Here's your week in review:
The U.S. military suffered its first crash of an F-35 when a Marine Corps variant, the F-35B, crashed late in the week outside Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. The pilot safely ejected, and the cause of the crash is being investigated.
The F-35 belonged to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which trains Marine pilots to fly combat missions with the stealth fighter.
Earlier in the week in an unrelated F-35 news item, two British aviators were the first to touch own on the deck of the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, while the ship was off the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. (Post)
Those were not the only firsts for the F-35. Another Marine Corps F-35B was used in a combat mission in Afghanistan, marking the first U.S. combat use of the fighter. The F-35B jet took off from the USS Essex (LHD 2) amphibious assault ship in the Arabian Sea in support of ground clearance operations. In May, Israel became the first country to use the U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter in combat. (Post)
In another F-35-related item during the week, the Navy plans to deactivate next year the F-35C fleet replacement squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and combine it within VFA-125, the other fleet replacement squadron, at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. Seapower Magazine reported the information from an internal directive dated Sept. 10 said the Navy intends to deactivate Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VFA-101) on next July 1. The squadron was reactivated in 2012 and began flying F-35Cs in 2013. (Post)
There were five F-35-related contracts awarded during the week. Three were for Lockheed Martin and two were for United Technologies Corp.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded $315.8 million for a modification to a previously awarded contract to procure support equipment for F-35 Lightning low-rate initial production Lot XI aircraft in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla. (31 percent); Redondo Beach, Calif. (25 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (13 percent); Hartford, Conn. (12 percent); Melbourne, Australia (8 percent); Rome, Italy (4 percent); Franklin, Ohio (4 percent); and Chatsworth, Calif. (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2023. … Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $29.3 million delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement to provide for the procurement of various diminishing manufacturing sources parts to protect deliveries for future F-35 Lightning II lots. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in February 2019. … Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $116.3 million delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement for the procurement of 440 low-rate initial production 11 Generation 3 Helmet Mounted Display Systems, oxygen masks, and initial spares in support of the F-35 for the Air Force (180); Navy (60); Marine Corps (69); non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants (119); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers (12). Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in October 2020. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity for all three contracts.
In two engine-related contracts, United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded $209.6 million modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract for additional long-lead materials, parts, and components in support of F-35 low-rate initial production Lot 13 propulsion systems. Work will be performed in East Hartford (67 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2021. … United Technologies also was awarded $39.3 million modification to a previously awarded contract that provides for additional long lead-time components, parts, and materials in support of Lot 13 F-35 propulsion systems. Work will be performed in East Hartford (67 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2021. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity for both UTC contracts.
Space
There was another test of RS-25 developmental engine No. 0525 on the A-1 stand at Stennis Space Center, Miss., during the week. The hot fire of the controller also marked the seventh test of a 3D-printed pogo accumulator and the third test of a main combustion chamber fabricated using a bonding technique.
There was another test of RS-25 developmental engine No. 0525 on the A-1 stand at Stennis Space Center, Miss., during the week. The hot fire of the controller also marked the seventh test of a 3D-printed pogo accumulator and the third test of a main combustion chamber fabricated using a bonding technique.
The flight controller units are a key component of the RS-25 engine, serving as the “brain” to help it communicate with the rocket and to provide control of its operation and internal health diagnostics. Engineers are testing RS-25 engines to help power the new SLS rocket, built to carry humans deeper into space than ever before. Four RS-25 engines will help power the SLS at launch. (Post)
T-X
The Boeing-Saab partnership won a $9.2 billion contract to produce a new generation of Air Force training jets. The plan ultimately is for the Air Force to buy up to 475 aircraft and 120 simulators and associated ground equipment.
Initial operating capability is planned by the end of fiscal 2024, with the first simulators arriving at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, in 2023. Full operational capability is projected for 2034.
Saab promised that, should the partnership emerge victorious, it would build a new plant in the United States for its T-X work, although a location has not been announced.
The other two teams that competed for the contract were Leonardo DRS and Lockheed Martin. Had Leonardo DRS won, the trainer based on the Leonardo M-346 trainer would have been built in Tuskegee, Ala. Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries wanted to build a modified version of KAI’s T-50 in Greenville, S.C. (Post)
Contracts reprogramming lab
Northrop Grumman was awarded two contracts related to the F-35 Reprogramming Labs at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
In one, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Md., was awarded a $10 million contract for spare equipment, on-site technical support, repairs, upgrades, and travel to support the F-35 labs. The work will be done at Eglin and Linthicum Heights and is expected to be complete by Sept. 27, 2023. ... In the second contract, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.-Amherst Systems Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., was awarded a $7.7 million contract for spare equipment, on-site technical support, repairs, upgrades, and travel in support of the F-35 labs. Work will be performed at Eglin and Buffalo and is expected to be completed by Sept. 28, 2024. Air Force Test Center, Specialized Contracting Branch, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity for both contracts.
Other contracts
Telspan Data LLC, Concord, Calif., was awarded a $46.2 million contract for air data recorders (ADR), ground recorder systems (GRS), data replay systems (DRS) and support services. The contract provides for spare equipment, support services, and improvement of ADR, GRS, and DRS capabilities for use by the operational and test communities in support of the Air Force Test mission. Work will be performed in Concord and multiple continental U.S. military installations, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 28, 2024. Air Force Test Center, Specialized Contracting Branch, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Cherokee Nation Management and Consulting LLC, Catoosa, Okla., was awarded a $22 million contract for civil engineering support services. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by 2023. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. … Webb Electric Co. of Florida Inc., Pensacola, Fla., was awarded a $16.5 million contract in support of the Airfield Lighting Phase 1&2 construction project. Work will be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and is expected to be completed November 2019. 375th Contracting Squadron, Scott AFB, is the contracting activity. … Speegle Construction Inc., Niceville, Fla., was awarded an $8 million contract for design and construction of a new 10,134 sq. ft. two-story addition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Work will be performed in Eglin with an estimated completion date of July 29, 2020. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity. … BCI Construction USA Inc., Pace, Fla., was awarded a $13.7 million contract for headworks intake lifting equipment. Work will be performed in Lancaster, Tenn.; Celina, Tenn.; and Jamestown, Ky., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 15, 2020. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville, Tenn., is the contracting activity. … Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, was awarded a $10.8 million modification to a previously issued delivery order placed against a basic ordering agreement to procure 12 additional MV-22 Integrated Aircraft Survivability Equipment (IASE) retrofit A-Kits Block C; 12 MV-22 IASE retrofit kit installations; IASE configuration B retrofit A and B-Kit installation; and five CV-22 IASE advanced mission computer A-Kits. Work will be performed at Ridley Park, Pa. (81.9 percent); Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (17.7 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (.4 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2020. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. … Arete Associates Inc., Northridge, Calif., was awarded a $40.4 million contract to provide coastal battlefield reconnaissance and analysis (COBRA) systems, COBRA program systems support, and provisioned item orders/spares for the AN/DVS-1 COBRA Block 1 System. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (35 percent); Destin, Fla. (35 percent); and Santa Rosa, Calif. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2021. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Calculex Inc., Las Cruces, N.M., was awarded a $46.6 million contract for Air Data Recorders (ADR) and support services. The contract provides for spare equipment, support services, and improvement of ADR capabilities for use by the operational and test communities in support of the Air Force Test mission. Work will be performed in Las Cruces and multiple continental U.S. military installations, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 27, 2024. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … QuantiTech, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $47.4 million modification to a contract for Technical and Management Advisory Services range support. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Arnold AFB, Tenn.; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Hill AFB, Utah; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and Eielson AFB, Alaska, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2019. Air Force Test Center, Eglin AFB, is the contracting activity. … Torch Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $44.5 million contract modification for Technical and Management Advisory Services Armament support. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Kirkland AFB, N.M.; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2019. Air Force Test Center, Eglin AFB, is the contracting activity. … Bevilacqua Research Corp., Huntsville, Ala., was been awarded a $36 million modification to a contract for Technical and Management Advisory Services Platforms support. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Duke Field, Fla.; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; Tinker AFB, Okla.; and Edwards AFB, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2019. Air Force Test Center, Eglin AFB, is the contracting activity. … Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., was awarded a $34.4 million other transaction agreement. This agreement provides for experimentation of a secure, reliable, measured, commercial data and voice network in order to enable access to Department of Defense data and applications from DoD facilities, as well as enable access for mobile and remotely located users. Work will be performed in Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.; and Maxwell AFB, Ala., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2021. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass., is the contracting activity. … DCS Corp., Alexandria, Va., was awarded a $16.3 million modification to a previously awarded contract for Technical and Management Advisory Services Electronic Warfare support. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2019. Air Force Test Center, Eglin AFB, is the contracting activity. … EMR Inc., Niceville, Fla., and Drace Anderson JV, Ocean Springs, Miss., were among companies in a multiple award contract for construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast area of responsibility. The maximum dollar value for the five year ordering period for all six contracts combined is $99 million. EMR Inc. is being awarded the initial task order at $9.8 million for the construction of K-C130J Enlisted Aircrew Training System Facility at Naval Air Station, Joint Readiness Base, Fort Worth, Texas. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by December 2019. All work on this contract will be performed within the NAVFAC Southeast AOR which includes Texas (40 percent); Louisiana (40 percent); and Mississippi (20 percent). The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. … IDSC Holdings LLC, doing business as Snap-On Industrial, Kenosha, Wisc., was awarded an $11.9 million contract for the procurement of 1,482 different brand-name commercial hand tools and toolboxes with a total overall quantity of 158,516 items for Lot 11 low-rate initial production F-35 Lightning II aircraft in support of the Joint Strike Fighter F35A/B/C Tool Control Program. Work will be performed in Kenosha and is expected to be completed in September 2019. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity. … Integrated Solutions for Systems Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $17.5 million contract for the Weapons Effects Simulation Testing effort. This contract provides for research and development concepts and conventional inventory weapon systems. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 27, 2023. Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin AFB, is the contracting activity. … Global Connections to Employment Inc., Pensacola, Fla., was awarded a $13 million contract modification to extend the previously awarded contract to exercise option period two for full food and mess attendant services in support of Naval Air Station, Pensacola; and Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal School Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; and mess attendant services in support of Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Miss. Work will be performed in Pensacola (60 percent); Eglin AFB, (20 percent); and Gulfport (20 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2019. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.
No comments:
Post a Comment