MTC Acquires SOF Integrator AIC

MH-47E, via AIC
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MTC Technologies, Inc. (MTC) in Dayton, Ohio and subsidiaries announced a friendly takeover of Crestview, FL's Aerospace Integration Corporation (AIC) which became effective as of April 1, 2006. Founded in 1997, AIC is an "S corporation" small business headquartered in Crestview, FL. With approximately 345 employees and approximately $34 million in revenue for the 12 months ended December 31, 2005, AIC has focused its efforts on serving DoD's Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) special mission units. AIC performs turn-key design and modification for avionics, flight controls, and weapon systems, and fully integrates the upgraded systems and components into aircraft and ground-based vehicles. AIC has worked on just about every modified aircraft in SOCOM's fleet, from HH-60 Pave Hawks to AC-130U "Spooky" gunships.

The acquisition further strengthens MTC's goal to become a premier player in aircraft modernization and sustainment activities, while providing a significant increase in SOF which is one of its target markets.

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USA Spending $7.1M to Upgrade SEAL Delivery Vehicles

SEAL Delivery Vehicle
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DID has covered the problems with the USA's ASDS special forces mini-sub program, and the corresponding need to extend and upgrade existing "wet delivery" SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV). Now Sonatech Inc in Santa Barbara, CA has received a $7.1 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract to provide for life-cycle maintenance, spare parts and new obstacle avoidance sonar fabrication support of SDV. Sonatech will furnish five Obstacle Avoidance Sonar (OAS) systems, along with diagnostic evaluation, repair and upgrade, OAS spares, field support, and obsolescence studies.

Work will be performed in Santa Barbara, CA (98%) and various government sites (2%), and is expected to be complete by March 2011. This contract was a sole source effort issued by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division in Panama City, FL.

$5.5M for Rapid Fielding of Long Range Combat Flashlights

Small business qualifier Safety Systems Corp. in Carol Stream, IL received a $5.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for the M4 Surefire light's rapid fielding initiative. Work will be performed in Carol Stream, IL and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2006. This was a sole source contract initiated on Jan. 23, 2006 by the Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ (W15QKN-06-C-0115). These are very high-end flashlights at $330 per (retail) with accessories extra, but $5.5 million will still buy quite a few of them.

Is spending this much on flashlights a waste? Why should our readers care about a flashlight, anyway, or consider this important? No, it's not a waste, and there are plenty of potentially life-saving reasons to care - as stories from both the front lines and the civilian world attest...

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The USA's FY 2007 Defense Budget: Proposal

The US Department of Defense has submitted its FY 2007 budget request for $439.3 billion. This is 7% more than the FY 2006 request, but slightly less than the $441.5 billion eventually appropriated by Congress in the FY 2006 budget. Note that this is just the first step in a long process that involves bills drawn up in both the House of Representatives and the US Senate, which will add some things, subtract others, and impose conditions. Then the House and Senate bills must be reconciled in committee into one common bill for the President to sign into law. Last year's FY 2006 budget, introduced in February 2005, was finally signed into law on December 30, 2005.

Because this budget was put together in parallel with the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review, it bears some imprints from that process and begins to implement some of the QDR's proposed directions. Rather than try to summarize such a vast document for our readers, DID will simply link you to the key source and ancillary materials, which contain their own summaries as well as access to more detailed information.

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Sikorsky Announces CSAR-X Helicopter Partnerships, Platform

H-92 does SAR
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As DID noted in our October 24, 2005 article "V-22 Bows out of CSAR-X/PRV Competition," all of the key bidders except Sikorsky had formally announced their helicopter platforms for the $8-10 billion, 141-helicopter combat search and rescue contract to replace existing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The gap has now been filled, however, as Sikorsky has just made its declaration along with some recent partnership announcements.

Aerospace Integration Corporation (AIC) will provide system engineering and related services, while Rockwell Collins will provide training systems that leverage work already done on Canada's Maritime helicopter program. Both MoU signings took place at the Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, FL - and the most significant aspect was Sikorsky's public acknowledgement that the H-92 Superhawk would be its base CSAR-X platform.

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Stiletto Stealth Ships: Look Different. Ride Different. Buy Different

M-Ship Stiletto
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DID has covered the late Vice-Admiral Cebrowski's legacy at the Pentagon's Office of Force Transformation. With the formal roll-out of the 88-foot Stiletto stealth ship and its cutting-edge "M-Hull" wave-damping design, that legacy takes another step forward. The Stiletto is part of Project WolfPac, which aims to test new concepts of shallow-water and riverine warfare organized around swarms of smaller, affordable ships linked by communications. SOCOM's Navy SEALs are reportedly quite enthusiastic about the Stiletto, which can slip into shallow waters, launching inflatable boats and even UAVs while serving as a communications hub via its "electronic keel." Best of all, the M-Hull significantly reduces the pounding its occupants take from waves - poundings that can cut careers short due to back injuries.

M Ships Company's corporate release discusses Cebrowski's legacy and is interesting, but Stiletto program manager US Navy Commander Greg Glaros' entry in the DefenseTech.org comments section provided the best window into the thinking behind Stiletto, whose technology may migrate to other platforms as well:

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SSGN "Tactical Trident" Subs: Special Forces and Super Strike

From these...

At various times, DID has covered advance materials procurement and other contracts under the program to modify some of the USA's nuclear-powered Ohio Class SSBN nuclear missile submarines to become long range conventional strike and special operations SSGN "Tactical Tridents."

Four ultra-stealthy Ohio-class SSBNs are having their 24 Trident II D-5 nuclear ballistic missiles removed and replaced with up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The USA is also adding accomodation for 66-102 special forces troops, special attachments for new Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) or older Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV) "mini-subs," and a mission control center. In future, the SSGNs may also carry UUV underwater robotic vehicles and even UAVs for aerial operations.

...to these

These modifications provide the USA with an impressive and impressively flexible set of conventional firepower, in a survivable and virtually undetectable platform that can remain on station for very long periods.

DID has updated its previous material and discusses the origins of this conversion program, the key players, the timeline, and the key technologies involved. We also offer comprehensive coverage of the announced contracts under this $1.4 billion refurbishment and conversion program to date, including a number of related ancillary contracts and programs. This will remain the updated DID Focus article for all materials related to the SSGN program.

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$175.3M in H-47 Chinook-Related Delivery Orders

SOCOM's MH-47E Chinook

The H-47 Chinook served in Vietnam, and modern versions of that aircraft are set to be the US Army's medium-lift helicopter into the 2030s. As recent articles covering Australia's CH-47 upgrades, and Canada's lack of helicopter support in Afghanistan have noted, the Chinook has proven particularly useful in the high altitudes and temperatures of Afghanistan, which limit the usefulness of traditional platforms like the US Army's UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. MH-47 Special Forces Chinooks have also seen extensive employment in Afghanistan's "commando Olympics."

Commitment costs, of course, and so a pair of recent delivery orders illustrate some of the ongoing contracts that keep America's H-47 Chinook fleet going...

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$9.5M Engineering Services Contract Includes ASDS Work

ASDS Cutaway
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The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA is being awarded a $9.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract to provide engineering and technical services in the areas of system integration, implementation, and management, including hardware and software (see solicitation). CSDL will be providing its integration experience to the following technology development programs:

• Advanced SEAL Delivery System - see DID coverage of this program and its troubles
• Military Flight Operation Quality Assurance Demonstration Project
• Submarine Class Ship Control System

Work will be performed in Cambridge, MA and is expected to be complete by December 2010. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in West Bethesda, MD issued the contract (N00167-06-D-0001). Among other projects, CSDL is also a major participant in the for the life-extension program for the Trident II D-5 submarine-launched nuclear missile.

ASDS Woes & Electric Boat Layoffs Leading to Rebidding Pressure

ASDS on USS Charlotte

DID recently covered the U.S. Navy's Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) program and its budgetary, performance, and timeline problems. The gaps are large and serious, and so it should be no surprise that political fallout has begun. US Congressional Rep. Rob Simmons [R-CT], said recently that the potential layoff of 2,000 workers at Electric Boat in Groton, CT only underscores the urgency in having the US Department of Defense rebid the U.S. Navy's Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) program [his words].

Like the ASDS program itself, to say that the current situation at General Dynamics Electric Boat is not good is something of an understatement.

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