MAF simulates engine install

NEW ORLEANS -- Engineers at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans are using a pathfinder RS-25 engine to practice the installation of engines on the Core Stage of the Space Launch System (SLS). Each core will receive four RS-25s, currently undergoing test firings at the Stennis Space Center, ahead of a path that will see them being shipped to MAF. The installation of all four R-25s on the Core Stage will be a major milestone on the path to Exploration Mission-1, the first launch of SLS. Test firings at the Stennis Space Center (SSC) continue to serve toward the readiness of that milestone, with the first four flight engines now closing in on shipping to MAF to be installed on Core State-1 (CS-1). Those engines, all Space Shuttle veterans, are E2045 in position 1, E2056 in position 2, E2058 in position 3, and E2060 in position 4. All four of these RS-25s will remain at SSC until MAF engineers have completed the work on CS-1. The latest schedule shows the four engines will make the journey to New Orleans in May of next year. (Source: NASA Spaceflight, 11/30/17)

Gunship crew wins Mackay

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Fourteen AC-130U gunship crewmembers provided close-air-support to a U.S. Special Forces team and 43 Afghan soldiers near Kunduz, Afghanistan Nov. 2, 2016. The crew's persistent fire support, presence of mind and courage during two hours of intense combat ultimately saved 50 lives. For their actions the aircrew of the AC-130U gunship known as "Spooky 43" were presented the 2016 Mackay Trophy by Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen W. Wilson at an awards ceremony in Arlington Nov. 29, 2017. The crew is based out of Hurlburt Field, Fla. The Mackay Trophy was first awarded in 1912 and honors the most meritorious Air Force flight of the previous year. (Source: AFNS, 12/01/17)

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)

Tyndall chosen for MQ-9 Wing

The Air Force has selected Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., as the preferred location for hosting a new MQ-9 Reaper Wing with 24 remotely piloted aircraft. Vandenberg AFB, Calif., is considered a reasonable alternative. The wing will be composed of an operations group with mission control elements as well as a launch and recovery capability, and a maintenance group. "We selected Tyndall Air Force Base because it was the best location to meet the unique requirements of the MQ-9 Reaper," Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said. That includes fewer aircraft competing for air space, nearby training ranges, great weather and lower up-front costs, Wilson added. Based on current projections, Airmen are expected to begin arriving at the new location as early as 2020. The first aircraft are expected to arrive in 2022. (Source: Air Force Public Affairs, 11/28/17) Previous

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) Gulf Coast 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)

Crestview Aerospace for sale

CRESTVIEW, Fla. -- L3 Crestview Aerospace, which has more than 500 workers at its facilities in Crestview at Bob Sikes Airport, is up for sale. The Crestview plant manufactures and modifies cabins, fuselages, tail booms and other parts for commercial and military aircraft. L3 Crestview Aerospace also includes a plant in Chihuahua, Mexico, that produces sheet metal and parts for commercial aircraft structures. The possible sale is part of a move by New York-based L3 Technologies to focus on more profitable businesses. L3 initially announced its intent to sell Vertex Aerospace, which includes Crestview Aerospace, a couple of weeks ago. The announcement that Crestview Aerospace is for sale does not mean that layoffs or other job actions at the company's local facility are imminent, said L3 spokesman Lance Martin. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 11/21/17)

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)

SLS/Orion behind the scenes

WIRED magazine takes a look behind the scenes at five NASA facilities, including Michoud and Stennis Space Center, to capture how engineers build and test in preparation for the 2019 launch of the most powerful rocket ever built, the Space Launch System. (Source: WIRED, December 2017)

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)

Contract: Arete, $7.5M

Arête Associates, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $7,455,192 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N61331-11-C-0007) to provide Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) program systems support for the AN/DVS-1 COBRA Block 1 system and support equipment. The primary mission of AN/DVS-1 COBRA program is to conduct unmanned aerial tactical reconnaissance in littoral battlespace for detection and localization of mine fields and obstacles in the surf zone and beach zone prior to amphibious assault. For the base contract, statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition used was 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(5) (authorized or required by statute (PL 106-554 SBIR)). Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be completed by December 2018. Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,625,005 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/20/17)

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)

Stratolaunch to test at SSC

An agreement to test engines at a NASA center in South Mississippi is the latest sign that Stratolaunch is considering developing its own launch vehicle for its giant aircraft. The Space Act Agreement between Stratolaunch and NASA's Stennis Space Center, signed Sept. 13, covers "reimbursable testing and related support services to Stratolaunch to support propulsion, vehicle, and ground support system development and testing activities." An annex to that agreement says it involves "testing of its propulsion system test article element 1" at the E1 test stand. Stratolaunch plans to deliver the test article to Stennis for "fit tests and checkouts" by the end of May 2018, with the test series completed by the end of 2018. Stratolaunch will pay NASA $5.1 million under the reimbursable agreement to cover costs of the test campaign, including an upfront payment of $1 million. (Source: SpaceNews, 11/15/17)

Mobile has role in huge order

MOBILE, Ala. – The A320 assembly line here, which was already scheduled to build jetliners for Frontier Airlines starting next year, will now build even more thanks to a major deal announced at the Dubai Airshow today. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Airbus and Indigo Partners for 430 additional A320neo aircraft, comprised of 273 A320neos and 157 A321neos worth $49.5 billion at list price. When added to existing A320 series orders, the new agreement will make Indigo partners one of the largest customers by order number for Airbus single-aisle aircraft. Airlines in the Indigo Partners family previously have placed orders for 427 A320 family aircraft. Engine selections will be announced at a later date. "Any A320 order placed anywhere in the world is good for Mobile because it means a strong order book and solidifies the U.S. Manufacturing Facility's role in Airbus' global production network," wrote Kristi Tucker of Airbus' Mobile operation. "It's extra special when there's a direct connection to the order, such as this one." (Source: GCAC, Airbus, 11/15/17) Previous

Airbus nears historic deal

Airbus SE is nearing the biggest deal in its history, negotiating to sell 430 A320neo single-aisle planes valued at more than $40 billion to U.S. investor Indigo Partners, people familiar with the matter said. The aircraft would go to airlines in Indigo’s investment portfolio: Frontier Airlines, Mexico’s Volaris, European carrier Wizz Air Holdings and JetSmart, which began operating this year in Chile. The Airbus-Indigo transaction is set to be announced Wednesday. Airbus builds the A320 family of jetliners in Toulouse, France; Hamburg, Germany; Tianjin, China; and Mobile, Ala. (Source: Bloomberg, 11/14/17)

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)

C Series impact outlined

Bombardier Inc. is forecasting it plans to spend $300 million on its C Series assembly facility in Mobile, Ala., creating as many as 2,000 jobs in the U.S. Airbus and Canada-based Bombardier announced in October that they had agreed to form a partnership to build Bombardier's C Series passenger jets in Mobile. The C series project would create 400 to 500 direct jobs and 550 to 700 indirect jobs at supplier and support companies. The forecast was part of a regulatory filing. Still to be determined is the fate of the proposed import duties of 300 percent on the C Series tentatively imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce in response to a price-dumping claim made by Boeing. (Sources: multiple, including Montreal Gazette, 11/08/17; al.com, 11/09/17; Witchita Business Journal, 11/10/17)