Contract: Northrop, $63.7M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $63,700,156 advance acquisition contract for the procurement of long-lead components, material, parts and associated efforts required to maintain the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System planned production schedule. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah; Baltimore, Md.; Red Oak, Texas; Bridgeport, W.V.; Palmdale, Calif.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Montreal Quebec, Canada; Vandalia, Ohio; and various locations in and outside the continental United States. Work is expected to be completed in February 2016. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-15-C-0002). (Source: DoD, 02/26/15) Gulf Coast note: Fuselage work on the Triton is done in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: PRIDE, $14M

PRIDE Industries, Roseville, Calif., was awarded a $14,058,910 modification (P00024) to contract W9124G-13-C-0002 for Department of Public Works-Base Operations, Ft. Rucker, Ala. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $4,353,504 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Feb. 28, 2016. Army Contracting Command, Ft. Rucker, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/26/15)

Ft Rucker supporters show up

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- More than 1,600 people turned out to show an Army team their support for the aviation base in light of planned reorganizations. Before it makes a decision on how to implement cuts, the Army is sending teams to 30 installations. In a worse-case scenario, Fort Rucker could lose nearly 2,500 military and civilian personnel and take $600 million in budget reductions that may reduce from 900 to 600 the number of aviators trained at Rucker. The Army expects to have its final recommendation completed by summer. (Source: Army Flier, 02/25/15)

Ski-jump next for F-35

The F-35 will start "ski-jump testing" at a Maryland air base this week. Two UK pilots will test the ability of the new warplane to take off from upward-sloping ski-jump ramps used on aircraft carriers like those operated by Britain and Italy. The ramps launch the jets forward and upward, reducing the thrust needed. Meanwhile, another F-35 is also finishing six months of tests at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. It's a key milestone before the Marine Corps declares the jet ready for initial combat use in July. At McKinley, the jet has been subjected to temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit to as high as 120 F. The F-35 climate testing has been closely watched by the U.S. military and nine other countries that have placed orders: Britain, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands and Israel. (Source: Reuters, 02/24/15) Previous

Contract: Multiple, $800M

AMEC Environmental & Infrastructure Inc., Blue Bell, Pa. (N39430-15-D-1629); Bristol Engineering Services Corp., Anchorage, Alaska (N39430-15-D-1630); Cape-Burns & McDonnell JV, Kansas City, Mo. (N39430-15-D-1631); CB&I Federal Services, Baton Rouge, La. (N39430-15-D-1632); Dawson-Pond Joint Venture LLC, San Antonio, Texas (N39430-15-D-1633); Gilbane Federal, Walnut Creek, Calif. (N39430-15-D-1634); Truston Technologies Inc., Annapolis, Md. (N39430-15-D-1635); and Weston Solutions Inc., West Chester, Pa. (N39430-15-D-1636), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity global petroleum, oil and lubricant multiple award construction contract to provide sustainment, restoration and modernization and clean, inspect and repair for petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL) systems at various locations worldwide. The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years for all eight contracts combined is $800,000,000. These eight contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. AMEC Environmental & Infrastructure Inc. is being awarded task order 0001 at $3,107,222 for the cleaning, inspecting and repair of POL facilities at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by December 2017. All work on this contract will be performed worldwide, dependent upon needs of the Navy and direction of the Defense Logistics Agency. Based on current trends, work will be distributed to the Far East (35 percent), Continental United States (CONUS) (35 percent), Hawaii (15 percent), Europe (10 percent) and Marianas (5 percent). For the CONUS estimate the 35 percent is estimated to be distributed to California (10.5 percent), Virginia (10.5 percent), Florida (5.25 percent), Washington (5.25 percent), Texas (1.75 percent), Georgia (0.35 percent), Louisiana (0.35 percent), Maryland (0.35 percent), Nevada (0.35 percent) and North Carolina (0.35 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of February 2020. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/25/15)

SSC won't test AJ-26 replacement

Orbital Sciences does not plan to do acceptance tests of the RD-181 engines at Stennis Space Center, Miss. That's according to a story in Aviation Week about the engines Orbital Sciences chose to replace the Russian-built NK-33 engines. Those engines, modified by Aerojet as the AJ-26, had been tested at SSC before being used to power Orbital's Antares rocket on resupply missions to the International Space Station. The switch to Russian-built RD-181s followed the October 2014 failure of an Antares launch vehicle seconds after lifting off from Wallops Island, Va. The first shipment of the engines to Orbital ATK will be this summer. (Source: Aviation Week, 02/24/15)

Bell 505 has successful flight

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Bell Helicopter said today that the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X's second flight test vehicle has successfully achieved its first flight. The Bell 505's flight test vehicle one completed its first flight in November of last year. Bell Helicopter unveiled the Jet Ranger X at HELI-Expo 2014 in February and has already received more than 300 letters of intent for the new model. Bell Helicopter is a Textron company. (Source: Bell Helicopter, 02/25/15) Gulf Coast note: Bell in August 2014 broke ground on an 82,300 square-foot helicopter assembly plant in Lafayette, La., about 135 miles west of New Orleans, that will assemble Bell 505 Short Light Single helicopters. Previous

Airbus mulls output hike

Airbus is talking to suppliers about the possibility of raising production of the A320 family of aircraft to 50 a month as early as 2017. That’s what a senior industry source told Reuters on Tuesday. Airbus has asked suppliers to be ready to adjust to production of 48 aircraft a month during 2016, rising to 50 a month in 2017. The increase would stretch an existing target that calls for 46 of the single-aisle jets a month by the second quarter of 2016, up from a current rate of 42. A spokesman declined to comment ahead of Airbus Group’s annual results due to be released on Friday. (Source: Reuters, 02/24/15) Gulf Coast note: The Airbus A320 FAL in Mobile is scheduled to open this year. The first major shipment of sections from Europe will arrive in June. Previous

Rolls-Royce NA getting new leader

Marion Blakey is leaving the Aerospace Industries Association to become the CEO and president of Rolls-Royce North America, both organizations announced Tuesday. She's replacing James Guyette, who retires from Rolls-Royce May 31. Blakey, an Alabama native, has been with AIA, an industry organization, for eight years. Rolls-Royce North America has more than 8,000 workers in 26 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces and three Mexican states. Major operations are at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, Miss., where it has an outdoor engine testing facility; Indianapolis; Prince George County, Va.; Walpole, Mass.; Oakland, Calif.; and Montreal. (Source: multiple, including Aviation Week, Rolls-Royce, Aerospace Industries Association, 02/24/15)

Contract: Airbus D&S, $28.3M

Airbus Defense and Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $28,320,933 modification (P00883) to contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 for contractor logistic support for 2015, which entails flying hours for various contract line item numbers within and outside of the continental United States, mission equipment packages and direct labor support. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $28,320,933 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2015. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/24/15)

Airport concessions open

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- After extensive renovations, the main post-security food and beverage concessions area at Pensacola International Airport has reopened. Einstein Bros. Bagels, Freshens, and the Pensacola Beach House bar and restaurant began serving customers Tuesday morning. Construction also is progressing on the planned post-security Chick-Fil-A, which is expected to open within 90 days. The city’s contract with OHM Concessions Group is expected to generate more than $1 million in additional revenue for Pensacola International Airport. (Source: City of Pensacola, 02/24/15)

County seeks funds for air park

MILTON, Fla. -- The Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners hosted a legislative delegation tour Monday as part of a funding request to develop Whiting Aviation Park adjacent to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The commission is requesting some $4.9 million for two years in special legislative appropriations for phase one and partial phase two construction of the park. With 269 acres available, Whiting Aviation Park would offer access to 6,000 feet of NAS Whiting's runway through the first of its kind limited use agreement between the Navy and county. (Source: Santa Rosa County, Pensacola Today, 02/23/15)

Israel to buy more F-35 jets

Israel has signed a contract to buy 14 additional F-35 fighter jets from the United States for about $3 billion, the defense ministry said on Sunday. The deal follows Israel's purchase in 2010 of 19 of the Lockheed Martin-built fighters. The ministry said an agreement to buy the 14 additional aircraft was signed over the weekend and included an option for another 17 of the planes. Israel's first two F-35s will arrive by the end of 2016. (Source: multiple, including Reuters, AFP via DefenseNews, 02/22/15, AP via Star-Telegram, 02/23/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

EDC gets drone center study grant

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- The Okaloosa County Economic Development Council has been awarded a state grant that will partially be used to fund further study of the proposed unmanned vehicle test center. The EDC has partnered with the University of Florida for the past five years to develop the Autonomous Vehicle Center test facility south of the college’s Research and Engineering Education Facility just outside Eglin Air Force Base. The EDC was recently awarded a $285,000 Florida Defense Support Taskforce grant, which will used to help fund three major initiatives the EDC is undertaking, including the Advanced Energy Technology Center. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 02/23/15)

Contract: SARAA, $13.4M

South Alabama Regional Airport Authority, Andalusia, Ala., has been awarded a maximum $13,358,124 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for jet fuel. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. This is a four-year contract. Location of performance is Alabama, with a March 31, 2019 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-15-D-0007). (Source: DoD, 02/23/15)

New AFMC commander nominated

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Air Force officials announced the nomination of Lt. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowsi to the rank of general with assignment as the commander of Air Force Materiel Command. Officials also announced the retirement of current AFMC Commander Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger. No date was announced for the retirement and change of command. Pawlikowski is currently the Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. (Source: Air Force Materiel Command, 02/18/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is an AFMC base.

Software won't stop F-35

Lockheed Martin may need to update its F-35 software after issues arose during testing, but it should not delay Marines Corps plans to declare its variant ready for combat use in July. That's according to company executive Orlando Carvalho. The executive vice president of Lockheed-Aeronautics said there had been some issues that came up during radar tracking tests in the jet's mission systems software, but that they were manageable. He did not view the software challenge as a showstopper for the Marines. The F-35 has been dogged by software issues, but most of the problems have been worked out. (Source: Reuters 02/18/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center and the U.S. Reprogramming Laboratory.

Ship laser weapons move forward

Boeing been awarded a $29.5 million contract to design and develop a beam control system that could provide exceptional accuracy for laser weapons on U.S. Navy warships. Boeing will begin to design a prototype High Power Beam Control Subsystem that's compatible with High Energy Lasers based on solid-state laser technology. Boeing's solution will be compatible with systems other companies are designing for the Office of Naval Research's Solid State Laser Technology Maturation program. The resulting beam control system will focus and hold a laser on a moving aim point long enough to disable the target. Doing that with a ship-based laser is particularly challenging, given the maritime environment and constant movement of an at-sea vessel. The Boeing beam control system capitalizes on the company's work with the U.S. Army's High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD). In demonstrations at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 2014, HEL MD acquired, tracked and destroyed targets in windy and foggy conditions. (Source: Boeing, 02/17/15) Previous

Airport changing name

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – The Okaloosa County Commission voted 3-2 Tuesday night to change the name of Northwest Florida Regional Airport to Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Airport. Much of the discussion centered on the pros and cons of using "international" in the new name rather than "regional" as part of the moniker. The airport is at Eglin Air Force Base. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 02/17/15)

Jackson County site certified

MARIANNA, Fla. -- Marianna Airport Commerce Park has become the first certified site in Jackson County through Gulf Power’s Florida First Sites program. Florida First Sites program was created in 2013 to help communities prepare locations to attract new industries and new jobs to the region. Fourteen sites were initially submitted from public and private landowners. Of those 14 sites, five have been certified and five are still working toward their certification. The 237-acre Jackson County industrial site is owned by the City of Marianna and adjacent to the Marianna Municipal Airport. The airport has two 5,000-foot runways and features 214 developable, contiguous acres. For more information on the program, click here. (Source: Gulf Power, 02/17/15) Previous

Army aviation targets future

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Army Aviation leaders gathered earlier this month for the annual Aviation Senior Leaders Forum at Fort Rucker to chart its future course. About 150 senior leaders attended the Feb. 3-6 event. Key aviation topics include manned-unmanned teaming, modernization strategy, training and leader development, lessons learned from recently deployed combat aviation brigades, combined arms air-ground maneuver and enlisted training. Fort Rucker is the home to Army Aviation training. (Source: Fort Rucker Public Affairs 02/13/15)

Contract: Lockheed, $39.6M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $39,608,596 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-13-C-0008) for procurement of electronic components in support of F-35 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, International Partners and the governments of Israel and Japan. These components are in support of production, sustainment and operations and maintenance requirements resulting from diminishing manufacturing sources. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement, Navy and Air Force, international partner and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $28,894,731 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force (43 percent), the U.S. Marine Corps (15 percent), U.S. Navy (9.4 percent), international partners (26.5 percent) and the governments of Israel (3.1 percent) and Japan (3 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting authority. (Source: DoD, 02/13/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

NASA awards yard for barge work

MORGAN CITY, La. -- Conrad Industries Inc. has received the NASA Space Flight Awareness Supplier Award based on its work with the conversion of the NASA Pegasus barge. This annual award honors outstanding performance by hardware, software, or service suppliers who support NASA human space flight programs. Awardees are chosen based on their production of high-quality products, excellent technical and cost performance, and adherence to schedules. The barge, long used to transport shuttle external tanks for the Space Shuttle program, has been lengthened from 260 to 310 feet to accommodate components for the Space Launch System program. The upgraded Pegasus is set to transport the first major SLS hardware from New Orleans to NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., for testing as early as next year. (Source: PRNewswire, 02/12/15) Previous

Munitions experts reach out

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airborne weapons experts are reaching out to the defense industry for help to develop an affordable guidance system for a future air-to-air munition. The Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate at Eglin released a solicitation earlier this month for the Miniature Self Defense Munition Seeker Conceptual Design project. The initiative seeks to develop a conceptual design for the optics and algorithms of an affordable seeker front end for a defensive air-to-air weapon. Researchers tentatively plan to award two separate six-month contracts in April. For details, visit the FedBizOpps solicitation shown in sources. (Sources: Military and Aerospace Electronics, 02/12/15; FedBizOpps, 02/04/15)

Navy helo makes hard landing

MILTON, Fla. -- A Training Air Wing 5 helicopter from Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., made a hard landing about 5:10 p.m. today at Spencer Navy Outlying Landing Field in Pace, to the west of Milton. Initial reports indicate the helicopter rolled onto its right side while landing. The two pilots exited the helicopter on their own and were transported to Santa Rosa Medical Center for evaluation. The incident is being investigated, according to the release. (Source: NAS Whiting Field public affairs 02/12/15)

U.S. a hotspot for aerospace

SEATTLE -- The aerospace industry is shifting more manufacturing to the United States after a decade in which production jobs went to China and other emerging economies. That's according to a new study by ICF International, which analyzed more than 2,000 investment transactions made since 2000 and found 28 manufacturing investments in the United States from 2012 to 2013. That's compared to eight each in China and Mexico and four in Brazil. A decade earlier, Mexico led the pack. The study was mentioned at the annual Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference this week. This year, for the first time, a northwest Florida economic development group is the primary sponsor of the conference. Jennifer Conoley, economic development representative for Gulf Power, said the $15,000 sponsorship by Florida’s Great Northwest economic development group was a great way to get in front of the audience. (Source: Reuters, 02/11/15)

Contract: Lockheed, $16.5M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $16,492,000 undefinitized delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-14-G-0020) for the procurement and installation of vehicle management computer retrofit modification kits into designated aircraft that are critical to meeting F-35 requirements. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (45 percent); Ogden, Utah (20 percent); Cherry Point, N.C. (20 percent); Yuma, Ariz. (5 percent); Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (5 percent); and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2016. Fiscal 2013 and 2015 aircraft procurement (Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force), fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funds (Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force) and International Partner funds in the amount of $8,246,000 are being obligated on this award, $4,051,934 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, 02/12/15)

Contract: OASIS, $23.7M

OASIS System LLC, Lexington, Mass., has been awarded a $23,748,310 indefinite-delivery/ indefinite quantity modification (P00025) to exercise the option on previously awarded contract FA9200-10-D-0173. Contractor will provide additional diverse non-engineering, technical and acquisition management support services already being provided under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2015. This contract involves foreign military sales. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/12/15)

Contract: COLSA, $23.8M

COLSA Corp., Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $23,748,310 modification (P00023) to exercise the option on previously awarded contract FA9200-10-D-0166. Contractor will provide additional diverse non-engineering, technical and acquisition management support services already being provided under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2015. This contract involves foreign military sales. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/12/15)

Contract: Airbus, $220.6M

Airbus Defense and Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $220,564,993 modification (P00882) to contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 to procure forty-one 72A Lakota Helicopters to include forty-one Airborne Radio Communications 231 Radios. Fiscal 2015 other procurement funds in the amount of $220,564,993 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2017. Work will be performed Columbus, Miss. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/12/15)

Asiana plans to buy 25 A321s

South Korea's Asiana Airlines signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus for the purchase of 25 A321neo single aisle aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet modernization program. Seating 180 passengers in a two class layout, the new aircraft will be operated on the carrier’s regional services, as well as on selected domestic routes. Asiana will make a decision on its engine of choice for the aircraft at a later date. (Source: Airbus, 02/11/15) Gulf Coast note: The A320 family assembly line in Mobile, Ala., will open this year. Its first aircraft to be delivered in 2016 will be an A321ceo for JetBlue.

Contract: UTC, $9.4M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a $9,365,128 modification to the previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract, N00019-13-C-0016. This modification is for common recurring sustainment and annualized and non-annualized common depot activation services in support of Low Rate Initial Production Lot VIII F135 propulsion systems. Work will be performed in Hartford and is expected to be completed in April 2017. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement (Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps) funds and international partner funds in the amount of $9,365,128 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchase for the U.S. Air Force (49 percent); the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps (42 percent); and the international partners (9 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/11/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $14.5M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $14,488,097 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-02-C-3002) to incorporate Block 3i requirements into the F-35 United States Reprogramming Laboratory, including software upgrade, hardware refresh, end-to-end demonstration and certification and accreditation. Work will be performed at Fort Worth, Texas (88 percent) and Orlando, Fla. (12 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2016. Fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,806,815 are being obligated on this 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, 02/10/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center and the F-35 U.S. Reprogramming Laboratory.

Eglin to test F-15 satellite launch

The Pentagon's research agency plans its first in-air test to launch satellites from the underside of an F-15 fighter jet from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., later this year. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to begin the initial flight-test phase of its Airborne Launch Assist Space Access program (ALASA) in a series of 12 orbital flights that would start in early 2016. The first three orbital launches are engineering checkout payloads, said Bradford Tousley, director of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office. Under the ALASA military space project, once the F-15 gets to a designated altitude, the rocket releases over the Atlantic Ocean and ignites, carrying its payload into orbit. ALASA’s goal is to make launching small payloads less expensive and more efficient. (Source: Space.com 02/10/15)

Putting money where their mouth is

ANDALUSIA, Ala. -- Rural South Alabama's efforts to lure aerospace operations pre-dates the Airbus decision to set up an assembly line in Mobile, but those plans and a willingness to spend money kicked it in high gear. Feature story. (Source: GCRL article, GCRL Newsletter, 02/10/15)

At 57, company still on cutting edge

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- It's a grand-daddy of Okaloosa County's defense contractors, born the same year the Russians launched Sputnik, a time when computers took up entire rooms. Fast forward. Space flight is routine, powerful computers fit in your hand and grand-dad is still around, working on cutting edge electronics for the F-35. Feature story. (Source: GCRL article, GCRL Newsletter, 02/10/15)

Avalex innovator in key security field

GULF BREEZE, Fla. -- Avalex Technologies is a player in the high-growth surveillance sector, and while most of its customers are in the United States, international sales are picking up. Is a tech park with Avalex as the anchor in the future? Feature story. (Source: GCRL article, GCRL Newsletter, 02/10/15)

Mobile poised for historic cargo

MOBILE, Ala. -- The first American-built Airbus, an A321 for JetBlue, won't roll out until 2016, but the gears are in motion to bring the European-built sections to Mobile, marking the start of a new era in U.S. aviation history. Feature story. (Source: GCRL article, GCRL Newsletter, 02/10/15)

Duke adding C-146A

C-146A at Duke Field. Air Force photo

DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- Duke Field's 5th Special Operations Squadron has added another airframe to its list of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aircraft to train aircrews. The reserve squadron began C-146A Wolfhound formal training unit flights in December at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. To date the squadron has trained six pilots and four loadmasters. The aircraft will be a new addition to Duke Field in 2015, said 919th SOS commander Col. Jim Phillips. The 49th SOS, a reserve operational squadron, is scheduled to stand up at Duke Field in the fall and concentrate exclusively with the C-146. (Source: 919th Special Operations Wing, 02/09/15)

Avianca wants 100 A320neos

Avianca Holdings S.A. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for 100 A320neo family aircraft. Avianca, headquartered in Bogota, Colombia will base its fleet renewal strategy on the A320neo family, according to Airbus. To date, the A320neo program has 245 firm orders from seven customers in Latin America: Avianca, Azul, Interjet, LAN, TAM, VivaAerobus and Volaris. (Source: Airbus, 02/05/15) Gulf Coast note: Airbus will open an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., later this year. Other A320 FALs are in Germany, France and China.

Contract: Lockheed, $36.8M

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., has been awarded a $36,819,781 modification (P00082) to previously awarded contract FA8810-08-C-0002 for Space Based Infra-Red Systems (SBIRS) follow-on production. The contract is being modified to change the initial launch capability dates for SBIRS Geosynchronous Earth Orbit 3-4 space vehicles in order to support new launch manifest dates and also procure storage for the GEO-3 space vehicle. Work will be performed at Sunnyvale and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2018. Fiscal year 2015 missile procurement funds in the amount of $25,504,071 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile System Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/05/15) Gulf Coast note: The SBIRS is an A2100 satellite-based spacecraft. Work on the A2100 core's propulsion system, which positions the spacecraft in orbit, is done at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Contract: Lockheed, $35.6M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $35,600,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-14-G-0020) to complete a Joint Strike Missile (JSM) risk reduction and integration study of the F-35 Air System for the Government of Norway. The objectives of the study are to further mature JSM weapon design and to ensure compatibility of the weapon with the F-35. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (50 percent) and Kongsberg, Norway (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2018. International partner funds in the amount of $10,000,000 are being obligated on this 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, 02/05/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Pegasus barge being supersized

The Pegasus barge, originally designed to transport Space Shuttle external tanks from New Orleans to Florida, is well on its way to being supersized. Its new role will be to transport the huge Space Launch System stages. The upgraded Pegasus is set to transport the first major SLS hardware from New Orleans to NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., for testing as early as next year. The barge's final role in shuttle program was when it shipped Space Shuttle Main Engine ground support equipment to Stennis from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The barge was mothballed at Stennis in 2011, and is now being modified by Conrad Shipyard LLC in Amelia, La. (Source: NASA Spaceflight.com, 02/04/15)

Airport eyes security improvements

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The city is considering beefing up security at Pensacola International Airport with a high-tech electronic system that will cost $533,000 to install. The system will use cameras and motion detection software to stop people from entering the concourse area through the exit lane, which could allow passengers to bypass security. A visible or audible warning will alert airport personnel and automatically close doors to prevent access to the concourse area if someone enters the area through the exit lane. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 02/04/15)

Contract: Northrop, $16.6M

Northrop Grumman, Annapolis, Md., is being awarded a $16,552,553 delivery order to previously awarded contract (N61331-10-D-0009) for the procurement of field upgradeable kits and fleet support for conversion of the AN/AQS-24A mine detecting sensor systems to the AN/AQS-24B configuration in support of the Airborne Mine Countermeasure Systems Program. Work will be performed in Annapolis and is expected to be completed by July 2016. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/04/15)

Military exercise set for bay, Gulf

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron will conduct flight and boat operations Feb. 9-12 in the Gulf of Mexico some eight to 20 miles south of Destin and in Choctawhatchee Bay. The operations are part of the 53rd Wing's Weapon System Evaluation Program. Fighter aircraft will release munitions between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Gulf of Mexico within a cordoned, cleared surface range safety corridor. In the afternoon from 1 to 6 p.m., about 30 boats will be used as visual targets by fighter aircraft and helicopters flying mid to low level altitudes. No weapons or ammunition will be involved in the flights in the Choctawhatchee Bay. Some boat operators will be dressed in various military uniforms and white costumes and may carry rubber rifles, painted in highly visible colors. Some boats will have simulated, fake deck guns and rocket launcher tubes. The boats may use marine flares as visual markers. Notices to mariners will be issued prior to the missions and flyers will be handed out at the local marina. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 02/04/15)

Work to begin on drones for Korea

Northrop Grumman will begin production of four RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems for the Republic of Korea's air force. The systems will provide wide-area intelligence gathering capabilities to military commanders. Under a contract awarded Dec. 16, the company will work with the U.S. Air Force to deliver the systems starting in 2018. The contract is for four aircraft, two ground stations and supporting equipment. It's the first time Global Hawk has been sold to an allied nation in the Asia-Pacific region under the Foreign Military Sales process. (Source: Northrop Grumman via Globe Newswire, 02/02/15) Gulf Coast note: Central fuselage work on Global Hawks is done in Moss Point, Miss.