News From Washington
Lockheed Martin Receives $260 M Contract for PAC-3
Missile SegmentLockheed Martin has received a $260 M not-to-exceed contract for a Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) to the battle-proven Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile. The MSE provides performance enhancement to the missile that will counter evolving threat advancements. The US Army Aviation & Missile Command, Huntsville, AL, is the contracting agency.
The MSE program includes flight software, flight testing, modification and qualification of subsystems, production planning and tooling, and support for full Patriot system integration. The MSE program will span 51 months, with flight testing scheduled to begin in September 2006. The flight test program includes one controlled test flight and two guided intercept tests against threat representative tactical ballistic missiles (TBM). All testing will be conducted at White Sands Missile Range, NM.
The hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile is the world's most advanced, capable and powerful theater air defense missile. It defeats the entire threat to the Patriot Air Defense System: tactical ballistic missiles carrying weapons of mass destruction, advanced cruise missiles and aircrafts. PAC-3 missiles significantly increase the Patriot System's fire power, since 16 PAC-3s are loaded on a Patriot launcher, compared with four of the older Patriot PAC-2 missiles. The current PAC-3 Missile production rate, authorized in October 2002, includes an FY'03 production quantity of 100 missiles and 108 missiles in FY'04. Production rates are ramping up and will continue through the next decade.
Raytheon Awarded $881 M for Standard Missile-3 Development
Raytheon Co. has been awarded a contract from the US Navy for engineering and manufacturing to continue development of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) leading to sea-based missile defense deployment. The value of this award is for $881.4 M during the next three years.
The program will leverage the Standard missile's legacy of success and Raytheon's state-of-the-art kill vehicle manufacturing facility in Tucson in which the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle is built and integrated. SM-3 features a third stage rocket motor, GPS guidance and a kinetic warhead to intercept and destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in space. SM-3 is a component of the Missile Defense Agency's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD). The Aegis BMD cruiser, USS Lake Erie, with SM-3 achieved three consecutive "hit-to-kill" intercepts of ballistic missile targets in 2002.
Raytheon is leading the SM-3 integrated team effort, supported by the Boeing Co. and Alliant Techsystems, which provide major subsystems. In December 2002, President Bush announced the administration's intention to deploy missile defense capabilities in 2004-2005. Implementation of the President's order calls for up to 20 sea-based interceptors employed on existing Aegis ships in 2005. In addition to funding engineering activity, this contract will support the manufacture and testing of the initial five deployment missiles and the continued cooperative research and development work with Japan. This contract will also include additional quantities for later deployment. Work on the missiles will be done primarily at Raytheon's Missile Systems facilities in Tucson, AZ and Camden, AR.
Northrop Grumman Wins Navy Contract to Provide Avionic System Support Work
Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Navigation Systems Division (NSD) has been awarded a US Navy support contract, potentially worth more than $49 M over four years, to provide for repair and retrofit of naval avionic systems and subsystems for the Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP).
The new contract includes repair and retrofit of the H-60F Seahawk's antisubmarine warfare, datalink and Doppler system; H-3 Sea King's tactical/navigational system; F-14 Tomcat's converter interface unit and computer signal data converter-replacement; EA-6B Prowler's digital display group; E-2C Hawkeye's antenna receiver, transmitter and control display unit; and the S-3B Viking's communication control group and related support equipment. As part of the contract agreement, Northrop Grumman will offer reduced turnaround time for select repairs as needed to meet changing fleet requirements. The company will also provide regular feedback to the customer, including recommendations to increase fleet readiness through reliability enhancements and technical insertions.
Raytheon and IBM Sign Contract to Collaborate on Aerospace and Defense
Raytheon Co. and IBM announced plans to work together to design custom semiconductors and systems for customers in the aerospace and defense industry. The two companies have formed a strategic relationship that brings together Raytheon's expertise in defense electronics technology and aerospace and defense, and IBM's leadership in complementary areas such as cutting-edge chip design, software development, large systems computer architecture and network integration. Raytheon and IBM intend to work together to market the solutions they design.
"This powerful relationship will draw on the two companies' vast engineering and manufacturing experience, worldwide technical leadership and expertise, and an in-depth knowledge of industry needs to deliver innovative, cost-effective mission solutions to our customers," stated Greg Shelton, corporate vice-president of engineering, technology, manufacturing and quality, Raytheon Co. "Aerospace and defense are becoming increasingly reliant on the ability to integrate advanced technology into so-called commercial off-the-shelf products (COTS) and we have a great deal of experience and success in this area. Now, combining many of our skills, our goal will be to deliver designs even quicker, giving our customers a competitive advantage," said Pat Toole, general manager, Engineering and Technology Services, IBM Technology Group.
Both companies believe that working cooperatively on existing and new programs will provide their customers with the best solutions, improve performance and provide a foundation for future business. The contract could be worth up to $100 M to IBM over five years. The two companies are creating a project office to respond to customer needs and oversee potential joint projects and contractual engagements.
Rockwell Collins Awarded $11.3 M to Study Military GPS User Equipment
The US Air Force has awarded Rockwell Collins an $11.3 M contract to study the advancement and risk associated with the technology required for the development of modernized military Global Positioning System user equipment (MUE).
The objective of this contract is to obtain a more complete understanding by the government and industry of the technical and implementation requirements and associated risks regarding MUE. This includes the implementation, certification, integration and operation of the MUE Security Architecture. Further study will be attributed to the ability to design, develop and produce MUE that can effectively detect, acquire, track and process M-code and M-code Navigation Data (MNAV) under nominal and stressed conditions. Finally, the feasibility and advisability of implementing Y-code signal in MUE will be thoroughly studied. As a result of the study contract, the US Air Force will downselect to two companies to compete for the MUE Engineering Development contract in mid-2005.