Contract: UTC, $353.2M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a $353,208,847 fixed-price-incentive-firm, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded undefinitized contract (N00019-17-C-0010). This modification provides for performance based logistics sustainment in support of the F-135 propulsion system in support of the F-35 joint strike fighter aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants and foreign military Sales (FMS) customers. This modification provides for maintenance of support equipment, common program activities, unique and common base recurring sustainment, repair of repairable, field service representatives, common replenishment spares, conventional take-off and landing/carrier variant F-135 unique maintenance services, and short take-off and landing F-135 unique services. Work will be performed in East Hartford (73 percent); Oklahoma City, Okla. (18 percent); Camari, Italy (3 percent); Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (2 percent); Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (1 percent); Hill Air Force Base, Utah (1 percent); Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. (1 percent); and Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station, S.C. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2018. Fiscal 2017 aircraft and procurement (Navy and Marine Corp); fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force); fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Air Force, Navy, Marine Corp) funds, non-U.S. DoD participants; and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $306,451,000 are being obligated on this award, $97,383,008 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (39 percent); Marine Corps; (29 percent); Navy (7 percent); non-U.S. DoD participants (18 percent); and FMS customers (7 percent), under the FMS Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/30/17)

Whiting energy, water upgrades completed

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast, in partnership with Gulf Power and Siemens, recently completed a $9.8 million Utility Energy Savings Contract (UESC) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field in Milton, Fla. The 13-month project focused on the installation of energy and water conservation upgrades in 58 facilities across the installation. One of the highlights of the project was the creation of a new ‘virtual’ chiller plant. The virtual chiller plant cross-connects the existing chillers in three adjacent facilities that house the installation’s advanced aviation simulators. The design consolidates multiple HVAC components, adding system redundancy while increasing energy efficiency. Excess heat is transported to a heat rejection chiller that recovers the energy and uses it to supplement the buildings’ heating and de-humidification systems. (Source: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 11/08/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $37.7M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $37,716,883 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-15-C-0003) to exercise an option for software conversions for structure and systems datasets in support of Lot 10 production for the F-35 joint strike fighter. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (58 percent); and Samlesbury, United Kingdom (42 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Navy and Marine Corps); fiscal 2017 (Air Force and Navy); and non-DoD participants funds in the amount of $37,716,883 are being obligated at time of award, $7,540,359 of which expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: Do, 11/27/17) Note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Kaman, $85.2M

Kaman Precision Products, Orlando, Fla.; Middletown, Conn., has been awarded a $85,169,000 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed fee contract for delivery of lot 13 of the joint programmable fuze, FMU-52 and corresponding production, test and engineering support. Work will be performed in Orlando and Middletown with an expected completion date of Feb. 28, 2019. This contract involves 26 percent foreign military sales to Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. Fiscal 2017 procurement funds in the amount of $85,169,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA868118C0009). (Source: DoD, 11/27/17)

Contract: Raytheon, $59.7M

Raytheon Co. - Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $59,725,813 combined firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursable contract for Enhanced Paveway II's support equipment and support hours. Work will be performed at Tucson, with an expected completion date of Feb. 28, 2019. This was a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2016 and 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $59,725,813 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8681-18-C-0010). (Source: DoD, 11/22/17)

Martin nominated for promotion

Air Force Col. Michael E. Martin has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Martin is currently serving as the commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. His was among a series of appointments made by the president and announced last week by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. (Source: DoD, 11/16/17)

Whittenberger picked for promotion

Air Force Col. William W. Whittenberger Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Whittenberger is currently serving as the mobilization assistant to the director of strategic plans, programs and requirements, U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. His was among a series of appointments made by the president and announced today by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. (Source: DoD, 11/15/17)

V-22 fleet tops 400,000 flight hours

The Bell Boeing V-22 fleet of tiltrotor aircraft, including both CV-22 and MV-22 variants, has surpassed the 400,000-flight hour milestone, Bell Helicopter and Boeing said today. The V-22 Osprey has been continuously deployed since entering service in 2007 with the United States Marine Corps and Air Force Special Operations Command in 2009. It has seen extensive action in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and as part of a U.S. Central Command Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force supporting a long-range rapid reaction/crisis response force. The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multirole combat aircraft that uses tiltrotor technology to combine the vertical performance of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft. With its nacelles and rotors in vertical position, it can take off, land and hover like a helicopter. Once airborne, its nacelles can be rotated to transition the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight. (Source: Boeing, 11/14/17) The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command is headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Contract: Boeing, $11.3M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded an $11,266,057 modification (P00176) to a previously awarded contract (FA8678-10-C-0100) for QF-16 full-scale aerial target lot 5B. Work will be performed in St. Louis, with an estimated completion date of April 27, 2021. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $11,266,057 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/13/17)

Contract: Bell-Boeing, $10M

Bell-Boeing JPO, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $10,056,839 for modification P00008 to a previously issued cost-plus-fixed-fee task order 0112, placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-12-G-0006. This modification provides for field representative and logistics support services in support of the V-22 aircraft for the government of Japan. Work will be performed at Camp Kisarazu, Japan (85 percent); Philadelphia, Pa. (11 percent); and Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2019. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $10,056,839 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/13/17)

Blue Angels get new leader

NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. – Capt. Ryan Bernacchi turned over command of the Navy Blue Angels to Cmdr. Eric Doyle at a ceremony Sunday at the Blue Angels Atrium inside the National Naval Aviation Museum. About 500 people, including former Blue Angels commanding officers, team members and other naval aviation leaders, attended the event. The 2018 Blue Angels will head to El Centro, Calif., for the winter and return to Pensacola in March. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 11/13/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $34.6M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $34,622,661 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for weapons capabilities technology maturation and risk reduction pre-engineering, manufacturing and development activities for dual-capability F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft and small-diameter bomb 2 (SDB-II) in support of the Marine Corps and Air Force. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in July 2018. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-18-C-1004). (Source: DoD, 11/09/17) Note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Norway gets F-35 mission data file

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 53rd Electronic Warfare Group’s Partner Support Complex delivered the F-35 mission data file to Norway Oct. 26. This is the first overseas delivery of Block 3F mission data to a foreign nation and was accomplished in anticipation of Norway’s first F-35s, which arrived last week and will be marked by a Nov.10 ceremony there. The delivery of Block 3F mission data enables the F-35 to accomplish its primary missions of air interdiction, close air support, and suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses. Mission data files enable the aircraft to know what threats to search for and when, providing the F-35 its means of deciphering the environment. The men and women of the PSC are charged with programing this essential mission data software for eight F-35 partner nations, to include Norway, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Denmark. (Source: 53rd Wing, 11/08/17) Previous related

Contract: Reliance Test, $48M

Reliance Test & Technology, Crestview, Fla., has been awarded a $48,000,000 modification (P00022) to a previously awarded contract (FA2486-16-C-0002) for Eglin operation and maintenance services. The modification increases the government-provided value of cost-reimbursable, contractor-acquired property for contract line item number 0005. Work will be performed at Eglin test and training complex, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., with an expected completion date of Sept. 30 2026. Fiscal 2018 research and development funds in the amount of $48,000,000 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 7, 2017) (Source: DoD, 11/08/17)

Contract: Raytheon, $17.3M

Raytheon Co. Missile Systems Division, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $17,255,491 modification (P00009) to a previously awarded contract (FA8675-15-C-0004) for High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile Targeting System (HTS) contractor logistics support (CLS) services. The contract modification provides for HTS pod CLS depot repairs and sustainment activities. Work will be performed in Tucson, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2018. Fiscal year 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $12,825,015 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/06/17)

PNS sets record; gets new route

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Pensacola International Airport (PNS) reaches a new all-time high serving 1,668,897 passengers during fiscal year 2017 (October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017). That’s the highest count in a decade. A year before the Great Recession, the airport’s last passenger record was in FY07 when the airport served a total of 1,660,545 passengers. In addition to the record, PNS announced a second daily non-stop flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) aboard American Airlines will be added to the flight schedule in the spring. Beginning April 3, 2018, passengers will have the option of booking a morning nonstop flight to DCA, in addition to the current afternoon non-stop flight. (Source: City of Pensacola, 11/03/17)

AF awards F-35 programmers

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The 53rd Wing’s 513th Electronic Warfare Squadron was awarded on Oct. 25 the Outstanding Scientist/Engineer Team of 2017 for their work on the F-35A Initial Operational Capability delivery at Eglin Air Force Base. This Air Force Science, Technology, Engineering and Math annual award recognizes the efforts and achievements of scientists and engineers who make significant contributions to technology and engineering. For the last seven years, 513th EWS airmen and sailors of the F-35’s U.S. Reprogramming Laboratory have been doing just that. Supercomputers, referred to as sensor fusion, make up the F-35’s brain. That brain provides the fighter with unique capabilities, making it more lethal, survivable and adaptable than any fighter aircraft on Earth, according to the Secretary of Air Force Public Affairs. However, without 513th EWS personnel inputting critical mission data into the F-35, sensor fusion wouldn’t work as intended. The aircraft wouldn’t know what threats to search for or when. In the electronic warfare world, engineers refer to this ability to understand the world, the ability to sift through stimuli and make informed decisions about how to react, as mission data software. This software helps compile countless pieces of information about the environment the F-35 will fly into. It also creates within the F-35’s brain the means of deciphering that environment. The men and women of the 513th EWS program this essential mission data software, thus teaching the F-35 how to distinguish between stimuli and making it efficient, intelligent and lethal. (Source: 53rd Wing Public Affairs, 11/01/17) Background story, "Putting the fight in the F-35," Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor Newsletter, April 2015, p. 1-2.

New air service at VPS

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – In May, travel between Okaloosa County and the nation’s capital will be easier for hundreds of military contractors and active duty personnel. The first non-stop American Airlines flights between Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) and Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport will take off 11:05 a.m. May 4, according to a news release from the county. An earlier flight is scheduled to depart Washington D.C. at 8:45 a.m. the same day, with arrival in Okaloosa County expected at 10:07 a.m., the release said. The two flights will run daily. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 11/01/17) The airport is located at Eglin Air Force Base.

Contract: UTC, $19.3M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a $19,266,207 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee and fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract (N00019-15-C-0004). This modification provides for procurement of extra-long-lead items in support of the low-rate initial production Lot XII F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft production. The extra-long-lead items include group hardware supporting the Lot XII delivery of conventional take-off and landing propulsion systems for the Air Force, Navy, non-Department of Defense (non-DoD) participants, and foreign military sales (FMS) customers, as well as group hardware supporting the Lot XII delivery of short take-off and vertical landing propulsion systems for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in East Hartford (67 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2019. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps), non-DoD participant, and FMS funds in the amount of $19,266,207, are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Marine Corps (88.04 percent); non-DoD participants (9.86 percent); Air Force (1.49 percent); FMS (0.41 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program; and Navy d.0 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/01/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Multiple, $8.3B

Numerous companies, including UTS Systems LLC, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (W911QY-18-D-0161), will share in an $8,276,161,000 hybrid (cost, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive, and fixed-price-redetermination) contract for Joint Enterprise Research, Development, Acquisition and Production and Procurement program to support research and development of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives defense systems, capabilities, equipment, supplies and material. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 178 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 3, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Natick, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/01/17)

Eglin conducting tests

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group is conducting operations from Nov. 1-3 and Nov. 6-8 in the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay as part of a Weapon System Evaluation Program. Between 8 a.m. and noon jets will be releasing munitions about 20 miles south of Destin in the Gulf of Mexico. The test are being conducted within a cleared safety range. Between 1-5 p.m., about 30 boats traveling in formation will transverse between the Mid-Bay Bridge and the U.S. Highway 331 Bridge, including 10-to-20 miles south of Destin in the Gulf of Mexico, according to base officials. The boat formation will be used as visual targets by military aircraft flying over the area. Some boats will have fake deck guns and rocket launcher tubes, but no live weapons or ammunition will be involved. The boats also will be using marine flares as visual markers. (Source: News Herald, 10/27/17)