A notional representation of the U.S. Army Ground Combat Vehicle. Photo: US Army

The Army has cancelled the request for proposal process for the Ground Combat Vehicle, delaying the program by about six months. Details about revised rules for a more affordable program are expected within 60 days. Despite the setback, the Army is still hopeful the GCV could be deployed by the year 2017. However, in the near term the service could lose part of the $934 million funding, part of the fiscal 2011 budget request set aside for the development of the GCV prototypes.

The decision followed a report by the Army and Office of Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (OSD/ATL), that evaluated the new vehicle and determined that the service should better prioritize its requirements to better define achievable goals on schedule. Critics in industry have claimed the requirements for the vehicle were set to be too vague as the Army was not in agreement on exactly what the vehicle’s should do. “The refined RfP will result in a vehicle that provides soldiers with critical armored protection in the modern combat environment.” The Army statement said. One of the main concerns about the GCV was that to provide such protection the vehicle weight could increase up to 70 tons.

The announcement comes as the Defense Department prepares for major budget cuts. The GCV program is considered vital for the Army, but since the definition and requirement were too vague from the beginning, the Army finds it difficult to justify committing to a long-term multi-billion dollar program only to replace the Bradley fighting vehicles. The proposed GCV meant much more than just a replacement, it is intended to be a bridge between current warfare and future, networked operations. While different from the cancelled Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) mainly for political reasons, GCV should be much better protected and survivable, and well equipped to operate in distributed operations, where small units, sometime individual vehicles are empowered to conduct decisive military operations. Modifying current vehicles to perform such missions was found to be too complex.

Three industry teams participated in the program; next month (September) the Army had planned to award contracts to at least two of the three teams, for the development of  demonstrator vehicles. These teams competing for these contracts were SAIC-led group with Boeing and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann; a BAE Systems – Northrop team, and a third group led by General Dynamics Land Systems partnered with MTU Detroit Diesel, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The development phase of the program is valued at $2.1 billion. The entire program could cost about $40 billion.

More on GCV in the following Defense-Update articles:

U.S. Army Defines Ground Combat Vehicles Priorities

U.S. Army Requests Proposals for a New Ground Combat Vehicle

Teaming for the Ground Combat Vehicle

Army Begins GCV Contractor Selection Process

A notional representation of the U.S. Army Ground Combat Vehicle. Photo: US Army

The Army has cancelled the request for proposal process for the Ground Combat Vehicle, delaying the program by about six months. Details about revised rules for a more affordable program are expected within 60 days. Despite the setback, the Army is still hopeful the GCV could be deployed by the year 2017. However, in the near term the service could lose part of the $934 million funding, part of the fiscal 2011 budget request set aside for the development of the GCV prototypes.

The decision followed a report by the Army and Office of Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (OSD/ATL), that evaluated the new vehicle and determined that the service should better prioritize its requirements to better define achievable goals on schedule. Critics in industry have claimed the requirements for the vehicle were set to be too vague as the Army was not in agreement on exactly what the vehicle’s should do. “The refined RfP will result in a vehicle that provides soldiers with critical armored protection in the modern combat environment.” The Army statement said. One of the main concerns about the GCV was that to provide such protection the vehicle weight could increase up to 70 tons.

The announcement comes as the Defense Department prepares for major budget cuts. The GCV program is considered vital for the Army, but since the definition and requirement were too vague from the beginning, the Army finds it difficult to justify committing to a long-term multi-billion dollar program only to replace the Bradley fighting vehicles. The proposed GCV meant much more than just a replacement, it is intended to be a bridge between current warfare and future, networked operations. While different from the cancelled Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) mainly for political reasons, GCV should be much better protected and survivable, and well equipped to operate in distributed operations, where small units, sometime individual vehicles are empowered to conduct decisive military operations. Modifying current vehicles to perform such missions was found to be too complex.

Three industry teams participated in the program; next month (September) the Army had planned to award contracts to at least two of the three teams, for the development of  demonstrator vehicles. These teams competing for these contracts were SAIC-led group with Boeing and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann; a BAE Systems – Northrop team, and a third group led by General Dynamics Land Systems partnered with MTU Detroit Diesel, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The development phase of the program is valued at $2.1 billion. The entire program could cost about $40 billion.

More on GCV in the following Defense-Update articles:

U.S. Army Defines Ground Combat Vehicles Priorities

U.S. Army Requests Proposals for a New Ground Combat Vehicle

Teaming for the Ground Combat Vehicle

Army Begins GCV Contractor Selection Process

The U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (REDCOM) have ordered 660 Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) from three manufacturers for testing, toward massive fielding of new ENVGs in upcoming years. The awarded companies are ITT, L-3 Insight Technology and DRS Systems. The three contracts, each valued around US$250 million, cover the delivery of the 220 systems in the base year, (2010) and options for the delivery of production quantities in the years 2011-2013. The Army is expecting to field new and improved digital fused imaging goggles by 2014.

Sofar ITT has been producing the Army’s first generation AN/PSQ-20 ENVG under a sole source indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract worth about $560 million. This contract expires by the end of 2010. ITT has already provided over 2,400 ENVG systems with another 6,500 to be delivered on the current contract.

The development of the ENVG began in the year 2000. First models were fielded in 2008 with special operations units. By early 2009 the 10^th Mountain Division was the first regular Army unit to receive few hundred items . The recent follow-on contracts address an ENVG follow-on program, with ITT has addressed with an updated version of the current ENVG system, called ‘Spiral Enhanced Night Vision Goggle’ (SENVG). This new device is designed to meet high volume production rates and the critical performance requirements of the ground-based soldier.

The SENVG incorporates the 18 mm image intensifier tube and a display beam combiner assembly (DBCA) utilizing an OLED-XL microdisplay produced by eMagin. The SENVG utilizes several qualified ENVG subassemblies and is powered by three AA batteries, which reduces the logistics burden and gives the customer an estimated $130 million savings over the product’s life cycle. Through various system enhancements the SENVG has a digital upgrade capability that will allow the goggle to export fused imagery for transmission via battlefield networks.

Since the fielding of the ENVG PEO Soldier has been delivering ENVGs and in parallel, developing a lighter, more rugged digital system (ENVG-D), that will also support image transfer and display of images from other sensors and sights, Digital Video Recorders (DVR) and remote computing devices. The current systems are significantly more expensive and heavier, compared to the systems they are intended to replace – PVS-7 and PVS-14. The new ENVG (D) is expected to overcome these weaknesses and meet the Army’s objective weight and cost requirements.

Read more on the Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) on Defense-Update.

The U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (REDCOM) have ordered 660 Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) from three manufacturers for testing, toward massive fielding of new ENVGs in upcoming years. The awarded companies are ITT, L-3 Insight Technology and DRS Systems. The three contracts, each valued around US$250 million, cover the delivery of the 220 systems in the base year, (2010) and options for the delivery of production quantities in the years 2011-2013. The Army is expecting to field new and improved digital fused imaging goggles by 2014.

Sofar ITT has been producing the Army’s first generation AN/PSQ-20 ENVG under a sole source indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract worth about $560 million. This contract expires by the end of 2010. ITT has already provided over 2,400 ENVG systems with another 6,500 to be delivered on the current contract.

The development of the ENVG began in the year 2000. First models were fielded in 2008 with special operations units. By early 2009 the 10th Mountain Division was the first regular Army unit to receive few hundred items. The recent follow-on contracts address an ENVG follow-on program, with ITT has addressed with an updated version of the current ENVG system, called ‘Spiral Enhanced Night Vision Goggle’ (SENVG). This new device is designed to meet high volume production rates and the critical performance requirements of the ground-based soldier.

ENVG (Enhanced Night Vision Goggle) Training

The SENVG incorporates the 18 mm image intensifier tube and a display beam combiner assembly (DBCA) utilizing an OLED-XL microdisplay produced by eMagin. The SENVG utilizes several qualified ENVG subassemblies and is powered by three AA batteries, which reduces the logistics burden and gives the customer an estimated $130 million savings over the product’s life cycle. Through various system enhancements the SENVG has a digital upgrade capability that will allow the goggle to export fused imagery for transmission via battlefield networks.

Since the fielding of the ENVG PEO Soldier has been delivering ENVGs and in parallel, developing a lighter, more rugged digital system (ENVG-D), that will also support image transfer and display of images from other sensors and sights, Digital Video Recorders (DVR) and remote computing devices. The current systems are significantly more expensive and heavier, compared to the systems they are intended to replace – PVS-7 and PVS-14. The new ENVG (D) is expected to overcome these weaknesses and meet the Army’s objective weight and cost requirements.

Read more on the Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) on Defense-Update.

F-35 AF-1 & AF-2 Arrival at Edwards Air Force Base. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Our first impressions from the Farnborough AirShow this year are that short termed, urgent requirements, have finally reached the air forces, traditionally known for their long term visionary and meticulous planning processes.

The recent conflicts fought at high profile, in Southwest Asia and Iraq, leave the military with minimal tolerance for error and, under these circumstances, they want everything right now and at the lowest cost.
With the absence of a major enemy, western air forces tend big ticket spending on buying new aircraft, while dragging procurement decisions on almost everything that does not directly support current combat requirements.

Fighter aircraft development and procurement programs are only one symbol of this trend. With a single, next generation fighters dominating the market for the foreseeable future, and the apparent commitment to buy few thousands F-35s over the next decades, the options open for air forces drill down to two – act now or wait and see. Some have already made their choices. The Canadians have recently decided in favor of the next generation fighter, as well as the Australians and British, but firm orders for production quantities are still pending. The U.S. Marine Corps are the most desperate for the new fighter, and the new accelerated test plan, currently underway, seems to brighten the future for the corps’ aviation, held in limbo as its current Vertical Take Off Short Landing (V/STOL) AV-8B and F/A-18C/D Hornets wear out under an extremely intensive operational regime.

Lockheed Martin, which has the highest stakes in the next generation fighter, opted to avoid the debate and visibly maintained a low profile with its F-35 program at Farnborough, leaving the scene for the competition. Wether this was a wise move or not, the future will tell, but it should certainly be scrutinized and questioned by the media.

Continue Reading the Full Review On Defense-Update.com

F-22A Raptor, 5th Generation fighter. Photo: Tamir Eshel

Our first impressions from the Farnborough AirShow this year are that short termed, urgent requirements, have finally reached the air forces, traditionally known for their long term visionary and meticulous planning processes.

The recent conflicts fought at high profile, in Southwest Asia and Iraq, leave the military with minimal tolerance for error and, under these circumstances, they want everything right now and at the lowest cost.
With the absence of a major enemy, western air forces tend big ticket spending on buying new aircraft, while dragging procurement decisions on almost everything that does not directly support current combat requirements.

Fighter aircraft development and procurement programs are only one symbol of this trend. With a single, next generation fighters dominating the market for the foreseeable future, and the apparent commitment to buy few thousands F-35s over the next decades, the options open for air forces drill down to two – act now or wait and see. Some have already made their choices. The Canadians have recently decided in favor of the next generation fighter, as well as the Australians and British, but firm orders for production quantities are still pending. The U.S. Marine Corps are the most desperate for the new fighter, and the new accelerated test plan, currently underway, seems to brighten the future for the corps’ aviation, held in limbo as its current Vertical Take Off Short Landing (V/STOL) AV-8B and F/A-18C/D Hornets wear out under an extremely intensive operational regime.

F-35 AF-1 & AF-2 Arrival at Edwards Air Force Base. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin, which has the highest stakes in the next generation fighter, opted to avoid the debate and visibly maintained a low profile with its F-35 program at Farnborough, leaving the scene for the competition. Wether this was a wise move or not, the future will tell, but it should certainly be scrutinized and questioned by the media.

Continue Reading Full Review On Defense-Update.com

During the recent flight demonstrations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the MQ-8B FireScout carried UAE markings, alluding to the nation's interest in this new capability. Photo: Northrop Grumman

The MQ-8B Fire-Scout Vertical take-off and landing Unmanned Aerial System (VUAS) completed a series of demonstration tests in desert conditions, conducted in the UAE in a period of 10 days in early July 2010. The next phase of the program is the Navy’s upcoming Operational Evaluation of the FireScout, planned for late 2010 aboard the USS Halyburton (FFG-40).

During the recent test flights the exercises included numerous takeoffs and landings in hot, windy and sandy conditions in temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degree Fahrenheit). The VUAS also conducted various test flights at altitudes up to 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) operating the Electro-Optical payload system. Mission demonstrations included non-line-of-sight operations, highlighting the system’s ability to operate autonomously in remote locations. The Fire Scout’s ability to operate at low ground speeds makes it particularly well suited for supporting littoral missions such as drug interdiction, search and rescue, reconnaissance and port security. It can also acquire and track targets in complex and urban terrain.

ADASI CEO Ali Al Yafei

During some of the flights the FireScout carried UAE markings, alluding to the nation’s interest in this new capability. The UAE has particular interest in rotary-wing UAVs. Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment (ADASI), a local company was established in 2007 to manage the system integration, deployment and local support of the Austrian S100 Camcopter VUAS from Schiebel, supporting the UAE Armed Forces ‘Al Sabr’ program. “This VUAS has many unique capabilities to offer and we’re looking forward to reviewing the results of this in-country testing” said Ali Al Yafei, CEO of the ADASI), welcoming the FireScout Navy-Industry team.

The Fire Scout Industry Team includes Sikorsky/Schweizer Aircraft, Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, FLIR Systems, Cubic, Kearfott, Rockwell-Collins, General Electric, Sierra Nevada, Telephonics, and L-3 Communications.

This Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image showing an extinct volcano crater in Southern California, was taken by the new MP-RTIP radar operating in SAR mode. The sensor being integrated into the Global Hawk will be able to pick moving targets simultaneously to the SAR operation. Photo: USAF Electronic Systems Center

Work on the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) is progressing, with the sensor and first software baseline delivered to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for integration on a Global Hawk unmanned aircraft. Forthcoming flight testing conducted up to this point has been performed in Mojave, Calif., on a scaled composites test bed aircraft, known as “Proteus.” A total of 259 test flights were completed, with 1,062 hours of radar “on” time.

MP-RTIP capability was operationally demonstrated for the Army during a recent ground exercise at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, where the MP-RTIP sensor was flown to demonstrate its unique capabilities in an operationally relevant environment. “Several members of the Operations Group at the NTC were pretty happy with what they saw” said Col. Jim Shaw, MP-RTIP program director.

Shaw said the systems tests confirmed ground moving target indicator (GMTI) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) dedicated modes, where each of the modes operated separately and serially. The tests on the Global Hawk will employ the two modes concurrently and simultaneously. The Proteus will continue test flying the MP-RTIP on nine flights, assessing improved performance of concurrent radar modes. Colonel Shaw said that operating the radar in this concurrent (SAR+GMTI) has been a technical challenge, since operation of the two modes in most SAR/GMTI radars has sofar been limited to serial operation. Providing the two modes simultaneously ensure that warfighters can collect SAR data without interrupting GMTI tracks. Northrop Grumman is also developing maritime surveillance and maritime imaging modes for the MP-RTIP radar.

After the concurrent mode testing is completed, the MP-RTIP team at the Electronic Systems Center (ESC) will move into a support role, as the Global Hawk Program Office at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, will have the lead as the new sensor is integrated into the RQ-4B Block 40 aircraft. 16 new Global Hawk aircraft scheduled for delivery beginning in 2011 will be equipped with the new radar. These aircraft are scheduled for fielding in Grand Forks air force base in North Dakota.

Read more on the RQ-4B, its planned production model blocks and sensors on Defense-Update.com

Proteus operating as MP-RTIP RQ-4 Surrogate platform

The U.S. Air Force began operating MC-12 ISR Aircraft at Bagram and Kandahar fields in Afghanistan earlier in 2010. In June this year, the Army received proposals from several U.S. companies for the delivery of similar aircraft known as 'EMARSS', to provide close ISR support to the land forces. Photo: US Air Force

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] confirmed today the submission of a proposal for the U.S. Army Enhanced Medium-Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS). According to Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Boeing brings the value of a large system integrator that also is able to work at a fast pace to place tools in warfighters’ hands as soon as possible. “We are committed to delivering early and to providing a mission system that works as promised to bring soldiers home safely.” Said Muilenburg. The Army’s EMARSS request for proposals calls for a persistent capability to detect, locate, classify/identify, and track surface targets in day or night, near-all-weather conditions with a high degree of timeliness and accuracy.

Other competitors for the program include Northrop Grumman and L-3 Com. The service is expected to announce the award in late September. Boeing submitted its proposal on May 25.

Germany's first Euro Hawk unmanned aircraft, built by Northrop Grumman and EADS Defence & Security, approaching landing on its maiden flight June 29, 2010. The Euro Hawk landed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where it will undergo a final series of operational testing and evaluation prior to its ferry flight to Germany. Photo: Northrop Grumman

The Euro Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS), built by Northrop Grumman Corporation and EADS Defence & Security, successfully completed its first flight June 29. The high-flying aircraft took off at approximately 10:32 a.m. PDT from Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, Calif., manufacturing facility and climbed to 32,000 feet over Palmdale’s desert skies before landing nearly two hours later at 12:24 p.m. PDT at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The German Ministry of Defense awarded a contract in January 2007 to EuroHawk GmbH a 50-50 joint venture company by Northrop Grumman and EADS Defence & Security, for the development, test and support of the Euro Hawk SIGINT surveillance and reconnaissance system.

Based on the Block 20 Global Hawk, Euro Hawk will be equipped with new signals intelligence (SIGINT) mission system developed by EADS, providing standoff capability to detect electronic and communications emitters. A ground station consisting of a mission control and launch and recovery elements will be provided by Northrop Grumman. EADS Defence & Security will also provide a SIGINT ground station, which will receive and analyze the data from Euro Hawk as part of an integrated system solution.

The Euro Hawk has a mission endurance of 30 hours and a maximum altitude of more than 60,000 feet. It is an interoperable, modular and cost-effective replacement to the aging fleet of manned Breguet Atlantic aircraft, which have been in service since 1972 and will be retired in 2010. Subsequent systems are anticipated for delivery between 2016 and 2017 following successful testing and introduction in German operational service.