Sean M. Gallagher

The Army Aviation and Missile Command has awarded a contract to perform engine retrofits on the RQ-7 Shadow UAV. The contract, awarded  to AI of Hunt Valley, MD on Sept. 22, 2009, was for  $49,185,103, a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract “over and above work for EFI,” the Army announcement said–that is, replacing the UAVs’ existing carbeurator-based Wankel rotary engines with electronic fuel injection Wankels.

The estimated completion date of the work is  Oct. 31, 2009.

The Shadow is the descendant of the Pioneer UAV, jointly developed by AAI and  Israeli Aircraft Industries — the “mother of all UAVs”.  Iraqi soldiers surrendered to a Pioneer RPV off USS Wisconsin during the Gulf War, after a bombardment of their positions by the USS Missouri.

Full disclosure– I was tangentially involved in Pioneer testing aboard USS Iowa in the late 1980s, as a deck officer on that ship…mostly I stood ready with a motor whaleboat to recover the bits of the aircraft we were recovering if it splashed rather than getting caught between the “goalposts” (see image below).

The Shadow's predecessor, the Pioneer, being retrieved aboard USS Iowa (BB-64)

The Shadow’s stats:
General characteristics

• Length: 11.2 ft in (3.41 m)
• Wingspan: 14 ft in (3.87 m)
• Height: 3.3 ft in (1 m)
• Empty weight: 186 lb (77 kg)
• Gross weight: 375 lb (170 kg)
• Powerplant: × 1 Wankel UAV Engine 741, 38 hp (28.5 kW) each

Performance

• Range: 68 miles (109.5 km)
• Endurance: 6 hours
• Service ceiling: 15,000 ft

The main sensor on the Shadow is an electro-optic/ infrared camera in a gimbaled ball on the underside of the UAV.  The Army was reportedly investigating possible signals intelligence sensors for the Shadow in 2008.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has announced that it has successfully developed and tested a new approach for low-cost guided mortars called the 120mm Roll-Controlled Guided Mortar (RCGM).

Under a cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Army TACOM-ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., General Dynamics successfully tube-launched and guided RCGM prototypes from a M120 120mm mortar weapon system at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds.

The Roll-Controlled Guided Mortar uses standard 120mm M934A1 mortar-round components, including the warhead and fuzing elements, to reduce costs and risks in response to an accelerated fielding timeline for this critical operational capability.

Several key enhancements are made to evolve the M934A1 into a precision mortar, while using existing warheads to maximize its lethality. For example, the standard fuze (M734A1) is adapted to include an integrated fuze-and-Global-Positioning-System (GPS) guidance, navigation and control (GNC) subassembly while maintaining the current fuze-setting method and function.

The GNC subassembly incorporates a GPS receiver with a low-cost control system known as the Roll-Controlled Fixed Canard (RCFC) system, developed and patented by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, that allows the mortar to adjust its flight to reach the intended target.

To further reduce costs and speed deployment, the RCGM cartridge maintains the “look and feel” of the existing M934A1 cartridge, so no major changes in operating procedures are necessary. The fuze, warhead and LAP production will occur on existing, operational lines

via GD Demos Roll-Controlled Guided Mortar.

(Editor’s note:  I posted this mostly out of nostalgia — Special Boat Squadron 2, which became Riverine Squadron 2, was my last tour of duty in the Navy.)

Riverines Stand Ready to Roll on Iraq’s Waterways

By Navy 1st Lt. Chris Dunphy

Special to American Forces Press Service

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2009 – The Navy’s Riverine Squadron 2, a Vietnam-era security patrol brought back after 9/11, is securing Iraq’s waterways here and giving its sailors unique opportunities.

“The training we receive is unlike anything else we do in the Navy,” Navy Cmdr. Ty Britt said. “It’s physically demanding as well as mentally challenging, requiring us to learn small unit tactics and apply them on the water.”

Britt, of Mississippi, commands Riverine Squadron 2 under 17th Fires Brigade tactical control. Known as the “brown-water” Navy because of its association with coastal waters, the squadron has three detachments based in Multinational Division South.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Harold M. Crockett, assistant public affairs officer for the squadron’s headquarters and one-time squadron bow gunner, is based here where detachments 2 and 3 are responsible for patrolling the inland waterways of Basra province, to include the Shatt al Arab and Qarmat Ali rivers.

via DefenseLink News Article: Riverines Stand Ready to Roll on Iraq’s Waterways .

General Dynamics Inc., Bothwell, Wash., was awarded on Sept. 18, 2009 a $13,274,349 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of a non-lethal portable vehicle immobilization device. Work is to be performed in Moses Lake, Wash., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 10, 2014. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with five bids received. Joint Munitions & Lethality Contracting Center, Picatinny, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-09-D-0023).

BAE Systems Information and Electronics of Totowa, New Jersey was awarded a $5,963,688 contract which will provide engineering services to resolve obsolete part and vanishing vendor issues with the LRU-3c low band receiver and digital processor, part of the of the AN/ALR-56C radar warning system of the F-15 fighter, and significantly improve the system availability of the LRU-3C. The AN/ALR-56C is aboard all of the Air Force’s F-15 aircraft, as well as those of the Royal Saudi Air Force.

The Air Force’s 542nd Combat Sustainment Group, which is responsible for purchasing support for all Air Force electronic warfare systems, has given Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., of Rolling Meadows, Ill.,  a $25,739,773 contract to provide electronic warfare engineering services for the B-52H.  Northrop built the AN/ALR-46 digital warning receiver for the B-52, whic detects radar emissions in the 2GHz to 18GHz band, and can simultaneously identify up to 16 radar signals; and the Northrop Grumman’s AN/ALQ-155 jammer power management system, which gives the aircraft gives 360° coverage in D,E,F,G, and H radar bands.

CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) announced today that it has been awarded a $24.5 million task order to provide Airborne, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (AISR) Ground Station Support to the U.S. Army Product Manager Aerial Common Sensor. The contract, for one base year and two option years, was competitively awarded under the Army’s Strategic Services Sourcing (S3) contract vehicle. The work increases both the size and scope of CACI’s current business supporting AISR, with the total amount of CACI’s S3 awards at more than $2 billion.

AISR Ground Station Support provides an intelligence system housed in specially modified aircraft. It collects and processes intelligence data, then transfers this information to ground locations for further processing, analysis, and dissemination. Since its inception during the Cold War, the system has steadily evolved to meet the needs of the Intelligence Community.

Through its core competency in C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), CACI provides proven program management, engineering and integration, test and evaluation, and logistics support and training. One of the company’s key offerings is its “quick-reaction” capability to integrate new intelligence tools and resources that keep the AISR program current and enable field commanders to act rapidly on warfighter threats.

CACI President of U.S. Operations Bill Fairl said, “Our team brings important continuity and expertise to the U.S. Army’s essential airborne intelligence efforts. We are pleased to offer our unique insight into AISR technical requirements, critical deadlines, and required skillsets to help the Army deliver accurate and timely intelligence that protects and supports our troops.”

via CACI – News Release 9/15/09.

Temeku Technologies, Inc., a small business in  Herndon, Va., is being awarded an $11,768,797 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the design, fabrication, testing and delivery of a production representative model of a multi-function display (MFD). MFD, a large shipboard display that combines several existing visual landing aid functions into one consolidated presentation, provides a horizon reference display bar, deck status indication and pilot visual cues for the Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse System

(The following is excerpted from an interview I recently did for Defense Systems magazine)

With John Garing’s elevation from Defense Information Systems Agency chief information officer to director of strategic planning, Bobbie Stempfley has stepped into the CIO role. While Garing focuses on long-term strategy and developing program objectives within DISA’s budget, Stempfley has taken on what she calls the more finely defined role of managing the agency’s ongoing information technology operations. Defense Systems contributing editor Sean Gallagher spoke with Stempfley about her role at DISA and the top challenges she faces.

DS: How has the CIO role at DISA changed since you took over for Mr. Garing?

Stempfley: He’s been given a great opportunity to be an even more significant part of the agency’s leadership team. Influencing strategies for how to help in this time of receding budgets and increasing mission demand — it’s a really a great opportunity for a service provider. And John Garing has to be a part of helping us do that. So the role of the CIO is just more finely defined now than it was before. The strategic planning and the out year [program objective memorandum] development activity are where Mr. Garing is focusing, and are things he’ll be able to do. I’ll be focused on how the information and the technology support those activities. We still work very closely together, and we will continue to work closely together. But you can never lose sight of either problem.

For the full article, see DISA aims for smooth operations across business lines — Defense Systems.

In a bit of boosterism, speaking to China’s Xinhua news agency, China’s defense minister Liang Guanglie said that China’s military has ‘taken a quantum leap’ in its warfighting capabilities as a result of investments in defense technology. “It could be said that China has basically all the kinds of equipment possessed by Western countries, much of which reaches or approaches advanced world standards,” he said.

His comments come just before China’s National Day military parade, which showcases Chinese military hardware.

from AFP’s China’s military power takes ‘quantum leap’: defence minister:

“China has poured money into its armed forces in recent years in a bid to transform the once-backward PLA into a lean, professional and high-tech fighting force.

China’s military spending rose 15.3 percent in 2009 to 69 billion dollars, according to a budget submitted to parliament in March, the latest in a string of double-digit increases.”