Monthly Archives: September 2011

CACI Awarded $33.6 Million Task Order to Provide Irregular Warfare Technologies Support for U.S. Navy

Posted by on September 30, 2011 No comments

CACI announced that it has been awarded a $33.6 million task order to provide information operations as well as engineering, technical, and programmatic support services for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division’s (NSWC Crane) Irregular Warfare Technologies Division. This task order represents new business for CACI and is for a three-year base period plus two option years. It falls under the U.S. Navy’s Seaport-e Engineering, Technical, and Programmatic Support Services contract. Located in Crane, Indiana, NSWC Crane is a shore command of the U.S. Navy. It uses the power of technology to support U.S. forces in three focus areas: special missions, strategic missions, and electronic warfare/information operations. The Irregular Warfare Technologies Division, which is part of the Joint Special Operations Response Department, serves a variety of federal and Department of Defense customers.

On this task order, CACI will support NSWC Crane by providing design, development, acquisition, integration, modeling and simulation, and assessment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, ground-based electronic protection systems, signature management technologies, computer network systems, and threat detection systems.

Bill Fairl, CACI’s President of U.S. Operations, said, “CACI is uniquely suited to support the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane’s Irregular Warfare Technologies Division. In addition to our long history of direct support to U.S. forces and the Irregular Warfare community, we also have a proven record of success in information operations, which is one of our core capabilities.”

According to Paul Cofoni, CACI President and Chief Executive Officer, “With this task order award, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division has demonstrated its confidence in CACI’s people, processes, technology, and solutions. We look forward to continuing our relationship with NSWC Crane as we offer mission-critical services in support of our nation’s forces and the U.S. Navy’s ongoing operations.”

NCI Wins $23 Million AFNet Requisite Engineering Support (ARES) Task Order

Posted by on September 28, 2011 No comments

NCI announced that it has been awarded the ARES competitive task order under its Air Force Network Centric Solutions (NETCENTS) contract. Under this task order, NCI will provide engineering and subject matter expert implementation support services for critical programs within the Air Force Electronic Systems Center’s AFNet Support Branch. This 22-month task order represents new work for NCI with an award value of approximately $23 million.

The ARES task order provides technical and subject matter expertise across 13 separate support areas, including: Engineering Services Support across the AFNet enterprise, Vulnerability Lifecycle Management System (VLMS) Integration and Operational Support, and AFNet Situational Awareness Operational & Engineering Support. NCI’s engineers and subject matter experts will provide mission-critical support at 15 key Air Force locations including: Hanscom AFB; the 33rd Network Warfare Squadron and 624th Operations Center at Lackland AFB; the 26th Network Operations Squadron at Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex; and the Integrated Network Operations and Security Centers (I-NOSCs) located at Langley AFB, Peterson AFB, Joint Base Hickam; and Ramstein AFB in Germany.

“NCI is pleased to have been awarded the ARES task order as it further builds upon our partnership with the Air Force. While remaining agile and responsive to rapidly changing requirements, our personnel will play key roles assisting the Air Force in evolving the AFNet enterprise to meet today’s challenging missions. NCI is pleased to support this effort with highly-qualified engineers and subject matter experts that meet the most rigorous technical certification requirements to sustain the Air Forces’ Cyber Warriors,” said NCI’s Chief Executive Officer, Charles Narang.

iRobot Introduces Enhanced Seaglider™ Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV)

Posted by on September 27, 2011 No comments

iRobot has introduced a newly configured Seaglider UUV. Seaglider can now be outfitted with a larger set of fairings that significantly increases the UUV’s volume and mass payload capabilities. Payload mass is doubled over Seaglider’s original design to four kilograms and payload volume has expanded 650 percent to more than 21,000 cubic centimeters, resulting in the ability to integrate both larger sensors and a greater number of sensors with Seaglider. “Seaglider has proven to be an extremely valuable tool for government agencies and the oceanographic community,” said David Heinz, vice president of Maritime Systems at iRobot. “Researchers have expressed a need for more sensing capabilities on Seaglider, so that it can be used in a wider range of missions. This new configuration has allowed new sensors to be integrated with Seaglider, opening the door to future development efforts and potential new markets.”

Seaglider has five sensor payload ports that facilitate a range of capabilities. Recent development efforts have resulted in new sensor offerings for Seaglider, including a pumped sensor that measures conductivity, temperature and pressure with an optional pumped dissolved oxygen sensor. The integration of a radiation sensor, an echo sounder and a current profiler with Seaglider are also in development.

A long-range, high endurance UUV, Seaglider operates at water depths between 20 meters (approximately 65 feet) and 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). Seaglider is the first UUV to complete a mission lasting longer than nine months without needing to replace its battery and the first to complete a mission of more than 3,800 kilometers (approximately 2,360 miles).

Seaglider will be on display at the OCEANS ’11 conference from September 19-21 in Kona, Hawaii. Visit iRobot at booth #60-61. OCEANS is a major international forum for scientists, engineers and responsible ocean users to present the latest research results, ideas, developments and applications in Oceanic Engineering and Marine Technology. Representatives from iRobot will also be presenting three research papers at the conference.

Astronics Wins U.S. Air Force Contract for Airfield Lighting

Posted by on September 23, 2011 No comments

Astronics announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics DME Corporation, was awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract to provide LED airfield lighting for the U.S. Air Force, with a maximum value of $7.4 million. The five-year contract will replace taxiway lighting fixtures at Air Force bases in the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii.

The Air Force intends to release specific delivery orders under the ID/IQ contract over the course of the contract. An initial release for 600 fixtures, with a value of $72,000, was awarded to Astronics DME, with work to begin immediately.

“This LED lighting technology provides the Air Force with a product that offers energy savings and lowers life-cycle costs, and this contract is a great win for us,” noted Peter Gundermann, President and CEO of Astronics Corporation.

“We believe we are well positioned to compete successfully for future orders under this contract,” added Mr. Gundermann. “We also expect that other airfield lighting, specifically runways, will eventually move to LED technology – and that represents an even larger opportunity for us.”

CSI Aviation Arranges Simulated Hijacking for U.S., Russia Exercise

Posted by on September 21, 2011 No comments

CSI Aviation Services arranged an aircraft for a simulated hijacking earlier this month for an exercise between the United States and Russia. The aircraft, a Challenger 604, was crossing the Bering Sea when the simulated hijacking occurred. As part of the exercise, the aircraft did not respond to communications, resulting in the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Agency notifying the U.S. military.

Once notified, fighter jets intercepted the plane. Russia also launched aircraft, and the two governments coordinated together to prevent a potential terrorist attack.

“This is just one example of how CSI continues to assist the federal government in chartering and leasing aircraft,” said Gretchen Collins, Vice President of Special Contracts and Business Development. “The U.S. government trusts CSI because of our experience and dependability. The government knows that each time it uses CSI for our services, we deliver the results they are looking for.”

Since 1990, CSI has played an integral part in the federal government air transportation system. Every year, a number of government agencies rely on CSI for their day-to-day flight requirements.

CSI’s government contracts include managed air charter transportation services, on-demand domestic and international charter flights, aircraft purchase as well as wet and dry leasing.

Support Contract for Army Aircraft Survivability Equipment

Posted by on September 19, 2011 No comments

With Army Aviators facing an increased threat from infrared guided missiles, the military is continually seeking to improve detection and countermeasures systems. To meet this need, Alion Science and Technology, an employee-owned technology solutions company, has won a three-year, $2 million award from the U.S. Army Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) project office to support the ongoing design and development of Army aircraft countermeasures systems.

The Army is upgrading its Advance Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system with the new Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) system. Both of these laser-based systems are designed to be fully integrated with military service aircraft countermeasures equipment suites that include passive missile warning and detection; however, CIRCM is required to be smaller, lighter and more reliable.

Alion has supported the ASE project office since 2006. Under the new contract, Alion will provide subject matter expertise to analyze competing designs for CIRCM to assure that system reliability and availability requirements are achieved and that the system can be produced to comply with requirements. Alion will also provide recommendations pertaining to system testing, test failures and failure investigations.

“Aircraft survivability equipment protects the people who safeguard our nation,” said Chris Amos, Alion Senior Vice President and Manager of the Technology Solutions Group. “Improvements to these systems not only provide additional security for the warfighter but also offer pilots the ability to be autonomous. Aircrews do not have to divert their attention from their primary mission to counter a Man-Portable Air Defense System or other missile threat.”

The work was awarded as a task order under the Defense Technical Information Center’s WSTIAC contract.

WSTIAC, operated by Alion, is one of the nine Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Information Analysis Centers (IACs). The IACs house libraries of information that are focused on specific technology areas, in addition to providing technical expertise in these areas. DTIC is headquartered at Fort Belvoir, VA, and serves the Department of Defense (DoD) by providing access to scientific and technical information for DoD personnel and contractors, including researchers, designers and engineers.

$4.9 Million Contract for Switchblade Agile Munition Systems and Services

Posted by on September 16, 2011 No comments

AeroVironment announced that it received a contract from the U.S. Army Close Combat Weapons Systems (CCWS), Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS). The $4,907,840 contract for the Switchblade agile munition includes engineering services and operational systems for deployment with the U.S. Army.

This award represents the culmination of years of development, testing, demonstrations and customer evaluations. The prototype Switchblade system previously received Safety Confirmation and underwent Military Utility Assessment with the U.S. Army in the fall of 2010. The award is for rapid fielding of this capability to deployed combat forces.

The Switchblade air vehicle launches from a small tube that can be carried in a backpack and transmits live color video wirelessly for display on AeroVironment’s standard small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) ground control unit. Upon confirming the target using the live video feed, the operator then sends a command to the air vehicle to arm it and lock its trajectory onto the target. Flying quietly at high speed the Switchblade delivers its onboard explosive payload with precision while minimizing collateral damage. With the ability to call off a strike even after the air vehicle is armed, Switchblade provides a level of control not available in other weapon systems.

“The unique capabilities provided by the Switchblade agile munition for standoff engagement, accuracy and controlled effects make it an ideal weapon for today’s fight and for U.S. military forces of the future,” said Bill Nichols, deputy product director at the Army’s Close Combat Weapons Systems project office.

Instead of requiring support from weapon systems controlled by other operating units, operators will be able to use the ground launched Switchblade variant to respond to enemy combatants with precision fire from a significant standoff distance, when and where required.

“Our dedicated team developed this breakthrough solution with a focus on satisfying important customer needs,” said Tom Herring, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. “Just as our small unmanned aircraft systems provide game-changing reconnaissance capabilities to ground forces, Switchblade provides a revolutionary rapid strike capability to protect our troops and give them a valuable new advantage on the battlefield.”

Program to Support National Air and Space Intelligence Center

Posted by on September 16, 2011 No comments

CACI announced that it has been awarded one of three prime positions to support the National Air and Space Intelligence Center’s (NASIC) Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Engineering Support Services II (SESS II) initiative for enhanced analysis and information technology capabilities. The multiple-award, five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract has a potential value of $40 million. CACI will provide technical, engineering, and analysis support in the areas of technical SIGINT (e.g., technical electronic intelligence, and command, control, and communications (C3) data links) and analysis infrastructure.

A valued CACI customer for nearly 50 years, NASIC is the Department of Defense’s primary source to assess foreign air and space threats. The Center performs SIGINT activities to support operational forces, defense acquisition efforts and national policy and decision makers. SIGINT analysis is conducted by NASIC analysts, and the results are incorporated into all-source threat assessments, used to construct engineering models and provided directly to intelligence end-users.

To bring enhanced solutions to NASIC’s challenges, CACI and its partners offer technical capabilities that have supported other elements of the Intelligence Community. The CACI team offers an integrated SIGINT approach combining SIGINT and systems technology and wide-ranging expertise in designing, developing, integrating, and operating a SIGINT processing laboratory which will help assure that NASIC remains a center of excellence for advanced signals intelligence processing and learning. The team tightly integrates large and small businesses to focus on supporting specific task areas, emerging technologies, and process improvements.

According to Bill Fairl, CACI’s President of U.S. Operations, “This new work with the National Air and Space Intelligence Center provides a strategically important opportunity for CACI to use our expertise to help NASIC achieve its mission requirements. The contract enables us to reinforce our long-standing commitment to enhance the Center’s unmatched analytic capabilities.”

CACI President and CEO Paul Cofoni observed that, “A key component of our growth strategy is supporting mission critical solutions in intelligence. With this welcome award from NASIC, we will be able to make a significant advance in our position in the very specialized signals intelligence arena that is so important to our national security.”

Military Base Adds to Contract

Posted by on September 16, 2011 No comments

Intellicheck Mobilisa announced that they have received an additional $300,000 from an existing customer with Intellicheck Mobilisa for Fugitive Finder®, a handheld ID reading technology that scans various forms of identification and instantly compares the information to over 100 government databases in order to provide background checks.

Fugitive Finder builds on Intellicheck Mobilisa’s patented ID reading technology and is deployed nationwide at approximately 80 federal facilities and military bases. With this additional purchase, the Fugitive Finder system has been expanded on base to included National Crime Information Center (NCIC) backgrounds checks. Through this upgrade, the facility is now able to conduct instant background checks on all visitors. The NCIC system is available to Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as other criminal justice agencies.

Steve Williams, Intellicheck Mobilisa’s CEO, commented: “This advanced technology plays a vital role in securing our nation’s military facilities by providing instant background checks, allowing them to enhance their security capability utilizing existing systems. The Pentagon has recently made it a mandatory requirement that federal facilities and military bases have instant background checking capability, and we are confident that we will see increased demand for Fugitive Finder at other bases. It is important for our shareholders to understand that although there is a strain on federal budgets at the moment, demand for products such as Fugitive Finder from the government continues to keep our business thriving, and we see even greater opportunities ahead.”

U.S. Air Force Awards a $2.6M Contract to SimiGon

Posted by on September 9, 2011 No comments

SimiGon has announced that it has been chosen as the prime contractor by the U.S. Air Force Air Education Training Command (AETC) for the delivery of SIMbox based T-6A Modular Training Devices (MTD). Under the terms of the contract, SimiGon will be paid $2.6m for the successful delivery of the MTD.

The SIMbox MTD simulators will be used to train undergraduate, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) students for Pilot Instrument Qualification training. The simulators will be configured as a T-6 Texan II utilizing SimiGon’s powerful Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) product, SIMbox®. The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft and is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer (NFO) and Air Force Combat Systems Officer (CSO) training.

SimiGon expects to commence recognizing revenues from the contract in the current financial year. As a result, the contract is expected to have a positive impact on FY 2011 revenues and contribute to improved visibility over FY 2012 revenues. Additionally, it positions SimiGon for similar opportunities globally as the T-6A is also used as a basic trainer by the Canadian Forces, the Luftwaffe of Germany, the Greek Air Force, the Israeli Air Force, and others.

SimiGon President & CEO, Ami Vizer, said: “We are excited to be chosen as the prime contractor for the U.S. Air Force RPA undergraduate training as it allows us to move up the supply chain and have a direct relationship with the client. RPA pilot training is a rapidly growing segment and this contract is expected to provide us with numerous growth opportunities with the US Air Force as well as other forces worldwide. We see this contract as a first step in a long term, mutually beneficial relationship for both parties.”