Contract: BAE Systems, $13.1M

BAE Systems, Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Nashua, N.H., has been awarded a $13,106,317 contract for the phase 2 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Seeker Cost Transformation program. The contract seeks to demonstrate that a high performance seeker can be used in precision guided munitions and accurately guided to a target by a low cost, modular open-architecture, low size, weight, power and cost seeker. Work will be performed in Nashua and is expected to be complete by July 2019. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2018 research and development funds in the amount of $2,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8651-18-C-0010). (Source: DoD, 01/31/18)

Contract: Raytheon, $105.2M

Raytheon Missiles Systems, Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $105,220,215 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity modification (P00002) to previously awarded contract FA8656-17-D-0005 for Griffin missiles. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $210,080,601, and provides for the exercise of an option for delivery of all variants of Griffin standoff precision guided munitions and corresponding production, test and engineering support. Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2016 and 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $11,259,027 are being obligated at the time of award. Contracting activity is the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Source: DoD, 01/31/18)

Blue Angels soar

Pilots assigned to the Blue Angels, the Navy's flight demonstration squadron, practice show maneuvers during a winter training flight over El Centro, Calif., Jan. 27, 2018. The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform more than 60 demonstrations at more than 30 U.S. locations in 2018. The flight demonstration team is home based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. (Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ian Cotter, 01/29/18)

Exercise involves NAS Whiting

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. -- NAS Whiting Field along with naval installations across the country will participate in Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2018 (CS/SC) Jan. 29 – Feb. 9. The two-part, linked anti-terrorism force protection exercise is designed to enhance the readiness of Navy security forces and ensure seamless interoperability among the commands, other services and agency partners. Exercise CS/SC 18 is not in response to any specific threat, but is a regularly scheduled exercise. Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access. Area residents may also see or hear security activities associated with the exercise. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders. (Source: NAS Whiting Field, 01/25/18)

Contract: W.W. Gay, $7.8M

W.W. Gay Fire Protection Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., was awarded $7,799,687 for firm-fixed-price task order N6945018F1001 under a previously awarded design-build multiple award construction contract (N69450-16-D-0612) for replacement of fire suppression system, aqueous film forming foam, hangars 1853 and 1854, at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Work will be performed in Pensacola and is expected to be completed by January 2019. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $7,799,687 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Jan. 23, 2018) (Source: DoD, 01/24/18)

AF contracting summit slated

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – Some 400 prime contractors, subcontractors, military officials, contracting officers, and defense agencies are expected to attend the two-day 2018 Air Force Contracting Summit beginning Jan. 29 at the Sandestin Beach Golf Resort. It begins at 9 a.m. with a presentation by retired Air Force Capt. Nate Nelson on the newly passed $700 billion defense budget for 2018. Nelson is the deputy director of military affairs for Rep. Matt Gaetz, R, Fla., who serves on the House Budget Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. During the summit, speakers and attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the mission and contracting priorities of the U.S. Air Force, address contracting procedures for small businesses, identify federal contracting resources and connect prime contractors with new subcontractors. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 01/21/18)

American launching Philly service

PENSACOLA, Fla. – American Airlines will launch daily nonstop service between Pensacola International Airport (PNS) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on June 7, 2018. Flights are scheduled to depart Pensacola daily at 4:09 pm CST and arrive in Philadelphia at 7:39 pm EST. Philadelphia International becomes Pensacola International Airport’s eighteenth nonstop destination. Philadelphia becomes the fifth nonstop destination served by American Airlines out of Pensacola including Charlotte, Dallas, Miami and Washington DC. (Source: City of Pensacola, 01/19/18)

Contract: L3, $9M

L3 Technologies Inc., Communications Systems-West, Salt Lake City, Utah, has been awarded a $9,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to explore technologies enabling cooperative engagement in degraded communication environments for the next generation of munitions. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is expected to be complete by January 2025. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition and two bids were received. Fiscal 2017 research and development funds in the amount of $1,680,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8651-18-D-0015). (Source: DoD, 01/19/18)

Upgraded C-130 being tested

Maintainer pulls generator cable to C-130H
Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The Air Force’s first fully upgraded C-130H arrived here Jan. 11 to begin testing. The Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing-owned aircraft will be here for several months undergoing multiple test flights. The goal of these evaluations is to collect data and confirm the increased fuel efficiency, reliability and overall performance improvements gained from the new propellers and upgraded engines. The benefits of the upgrades include shorter take-off roll, improved climb, quieter operations, and lower operating and support costs, according to Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the program office for the test. The flight testing will be conducted by 153rd AW and C-130 Combined Test Force aircrews. ANG Airmen will maintain the aircraft during its time here. The Wyoming Air National Guard was chosen to receive the C-130H because of its involvement in the initial testing with the new systems in 2008, when the Air Force explored the idea of upgrading the H-model. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 01/16/18)

Contract: Bell-Boeing, $34.9M

Bell-Boeing JPO, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $34,911,818 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N6134018F0001 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-0002) in support of the V-22. This order procures software and hardware upgrades for 28 flight training devices necessary to integrate aircraft software version B 6-01/C 4.01 into 23 Marine Corps MV-22 training devices and software version 20.4.01/10.6.01 into nine Air Force CV-22 training devices. These devices are being upgraded to ensure concurrency with Marine Corps and Air Force aircraft. Work will be performed in Chantilly, Va. (26 percent); Broken Arrow, Okla. (21 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (18 percent); Philadelphia, Pa. (8 percent); St. Louis, Mo. (8 percent); Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (4 percent); Albuquerque, N.M. (4 percent); Clovis, N.M. (4 percent); Mildenhall, United Kingdom (4 percent); Clifton, N.J. (2 percent); and Orlando, Fla. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2022. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command) funds in the amount of $34,911,818 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 01/18/18)

Contract: Lockheed, $7.5M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $7,476,086 for modification P00004 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed fee contract (N00019-15-C-0105) to transition the F-35 Australia, Canada, United Kingdom Reprogramming Laboratory (ACURL) system from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, Texas, to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Support includes required activities including packing, shipping, installation, integration, and testing. This modification also provides for initial spares for the ACURL. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base (70 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2019. International partner funds in the amount of $7,476,086 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, 01/17/18)

Appraiser testing aerial drones

MILTON, Fla. – The property appraiser’s office in Santa Rosa County is among the first in Florida using unmanned aerial system. The office has been testing the use of drones to supplement and update property data since September 2016. Nine FAA-licensed drone pilots operate four drones. Property Appraiser Greg Brown is responsible for identifying, locating and valuing all property within the county for tax purposes. Previously, every two years Brown's office has had to pay $250,000 per flight for an aerial photography company to fly over the county's 1,100 square miles to get photos. Using the drones pushes that need back to every three or four years. Brown anticipates that in the future they can be used for damage assessment after severe weather. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 01/15/18)

Blue Angels begin winter training

The Navy Blue Angels left their home base at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., Wednesday and arrived at Naval Air Station El Centro in Southern California to begin winter training for the 2018 show season. The maintenance and support team left first Wednesday morning, then the six jets that make up the flight demonstration team left a couple of hours later. The team will perform in El Centrol March 10, then return to Pensacola after that to begin the regular show season. (Sources: Pensacola News Journal, 10NewsKGTV, 01/03/18) Naval Air Station El Centro is between San Diego and Yuma, Ariz.

Contract: Boeing, $193.6M

The Boeing Co. Defense, Space and Security, St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded a $193,638,503, contract modification (P00001) to a previously awarded contract (FA8672-16-D-0010) for Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) Increment 1 Lots 12-14 production. This modification provides for the purchase of an additional quantity of 6,000 SDB 1 all-up-rounds being produced under the basic contract. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity ceiling is increasing from $700,000,000 to $893,638,503. Work will be performed in St. Louis and is expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2020. This contract involves foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Singapore. This modification is a result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2015 and 2016 missile procurement; and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $99,715,078 is being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8672-16-D-0010). (Source: DoD, 01/02/18)

Contract: Raytheon, $25.8M

Raytheon Missile Co., Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $25,766,768 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (FA8675-15-C-0022) for special tooling and test equipment, for the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Lots 28-30 production. Work will be performed in Tucson with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. This contract involves foreign military sales to Norway, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Australia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Indonesia, Romania, Spain, Turkey and Qatar. Fiscal 2017 production funds in the amount of $16,691,712 are being obligated at the time of award, and the remaining $9,075,056 is from foreign military sales sources. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/28/17)

Contract: Raytheon, $634.2M

Raytheon Missile Co., Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $634,204,347 fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) production Lot 31. The contract is for the production of the AMRAAM missile and other AMRAAM system items. The AMRAAM system includes the missile, spares and telemetry kits. Work will be performed at Tucson with an expected completion date of Jan. 31, 2020. This contract involves foreign military sales (FMS) to Japan, Korea, Morocco, Poland, Indonesia, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Bahrain and Qatar. Fiscal 2017 production funds in the amount of $409,939,707; fiscal 2017 research and development funds in the amount of $2,955,178; and fiscal operations and maintenance funds of $1,744,172 are being obligated at the time of award, all remaining funding ($219,565,290) is from FMS sources. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-18-C-0003). (Source: DoD, 12/28/17)

Hurlburt CMS gets Silver Star

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Chief Master Sgt. Michael West, a Special Tactics operator with the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the nation's third highest medal for valor against an enemy of the United States. West was awarded the SSM on Dec. 15 for his actions during the five-day Operation MEDUSA in 2006. West utilized 58 coalition aircraft to deliver 24,000 pounds of precision ordnance to eliminate more than 500 enemy forces, securing the safety of 51 U.S. Spec Ops forces, and 33 coalition partners. West was originally awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions in May 2007, but due to a recent DOD-wide review, his package was resubmitted for an upgrade. (Source: 24th Special Operations Wing, 12/15/17)

Testing a new defense

Test range view from the air.
Air Force photo/Tech Sgt Samantha Mathison

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – A view of the test range at Eglin Air Force Base from a 507th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., Nov. 29, 2017. The crew flew over the range more than 60 times to allow a laser to fire at the recently installed Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure system. The laser was designed to simulate a missle that has targeted the aircraft. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 12/26/17)

Alabama getting F-35

The Alabama Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Ala. has been selected for a site for a new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter mission. Gov. Kay Ivey said at a news conference Thursday that it was a team effort. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.) said in an e-mail to constituents Dec. 21 that Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson called her to inform her of the Air Force’s decision. The 187th was one of five ANG units on the short list being considered. In choosing Montgomery as one of two bases for the F-35A, it means 1,000 jobs over the next few years, a $70 million up-front investment, and a $24 million annual economic impact to the region. The Truax ANG Station in Madison, Wis., was the other selected site. (Source: Montgomery Advertiser, 12/21/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Northrop, $25M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., has been awarded a $25,000,000 modification (P00022) to a previously awarded (FA8677-10-D-0006) for weapons planning software. This modification is for the development and sustainment of software for precision guided munition mission planning components. Work will be performed in Bethpage, with an expected completion date of Sept. 28, 2018. This contract involves 21 percent foreign military sales to Canada, Korea, Norway, Singapore, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/21/17)