Lessons Learned in Red Sea, Ukraine
US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jets arrived in Cyprus ahead of scheduled bilateral training with the Republic of Cyprus National Guard on Sept. 9, 2024. The 24th MEU and Wasp Amphibious Ready Group are on a scheduled deployment to US Naval Forces Europe and Africa area of operations. (US Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Sammet)
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 reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff.
US Navy ADM Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations, said the service is taking lessons from its operations in the Red Sea to help US military leaders prepare for a potential future conflict with China, reports AP News. The Navy is also looking at what Ukraine has done to hold off the Russians in the Black Sea, she said. A series of seven priorities, set to be released this week, range from removing delays in ship depot maintenance to improving Navy infrastructure, recruiting, and the use of drones and autonomous systems.
ADM Franchetti said the new strategy — Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy — is designed to ensure the force is ready to meet the rising challenge from China by 2027, with efforts aimed at increasing recruitment and deploying advanced technology, reports The Hill.
AFSec Frank Kendall, speaking at last week’s 2024 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, told attendees that China is not a future military threat, it is a threat today, reports The Week. Kendall said that China continues to expand its nuclear forces and its ability to operate in cyberspace. He cited an example of China coming up with bigger and highly sophisticated military exercises that are suited for an invasion and blockade of Taiwan. Kendall said there will be more emphasis on electronic warfare in the future, reports C4ISRNET, though he didn’t give any specifics.
The US Army has moved more than 100 soldiers to a desolate island in Alaska, reports Navy Times. This comes amid an increase in Russian military planes and vessels approaching American territory, reports Navy Times. Eight Russian military planes and four navy vessels, including two submarines, have come close to Alaska in the past week during Russian and Chinese joint military drills. The Army sent elements of the 11th Airborne Division, known as the Arctic Angels, to Shemya Island as a show of “ready, lethal force,” reports CNN.
Northrop Grumman said it has demonstrated the MQ-4C Triton navigation system’s ability to operate at high latitudes deep within the Arctic Circle, reports Newsweek. The test came as GEN James Hecker, commander of the US Air Forces in Europe and NATO Allied Air Command, said his command was experimenting with drones to conduct surveillance “farther north in the Arctic Circle” to monitor Russia. Triton’s design makes it the only autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft capable of operating at altitudes above 50,000 feet for durations of more than 24 hours.
The US military has been present in the Middle East throughout much of the past year, reports AP News. That’s about 40,000 forces, at least a dozen warships, and four Air Force fighter jet squadrons spread across the region now. So far, the US hasn’t signaled a troop increase or change as a result of the latest attacks between Israel and Hezbollah. “We’re confident in the ability that we have there right now to protect our forces and should we need to come to the defense of Israel as well,” Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokeswoman, said last week.
The fast-attack submarine USS Indiana‘s crew has been awarded the Navy’s newest medal, which was created to honor missions under Arctic ice, reports Task & Purpose. Sailors on the sub became the service’s first-ever crew to receive the Arctic Service Medal.
The end to the government shutdown drama is in sight, says Axios via MSN. Appropriators in the House and Senate had been expected to hash out the details over the weekend. Both chambers must approve a stopgap appropriations bill by Sept. 30 to avoid a shutdown.
A Federal Trade Commission report says that top social media and video streaming companies are violating users’ privacy and failing to provide safeguards for children and teens, reports The Hill. “A Look Behind the Screens” says that several companies carried out practices in the last four years that “did not consistently” prioritize consumers’ privacy.
US Senate lawmakers approved a $3 billion supplemental funding bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs, reports Federal News Network, preventing a delay in the delivery of some veterans benefits checks next month. VA Secretary Denis McDonough tweeted Thursday that the supplemental funding “will go directly to earned benefits” for about 7 million veterans and their families.
The US Navy has awarded a $587.4 million contract to L3Harris Technologies to develop the Next Generation Jammer Low Band system for select aircraft, reports Military Times. The jammer system will be “increasing the lethality” of fourth and fifth generation platforms and strike weapons, according to Rear Adm. John Lemmon, program executive officer for tactical aircraft programs.
Lockheed Martin said it plans to conduct a vertical launch, live fire demonstration of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile next year, reports Breaking Defense. The company will roll out a plan to evolve the munition into a family of “multi-domain missile systems,” which if hopes to sell to the US and Australia. This will mark the first time JAGM has been fired at sea.
Lockheed Martin officials announced last week that a longer-range variant of the AGM-158 cruise missile, the XR, is in development, reports Defense Daily. The new AGM-158 XR is being developed only through internal research and development funding to make a longer-range version of the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) and the AGM-158 Long Range Anti-Ship Missile.
Nine US companies have been sanctioned by China for selling arms to Taiwan, reports yahoo!Finance. Among them is Sierra Nevada Corp.
Leonardo celebrated the 100th delivery of the TH-73A Thrasher helicopter to the US Navy last week, reports Seapower Magazine. The TH-73A system represents a modernization in Navy helicopter training technology, shifting from analog to digital avionics, and is projected to serve the Navy through 2050 and beyond.
Wisconsin firm Fairbanks Morse Defense will purchase Rolls-Royce’s Naval Propulsors and Handling business for an undisclosed amount of money, reports Breaking Defense. Rolls facilities in Pascagoula, MS, and Walpole, MA, as well as its Canadian location in Peterborough, Ontario, will transfer over to Fairbanks Morse. The acquisition will include a range of propellers and waterjets for naval applications, as well as marine handling systems, which enable the deployment and recovery of manned and unmanned craft, and other cargo, from naval vessels.
US Air Force has named its next two B-21 Raider bases, reports Air Force Times. Locations for the B-21 stealth bomber will be at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.
Testing continues for the B-21 Raider, a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. Take a look at some new flight footage included here.
Jared DeMarinis, the Maryland State Board of Elections administrator, worries that texting scams could have an impact on the election, especially if they mislead voters about whether they’re registered and eligible to vote, reports Capital News Service. Scammers posing as election workers are trying to mislead Maryland voters with fraudulent text messages telling them that they are not registered to vote in November. The texts are providing a false link to fix the situation. The elections board says it is important that anyone who sees any dis/misinformation on social media platforms to report it here.
The US Justice Department is suing the owners of the cargo ship Dali that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, reports Maryland Matters. The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive damages and $100 million for the cost of cleaning up the debris.
Ocean City beaches were back open on Friday for swimmers and surfers, WBAL TV reports. The water had been closed since earlier last week after medical waste had washed ashore.
Contracts:
J.F. Taylor Inc., Great Mills, Maryland, is awarded a $98,000,000 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide training systems and upgrade existing training device capabilities as well as associated system support including interim contractor support, provisioning item orders, technical data, and on-site training for the Navy Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) in support of MH-60R/S pilots, aircrew, instructors, and maintainers. Work will be performed in Great Mills, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in September 2029. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside; three offers were received. NAWCTSD, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61340240012).
Applied Technical Systems Inc., Silverdale, Washington (N61331-24-D-0011); Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (N61331-24-D-0012); EPS Corp., Tinton Falls, New Jersey (N61331-24-D-0013); Naval Systems Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N61331-24-D-0014); and Noble Supply & Logistics LLC, Boston, Massachusetts (N61331-24-D-0015), are awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award supply contract for the provision of hardware, materials, and supplies to support programs supported by Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and four option years, for all five contracts cumulatively is $48,000,000 and the companies will compete for individual delivery orders. Work will be conducted in various Navy ship homeports and is expected to complete in September 2025. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2029. At the time of award, Atlantic Diving Supply Inc. is awarded a delivery order for $299,014, a delivery order for $585,670, and a delivery order for $79,277; Applied Technical Systems Inc. is awarded $10,000; EPS Corp. is awarded $10,000; Naval Systems Inc. is awarded $10,000; and Noble Supply & Logistics is awarded $10,000. Fiscal 2024 navy working capital funds in the amount of $768,044; and fiscal 2024 other procurement, Navy funds in the amount of $299,014, will be obligated at the time of award. All other funding will be made available at the delivery order level as contracting actions occur. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with ten offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Florida, is the contracting activity.
The Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, California, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $41,232,113 modification (P00035) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPRPA1-24-D-9001) with four one-year option periods for V-22 platform engineering and logistics sustainment support. This is a firm-fixed price requirements contract. The ordering period end date is Nov. 30, 2025. Using military services are Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2024 through 2025 Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy operations and maintenance funds; and Foreign Military Sales funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. is awarded an $87,621,018 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the production and delivery of 1592 radio frequency countermeasures and repair of muti-function test stations in support of the Navy and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire (40%); Elkton, Maryland (16%); Chatsworth, California (7%); Rosamond, California (4%); Dover, New Hampshire (4%); Rochester, New York (4%); Topsfield, Massachusetts (3%); Poughkeepsie, New York (1%); and various locations within the continental US (21%), and is expected to be completed in March 2027. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $24,024,657; fiscal 2024 procurement and ammunition (Navy) funds in the amount of $21,100,961; and FMS funds in the amount of $42,495,400, will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 US Code 2304(c)(1). Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001924C0003).
BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $21,030,021 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00008) to a previously awarded and announced contract (N00030-24-C-6007) to provide logistics engineering and integration support services for the Trident II Strategic Weapon System and the Submarine Submersible Guided Missile Attack Weapon System. Tasks to be performed include software engineering, maintenance and modernization, data management and integration, and technical support. This contract modification also benefits a Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (29.2%); Kings Bay, Georgia (21.1%); Saint Marys, Georgia (19.6%); Rockville, Maryland (14.7%); York, Pennsylvania (3.6%); Frederick, Maryland (2.0%); Fort Benning, Georgia (1.8%); Silverdale, Washington (1.8%); Spring Lake, North Carolina (1.7%); and various other locations (less than 1% each, 4.5% total). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,349,559; and fiscal 2024 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $200,000, will be obligated upon award. Remaining amounts will be subject to the availability of funds. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole source acquisition in accordance with 10 US Code 3204(a)(1). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.
Systems Planning and Analysis Inc., Alexandria, Virginia, is awarded a $14,454,981 modification P00006, to a previously awarded and announced contract (N00030-24-C-6032), to exercise and optional line item for support services of the Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Strategic Weapons System. Tasks to be performed include technical services, program support services, facilities management, assessments, and activation support services. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia (86%); and Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) Headquarters, Washington Navy Yard, Washington DC, (14%). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2025. While this action will increase the contract value, no funding will be obligated at this time. The action is being awarded subject to the availability of funds and no funds will expire at the end of this fiscal year. This contract was originally awarded as a sole source acquisition with the authority of 10 US Code 3204(a)(1). SSP, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $9,982,161 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-20-C-6117) to exercise options for the Navy’s procurement of long lead material. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (65%); Clearwater, Florida (32%); Syracuse, New York (2%); and Marion, Florida (1%), and is expected to be completed by October 2027. Fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,982,161 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, DC, is the contracting activity.
Hawkeye 360 Inc., Herndon, Virginia, is awarded a firm-fixed-price contract modification in the amount of $8,995,000 to exercise an option of a previously awarded contract (N66001-22-C-0065) for commercial radio frequency data and analytics subscription products, analytical support, and training for identified end users in Southeast Asia. Work will be performed in Herndon, Virginia (91%); and outside the continental US (9%). Work is expected to be completed in September 2025. Funding from Foreign Military Sales (Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam) in the amount of $8,995,000 will be obligated at the time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded as a sole-source acquisition under the statutory authority of 10 US Code 3204(a)(1), as prescribed by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.
American Water Operations & Maintenance LLC, Camden, New Jersey, has been awarded an estimated $44,283,888 modification (P00206) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-09-C-8256) with no option periods incorporating the fifth price-redetermination price adjustment for privatized water and wastewater utility services at Fort Meade, Maryland. The performance completion date is July 31, 2060. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2010 through 2060 Army operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Two Six Labs LLC, doing business as Two Six Technologies, Arlington, Virginia, has been awarded a $9,962,647 modification (P00016) to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HR001121C0106 for additional in-scope work performed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) research project. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $21,355,718 from $11,393,071. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of September 2025. Fiscal 2023 research and development funds in the amount of $3,500,000; and fiscal 2024 research and development funds in the amount of $1,333,091, are being obligated at the time of award. DARPA, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
Fairbanks Morse LLC, Chesapeake, Virginia, is awarded $14,800,028 for a firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of turbochargers in support of the LPD-class main propulsion diesel engine. This contract has no options. All work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2026. Working capital (Navy) funds in the full amount of $14,800,028 will be obligated at time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 US Code3204 (a)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00104-24-C-YA00).
Textron Systems Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, is awarded a $7,876,331 firm-fixed-price order (N0001924F5000) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0008). This order provides unmanned aircraft systems intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services, in support of the Department of Defense, other government agencies, and domestic and overseas contingency operations for the Navy. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland (20%); and various locations outside the continental US (80%) and is expected to be completed in September 2029. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance, (Navy) funds for $7,876,331 will be obligated at the time of award, $7,876,331 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Caddell Construction Co. LLC, Montgomery, Alabama (W91278-24-D-0071); RQ Construction LLC, Carlsbad, California (W91278-24-D-0072); Korte Construction Co. doing business as The Korte Co., St. Louis, Missouri (W91278-24-D-0073); Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Orlando, Florida (W91278-24-D-0074); BL Harbert International LLC, Birmingham, Alabama (W91278-24-D-0075); and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Maryland (W91278-24-D-0076), will compete for each order of the $245,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for general repair and construction projects. Bids were solicited via the internet with 19 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 19, 2029. US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
American International Contractors (Special Projects) Inc., McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $77,482,986 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a fleet maintenance facility and tactical operations center. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed at Shaikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain, with an estimated completion date of July 11, 2026. Fiscal 2021 and 2025 military construction, Army funds and fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $77,482,986 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Middle East District, is the contracting activity (W912ER-24-C-0008).
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC, Laurel, Maryland, was awarded a $14,442,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for operational analysis of architectures and operational scenarios, technology concept exploration, and analysis and performance assessments in multiple warfare domain areas. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 19, 2026. 409th Contracting Support Brigade, Stuttgart, Germany, is the contracting activity (W91WFU-24-D-0001).
IDS International LLC, Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $13,341,605 firm-fixed-price contract to provide temporary construction security infrastructure, equipment and services. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed at Shaikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain, with an estimated completion date of July 22, 2027. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $13,341,605 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Middle East District, is the contracting activity (W912ER-24-C-0011).
LinQuest Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $36,850,227 firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursement contract for digital material management and multi-criteria decision-making services. This contract provides for services to leverage trade space exploration and multi-attribute trade space exploration methodologies and tools. Work will be performed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and contractor facilities, and is expected to be completed by May 20, 2029. This contract was a sole source acquisition under the Small Business Innovative Research Phase III program. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,155,999; fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $464,281; and fiscal 2024 ammunition procurement funds in the amount of $450,000, are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (FA9422-24-C-0005).
