WASHINGTON
Raytheon contracted for JPALS demo
WASHINGTON | The Navy has contracted Raytheon to demonstrate a new all-weather aircraft carrier landing technology currently under development.
The U.S. company was awarded a $232.8 million deal to move its Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) to a demonstration phase.
The global-positioning-system-based JPALS technology is designed to help Navy pilots land their aircraft on aircraft carriers with accuracy regardless of poor weather conditions.
“When our service members are conducting missions in hostile environments or inclement weather, we want them to have confidence that their aircraft will land exactly where they should each and every time,” said Andy Zogg, Raytheon airspace management and homeland security vice president.
MINNESOTA
ATK to develop next-gen artillery
MINNEAPOLIS | The Army has contracted Alliant Techsystems to develop a next-generation, precision-guided, extended-range 155-millimeter artillery projectile.
Under a $10.4 million contract, Minneapolis-based ATK will develop a new Excalibur artillery projectile system for Army operations at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey.
The phase-one deal is for ATK to develop a longer-range version of the Excalibur Ia at a lower cost. The next-generation Excalibur Ib is also part of an effort to transition the Army to an all-precision artillery inventory.
Officials say when the Excalibur Ib is ready for production, the contract could be worth more than $350 million.
“ATK is committed to providing affordable precision solutions to our soldiers in the field,” said Jack Cronin, ATK mission systems group president.
“When you combine the savings of our Excalibur Ib with ATK’s Precision Guidance Kit solutions for 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, we believe that ATK can enable the U.S. Army to move to an all-precision inventory of artillery ammunition,” he said.
DynCorp contracted for demining
FALLS CHURCH | DynCorp International has been contracted by the State Department to assemble a team of mine-removal experts to deploy around the world.
The contract, from the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, will be worth $12 million over five years if all the options are exercised. Under the deal, the U.S. private military contractor DynCorp will establish a Quick Reaction Force with technical experts ready for explosive-threats-removal deployments worldwide.
“Once notified by the U.S. government, an assessment team will deploy in 72 hours or less and can be followed within 14 days of request by a team of technical experts to carry out threat mitigation and abatement activities,” the release said.
The State Department also awarded DynCorp an $800,000 contract to support Yemen, Estonia and Vietnam with weapons removal and abatement
VIRGINIA
Army contracts night-vision tech
ROANOKE | The Army has contracted ITT Corp. for the company’s night-vision monocular technologies in support of military training and combat operations.
Virginia-based ITT was awarded $153 million from the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center. The deal, part of the Omnibus VII contracting vehicle, is for ITT’s AN/PVS-14 night-vision monoculars.
ITT’s AN/PVS-14 system is a hand-held, head- or weapon-mounted technology giving soldiers the ability to see during difficult lighting situations in combat zones.
“The Omnibus VII contract has been a pivotal tool for the Army to equip every serving unit with crucial night-vision technology in support of night and low-light missions,” said Mike Hayman, ITT Night Vision president and general manager.
“We are pleased to receive this latest order and are proud to support our nation’s protectors.”
VIRGINIA
SAIC to support Air Force research
MCLEAN | The Air Force has contracted Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) for microwave components and other technologies in support of high-energy research.
SAIC received a $49 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate, High Power Microwave Division. As part of the deal, SAIC will support the Air Force’s pulsed-power research in an effort to further develop high-energy applications.
Officials say SAIC will provide microwave components, including portable and pulsed power, along with antennas and other technologies to advance the research being conducted primarily at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.
“We are committed to exploring novel applications of pulsed-power technology to transition high-energy concepts from the laboratory to the war fighter to help defend America,” said John Fratamico, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager.
NEW JERSEY
Mikros to support radar maintenance
PRINCETON | The U.S. Navy has contracted Mikros Systems Corp. for the company’s automated maintenance technology to support the AN/SPY-1 radar system.
New Jersey-based Mikros was awarded the contract from the Naval Surface Weapons Center, Port Hueneme Division. Under the $800,000 deal, Mikros will supply eight of its Adept automated maintenance tools, used by the Navy to align Aegis cruiser and destroyer AN/SPY-1 radar systems.
Officials say Mikros’ Adept maintenance tool reduces the amount of time the AN/SPY-1 radar system requires to align and enhances a maintenance crew’s precision.
“This award is a direct result of the continued effort by our employees to prepare Adept for widespread fleet insertion,” Mikros President Thomas Meaney said.
“It also signals the Navy’s continued confidence in Adept’s ability to improve readiness and enhance radar performance,” he said.
MASSACHUSETTS
Perini contracted for new work in Iraq
FRAMINGHAM | The Army Corps of Engineers has contracted Perini Corp. for additional construction projects in support of operations in Iraq.
Massachusetts-based Perini was awarded new task orders for overhead coverage systems that offer protections from explosive threats for U.S. military and government personnel in Iraq. The $98.6 million award follows several previous contracts that now total approximately $170 million for Perini.
Perini, which will lead a team that includes U.S. companies Tetra Tech and Butler Building on the contract, says the task orders will be administered by the Army Corps of Engineers’ Gulf Region Division in Iraq.
“Perini is proud of its long history of providing security-related construction at U.S. government facilities around the world,” said Robert Band, Perini president and chief operating officer.
“We look forward to continuing to provide protection for U.S. military and government personnel serving in Iraq,” he said.
• Compiled by Steven Davy of United Press International
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