A&D News

Industry News

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Lucy Mission

NASA has selected United Launch Services LLC (ULS) of Centennial, Colorado, to provide launch services for the agency’s first-ever mission to explore Trojan asteroids. The Lucy mission currently is targeted to launch in October 2021 on an Atlas V 401 rocket from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. With boosts from Earth’s gravity, the spacecraft will embark on a 12-year journey to study primitive asteroids orbiting the Sun in tandem with Jupiter.

GKN Fokker and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Collaborating on Future F-35 Long Term Agreement

GKN Fokker and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics confirmed via a protocol document the continuation of GKN Fokker’s efforts on F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter specific to the manufacturing of Flaperons, Inflight Opening Doors (IFOD), Arresting Gear, and Electrical Wiring and Interconnection Systems (EWIS) content. Production will take place at GKN Fokker’s sites in The Netherlands and Turkey with delivery taking place over the next five years.

American Airlines Takes Delivery of Its First A321neo

American Airlines has taken delivery of the first of 100 A321neos on order from Airbus, powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines. The aircraft, MSN8647, departed Hamburg early Friday for the trans-Atlantic ferry flight to Pittsburgh where American’s technicians will get the A321neo ready for customer flights.

Republic of Korea Air Force Receives First Airbus A330 MRTT

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The new-generation A330 MRTT extends the endurance and range of the ROKAF’s fighter aircraft, and provides the service with strategic transport capability for passengers and freight.

Lockheed Martin And Royal Netherlands Air Force Celebrate Rollout Of The First Dutch Operational F-35

Dutch and American officials celebrated the roll out of the first operational F-35A Lightning II for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) at Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) in Fort Worth, Texas.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding Division Delivers First Transformational 3-D Metal Part For Installation On Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier

The milestone was recognized during a brief ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. The part was presented to Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, Naval Sea Systems Command’s chief engineer and deputy commander for ship design, integration, and naval engineering. The part—a piping assembly—will be installed on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and evaluated for a one-year period.

Kratos Successfully Commands Spacecraft Using the Air Force’s Enterprise Ground Services Framework

The Kratos demonstration supports the Air Force’s strategic approach to implementing a common service-based satellite ground infrastructure that will evolve current satellite ground systems into one platform. EGS is a critical enabling technology that is focused on a sustainable, resilient space architecture that can respond to emerging threats and protect space-based assets.

Collins Aerospace in France Earns FRA 21J Certification for Military Airborne Platforms

Collins Aerospace in France has been awarded FRA 21J design organization approval for military airworthiness by the French defence procurement agency, Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA). This certification demonstrates that Collins Aerospace follows robust processes for performing design changes and repairs on avionics and structures for military airborne platforms.

GE H Series Begins Operation in Kazakhstan

Aircraft Industries’ Let L-410, powered by GE H Series turboprop engines, has begun commercial operations in Kazakhstan with Kazakh-based Zhetysu Airline.

 

M&A

Arlington Capital Partners Acquires Fabrications Business of Triumph Group, Inc.

The transaction consists of four companies, together offering forming, assembly and special processing solutions such as stretch, hydro, titanium hot/super plastic forming, bonding, bulge and drop hammer forming as well as chemical milling, welding, auto riveting, titanium Sol-Gel, anodizing and other coating processes.

Web Industries, Inc. Acquires France-based Omega Systèmes

Omega provides cutting services for flexible and semi-rigid materials for the textile, automotive, defense and aerospace industries.

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners and Management Acquire SK AeroSafety Group From Apax Partners

SK AeroSafety Group provides inspection, testing, maintenance and repair of critical passenger safety equipment found on all commercial and private aircraft worldwide.

Audax Private Equity Portfolio Company RelaDyne, LLC Acquires CIRCOR Reliability Services Business, Previously COT-PURITECH

The business provides critical lubrication management, chemical flushing services, and oil misting equipment to leading customers in Oil and Gas, Refining, Petrochemical, Power Generation, Industrial, Military and Maritime markets. The business was acquired by CIRCOR International as part of the acquisition of the Colfax Fluid Handling Business completed in December 2017.

Mercury Systems, Inc. Acquires GECO Avionics, LLC

Provides design and manufacturing for safety-critical avionics and mission computing solutions. GECO’s DO-254 certified hardware solutions include mission processors, airborne displays, video processing and aviation networking.

CACI International, Inc. to Acquire LGS Innovations, LLC From Madison Dearborn Partners and CoVant Management; Also Acquires Mastodon Design, LLC

Provides real-time spectrum management, C4ISR, and cyber products and solutions to the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD).

Cayuse Technologies, Inc., a Subsidiary of Confederated Tribes of The Umatilla Indian Reservation, Acquires Native Hawaiian Veterans, LLC

Native Hawaiian Veterans LLC provides services, solutions, and products in the areas of homeland security, emergency management, information technology, communication equipment, professional staff augmentation, munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) remediation, and strategic communications/creative services.

Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Acquires LoPresti Aviation

Whelen Engineering designs and manufactures powerful warning lights, white illumination lighting, sirens, controllers, and high-powered warning systems for Automotive, Aviation, and Mass Notification industries worldwide.

Tyler Technologies, Inc. to Acquire MicroPact, Inc. From Arlington Capital Partners and Enlightenment Capital

Provides specialized, vertically oriented case management and business process management (BPM) applications for government.

MKS Instruments, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.

Provides laser-based manufacturing solutions for the microtechnology industry..The company’s manufacturing systems are designed to enable manufacturers of electronic components and devices to improve their production capabilities and commercialize technologies through laser processing.

Contracts

DLA Land and Maritime Contracts With Bren-Tronics for Storage Batteries

DLA Land and Maritime (Columbus, OH) awarded Bren-Tronics, Inc. (Commack, NY) a maximum $9.8 million firm-fixed-price contract (SPE7L7-19-C-0005) for storage batteries (NSN: 6140-01-490-4316, P/N: BT-70791A).

Army ACC_RSA Contracts With SRC Inc. for the Low, Slow Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Defeat System (LIDS)

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone (ACC-RSA) (Redstone Arsenal, AL) awarded SRC, Inc. (North Syracuse, NY) a $108.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (W31P4Q-19-C-0005) for the Low, Slow Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Defeat Systems (LIDS) in support of the Counter-Rocket Artillery Mortar (C-RAM) Program Directorate (PD).

USTRANSCOM Contracts With Schuyler Line Navigation Company for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Sealift Transportation Services

The U.S. Transportation Command (Joint Services) (USTRANSCOM) (Scott AFB, IL) awarded Schuyler Line Navigation Company, LLC (Annapolis, MD) a $39.9 million fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery/requirements contract (HTC711-19-D-W001) for sealift transportation services.

NAVAIR Mods Contract With Lockheed Martin for 4,320 Laser Guided Training Rounds (LGTRs)

The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Headquarters (NAVAIR HQ) (Patuxent River, MD) awarded Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control – Archbald Manufacturing Operations (Archbald, PA) a $16.1 million firm-fixed-priced modification (P00005) under a previously awarded contract (N00019-17-C-0022) for the procurement of 4,320 Laser BDU-59B/B Laser Guided Training Rounds (LGTRs).

NAVSEA Mods Contract With Lockheed Martin for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) 4.0.2 Equipment

The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) (Washington, DC) awarded Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) – Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors Division (Moorestown, NJ) a $10.9 million fixed-price incentive-firm modification under a previously awarded contract (N00024-14-C-5106) to exercise options for AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) 4.0.2 equipment for Shipset 23 and BMD spares.

NAWCTSD Contracts With Boeing Strike for the T-45 Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) Phase II

The U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Div. (NAWCTSD) (Orlando, FL) awarded Boeing Strike, Surveillance and Mobility (St. Louis, MO) a $56.8 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, ID/IQ contract (N61340-19-D-0003) for the T-45 Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) Phase II.

AFLCMC Warner Robins Contracts With Honeywell for C-5 Honeywell Software and Engineering Support (HSES)

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC) (Warner Robins AFB, GA) awarded Honeywell Defense Avionics Systems (Albuquerque, NM) an $85.7 million ID/IQ contract (FA8525-19-D-0002) for C-5 Honeywell software and engineering support (HSES) in support of the C-5 aircraft.

USAF AFSAC Contracts With Sallyport Global Holdings for Balad Air Base Operating Support, Base Life Support, and Security Services for Iraqi FMS F-16 Aircraft Program

The U.S. Air Force Security Assistance Cooperation Directorate (AFSAC) (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH) awarded Sallyport Global Holdings, Inc. (Reston, VA) a $400.0 million cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract action (FA8630-19-C-5004) to provide base operations support, base life support, and security services in support of the Iraq F-16 program.

AFLCMC Warner Robins Contracts With Goodrich for HH-60G/UH-1H Winches & Hoists Repair/Overhaul

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC) (Warner Robins AFB, GA) awarded Collins Aerospace Mission Systems SIS – De-icing, Rescue and Specialty Systems (DRSS) Brea (Brea, CA) an estimated $27.1 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/requirements contract (FA8524-19-D-0001) for repairing and overhauling of aircraft drum winches & hoists applicable to the HH-60G and UH-1N Helicopters.

AF ACC 49 CONS Awards Eight Contracts for Maintenance, Repair and Construction Work at Holloman AFB, NM

The U.S. Air Force ACC, 49th Contracting Squadron (49 CONS) (Holloman AFB, NM) awarded eight, five-year, multiple award, ID/IQ contracts, with an aggregate ceiling value of $90.0 million, to provide a broad range of maintenance, repair And construction work At Holloman Air Force Base, NM.

NAVAIR HQ Mods Contract With Northrop Grumman for Five Fire Scout MQ-8C Unmanned Air Systems (UASs)

The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Headquarters (NAVAIR HQ) (Patuxent River, MD) awarded Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corp. (San Diego, CA) a $55.1 million fixed-price-incentive-firm target modification (P00011) under a previously awarded contract (N00019-16-C-0055) for the procurement of five Fire Scout MQ-8C unmanned air systems (UASs) and two lightweight fuel cells.

SkyWest Contracts With Embraer for Nine E175 Jets

SkyWest, Inc. (St. George, UT) awarded Embraer Commercial Aviation (Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil) a firm order for nine E175 jets, with deliveries expected to begin in 2019.

Army ACC-RSA Contracts With DRS for Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) Development

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone (ACC-RSA) (Redstone Arsenal, AL) awarded DRS Land Systems (St. Louis, MO) a $74.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract(W31P4Q-19-C-0006) for the rapid development, deployment, and support of the Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS).

NSWCPD Contracts With Collins Aerospace for Submarine Air Revitalization Engineering Services and On-Site Support Services

The U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Div. (NSWCPD) (Philadelphia, PA) awarded Collins Aerospace Systems, Power and Controls (Windsor Locks, CT) a $27.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, ID/IQ contract (N64498-19-D-4000) for submarine air revitalization engineering services and on-site support services in support of the Submarine Life Support and Ventilation Systems Branch (Code 416).