Showing posts with label Lockheed Martin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lockheed Martin. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

DTN News: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Lockheed Martin For Modification of External Fuel Tank of The Israeli Air Force C-130J

DTN News: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Lockheed Martin For Modification  of External Fuel Tank of The Israeli Air Force C-130J
Source: K. V. Seth - DTN News + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-010-16 January 15, 2016
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 20, 2016: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $10,035,434 modification (P00510) to previously awarded contract FA8625-11-C-6597 for C-130J advanced procurement and external fuel tank modification kits. 


Contractor will provide long-lead items and the external fuel tank mod kits in preparation for the procurement of C-130Js for Israel. 

Work will be performed at Marietta, Georgia, and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2018. 


This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to Israel. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth - DTN News + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-010-16 January 15, 2016
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Rockwell Collins For Upgarding And Maintenance of Pakistani Air Force (PAF) C-130 fleet

DTN News: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Rockwell Collins For Upgarding And Maintenance of Pakistani Air Force (PAF) C-130 fleet 
Source: K. V. Seth - DTN News + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-010-16 January 15, 2016
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 19, 2016: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $30,727,886 undefinitized contract action for the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) C-130 fleet. 


Contractor will design, manufacture, integrate, train, provide technical support during installation, and deliver 11 C-130E model kits and five C-130B integrated avionics suites and kits. 

Additionally, Rockwell Collins shall develop, validate, and deliver consolidated B/E flight manual and associated checklists, and maintenance supplements required to operate, maintain, and sustain the PAF C-130 fleet. 

Work will be performed at Nur Khan Base, Islamabad, Pakistan, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. 


This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to the country of Pakistan. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8553-16-C-0005).

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth - DTN News + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-010-16 January 15, 2016
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Monday, January 18, 2016

DTN News: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Lockheed Martin For Target Sight System (TSS) Related To Pakistan Army Aviation Corps AH-1Z Cobra Attack Helicopters

DTN News: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Lockheed Martin For Target Sight System (TSS) Related To  Pakistan Army Aviation Corps AH-1Z Cobra Attack Helicopters 
Source: K. V. Seth - DTN News + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-010-16 January 15, 2016
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 18, 2016: Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, is being awarded a $14,221,556 cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract action for the procurement of non-recurring engineering requirements on the Target Sight System (TSS), including software development and testing, system modification, testing, and installation requirements necessary to configure the TSS to the requirements of the government of Pakistan.  


The TSS provides target identification and tracking, passive targeting for integrated weapons, including Hellfire missiles, and a laser-designation capability supporting friendly laser-guided weapons.  The TSS is integrated into the AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters.  

Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (94 percent); and Ocala, Florida (6 percent).  The work is expected to be complete by December 2017.  Fiscal 2016 foreign military sales funding in the amount of $3,555,389 will be obligated at time of award.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  


This contract is being negotiated on a sole-source basis in accordance with statutory authority 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(4) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-4.  The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-16-C-JQ11).

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth - DTN News + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-010-16 January 15, 2016 
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Monday, January 11, 2016

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US-Based Defence Major Lockheed Martin Looks At Increasing Investment In India

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US-Based Defence Major Lockheed Martin Looks At Increasing Investment In India 
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources ET
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - VISAKHAPATNAM January 11, 2016: US-based defence major Lockheed Martin today said it is encouraged about the recent liberalisation of India's FDI policy in the sector and is looking at increasing investments in the country. 

Phil Shaw, chief executive, Lockheed Martin India, said the 'Make in India' initiative of the government would help in boosting manufacturing in the country. 

"I think the opening of FDI in defence is encouraging and I think we will be able to do a lot more... We started in Hyderabad, we are looking at other parts of the country as well to invest," Shaw said at the CII Partnership Summit. 

During his visit to the US in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met top Chief Executives including, Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Marillyn Hewson. 

The company already has manufacturing facilities near Hyderabad. 

Shaw said that the company would be working with local partners as "we move forward here in India". 

"We are an defence and aerospace company based out of the US... We are in India for a number of years now and for the last few years we begun manufacturing here," he said. 

Talking about 'Make in India', he said the programme focuses on what more foreign companies can do in India. 

Talking about 'Make in India', he said the programme focuses on what more foreign companies can do in India. 

He said that although the company has manufacturing facility in India "but that is kind of scratching the surface of what we could do here". 

Headquartered in US, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 1.26 lakh people worldwide. 


*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources ET
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Lockheed Martin Receives Sensor Sustainment Contract for the Apache Attack Helicopter

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Lockheed Martin Receives Sensor Sustainment Contract for the Apache Attack Helicopter
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - ORLANDO, Fla., January 6, 2016: The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a $31.8 million contract in December 2015 to sustain the AH-64D/E Apache’s targeting and pilotage system, the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS).

This Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) contract enables M-TADS/PNVS mission readiness, drives reliability and maintainability improvements, and reduces operation and support costs. A total of $31.8 million was obligated to Lockheed Martin through this one-year base contract award with a total value not to exceed $85.5 million. The period of performance is through December 2016, with four additional one-year options that would extend support through December 2020. The total five-year contract value potential is $424 million.

“We work hard to ensure that our PBL customers have the highest availability rates possible, and we back that up with a team of field representatives who stay ready around the clock, around the world,” said Mike Taylor, director of M-TADS/PNVS international and sustainment programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

The U.S. Army and Lockheed Martin Apache PBL team was honored with 2013 and 2011 Secretary of Defense PBL Awards recognizing outstanding achievements in providing soldiers with exceptional operational support.

Fielded in 2005, M-TADS/PNVS provides Apache pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for safe flight during day, night and adverse weather missions. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,350 M-TADS/PNVS systems and spares to the U.S. Army and international customers.

For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com/mtads.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that – with the addition of Sikorsky – employs approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
Media Contact

Melissa Hilliard
+1 407-356-5351
melissa.hilliard@lmco.com


*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
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*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / Lockheed Martin
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Thursday, August 20, 2015

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Army Expected to Pick JLTV Winner Soon

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Army Expected To Pick JLTV Winner Soon
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By Brendan McGarry | Wednesday, August 19th, 2015 7:36 pm

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 20, 2015Defense contractors competing for a contract to build the U.S. military’s replacement to the iconic Humvee are eagerly awaiting a decision from the Army.

Humvee-maker AM General, truck-maker Oshkosh Corp. and defense contracting giant Lockheed Martin Corp. are vying to begin production of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV.

An announcement on which company will be chosen to build the first 17,000 production models of the vehicle is expected either this week or next, sources told Military​.com.

Overall, the Army and the Marine Corps plan to buy a total of 54,720 JLTVs to replace about a third of the Humvee fleet at an estimated cost of more than $30 billion, or about $559,000 per vehicle, according to Pentagon budget documents.

That figure, which rose from earlier estimates, includes expenses for research and development, overhead and add-on equipment such as radios, weapons and armor. Officials have said the cost of manufacturing the vehicle alone will be about $250,000.

The companies submitted their final bids to the Army in February. Each of the firms previously delivered 22 prototypes for testing under an earlier contract.

Over the past decade, the Pentagon spent nearly $50 billion buying 25,000 or so of the bigger, mine-resistant ambush protected, or MRAP, vehicles as part of a rapid-acquisition effort spearheaded by then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates to better protect troops from roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thousands of the hulking vehicles were subsequently scrapped, mothballed or handed down to local police departments because the military never intended them to be a permanent part of the tactical wheeled vehicle fleet.

Now, the Army and Marine Corps are trying to incorporate some of the lessons learned from the wars into a lighter vehicle. “As we move forward, it will be a central piece of the Army,” former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said in June of the JLTV.


*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By Brendan McGarry | Wednesday, August 19th, 2015 7:36 pm
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Friday, April 17, 2015

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources U.S. DoD Release No: NR-133-15 Dated April 17, 2015
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 17, 2015Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today that the next Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS St. Louis.

The future USS St. Louis, designated LCS 19, will be the seventh ship to bear the name. The first St. Louis, a sloop of war, was launched in 1828. It spent the majority of its service patrolling the coasts of the Americas to secure interests and trade. In addition, it served as the flagship for the West Indies Squadron working to suppress piracy in the Caribbean Sea, the Antilles and the Gulf of Mexico region.

“The name St. Louis holds a strong naval legacy,” Mabus said. “In this era when our country is faced with similar challenges as our forefathers, it’s important that all who encounter this ship are reminded of the history of our Navy’s bravery and sense of duty.”

The LCS is designed to defeat littoral threats, and provide access and dominance in coastal waters. A fast, agile surface combatant, LCS provides war fighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute focused missions close to the shore, such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare. 

St. Louis will be built with modular design incorporating mission packages that can be changed out quickly as combat needs demand. These mission packages are supported by detachments that deploy manned and unmanned vehicles, and sensors in support of mine, undersea and surface warfare missions.

The ship will be 388 feet long, have a waterline beam length of 58 feet and make speeds in excess of 40 knots. The construction will be led by a Lockheed Martin industry team in Marinette, Wisconsin.

Additional information about littoral combat ships is available online at: http://www.navy.mil/local/lcsfreedom/

The Lockheed Martin Team
The U.S. Navy’s current Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are designed to defeat growing littoral threats and provide access and dominance in the coastal water battlespace. A fast, maneuverable surface combatant, the LCS provides warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility for focused missions including mine-clearing, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.


A flexible and reconfigurable seaframe, LCS derives combat capability from rapidly interchangeable mission modules and an open architecture command and control system. Modularity maximizes the flexibility of LCS and enables commanders to meet changing warfare needs, while also supporting spiral development and technology refresh.

The Lockheed Martin-led team producing the Freedom-variant LCS includes naval architect Gibbs & Cox and ship builder Marinette Marine Corporation, as well as domestic and international teammates. The team’s design, a proven semi-planing steel monohull, provides outstanding agility and high-speed maneuverability.  Its common combat system provides commonality with the U.S. Navy’s fleet and allows unprecedented interoperability, while making training more cost effective. The ship’s design also provides flexibility – its shallow draft and narrow beam allow greater access to global ports given existing infrastructure, which is essential for this ship’s missions.

The Lockheed Martin team has designed and delivered two ships for this new class, while another six ships are under construction. The first ship, USS Freedom, was delivered to the Navy in 2008 and successfully completed its first deployment in 2010, two years ahead of schedule. Then, the ship deployed to Southeast Asia in 2013, a journey to be followed by USS Fort Worth in 2014.

USS Fort Worth, the team’s second LCS, was delivered two months early and incorporates improvements from lessons learned on USS Freedom. These includedifferent air compressors, fixes to cooling systems, a 15 percent increase in fuel capacity, and cosmetic changes.

The team’s third LCS, the future USS Milwaukee, was launched and christened in 2013 into the Menominee River at Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC), followed by Detroit (LCS 7) in 2014. The Freedom-variant LCS industry team continues to produce ships at MMC.

Designs provided by the Lockheed Martin industry team are based on configurations marketed to navies around the globe. These configurations, known as the Multi-Mission Combat Ship and Surface Combat Ship, are adaptable and can include proven  capabilities such as the Aegis combat system with the SPY-1F (V) radar and the MK 41 Vertical Launching System.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources U.S. DoD Release No: NR-133-15 Dated April 17, 2015
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Rolls Royce Corp., For Integrated logistics Support Services For KC-130J Aircraft Propulsion Systems

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Rolls Royce Corp.,  For Integrated logistics Support Services For KC-130J Aircraft Propulsion Systems 
Source: DTN News + U.S. DoD CR-054-15 Dated March 24, 2015
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 25, 2015: Rolls Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is being awarded a $59,513,856 indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for integrated logistics support services for KC-130J aircraft propulsion systems (installed and spares), including supplies. 

Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana (41 percent); Winnipeg, Canada (21 percent); Oakland, California (16 percent); Sterling, Virginia (14 percent); Al Mubarak, Kuwait (2.1 percent); Iwakuni, Japan (2 percent); Cherry Point, North Carolina (1.3 percent); Miramar, California (1.3 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (1.3 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2016. 

Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Navy and Navy Reserve) and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $21,216,339 will be obligated at time of award, $16,252,549 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to the FAR 6.302-1. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($54,981,135; 92.38 percent) and the government of Kuwait ($4,532,721; 7.62 percent). 


The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-15-C-0009).

KC-130J
The KC-130J is the global leader in aerial refueling for both tactical aircraft and helicopters, and it is also capable of conducting rapid ground refueling. The KC-130J is assigned to U.S. Marine Corps units and has more than 20,000 hours of flight in Iraq. It is battle-tested and it delivers capabilities that keep the fleet flying high. 


The KC-130J aerial refueling (AR) tanker is the latest in a long lineage of combat proven C-130 Hercules tanker technology. The new KC-130J builds on proven tanker designs while taking full advantage of tremendous technological and performance improvements inherent in the basic C-130J aircraft

Related Image - DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Rolls Royce Corp.,  For Integrated logistics Support Services For KC-130J Aircraft Propulsion Systems 


*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources + U.S. DoD CR-054-15 Dated March 24, 2015
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, For Logistics Services in Support of The AC-130W and AC-130J

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, For Logistics Services in Support of The AC-130W and AC-130J 
Source: DTN News + U.S. DoD CR-054-15 Dated March 24, 2015
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 25, 2015: Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, has been awarded a $15,117,867 modification to exercise and option (P00006) to previously awarded contract FA8509-14-C-0001. The modification provides for contractor logistics services in support of the AC-130W and AC-130J precision strike package.



Work will be performed at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico; Hurlburt Field, Florida; and various deployment locations, and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2016. Fiscal year 2015 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $15,117,867 are being obligated at the time of award. 

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources + U.S. DoD CR-054-15 Dated March 24, 2015
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Monday, March 23, 2015

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Georgia, For One USAF HC-130J And Other Previous Awarded Contracts

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Georgia, For One USAF HC-130J And Other Previous Awarded Contracts
Source: DTN News + CR-053-15 Dated March 23, 2015
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 23, 2015: Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $72,721,898 modification (P00394) to previous awarded contract FA8625-11-C-6597 for fiscal year2013 congressional add aircraft procurement. 


Contractor will provide one HC-130J production aircraft under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Marietta, Georgia, and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2017. 

Fiscal year 2013 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $36,360,949 are being obligated at the time of award. 


Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-11-C-6597).

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources + CR-053-15 Dated March 23, 2015
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Sunday, January 5, 2014

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Waived Laws To Keep F-35 on Track With China-Made Parts

Defense War News Updates: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Waived Laws To Keep F-35 on Track With China-Made Parts
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Reuters
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 4, 2014: The Pentagon repeatedly waived laws banning Chinese-built components on U.S. weapons in order to keep the $392 billion Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter program on track in 2012 and 2013, even as U.S. officials were voicing concern about China's espionage and military buildup.

According to Pentagon documents reviewed by Reuters, chief U.S. arms buyer Frank Kendall allowed two F-35 suppliers, Northrop Grumman Corp and Honeywell International Inc, to use Chinese magnets for the new warplane's radar system, landing gears and other hardware. Without the waivers, both companies could have faced sanctions for violating federal law and the F-35 program could have faced further delays.

"It was a pretty big deal and an unusual situation because there's a prohibition on doing defense work in China, even if it's inadvertent," said Frank Kenlon, who recently retired as a senior Pentagon procurement official and now teaches at American University. "I'd never seen this happen before."

The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, is examining three such cases involving the F-35, the U.S. military's next generation fighter, the documents show.

The GAO report, due March 1, was ordered by U.S. lawmakers, who say they are concerned that Americans firms are being shut out of the specialty metals market, and that a U.S. weapon system may become dependent on parts made by a potential future adversary.

The waivers apply to inexpensive parts, including $2 magnets, installed on 115 F-35 test, training and production aircraft, the last of which are due to be delivered in May 2014. Lawmakers noted that several U.S. companies make similar magnets.

Kendall said the waivers were needed to keep production, testing and training of the Pentagon's newest warplane on track; avert millions of dollars in retrofit costs; and prevent delays in the Marine Corps' plan to start using the jets in combat from mid-2015, according to the documents. In one case, it would cost $10.8 million and take about 25,000 man-hours to remove the Chinese-made magnets and replace them with American ones, the documents indicate.

Lockheed is developing the F-35, the Pentagon's costliest arms program, for the United States and eight countries that helped fund its development: Britain, Canada, Australia, Italy, Norway, Turkey, Denmark and the Netherlands. Israel and Japan have also placed orders for the jet.

The program is already years behind schedule and 70 percent over initial cost estimates. At the time Kendall was granting the waivers, officials were acutely worried that further delays and cost increases would erode the foreign orders needed to drive down the future cost of each warplane.

In the documents, Kendall underscored the importance of the F-35 program to ensure continued U.S. military superiority and counter potential emerging threats from nations developing their own stealth fighter jets, including Russia and China.

He said additional delays would force the United States and its allies to keep its legacy fighters flying longer, which would result in higher maintenance costs. It would also leave them with older jets, which Kendall said "cannot match the offensive and defensive capabilities provided by F-35."

The Pentagon first disclosed problems with non-U.S. magnets in a little-noticed written statement to Congress in the spring of 2013. But the statement did not name companies involved and did not disclose that some of the parts came from China.

Officials at Northrop, Honeywell and Lockheed declined to comment on the issue, referring queries to the Pentagon.

Joe DellaVedova, spokesman for the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) at the Pentagon, said the office was committed to ensuring that federal defense acquisition laws were strictly followed.

"There was never any risk of technology transfer or other security breach associated with these manufacturing compliance issues," he said. "The JPO is working with industry to put in place long-term solutions to avoid the need for future waivers."

In his statement to Congress, Kendall said he took the matter "extremely seriously" and said Lockheed was told to take aggressive steps to identify any further cases, and correct its compliance process.

Bill Greenwalt, a former senior defense official and now an analyst with the American Enterprise Institute think tank, said the risk to national security appeared low since the magnets in question had no programmable hardware.

However, he added: "This is an area that will need considerable due diligence in the future to ensure that components for more high-risk applications are safe from potential tampering and foreign mischief."

SPECIALTY METALS

Since 1973, U.S. laws have banned the procurement of specialty metals produced outside the United States for use on U.S. weapons. A separate 2006 law also bans the purchase of end-use items and components that include such specialty metals.

The documents reviewed by Reuters show that Northrop first discovered the use of non-compliant Japanese magnets on the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar it builds for the F-35 in August 2012, alerting the prime contractor, Lockheed, which then told the Pentagon.

A subsequent investigation of all parts on the F-35 turned up two more cases in which non-U.S. specialty metals were used on the F-35's radar, and on target assemblies built by Honeywell that are used for positioning doors and landing gear.

Northrop's radar was also found to contain $2 magnets made by Chengdu Magnetic Material Science & Technology Co, in China's Sichuan region, according to the documents.

The magnets used on the Honeywell target assemblies were acquired through Illinois-based Dexter Magnetic Technologies Inc.

Dexter and Chengdu Magnetic did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

KNOWING AND WILLFUL?

In June, the House Armed Services Committee asked the GAO to determine whether the companies involved "knowingly and willfully" supplied non-compliant magnets, and how the Pentagon investigated that question. The committee also asked GAO for recommendations on potential changes, such as fines or penalties for non-compliance to deter future problems, as well as suggestions for beefing up Pentagon supply chain management procedures.

In a document approving use of Chinese magnets on the batch of 32 F-35 fighter planes now being built, Kendall said neither Lockheed nor Northrop knowingly allowed the parts to be used.

In his waiver, Kendall wrote that Northrop's initial mistake, involving magnets built in Japan, was an "administrative oversight" and noted the firm quickly reported the matter when it was discovered in August 2012. It led to the comprehensive review that found two additional issues involving Chinese-built magnets.

It is not clear from the waiver documents whether Kendall determined that Honeywell's use of Chinese-built magnets involved a similar mistake.

(Editing by Michael Williams, Tiffany Wu and Grant McCool)


*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Reuters
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Lockheed Martin Corp., For MH-60R Helicopters Under FMS Program

Defense War News Updates: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Lockheed Martin Corp., For MH-60R Helicopters Under FMS Program
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth +  U.S. DoD issued No. 773-13 November 5, 2013
(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - November 13, 2013: Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, N.Y., is being awarded $10,458,900 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 4092 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-09-G-0005) for non-recurring engineering efforts for development and testing of the system configuration 15 series modifications to the MH-60R VHF Omni-directional Range/Instrument Landing System, crash data recorder, and ABS-B Out for the Government of Australia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program. 

Work will be performed in Owego, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in February 2016. 

FMS funds in the amount of $10,458,900 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

The Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multimission helicopter replaces SH-60B and SH-60F helicopters in the US Navy's fleet and combines the capabilities of these aircraft. MH-60R is also referred to as 'Romeo'.

The helicopter is equipped for a range of missions, including: anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), naval gunfire support (NGFS), surveillance, communications relay, logistics support and personnel transfer and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). For vertical replenishment missions, the helicopter is fitted with a 2,721.55kg (6,000lb) cargo hook. Lockheed Martin, Owego, is the mission systems integrator.

MH-60R Seahawk helicopter development
The maiden flight of the MH-60R took place in July 2001. The first low-rate initial production (LRIP) helicopters were remanufactured SH-60Bs but the following MH-60Rs are all new-builds.

The first new production MH-60R helicopter was delivered in August 2005. Operational evaluation (OPEVAL) was completed in October 2005 and full-rate production approved in April 2006.

Production levels are due to increase to up to 30 helicopters a month. The US Navy expects to operate 252 MH-60R helicopters by 2015.

In October 2007, the US Navy established the first of five MH-60R squadrons, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, San Diego.

In March 2008, the MH-60R conducted first 'at sea' operations from the USS Preble (DDG-88) Aegis destroyer. First operational deployment of the helicopter was completed in early 2009 with the USS Stennis carrier group.

The helicopter operates from frigates, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious ships and aircraft carriers and is suitable for intense littoral warfare operations for handling numerous contacts in confined spaces, and for open-water operations

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth +  U.S. DoD issued No. 773-13 November 5, 2013
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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Saturday, September 28, 2013

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US DoD Has Awarded Contracts To Lockheed Martin For F-35 JSF Aircrafts

Defense War News Updates: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: US DoD Has Awarded Contracts To Lockheed Martin For F-35 JSF Aircrafts
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources U.S. DoD #691-13 Dated September 27, 2013 + Baynet.com
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 28, 2013: The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin signed two F-35 contracts today, valued at $7.8 billion, for a total of 71 F-35 Lightning II aircraft to be produced in the sixth and seventh Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lots. These agreements are a significant milestone for the F-35 Program, and reflect cost reduction initiatives shared by government and industry.
The LRIP 6 contract, valued at $4.4 billion ($3.7 billion awarded through a December 2012 undefinitized contract action; ref: N00019-11-C-0083, and $0.7 billion awarded through today’s contract) funds production of 36 aircraft, with average aircraft unit cost approximately 2.5 percent lower than LRIP 5 aircraft. LRIP 6 per variant unit prices (not including engine cost) follow:

·   23 F-35As CTOL - $103 million/jet

·   6 F-35B STOVL - $109 million/jet

·   7 F-35C CV - $120 million/jet

The LRIP 7 contract, valued at $3.4 billion, funds the production of 35 aircraft, with average aircraft unit cost approximately 6 percent lower than LRIP 5 aircraft. F-35 LRIP 7 per variant unit prices (not including engine cost) follow: 

·   24 F-35As CTOL - $98 million/jet

·   7 F-35B STOVL - $104 million/jet

·   4 F-35C CV - $116 million/jet

The 71 aircraft are currently in various stages of production. Lockheed Martin will begin delivering LRIP 6 aircraft in the second quarter of 2014 and LRIP 7 jets in the second quarter of 2015. LRIP 6 will mark the first delivery of international F-35 jets for Italy and Australia, and LRIP 7 will mark the first delivery to Norway.

 The LRIP 6 and 7 contract terms reduce the government’s exposure to target cost overruns relative to previous LRIP contracts. In the LRIP 6 and 7 buy, Lockheed Martin will cover all cost overruns. The government and Lockheed Martin will share returns (20/80) derived from any under runs in target cost.

 The LRIP 6 and 7 contracts contain performance-based payments, whereby the contractor will receive incremental payment as measured goals are achieved along the production line until government aircraft acceptance. LRIP 6 and 7 contracts also include a concurrency clause which requires Lockheed Martin to share costs equally with the government (50/50) for known concurrency changes arising from System Development and Demonstration testing and qualification. Newly discovered concurrency changes identified during LRIP 6 and 7 production periods will be authorized via engineering change proposals.

F-35 engines are funded through separate contract actions with Pratt & Whitney.

Lorraine Martin, VP and GM of the F-35 Program, said about the contracts “Lockheed Martin is extremely pleased with the LRIP 6 and 7 contract signing, which represents a significant milestone for the F-35 Program and its path to enhanced affordability. With each successive production lot, unit costs have declined. That’s a trend we look forward to continuing as this program moves toward full rate production and operational maturity. Working together with the Joint Program Office, our entire industrial team is focused on delivering the F-35’s 5th generation capabilities to our Armed Forces and partner nations at a 4th generation price point.”

U.S. DoD #691-13 Dated September 27, 2013
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $3,405,427,661 modification with fixed-price-incentive-firm, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-plus-incentive-fee line items to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-12-C-0004) for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot VII F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft production. This modification provides for the manufacture and delivery of 19 F-35 Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) for the U.S. Air Force; six F-35 Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps; four F-35 Carrier Variant (CV) aircraft for the U.S. Navy; two F-35 CTOL aircraft for Norway; three F-35 CTOL aircraft for Italy; and one (1) F-35 STOVL for the United Kingdom. This modification also provides for LRIP Lot 7 production requirements, including manufacturing support equipment, diminishing manufacturing sources management, ancillary mission equipment, including Pilot Flight Equipment, and concurrency changes to LRIP Lot 7 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy, and for non-U.S. DoD Participants in the F-35 Program. Concurrency changes are changes to the LRIP Lot 7 configuration baseline resulting from the F-35 development effort. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (55 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (15 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (10 percent); Orlando, Fla. (5 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and Cameri, Italy (5 percent). Aircraft deliveries are expected to be completed in October 2016. Fiscal 2013 Aircraft Procurement, Air Force; Fiscal 2013 Aircraft Procurement Navy; and International Partner funding in the amount of $3,405,427,661 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force ($1,823,737,540; 53.55 percent), U.S. Marine Corps ($567,802,742; 16.67 percent), the U.S. Navy ($401,457,402; 11.79 percent); and the Governments of Italy, Norway, United Kingdom, Australia, Turkey, the Netherlands, Canada, and Denmark ($612,429,977; 34.46 percent) The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $742,657,068 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive (firm target) modification to the previously awarded F-35 Lightning II Low Rate Initial Production Lot VI advance acquisition contract (N00019-11-C-0083). This modification provides for the manufacture and delivery of two F-35 Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft for the Government of Australia and three F-35 CTOL aircraft for the Government of Italy. In addition, this modification provides for LRIP Lot VI production requirements, including manufacturing support equipment, diminishing manufacturing sources management, ancillary mission equipment including pilot flight equipment, and concurrency changes to LRIP Lot VI aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, and the non-U.S. DoD Participants in the F-35 Program. Concurrency changes are changes to the LRIP Lot VI configuration baseline resulting from the F-35 development effort. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (55 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (15 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (10 percent); Orlando, Fla. (5 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); Baltimore, Md. (5 percent); and Cameri, Italy (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2016. Fiscal 2012 and 2013 Aircraft Procurement, Air Force; Fiscal 2012 Aircraft Procurement, Navy; and International Partner funding in the amount of $742,657,068 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force ($130,677,491; 17.60 percent); the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps ($66,199,572; 8.92 percent); and the Governments of Italy, Australia, United Kingdom, Turkey, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway and Denmark ($545,780,005; 73.49 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth - DTN News from reliable sources U.S. DoD #691-13 Dated September 27, 2013 + Baynet.com
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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