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Ospreys To Reach Iraq By Ship: Official

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 squadron heading out for the Osprey’s first combat deployment next month will get to Iraq the old-fashioned way — the Navy.

Double Eagle UUVs for Finland’s New Minesweepers

Saab Underwater Systems has received an SEK 80 million (about $11.6 million) order from the German company Atlas Elektronik (now part of EADS) for its Double Eagle UUV. The Double Eagle Systems are remotely operated underwater vehicles used for mine hunting and other operations; the upgraded Double Eagle Mk.III systems will be prepared for SAROV configuration, which means that the vehicles can be operated as fully autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicles. Previous versions of the Double Eagle UUV were already in serrvice with Finland’s Navy; Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands also operate Double Eagles.

The new UUVs will be installed on Finland’s new minesweepers; Atlas Elektronik is acting as the systems integrator. As Saab Underwater Systems CEO Lars Tossman added in Saab’s corporate release:

“The Finnish Navy has extensive experience and knowledge of mine hunting. Since the middle of the 1990s, when they bought their first Double Eagle system, they have furthermore achieved genuine understanding of the usefulness of remotely operated underwater vehicles… This order is particularly important since the Finnish Navy’s new mine hunting vessels will be assigned to very important national and international missions, especially within the MCM area. This is not least the case in the Baltic Sea, where the amount of left-over naval mines and also other environmental threats is extensive.”

This is of course very surprising, given Finland’s close proximity to its friendly, careful, and respectful Russian neighbor.

New Chinook Unveiled at Fort Campbell for 101st Airborne

Source:  US Army 8/17/07

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Aviation history was made at Fort Campbell Wednesday as a newly designed CH-47 Chinook helicopter was officially ushered into operation.

Allowing greater capability and Soldier safety, the new $30 million bird was turned over to Company B, 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade.

“How appropriate that we come together here with this aircraft at this installation with this unit,” said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Shloesser, 101st Airborne Division commander.

Most known for its tandem rotors and heavy-lift capabilities, the helicopter can fly in extremely high altitudes and handle cargo unlike any other aircraft.

Now with digital screens instead of analog gauges, the new Advanced Flight Control System improves situational awareness by allowing pilots to easily upload such mission details as routes and altitudes. A revamped airframe designed for 10,000 flight hours also eliminates extraneous vibrations and maintenance time.

“It provides more capability at an easier maintenance cost than ever before,” Maj. Gen. Schloesser said.

Safety is the best thing about the new model, said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tom Miskowiec, standardization instructor pilot and instrument flight examiner, 7th Bn., 101st Avn. Regt. “In safety there’s capability. When we can do it safer and easier, it provides us with more abilities to support the warfighter.”

Boeing worked with the Army for three years to design and prepare the new model, the first conventional Chinook upgrade in more than 20 years.

“The CH-47F is a fully modernized aircraft that will fully meet the operational challenges that our Army and our country face now and in the future,” said Chuck Allen, vice president and general manager of rotorcraft systems, Boeing.

“It’s really exciting to get a new aircraft,” added Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Dechent, Chinook pilot with the 7th Bn., 101st Avn. Regt. “I think it’s going to extend our capabilities and open new avenues that we haven’t been able to go down before.”

More than 100 CH-47F Chinooks will be built from the ground up, while other Chinooks will be rebuilt to state-of-the-art standards.

Air Force Secretary Wants to “Stay With” Boeing for CSAR-X

Source: Project In Government Oversight; issued Aug. 16, 2007

This March, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne told Lt. General John L. “Jack” Hudson in an email that “I would like to stay with our selection” of Boeing’s HH-47 Chinook helicopter for the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement (CSAR-X), according to a protest filing by rival defense contractor Sikorsky [that filing can be found here: http://www.pogoarchives.org/m/ns/ashen-gao-07022007.pdf ].

Lt. General Hudson is in charge of selecting the company that receives the contract for the CSAR-X. Wynne’s statement came after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained procurement protests by rivals Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin, and Congress began to scrutinize the CSAR-X program’s selection of the Chinook last November.

In February, the GAO ruled that the Air Force’s evaluation of each proposal’s costs was not made according to the evaluation criteria made in the contract solicitation. GAO recommended that the Air Force clarify its basis for evaluations and request revised proposals from the competing contractors. The Air Force released an amendment to its CSAR-X request for proposals in May, but has been met with additional protests by Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky for not addressing the problems found by GAO. The March 3, 2007, email appears to affirm the view of some insiders that the Air Force’s response to the GAO is simply a face-saving measure.

Sikorsky quoted Secretary Wynne’s email in its July 2, 2007, protest of the Air Force’s amended solicitation, which the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) has obtained. Sikorsky obtained the email and other documents from the Air Force, which was responding to Sikorsky’s legal actions, according to the protest filing. POGO does not have a copy of the email itself, so it is possible that necessary context has been left out. On its face, however, the partial quote does raise questions about the Air Force’s commitment to a fair and transparent evaluation.

Wynne’s email seems consistent with his answers to reporters after his February 28, 2007, congressional testimony before the House Armed Services Committee that he would “like to stay with what we got [referring to the Boeing HH-47] and get this product going as soon as possible.” He also stated that the Air Force is considering whether it can take corrective action “more narrowly” than what GAO had recommended, according to a Reuters article (Andrea Shalal-Esa, “US Air Force wants no long delay on new helicopter,” February 28, 2007).

“Either the Air Force is serious about fairly and transparently re-evaluating a bungled competition, or they’re wasting everyone’s time,” said POGO Defense Investigator Nick Schwellenbach, who had been investigating the CSAR-X program. “When coupled with the evaluation inconsistencies pointed out by Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin, this email seems to indicate the latter.”

Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption and other misconduct in order to achieve a more accountable federal government.

-ends-

GAO re: CSAR-X… Re-Compete the Contract!

Several DID articles have covered the $10-15 billion CSAR-X competition aimed at replacing the USAF’s HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search-and-rescue helicopters, and noted its twists and turns. From profiles of the original options, to transfers of program responsibility between AFSOC and the USAF and the withdrawal of the PRV-22 Osprey from competition, to Sikorsky’s decision to offer the H-92 Superhawk, to our FOCUS Article covering the Boeing HH-47 Chinook’s contract win in November 2006, the CSAR-X/PRV program has been eventful.

February 26, 2007 added one more big event: the US Government Accountability Office, a non-partisan agency of Congress, upheld Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin’s protests over Boeing’s win. Now the USAF is beginning to clarify what that means. Will the GAO ruling be interpreted narrowly, triggering a double-checking exercise, or more broadly, triggering a renewed evaluation process? Worse, could the GAO’s follow-up defining the award’s problem areas create so many issues that further protests from whomever loses bring the program to a halt?

The GAO has issued its follow-on opinion, and the USAF has released its RFP v2.0, but Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin filed renewed protests even before the new RFP’s due date. The USAF continues to try to push forward with an accelerated process, but barriers are mounting. DID looks at the 3 helicopters’ key advantages and disadvantages, and chronicles the events surrounding the GAO protest and subsequent developments. The latest entries include a copy of Sikorsky’s 2nd protest, and a controversial email from Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne.

By decision of today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained the bid protests of Sikorsky Aircraft Company and Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Oswego (LMSI) against the Department of the Air Force*s award of a contract to The Boeing Company, under request for proposals No. FA8629-06-R-2350, for the Combat Search and Rescue Replacement Vehicle (CSAR-X).The solicitation provided that for purposes of the source selection, cost/price would be calculated on the basis of the Most Probable Life Cycle Cost (MPLCC), including both contract and operations and support costs. GAO sustained the protest on the basis that the Air Force’s actual evaluation of MPLCC was inconsistent with the required approach as set forth in the solicitation.

GAO recommended that the Air Force amend the solicitation to reflect its intent with respect to the evaluation of MPLCC, reopen discussions with offerors, and then request revised proposals. GAO further recommended that if the evaluation of revised proposals results in a determination that Boeing’s proposal no longer represents the best value to the government, the agency should terminate its contract. GAO also recommended that Sikorsky and LMSI be reimbursed the costs of filing and pursuing their protests, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.”

A decision that kicked off all of the events to follow.
In truth, each helicopter has strengths and weaknesses:
* Boeing’s H-47 Chinook is in demand in Afghanistan because its extra power gives it the muscle to fly with a useful cargo load in “hot and high” conditions that cripple other helicopters. Its twin-rotor design also allows for more precise positioning, and some close-in hovering maneuvers other helicopters will find hard to duplicate. Compatibility with the US and global helicopter fleets is excellent, and the CH-47’s service as the MH-47G Special Ops variant gives Boeing an edge with respect to early delivery and minimal R&D costs. On the negative side it’s a larger and noisier target, with more rotor downwash, the worst fuel economy, and dimensions that create problems for internal carriage aboard many Navy ships.

* Lockheed Martin’s US101 is based on the European EH101. The EH101 is the only platform in the competition offering 3 engines, which ensures power to spare even if one is shot out. Compatibility with NATO allies is good, it boasts long range if an extra tank used, and it can be based aboard Navy ships to expand deployment options. On the negative side, it carries that extra fuel in its belly – not ideal for a helicopter that will be shot at a lot. Some operators (vid. Canada) have experienced problems and/or maintenance issues with their EH101 fleets, and the US101-based VH-71 Presidential helicopter received a poor initial program rating.

* Sikorsky’s H-92 Superhawk offers a lot of compatibility with the H-60 helicopter family, which comprises the majority of US military helicopters on land and sea – including the HH-60 Pave Hawks CSAR-X aims to replace. It can easily be based aboard ship, and claims both excellent operating costs and extensive survivability features. On the negative side, its 2 engines raise questions re: whether it’s comparatively underpowered for the role, especially if one engine is shot out while the helicopter is operating in the hot, high-altitude conditions often found in the current war. It’s also the smallest of the 3 entries, which is both a potential plus and a minus.

Given this roster of contenders, it’s really a question of which disadvantages the USAF finds easiest to live with in a combat search-and-rescue role. Industry consolidation over the last few decades, however, has given the government less power over individual contractors. The buyer’s decision isn’t always final any more, and contractors are in a better position to use options like protests in order to dispute selection processes or even selection criteria. The USAF sees CSAR-X as an urgent priority – but it may not be able to make it one if the legal-political battle over the selection process continues.

Tyco Electronics Names Michael Robinson As New Senior Vice President of Operations

BERWYN, Pa., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Tyco Electronics Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) today announced that Michael Robinson has been named as the company’s senior vice president of operations. In this newly-created position, Robinson reports directly to Tyco Electronics Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Lynch. Robinson has been charged with leading the company’s strategic purchasing, manufacturing, logistics and quality assurance functions — as well as Six Sigma and “lean” process improvements. He will work from Tyco Electronics’ U.S. headquarters offices in Berwyn, Pa.CEO Tom Lynch said, “Our top strategic priority is improving Tyco Electronics’ operating margins. Michael will be a valuable new addition to the team in light of our increased focus on operational rigor and its contribution to margin improvement. Operational excellence, taken in combination with our ongoing portfolio and manufacturing simplification, will be key to achieving our operating margin goal of at least 15 percent in the next three years.”

Robinson joins Tyco Electronics from a 27-year career at United Technologies Corporation (UTC), where he most recently served as vice president of operations for the Residential and Light Commercial International business at UTC’s Carrier Corporation. In that position, he led the business’ entire operations function, including manufacturing, quality, continuous improvement, supply chain, logistics and product launch. Prior to his work with Carrier Corporation, he held several other general and senior management positions at Pratt & Whitney.

Robinson holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in New York, U.S. and a master’s degree from Boston University in Massachusetts, U.S.

GE Aviation wins MH-60M Special Forces Helicopter Engine Production Contract

LYNN, Mass. — The US Army exercised an option for production engines under a competitively awarded contract for the YT706-GE-700, a growth version of the CT7-8 turboshaft engine, for its U.S. Special Forces MH-60M helicopter program. This award closely followed the completion of two major milestones in July, clearing the way for this decision.

The emergency power demonstration engine test was successfully completed in the Lynn Product Development and Delivery test cell. The engine ran at well over the rated maximum temperature for 10 minutes, 29 seconds. All engine Production Airworthiness Release (PAR) qualification testing has now been successfully completed.

A total of 13 engine/component tests and 60 analysis reports have been submitted since the Army awarded GE the T706 contract in July 2005. This final test characterized the engine response to severe over-temperature conditions, successfully validating a design that will provide additional emergency power capability to flight crews.

“We are very pleased with the engine’s performance and the results throughout the series of intense testing,” said John Martin, MH-60M Program Manager. “We were able to meet our objectives and keep to the test schedule, which is a credit to the LPDD team and their cooperation.”

Concurrent with the completion of engine PAR testing, the MH-60M test aircraft equipped with two T706 engines completed more than 40 hours of flight testing, successfully demonstrating the enhanced performance of the T706 and helping verify the engine-airframe compatibility.

The YT706 is based on the FAA-certified CT7-8A engine. Compared with the T700 currently powering H-60 helicopters, the YT706 has a larger compressor, hot section improvements and a full authority digital engine control. The YT706 provides up to 30 percent more power than the current T700-701C and will increase the hot-and-high mission capability of the MH-60M Black Hawk.

The YT706-GE-700 was selected two years ago to power up to 61 MH-60M aircraft procured by the U.S. Army for its Special Operations applications. Initial production deliveries are scheduled to start in 2008.

GE’s successful T700/CT7 family of turboprop and turboshaft engines powers 25 types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in service with more than 130 customers in more than 50 countries.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company, is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.

Source:  GE Aviation  8/13/2007

Bell-Boeing Wins $82M to Build One CV-22 Osprey

Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $82,438,092 modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-06-C-0292) to begin production of one additional CV-22 aircraft and associated rate tooling fabrication, in support of the U.S. Air Force.

Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pa. (50 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); and Amarillo, Texas (15 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2010.Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Source:  US Dept of Defense 8/14/2007

Boeing’s New Combat-Ready CH-47F Chinook Helicopter Fielded to First U.S. Army Unit

ST. LOUIS — The Boeing Company’s CH-47F Chinook helicopter has been certified combat-ready by the U.S. Army and fielded to the first operational unit, making it the latest addition to the Army’s aviation fleet.

Following extensive testing, the Army authorized First Unit Equipped, assigning the aircraft to Bravo Company (”Varsity”), 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

“The CH-47F is a next-generation aircraft that provides greater safety, mission management and situational awareness for our soldiers,” said Jack Dougherty, director, Boeing H-47 Programs. “This represents a milestone in Army aviation.”

“It is an honor to have been chosen as the first unit to field the aircraft,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert P. Dickerson, commander, 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment (Air Assault). “The Chinook is a combat multiplier and brings greater situational awareness, versatility and capability to the fight.”

Since Boeing unveiled the aircraft at its Ridley Park, Pa., production facility in June 2006, the new Chinook has successfully completed several evaluations, including air worthiness and functional testing. In April 2007, the CH-47F completed operational testing at Ft. Campbell, including more than 60 rigorous flight test hours that simulated mission scenarios, air assault, combat re-supply and transport operations.

The CH-47F helicopter features a newly designed, modernized airframe, a Rockwell Collins Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit and a BAE Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS).

CAAS greatly improves air crew situational awareness; and DAFCS provides dramatically improved flight control capabilities through features such as “hover hold,” “altitude hold” and “beep down” that improve performance and safety in brownout situations, as well as the entire flight envelope.

Advanced avionics also incorporate improved situational awareness for flight crews with an advanced digital map display and a data transfer system that allows storing of preflight and mission data. Improved survivability features include Common Missile Warning and Improved Countermeasure Dispenser Systems. The entire suite of improved cockpit capabilities will apply to other H-47 models.

Powered by two 4,868-horsepower Honeywell engines, the new CH-47F can reach speeds greater than 175 mph and transport more than 21,000 pounds. The CH-47F, with the Robertson Aviation Extended Range Fuel System, has a mission radius of more than 400 nautical miles.

Source: Boeing Co.; issued Aug. 14, 2007

Lockheed Awarded Multimillion Mod to MH-60R Acquisition Contract

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $951,735,822 definitization modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-06-C-0098).

This definitization effort will result in a firm-fixed-price multiyear contract for the procurement of 139 MH-60R Mission Avionics Systems.

This multiyear [contract] is for MH-60R FY07 Lot V through FY11 Lot IX. Work will be performed in Owego, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in December 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

….Source: US Department of Defense; issued Aug. 15, 2007