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.

F-35 tested in extreme weather lab

F-35 at McKinley Lab. Air Force photo

For the past four months a Marine Corps short take off vertical landing variant of the F-35 has undergone extreme weather testing at McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-35B is from the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force in Maryland, and the tests are being done by the 96th Test Wing. The testing is designed to validate the capability of the plane to operate in weather conditions anywhere in the world. With 13 countries currently involved with the program, the F-35 must be tested in meteorological conditions representative of those locations from which it will operate, ranging from the heat of the Outback of Australia to the cold of the Arctic Circle above Canada and Norway. The F-35B arrived at Eglin in September and is expected to remain at there until March in a six-month assessment. The laboratory supports all-weather testing of weapon systems to ensure they function regardless of climatic conditions.  (Sources: Multiple, including The Aviationist, Intelligent Aerospace, NAS Patuxent River, 01/29/15, Eglin Air Force Base, 02/02/15)

Contract: Lockheed, $10M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $10,000,000 ceiling priced modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-02-C-3002) to redesign, test and certify the F-35 Ground Based Data Security Assembly Receptacle. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (51 percent) and Orlando, Fla. (49 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2016. Fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $4,900,000 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, 01/30/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

SEALS use NOLF Choctaw

Naval Air Station Whiting Field's Navy Outlying Field Choctaw host­ed a short-notice Naval Special Warfare Group training exercise Jan. 23 when weather conditions left the East Coast SEAL team without a drop zone. After coordination with the NAS Whiting Field Air Opera­tions, NOLF Choctaw, used primarily for naval aviation training, was transformed for four multiple air drops from a Dobbins, Ga., Air Reserve Base C-130 that circled the field at about 10,000 feet. Choctaw air ops were halted for the four-hour training. NOLF Choctaw is near Navarre, Fla., one of 13 outlying fields assigned to Whiting. (Source: Whiting Tower, page 7, 01/28/15)

Airport now intergalactic, sort of

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Pensacola International Airport on Thursday unveiled a campaign designed to welcome sci-fi convention participants to town next month. The airport has put up signs that call the facility "Pensacola Intergalactic Airport" in advance of the Feb. 27 to March 1 Pensacon 2015. The welcoming campaign, which will last until March 3, was done in partnership with Pensacon. There are also banners with pop culture icons and gates that have been renamed "stargates." The convention includes fans of multiple comic genres, including anime, sci-fi, fantasy and more. It's the second year for the convention, which drew 17,000 last year. (Source: GCAC, 01/29/15)

Contract: L-3, $52M

L-3 Communications Corp., Madison, Miss., was awarded a $52,081,320 modification (P00144) to contract W58RGZ-10-C-0107 to acquire maintenance/modifications for the Army's fleet of C-12/RC-12/UC-35 fixed wing aircraft. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $52,081,320 were obligated at the time of the award. The estimated completion date is July 31, 2015. The work will be performed in Madison. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 01/29/15)

Contract: Multiple, $486M

InDyne Inc., Reston, Va. (FA8730-15-D-0001), L-3 National Security Solutions Inc., Reston, (FA8730-15-D-0002), Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Va. (FA8730-15-D-0003), and Xator Corp., Destin, Fla. (FA8730-15-D-0005), have each been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for force protection site security systems. The total not-to-exceed combined amount for these multiple contracts is $486,000,000. The contractors will worldwide acquisition, upgrade and sustainment of a family of Integrated Base Defense Security Systems. The location of performance will be determined in each delivery and all are expected to be complete by Jan. 28, 2022. Fiscal year 2015 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,000 are being obligated to each company at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 01/29/15)

Contract: Lockheed, $10.6M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $10,581,620 modification to the previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-11-C-0083) in support of the F-35 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot VI for the government of Italy. This modification provides for the F-35 Italian National Database, including a Database Generation System to support delivery of the first Italian full mission simulator. Work will be performed in Turin, Italy (80 percent) and Orlando, Fla. (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2017. International Partner funds in the amount of $10,581,620 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, 01/29/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Thunderbirds to fly at Keesler show

BILOXI, Miss. -- The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform at an air show at Keesler Air Force Base March 28-29. It will be Keesler's first air show and open house in four years. The Thunderbirds last performed their precision aerial maneuvers at Keesler in 2009, and the Navy's Blue Angels performed at Keesler in 2011. This year's air show also features the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team and is expected to draw between 180,000 and 200,000 spectators. (Source: Sun Herald, 01/28/15)

Contract: Crane, $9.8M

Crane Electronics Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., has been awarded a maximum $9,766,566 firm-fixed-price contract for high voltage power supplies. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. This contract has a five-year base with no option periods. The location of performance is Florida, with a Jan. 28, 2020 performance completion date. The using military service is Air Force. The type of appropriation is fiscal year 2015 Air Force working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Warner Robbins Air Force Base, Warner Robbins, Ga. (SPRWA1-15-D-0001). (Source: DoD, 01/28/15)

Contract: Airbus, $25M

Airbus Defense and Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24,989,250 modification (P00876) to contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 to procure program year 10 contractor logistic support for the UH-72A Lakota Helicopters. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $24,989,250 were obligated at the time of the award. The estimated completion date is Sept. 30, 2015. The work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 01/28/15)

Orbital, ATK merger OKd

DULLES, Va.--Orbital Sciences Corp. today announced stockholders voted to approve the proposed merger with the Aerospace and Defense Groups of Alliant Techsystems Inc. About 99 percent of the votes cast at a special meeting voted in favor, representing some 85 percent of the total of outstanding shares of Orbital common stock. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions to closing, the merger is expected to close on Monday, February 9, 2015. At closing of the merger, ATK will be renamed Orbital ATK Inc. (Source: Business Wire, 01/27/15) Gulf Coast note: Orbital Sciences tests rocket engines at Stennis Space Center, Miss. Previous

Contract: PAE, $31M

PAE Applied Technologies LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $31,044,959 modification (P00063) to exercise the option to previously awarded contract FA3010-13-C-0007 for base operations support services. Work will be performed at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2015. The 81st Contracting Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA3010-13-C-0007). (Source: DoD, 01/26/15)

First Aussie to begin F-35 training

The first Royal Australian Air Force pilot will start training this week at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to fly the F-35A. Squadron leader Andrew Jackson's first flight will be months from now, and may not be in either of Australia's two F-35A jets. Australia's second F-35A pilot, David Bell, will start training in mid-2015. Jackson will eventually serve as an instructor pilot for Australian F-35 pilots and other partner-nations. Australia plans to buy 72 of the planes, with the first arriving in Australia in late 2018. The first jet rolled off the production line in 2014. (Source: Australian Associated Press via The Guardian, 01/24/15) Eglin is home of the F-35 integrated training center, and trains pilots and maintainers from all U.S. branches and foreign partner nations.

More Airbus jobs posted

MOBILE, Ala. – Airbus posted two positions Friday for the A320 final assembly line being built at the Mobile Aeroplex. One opening is for a deliver transactions manager, and the other is for a sales contract manager. For a complete list of Airbus jobs in Mobile, visit the Alabama Industrial Development Training website. (Source: al.com, 01/23/15)