US Expands Military Presence in Middle East
The Pentagon is ordering the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, pictured here in 2019, to the Middle East. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian M. Wilbur/Released)
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The US will expand its military presence in the Middle East amid growing tensions in the region, reports Navy Times. The Pentagon is ordering the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to replace the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group. In a D0D statement, DefSec Lloyd Austin also ordered additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the European and Middle East regions and is taking steps to send more land-based ballistic missile defense weapons there.
The defense bill that cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) last week boosted funding by $21 billion beyond the $833 billion budget that was passed by House appropriators in June, reports Breaking Defense. The bill now moves to the Senate floor, though it — along with the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act — won’t be taken up until after the August recess. The SAC was the last of the four defense committees to present its version of the Pentagon’s fiscal 2025 budget.
Funding for a proposed 5.5% pay raise next year for junior enlisted troops was included in the SAC version of the FY25 budget, reports Military.com. Funding would cover a 5.5% pay bump for E-1s through E-3s and a 4.5% raise for all other troops next year.
The Maryland Department of Commerce announced its ExportMD grant recipients. Over the past year, more than 100 small and mid-sized companies were awarded the grants to help promote their products and services in the global marketplace. The grants – awarded from July 2023 through July 2024 – helped businesses finance the costs of marketing internationally including trade show fees and travel expenses. St. Mary’s County-based company ABSI Aerospace & Defense attended the Singapore Air Show as part of the state’s delegation. Also among the recipients were local companies AIRtec, Parraid, and CHUTES International. Applications for the ExportMD program are accepted monthly. Eligibility requirements can be found here.
Lockheed Martin’s European F-16 Training Center at 76th Air Base near Fetești in Romania graduated its first class of mission-ready F-16 pilots, reports The National Interest. The center, supported by the Netherlands, trained seven Romanian pilots in advanced flight operations and tactics. US Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec praised the pilots and highlighted future plans to extend training to other regional allies, including Ukraine.
Northrop Grumman’s first MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft has arrived at RAAF Base Tindal in Australia, reports Airforce Technology. The arrival of the high-altitude, long-endurance Triton enables Australia to deploy the most advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capability available. The first MQ-4C Triton arrived at Tindal on June 16 following a three-segment flight from NAS Pax River.
The MQ-4C Triton will complement the Australian Defence Force’s crewed P-8A Poseidon fleet as a “family of systems” to undertake enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of defense operations, reports Australian Aviation.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force has launched a global MQ-9B drone users’ club open to NATO and non-NATO members operating or interested in acquiring MQ-9B drones, reports C4ISRNET. The program began with six nations and now has 10.
The US Air Force has chosen five companies to build the autonomy system for its uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet, reports Air Force Times. The service has not identified the companies due to security concerns.
Apple has joined 15 other major tech companies, including Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI, in committing to responsible AI development and rollout, reports Politico. In joining the artificial intelligence guidelines, the company has now agreed to a wide set of White House provisions that encourage developers to follow safety protocols, test their models for biases and security risks, and let the government view the results of those tests.
The US Navy has lifted its operational pause on the T-45C Goshawk jet trainer fleet, reports Military Times. The entire fleet had been grounded on July 10 following an engine malfunction. The grounding marked at least the second such pause the fleet has implemented this year.
The US Space Force is upping it reenlistment bonus for select guardians positions up to $180,000, reports Air Force Times. The service recently released its fiscal 2024 selective retention bonus list, which specifies which types of guardians qualify for a bonus that maxes out at $180,000 for certain positions.
The US Army’s $11 million deal with the United Football League and its owner Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hasn’t had the results the service had hoped for, reports Washington Examiner on MSN. The sponsorship deal failed to not only bring in any new recruits but actually lead to the loss of 38 enlistments, according to the Army.
COL Kris Saling, director of innovation for Army Recruitment Command, said the service has started reconsidering its recruitment strategies, reports Federal News Network. The plan of action hinges on attracting new talent, providing a personalized experience, simplifying the soldier’s journey, and creating a positive space for the soldier’s support system.
The US Navy will clear records for sailors who refused the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious objections, reports Navy Times. A nearly 3-year-old lawsuit was finalized last month, according to First Liberty Institute, a religious liberty legal organization that first sued in November 2021 on behalf of dozens of Navy SEALs and special forces members who refused the vaccine.
US Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan was among two dozen people freed in the US-Russia prisoner swap Friday, reports Army Times. The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history, with Moscow also releasing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, along with dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza.
The US, Western allies, and Russia exchanged 24 prisoners in the largest exchange of detainees since the Cold War, reports The Hill. The swap that took place in Turkey freed three high-profile Americans who had been detained for months or even years. Here’s who was released in the swap.
The US military will depart from a second and final base in Niger this week, all but ending a monthslong withdrawal from what was once a vital partner in the fight against terrorism, reports Defense News.
US Army SGT Sagen Maddalena won a silver medal in the women’s 50-meter rifle three positions shooting at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris last week, reports ABC10 Sacramento. The California native secured the first US shooting medal on the seventh day of competition. Maddalena is with the US Army Marksmanship Unit. She enlisted in 2019. This was not the first Olympics for Maddalena. She competed in the three-positions rifle, or smallbore, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics placing fifth, according to the Defense Department.
Contracts:
RCT Systems Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, was awarded an $11,478,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-21-C-4109 for research and development activities associated with advancement and improvement in current and future shipboard electric power and energy systems. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland (68%); Fayetteville, Arkansas (19%); Tuscaloosa, Alabama (10%); and Tallahassee, Florida (3%), and is expected to be completed by July 2026. Fiscal 2024 research, development test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,328,000 (99%); and fiscal 2023 research, development test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $150,000 (1%), will be obligated at time of award. Funds in the amount of $150,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. (Awarded July 31, 2024)
Abacus Technology Corp., Chevy Chase, Maryland, has been awarded a $123,736,733 contract for providing advisory and assistance services (A&AS) to Nuclear, Command, Control, and Communication (NC3) Directorate. This contract provides technical A&AS to support or improve organizational policy development; decision-making; management and administration; program and/or project management and administration. Support may also include the furnishing of professional advice or assistance rendered to improve the effectiveness of government management processes or procedures (including those of an engineering and technical nature). This award is the result of a competitive acquisition. One solicitation was mailed and resulted in receiving two offerors. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Air Force); operations and maintenance (Space Force); procurement (Space Force); research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force); and other procurement (Air Force) funds, in the amount of $8,157,488, with $8,157,488 being obligated at time of award. The period of performance and/or delivery schedule for the basic effort is Aug. 17, 2024, to Aug. 16, 2025, with four 12-month option years. Work will be performed at Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts; Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico; Eglin AFB, Florida; Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado; Offutt AFB, Nebraska; and the Pentagon, Washington, DC. This award is the result of a competitive action released under Federal Acquisition Regulation 16.5. NC3 Branch, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA2041-24-F-B005).
Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $159,900,991 firm-fixed-price contract for MK 15 Close-In Weapon System upgrades and conversions, system overhauls, MK 15 Mod 31 SeaRAM upgrade kits and conversions and associated hardware. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky (27%); El Segundo, California (15%); Tucson, Arizona (14%); Williston, Vermont (6%); Tempe, Arizona (4%); Ottobrunn, Germany (3%); Mason, Ohio (3%); Andover, Massachusetts (2%); Joplin, Missouri (1%); Hauppauge, New York (1%); Miami, Florida (1%); Pomona, California (1%); Orchard Park, New York (1%); Radford, Virginia (1%); and various other locations each with less than 1% (20%), and is expected to be completed by October 2027. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $60,894,492 (41%); fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $59,997,163 (40%); fiscal 2024 capital working funds Naval Supply Systems spares (Navy) in the amount of $12,997,835 (9%); fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $6,582,846 (4%); fiscal 2023 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,588,145 (3%); fiscal 2022 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,461,511 (2%); and fiscal 2024 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,048,997 (1%), will be obligated at time of award, of which $83,936,684 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 US Code 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, DC, is the contracting activity (N00024-24-C-5406). (Awarded July 30, 2024)
FFI Aerospace and Defense, doing business as Flight Fab, Westminster, Maryland, was awarded a $20,547,756 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of pulper and shredder waste processing equipment for use on navy ships. Work will be performed at the contractor’s facility in Westminster, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by May 2029. Fiscal 2024 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $60,014 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the SAM.gov website, with’ two offers received. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-24-D-4007). (Awarded May 23, 2024)
Accenture Federal Services LLC, Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $37,994,500 modification (P00045) to contract W52P1J-21-C-0025 for the Enterprise Task Management Software Solution. Work will be performed in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 14, 2025. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $37,994,500 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity.
The Entwistle Co., Hudson, Massachusetts, is being awarded $9,094,593 contract for the repair of trough covers used in the aircraft launch and recovery equipment. This contract will have no option periods, and work will be completed by August 2025. All work will be performed in Danville, Virginia. No funding will be obligated at the time of award. Working capital funds (Navy) will be used at time of delivery, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One firm was solicited for this non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 US Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-24-C-C236).
AECOM Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California (W912DQ-24-D-3010); ARCADIS U.S. Inc., Highlands Ranch, Colorado (W912DQ-24-D-3011); CDM Federal Programs Corporation, Kansas City, Missouri (W912DQ-24-D-3012); HDR-OBG a JV, Kansas City, Missouri (W912DQ-24-D-3013); Jacobs Government Services Co., Arlington, Virginia (W912DQ-24-D-3014); Parsons Government Services Inc., Centreville, Virginia (W912DQ-24-D-3015); Tetra Tech Inc., Kansas City, Missouri (W912DQ-24-D-3016); and WSP USA Solutions Inc., Washington DC (W912DQ-24-D-3017), will compete for each order of the $225,000,000 order-dependent contract for environmental architect-engineer support. Bids were solicited via the internet with eleven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2029. US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity.
Qinetiq Inc., Lorton, Virginia, was awarded a $49,457,500 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for to modify, enhance, operate, maintain, and deploy a Data Collection Sensor System on vehicles/platforms. 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 July 31, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QX-24-D-0019).
AECOM Technical Services Inc., Arlington, Virginia (W921DY-24-D-0048); Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp., Overland Park, Kansas (W912DY-24-D-0049); Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co. Inc., Kansas City, Missouri (W912DY-24-D-0050); Dynotec-KZF JV LLC, Columbus, Ohio (W912DY-24-D-0051); The Mason & Hanger Group Inc., Lexington, Kentucky (W912DY-24-D-0052); Michael Baker – Stanley JV, Moon Township, Pennsylvania (W912DY-24-D-0053); and Rogers, Lovelock & Fritz Inc., Orlando, Florida (W912DY-24-D-0054), will compete for each order of the $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineering support. Bids were solicited via the internet with 30 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2029. US Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
cBEYONData, Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $29,084,525 time-and-materials Blanket Purchase Agreement for functional operations support. 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 Aug. 4, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-24-A-0001).
