A&D News

M&A

Sagewind Capital, LLC Portfolio Company By Light Professional IT Services LLC Acquires Phacil, Inc.
McLean, Va.-based Phacil, Inc. is a software, cybersecurity, systems engineering and managed services provider to the US Government.

Consortium of Private Equity Firms, Pension Funds Make Offer to Acquire Inmarsat plc
London-based Inmarsat plc is the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, with maritime, aeronautical, and land mobile operations.

New Mountain Capital, LLC Portfolio Company MAG Aerospace Acquires Encore Aviation Pty Ltd
Forest Hill, NSW, Australia-based Encore Aviation is a maintenance organization supporting general aviation in Australia and provides home base and deployed engineering and maintenance services to a wide variety of fixed and rotary wing aviation organizations, including those contracted to the National Aerial Firefighting Centre in Melbourne.

Resilience Capital Partners, LLC Acquires InnoVista Sensors Subsidiary Systron Donner Inertial, Inc. (SDI)
Concord, Calif.-based Systron Donner is a supplier of quartz microelectromechanical systems (QMEMS) used in inertial sensing products that provide precision guidance, navigation and locational solutions.

Orolia S.A. Acquires Skydel Solutions, Inc.
Longueuil, Quebec, Canada-based Skydel Solutions, Inc. is a global navigation satellite system and GPS signal simulation company, combining innovative algorithms with off-the-shelf hardware to protect critical systems that rely on GNSS and operate through global navigation satellite networks like GPS.

Rheinmetall AG to Acquire IBD Deisenroth Engineering GmbH
Lohmar, Germany-based IBD Deisenroth Engineering GmbH designs, develops, and manufactures passive protection systems, with a focus on the use of next-generation materials in association with a modular and synergistic structural approach.

News

Vector’s GalacticSky GSky-1 Satellite Developed with USC’s Space Engineering Research Center Ready for Launch Later This Year
Vector, the space access company, today announced its GalacticSky division, which has been in stealth mode since 2016. Led by veterans from VMWare and Citrix, as well as satellite innovators, GalacticSky has achieved a major milestone on its path to launch its first GalacticSky software-defined satellite, GSky-1. GSky-1 successfully completed integration at the University of Southern California’s Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) at the Information Sciences Institute (ISI) and will validate GalacticSky’s mission to enable innovators to easily and effectively deploy space application technology in space.

US Army, Raytheon Complete DeepStrike Missile Preliminary Design Review
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and the U.S. Army completed a successful preliminary design review for the new DeepStrike® surface-to-surface missile, moving the weapon down the development path toward its first flight tests planned for later this year.

Second Lockheed Martin-Built GPS III Satellite For The U.S. Air Force Arrives In Cape Canaveral For July Launch
On March 18, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) shipped the Air Force’s second GPS III space vehicle (GPS III SV02) to Cape Canaveral for an expected July launch. Designed and built at Lockheed Martin’s GPS III Processing Facility near Denver, the satellite traveled from Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, to the Cape on a massive Air Force C-17 aircraft. The Air Force nicknamed the GPS III SV02 ‘Magellan’ after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

Northrop Grumman Ground System Provides Direction for the First Dual Interceptor Test for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System
In an unprecedented display of accuracy, Northrop Grumman Corporation, (NYSE: NOC) as the strategic partner to prime contractor, Boeing, successfully provided the weapon task plans for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system Ground Based Interceptors (GBI) during the first dual interceptor mission against an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Huntington Ingalls Industries Authenticates Keel of Virginia-Class Attack Submarine New Jersey (SSN 796)
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division hosted a keel authentication ceremony for the Virginia-class attack submarine New Jersey (SSN 796).

GE Aviation’s CT7-2F1 Engine Receives FAA Certification
The newest member of GE’s CT7 engine family, the CT7-2F1, achieved type certification by the Federal Aviation Administration. This milestone is a big step forward for entry into service of the CT7-2F1-powered Bell 525 Relentless, the world’s first fly-by-wire commercial helicopter, designed to operate safely and reliably in austere environments and with decreased pilot workload.

GA-ASI Breaks Ground on New Hangar in El Mirage, Calif.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) held a ground breaking ceremony for a new hangar being built in El Mirage, Calif. The new facility in the high desert of southern California will be close to 150,000 square feet and be used to house and test GA-ASI’s latest Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) variant, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian.

Raytheon Company Announces Executive Appointments
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Chairman and CEO Thomas A. Kennedy announced today the appointment of Wesley D. Kremer as President, Raytheon Missile Systems (RMS), succeeding Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, who informed the company of his intention to retire from Raytheon on July 14, 2019. Additionally, Kennedy has appointed Ralph H. Acaba President, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), succeeding Kremer. The new appointments are effective March 30, 2019. Dr. Lawrence will serve as a senior advisor to the company during the interim period prior to his retirement.

New SelfPass Biometrics Solution from Collins Aerospace Among the First to Connect Multiple Airlines, Airports and Countries
Passengers traveling through England’s Bristol Airport and Ireland’s Dublin Airport can look forward to a new streamlined journey with Collins Aerospace’s SelfPass biometric solution. The solution, now being trialed at Bristol Airport and Dublin Airport, is believed to be the first biometric solution that enables passengers to use a single enrollment in multiple countries.

Embraer Delivers the 500th Phenom 300 Series Aircraft, the Most Successful Business Jet of the Decade
Embraer has delivered the 500th Phenom 300 series business jet. According to General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reports, the Phenom 300 is the only business jet model to reach this milestone in the last 10 years. The Phenom 300 outperforms in the light jet class with its speed, range, comfort and technology. Being the fastest and farthest-flying light jet, the Phenom 300 has set multiple speed records, certified by the National Aeronautic Association and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.

DSCA Notifies Congress of Possible Sale of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to Belgium
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Belgium of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $600 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 25, 2019.

Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Propulsion Supported 11th Successful Missile Defense Intercept for GMD
In a first-of-its-kind flight test of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program, in partnership with prime contractor Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) supported Raytheon’s Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) in its intercept of an ICBM. The test, designated FTG-11, was the first salvo test for the GMD program. During the test, both interceptors, carrying the Raytheon-built EKVs, were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, following the launch of a threat-representative ICBM target from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The Aerojet Rocketdyne DACS helped to successfully maneuver an EKV to destroy the incoming target.

York Space Systems Ships S-class Spacecraft for Launch Ahead of Inaugural Mission
York Space Systems, an aerospace company specializing in complete space segment customer solutions and the manufacture of standardized spacecraft platforms, today announced its S-CLASS spacecraft platform has officially been shipped to the launch site for the company’s inaugural mission. A major milestone for the company, the platform completed the rigorous Environmental Test Program to obtain official clearance for imminent takeoff on its groundbreaking launch.

Lockheed Martin-Led Team Begins Construction On Navy’s Newest Multi-Mission Warship, Littoral Combat Ship 25 (Marinette)
In a ceremony that formally marks the beginning of a ship’s construction, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Fincantieri Marinette Marine laid the keel on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 25, the future USS Marinette. During the ceremony, the ship’s sponsor Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan, had her initials welded into the ship’s keel plate.

General Dynamics Appoints Smith as Executive Vice President; Paddock as President of Jet Aviation; Casey to Retire
General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) has appointed Robert E. Smith as executive vice president of the Marine Systems segment, effective July 1. Smith succeeds John P. Casey, who has informed the company of his intent to retire on June 30. David Paddock, Jet Aviation’s senior vice president and general manager of U.S. aircraft services, will succeed Smith as president of Jet Aviation.

Contracts

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company Contracts With Airbus for A330 and A350 Family Aircraft
China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) (Beijing, China) awarded Airbus SAS, Airbus (Toulouse Blagnac, France) a General Terms Agreement (GTA) for the acquisition of 300 Airbus family airliners at a total list price of approximately $29.3 billion. The GTA comprises of 290 A320 Family aircraft and ten (10) A350 XWB Family aircraft, reflecting the strong demand in all market segments including domestic, low cost, regional and international long haul from Chinese carriers.

MDA Definitizes Contract Modification With Boeing for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment Contract (DSC)
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) (Huntsville, AL) awarded Boeing Missile and Weapons Division (Huntsville, AL) a $4.14 billion cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (HQ0147-19-C-0004) to partially definitize the $6.56 billion undefinitized contract action (UCA) issued Jan. 31, 2018, on contract HQ0147-12-C-0004 (modification P00438) for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment Contract (DSC).

Deutsche Lufthansa Contracts With Rolls-Royce for Trent 1000 Engines to Power Boeing 787 Dreamliners
Deutsche Lufthansa AG awarded Rolls-Royce Commercial Aero Engines Ltd. (Derby, Derbyshire, England, UK) a contract for Trent 1000 engines, including TotalCare service support, to power twenty (20) Boeing 787 Dreamliners airliners.

NAVSEA Mods Contract With Ingalls Shipbuilding for Landing Platform Dock 30 (LPD 30) Detail Design and Construction
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) (Washington, DC) awarded Ingalls Shipbuilding (Pascagoula, MS) a $1.47 billion fixed-price-incentive-firm modification under a previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-2406) for the procurement of the detail design and construction of Landing Platform Dock 30 (LPD 30).

Deutsche Lufthansa Contracts With Rolls-Royce for Trent XWB Engines to Power More Airbus A350-900 Airliners
Deutsche Lufthansa AG awarded Rolls-Royce Commercial Aero Engines Ltd. (Derby, Derbyshire, England, UK) a contract for Trent XWB engines, including TotalCare service support, to power twenty (20) Airbus A350-900 airliners.

Army ACC-RSA Mods Contract With Lockheed Martin for Additional Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRSs)
On behalf of the U.S. Army PEO Missiles & Space (PEO MS) (Huntsville, AL), the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone (ACC-RSA) (Redstone Arsenal, AL) awarded Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) (Grand Prairie, TX) an $1.13 billion cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee modification (P00010) under a previously awarded contract (W31P4Q-18-C-0049) for full rate production Lot 13 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRSs).

DoD WHS Contracts With Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA) for Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Systems and Analyses Center
On behalf of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L) (Arlington, VA), the U.S. Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Acquisition Directorate (Washington, DC) awarded Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) (Alexandria, VA) a $950.0 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, ID/IQ contract (HQ0034-19-D-0001) for Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) effort fo research, analyses, technical evaluation, and test and evaluation support to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Joint Staff (JS), the Combatant Commands, and the Defense Agencies.

AFLCMC Peterson Contracts With CACI Federal for the Mobile Command and Control Support Contract (MC2SC)
On behalf of the U.S. Air Force PEO Battle Management (AFPEO BM) (Hanscom AFB, MA), the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) (Peterson AFB, CO) awarded CACI, Inc. – Federal (Chantilly, VA) a not-to-exceed $810.0 million firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-firm, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursement, ID/IQ contract (FA8723-19-D-0001) for the Mobile Command and Control Support Contract (MC2SC) in support of the Mobile Consolidated Command Center (MCCC) Program Office.

NAVSUP WSS Contracts With GE Aviation for F404 Engine Performance Based Logistics (PBL) Support for the F/A-18A-D Aircraft
NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) (Philadelphia, PA) awarded GE Aviation – Military Solutions (Lynn, MA) a $343.5 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/requirements contract (N00383-19-D-US01) for F404 performance based logistics (PBL) support.

AFLCMC Warner Robins Contracts With Raytheon Advanced for Synthetic Aperture Radar System-2B (ASARS-2B) Development for U-2 Aircraft
On behalf of the U.S. Air Force PEO Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces (PEO ISR & SOF) (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH), the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC) (Warner Robins AFB, GA) awarded Raytheon SAS – Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems (ISRS) (El Segundo, CA) a $320.0 million undefinitized contract to develop a new version of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS) that flies on the U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft.

AFLCMC Warner Robins Contracts With Sierra Nevada for AC-130W/AC-130J Precision Strike Package Contractor Logistics Support (CLS)
On behalf of the U.S. Air Force PEO Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces (PEO ISR & SOF) (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH), the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC) (Warner Robins AFB, GA) awarded Sierra Nevada Corp. (Sparks, NV) a $317.0 million ID/IQ contract (FA8509-19-D-0001) for contractor logistics support (CLS) for the Precision Strike Package (PSP) in support of the AC-130W Stinger II and AC-130J Ghostrider gunships.

NAVSEA Mods Contract With Northrop Grumman for Additional RCIED Electronic Warfare (JCREW) Increment One Build One (I1B1) Systems
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) (Washington, DC) awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Herndon, VA) a $245.0 million firm-fixed-price modification under a previously awarded contract (N00024-17-C-6327) to exercise options for the Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (JCREW) Increment One Build One (I1B1) systems full-rate production in support of the Expeditionary Warfare Program Office (PMS 408).

AFLCMC Wright-Patterson Mods Contract With L3 for ACAT III Big Safari Support Services
On behalf of the U.S. Air Force PEO Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces (PEO ISR & SOF) (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH), the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH) awarded L3 Mission Integration Division (MID) (Greenville, TX) two cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery orders with a combined value of $153.5 million under a previously issued basic ordering agreement (FA8620-16-G-3027) for ACAT III Big Safari support services.

NSWCCD Awards SBIR Contract to Seemann Composites for SCRIMP Out-of-Autoclave Composite Fabrication Practices and Procedures
The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Div. (NSWCCD) (Bethesda, MD) awarded Seemann Composites, Inc. (SCI) (Gulfport, MS) a $74.4 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, ID/IQ Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract (N00167-19-D-0002) for out-of-autoclave composite fabrication practices and procedures using a proprietary Seemann Composites Resin Infusion Molding Process (SCRIMP).