Lockheed Martin wins Paveway II dual-mode laser-guided bomb contract
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Archbald, Pa., will build the Paveway II Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb (DMLGB), the next-generation precision-guided weapon system for the U.S. Navy. The contract calls for a 2006 procurement worth $65 million and a five-year procurement with a potential value of $266 million. The program will upgrade the Navy’s inventory of aging Paveway II kits by replacing an existing computer control group (CCG) system with an inertial navigation system/global-positioning system (INS/GPS), an all-weather guidance system that provides dual-mode guidance capability. “The DMLGB weapon provides increased flexibility to warfighters by combining the proven technology of laser terminal guidance with all-weather fire-and-forget capabilities,” says U.S. Navy Capt. Dave Dunaway, program manager, PMA-201. The DMLGB minimizes collateral damage and improves mission effectiveness by providing precision strike capabilities in all weather at extended standoff ranges. The DMLGB is a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based retrofit solution to the Navy’s current Paveway II LGB inventory, easily converting the legacy LGBs to the dual-mode configuration using common components.
DTRA awards Northrop Grumman scientific and technical advisory services contract
Northrop Grumman Information Technology in McLean, Va., will provide a range of scientific and technical advisory and assistance services to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) that will support DTRA’s mission to reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract is potentially worth $375 million over four years to Northrop Grumman’s Information Technology (IT) sector. As part of the contract, Northrop Grumman IT will provide advisory and assistance services to DTRA and its supported mission areas in support of research, planning, designing, developing, implementing, integrating, testing, applying and evaluating emerging and mature technologies to reduce the threat from WMD as well as moving capabilities over to DTRA customers. Supported mission areas include combat support, technology development, threat control, cooperative threat reduction, chemical and biological defense, business and support functions and advanced systems and concepts.
Raytheon to provide guidance systems for 5,000-pound smart bombs
Engineers at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz., are set to build 140 Guided Bomb Unit-28C/B guidance control units and tail kits under terms of an $18.5 million contract modification awarded in October. The Guided Bomb Unit-28C/B, or Enhanced Paveway IU, provides the Air Force with an improved aerial delivery capability for the 5000-Pound class BLU-122 warhead. The guidance system has global positioning system-aided laser guidance that is compatible with F-15E and B-2A aircraft jet bombers. The GBU-28C/B, with BLU-122 warhead, will improve the lethality, survivability, and penetration over the previously produced GBU-28B/B weapon system, U.S. Air Force officials say. Work will be finished in May 2007. Awarding the contract are officials of the Air Force Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
BAE Systems receives U.S. Army contract to overhaul recovery vehicles
Officials at the U.S. Army’s Anniston Depot in Anniston, Ala., have selected BAE Systems to purchase long-lead material and begin disassembly of 126 M88A1 Recovery Vehicles. In April 2005, BAE Systems won the competitive award for the Combat Vehicle Sustainment Support (CVSS) of the M88A1 Recovery Vehicle, as well as the M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer, the M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle, and the M9 Armored Combat Vehicle M9ACE. The M88A1 is a tracked armored vehicle for battlefield rescue and recovery missions; it can fulfill this mission on all types of terrain and during all weather conditions. Work will be performed at the company’s facility in Anniston, Ala.
U.S. Air Force selects Inmedius publishing suite
The Development and Fielding Systems Group (DFSG/SBP) of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio, has selected Inmedius in Pittsburgh to provide a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) lifecycle software package. The Air Force acquired multiple user licenses of Inmedius S1000DauthorPro, S1000Dmanager, and S1000Dinteract publishing software to establish a S1000D analysis and test environment. ASD S1000D is an international commercial specification for the procurement and production of technical publications. The Aerospace and Defense Industries Association of Europe (ASD) and the Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA) produced the most current release, Issue 2. Inmedius is a member of the S1000D Electronic Publications Working Group. “ASD S1000D holds tremendous promise for the future of aerospace technical documentation development; eliminating constraints of the print medium,” says Gary Schaffer, president, Inmedius. “The core S1000D principle of information chunking (data modules), produces information structured in ways that make it deliverable in a wide variety of electronic formats, as well as print.” For more see www.inmedius.com.
ITT Industries awarded Navy Missile Payload Systems contract
ITT Industries in White Plains, N.Y., will provide the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) with engineering, programmatic, and operational support services. Under terms of the contract ITT will supply weapon-system development, scientific analysis and operation, and maintenance of the nation’s submarine-launched, ballistic-missile systems and payloads. ITT will apply its expertise in missile safety, training, inspections and systems analysis to support the Navy’s transition and upgrade of strategic deterrent and missile systems. As part of this initiative, ITT will assist in and provide independent assessment of the process, design, testing and laboratory development of new missile solutions, as well as determine the vulnerabilities of individual payloads. In addition, ITT will be responsible for evaluating nuclear surety, radiological health and radiation control, technology, and application programs. For more information visit www.itt.com.
