RS-68A successfully tested

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- Aerojet Rocketdyne on Friday successfully completed its latest acceptance test on a liquid-fueled RS-68A booster engine, used to power United Launch Alliance's Delta IV launch vehicle. The routine three-minute hot-fire test was conducted by the company's Center of Excellence for Large Liquid Rocket Engine Assembly and Test at SSC. This is Aerojet Rocketdyne's 119th hot-fire test on the production model of the RS-68 engine family. The RS-68A is the world's most powerful liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen booster engine and provides 702,000 pounds of lift-off thrust, some 17 million horsepower. The test of the RS-68A, certified for use in 2011, is part of acceptance testing done to validate engine performance before delivery to the customer in Decatur, Ala. (Source: Aerojet Rocketdyne, 07/15/16)

Flight Medic course launched

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute on July 11 launched a new Flight Medic course at Navy Medicine Operational Training Center for seven search and rescue hospital corpsmen. The course is for search and rescue corpsmen to receive required flight medical training. In the past this was done at the sailor’s command. No formal course existed for standardized training until the Navy joined with the Air Force and Army in 2004 to provide a more structured education. The three services went their separate ways April 1, and the Navy moved its course from Fort Rucker, Ala., to Pensacola. The logistics included everything from ordering textbooks to placing a full-size simulation helicopter. NAMI set up simulated H-60 and V-22 aircraft, the current operational standard in the fleet. (Source: Military.com 07/13/16)

RS-25 has early shutdown

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- A minor issue with the test stand triggered an early shutdown in the latest test of an RS-25 engine, officials said. The test of developmental engine No. 0528 was Thursday on the A-1 test stand. The RS-25 engines will provide core stage power for NASA's Space Launch System. Initiated at 5:57 p.m. (CST), the test stand issue triggered an early shutdown 193 seconds into the test, scheduled for 650 seconds. No issues were reported with the engine, and the next test is planned for August. Even with the early shutdown, the test will provide valuable performance data on the new engine controller and operating parameters needed for launch of the SLS. Officials will determine missed development points can be added to one of the four future tests in the series. The test was conducted by a team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services engineers and operators. Aerojet Rocketdyne is the prime contractor for the RS-25 engines. Syncom Space Services is the prime contractor for Stennis facilities and operations. (Source: NASA/SSC, 07/15/16)

SSC restricted airspace expanded

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- The Federal Aviation Administration expanded the restricted air space over NASA's Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi. The expansion supports ongoing rocket engine testing at SSC and allows tenants to test unmanned aerial vehicles for research and development. The air space also is used for training by the Department of Defense and commercial companies. The restricted air space was initially defined over SSC in the 1960s to test Apollo Saturn V rockets. The expansion, which went into effect on May 26, covers five areas of about 100 square miles between Stennis International Airport in Kiln and the Picayune, Miss., airport. Of the five areas under the expansion, three are for use by the Department of Defense, whose training includes firing lasers from the air to the ground. The other two areas are designated for NASA's missions. (Sources: Mississippi Business Journal, Sun Herald, 07/14/16) Previous

BluesMobile to attend AirVenture

The first Airbus jetliner built in the United States – the JetBlue A321 BluesMobile – will participate in this month's EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016. The 64th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisc. The A321, built at the new Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Ala., was delivered to JetBlue in April. It will be in Oshkosh July 26 and on display along the AirVenture flightline. (Source: EAA Airventure Oshkosh, 06/30/16) The assembly line in Mobile so far has delivered five jetliners to customers.

Blue Angels announce solo pilot

The Navy’s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron announced the selection of a prior Blue Angels pilot to serve as the new Blue Angel No. 6 opposing solo pilot. Navy Cmdr. Frank Weisser will return to the team for the remainder of the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Weisser previously served on the Blue Angels from 2008-2010. (Source: NNS, 07/11/16) Weisser replaces Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, who died in a crash during a practice session in Tennessee June 2. Previous

Raytheon to demo EW upgrade

The Air Force awarded Raytheon a potential $34.8 million contract to demonstrate an updated electronic warfare technology for the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer. Raytheon said it is scheduled to complete development of MALD-X, successor of the current MALD-J model, within a 24-month period and will conduct two flight demonstrations to showcase the aerial decoy’s EW upgrades. MALD-X will feature an EW payload, a low-altitude flight mode and a datalink, the company noted. MALD-X is a collaborative effort of the Air Force, Navy, Special Capabilities Office at the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base’s MALD Program Office. Raytheon designed MALD to duplicate friendly aircraft flight profiles and radar signatures to confuse adversaries. (Source: Executive Biz, 07/11/16)

SSC to assemble AR1 engine

Aerojet Rocketdyne announced that assembly and testing of its AR1 advanced liquid rocket engine will be done at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., a move that will expand the company's Center of Excellence for Large Liquid Rocket Engine Assembly and Test at SSC from a workforce of 130 to more than 200. The announcement was made at the Farnborough International Air Show. The AR1 is being developed to support the country's mandate to eliminate U.S. reliance on the Russian RD-180 engine for national security space launches by 2019. Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at SSC is already home for assembly and testing of the RS-68 engine that powers the Delta IV family of launch vehicles, and the RS-25 engine that will power NASA's Space Launch System. As a part of the buildup for RS-25 assembly and testing, Aerojet Rocketdyne is locating its RS‑25 low pressure turbopump assembly to the company’s facility at SSC. (Source: Aerojet Rocketdyne, 07/11/16)

AF releases candidate bases

The Air Force announced eight installations as candidate locations where it will potentially consolidate its Battlefield Airman training. The installations are Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and Patrick AFB, all in Florida; Keesler AFB, Miss.; Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; Shaw AFB, S.C.; and Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Last year, the Air Force reviewed its Battlefield Airman training, airmen who are part of the nation’s special ops forces. The review determined grouping training at consolidated locations may lead to improvements and synergies in the current training processes. As a result, the Air Force is investigating potential locations to consolidate training. (Source: AFNS, 07/07/16)

Contract: Lockheed, $559.5M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $559,500,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-firm contract for non-air vehicle spares, support equipment, autonomic logistics information system hardware and software upgrades, supply chain management, full mission simulators and non-recurring engineering services in support of low rate initial production lot 10 F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Non Department of Defense (DoD) Participants, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla. (79 percent); Redondo Beach, Calif. (10 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (9 percent); and Samlesbury, United Kingdom (2 percent), and is expected to be completed July 2022. This contract combines purchases for the non DoD participants (46 percent); Air Force (23 percent); foreign military sales customers (19 percent); Navy (6 percent); and Marine Corps (6 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-0004). (Source: DoD, 07/07/16) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: UTC, $1.5B

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded $1,509,856,423 for firm-fixed-price, incentive-firm target modification P00005 to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-15-C-0004). This modification provides components, parts, and materials for the production of Low Rate Initial Production Lot 10 F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the Air Force (44); Navy (4); and (9) F-135-PW-600 propulsion systems for the Marine Corps. In addition, this modification provides components, parts and materials for (36) F135 –PW-100 propulsion systems for the international partners and Foreign Military Sales customers; (4) F135-PW-600 propulsion systems for the international partners; and (2) F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the global spares pool. Work will be performed in East Hartford (89 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (8 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in Sept. 2019. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force (37 percent); Navy/Marine Corps (24 percent); International Partners (23 percent); and Foreign Military Sales customers (16 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/07/16) Gulf Coast note: F135 engines are used in the F-35 fighter. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the integrated training center.

Enlisted to fly Global Hawk

The Air Force recently selected the first 10 enlisted Airmen to attend RQ-4 Global Hawk pilot training, marking the first time since World War II enlisted Airmen will be behind the stick. The first combined enlisted and officer training course will begin October 2016, with the first enlisted Airmen expected to graduate in 2017. The initiative to incorporate enlisted pilots is the first step to developing future operating concepts within the multi-domain intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance enterprise. The Global Hawk is the most stable remotely piloted aircraft community and presents an opportunity now to integrate enlisted Airmen in RPAs to posture the force for dynamic future operating environments. (Source: AFNS, 07/07/16) Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.; pilot training is a major military activity in the region.

Contract: Sierra Nevada, $23.2M

Sierra Nevada Corp., Mary Esther, Fla., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $23,232,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract for forward operating location contractor logistic support. Contractor will perform 30-45 day excursions at forward operating locations in Afghanistan. Work will be performed at forward operating locations, Afghanistan, and is expected to be complete by May 30, 2017. This contract involves foreign military sales. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8637-16-C-6006). (Source: DoD, 07/01/16)

Contract: Raytheon, $28.3M

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $28,291,573 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-15-C-5406) for hardware kits in support of the Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System program. Kits are intended to upgrade the Phalanx weapons system to the latest approved configuration. Work will be performed in Forest, Miss. (50 percent); Dallas, Texas (28 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (13 percent), and Andover, Mass. (9 percent), and is expected to be completed by February 2018. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/01/16)

Contract: Lockheed, $93.9M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $93,862,479 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-13-C-0008) for procurement of diminishing manufacturing sources electronic components. The modification will support aircraft production through Lot 14 for U.S. facilities, and Lot 15 for international facilities for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Work will be performed in Richardson, Texas (98 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2017. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (45.04 percent); Navy (13.61 percent); Marine Corps (6.12 percent); foreign military sales customers (16.47 percent); and the international partners (31.79 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting authority. (Source: DoD, 07/06/16) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Raytheon, $118.5M

Raytheon Co. - Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded an $118,526,926 firm-fixed-price contract for Lot 9 Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer vehicles and support equipment. Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2020. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-16-C-0004). (Source: DoD, 06/29/16)

Contract: Davis Defense, $95M

Davis Defense Group, Stafford, Va., is being awarded a maximum ceiling $95,000,000 five-year, firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide professional support services including: administrative, editorial, engineering, instructional, multimedia, program management, student service support, instructional technology and subject matter experts for the Marine Corps College of Distance Education and Training (CDET) Distance Professional Military Education programs. Services will support the CDET mission to design, develop, deliver, evaluate, manage, and resource distance learning products and programs across the training and education continuum in order to increase operational readiness. CDET has the responsibility to develop and deliver career/service level school, intermediate/joint level school, and professional military education to eligible Marines. Work will be performed in Quantico, Va. (52 percent); Camp Lejeune, N.C. (8 percent); Camp Pendleton, Calif. (8 percent); Pensacola, Fla. (7 percent); Miramar, Calif.a (7 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (6 percent); Hawaii (6 percent); and Okinawa, Japan (6 percent), and work is expected to be completed by July 2021. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, is the contracting activity (M67854-16-D-7100). (Source: DoD, 06/28/16)

Contract: Wyle, $34M

Wyle Laboratories Inc., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $34,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide engineering and logistic services in support of the F-35 Joint Program Office. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., and is expected to be completed in June 2017. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-16-D-0030). (Source: DoD, 06/28/16) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Alion, $18M

Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Va., is being awarded an $18,091,846 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for engineering and logistics service in support of the F-35 Joint Program Office. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., and is expected to be completed in June 2017. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-16-D-0031). (Source: DoD, 06/28/16) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Blue Angels resume schedule

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will return to the 2016 demonstration schedule July 2-4 in Traverse City, Mich. The Blue Angels, based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., temporarily stood down, canceling three weekend shows, following a crash on June 2 during a practice in Smyrna, Tenn., in which Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss was killed. The team will fly a modified five jet demonstration in Traverse City, along with Fat Albert, the Blue Angels C-130. The Blue Angels will pick up with their schedule with Traverse City, Gary, Ind. and Pensacola. (Source: NNS, 06/25/16)