Raw Intel

Americas Black Construction won an $83.7 million deal for design and construction of wharf improvements at Naval Base Guam. The work to be performed includes the renovation and modernization of Berth 2 to provide full capability to support two loaded T-AKE vessels with the proper depth of water, sufficient wharf length, and power and utilities. The Lewis and Clark Class T-AKE is a dry cargo/ammunition ship, totaling 14 ships. Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing underway replenishment services, the T-AKE directly contributes to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence. Work will take place in Guam. Expected completion…

Time to raise a topic we first brought up the first year of this blog over 17-years ago; riverine. As we discussed at the time, we invaded a nation, Iraq, dominated by major river systems, yet because of the stupidity of the 1990s defense policies, we divested of our riverine forces. The last units left the reserves just a few years before we would need them again. As a result, we not only did not have the ability to take advantage of the unique mobility riverine environments can provide for our own military operations, we surrendered the waters to the enemy's use unopposed. The requirement was still there, we just ignored it in DC while the US Army did what it could wit…

Americas General Dynamics Land won a $29 million deal for Abrams Systems technical support. The M1 Abrams is a third generation main battle tank. Work will take place in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2023. The first C-130H with eight-bladed propellors assigned to the 133rd Airlift Wing has returned home after modifications. The aircraft arrived home on May 11 at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. Another seven C-130Hs are undergoing the modifications with a completion date by the end of September 2023. After which the cargo planes will get new T56 3.5 turboprop engines. Middle East & Africa SpearUAV, an Israeli co…

What do the numbers tell us about the USN's expected fleet during the rest of what we call the Terrible 20s? We are going to spend an hour this Sunday from 5-6pm Eastern digging in to that question with returning guest Matthew Hipple, active duty Surface Warfare Officer & former president of the Center for International Maritime Security. As a starting point for our conversation we will reference his May 9th article over at CIMSEC, "20 Years of Naval Trends Guarantee a FY23 Shipbuilding Plan Failure." "The FY23 Shipbuilding Plan proposes a 10-year drop in fleet numbers that deviates in spirit from every shipbuilding plan since 2012. During this dangerous decade, the…

Assuming you know what kind of war you are in, (not always known at the time) at the Strategic Level victory is achieved when there is a cascading series of Operational Level victories that brings your enemy to the point of combat ineffectiveness or collapse. At the Operational Level, victories are had when a series of Tactical Level victories achieve Decisive Points along various lines of Operations in support of Objectives and End States and undermining the enemy's Center of Gravity. Some victories are more important than others ... and the smallest thing can make all the difference, even something as simple as listening through the fog for an outboard motor. One day t…

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $43.6 million order, which provides for diminishing manufacturing sources non-recurring engineering in support of a redesigned panoramic cockpit display electronic unit video mixer for F-35 Lightning II production aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, and non-US Department of Defense participants. Work will take place in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in January 2029. Lockheed Martin Sippican won a $14 million contract modification to exercise options for engineering and maintenance services for the Heavyweight MK48 Torpedo Program at the Intermediate Maintenance Acti…

The best thing about LCS is that when you feel the need to take a break from the war in Ukraine, it delivers you news at just the right time. Via our friend Geoff Ziezulewicz at Navy Times;Since its commissioning in 2018, the littoral combat ship Omaha has developed cracks in its hull and superstructure that limit the speed it can travel and the sea states it can operate in.Four years old. Of course, cracks on warships are not new - we saw some issues with OHP, TICO and others ... but this is different. Before we dig more, let's pause a bit and talk to each other as adults. As was amply demonstrated again yesterday on The Hill in front of Congress, our Navy has a loose as…

Americas General Atomics has announced the availability of a short takeoff and landing (STOL) wing and tail kit for the MQ-9B. The American company had demonstrated STOL capability on a modified Gray Eagle Extended Range platform last year under its Mojave initiative. The new MQ-9B STOL kit can fold upwards so that the unmanned air vehicle can be parked on the deck or in the hangar bay, of an aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship. Raytheon won a $272.7 million performance-based logistics requirements contract to provide logistics, repair, and upgrade support for 15 Multi-Spectral Targeting System Forward-Looking Infrared components in support of MH-60R and MH-60S h…

Have you been waiting for more substantial push back by Congress about the Navy's self-deluding happy talk, their iffy deployment numbers, and sleepwalking in to disaster should war come? Do you see the disconnect between warfighting requirements west of Wake and the looming VLS cell issues in the Davidson Window? Are you concerned that not enough people - even in 2022 - see the Terrible 20s headwind? Behold from today's HASC hearing on FY23 Navy Budget. Mr. Secretary, your FY23 Navy Budget Book paints a rosy picture… that does not match reality. pic.twitter.com/sfQKxWAVqF — Rep. Elaine Luria (@RepElaineLuria) May 11, 2022 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=…

Americas A US Air Force KC-46A crew has flown the aerial refueling aircraft for 24.2 hours in a mission to gather human factors data on long-duration flights. The aircraft was flown by four pilots working on four-hour shifts with another two pilots acting as backup. They were joined by three boom operators, a photojournalist, and a physician assistant. Taking off from McConnell Air Force Base on May 5, the jet landed back at McConnell Air Force Base the next day with just one refueling from a KC-46A. Korte Construction Co., doing business as The Korte Co. won $37 million firm-fixed-price contract to design and construct an operations and test facility. Bids were solicite…

I just dropped this tweet as an afterthought on twitter last night and it received a LOT of interest so I thought I would bring it over to the blog for review and discussion. Again, the Austrian Army is providing the best briefs on the Russo-Ukrainian War. Col. Markus Reisner, AUT Army sets the benchmark. If your German is iffy, you can get English subtitles in settings by going Settings<Subtitles/CC<English. The Kursk-Donbas side by side is exceptional at the 13-minute mark. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=aJhgQXCoD6g:koQ4UyYrX5…

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $14.5 million contract modification to exercise options for Machinery Control System production shipsets in support of both the DDG 51 modernization program and the DDG 51 new construction program. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by June 202. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington DC, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky Aircraft won a $12.3 million modification, which exercises an option to provide production system engineering and program management support in support of CH-53K low-rate initial production. Work will take place in Connecticut. Expected completion will be in May 2023. The Nava…

History is funny about how it delivers leaders. Some nations, when they need it most, are given the worst leaders who on paper at least, should have been the right leader at the right time. Other nations are provided leaders who, on paper, seem to be a disaster in the making ... but don't just rise to the occasion, come to dominate the occasion. A comic. They elected a comic. Ukraine's President Zelensky's May 9th address to his nation - and to everyone else - is a masterpiece of the right man at the right time with the right words. Take time to listen to it. This is what a sharp, vibrant, focused, and grounded leader looks like. At least at this moment, at this time, I d…

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $372.4 million modification, which adds scope to procure F-35 Lightning II Lots 15-16 ancillary mission equipment requirements for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Additionally, this modification adds scope to procure F-35 Lightning II initial spares for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will take place in Texas. Expected completion will be in December 2024. The US Marine Corps will have a second aggressor squadron by 2024 when VMFT-402 is declared safe for flight in 2024 at MCAS Beaufort. VMFT-402 will initially have three F-5N+ fig…

Some days - fullbore is just staying alive. It doesn't happen by accident; it takes you knowing your equipment, your procedures - and most importantly, your ability to think and act without delay. It also takes your Shipmates - known and unknown - who know their business.One of those days for Crusader pilot Cliff Judkins. Don't stop now - read it all.Hat tip SJS. First posted in JUL 2012 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=wouIm5jLdlQ:NDgCLInmsXs:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=wouIm5jLdlQ:NDgCLInmsXs:-BTjWOF_DHI …

Americas Sierra Nevada won a $34 million contract modification for the MC-130J Airborne Mission Networking program low rate initial production. This order provides for the procurement of production kits, spares, interim contractor support and weapon system trainer support. Work will take place in Colorado. Estimated completion date is January 19, 2023. Boeing won a $16.3 million deal for the E-3 Replacement Studies and Analysis. This contract provides for studies and analysis for the replacement of the E-3. Work will take place in Oklahoma. Estimated completion will be by July 31, 2022. Middle East & Africa The US Army is considering acquiring the Spike FireFly tact…

As the world rages around us, let's check in to see the latest update on the unopposed march through the institutions by the Diversity Industry. Your tax dollars are paying for it, you might as well track. I want to see it you had the right questions come to mind. If not, I'll point them out at the end. BEHOLD! R 191126Z APR 22 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC TO ALCOAST BT UNCLAS ALCOAST 142/22 SSIC 1500 SUBJ: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (D&I) CHANGE AGENTS UPDATE: NEW DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS SITE AND PROGRAM UPDATES A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 081432 APR 20/ALCOAST 129/20 B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 181646Z MAY 21/ALCOAST 191/21 1. The Coast…

It is amazing what you can find just out there in the open for all to see. In case you missed last week's Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, you should take some time to read it. If you're running short on time, just check out Appendix D. Read the very last bit. The fact that in 2022 this needs to be said ... but it does. Scathing indictment. Just scathing. h/t Charlie B. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=IahDEOUEGho:lyLl9JFFBkE:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/FAFV?i=IahD…

Americas Toyon Research won a $9.1 million ordering agreement, which provides for analysis tools and performance analysis to support the E-2D aircraft and provide support equipment for E-2D performance analysis. Additionally, this order provides two E-2D Delta System Software Configuration (DSSC)-4 mission computer upgrade kits to support analysis of E-2D DSSC-4 in an operational environment, as well as develop system requirements to update the E-2D All-source Track and ID Fuser data fusion engine to accept data from tactical information web services. This order continues efforts in support of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Topic N111-016 titled, “Optimizing Tr…

Americas The US Air Force’s secretive Next Generation Air Dominance future fighter program could be the most expensive aircraft program in history, with each piloted, sixth-generation aircraft expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. When asked about the price tag, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall did not specify exactly how much an individual aircraft could cost, but said the service was talking about “multiple” hundreds of millions. Huntington Ingalls won an $11 million contract modification to extend the delivery date for vessel storage and towing preparation services of the aircraft carrier ex-USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Work will take place in Virginia. Expec…