Saturday, March 19, 2011

DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Fighter Jet 'Shot Down' Over Benghazi

Asian Defense News: DTN News - LIBYA UPRISING: Fighter Jet 'Shot Down' Over Benghazi
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 19, 2011:

A fighter jet has crashed in flames after apparently being shot down over the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya, reports the BBC's Ian Pannell in the city.



He reports seeing the jet plummet to the ground around 0900 (0700 GMT), but said it was unclear exactly what brought the plane down.

Explosions and gunfire have been heard across Benghazi despite Col Gaddafi's government declaring a ceasefire on Friday.

Meanwhile, leaders from the US, the UK, France, and Arab countries are to meet in Paris to discuss military action in Libya.

The summit comes after the UN Security Council approved a resolution that allows "all necessary measures", short of an invasion, to protect civilians in the north African country.



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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Indonesian Air Force Bolsters Airlift Capability With 737s

Asian Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Indonesian Air Force Bolsters Airlift Capability With 737s
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 19, 2011:
Indonesia's air force has obtained two used Boeing 737-400s from the nation's flag carrier Garuda.


The two aircraft will be used for VIP and troop transport missions, says Garuda. They will not be modified from their current configuration.


A memorandum of understanding for the deal was signed last November, with the aircraft handed over in early March. The carrier declines to reveal how much the air force paid for the twinjets.


Maintenance of the aircraft will be the responsibility of both Garuda and the air force. Flightglobal's ACAS database records that Garuda's six wholly owned 737-400s were delivered in 1993 and have an average of around 43,000h of flying time each.

The Indonesian air force is working to upgrade its airlift capability. In January, Annapolis-based Arinc Engineering Services won a $63.7 million contract to modernise five Indonesian air force Lockheed Martin C-130B transports.


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Friday, March 18, 2011

DTN News - BAHRAIN UNREST: Bahrain Tore Down Monument At Pearl Square In Manama

Asian Defense News: DTN News - BAHRAIN UNREST: Bahrain Tore Down Monument At Pearl Square In Manama
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 18, 2011:

On Friday, March 18, 2011 shows Soldiers looking as mechanical diggers move in to destroy the Pearl Square monument, in Manama, Bahrain.



Bahrain on Friday tore down the 300-foot (90-meter) monument at the heart of a square purged of Shiite protesters this week, erasing a symbol of an uprising that's inflaming sectarian tensions across the region.


The monument six white curved beams topped with a huge cement pearl was built in Pearl Square as a tribute to the Sunni-ruled kingdom's history as a pearl-diving center.


It became the backdrop to the Shiite majority's uprising after protesters set up a month-long camp at Pearl Square in the capital, Manama. (Photo - AP Photo)


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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Australia To Buy Amphibious Military Transport Ship, Aircraft

Asian Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Australia To Buy Amphibious Military Transport Ship, Aircraft
(NSI News Source Info) CANBERRA, Australia - March 18, 2011:

Australia will buy a large amphibious warship from Britain and a C-17 wide-body military transport plane from Boeing to expand its fleet, which is currently on earthquake relief operations in Japan, the defence minister said on Thursday.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the navy would buy a surplus Royal Navy Bay Class heavy amphibious lift vessel, to complement two 27,000-tonne helicopter assault carriers on order from Spain and entering service in 2015.

Australia's air force would also buy an extra Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport because of its usefulness in disaster relief, both at home and after the recent earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan, Smith said.

The 16,000-tonne Bay Class landing ships are capable of carrying 350 troops and large military helicopters. Britain recently noncommissioned one vessel in its fleet under the government's 2010 Strategic and Defence Review.

Two carriers already under construction by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia for Australia's navy will each be capable of carrying 1,000 troops and up to 24 helicopters, as well as armoured vehicles and tanks.

They are part of a multi-billion-dollar upgrade of Australia's military that includes new air defence destroyers, up to 100 stealth fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, long-range cruise missiles and 12 new submarines costing $25 billion.

(Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Ed Davies)



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DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 18, 2011

Asian Defense News:
DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 18, 2011
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 18, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 18, 2011 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

PowerTek Corp., Rockville, Md. (HQ0034-11-D-0001); NetCentrics Corp.,Vienna, Va. (HQ0034-11-D-0002); and Digital Management, Inc., Bethesda Md. (HQ0034-11-D-0003), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-reimbursement and fixed-price type multiple-award contract for a wide range of net-centric integrated information technology (IT) support, services, and supplies. The scope of services includes customer support; systems operation, administration, and maintenance; applications support, development and maintenance, e-business systems administration, software system development; engineering; business continuity and continuit of operations; hardware and software acquisition; enterprise architecture and engineering services; performance management; project management and IT training services. Each contractor will be awarded a minimum guarantee of $2,500. These contracts include options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of these contracts to an estimated $495,000,000. These three contractors will compete for the task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. Work will primarily be performed in the National Capital Region area. The multiple award contracts were competitively procured by full and open competition after exclusion as total small business set-asides via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 14 offers received. Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

The Missile Defense Agency is awarding Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., a fixed-price incentive and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification with a total value of $694,964,438 under Missile Defense Agency contract HQ0147-07-C-0196. The modification will include the definitization of an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed value of $298,000,000. Under this modification Lockheed Martin will manufacture and deliver 48 interceptors and ground support equipment required to support batteries three and four for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Program. The work will be managed in Sunnyvale, Calif., with final assembly performed in Troy, Ala. The performance period is through December 2013. Fiscal 2010 procurement funds in the amount of $144,847,937 and fiscal 2011 procurement funds of $430,916,501 will be used to fund this modification. Fiscal 2010 procurement funds in the amount of $119,200,000 were previously funded on the UCA. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md., is being awarded a maximum $171,332,741 firm-fixed-price, sole-source, time-and-materials type contract providing the Civilian Personnel Management Services operational, sustainment, development and maintenance support for the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System Program. Other location of performance is San Antonio, Texas. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and federal civilian agencies. This contract is exercising the seventh option year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 28, 2011. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SP4700-05-C-0020).

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded a maximum $10,251,032 firm-fixed-price, sole-source, basic ordering agreement contract for gearbox assembly items. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is Jan. 31, 2014. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-G-0003 THK).

NAVY

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded a contract modification, not-to-exceed $27,985,375 to previously awarded contract (N00024-06-C-2303) for long lead time material and engineering and support services for DDG 1001. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine (77.49 percent); Middletown, N.Y. (7.8 percent); Stamford, Conn. (2.28 percent); Willimantic, Conn. (2.01 percent); South Portland, Maine (1.69 percent); Windsor, Conn. (1.65 percent); York, Pa. (1.64 percent); and various other locations of less than 1.64 percent each (totaling 5.44 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $13,312,717 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide innovative research in the area of web-based approaches for medical and psychological health social networking, care delivery/tele-health, and capabilities that enable revolutionary advances in science, technology or systems. This 26-month contract includes 12 options which, if exercised, would happen concurrently and would bring the potential value of this contract to $20,864,255. Work will be performed in McLean, Va. Work is expected to be completed February 17, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Broad Agency Announcement No. 10-62 published via the Federal Business Opportunities website on May 27, 2010, with 28 offers received; three were selected for award. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-11-C-4005).

Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, LLC, Burlington, Mass., is being awarded a maximum $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for civil/structural/architectural/mechanical/electrical and fire protection services in support of projects at military installations throughout the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for architect-engineering services including building construction and addition of special projects and military construction facilities, general building renovation work, life safety code studies, marine facilities, facility planning, plans, specifications, design-bid-build packages, design-build request for proposal packages, government collateral equipment lists, project preliminary hazard analysis, obtaining permits and regulatory approvals, review of contract submittals, field consultation and inspection during construction, United States Green Building Council leadership in energy and environmental design, checklists and sustainable design reports, operation and maintenance support information, sustainable engineering design practices, and record documentation preparation. The preponderance of the work will be performed in the Mid-Atlantic Northeast AOR including, but not limited to: Rhode Island (20 percent); Maine (20 percent); Connecticut (15 percent); New Jersey (15 percent); Pennsylvania (10 percent); New York (5 percent); New Hampshire (5 percent); Massachusetts (5 percent); Vermont (3 percent); and Delaware (2 percent). Work is expected to be completed by March 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 65 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic Northeast Integrated Product Team, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (contract number N40085-11-D-7206).

AIR FORCE

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo. (FA8651-11-D-0035), and Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz. (FA8651-11-D-0036), are being awarded a $20,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for integrated precision ordinance delivery system (IPODS) Phases II-IV; research and development. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and Tucson, Ariz. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received in a full and open competition under a broad agency announcement. AFRL/RWK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.



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