More US Warships Move to Middle East
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.
The US has positioned about 18 warships including two aircraft carriers in and around the Middle East as it seeks to deter Iran and its proxies from attacks that could evolve into all-out war with Israel, reports Axios. In addition to two carrier strike groups, an Air Force F-22 Raptor squadron is in the region and the USS Georgia — a guided-missile submarine — is lurking nearby.
Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt has extended its Middle East deployment, reports Stars and Stripes. Fellow carrier USS Abraham Lincoln steamed into the region last week, reports Defense News. Concentrating this firepower in the Middle East frustrates the DoD pivot to the Indo-Pacific, according to Axios.
The US military is open to consultations about escorting Philippine ships in the disputed South China Sea, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command said Tuesday amid a spike in hostilities between Beijing and Manila in the disputed waters, reports AP News.
A Philippine offshore vessel was rammed and disabled by Chinese cutters and warships near a contested South China Sea shoal on Sunday, reports USNI.
A Chinese military surveillance PLA Y-9 aircraft “violated” Japanese airspace, prompting Japan to scramble fighters to chase away the spy plane, Japan announced Monday, reports Breaking Defense.
Top lawmakers on the House China select committee have written the Commerce Department and CEO Randall Warnas of newly formed US-based Anzu Robotics which has alleged ties to Chinese drone maker Da Jiang Innovations. Chair John Moolenaar (R-MI) and ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) wrote, “it appears that DJI is using Anzu as a passthrough company in an attempt to avoid current and anticipated US restrictions on DJI products.” The letter said Anzu’s Raptor T model “is essentially” a DJI Mavic 3, raising concerns about identical hardware and firmware that is vulnerable to Chinese supply chains, reports The Hill.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear on the general election ballot in Maryland although he ended his independent run for president and endorsed, and is now advising Donald Trump, the Republican nominee and former president, reports Maryland Matters. Kennedy qualified for inclusion on Maryland’s ballot by obtaining 26,000 signatures of registered Maryland voters by Aug. 5. Only 10,000 such signatures are required.
Trump told the Daily Mail he will decline to receive intelligence briefings during his campaign to avoid being accused of leaking information. The briefings offered to presidential nominees are intended to help them understand and prepare for the national security challenges they could face in office and help candidates ensure that they don’t say anything that undermines US national security, former acting CIA Director Michael Morell explained in a Q&A with the Center for Presidential Transition.
Dozens of President Joe Biden’s nominees for top national security jobs, including many ambassador posts, have sat unfilled as political disputes and crowded congressional calendars delay or entirely halt the confirmation process. Foreign Policy reports that both Democrats and Republicans agree that the backlog poses a national security risk as the United States tries to compete on a global scale with adversaries—including Russia and China. And each side blames the other for the mess.
The US imposed sweeping sanctions Friday on hundreds of firms in Russia and across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, accusing them of providing products and services that enable Russia’s war effort and aiding its ability to evade sanctions, reports Defense News.
New NATO member Sweden is looking to establish itself as a key player in the international space domain by virtue of its northern geostrategic position and by ramping up research and development capabilities. Defense News reports, Sweden’s first-ever defense and security space strategy seeks to make Stockholm a space hub for allies.
Lockheed Martin just graduated the first students from its F-16 training center in Romania, but the company is already looking to expand it and double its production of pilots as the US and its allies struggle to meet demand for training, reports Defense One.
Ukraine’s president credited Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets for shooting down some of the dozens of Russian fired missiles and drones before they reached their targets, reports Defense News.
Ukrainian officials are preparing a list for US national security officials of long-range targets in Russia they think Kyiv’s military can hit if Washington lifts its restrictions on US weapons, reports Politico. Ukraine is using the list as a last-ditch effort to convince Washington to lift the restrictions on US weapons being used inside Russia.
Estonian-made THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles operating in Ukraine will feature Starlink satellite connectivity, enabling their operation from thousands of kilometers away, reports Defense News. A vehicle equipped to that effect, made by United Arab Emirates-owned and Estonia-based Milrem Robotics, will be unveiled at the company’s during Eurosatory 2024 trade show that begins next week.
A US-led drone strike in northwestern Syria killed a Saudi militant from an al-Qaida-linked group, according to the US military and a war monitor. Military Times reports the strike in the Jabal al-Zawiya area of the opposition-held Idlib province was carried out by a US-led coalition established years ago to fight the militant Islamic State group.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a demonstration of new exploding drones designed to crash into targets, reports Defense News. The US and South Korea are having joint military drills. North Korean test photos showed a white drone with X-shaped tails and wings supposedly crashing into and destroying a target resembling South Korea’s main K-2 battle tank. Most combat drones stand off from targets and fire missiles.
A Marine veteran’s self-published book documenting his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the US Capitol led to his arrest Thursday on felony charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers. Marine Corps Times reports Nathan Thornsberry, 42, of North Branch, MI, wrote the book, “January 6: A Patriot’s Story,” and was using Facebook to promote a revision, “January 6th Redux: A Patriot’s Story.” An acquaintance saw Thornsberry’s social media post about the second book and submitted a tip to the FBI, according to court documents.
WalletHub has found Americans are hard workers, putting in an average of 1,799 hours per year, according to the World Economic Forum. That’s 456 hours per year more than Germans but 408 fewer than Mexicans work. In comparing the 50 states, WalletHub finds Maryland is the sixth hardest working state in the nation.
Contracts:
Vane Line Bunkering LLC, Curtis Bay, Maryland (HTC71120CW003), is awarded a contract modification (P00031) with a face value of $27,172,532. Exercise of the option period provides continued transportation of bulk jet fuel and marine diesel by tug and barge for the Defense Logistics Agency-Energy. The location of performance includes ports and points along the US Atlantic coast, as well as inland and coastal waterways from Texas to Maine, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The modification of this firm-fixed-price contract brings the cumulative face value to $137,563,748. The option period of performance is from Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2025. Fiscal 2024 defense working capital funds will be obligated. The US Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity.
DCS Corp., Alexandria, Virginia, is awarded a $16,014,124 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N0001924F0671) against a basic ordering agreement (N0001920G0001). This order includes development, integration, test and evaluation, deployment and delivery, modifications, and operations and sustainment of hardware and software products supporting the PMA-281 domestic Joint Mission Planning System program. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (100%), and is expected to be completed in August 2029. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $606,648 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
TeamGOV Inc., Hyattsville, Maryland, was awarded an $8,907,432 firm-fixed-price contract for preventive maintenance and repair of HVAC equipment. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2029. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9124D-24-D-0012).
Amentum Services, Chantilly, Virginia, has been awarded a $19,325,288 modification (P00020) to a previously awarded contract (FA4890-22-C-0019) to exercise Option Two for the Aerial Targets Program. Work will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida; and Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2025. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was awarded a $13,319,331 ceiling, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm‐fixed-price contract for F-16 sustainment. This contract provides for repair of the commercial fire control computer. Work will be performed in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and is expected to be complete by Aug. 25, 2031. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2024 working capital funds in the amount of $2,848,234 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center Supply Chain Management Division, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8251-24-D-0011).
Metson Marine Services Inc., Ventura, California, is awarded a $7,642,846 modification (P00005) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0042123C0032). This modification exercises options to provide research, development, maintenance, operation, support of facilities and systems, and equipment to meet the engineering development testing and fleet training mission of the Atlantic Targets and Marine Operation Key West detachment of Atlantic Ranges and Targets. Work will be performed in Key West, Florida (90%); Mayport, Florida (5%); Norfolk, Virginia (3%); and Patuxent River, Maryland (2%), and is expected to be completed in August 2028. Fiscal 2024 Navy Working Capital Funds in the amount of $4,669,047 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $1,006,436,959 modification (P00036) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N0001922C0041). This modification extends services to provide continued engineering, maintenance, logistics, manpower, and material support for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) laboratory facilities and F-35 developmental flight test activities. Additionally, this modification adds scope for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) test requirements, parts support for supplemental fleet aircraft, electromagnetic environment evaluation testing, ground support equipment recapitalization, ground support for additional aircraft, shared simulation services, increased pacing of resolving software product anomaly reports, cyber infrastructure engineering, and an increased number of pilot maintenance training lab devices in support of the F-35 JSF program for the Air Force, Navy, FMS, and the F-35 cooperative program partners. Work will be performed Fort Worth, Texas (30%); Palmdale, California (26%); Patuxent River, Maryland (23%); Orlando, Florida (11%); San Diego, California (3%); Linthicum, Maryland (2%); Manchester, New Hampshire (2%); Los Angeles, California (1%); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (1%); and various locations within the continental US (1%) and is expected to be completed in March 2027. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $35,407,127; fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $34,386,333; fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $28,486,158; fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,243,079; fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $14,243,079; fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,411,306; cooperative program partners funds in the amount of $28,002,424; and FMS funds in the amount of $9,307,965, will be obligated at the time of award, $58,383,622 which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $194,261,630 modification (P00046) to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive (firm-target), cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N0001920C0032). This modification increases the contract ceiling to procure supplies in support of the initial depot capability of site activation and material for repairs capabilities at military service depot locations across the U.S. in support of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (32%); Nashua, New Hampshire (18%); Warner Robbins, Georgia (18%); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (10%); Orlando, Florida (9%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); Jacksonville, Florida (3%); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (1%); Cherry Point, North Carolina (1%); Linthicum Heights, Maryland (1%); New Bern, North Carolina (1%); Ogden, Utah (1%); San Diego, California (1%); and Tuscan, Arizona (1%), and is expected to be completed in December 2029. Fiscal 2023 procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $61,299,650; fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $26,896,888; fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $56,640,759; fiscal 2022 procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $26,931,569; and non-US DOD participant funds in the amount of $36,121,208, will be obligated at time of award; $83,392,327 of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
FGS-GRW MP LLC, Fort Walton Beach, Florida (W91278-24-D-0003); Seaside Engineering & Surveying LLC, Baker, Florida (W91278-24-D-0004); Survtech Solutions Inc., Tampa, Florida (W91278-24-D-0005); Whidden Surveying & Mapping Inc., Royal Palm Beach, Florida (W91278-24-D-0006); Dewberry Engineers Inc., Fairfax, Virginia (W91278-24-D-0007); Maptech Inc., Pearl, Mississippi (W91278-24-D-0008); NV5 Geospatial Inc., Saint Petersburg, Florida (W91278-24-D-0009); and Woolpert Inc., Beavercreek, Ohio (W91278-24-D-0010), will compete for each order of the $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 22 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 25, 2029. US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
Norfolk Dredging Co., Chesapeake, Virginia, was awarded a $19,045,750 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Southport and Wilmington, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2025. Fiscal 2024 civil operation and maintenance funds and operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $19,045,750 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-24-C-0009).
Sedna Digital Solutions LLC, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $11,772,339 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-23-C-6132) to exercise an option for Navy engineering design and development. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2026. Fiscal 2024 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,177,670 (78%); and fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) in the amount of $341,547 (22%), 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.
Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $18,394,985 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-19-C-2100) to procure additional support for pre-advanced planning for Nimitz (CVN 68) Class aircraft carrier defueling and inactivation. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2024. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $18,394,985 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Halvik Corp., Vienna, Virginia, was awarded an $87,134,131 firm-fixed-price contract for the configuration design, operation, programmatic support, and maintenance of the Army Training Requirements and Resources System. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 27, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W519TC-24-F-0308).
Grunley Construction Co. Inc., Rockville, Maryland, was awarded a $37,183,892 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a guided missile maintenance facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2027. Fiscal 2024 military construction, Army funds in the amount of $37,183,892 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-24-C-0027).
