Broitman Resigns Key DoD Contracting Post
Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Leader’s owners or staff.
DoD industrial policy chief Elana Broitman announced that she will step down next month after only five months on the job, Defense News reports. Ms. Broitman served as the principal contact between the Pentagon and defense industry leaders and resigned to spend more time with her family. The Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy department is considered critical to the defense industry as Pentagon spending tapers off and fewer major defense contracts are solicited. A replacement for the position has not been named.
Lockheed Martin took delivery of 160 F-35 Gen III Helmet Mounted Display Systems, reports The Daily Caller. The helmet system combines infrared, night-vision, augmented and virtual reality to let pilots see more than ever before, including through the plane itself, and is the most advanced and expensive ever built at $600,000 apiece.
Defense News presents an interview with Bennett Croswell, Pratt & Whitney military engine division executive, before details of the fleet grounding F-35A engine fire were made public. Asked about the fire days later, Mr. Croswell said he remains confident in the F135 engine design and was not concerned about the potential for Congress to restart an engine competition.
The DoD’s Tuition Assistance (TA) program may now require troops to pay back their TA money if they perform poorly in class, according to the Military Times. Undergraduate service members will have to achieve a grade of C or higher and graduate-level students must receive a grade of B or higher, or they may have to pay out-of-pocket cash retroactively for the class’s costs, according to a recent internal policy change. The TA program also will no longer cover laboratory fees or other fees that come on top of tuition.
Russia celebrated their Navy Day by starting construction of its three newest submarines, marking another landmark in the country’s $700 billion effort to re-establish its place as a modern naval power, reports The Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of the navy to Russia’s security and identity and said, “The navy, for our country, is her pride, strength and dignity.”
The global smart weapons market, valued at $3.6 billion in 2013, is expected to reach $5.3 billion by 2018, according to Defense News. The US represents a third of the global market for smart weapons, which include anti-armor weapons, guided munitions, guided projectiles, guided rockets and stand-off missiles. The Middle East is the second-largest market and expected to increase from $350.9 million in 2013 to $712.1 million in 2018.
The Air Force has selected 10 companies for the NETCENTS-2 Application Services contract, according to Federal Times. The chosen vendors for the 10-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract include Lockheed Martin, L-3 Communications, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics. NETCENTS-2 is the contract vehicle for all Air Force netcentric and IT products.
