid distribution products to provide complete thermal management systems solutions to military and aerospace customers.

SpaceX Announces Independent Safety Advisory Panel for Commercial Crew

Posted by on April 18, 2012 No comments

SpaceX announced it has assembled a team of outside experts to help the company create the world’s safest human spaceflight system.

“When it comes to manned spaceflight, safety is our top priority,” said SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer, Elon Musk. “These experts will provide us with important insights as we prepare to carry astronauts on the next generation of American spacecraft.”

The independent Safety Advisory Panel is composed of leading human spaceflight safety experts, including several former NASA astronauts and senior NASA officials. The panel will provide objective assessments of the safety of the Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to help SpaceX maintain the highest level of safety.

Among the experts joining the SpaceX Safety Advisory Panel are:

  • Dr. Leroy Chiao, PhD, Former NASA astronaut, Former International Space Station commander, member of the Augustine Commission (Review of United States Human Spaceflight Plans Committee).
  • Dr. G. Scott Hubbard, Former Director of NASA Ames Research Center, Stanford University professor of aeronautics and astronautics, sole NASA representative on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.
  • Dr. Richard T. Jennings, MD, MS, Former Chief of Medicine for NASA Johnson Space Center, University of Texas Medical Branch professor at the Aerospace Medicine Center.
  • Captain Mark Kelly, Former NASA astronaut, Former Space Shuttle commander, Retired Navy Captain.
  • Dr. Edward Lu, PhD, Former NASA astronaut.

The panel will convene in the fall of 2012 and will continue its work well after SpaceX begins flying people to space.

CSC Wins $113 Million Task Order to Support U.S. Navy Sealift Program Office

Posted by on April 18, 2012 No comments

The U.S. Navy has awarded CSC (NYSE: CSC) a task order to provide program management support to the Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Office. Awarded in Q4 of CSC fiscal year 2012 under the Naval Sea Systems Command SEAPORT-Enhanced contract vehicle won by CSC in 2004, the task order has a one-year base period and four one-year options, bringing the estimated total value to $113 million. “The acquisition programs CSC will support on this contract are vital in executing the Navy’s 21st century warfighting plans,” said Alan B. Weakley, president of CSC’s North American Public Sector Defense Group. “The ‘Sea Base’ strategy allows U.S. Naval forces to operate at-will throughout the world without relying on the support of other nations in the execution of our foreign policy.”

Under the terms of the agreement, CSC will provide a full range of program management support including acquisition document preparation, financial management, test and evaluation, integrated logistics, systems integration and technical/engineering.

The Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Office is responsible for executing the Joint High Speed Vessel and Mobile Landing Platform acquisition programs as well as the Sealift Research and Development initiative, which includes operational logistics.

GE Intelligent Platforms Works with US Navy to Maximize Sailor Safety

Posted by on April 13, 2012 No comments

GE Intelligent Platforms announced that it had secured orders from the US Navy for a quantity of GE’s PowerXtreme Power7E single board computers. These will be deployed as part of the Battle Force Tactical Trainer (BFTT) program that is designed to deliver optimum training and simulation capabilities to US Navy ships. The value of the order is $1.85 million. The Power7E is one of a range of PowerXtreme 6U VME single board computers using Freescale PowerPC processor technology. Despite the fact that it is no longer a standard offering, GE is able to continue to make it available to existing customers – a testimony to the long term support programs that GE has in place that recognize the multi-year (and multi-decade) nature of many military embedded computing deployments. The Power7E single board computer is a critical element of the BFTT system, providing advanced real-time data processing functions.

“The US Navy, US Army and US Air Force continue to invest heavily in the safety of our troops by providing them with access to the very best in training and simulation, ensuring that they are always as well prepared as possible for any situation that may arise,” said Al DiLibero, President, Military & Aerospace Embedded Computing, GE Intelligent Platforms. “The versatile, flexible and highly reliable PowerXtreme range of single board computers has long been the computing platform of choice for the deployment of these advanced capabilities.”

BFTT is a highly flexible, interactive single ship-, group-, or force level tactical combat system trainer. The purpose of BFTT is to provide training to enhance naval combat readiness. BFTT provides a critical over-arching training capability for developing and maintaining proficiencies required for a complex modern shipboard combat system in today’s warfighting environment. BFTT in effect wraps around the ship’s combat system to provide a comprehensive and coordinated training environment.

CSC Expands Availability of Its Most Advanced Security Services to Help Clients Deter Sophisticated Threats

Posted by on April 11, 2012 No comments

CSC for the first time will offer its Managed Security Services, including its most advanced capabilities, on a stand-alone basis to help clients better address the continually escalating threat environment. Delivered through the company’s around-the-globe Security Operations Centers, CSC Managed Security Services now offer every organization convenient access to enhanced core security along with risk-appropriate options for advanced malware protection, global threat intelligence, situational awareness and governance risk and compliance support. Whether delivered as a discrete solution or as part of a larger IT outsourcing agreement, the offering includes balanced security packages that enable clients to gain tailored cyber protection while successfully meeting challenges posed by reduced security budgets, limited skilled resources and tightening regulatory mandates. Now available for a much wider range of client organizations, the proven offering reflects CSC’s enterprise-level managed services experience, unique expertise across both public- and private-sector security environments and record of strengthening cyber security for some of the world’s largest intelligence organizations. As one of the only vendor-independent managed security services providers (MSSPs) for mid-market and large enterprises, the company is well-positioned to integrate the best available tools from a broad spectrum of leading vendors with its own intellectual property to create a uniquely comprehensive and flexible security offering for this growing market.

According to “The Forrester Wave™: Managed Security Services, North America, Q1 2012,” published by Forrester Research, Inc., on March 23, 2012, “today’s economic environment and mutating threat landscape are forcing CISOs to consider alternatives to simply insourcing information security. MSSPs leverage impressive economies of scale to offer clients an enhanced security environment, cost-effective security, and a scalable and flexible security platform capable of handling future expansion.”

Recognized as a “Leader” in “The Forrester Wave™: Managed Security Services, North America, Q1 2012,” CSC designed its Managed Security Services portfolio around a flexible, “tiered” approach that helps organizations access security with low risk, stage their evolution over time toward the most effective posture addressing the complexity of today’s threat-and-compliance environment and better align spending to their specific needs.

“Organizations do not have a single risk profile — some aspects of their business are lower risk while others are of extremely high value and require the most advanced protection available,” says Carlos Solari, CSC vice president of Cybersecurity Technology and Services. “Traditionally, managed security services providers have applied the same level of security across an enterprise resulting in either too much cost in protecting lower value assets or not enough security where it is really needed. Our services tiers enable our clients to buy risk appropriate coverage, from enhanced core services to the most advanced and elevated state-of-the-art cyber protection.”

BAE Systems to Provide Communications and Electronics Services as Part of $698 Million U.S. Navy Contract

Posted by on April 9, 2012 No comments

BAE Systems has been selected to provide a range of communications and electronics services as part of a U.S. Navy, multiple-award contract worth as much as $698 million. Under the contract, BAE Systems will bid against one other prime contractor for a series of task orders over the next five years, if all options are exercised. The company will support the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SCC) Atlantic with services to ensure effective communications and electronics networks for vehicles used by the Navy, Marine Corps and other joint forces. These services will include designing and engineering, prototyping and testing, and systems and software integration – critical and complex tasks prior to the installation of the networks. The company will also help to maintain the networks and other equipment once the vehicles are in use.

“This is an important services contract for the U.S. military and a big win for us,” said Kris Busch, vice president and general manager of Maritime and Defense Systems at BAE Systems Support Solutions. “SCC Atlantic has been a valued customer of ours for more than 35 years, and our team stands ready to support these new requirements, whenever and wherever needed.”

The work will be conducted primarily at BAE Systems’ facility in North Charleston, S.C. and at government locations. The company currently has approximately 400 employees in North Charleston, supporting SCC Atlantic and other agencies.