A&D News

NEWS

Rolls-Royce, Qatar Airways Debut VR MRO Training
Rolls-Royce and Qatar Airways have introduced virtual reality (VR) training in what the engine manufacturer expects to be the beginning of widespread adoption of the technology. The initial VR instruction helps prepare Doha-based Qatar engineers for disassembling Trent XWB engines for shipment.

Bombardier Makes Moves to Better Support Africa and Middle East Customers
The Q Series aircraft regional support team will move near Johannesburg’s busiest airport to enhance support to operators in the region.

Lockheed Martin Inaugurates F-16 Production Line In Greenville, South Carolina
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) hosted a ceremony to celebrate its new F-16 production line in Greenville, South Carolina. F-16 tooling and equipment previously in Fort Worth, Texas, has since been installed in a newly-refurbished hangar in Greenville, where the company will begin manufacturing F-16 Block 70 aircraft later this year.

China’s First Airbus H215 Helicopter Delivered to SGGAC for Utility Missions
China’s State Grid General Aviation Company (SGGAC) has taken delivery of one heavy twin-engine Airbus H215 helicopter – a member of the mission-proven Super Puma family – becoming the launch customer for the H215 in China.

Airbus Appoints Jean-Marc Nasr Head of Space Systems
Airbus SE (stock exchange symbol: AIR) has appointed Jean-Marc Nasr, 57, Executive Vice President Space Systems within the Airbus Defence and Space division. Nasr will assume his new duties on 1 June 2019 and succeeds Nicolas Chamussy, 51, whose next assignment is subject to further notice. In his new role, Nasr will be Member of the Airbus Defence and Space’ Executive Committee and report to Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.

ACJ319neo Makes Successful First Flight
The ACJ319neo successfully completed a first flight lasting one hour and 55 min. on 24 April 2019, beginning a short flight-test programme to verify its corporate jet features – such as the extra fuel tanks in its cargo-hold, which enable intercontinental range.

Polish Army to Purchase Tank Destroyers: 13 Potential Contractors
The Polish Ministry of Defence is going to acquire new tank destroyers based on tracked platforms, in order to reinforce the Polish anti-armour capabilities. Furthermore, the goal of the procedure is to replace the obsolete systems using the 9P133 Malyutka system.

Parsons Corporation Launches Initial Public Offering of Common Stock
Parsons Corporation (“Parsons”), a provider of technology-driven solutions in the defense, intelligence and critical infrastructure markets, today announced that it has commenced an initial public offering of its common stock. Parsons is offering 18,518,500 shares of its common stock at an initial public offering price between $26.00 and $28.00 per share.

M&A

Enlightenment Capital Acquires Trowbridge & Trowbridge, LLC
McLean, Va.-based Trowbridge is a provider of information technology (IT) solutions to defense, intelligence, and civilian government agencies. Founded in 2006 by Karen Trowbridge, the company provides cloud engineering, cybersecurity, IT engineering, application development, and network engineering solutions to the federal government. Trowbridge will serve as Enlightenment’s newest platform.

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. to Acquire KeyW Corp.
Hanover, Md.-based KeyW Corp. is a national security provider of advanced engineering and technology solutions to the Intelligence, Cyber and Counterterrorism communities, with “unique and differentiated” capabilities in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); cyber operations and training; and mission-critical IT and analytics.

Mission Ready Solutions, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Unifire, Inc.
Spokane, Wash.-based Unifire, Inc. is a specialized solutions provider to the US Defense Logistics Agency, and one of six companies worldwide that is authorized to provide equipment and designated services under the multi billion-dollar Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) framework.

Intel Corp. Acquires Omnitek Ltd
Basingstoke, England-based Omnitek Ltd is a provider of optimized video and vision FPGA IP solutions. Omnitek’s technology enables customized high-performance vision and artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing capabilities on FPGAs for customers across a range of end markets, including medical, broadcast, professional AV, automotive, government homeland security, aerospace/defense, industrial/scientific, consumer, and test & measurement.

Willcrest Partners and Curran Companies Recapitalize Precision Aerospace, LLC
Phoenix, Ariz.-based Precision Aerospace is a provider of complex metal assemblies for aerospace and industrial applications. Founded in 1976, the company specializes in build-to-print, complex machined sheet metal fabrications; including welded and mechanical assemblies supporting the aerospace industry, primarily for engine and exhaust applications.

Parker Hannifin Corp. to Acquire LORD Corp.
Cary, N.C.-based LORD Corp. offers a broad array of advanced adhesives, coatings and specialty materials as well as vibration and motion control technologies. LORD’s products are used in mission-critical applications in the aerospace, automotive and industrial markets. The company’s aerospace business produces active vibration control systems, adhesives, coatings, engine attach systems, Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid, and (through its LORD Reman program) is a provider of overhaul and repair services.

Syntonics, LLC Completes Merger with Engenium Technologies Corp. (ETC)
Columbia, Md.-based Engenium Technologies Corp. (ETC) specializes in signal processing including systems engineering and system modeling, software design and implementation, digital, analog, and RF design and hardware implementation and consulting. The company is also a subject-matter expert in radar and radio communications. ETC has been a subcontractor to Syntonics for the past several years, as the companies have jointly developed the innovative SPiDR (Sniper Projectile Detection Radar) technology for a DoD sponsor.

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. Acquires Next Generation 911 Business From General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NasdaqGS: CMTL) acquired the state and local government Next Generation 911 (“NG-911”) business from General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. (“GDIT”), a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE: GD).

KEY CONTRACTS

NAVAIR HQ Contracts With Boeing for F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Various External Stores/Mission Equipment Services
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Headquarters (NAVAIR HQ) (Patuxent River, MD) awarded Boeing Strike, Surveillance and Mobility (Saint Louis, MO) an $89.0 million ID/IQ contract (N00019-19-D-0021) for the technical and engineering services to integrate various external stores and alternative mission equipment onto the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft.

AFLCMC Wright-Patterson Mods Contract With Raytheon for DAS-4 Production and Upgrades
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 Raytheon SAS – Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems (ISRS) (McKinney, TX) a $94.3 million fixed-price-incentive-firm modification (P00004) under a previously awarded undefinitized contractual action (UCA) (FA8620-18-C-2001) for DAS-4 production and upgrades.
This modification provides for the purchase of an additional 54 production AN/DAS-4 Multi-Spectral Targeting System Model B High Definition/Target Location Accuracy (HD/TLA) turrets and one DAS-1A to DAS-4 turret unit upgrade.

Army ACC-RSA Contracts With General Atomics for MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS Performance Based Logistics (PBL)
On behalf of the U.S. Army Program Executive Office Aviation (PEO AVN) (Huntsville, AL), the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone (ACC-RSA) (Redstone Arsenal, AL) awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) – Aircraft Systems (Poway, CA) a $99.0 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (W58RGZ-19-C-0027) for performance based logistics (PBL) support services for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).
This support consists of overall logistics support and Gray Eagle fleet sustainment operations within the Contiguous United States (CONUS) and Outside Contiguous United States (OCONUS). The logistics requirements include program management, system sustainment, readiness management and support services, contractor-managed supply maintenance support, equipment maintenance forms and records, sustainment training, urgent repairs and services, maintenance and advice on software configuration management, contractor field service representatives (CFSR) and supply chain management.

Army PEO STRI Contracts With Raytheon for Joint Multinational Readiness Center-Rotational Mission Support (JMRC-RMS)
The U.S. Army Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training & Instrumentation (PEO STRI) (Orlando, FL) awarded Raytheon IIS Navigation and Environmental Solutions (NES) (Dulles, VA) a $158.8 million firm-fixed-price contract (W900KK-19-C-0031) for Joint Multinational Readiness Center-Rotational Mission Support (JMRC-RMS) in support of the JMRC Operations Group (OPSGRP).

NAVSEA Contracts With Lockheed Martin for Combat System Warfare Federated Tactical Systems (SWFTS) System Engineering & Integration (SE&I) Services
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) (Washington, DC) awarded Lockheed Martin RMS – C4ISR and Undersea Systems (C4USS) (Manassas, VA) a $207.1 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00024-19-C-6400) for system engineering & integration (SE&I) services for the Combat System Warfare Federated Tactical Systems (SWFTS). The contractor will provide development, system engineering, integration, and testing of SWFTS interface baseline improvements, and technology refresh/insertion. These services cover the Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) of SWFTS system-level interfaces, associated architectures, and command, control, communications and information combat system design elements, in addition to the integration and testing across the SWFTS system-of systems.

NAVAIR HQ Contracts With Harris for Full-Rate Production (FRP) Lot 17-20 AN/ALQ-214(V)4/5 IDECM Jammer Sets and Support
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Headquarters (NAVAIR HQ) (Patuxent River, MD) awarded Harris Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) (Clifton, NJ) a $212.0 million firm-fixed-price contract to manufacture and deliver Lots 17-20 full rate production (FRP) Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) jammers for the F/A-18C/D/E/F variants. The AN/ALQ-214A(V)4/5 is the key onboard electronic warfare (EW) jamming system for the IDECM program, protecting the aircraft from electronic threats, including sophisticated integrated air defense systems. This effort also includes the repair of test assets and field support for the AN/ALQ-214A(V)4/5.

NAVSEA Mods Contract With Electric Boat for Columbia/Dreadnought Class Missile Tubes and Missile Tube Outfitting Material
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) (Washington, DC) awarded Electric Boat Corp. (Groton, CT) a $269.3 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00027) under a previously awarded contract (N00024-17-C-2117) for the manufacturing of 42 missile tubes and missile tube outfitting material in support of the Columbia class fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and the United Kingdom (UK) Dreadnought. Work will be performed in Quonset Point, RI (71 percent); and York, PA (29 percent), with an estimated date of completion by May 2028. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and Foreign Military Funds (FMS) (UK) funding in the amount of $49,500,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

CBP Awards GSA Schedule 70 Task Order to Dev Technology Group for Cargo Systems Application Development and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Support
On behalf of the Office of Information and Technology (CIO), the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Information Technology Center Division (ITCD) (Washington, DC) awarded Dev Technology Group, Inc. (Reston, VA) a $325.5 million time and materials task order (70B04C-19-F-00000204) under the company’s GSA Schedule 70 contract (GS35F0897R) for cargo systems application development and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) support for Cargo Systems Program Directorate (CSPD) in support of cargo systems applications.

Army ACC-RSA Contracts With Lockheed Martin for M270A2 Launcher Production
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) a $362.7 million fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (W31P4Q-19-C-0077) for the production of M270A2 launchers in support of the PEO MS Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems (PFRMS) Project Office. MLRS is a heavy tracked mobile launcher, transportable via C-17 and C-5 aircraft, that fires Guided MLRS rockets and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. MLRS will also be able to fire the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) and Extended-Range GMLRS rockets, both currently in development.

Army ACC-APG Contracts With Raytheon for Troposcatter Transmission System (TROPO) Production/Services
The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD) awarded Raytheon IIS Navigation and Environmental Solutions (NES) (Dulles, VA) a $663.0 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fix-fee, ID/IQ contract (W15P7T-19-D-0218) for Troposcatter Transmission System (TROPO), spares and associated services in support of the Program Executive Office for Command Control Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), Project Manager (PM) Tactical Network (PM-TN), and Product Manager Network Modernization (PdM-NM).

Army ACC-RSA Contracts With Lockheed Martin for Hellfire Missiles for U.S. Armed Forces and FMS Customers
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) – Orlando (Orlando, FL) a $723.6 million fixed-price-incentive-firm modification (P00011) under a previously awarded contract (W31P4Q-18-C-0130) to procure a variety of HELLFIRE II missile variants for the U.S. and the governments of Lebanon, Netherlands, and France under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

DLA Land/TACOM Awards Three Contracts for ISO and Quadcon Containers
On behalf of the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) (Warren MI), the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land and Maritime Detachment – Warren Acquisition Center (Warren, MI) awarded three, five-year, multiple award, firm-fixed-price, ID/IQ contracts, with a combined value of $744.9 million, for ISO and Quadruple Containers (Quadcon) containers. The DLA container program services customers worldwide utilizing a combination of commercial support and Government transportation capabilities. Although many containers have similar physical and technical characteristics, they vary in price, size, construction, material, availability and capability. For these contracts, two categories of containers are being manufactured for the ISO and Quadruple (Quadcon) categories.

Army ADD-E Awards Five Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Competitive Prototype (FARA CP) Program
The U.S. Army Aviation Development Directorate – Eustis (ADD-E) (Fort Eustis, VA) awarded five parallel other transaction agreements (OTAs) for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Competitive Prototype (FARA CP) program in support of the U.S. Army CCDC Aviation and Missile Center (CCDCAMC) for the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team (FVL CFT).

NAVAIR HQ Contracts With Lockheed Martin for F-35 Lightning II Aircraft Sustainment Services
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Headquarters (NAVAIR HQ) (Patuxent River, MD) awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth Operations (Fort Worth, TX) a $1.14 billion cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost-share contract (N00019-19-C-1022) for sustainment services in support of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, non-U. S. Department of Defense (non-U.S. DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers.
The material and non-recurring sustainment activities include: Training Material and Infrastructure, Support Equipment, Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) Material and Infrastructure, Site Readiness Reviews and Site Activation Activity, On-Site Personnel and Infrastructure Stand-up, and Aircraft Structural Integrity Program Studies.

NAVSEA Contracts With VT Halter Marine for USCG Polar Security Cutter (PSC) Detail Design and Construction
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) (Washington, DC) awarded VT Halter Marine, Inc. (Pascagoula, MS) a $1.94 billion fixed-price incentive-firm contract (N00024-19-C-2210) for the detail design and construction of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Polar Security Cutter (PSC) (formerly the Heavy Polar Ice Breaker).

AFLCMC Wright-Patterson Contracts With Boeing for KC-46 Pegasus Combat Capability (PC2)
On behalf of the U.S. Air Force PEO Tankers (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH), the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH) awarded Boeing Commercial Derivative Aircraft Division (Seattle, WA) a $5.7 billion ID/IQ contract (FA8609-19-D-0007) for KC-46 Pegasus Combat Capability (PC2).