March 27, 2024

China’s Territory Expansion Efforts Draw US Ire

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.Morning Coffee logo

Incoming US Pacific Command head Adm. Harry Harris, in a  TIME Magazine interview, calls “preposterous” an array of China’s claims in the South China Sea, including the “2,000 acres of these man-made islands,” reports Navy Times. Expansion into the South China Sea via artificially created islands may not be recognized by the US as Chinese territory, DefSec Ash Carter suggests to Military Times. The Wall Street Journal reports US surveillance shows weapons on the islands China is building on reefs (paywall).

C4ISR & Networks reports, an Anti-UAV Defense System  developed by three British firms can “detect, track, classify, disrupt and neutralize UAVs at ranges of up to 8 kilometers,” according to a Blighter news release. C4ISR & Networks cites an Agence France-Presse report describing a silent, difficult to locate, palm-sized, motorless UAV able to travel at nearly 50 miles per hour, designed to be released in swarms.

Defense One reports on a tiny, 18-gram, “bug drone” from Norway for Army Special Forces to launch from a utility belt that also stories its data.

Marines praise the F-35 after their first operational tests, but eye adjustments in the Block 4 version sought by international customers, reports Aviation Week. Marines received the first JSF fighter jets this month after the airplane has been 14 years in development.

The Air Force again fails to mothball its A-10s, unable to convince lawmakers who find no suitable replacement for the ‘Wharthogs’ flying missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, reports The Hill.

The Hill reports on the Pentagon’s order for a full review after its assessment of live anthrax samples sent around the world. “As of now, 24 laboratories in 11 states and two foreign countries are believed to have received suspect samples,” reads a Pentagon statement.

said. Former DefSec Chuck Hagel’s May 1 deadline for acquisition details of the new Littoral Combat Ship are a month behind, reports Defense News.

New Jersey lawmakers wrote DefSec Carter seeking reconsideration of DoD’s plan to close Vets4Warriors, operated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, and offering peer-to-peer support for veterans, service members and families since December 2011, reports Military Times.

As the Navy prepares to open a 24/7 gym on every base by the end of 2016, it will also adopt the Marine’s warmup suit (but in blue and gold) and issue the suit in sailors’ sea bags, reports Military Times.

NASA’s first mission to the interior of Mars is assembled and undergoing testing, reports The Denver Post.

Engility Corp., Chantilly, Virginia, is being awarded a $23,939,937 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-14-C-0021) for additional systems engineering and technical services. This modification includes systems integration and software development, platform simulation, integration and laboratory engineering, and software engineering. These services are in support of the Navy and governments of Thailand, Taiwan, Norway, Australia, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, and South Korea. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (84 percent); China Lake, California (5 percent); Point Mugu, California (5 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (2.5 percent); Orlando, Florida ( 2.5 percent); various locations within the continental U.S. (0.5 percent), and various locations outside the continental U.S. (0.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2016. Fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy), fiscal 2015 aircraft procurement (Navy), fiscal 2015 working capital (Navy), and fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds, as well as Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $9,404,152 are being obligated on this award, $1,217,466 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($23,124,684; 96.5 percent); and the governments of Taiwan ($359,099; 1.5 percent); Thailand ($239,399; 1 percent); Norway ($108,378, 0.46 percent); Australia ($15,483, 0.06 percent); United Kingdom ($30,965, 0.14 percent); Brazil ($8,847, 0.05 percent); Canada ($8,847, 0.05 percent); Denmark ($8,847, 0.05 percent); Germany ($8,847, 0.05 percent); Japan ($8,847, 0.05 percent); Pakistan ($8,847, 0.05 percent); and South Korea ($8,847, 0.05 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
 
Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Virginia, is being awarded an $8,390,906 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-15-C-5103) to exercise options for engineering support services in support of the program executive office for integrated warfare systems for AEGIS and AEGIS fleet readiness, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Future Combat Systems, and DDG 1000. This modification combines an effort between the Navy (80 percent) and the countries of Japan (8 percent); Australia (5 percent); Korea (3 percent); Spain (2 percent); Mexico (1 percent); and Norway (1 percent), under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia (85 percent); Dahlgren, Virginia (4 percent); Norfolk, Virginia (2 percent); Bath, Maine (1 percent); Mayport, Florida (1 percent); Moyock, North Carolina (1 percent); Moorestown, New Jersey (1 percent); New York, New York (1 percent); Honolulu, Hawaii (1 percent); Reno, Nevada (1 percent); San Diego, California (1 percent); and Yokosuka, Japan (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by August 2015. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2015 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2014 and 2015 research and development; fiscal 2015 other procurement (Navy); and FMS funding in the amount of $7,392,173 will be obligated at time of award, and contract funds in the amount of $5,250,541 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
 
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Liverpool, New York, is being awarded a $27,283,219 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-6292) to exercise options for the production of seven TB-37 multi-function towed array (MFTA) production units, tow cables, electro-optical slip rings, drogues and shipping products, and the performance of engineering services. The TB-37 MFTA is the next generation passive and active sonar receiver. It affords several enhancements to the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array System allowing greater coverage, increased capability and reliability, and reduced obsolescence. The TB-37 MFTA significantly contributes to the capability of surface ships to detect, localize and prosecute undersea threats, and is a critical sensor to a combat systems suite. This contract combines an effort for the U.S. (86 percent) and Japan (14 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York (66 percent); Millersville, Maryland (33 percent); and Marion, Massachusetts (1 percent), and is expected to complete by February 2017. Fiscal 2015 other procurement (Navy), foreign military sales and fiscal 2015 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $24,161,366 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. 

 

 

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