Contract: Raytheon, $163M

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $163,223,113 fixed-price/fixed-price-incentive/cost-plus-incentive contract for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Program Support and Sustainment (PSAS). The PSAS contract provides sustaining engineering, program management, contractor logistics support and accomplishes the diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortage tasks of extending the life of the AMRAAM Central Processing Unit, improving the AMRAAM guidance section within the current performance envelope, and developing applicable test equipment. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2017. This contract has unclassified 45.7 percent foreign military sales service/repair requirements for Saudi Arabia, Korea, Israel, Singapore and United Arab Emirates. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/EBAK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-14-C-0026). (Source: DoD, 06/30/14)

Contract: Lockheed, $38.4M

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Sunnyvale, Calif., has been awarded a $38,378,116 modification (P00645) to the cost-plus-incentive-fee contract F04701-02-C-0002 for Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) System Interim Contractor Sustainment Re-vector under cost line item number 0610. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $8,752,571,223. The contract modification is for critical software development for Mission Planning Development for initial operational capability in 2015. Work will be performed at Sunnyvale and El Segundo, Calif., and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2015. Space and Missile Systems Center/PKJ, AEHF, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/30/14) Gulf Coast note: Lockheed does core propulsion system work for AEHR at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Baldwin gets 6th AdvantageSite

LOXLEY, Ala. -- Loxley Commerce Site late last week became Baldwin County's sixth site to be designated an Alabama AdvantageSite. The program is coordinated by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and is a collaboration between the private sector and state and local governments aimed at increasing the marketability of locations in Alabama. Since its inception in 2008, the program has recognized 48 locations in the state after meeting guidelines such as utility and environmental standards, size, zoning and accessibility. The 152.5-acre Loxley Commerce Site is about two miles from Interstate 10. This site is also adjacent to the to the 50-acre Loxley North Property which received its designation in July of 2013. The program is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Commerce, Alabama Gas, Alabama Power, the North Alabama Industrial Development Association and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. (Source: al.com, 06/27/14)

Demag chosen for Mobile FAL

Terex Material Handling has been awarded a contract by Airbus to supply Demag crane installations for its new assembly facility in Mobile, Ala. Ten process cranes will be employed for the final assembly of A320 family aircraft in three production hangars. Measuring up to 218 feet in length and offering maximum load capacities of some 25 tons, the process cranes feature up to four suspensions for safe and precise handling of sensitive aircraft components. Demag Cranes is a German heavy equipment manufacturer, a Terex brand. (Source: Thomasnet, Demag, 06/27/14) The A320 final assembly line is being built at Mobile Aeroplex and will open in 2015. It will produce its first A320 in 2016. About 1,000 workers will be employed at the $600 million FAL.

Contract: Northrop Grumman, $63M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $63,070,969 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-07-C-0055) for the Phase II continuation of post-demonstration activities in support of the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program. Activities include continued X-47B aircraft systems, test bed and flight test support at both shore-based locations and associated carrier detachments, continued development of Fleet Concepts of Operations, X-47B maintenance support, lab and test bed operational support and continued flight test opportunities. Work will be performed in San Diego (70 percent) and Patuxent River, Md., (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2015. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/26/14) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman makes portions of two other UAV’s, Fire Scout and Global Hawk, in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: EADS NA, $14.4M

EADS-NA, Herndon, Va., was awarded a $14,436,295 modification (P00811) to a firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-06-C-1094) to exercise options for contractor logistics support for the Utility Helicopter 72A Lakota. Work will be performed at Columbus, Miss., with an estimated completion date of May 15, 2015. Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal - Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/26/14)

AF keeps limits on F-35 flights

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force will continue to limit F-35 flights over Valparaiso to limit the impact of jet noise. The decision announced today overruled a previous recommendation to lift restrictions. Takeoffs and landings on a runway that sends traffic over Valparaiso will only be allowed in emergencies, unplanned contingencies and when forced by weather. Lifting restrictions would have allowed up to an average of 33 operations over Valparaiso per day, but Friday's decision limits operations to an average of one per day. In practice, it means many days with no operations at all and other days with more than one, said Kathleen Ferguson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics. (Sources: Northwest Florida Daily News, WEAR-TV, 06/27/14)

Contract: Raytheon, $80.8M

Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded an $80,768,012 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Lot 7 Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer (MALD-J) missile (200 each) to include: data, mission planning, process verification program, and operational flight software. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2016. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/EBJM, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-14-C-0004). (Source: DoD, 06/27/14)

Contract: Northrop, $8.4M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $8,465,734 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-12-C-0126) for the extension of engineering and software sustainment services in support of the Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Fire Scout MQ-8B. Work will be performed in San Diego and is expected to be completed in November 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/27/14). Gulf Coast note: Final assembly of Fire Scouts is done in Moss Point, Miss.

Air Methods buys LifeFlight

Colorado-based Air Methods Corp., an air medical transportation firm, has acquired the four bases of aeromedial transport Baptist LifeFlight, owned by Baptist Health Care of Pensacola, Fla. The change is effective immediately. The four operating bases of LifeFlight are in Pensacola; Semmes, Ala.; Greenville, Ala.; and Hattiesburg, Miss., and will continue serving their respective areas. Each has an EC-130 helicopter owned by AMC. As part of the acquisition, 43 clinical Baptist employees will join the Air Methods team. (Source: Global Newswire, 06/24/14)

Mattituck buying Southern Avionics

MOBILE, Ala. – Continental Motors MRO subsidiary, Mattituck Services, will purchase Southern Avionics and Communications Inc. Southern Avionics, of Mobile, has been involved in avionics sales, installation and services since 1981 and has 14 employees at the Mobile Aeroplex. The purchase adds avionics and aircraft interior maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities to Mattituck Services, located in Fairhope, Ala. Mattituck has been involved in general aviation service since 1996 and has 20 full-time workers. It offers overhaul/repair for Continental and Lycoming engines and major aircraft repairs. Southern Avionics has serviced aircraft ranging from small personal aircraft to large corporate jets. (Source: AviationPros, 06/24/14)

Eglin and the state parks

Eglin Air Force Base in military friendly Northwest Florida is one of the largest bases in the world with 460,000 acres, and while its primary mission is aerial weapons development, it's taken on more missions in more recent years, including F-35 training and serving as the home of a special forces group. Now the military says it needs more land for training, and hopes to use two nearby Florida state forests. Florida hopes to be accommodating, but opponents think it would be a bad move. A feature story. (Source: Greenwire, 06/26/14)

Orion chutes hit no snags

Orion test in Arizona a success. NASA photo

NASA completed the most complex and flight-like test of the parachute system for the agency's Orion spacecraft on Wednesday. A test version of Orion touched down safely in the Arizona desert after being pulled out of a C-17 aircraft, 35,000 feet above the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground. It was the first time some parachutes in the system had been tested at such a high altitude. The test also marked the last time the entire parachute sequence will be tested before Orion launches into space in December on its first space flight test, EFT-1. During the flight, an uncrewed Orion launched by an Atlas V will travel 3,600 miles into space, farther than any spacecraft built to carry humans has been in more than 40 years. (Source: NASA, 06/25/14) Gulf Coast note: The Orion for EFT-1 was built at Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans. Stennis Space Center, Miss., is testing the engines that will be used in NASA's Space Launch System that will be used for future Orion launches.

Website highlights industrial sites

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Gulf Power has launched an interactive website to market 13 industrial sites in a bid to attract new businesses to Northwest Florida. FloridaFirstSites.com highlights sites going through the company's site certification program, designed to create an inventory of shovel-ready parcels that a business prospect can occupy quickly. "Having great sites is key to being competitive for new jobs," said John Hutchinson, Gulf Power's director of Community and Economic Development. "Our site certification program is designed to help communities get in the game when it comes to economic development." (Source: Gulf Power, 06/24/14. Website) Note: A feature story on the program and sites can be found in the December 2013 issue of the Gulf Coast Reporters' League aerospace newsletter.

F-35A still suspended from flying

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Flights of the Air Force's version of the F-35 fighter will remain suspended indefinitely after one of the planes caught on fire on the runway on Monday. Lt. Hope Cronin, spokeswoman for the 33rd Fight Wing, said Wednesday that additional evidence and information in the initial safety probe prompted the decision to continue the suspension. Initially officials had said flights would resume Wednesday. The suspension does not impact flights of the Marine and Navy versions of the plane. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 06/25/14) Previous

F-35A returning to flight

The U.S. Air Force said it will resume flights of F-35A fighter jets at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on Wednesday, two days after one of the jets caught fire while preparing for takeoff. The 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin trains Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy pilots to fly the new Lockheed Martin jets. The Air Force declined comment on the possible cause, but said the other 25 F-35A models at the base had not shown similar problems. (Source: Reuters, 06/24/14) Previous

Contract: Lockheed, $8.9M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an $8,942,741 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to the previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-11-C-0083) for the procurement of 14 repeatable release holdback bars and common sustainment support of the F-35 Low Rate Initial Production 6 aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif., (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla., (10 percent); Nashua, N.H., (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2017. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force (34.5 percent); the U.S. Navy (28.5 percent); the U.S. Marine Corps (17.3 percent); and the international partners (19.7 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/24/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the F-35 training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $76M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $75,980,553 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-0004) for the procurement of 252 helmet mounted display systems in support of the F-35 aircraft for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and the governments of Japan and Israel. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Navy (44 percent); U.S. Air Force (38 percent); international partners (13 percent); and the governments of Japan (3 percent) and Israel (2 percent). Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in July 2017. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/24/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the F-35 training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $1.8B

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., has been awarded a $1,863,474,312 modification (P00001) to previously awarded contract (FA8810-13-C-0001) for Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) 5 and 6 satellites, including performance incentives and options for acoustic testing and launch operations. This contract modification will complete the production of the SBIRS GEO 5/6 satellites, which was started with the procurement of long lead parts, and also complete the associated ground operations and processing updates. The contract modification also includes adding options for acoustic testing, launch vehicle integration, launch and early on-orbit testing, and contractor operations support. Work will be performed at Sunnyvale and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2022. Space and Missile System Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base/El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/24/14) Gulf Coast note: Work on the SBIRS core propulsion system is done at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Training center has grand opening

MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama Industrial Development Training program's $7 million Alabama Aviation Training Center, already opened for a month, had its grand opening Tuesday. Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line at the Mobile Aeroplex that will open next year and produce its first A320 the following year. The nearby training facility has six classrooms, five labs, general office space, a conference room, break room and a shop floor where the majority of the training will take place for jobs at the Airbus plant. (Source: al.com, 06/24/14) Previous. Meanwhile, Airbus is also seeking two testing technicians for the plant. The positions require a minimum of nine months training abroad and an associates degree in aviation, mechanical or electrical engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. (Source: al.com, 06/24/14)