DTN News - AIRLINES NEWS: Lufthansa Conducts Inaugural Flight Of World's First Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Passenger Aircraft From Frankfurt To Washington, D.C.

DTN News - AIRLINES NEWS: Lufthansa Conducts Inaugural Flight Of World's First Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Passenger Aircraft From Frankfurt To Washington, D.C.

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 5, 2012: Recently. , on June 1, 2012 Lufthansa, launch customer for the Boeing (NYSE: BA) 747-8 Intercontinental, initiated commercial service of the new Jumbo jet along the inaugural route of Frankfurt (FRA) to Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD). Flight LH416 departed Frankfurt at 9:50am and is scheduled to touchdown at Dulles at 12:45pm. In addition to regularly scheduled passengers, guests include Dr. Christoph Franz, Lufthansa's CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board, and Elizabeth Lund, Boeing vice president and general manager, 747 Program, who are joined by a delegation consisting of U.S. and International media, esteemed customers and partners. The return flight, LH419, is scheduled to depart Washington, D.C. this evening at 5:55pm, arriving in Frankfurt at 8:05am the following day.  Lufthansa's newest flagship aircraft will provide service between the two cities initially six days a week (excluding Tuesdays), and will increase capacity on this route by 6.3 percent.  Flights are available for booking on www.lufthansa.com. 

"The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental is an exceptional aircraft," said Christoph Franz, Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. "With its addition to our fleet, Lufthansa has created a product that is not only in line with our company's commitment to innovation, technology and efficiency, but that also offers qualities and features that are sure to maximize our passengers' in-flight experience. Travelers to and from Washington, D.C. are in for a memorable flight and Lufthansa looks forward to expanding our 747-8 Intercontinental service to other U.S. markets in the coming months."

(Read complete strory on Defense-Technology News - Click on link undermentioned)

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/06/dtn-news-airlines-news-lufthansa.html

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated May 23, 2012

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated May 23, 2012

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 23, 2012: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued  May 23, 2012   are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

NAVY

            Softchoice, McLean, Va., is being awarded a firm-fixed-price blanket purchase agreement to procure Microsoft brand name software licenses and software support, known as software assurance (SA), through 2015 for the Department of the Navy.  The licenses and SA must be compatible and interoperable with existing Department of the Navy hardware and technology equipment.  The maximum dollar value, including the base period and two option periods is $700,000,000.  Work will be performed in McLean, Va., and is expected to be completed May 31, 2015.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This agreement was solicited via General Services Administration eBuy electronic request and five offers were received.  The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-12-A-4701). 

            Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $9,064,199 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00383-06-D-003F) for the incorporation of two Naval Air Systems Command approved engineering change proposals supporting the H-53 helicopter:  Dynamic Component Change No. 97 swashplate, and Dynamic Component Change No. 94 gearbox.  Work for the nose gearboxes will be performed at the Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) East, Cherry Point, N.C. (70 percent), and Sikorsky Aircraft, Stratford, Conn. (30 percent).  Work for the swashplates will be performed at FRC East, Cherry Point, N.C.  All work is expected to be completed by February 2016.  The applicable Navy Working Capital funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured.  The NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity. 

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/05/dtn-news-us-department-of-defense_2513.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Defense Spending Bill Includes Provision To Keep Air Guard Jets

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Defense Spending Bill Includes Provision To Keep Air Guard Jets

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 14, 2012: A defense spending bill proposed Monday in the U.S. House would block the Air Force from eliminating F-16 aircraft at the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines until a cost-benefit analysis can be completed.

U.S. Rep. Tom Latham said the legislation would freeze the proposed retirement of Air Force aircraft, including the Iowa Air National Guard’s F-16s. The bill would require the Air Force to finish the cost-benefit study by October, with a review by the nonpartisan General Accounting Office within 120 days of its completion.

The bill is sponsored by the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, on which Latham serves. The Iowa Republican said he believes a review will ultimately show the 132nd Fighter Wing operates cost-effectively and should continue flying F-16 combat aircraft over the long term. He called Monday’s action a major step forward.

“This is a great victory, and we are going to fight to save the 132nd Fighter Wing,” Latham said in a phone interview from Washington, D.C.

The Air Force has proposed budget cuts that include eliminating all 21 of the Iowa unit’s F-16 aircraft, replacing them with a smaller unit based in Des Moines that would remotely control unmanned aircraft that would be flown elsewhere, such as Afghanistan.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/05/dtn-news-defense-news-defense-spending.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda Places A Wreath At The Tomb of Unknowns Soldier At The Arlington National Cemetery In Arlington, Virginia

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda Places A Wreath At The Tomb of Unknowns Soldier At The Arlington National Cemetery In Arlington, Virginia

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 30, 2012: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda places a wreath at the Tomb of Unknowns Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on April 30, 2012. 

The leaders of Japan and the US meet Monday to look at new ways to cooperate in defense, hoping to show that the alliance is back on track after a rocky few years. Amid fears that North Korea will test another nuclear bomb, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will hold talks at the White House with President Barack Obama days after a deal on a thorny dispute over US troops.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-white-house-news-japanese.html

DTN News - WHITE HOUSE NEWS: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda Visits White House

DTN News -  WHITE HOUSE NEWS: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda Visits White House


(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 30, 2012: President Barack Obama shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 30, 2012.


The leaders of Japan and the US meet Monday to look at new ways to cooperate in defense, hoping to show that the alliance is back on track after a rocky few years. Amid fears that North Korea will test another nuclear bomb, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will hold talks at the White House with President Barack Obama days after a deal on a thorny dispute over US troops.


http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-white-house-news-japanese.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda With U.S. Army Major General Michael Linnington At Arlington National Cemetery In Arlington, Virginia

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda With U.S. Army Major General Michael Linnington At Arlington National Cemetery In Arlington, Virginia

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 30, 2012: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (2nd R) departs with U.S. Army Major General Michael Linnington (R), commander of the Military District of Washington, after placing a wreath amongst graves in Section 60, where U.S. servicemen and servicewomen from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are buried, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, April 30, 2012. Noda arrives in Washington to meet U.S. 

President Barack Obama days after the United States and Japan revised plans to reorganize and streamline U.S. bases on the Japanese island of Okinawa, allowing the allies to move toward closer military cooperation in the region. (Photo - Reuters)

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 26, 2012

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 26, 2012
  
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 26, 2012: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued  April 26, 2012   are undermentioned; 
                                                                                                            CONTRACTS


                                                                                                                  NAVY


            Systems Engineering Associates Corp., Middletown, R.I., is being awarded an $11,178,285 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering, technical, and logistic support services in support of submarine imaging, electronic warfare, communication, antenna, and special project programs.  This contract will provide a bridge to allow for continuation of support to the Undersea Warfare Electromagnetic Department until the follow-on Seaport-e task order is awarded.  Work will be performed in Middletown R.I. (60 percent), and Newport, R.I. (40 percent), and is expected to be completed by July 2012.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured.  The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, Newport, R.I., is the contracting activity (N66604-12-C-0865).


            ERAPSCO, Inc., Columbia City, Ind., is being awarded a $10,538,501 firm-fixed-price contract for 2,006 AN/SSQ-101A sonobuoys in support of Navy antisubmarine forces for the mission of detection, classification, and localization of adversary submarines during peacetime and combat operations.  Work will be performed in DeLeon Springs, Fla. (53 percent), and Columbia City, Ind. (47 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2014.  Contract funds in the amount of $257,421 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-12-C-0047).


            P&S Construction, Inc.*, North Chelmsford, Mass., is being awarded $9,527,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0009 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40192-10-D-2804) for design and construction of the Conventional Munitions Maintenance Facility at Andersen Air Force Base.  The facility will consist of drive-through work bays, office space, bench stock/tool room, a break/training/ready room, administrative space, and supporting functions to include electrical, communications, mechanical, compressor room, and a janitor’s closet.  The project also includes site infrastructure improvements and utilities necessary to support the facility.  Work will be performed in Yigo, Guam, and is expected to be completed by July 2014.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Six proposals were received for this task order.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity.


*Small business


http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-us-department-of-defense_26.html

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 25, 2012

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 25, 2012

 

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 25, 2012: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued  April 25, 2012   are undermentioned;

                                      CONTRACTS

                          DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

            American Medical Depot*, Opa-Locka, Fla., was awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum $400,000,000 for integrated operating room, components, system options and accessories, upgrades, training, maintenance services, and turnkey installation.  There are no other locations of performance.  Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies.  There were four responses to the Web proposal.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2012 Defense Working Capital Funds.  The date of performance completion is April 24, 2017.  The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-12-D-8211).

            Steris Corp., Mentor, Ohio, was awarded a fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum $400,000,000 for integrated operating room, components, system options and accessories, upgrades, training, maintenance services, and turnkey installation.  There are no other locations of performance.  Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies.  There were four responses to the Web proposal.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2012 Defense Working Capital Funds.  The date of performance completion is April 24, 2017.  The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-12-D-8212).  

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-us-department-of-defense_25.html   

DTN News - IRAN DEFENSE NEWS: Iran Military Says Copying U.S. Drone

DTN News - IRAN DEFENSE NEWS: Iran Military Says Copying U.S. Drone

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 23, 2012: Iran's military has started to build a copy of a U.S. surveillance drone captured last year after breaking the software encryption, Iranian media reported on Sunday.

General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace division, said engineers were in the final stages of decoding data from the Sentinel aircraft, which came down in December near the Afghan border, Mehr news agency reported.

Iran said the unmanned aircraft was shot down, but Washington disputes that and says the security systems mean Iran is unlikely to get valuable information from the Lockheed Martin Corp drone.

"The Americans should be aware to what extent we have infiltrated the plane," Fars news agency quoted Hajizadeh as saying. "Our experts have full understanding of its components and program."

Iran's military regular announces defense and engineering developments, but some analysts are skeptical as to how reliable those reports are.

U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, a member of the Armed Services Committee, voiced his own doubts.

"There's a history here of Iranian bluster, particularly now when they're on the defensive because of our economic sanctions against them," Lieberman said in a television interview.

The RQ-170 Sentinel has been widely used since 2010 in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It played a role in the raid in which Osama bin Laden was killed last year, analysts say.

An Iranian defense official said recently that Tehran has received numerous requests for information on the craft and that China and Russia have shown most interest.

The loss of the plane sparked some concerns that sophisticated technology could fall into the hands of countries developing their own unmanned planes. The main worry centers on the special coatings on the craft's surface.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-iran-defense-news-iran.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Fighter Jet’s Skyrocketing Costs Are On Congress’ Radar

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Fighter Jet’s Skyrocketing Costs Are On Congress’ Radar

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 22, 2012: The radar-evading F-35 fighter jet, a nearly $400-billion weapons program under development for more than a decade, is facing its worst turbulence since Washington decided to buy it in 2001 — when it was billed as the most affordable, lethal and survivable military aircraft ever built for the U.S. and its allies.

A two-star general serving as the military's project manager was fired over the program's never-ending problems. The Pentagon has delayed orders of the aircraft, and the fighter jet is caught in the middle of a major spending fight in Congress. What's more, the plane has roiled political debate in Canada, the Netherlands and other allies that are picking up 10% of the development costs.

GRAPHIC: F-35 joint strike fighter

The Obama administration wants to delay the purchase of 179 jets to save $15 billion. But there is pressure to cut more. Next week, the Pentagon's F-35 program manager is set to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Although much of the debate is taking place in Washington, the melodrama is being closely watched in Southern California, where much is at stake. Only last week, executives of F-35 maker Lockheed Martin Corp. made an appearance in El Segundo to remind local businesses and aerospace workers that the F-35 will have a huge financial effect in the years to come — pumping an estimated $6 billion into the state's economy and creating 27,000 jobs.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-defense-news-fighter-jets.html

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: North Korea Admits Rocket Fails Shortly After Launch

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: North Korea Admits Rocket Fails Shortly After Launch

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 13, 2012: North Korea has acknowledged a multi-stage rocket it launched early Friday failed to reach orbit.

An announcer on North Korean television - interrupting programming four hours after the launch, which was not broadcast - says the Kwangmyongsong-3 earth observation satellite did not succeed in reaching orbit and scientific experts are investigating the cause of the failure.

Officials in Seoul, Tokyo and Washington say North Korea's rocket indeed blasted off from the launch pad but failed to get very far.

U.S. military officials called it a Taepo Dong-2 missile. They say it was tracked by satellite on a southern trajectory where the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea. The North American Aerospace Defense Command says the other two stages failed to continue in flight and never posed a threat.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-defense-news-north-korea.html

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 5, 2012

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated April 5, 2012

  

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 5, 2012: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued  April 5, 2012   are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

NAVY

            Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $1,049,932,426 modification to definitize a previously awarded MH-60R/MH-60S mission avionics system/common cockpit advance acquisition contract to a firm-fixed-price, multiyear contract (N00019-11-C-0020).  This modification provides for the procurement of fiscal years 2012-2016 MH-60R Lot 10-14 mission avionics systems and common cockpits; MH-60 S Lot 14-17 common cockpits; and MH-60R/S integrated logistic support.  Work will be performed in Owego, N.Y. (58 percent); Farmingdale, N.Y. (25 percent); Woodland Hills, Calif. (4 percent); Ciudad Real, Spain (3 percent); East Syracuse, N.Y. (2 percent); Victor, N.Y. (2 percent); Everett, Wash. (1 percent); Stratford, Conn. (1 percent); St. Charles, Mo. (1 percent); Lewisville, Texas (1 percent); Bennington, Vt. (1 percent); and other locations inside the United States (1 percent).  Work is expected to be completed in June 2018.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

            Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, Fla., is being awarded a $27,058,492 modification to previously awarded contract (N61331-10-C-0023) for the procurement of the AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) low rate initial production.  Work will be performed in Melbourne, Fla. (36.2 percent); Tucson, Ariz. (34 percent); St. Charles, Mo. (12.5 percent); Irvine, Calif. (8 percent); San Clarita, Calif. (5 percent); and Edgewood, N.Y. (4.3 percent).  Work is expected to be completed by April 2014.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dtn-news-us-department-of-defense.html

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 28, 2012

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 28, 2012

  

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 28, 2012: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued  March 28, 2012 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

            Lockheed Martin-Information Systems & Global Services, Colorado Springs, Colo., is being awarded a $78,200,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, and cost-reimbursement contract for the Shared Early Warning System Program, which provides near real-time missile event information to partner nations as agreed upon through existing or newly negotiated bilateral agreements, and provides situational awareness information to U.S. theater combatant commander headquarters.  The location of the performance is Colorado Springs, Colo.  Work is to be completed by September 2016.  ESC/HSIK, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity (FA8722-12-D-0003, TOs 0001--0011).

            Chugach Management Services, J.V., Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded a $37,378,554 firm-fixed-price with cost-reimbursable contract line item numbers contract for civil engineering management services.  The location of the performance is Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.  Work is to be completed by Sept. 30, 2013.  AFNWC/PKOC, Albuquerque, N.M., is the contracting activity (FA9401-12-C-0006).

            Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Austin, Texas, is being awarded an $11,200,000 firm-fixed-price and requirements contract to provide full food services to 14 dining facilities located at Lackland Air Force Base, the Training Annex, and Camp Bullies in San Antonio, Texas.  This contract provides for approximately 8,400,000 meals annually for all trainees.  This action will be awarded as a new, follow-on contract with a six-month base period and on six-month option period.  The location of the performance is Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.  Work is expected to be completed by April 1, 2012.  802d Contracting Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3047-12-D-0008).

            Spectrolab, Inc., Sylmar, Calif., is being awarded an $8,293,046 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to improve the manufacturing processing capabilities and space qualify state of the art solar cells (>33 efficiency).  The productization and qualification of high efficiency, flexible or rigid, multi-junction space solar cells will improve critical performance, mass and volume budgets for war-fight-specific satellite payloads.  The location of the performance is Sylmar, Calif.  Work is expected to be completed Dec. 18, 2028.  AFRL/PKMT, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-12-C-5501).

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.ca/2012/03/dtn-news-us-department-of-defense_28.html