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Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DoD Spends Its Contracting DollarsMoshe sChwArtz speCiAlist in defense ACquisition
wendy GinsberG AnAlyst in AMeriCAn nAtionAl GovernMent
John f. sArGent Jr. speCiAlist in sCienCe And teChnoloGy poliCy
When Congress appropriates money, it
provides budget authority—the authority to
enter into obligations. Obligations occur when
agencies enter into contracts, submit pur-
chase orders, employ personnel or otherwise
legally commit to spending money. Outlays
occur when obligations are liquidated (primar-
ily through the issuance of checks, electronic
fund transfers or the disbursement of cash).
In FY2014, the U.S. federal government
obligated $445 billion for contracts for the ac-
quisition of goods, services and research and
development. The $445 billion obligated on
contracts was equal to approximately 13 per-
cent of FY2014 federal budget outlays of $3.5
trillion. As noted in Figure 1, in FY2014, DoD
obligated more money on federal contracts
($284 billion) than all other federal agencies
combined. DoD’s obligations were equal to 8
percent of federal spending.
From FY2000 to FY2014, adjusted for
inflation (FY2015 dollars), DoD contract ob-
ligations increased from $189 billion to $290
billion. However, the increase in spending
has not been steady. Over the last 15 years,
DoD contracting has been marked by a steep
increase in obligations from FY2000 to FY2008
($260 billion; 138 percent), followed by a
Navy Cyber Launches Updated Strategic Plan
U.S. 10th Fleet (FCC/C10F)
released its updated strategic
plan on May 6, during a media
roundtable at the Pentagon.
Vice Admiral Jan E. Tighe,
commander, FCC/C10F, met
with members of the media to
discuss the plan and the Navy’s
way forward in the cyberspace
domain.
“A lot of work had been
done since our inception
in 2010 and the world has
changed—gotten a lot more
dangerous. The cyberspace
domain is changing on a daily
basis,” said Tighe in explain-
ing the reason for the update.
“First and foremost [the plan
is] a way to organize our mis-
sion and to begin to measure
if we’re making sufficient prog-
ress in each of our goal areas.”
Tighe outlined her five strategic
goals: operate the network as a war-
fighting platform, conduct tailored
signals intelligence, deliver warfight-
ing effects through cyberspace, create
shared cyber situational awareness and
establish and mature the Navy’s Cyber
Mission Force.
“Also, internal to the Navy, we’ve just
had the release of the updated maritime
strategy [Cooperative Strategy for 21st
Century Seapower], which has significant
implication for us, as it pertains to ‘all
domain access’ and our role across the
Fleet Cyber Command operational mis-
sion sets,” Tighe said.
All domain access and specifically
ensuring access to space, cyberspace
and the electromagnetic spectrum is a
key element in how FCC/C10F fits into
the overall Navy plan, and actually builds
on the overall Information Dominance
Strategy.
The commissioning of U.S. Fleet
Cyber Command and reestablishment
of U.S. 10th Fleet on January 29, 2010,
closely followed the Navy’s 2009 ac-
knowledgement of information's central-
ity to maritime warfighting, known as
Information Dominance.
Information Dominance is defined as
the operational advantage gained from
fully integrating the Navy’s information
functions, capabilities and resources to
optimize decision making and maximize
warfighting effects. The three pillars
of Information Dominance are assured
command and control (C2), battlespace
awareness and integrated fires.
Fleet Cyber Command is a key opera-
tional command in delivering on missions
across those three pillars.
Vice Admiral Jan Tighe, commander of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet, hosts a media roundtable in the Pentagon to discuss the Navy cyber command's recent strategy update. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class George M. Bell)
A PUbLICAtIoN WWW.NAvy-kmI.Com
MAY 12, 2015WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
plus:• kEArSArgE
grOUP CONDUCTS PMINT
• FINAl FlIgHT OF P-3C OrION
12 MAy2015
May 20-21, 2015
AfCeA spring intelligence symposium
Springfield, VA
www.afcea.org/mission/intel
June 23-25, 2015
Mega rust
Newport News, Va.
www.navalengineers.org
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Table of ConTenTs
exClusive subsCriber ConTenTsubscribers to Navy Air/Sea receive exclusive weekly content. this week’s exclusive content includes:
• A report about a new polymer resin licensed for commercial use by the Naval research
laboratory. According to one of its inventors, the resin exhibits “superior flame-resistant,
high-temperature and low-water-absorption properties that do not exist in the current
marketplace.”
• An article about Electronic Attack Squadron 139, which held an airborne change of
command ceremony on May 3 aboard the USS Carl Vinson
Calendar of evenTs
Navy Cyber launches Updated Strategic Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DoD Spends Its Contracting Dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian Navies Meet With U.S. 7th Fleet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Navy Ends Mission Escorting U.S.-Flagged Ships in Strait of Hormuz . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Team Carl Vinson reaches 10,000th launch, recovery Milestone . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
kearsarge Amphibious ready group Conducts PMINT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Final Flight of the East Coast P-3C Orion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Quad Cities kicks Off Navy Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Air Weapons Systems Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Forward Deployed Energy and Communications Outpost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
C-40A Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
V-22 Supply Forecasting and Maintenance readiness Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
SSC Pacific Transmission Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
T-45 Aircraft Engineering, Information Management Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ISr Technologies Successfully Tested on M80 Stiletto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Innovations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
Singaporean, malaysian and Indonesian Navies meet With U.S. 7th Fleet
Senior navy leaders from the U.S.
7th Fleet, republic of Singapore Navy
(rSN), royal Malaysian Navy (rMN)
and the Indonesian Navy (TNI) met for a
professional exchange of ideas in a va-
riety of technical and operational topics
aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS
Blue Ridge (lCC 19) on May 4 and 6.
The U.S. 7th Fleet staff first met
with Singaporean navy subject-matter
experts for a day of discussions, or
“staff talks,” that included professional
dialogue between the two staffs and
were designed to share knowledge and
develop methodologies for joint re-
sponses to any contingency within Indo-
Asia-Pacific region.
The talks provided a platform for
partnered navies’ senior leaders and
subject-matter experts to meet and
discuss different aspects of their mis-
sion objectives and their responsibilities.
The exchange included discussions of
opportunities for increased multilateral
engagements, exercises and informa-
tion sharing to improve maritime domain
awareness, crisis response and anti-
piracy operations.
“The rSN possess advanced warf-
ighting capability, an extremely profes-
sional naval force and is a maritime
leader in South East Asia. The U.S. 7th
Fleet places great value on the high-
level training that is conducted annually
with the rSN and seeks to continue to
advance our relationship by increas-
ing the complexity of our at sea exer-
cises,” said U.S. Navy lieutenant Terrell
radford, U.S. 7th Fleet theater security
cooperation desk officer for Singapore,
Malaysia and Indonesia. “Operational-
level discussions of this nature with the
rSN not only offer us a forum to come
together to develop ideas, but also al-
lows us to simultaneously give those
ideas roots and traction. Continued
interaction in this capacity will allow
us to realize the shared vision for our
relationship.”
The U.S. 7th Fleet and republic of
Singapore Navy talks were followed
two days later with a first-of-its-kind
multilateral “roundtable” discussion
between senior leaders from the U.S. 7th
Fleet, Indonesian, Malaysian and Singa-
porean navies. U.S. Navy Vice Admiral
robert l. Thomas Jr., commander, U.S 7th
Fleet; Singaporean Colonel Chuen Hong
lew, commander, republic of Singapore
Fleet; Indonesian rear Admiral Darwanto
S.H., Tentara Nasional Indonesia Eastern
Fleet; and Malaysian rear Admiral Dato’
Pahlawan Mior rosdi, chief of staff for op-
erations and exercises, royal Malaysian
Navy; and their staffs engaged face to
face to discuss the important issues in
the region and how the allied navies can
increase theater security cooperation
by facilitating bilateral and multilateral
military interactions.
“The staff talks and the multilateral
roundtable were a big success,” said
radford. “Officers from all staffs brought
renewed dedication and enthusiasm to
the discussions, which prompted mean-
ingful dialogue and laid the groundwork
for future expansion of the relationship
between our navies.”
The two-day visit ended with a re-
ception aboard Blue Ridge with all four
navies in participation and served as an
opportunity for the U.S. 7th Fleet and
the regional neighbors to speak to one
another in a relaxed atmosphere further
building on the close relationship in the
region.
Blue Ridge and embarked staff are
in Singapore conducting a port visit to
build naval partnerships with the navies
of Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia
to ensure peace and prosperity for the
entire region.
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 3
Navy Ends mission Escorting U.S.-Flagged Ships in Strait of Hormuz
Ships from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain are no
longer accompanying U.S.-flagged maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,
Defense Department officials said.
Sufficient U.S. naval forces were assigned to the command to meet
the requirements of the accompanying mission, officials said, adding that
Navcent coordinated with shipping-industry representatives to ensure the
operations went smoothly and efficiently.
The mission, which concluded on May 6, was prompted by two inci-
dents in the Strait of Hormuz in which Iranian navy patrol vessels harassed
commercial motor vessels traversing the strait.
On April 24, four Iranian patrol boats approached the U.S.-flagged mer-
chant ship Maersk kensington, Pentagon spokesman Army Colonel Steve
Warren said during an April 29 briefing.
first inCident
“The boats came astern of the kensington and followed her for 15 or
20 minutes in actions that the kensington’s master interpreted as aggres-
sive,” he added.
There was no U.S. military involvement at the time, but after the inci-
dent, the ship’s master filed a report with Navcent, Warren said.
“It’s difficult to know exactly why the Iranians are operating this way,”
Warren said. “We certainly call on them to respect all the internationally
established rules of freedom of navigation, the law of the sea to which
they are a signatory, and other established protocols.”
Then on April 28 at about 2:05 a.m. EST, Iranian patrol vessels ap-
proached the M/V Maersk Tigris, a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel,
Warren said in a briefing that day.
MAersk tiGris
The republic of the Marshall Islands is a sovereign nation for which
the United States has full authority and responsibility for security and
defense under the terms of an amended security compact that entered
into force in 2004.
The United States and the Marshall Islands have full diplomatic rela-
tions, according to the U.S. State Department, and the security compact
between the two nations includes matters related to vessels flying the
Marshallese flag.
The Maersk Tigris was in Iranian territorial waters that also contain
internationally recognized commercial shipping lanes, Warren said, add-
ing that the Strait of Hormuz is in Iranian territorial waters, which is within
12 miles of the Iranian coast. But because the narrow strait is recognized
as containing international shipping lanes, he added, the principle of “in-
nocent passage” is applied, so ships that abide by international rules of
the sea are authorized to pass through the strait.
innoCent pAssAGe
Warren said no Americans are among the 30 or so people aboard the
Maersk Tigris.
The Tigris was transiting inbound, or north, in the Strait of Hormuz,
between the Persian gulf and the gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea. The
strait is one of the world’s major strategic choke points, according to the
U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“The ship’s master was contacted [by one of the Iranian ships] and
directed to proceed further into Iranian territorial waters,” Warren said
during an April 28 briefing. “He declined, and one of the [Iranian] craft
fired shots across the bridge of the Maersk Tigris.”
Afterward, the master complied with the Iranian demand and motored
into Iranian waters near larak Island, Warren said. larak Island is off the
coast of Iran in the Persian gulf. The master then issued a distress call.
boArdinG the tiGris
Warren said initial reports indicated that members of the Iranian navy
had boarded the Tigris. Navcent, having picked up the distress signal, di-
rected the USS Farragut, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, to
proceed to the nearest location to the Maersk Tigris, Warren said. Navcent
also directed a Navy maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to observe
the interaction between the Maersk vessel and the Iranian craft, he added.
The Tigris’s destination, according to a marine-traffic website, was Jebel
Ali, a port town 22 miles southwest of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
MAritiMe seCurity operAtions
During an April 29 briefing, Warren said the USS Farragut was operat-
ing along with three U.S. Navy Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships—the
USS Typhoon, the USS Thunderbolt and the USS
Firebolt—all stationed in Manama, Bahrain.
The ships are conducting maritime security operations, maintaining
continual U.S. presence and supporting the monitoring of the Maersk
Tigris, which is at anchor near larak Island and Bandar Abbas, he said.
“As is always the case, these assets give commanders options,”
Warren said, adding that the U.S. government is in discussions with the
Marshall Islands on the way ahead.
Warren said the Navy ships’ mission is to conduct maritime security
operations, “but what they’re doing is keeping an eye on things.”
trAversinG the strAit
All of the ships are operating in the Persian gulf, in the Strait of
Hormuz, near where the Maersk Tigris incident occurred, he added. They
are close enough to the Maersk Tigris, Warren said, “that they’ll be able to
respond if a response is required.”
“Two [incidents] within four or five days has certainly created a situ-
ation where maritime cargo vessels presumably would have to consider
the risks of traversing that strait,” he added.
Warren said that Iran’s motive is not clear to the Defense Department,
and that DoD is not in contact with the Iranian government.
4 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group Conducts PMINTAmphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4 and
the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) May 4 off the northeast coast of the United States.
During PMINT, more than 1,800 sailors from amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD 24), along with 1,400 marines
from the 26th MEU, integrate for the first time to complete a series of exercises designed to enhance interoperability between the sailors and marines.
“We’ve done a lot of Navy planning prior to this exercise, but we’ve had to make assump-tions about what the MEU wants and needs,” said Commander Gregory Chapman, Kearsarge operations officer. “During PMINT, this is the first time we can really get the MEU engaged
into the planning and execution process while embarked aboard the ships.”
PMINT is a three-phase evolution that tests the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (KSGARG) to embark the MEU personnel and conduct integrated warfighting operations through a series of planning exercises, surface gunnery and communication scenarios and air-defense exercises. KSGARG is commanded by Captain Augustus P. Bennett, commodore, PHIBRON 4.
“As I like to think of it, each of the units has already done their individual workouts and preparations,” Chapman said. “PMINT is our ‘spring training.’ It’s the first time we’re coming together to train as a team. We’ve done the posi-tion drills, and now we can start concentrating on a bigger picture.”
The exercise is the first of the three major joint milestones in preparation for the group’s upcoming deployment.
“After PMINT, we’ll move onto the ARG/MEU exercise and then to COMPTUEX (Composite Training Unit Exercise),” Chap-man added. “That’s where we’ll start playing our ‘preseason games,’ before we kick off the regular season on the day we deploy.”
The KSGARG is scheduled to deploy in fall 2015.
Team Carl Vinson Reaches 10,000th Launch, Recovery Milestone
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 recently launched and recovered the 10,000th aircraft of the current deployment.
An Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116 “Sun Kings” E-2 Hawkeye completed the 10,000th launch; a Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 “Sun Liners” F/A-18F completed the 10,000th arrested landing.
“Ten thousand launches and arrested recoveries is a significant mile-stone for this crew,” said Captain Karl Thomas, Carl Vinson’s commanding officer.
“What is truly amazing is the full availability of four catapults and four arresting wires every day for the duration of an extended deployment. It was truly a great job by all involved.”
Thomas also expressed his gratitude to the pilots and sailors assigned to CVW 17 during a daily 1MC announcement to the crew.
“The ship and air wing mission go hand in hand,” said Thomas. “We can’t get 10,000 traps without the air wing involved. The coordinated efforts of the ship and air wing are what made this milestone possible. It’s not just air department; it’s navigation, it’s reactor, engineering and supply; you name the department, everyone had a part in what we did to make this happen.”
Carl Vinson is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 5
Final Flight of the East Coast P-3C orionThe Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 “Tridents,”
based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville,
are currently conducting missions in the U.S.
5th Fleet area of operations. This is the Navy’s
final active duty deployment of the P-3C Orion
aircraft from the East Coast.
The Navy is in the process of replac-
ing the decades-old lockheed Martin P-3C
turbo-prop aircraft with the new multimission
maritime aircraft P-8A Poseidon, a modified
Boeing 737-800ErX.
Historic events aren’t new to the Tridents.
VP-26 was the Navy’s first operational P-3
squadron when they received the first produc-
tion of the P-3B, which replaced the P2-V Nep-
tune in January 1966. Then, in 1979, VP-26
transitioned to the P-3C aircraft used today.
“It’s incredible and it means being a part
of history,” said lieutenant Cory Solis, tactical
coordinator assigned to VP-26. “The plane has
been a fighting force for the Navy for so long
and we’re still able to employ it. We can still
count on her to get up in the air and be vital
part of something like what we are doing now
in the Middle East.”
Even in the final missions of the P-3C
flights, VP-26 continues to work with joint and
coalition forces in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of
operations. During this deployment, VP-26 has
worked with British and French naval vessels
and successfully executed combined opera-
tions with the Bahraini Coast guard.
Today’s P-3 is equipped with the latest
Command, Control, Communications and
Computer (C4) technologies to enable it to
integrate with other forces and to facilitate
network-centric warfare. The P-8 is designed
to take these capabilities to the next level.
“The P-3 is an icon of Cold War anti-sub-
marine warfare, and it has proved extremely
flexible, adapting to meet a variety of missions
assigned by forward fleet commanders in the
25 years since,” said Commander gregory A.
Smith, commanding officer, VP-26.
Transition to a new aircraft goes beyond
utilizing the physical capabilities of the aircraft
and its technology.
“This flexibility is one of the hallmarks
of U.S. Naval service; however, it is not the
airframe that provides this flexibility,” Smith
said. “It is the people. The same people who
are making P-3s succeed on station will be the
ones who make the P-8 succeed on station.
The airframe will change, but the culture and
legacy of excellence in maritime patrol and
reconnaissance will remain.”
Orion Personnel are already preparing for
the road ahead. Sailors will have to adjust, re-
train and in some cases, find a different career
path in the Navy.
“My training is P-3 specific and there’s
not actually a spot for the in-flight technician
in the P-8,” said Naval Aircrewman (Avionics)
2nd Class John McDaniel, in-flight technician
assigned to VP-26. “So, I will be switch-
ing platforms. I will be going to the EA-6B
Prowler and will have to attend another “A”
school. I have been with P-3s for five years.
I feel pretty good and feel it’s time to do
something new.”
All maintenance sailors will be required to
attend the P-8 general familiarization course,
which is between five to 10 days. They will
also be required to attend P-8 rate training.
Upon completion, they will be assigned to Fleet
replacement Squadron, VP-30, in Jacksonville,
and work in their rating specific area to become
qualified collateral duty inspectors (CDI) and
plane captains on the P-8 for approximately six
months.
All current VP-26 operators (aircrew)
identified for transition will return home and
complete Category II training at VP-30,
which lasts approximately six months. Upon
completion of training, they will receive their
new respective navy enlisted codes (NEC)
and begin their first P-8 inter-deployment
readiness cycle.
“You either ride the waves of change or
drown beneath them,” said Command Master
Chief James B. Daniels Jr., command master
chief, VP-26. “The point is change is going to
happen whether you like it or not. The P-8 is
a new, more capable aircraft, and as we did
with the P-3, we will maximize the use of it to
further the Navy’s mission.”
The new P-8 aircraft is expected to arrive
in Bahrain in approximately one year.
“I am extremely proud of what the men and
women of VP-26 do every day,” said Smith.
“They make complex and challenging evolu-
tions seem routine. We don’t set out every day
to make history; we set out to do the little things
the right way, the first time, to the best of our
ability. Being a part of a ‘first’ or a ‘last’ makes
it sound more special, but what is really special
is the way Team Trident works together to over-
come a challenge or rallies behind a shipmate
who needs extra support. To me the last (P-3)
deployment from the East Coast will always
imply the additional work and sacrifices required
to do more with less, and meeting mission in
spite of those challenges; the way VP-26 has
always done before.”
6 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
Quad Cities kicks off Navy WeekQuad Cities Navy Week
kicked off May 4 with a sci-
ence, technology, engineer-
ing and mathematics (STEM)
presentation by USS Constitu-
tion and Explosive Ordnance
Disposal Training and Evalu-
ation Unit (EODTEU) 1 sailors
at the Putnam Museum in
Davenport, Iowa, and United
Township High School in East
Moline, Ill.
Other events that took
place May 4 included sailors
from the guided-missile
destroyer USS The Sullivans
(DDg 68)—Iowa’s namesake
ship, named to honor five
brothers from Waterloo, Iowa,
who served together aboard
USS Juneu during World War
II and lost their lives during
the Battle of guadalcanal—
volunteering with living lands
and Waters in Hampton, Ill.,
and U.S. Navy Band great
lakes performing at the river
Music Experience in Daven-
port.
In commemoration of the
Navy reserve Centennial and
in celebration of Navy Week,
Navy Band great lakes will
be performing at Schweibert
Park, rock Island, Ill. Wednes-
day at 6:00 p.m. followed by
a joint proclamation from area
mayors and county repre-
sentatives and recognition of
local reserve sailors with Navy
Operational Support Center
rock Island. The event will also
include robot demonstrations
by EODTEU-1 and color guard
presentation by USS Constitu-
tion sailors.
“The Midwest doesn’t get to
see much of what the Navy does,
so this Navy Week is a great way
to bring sailors who can interact
with the locals and teach them
the missions of the Navy and
what the Navy really does,” said
Sam kupresin, a retired Navy rear
admiral and a leader in the Quad
Cities community.
The Navy Week program
is designed to raise awareness
about the Navy in areas that
traditionally do not have a naval
presence and include commu-
nity relations projects, speak-
ing engagements and media
interviews with flag hosts and
area sailors.
“The outstanding support
and patriotism from the Quad
Cities community, as well as
our many assets that are taking
time out of their schedules
to showcase their skills and
teamwork, will make this Navy
Week a successful one,” said
lieutenant Commander Tim
Page, Navy Office of Commu-
nity Outreach Event Planning
department head and the lead
planner for Quad Cities Navy
Week.
Iowa native rear Admiral
Michael T. Franken, director,
Defense POW/MIA Accounting
Agency, will serve as the senior
Navy representative during the
Navy Week and will participate
in various events throughout
the week including morning
television talk shows and meet-
ings with corporate executives,
civic groups, veterans orga-
nizations, educators, govern-
ment officials and community
leaders.
“I think there are several
benefits that this Navy Week
will have on our community,”
said Jason gordon, vice presi-
dent of public affairs for Quad
Cities Chamber of Commerce.
“It serves as a reminder of just
how much the U.S. Navy does
for our country and the world.
It isn’t just ships and aircraft
carriers, although those func-
tions are critically important to
our nation’s security. The Na-
vy’s operations and capabilities
are many and quite diverse,
and I suspect some people
may not realize that fact.”
Navy Week will feature an
array of sailors and equip-
ment to showcase the Navy’s
capabilities and missions to
the public. The Quad Cities
Air Show, which features the
U.S. Navy flight demonstration
squadron, the Blue Angels, will
be held Saturday and Sunday,
and U.S. Navy Band great
lakes will be performing at
various locations throughout
the week.
Others include sailors from
USS The Sullivans; the Navy’s
STEM Tour interactive display;
robotics demonstrations by
EODTEU-1; and “Forest to
Frigates” presentations by sail-
ors from USS Constitution (the
world’s oldest commissioned
warship afloat.)
“Our band will work to be
a positive reflection of the U.S.
Navy in the Quad Cities during
the tour with us embodying the
honor, courage and commit-
ment that makes our Navy so
great,” said Musician 3rd Class
Jake Stith, guitarist for Navy
Band great lakes.
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 7
Air Weapons Systems AnalysisThe Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons
Division (NAWCWD) intends to competitively
procure as a total small business set-aside, a
cost-plus-fixed fee (CPFF) indefinite delivery
indefinite quantity (IDIQ) type contract, to
a single awardee for air weapons systems
survivability analysis, systems safety analy-
sis, and modeling and simulation verification,
validation and accreditation support.
The research and development services
to be obtained under this procurement will be
for: (1) model and simulation (M&S) verifica-
tion, validation and accreditation (VV&A); (2)
vulnerability analysis; (3) assessment of M&S
VV&A-related products and processes; (4) sur-
vivability analysis; (5) susceptibility analysis;
(6) assessment of test results on survivability
estimates including proposed design changes
to enhance survivability; (7) systems safety
support; (8) lethality analysis; (9) analyti-
cal and test data acquisition and reduction;
(10) assessment of analytical estimates; (11)
simulation development, enhancement, opera-
tion, configuration management, maintenance
and related support; (12) test planning and
reporting for ballistic systems tests; (13) test
and analytical data review, (14) test planning
and reporting for susceptibility tests; (15)
mission effectiveness analysis; (16) air-vehicle
battle damage repair analysis; (17) cost-and-
operational effectiveness analysis; and (18)
analysis of alternatives studies. It is anticipat-
ed the majority of the work will be performed
at the contractor's site. A minimum of one (1)
task order will be ordered, and the contract is
anticipated to be 62,040 hours over a five-year
period of performance.
Award is anticipated to be on or approxi-
mately Sept. 31, 2015.
primary point of Contact: Jessica rodriguez,
jessica.r.rodriguez1@navy.mil, (760) 939-3974
Forward Deployed Energy and Communications Outpost
Forward Deployed Energy and Commu-nications Outpost (FDECO) will prototype a forward deployed, open, scalable and coordi-nated undersea energy replenishment, data management and communications infrastruc-ture (EDCI) for undersea vehicles and sensors.
For this purpose, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) will be holding an industry outreach event on Monday, May 18, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. at One Liberty Center, Office of Naval Research, 875 N. Randolph Street, 14th Floor (Bobby Junker ECC), Arlington, Va., 22203. The purpose of this event is to
inform industry about areas of research to support development of the forward deployed energy and communications outposts’ innova-tive naval prototype (FDECO INP).
Details concerning registration for this event are available at the following website:https://www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/FDECOIndustryDay. (Note: The website will close at 5:00 p.m. EST, Thursday, May 14, 2015)
Meeting Classification Level: SECRET NOFORN. SECRET Clearances and U.S. citizenship are required for attendance. Space
is limited. Each company/organization will be limited to two personnel.
Points of Contact:Government Technical: Eric Hendricks, FDECO Deputy Project Manager, ( 703) 696-4328; eric.hendricks@navy.milTechnical Program Support: Todd Brunori ONR321MS, (703) 696-6598; todd.j.brunori.ctr@navy.milContractual POC: Chris Williamson, (703) 696-6774, chris.r.williamson@navy.mil
8 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
C-40A trainingNaval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) has a
requirement to support the Navy’s Command Aircraft Crew Training (CACT)
program for the maintenance academic and maintenance simulator training on
the C-40A. This acquisition is necessary to facilitate practical training and repair
application on general aircraft systems with focus on C-40A (Boeing 737-700C
IgW) airframe, power plant systems and electrical/avionics systems in the
C-40A fleet. Each of the C-40A maintenance training courses shall be capable
of meeting Air Transport Association (ATA) Specification 104 level II or higher
criteria.
The C-40A Maintenance Training course shall be capable of meeting ATA
Specification 104 level II or higher criteria.
The contractor shall provide C-40A specific individual courses to include:
•MaintenanceTrainingStandardCourse
•MobileMaintenanceTrainingStandardCourse
•AircraftRiggingMaintenanceCourse
•CFM56-7Removal/InstallationCourse
•CFM56-7LineMaintenanceCourse
•CFM56-7FlightLineTroubleshooting
•FWDAirStairsCourse
•AFTAirStairsCourse
The request for proposal is estimated for release in August 2015 with an
award to follow in January 2016.
point of Contact: kelly Stevens,
(407) 380-4143
V-22 Supply Forecasting and Maintenance Readiness Training
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has announced its intention to issue a modification to contract N00019-09-D-0008 with Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office on a sole-source basis to procure supply forecasting and maintenance readiness training (MRT) team support under the V-22 Joint Performance-Based Logistics (JPBL) program.
This acquisition is being pursued on a sole-source basis under the statutory authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services with satisfy agency requirements. Bell-Boeing is the sole designer, developer and producer of the V-22 tilt rotor aircraft and is the only known source that possesses the engineering data, technical skills and requisite knowledge of the design, fabrication, performance, operation and maintenance and support characteristics of the aircraft.
For subcontracting opportunities, con-tact Ralph D’Lorio at (610) 591-9157, ralph.b.d'lorio@boeing.com and Matthew Sticksel at (817) 280-3103, msticksel@bh.com.
Primary Point of Contact: Steven Preston, steven.j.preston@navy.mil, (301) 757-1993
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 9
t-45 Aircraft Engineering, Information management Support
The Fleet readiness Center Southeast (FrCSE) Jacksonville,
Fla., is tasked with providing engineering, logistics, information
management and other support, including systems development and
maintenance, to the following locations: Naval Air Systems Command
(NAVAIr), Program Manager (Air) PMA-273, lexington Park, Md.,
Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATrA) in Corpus Christi, Texas; NAS
kingsville, Texas, NAS Pensacola, Fla., NAS Whiting Field, Fla., NAS
Meridian, Miss., and NAS Patuxent river, Md.
Support is provided for the T-45 goshawk aircraft and other
trainer aircraft such as the T-44 PEgASUS, T-6 Texan, T-34 and TH-
57, their systems and components and trainer aircraft data systems.
To this end, the Navy has issued a performance work statement
(PWS) providing the baseline for T-45 aircraft engineering, informa-
tion management support, including systems development and
maintenance in support of the CNATrA fleet support team at FrCSE
Jacksonville. This contract will include, but is not limited to, aircraft
structural component strength analysis, aircraft systems engineering
program and process analysis and computer systems engineering,
computer programming and information security assurance in sup-
port of the goshawk Network (gOSNet).
The successful contractor shall provide technically qualified
personnel to perform aircraft system engineering, information man-
agement, analysis and related services in support of this effort. The
contractor shall provide direct support to the Navy T-45 fleet support
team (FST) located in Jacksonville at the Cecil Commerce Center. The
contractor’s engineering support will assist the T-45 FST in structural
analysis to develop T-45 aircraft repairs and other analyses for fatigue
life evaluation. Additionally, reports shall be provided to support ser-
vice life, fatigue management and retrofit/modifications.
primary point of Contact: Jeff Scott,
(904) 790-4495
SSC Pacific Transmission SecurityPEO C4I PMW 130 is responsible for the
acquisition, integration, delivery and support of cryptographic and key management efforts, including modernization of cryptographic de-vices. SSC Pacific is the Navy’s premier research, development, test and evaluation laboratory for command, control, communications, comput-ers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR). SPAWAR Systems Center (SSC) Pacific provides complete life cycle development and support for military C4ISR systems—from concept to fielded capability. SSC Pacific is one of two major systems centers reporting directly to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Com-mand. SSC Pacific laboratories, test beds and simulated operational environments offer work-ing environments unachievable elsewhere.
SSC Pacific in support of the Program Executive Office, Command, Control, Com-munications, Computers, Intelligence (PEO C4I), Information Assurance and Cyber Security Program Office (PMW 130), is seeking information on development and production of a cryptographic module to provide transmission security (TRANSEC) for the TD-1271 and KGV-11 legacy systems.
The government objective is to obtain a replacement cryptographic module that provides TRANSEC capabilities using a modern algorithm interfacing to a legacy host device—the TD-1271 UHF DAMA modem the module must support Suite B al-gorithms and protect Secret data (threshold)
and future Top Secret (objective). The core technology should be upgradeable for other UHF DAMA and Integrated Waveform applications.
Primary Point of Contact: Diana Dressler, diana.dressler@navy.mil, (619) 553-4345
10 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
ISR Technologies Successfully Tested on M80 StilettoThe U.S. Navy has successfully tested Raytheon’s advanced
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies aboard the experimental ship known as the M80 Stiletto while the vessel was under way. The test took place during operations at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va.
The combined technology was created by combining two, proven Raytheon technologies: the Persistent Surveillance System Cross Domain Solution (PSS CDS) and Intersect Sentry. The successful test was conducted as part of the Stiletto Maritime Technology Demonstration Program.
PSS CDS receives critical data from multiple sensors and offers two-way sharing of information and commands across both classi-fied and unclassified domains. Intersect Sentry is an automation and analysis tool that creates alerts from a variety of intelligence, sensor and reconnaissance data streams according to parameters defined by the user. Both systems have been successfully demonstrated in sup-port of joint and coalition maritime operations.
“Raytheon has created two capabilities that are easily recon-figured for deployment on multiple missions,” said Bob Dehnert, Command, Control and Awareness director for Raytheon Intelli-gence, Information and Services. “They give warfighters proven, automated information sharing and analysis support for surveil-lance missions in any domain.”
During the Navy demonstration, Intersect Sentry automati-cally analyzed data streams and sent alerts to the PSS CDS for simultaneous display across various networks, creating a common operating picture for different users operating at multiple clas-sification levels.
The recent capability demonstration, designated CD 15-2, was one of a series sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering. The Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program and the Stiletto vessel are operated by the U.S. Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division.
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 11
substantial drop in obligations ($160 billion; 35 percent) from FY2008 to
FY2014 (see Figure 2).Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 3
Figure 1. Contract Obligations by Agency
Source: Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation, January 2015. Figure created by CRS.
From FY2000 to FY2014, adjusted for inflation (FY2015 dollars), DOD contract obligations increased from $189 billion to $290 billion.7 However, the increase in spending has not been steady. Over the last 15 years, DOD contracting has been marked by a steep increase in obligations from FY2000 to FY2008 ($260 billion; 138%), followed by a substantial drop in obligations ($160 billion; 35%) from FY2008 to FY2014 (see Figure 2).
7 Deflators for converting into constant dollars derived from Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Department of Defense, National Defense Budget Estimates for FY2015, “Department of Defense Deflators – TOA By Category ‘Total Non-Pay,’” Table 5-5, p. 56-57, April 2014.
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 4
Figure 2. DOD Contract Obligations FY2015 Dollars
Source: CRS analysis of data from the Federal Procurement Data System—Next Generation, January 2015. Figure created by CRS.
Contract obligation trends are generally consistent with overall DOD obligation trends. For example, DOD total obligation authority increased significantly from FY2000 to FY2008, and decreased from FY2008 to FY2014 (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. DOD—Total Obligation Authority FY2015 Dollars
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Department of Defense, National Defense Budget Estimates for FY2016, “Department of Defense TOA – By Public Title,” Table 6-1, March, 2015. Figure created by CRS.
Contract obligation trends are generally consistent with overall DoD
obligation trends. For example, DoD total obligation authority increased
significantly from FY2000 to FY2008, and decreased from FY2008 to
FY2014 (see Figure 3).
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 4
Figure 2. DOD Contract Obligations FY2015 Dollars
Source: CRS analysis of data from the Federal Procurement Data System—Next Generation, January 2015. Figure created by CRS.
Contract obligation trends are generally consistent with overall DOD obligation trends. For example, DOD total obligation authority increased significantly from FY2000 to FY2008, and decreased from FY2008 to FY2014 (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. DOD—Total Obligation Authority FY2015 Dollars
Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Department of Defense, National Defense Budget Estimates for FY2016, “Department of Defense TOA – By Public Title,” Table 6-1, March, 2015. Figure created by CRS.
Some analysts believe that this trend of rapid contract spend-
ing increases (averaging 11 percent annual increases), followed by a
relatively sharp cut in contract spending (averaging 7 percent annual
decreases), puts DoD at increased risk of making short-term budget
decisions (aimed at meeting budget caps) that could cause long-term
harm. These analysts argue that, even without changing long-term
budget reduction targets, DoD should make more strategically in-
formed decisions.
The limits on DoD funding resulting from the Budget Control
Act could also result in cuts that are not strategically thought
out. A more gradual reduction in spending, or additional funding
in select budget categories, could help DoD make more gradual
spending reductions and more considered choices, potentially
minimizing hazardous long-term effects of budget cuts. Address-
ing budget cuts, former Pentagon comptroller robert Hale wrote
that one option for Congress is to:approve more funding in at least
some budget categories and raise the budget caps to accommo-
date the boosted funding. This could be accomplished in a mini
budget deal (as opposed to the forever elusive “grand bargain”)
that, hopefully for at least a few years, would effectively eliminate
the threat of sequestration in favor of considered choices.
The boom-and-bust trend of DoD contract spending that makes
budget cuts more difficult is in marked contrast to the rest of the
federal government, which has had more gradual increases and less
drastic spending cuts (see Figure 4).Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 6
Figure 4. DOD vs. Rest of Government Contract Obligations FY2015 Dollars
Source: CRS analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
What DOD Is Buying In FY2014, 45% of total DOD contract obligations were for services, 45% for goods, and 10% for research and development (R&D). This is in contrast to the rest of the federal government (excluding DOD), which obligated a significantly larger portion of contracting dollars on services (68%) than on goods (22%) or research and development (9%).
How Are Contracts Categorized? FPDS categorizes contracts by product or service codes. According to FPDS, “These product/service codes are used to record the products and services being purchased by the Federal Government. In many cases, a given contract/task order/purchase order will include more than one product and/or service. In such cases, the product or service code data element code should be selected based on the predominant product or service that is being purchased. For example, a contract for $1000 of lumber and $500 of pipe would be coded under 5510, Lumber & Related Wood Materials.” Because FPDS-NG contracts are associated with only a single product or service code—even when the contract involves substantial deliveries of other products or services—the analysis in this report should be used only to identify broad overall trends.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration Office of Governmentwide Policy, Federal Procurement Data System Product and Service Codes Manual, August 2011 Edition, October 1, 2011, p. 6.
For almost 20 years, DOD has dedicated an ever-smaller share of contracting dollars to R&D, with such contracts dropping from 18% of total contract obligations in FY1998 to 10% in FY2014. (For a breakout of DOD obligations trends by product service code, see Appendix B.)
what dod is buying
In FY2014, 45 percent of total DoD contract obligations were for
services, 45 percent for goods and 10 percent for research and de-
velopment (r&D). This is in contrast to the rest of the federal govern-
ment (excluding DoD), which obligated a significantly larger portion of
contracting dollars on services (68 percent) than on goods (22 percent)
or research and development (9 percent).
For almost 20 years, DoD has dedicated an ever-smaller share of
contracting dollars to r&D, with such contracts dropping from 18 per-
cent of total contract obligations in FY1998 to 10 percent in FY2014.
The relative decrease in r&D contracts is not just as a percent-
age of overall spending, but also in terms of constant dollars. Despite
increased spending on r&D from FY2000 to FY2007, adjusted for infla-
tion, DoD obligated less money on r&D contracts in FY2014 ($28 billion)
than it invested more than 15 years earlier ($31 billion in FY1998). In
contrast, over the same period, DoD obligations to acquire both goods
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DoD Spends Its Contracting Dollars➥ Continued froM pAGe 1
Figure 2. DOD Contract Obligations FY2015 Dollars
Figure 1. Contract Obligations by Agency
Figure 3. DOD—Total Obligation Authority FY2015 Dollars
Figure 4. DOD vs. rest of government Contract Obligations FY2015 Dollars
12 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
and services are substantially higher than they were 15 years ago (see
Figure 6).Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 7
Figure 5. DOD Contract Obligations by Major Category
Source: CRS analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
The relative decrease in R&D contracts is not just as a percentage of overall spending, but also in terms of constant dollars. Despite increased spending on R&D from FY2000 to FY2007, adjusted for inflation, DOD obligated less money on R&D contracts in FY2014 ($28 billion) than it invested more than 15 years earlier ($31 billion in FY1998). In contrast, over the same period, DOD obligations to acquire both goods and services are substantially higher than they were 15 years ago (see Figure 6).
Figure 6. DOD Contract Obligations Dedicated to R&D FY2015 Dollars
Source: CRS analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 7
Figure 5. DOD Contract Obligations by Major Category
Source: CRS analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
The relative decrease in R&D contracts is not just as a percentage of overall spending, but also in terms of constant dollars. Despite increased spending on R&D from FY2000 to FY2007, adjusted for inflation, DOD obligated less money on R&D contracts in FY2014 ($28 billion) than it invested more than 15 years earlier ($31 billion in FY1998). In contrast, over the same period, DOD obligations to acquire both goods and services are substantially higher than they were 15 years ago (see Figure 6).
Figure 6. DOD Contract Obligations Dedicated to R&D FY2015 Dollars
Source: CRS analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
totAl dod spendinG on reseArCh, developMent, test, And evAluAtion (rdt&e)
research and Development contracting is but a portion of overall
DoD investment in developing technology. For example, more than half
of DoD’s basic research budget is spent at universities and represents
the major contribution of funds in some areas of science and technol-
ogy. When taken as a whole, the r&D picture looks somewhat different.
Total outlays for rDT&E increased 70 percent in constant dollars from
FY1998 to FY2009, before dropping 24 percent from FY2009 to FY2014.
However, as reflected in Figure 7, over the last 15 years, rDT&E outlays
increased at a much slower rate (30 percent) than non-rDT&E (54
percent).
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 8
Total DOD Spending on Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E)
Research and Development contracting is but a portion of overall DOD investment in developing technology. For example, more than half of DOD’s basic research budget is spent at universities and represents the major contribution of funds in some areas of science and technology.11 When taken as a whole, the R&D picture looks somewhat different. Total outlays for RDT&E12 increased 70% in constant dollars from FY1998 to FY2009, before dropping 24% from FY2009 to FY2014.13 However, as reflected in Figure 7, over the last 15 years, RDT&E outlays increased at a much slower rate (30%) than non-RDT&E (54%).
Figure 7. DOD RDT&E vs. Non-RDT&E Outlays FY2015 Dollars
Source: National Defense Budget Estimates for FY 2015, Department of Defense Outlays by Public Title, Table 6-11. Figure created by CRS. FY2014 data from National Defense Budget Estimates for FY 2016, Department of Defense Outlays by Public Title, Table 6-11.
11 For a more detailed discussion of RDT&E spending, see CRS Report R43580, Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2015, coordinated by John F. Sargent Jr. 12 RDT&E budget activities are broad categories reflecting different types of RDT&E efforts. The seven RDT&E budget activities are Basic Research, Applied Research, Advanced Technology Development, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes, System Development and Demonstration, RDT&E Management Support, and Operational System Development. 13 Not all RDT&E categories have followed the same pattern. As Todd Harrison, analyst from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments wrote “Two areas of RDT&E funding have trended upward throughout the overall budget cycle: classified R&D and basic research. While both are cut slightly in FY 2015, they remain well above their pre-build-up levels.” Todd Harrison, Analysis of the FY 2015 Defense Budget, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, 2014, pp. 24-25.
the GlobAl environMent for r&d
The profile of DoD r&D spending takes place against a backdrop of
increasing defense and non-defense investments by foreign nations and
private industry. As reflected in Figure 8, U.S. federal defense-related
r&D dropped from 36 percent of global r&D in 1960 to 7 percent in
1998, and to 5 percent in 2012.
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 9
The Global Environment for R&D
The profile of DOD R&D spending takes place against a backdrop of increasing defense and non-defense investments by foreign nations and private industry. As reflected in Figure 8, U.S. federal defense-related R&D dropped from 36% of global R&D in 1960 to 7% in 1998, and to 5% in 2012.
Figure 8. Comparison of R&D Spending 1960-2012
Source: 1960: U.S. and ROW shares based on data from U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Technology Policy, The Global Context for U.S. Technology Policy, Summer 1997 (hard copy). 2012: U.S. and ROW share from OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators, OECD. Stat. Figure created by CRS.
The reduction in U.S. and federal government shares of global R&D did not result from decreased U.S. spending, but from the increased R&D spending of other nations in aggregate. In constant dollars, federal R&D funding in 2012 was 2.4 times its 1960 level, while total U.S. R&D funding in 2012 was 5.3 times its 1960 level (see Figure 9).
Figure 9. Federal and U.S. Expenditures
Source: National Science Foundation, National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2011–12 Data Update, NSF 14-304, Table 6, December 2013, at http://nsf.gov/statistics/nsf14304/. Figure created by CRS.
The reduction in U.S. and federal government shares of global
r&D did not result from decreased U.S. spending but from the
increased r&D spending of other nations in aggregate. In constant
dollars, federal r&D funding in 2012 was 2.4 times its 1960 level,
while total U.S. r&D funding in 2012 was 5.3 times its 1960 level (see
Figure 9).
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 9
The Global Environment for R&D
The profile of DOD R&D spending takes place against a backdrop of increasing defense and non-defense investments by foreign nations and private industry. As reflected in Figure 8, U.S. federal defense-related R&D dropped from 36% of global R&D in 1960 to 7% in 1998, and to 5% in 2012.
Figure 8. Comparison of R&D Spending 1960-2012
Source: 1960: U.S. and ROW shares based on data from U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Technology Policy, The Global Context for U.S. Technology Policy, Summer 1997 (hard copy). 2012: U.S. and ROW share from OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators, OECD. Stat. Figure created by CRS.
The reduction in U.S. and federal government shares of global R&D did not result from decreased U.S. spending, but from the increased R&D spending of other nations in aggregate. In constant dollars, federal R&D funding in 2012 was 2.4 times its 1960 level, while total U.S. R&D funding in 2012 was 5.3 times its 1960 level (see Figure 9).
Figure 9. Federal and U.S. Expenditures
Source: National Science Foundation, National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2011–12 Data Update, NSF 14-304, Table 6, December 2013, at http://nsf.gov/statistics/nsf14304/. Figure created by CRS.
In recent years, China has increased its r&D expenditures at a rapid
pace to become the second-largest funder of r&D among nations. Figure
10 shows growth in r&D expenditures for selected nations since 2000, as
reported to the OECD, and illustrates the comparatively rapid growth of
China’s r&D investments with respect to those of other nations.
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 10
In recent years, China has increased its R&D expenditures at a rapid pace to become the second-largest funder of R&D among nations. Figure 10 shows growth in R&D expenditures for selected nations since 2000, as reported to the OECD, and illustrates the comparatively rapid growth of China’s R&D investments with respect to those of other nations.
Figure 10. Growth in Gross Expenditures on R&D for Selected Nations Since 2000
Source: OECD data, Gross Expenditures on R&D (GERD), 2012. Figure created by CRS.
While the growth shown in Figure 10 is for total R&D funding, these trends have raised concerns among many analysts and senior DOD leaders, such as Under Secretary of Defense Frank Kendall, who testified in January 2015 that
[O]ver the past few decades, the U.S. and our allies have enjoyed a military capability advantage over any potential adversary.... The First Gulf War put this suite of technologies and the associated operational concepts on display for the world to observe and study. The First Gulf War also marked the beginning of a period of American military dominance that has lasted about a quarter of a century and served us well in several conflicts. We used the same capabilities, with some notable enhancements, in Serbia, Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq. It has been a good run, but the game isn’t one sided, and all military advantages based on technology are temporary....
The rise of foreign capability, coupled with the overall decline in U.S. research and development investments, is jeopardizing our technological superiority.14
The United States remains the world’s single largest funder of R&D, spending more than the next two highest funders combined (China and Japan) in 2012 (see Table 1). Global R&D is highly concentrated among a few nations. The 10 nations listed in Table 1 accounted for more than 80% of global R&D reported to the OECD in 2012.
14 Written Statement of Under Secretary of Defense Frank Kendall, U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, A Case for Reform: Improving DOD’s Ability to Respond to the Pace of Technological Change, 114th Cong., 1st sess., January 28, 2015.
While the growth shown in Figure 10 is for total r&D funding, these
trends have raised concerns among many analysts and senior DoD
leaders, such as Under Secretary of Defense Frank kendall, who testi-
fied in January 2015 that:
Figure 5. DOD Contract Obligations by Major Category
Figure 6. DOD Contract Obligations Dedicated to r&D FY2015 Dollars
Figure 7. DOD rDT&E vs. Non-rDT&E Outlays FY2015 Dollars
Figure 8. Comparison of r&D Spending 1960-2012
Figure 9. Federal and U.S. Expenditures
Figure 10. growth in gross Expenditures on r&D for Selected Nations Since 2000
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 13
[O]ver the past few decades, the U.S. and our allies have
enjoyed a military capability advantage over any potential ad-
versary.... The First gulf War put this suite of technologies and
the associated operational concepts on display for the world to
observe and study. The First gulf War also marked the beginning
of a period of American military dominance that has lasted about
a quarter of a century and served us well in several conflicts. We
used the same capabilities, with some notable enhancements, in
Serbia, Afghanistan, libya and Iraq. It has been a good run, but
the game isn’t one-sided, and all military advantages based on
technology are temporary....
The rise of foreign capability, coupled with the overall decline
in U.S. research and development investments, is jeopardizing our
technological superiority.
The United States remains the world’s single-largest funder of r&D,
spending more than the next two highest funders combined (China and
Japan) in 2012 (see Table 1). global r&D is highly concentrated among
a few nations. The 10 nations listed in Table 1 accounted for more than
80 percent of global r&D reported to the OECD in 2012.
Table 1. Total 2012 gross Expenditures on r&D, by Nation in billions of current purchasing power parity (PPP) U.S. dollars
Nation Amount
United States $453.5
China 293.1
Japan 151.8
Germany 100.7
South Korea 64.5
France 55.5
United Kingdom 38.9
Russian Federation 38.8
Chinese Taipei 28.7
Italy 26.9
Michael Dumont, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Special Operations/low Intensity Conflict, reportedly stated:
Many of our adversaries have acquired, developed and even
stolen technologies that have put them on somewhat equal footing
with the West in a range of areas ... the U.S. government no longer
has the leading edge developing its own leading edge capabilities,
particularly in information technology.
In the early 1960s, the federal government funded approximately
twice as much r&D as U.S. industry and thus played a substantial
role in driving U.S. and global technology pathways. Today, U.S.
industry funds more than twice as much r&D as the federal govern-
ment. This transformation has had, and continues to have, implica-
tions for federal r&D strategy and management and for the efficacy
of the DoD acquisition system. As one general officer stated, whereas
the military used to go to industry and tell them to create a tech-
nology to meet a requirement, increasingly the military is going to
industry and asking them to adapt an existing commercial technology
to military requirements.
where dod obligates Contract dollarsDoD relies on contractors to support operations worldwide, includ-
ing operations in Afghanistan, permanently garrisoned troops overseas
and ships docking at foreign ports. Because of its global footprint, this
report will look at where DoD obligates contract dollars in two ways: by
geographic region and domestic versus overseas.
by GeoGrAphiC reGion
DoD divides its missions and geographic responsibilities among six
unified combatant commands:
U.S. Northern Command (NOrTHCOM),
U.S. African Command (AFrICOM),
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM),
U.S. European Command (EUCOM),
U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), which includes Hawaii and a
number of U.S. territories and
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
These commands do not control all DoD contracting activity that
occurs within their respective geographic regions. For example, Trans-
portation Command (TrANSCOM), headquartered at Scott Air Force
Base, Ill., may contract with a private company to provide transportation
services in CENTCOM. For purposes of this report, DoD contract obli-
gations are categorized by the place of performance, not the DoD com-
ponent that signed the contract or obligated the money. For example, all
contract obligations for work in the geographic location that falls under
the responsibility of CENTCOM will be allocated to CENTCOM, regard-
less of which DoD organization signed the contract.
In FY2014, 90 percent of DoD contracts were performed in
NOrTHCOM (which includes the Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico). DOD
obligated 4 percent of total contract work in CENTCOM, followed by
PACOM (2.5 percent), EUCOM (2 percent), AFrICOM (0.17 percent),
and SOUTHCOM (0.14 percent).
doMestiC vs. overseAs
In FY2014, 92 percent of DoD contract obligations ($265 billion in
FY2015 dollars) were for work performed in the United States, the highest
percentage since FY2003 (see Figure 11). Over the last six years, obligations
for domestic contracts dropped by 34 percent, from a high of approximately
$400 billion in FY2008 to some $265 billion in FY2014; obligations for over-
seas contracts were cut in half, from $48 billion in FY2008 to $24 billion in
FY2014. The drop in overseas obligations stems primarily from drawdowns in
the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters, where contract obligations decreased from
$32.5 billion in FY2008 to $12.5 billion in FY2014 (Figure 12).
Figure 11. Percentage of DOD Contract Obligations Performed in the United States
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 13
In FY2014, 90% of DOD contracts were performed in NORTHCOM (which includes the Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico). DOD obligated 4% of total contract work in CENTCOM, followed by PACOM (2.5%), EUCOM (2%), AFRICOM (0.17%), and SOUTHCOM (0.14%).
Domestic vs. Overseas
In FY2014, 92% of DOD contract obligations ($265 billion in FY2015 dollars) were for work performed in the United States, the highest percentage since FY2003 (see Figure 11).23 Over the last six years, obligations for domestic contracts dropped by 34%, from a high of approximately $400 billion in FY2008 to some $265 billion in FY2014; obligations for overseas contracts were cut in half, from $48 billion in FY2008 to $24 billion in FY2014. The drop in overseas obligations stems primarily from drawdowns in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters, where contract obligations decreased from $32.5 billion in FY2008 to $12.5 billion in FY2014 (Figure 12).24
Figure 11. Percentage of DOD Contract Obligations Performed in the United States
Source: CRS analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
23 For purposes of this report, U.S. territories (including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Johnston Atoll, and Wake) are deemed domestic spending. For a list of U.S. territories, see http://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/politicatypes.cfm. 24 Based on Congressional Budget Office (CBO) methodology, the Iraqi theater includes Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. See Congressional Budget Office, Contractors’ Support of U.S. Operations in Iraq, August 2008, p. 3. For purposes of this analysis, the Afghan theater includes Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
14 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 14
Figure 12. Contract Obligations in Iraq and Afghanistan Theaters FY2015 Dollars
Source: CRS Analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
Despite the drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan, in FY2014 DOD contract obligations for work performed overseas were still primarily steered to CENTCOM (52%), followed by EUCOM (21%), PACOM (18%), NORTHCOM (6%), SOUTHCOM (2%), and AFRICOM (2%) (Figure 13). However, a significant shift in where contracting dollars are allocated appears to be underway. Fewer dollars are being obligated in CENTCOM and EUCOM, whereas more dollars are being directed toward PACOM (see Table 2).
Figure 13. DOD Contract Obligations for Work Performed in Combatant Command Areas of Responsibility
Source: CRS Analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
Despite the drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan, in FY2014 DoD con-
tract obligations for work performed overseas were still primarily steered
to CENTCOM (52 percent), followed by EUCOM (21 percent), PACOM
(18 percent), NOrTHCOM (6 percent), SOUTHCOM (2 percent), and
AFrICOM (2 percent) (Figure 13). However, a significant shift in where
contracting dollars are allocated appears to be underway. Fewer dollars
are being obligated in CENTCOM and EUCOM, whereas more dollars
are being directed toward PACOM (see Table 2).
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 14
Figure 12. Contract Obligations in Iraq and Afghanistan Theaters FY2015 Dollars
Source: CRS Analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
Despite the drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan, in FY2014 DOD contract obligations for work performed overseas were still primarily steered to CENTCOM (52%), followed by EUCOM (21%), PACOM (18%), NORTHCOM (6%), SOUTHCOM (2%), and AFRICOM (2%) (Figure 13). However, a significant shift in where contracting dollars are allocated appears to be underway. Fewer dollars are being obligated in CENTCOM and EUCOM, whereas more dollars are being directed toward PACOM (see Table 2).
Figure 13. DOD Contract Obligations for Work Performed in Combatant Command Areas of Responsibility
Source: CRS Analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
Table 2. Obligations for Contracts Performed Overseas FY2015 Dollars
Unified Combatant Commanda
FY2008 FY2014 Change
CENTCOM $32,783,702,635 $12,483,406,051 -62%
EUCOM $10,440,264,437 $4,987,819,112 -52%
PACOM $2,983,932,444 $4,236,333,879 42%
NORTHCOM $1,329,916,478 $1,376,759,556 4%
AFRICOM $312,105,190 $493,098,812 58%
SOUTHCOM $416,188,774 $396,447,846 -5%
Of the top 12 countries where DoD contractors perform work
abroad, fivewere in CENTCOM, three in EUCOM, two in PACOM, and
two in NOrTHCOM .
dod overseAs obliGAtions vs. rest of GovernMent
DoD’s share of total government obligations for contracts per-
formed abroad has trended down from a high of 90 percent in FY2000
to 71 percent in FY2014. Over the same period, combined Department
of State and USAID contract obligations increased from 4 percent to 24
percent of all U.S. government overseas obligations (see Figure 14).
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 15
Table 2. Obligations for Contracts Performed Overseas FY2015 Dollars
Unified Combatant Commanda FY2008 FY2014 Change
CENTCOM $32,783,702,635 $12,483,406,051 -62%
EUCOM $10,440,264,437 $4,987,819,112 -52%
PACOM $2,983,932,444 $4,236,333,879 42%
NORTHCOM $1,329,916,478 $1,376,759,556 4%
AFRICOM $312,105,190 $493,098,812 58%
SOUTHCOM $416,188,774 $396,447,846 -5%
Source: CRS Analysis of FPDS data, January, 2015.
Note: FY2008 chosen as point of comparison because FY2008 is the high point of DOD contract obligations.
a. Does not include contracts performed in the United States and its territories.
Of the top 12 countries where DOD contractors perform work abroad, 5 were in CENTCOM, 3 in EUCOM, 2 in PACOM, and 2 in NORTHCOM (see Appendix C).
DOD Overseas Obligations vs. Rest of Government
DOD’s share of total government obligations for contracts performed abroad has trended down from a high of 90% in FY2000 to 71% in FY2014. Over the same period, combined Department of State and USAID contract obligations increased from 4% to 24% of all U.S. government overseas obligations (see Figure 14).
Figure 14. DOD’s Proportion of Total U.S. Government Contract Work Performed Overseas
Source: CRS Analysis of FPDS data. Figure created by CRS.
Notes: USAID was established as an independent agency in 1961, but receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State.
A number of analysts have argued that as a result of its larger budget
and workforce, DoD often undertakes traditionally civilian missions be-
cause other agencies do not have the necessary resources to fulfill those
missions. Some of these analysts argue that more resources should be
invested into civilian agencies to allow them to play a larger role in conflict
prevention, post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction. As the Senate
Foreign relations Committee Majority, Discussion Paper on Peacekeep-
ing, Majority Staff, April 8, 2010, stated, “The civilian capacity of the U.S.
government to prevent conflict and conduct post-conflict stabilization
and reconstruction is beset by fragmentation, gaps in coverage, lack of
resources and training, coordination problems, unclear delineations of
authority and responsibility, and policy inconsistency.”
Many of these analysts have argued that to achieve its foreign policy
goals, the United States needs to take a more whole-of-government ap-
proach that brings together the resources of, among others, DoD, the De-
partment of State and USAID—and government contractors. Then-Sec-
retary of Defense robert gates echoed this approach when he argued, in
2007, for strengthening the use of soft power in national security through
increased nondefense spending. As Secretary gates stated:
What is clear to me is that there is a need for a dramatic in-
crease in spending on the civilian instruments of national secu-
rity—diplomacy, strategic communications, foreign assistance, civic
action, and economic reconstruction and development.... We must
focus our energies beyond the guns and steel of the military, be-
yond just our brave soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen. We must
also focus our energies on the other elements of national power that
will be so crucial in the coming years.
Contract obligations since FY2000 may indicate a shift toward a more
whole-of-government approach to achieving foreign policy objectives.
how reliable Are the dod data on Contract obligations?
According to the Federal Acquisition regulation, FPDS-Ng can be
used to measure and assess “the effect of federal contracting on the
Nation’s economy and ... the effect of other policy and management ini-
tiatives (e.g., performance based acquisitions and competition).” FPDS
is also used to meet the requirements of the Federal Funding Account-
ability and Transparency Act of 2006 (P.l. 109-282), which requires all
federal award data to be publicly accessible.
Congress, legislative and executive branch agencies, analysts and the
public all rely on FPDS as a primary source of information for understand-
ing how and where the federal government spends contracting dollars.
Congress and the executive branch rely on the information to help make
Figure 12. Contract Obligations in Iraq and Afghanistan Theaters FY2015 Dollars
Figure 13. DOD Contract Obligations for Work Performed in Combatant Command Areas of responsibility
Figure 14. DOD’s Proportion of Total U.S. government Contract Work Performed Overseas
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 15
and oversee informed policy and spending decisions. Analysts and the
public rely on the data in FPDS to conduct analysis and gain visibility into
government operations.
Data reliability is essential to the utility of FPDS. As general Account-
ing Office (gAO) has stated, “[r]eliable information is critical to informed
decision making and to oversight of the procurement system.” According
to officials within the White House’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy,
“[c]omplete, accurate, and timely federal procurement data are essential for
ensuring that the government has the right information when planning and
awarding contracts and that the public has reliable data to track how tax
dollars are being spent.” If the data contained in FPDS are not sufficiently
reliable, the data may not provide an appropriate basis for measuring or as-
sessing federal contracting, making policy decisions, or providing transpar-
ency into government operations. The result could be the implementation
of policies that squander resources and waste taxpayer dollars. According
to gAO, “[f]ederal agencies are responsible for ensuring that the informa-
tion reported in [the FPDS] database is complete and accurate.”
dAtA reliAbility ConCerns persist
According to the general Services Administration (gSA), data in FPDS
are provided by agencies and the agencies are required to validate their
data annually through the FPDS Data Independent Verification and Valida-
tion and Quality Certification. Agency statements regarding data accuracy
are independent of the FPDS systems and outside the authority of gSA.
gAO has repeatedly raised concerns over the accuracy, limitations,
and reliability of the data contained in the FPDS-Ng database. According
to gAO, FPDS-Ng often contains data with limited “utility, accuracy and
completeness.” The Office of Management and Budget has also released
guidance requiring executive branch agencies to implement gAO recom-
mendations seeking to improve FPDS data quality. Continued concerns
raised over the reliability of data have prompted many analysts to rely on
FPDS-Ng primarily to identify broad trends and make rough estimations.
According to one gAO report:
DoD acknowledged that using FPDS-Ng as the main data source
for the inventories has a number of limitations. These limitations
include that FPDS-Ng does not provide the number of contractor FTEs
performing each service, identify the requiring activity, or allow for the
identification of all services being procured.
Officials from the general Services Administration, the agency that
administers FPDS-Ng, stated that data errors in FPDS-Ng do not substan-
tively alter the larger context of 1.4 million actions and billions of dollars of
obligations entered into the system by DoD every year. Officials have also
indicated that whenever possible and feasible, steps are taken to improve
the reliability and integrity of the data contained in FPDS. For example, in
FY2011, the Congressional research Service reported on specific data
reliability concerns regarding contracts listed as having been performed
overseas that were actually performed in the United States. DoD addressed
the data error by reviewing past data and correcting coding errors. To
prevent similar coding errors in the future, a rule change was implemented
requiring agencies to adopt three-letter International Standard (ISO) codes
when coding a particular country into FPDS-Ng.
Other data deficiencies appear more consequential. According to DoD
officials, the obligations for FY2008 are “artificially higher by $13B and the
FY09 number is artificially lower by $13B” due to over-obligation on a single
contract. DoD went on to note that the money obligated in FY2008 was
never spent and that “this is a known error and even had a note in FPDS for
a while.” Such an error, particularly without an easily identifiable notation,
significantly affects analyses of DoD spending trends, including the analysis
in this report.
In a more recent example of data inconsistency within FPDS, CrS
identified a discrepancy of approximately $6 billion in FY2014 when users
employed different methods to extract data from the FPDS database.
Although the two methods presumably access the same dataset, in some
cases when data were extracted using the system’s “standard report,” it
produced a total dollar value significantly lower than that extracted when
using the system’s “ad hoc report.” The reason for the data discrepancy
appears to be that in cases when an agency does not report the place of
performance of the contract, the “standard report” omits the contract from
search results entirely.
When asked about this particular data discrepancy, gSA stated that
the difference was a “feature of the data.” CrS extracted FPDS data via
both the “standard report” and the “ad hoc report” for all fiscal years avail-
able and calculated the resulting discrepancies over time. Figure 15 shows
the dollar value of the discrepancy between the two search methods.
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars
Congressional Research Service 19
In a more recent example of data inconsistency within FPDS, CRS identified a discrepancy of approximately $6 billion in FY2014 when users employed different methods to extract data from the FPDS database. Although the two methods presumably access the same dataset, in some cases when data were extracted using the system’s “standard report,” it produced a total dollar value significantly lower than that extracted when using the system’s “ad hoc report.” The reason for the data discrepancy appears to be that in cases when an agency does not report the place of performance of the contract, the “standard report” omits the contract from search results entirely.38
When asked about this particular data discrepancy, GSA stated that the difference was a “feature of the data.”39 CRS extracted FPDS data via both the “standard report” and the “ad hoc report” for all fiscal years available and calculated the resulting discrepancies over time. Figure 15 shows the dollar value of the discrepancy between the two search methods.
Figure 15. Discrepancy in Different Methods for Calculating Total Contracts Obligations
(not adjusted for inflation)
Source: CRS analysis of FPDS data.
38 The data discrepancy appears only to occur when a user searches for data using the place of the contract’s performance as a filter for responses. So, for example, the discrepancy would occur when a user employed the “standard report” to search for contracts that took place in Texas, and then ran the same search using the “ad hoc report.” 39 GSA’s full email response read as follows:
This apparent discrepancy is actually a feature of the data. Specifically, the difference that CRS is pointing out is due to the fact that IDVs are not required to have a place of performance, but can have obligated dollars against them. The Geographical Place of Performance Report requires a place of performance whereas the Federal Contract Dollars and Actions Report does not. The entire difference in the dollar amounts that CRS observed comes from dollars obligated against IDVs which do not have a Place of Performance.
Information provided from GSA to CRS via email on February 4, 2015.
Despite the limitations of FPDS, imperfect data are sometimes better
than no data. A number of observers have noted that despite its shortcom-
ings, FPDS is one of the world’s leading systems for tracking government
procurement data. FPDS data can be used to identify some broad trends
and rough estimations, or to gather information about specific contracts.
Understanding the limitations of data—knowing when, how, and to what
extent to rely on data—could help policymakers incorporate FPDS data
more effectively into their decision-making process.
GsA efforts to iMprove fpds
According to gSA, a number of data systems, including FPDS, are
undergoing a significant overhaul. This overhaul is a multi-year pro-
cess that is expected to improve the reliability and usefulness of the
information contained in the data systems. Part of the effort includes
focus groups with stakeholders, including agency decision-makers and
congressional staff, to solicit feedback on how to improve the reliability,
usability, and relevance of the data stored in the systems being updated.
CrS analysts participated in focus groups. While no date has been set for
completing this effort, officials believe that the upgrades will be rolled out
sometime in 2017 or 2018.
The extent to which gSA and federal agencies succeed in their efforts
to improve the accuracy, reliability, and usability of FPDS will determine the
extent to which Congress and senior executive branch officials will have
access to reliable and timely data that can be used to make budget and
policy decisions.
Figure 15. Discrepancy in Different Methods for Calculating Total Contracts Obligations (not adjusted for inflation)
16 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
AECOM Technical Services Inc.,
los Angeles, Calif., is being awarded
a maximum $45,000,000 firm-fixed-
price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-
quantity architect-engineering
contract for preparation of Navy
and Marine Corps facilities planning
and environmental documentation
in the Naval Facilities Engineering
Command (NAVFAC) Europe Africa
Southwest Asia (EUrAFSWA) area
of responsibility (AOr). The work to
be performed provides for design
projects including, but not limited to:
administration buildings, religious
facilities, community buildings, din-
ing facilities, recreational facilities,
security buildings, child development
centers, bachelor quarters, Navy
lodges, airfield facilities, waterfront
facilities, operational facilities, base
housing, water treatment facilities
and associated work, central plant
utility system upgrades and other
infrastructure. No task orders are
being issued at this time. Work will
be performed at various locations
within the NAVFAC EUrAFSWA
AOr including, but not limited to,
Naples, Italy; Sigonella, Italy; Souda
Bay, greece; Manama, kingdom of
Bahrain; Djibouti, Africa; rota, Spain;
and Vicenza, Italy. The term of the
contract is not to exceed 60 months
with an expected completion date
of May 2020. Fiscal 2015 opera-
tion and maintenance (Navy) funds
in the amount of $10,000 are being
obligated on this award, and will
expire at the end of the current fiscal
year. This contract was competitively
procured via the Navy Electronic
Commerce Online website, with eight
proposals received. The Naval Facili-
ties Engineering Command, Europe
Africa Southwest Asia, Naples, Italy,
is the contracting activity (N33191-
15-D-0811).
General Dynamics Ordnance
and Tactical Systems, Marion, Ill.,
is being awarded an $8,790,026
firm-fixed-price contract for Mk 258,
MOD 1 armor-piercing, fin-stabilized,
discarding, sabot, tracer (APFSDS-
T) cartridges. This contract is to
produce, test, inspect and deliver
30x173mm Mk258 MOD1 ammuni-
tion for use in the Mk46 gun weapon
system. Work will be performed in
Marion, Ill., and is expected to be
completed by March 2017. Fiscal
2014 procurement of ammunition
(Navy, Marine Corps) contract funds
in the amount of $8,790,026 will be
obligated at the time of award, and
funds will expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. This contract
was not competitively procured in
accordance with FAr 6.302-1(a)(2);
only one responsible source and no
other supplies or services will satisfy
agency requirements. The Naval
Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Tech-
nology Division, Indian Head, Md.,
is the contracting activity (N00174-
15-C-0015).
8MAy
ConTraCT awards Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
Alutiiq Technical Services
LLC, Anchorage, Alaska (N39430-
15-D-1660); De la Fuente Con-
struction Inc., National City, Calif.
(N39430-15-D-1661); Iyabak Con-
struction llC, Anchorage, Alaska
(N39430-15-D-1662); Virtual Com-
puting Technology, Carlsbad, Calif.
(N39430-15-D-1663); and Windy Bay
Services llC, Anchorage, Alaska
(N39430-15-D-1664), are each being
awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefi-
nite-quantity multiple award contract
for worldwide passive security barrier
services. The maximum dollar value
including the base period and four
option periods for all five contracts
combined is $90,000,000. The work
to be performed provides for logisti-
cal support, installation, inspection,
refurbishment, development and field
supervision/operation of waterfront
barriers, associated moorings, pas-
sive water barriers and related marine
facilities worldwide. The work will
also include engineering and design
services to support passive water
barrier development and installation
as well as prototyping and testing
of improved systems and ancillary
components. Work will be performed
at various Department of Defense in-
stallations worldwide. The term of the
contract is not to exceed 60 months
with an expected completion date of
May 2020. Fiscal 2015 operation and
maintenance (Navy) contract funds in
the amount of $50,000 are being obli-
gated on this award and will expire at
the end of the current fiscal year. This
contract was competitively procured
via the Navy Electronic Commerce
Online website, with five proposals
received. These five contractors may
compete for task orders under the
terms and conditions of the awarded
contract. No task orders are being
issued at this time. The Naval
Facilities Engineering and Expedition-
ary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme,
Calif., is the contracting activity.
Insitu Inc., Bingen, Wash., is
being awarded $10,919,060 for firm-
fixed-price delivery order 0008 against
a previously issued basic ordering
agreement (N68335-11-g-0009). This
effort is for the procurement of site
activation services and field service
representative personnel to perform
site lead, pilot/operator and mainte-
nance personnel duties to support
intelligence, surveillance and recon-
naissance services program and force
protection services for the government
of Iraq. It will also procure one Mark
4 launcher, two Full Mission Training
Devices and spares kits. Work will be
performed in Taji, Iraq (86.5 percent);
and Bingen, Wash. (13.5 percent), and
is expected to be completed in August
2016. Foreign military sales funds in
7MAy
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 17
ConTraCT awards
the amount of $10,919,060 are being
obligated at time of award, none of
which will expire at the end of the fis-
cal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center
Aircraft Division, lakehurst, N.J., is
the contracting activity.
Mikel Inc., Fall river, Mass., is
being awarded an $8,754,060 cost-
plus-fixed-fee contract modification to
previously awarded contract (N00024-
11-C-6295) to exercise an option for
research and combat system de-
velopment and processing for Navy
submarines. Work will be performed in
Middletown, r.I. (75 percent); Wash-
ington, D.C. (10 percent); Manassas,
Va. (5 percent); Fall river, Mass. (5
percent); and Honolulu, Hawaii (5
percent), and is expected to be com-
pleted by January 2016. Fiscal 2015
shipbuilding and conversion (Navy)
funding in the amount of $350,000 will
be obligated at time of award and will
not expire at the end of the current
fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems
Command, Washington, D.C., is the
contracting activity.
I.E.-Pacific Inc., San Diego,
Calif., is being awarded $6,626,000
for firm-fixed-price task order 0005
under a previously awarded multiple
award construction contract (N62473-
11-D-0066) for renovation and repair
of Building 775 and quarter deck
Building 773 at Naval Station North
Island. The work to be performed
includes the liquefaction assess-
ment and compaction grouting below
Building 775. The renovation of these
facilities will bring each space up to
code compliance and provide much-
needed finish upgrades, modifications
to existing layouts to optimize pro-
gram requirements and structural
enhancements to ensure the safety of
the users. The options, if exercised,
provide for the installation of entry
canopy, monument sign, new Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act and re-
served parking area, new tile flooring
in restrooms, coating on stairwells,
and dual roll-up shades. The task
order also contains six unexercised
options, which if exercised would
increase cumulative task order value
to $6,941,000. Work will be performed
in Coronado, Calif., and is expected
to be completed by May 2017. Fiscal
2015 operation and maintenance
(Navy) contract funds in the amount
of $6,626,000 are obligated on this
award and will expire at the end of
the current fiscal year. Five proposals
were received for this task order. The
Naval Facilities Engineering Com-
mand, Southwest, San Diego, Calif.,
is the contracting activity.
Commercial Service of Blooming-
ton Inc., Bloomington, Ind. (N40085-
15-D-7912); Custom Mechanical
Systems Corp., Bargersville, Ind.
(N40085-15-D-7913); Harrell Contract-
ing Inc., Worthington, Ind. (N40085-
15-D-7914); Mastercraft Mechanical
Contractors Inc., Bloomington, Ind.
(N40085-15-D-7915); and Siemens
government Technologies Inc., Arling-
ton, Va. (N40085-15-D-7916), are each
being awarded an indefinite-delivery/
indefinite-quantity multiple award
construction contract for mechani-
cal construction projects at the Naval
Support Activity, Crane and the
glendora Test Facility. The maximum
dollar value including the base period
and four option years for all five
contracts combined is $20,000,000.
The work to be performed provides for
all labor, equipment, tools, supplies,
transportation, supervision, quality
control, professional design services
and management necessary to per-
form various heating, ventilation and
air conditioning (HVAC) construction,
renovation and maintenance design
build or design-bid-build projects at
assorted buildings and structures.
Work includes but is not limited to de-
sign, general construction, alteration,
repair, demolition and work performed
by special trades. Commercial Service
of Bloomington, Inc. is being awarded
task order 0001 at $856,000 for the
Naval Surface Warfare Center Building
3235 HVAC renovation at the Naval
Support Activity, Crane, Ind. Work
for this task order is expected to be
completed by February 2016. All work
on this contract will be performed in
Crane, Ind. (95 percent), and Sul-
livan, Ind. (5 percent). The term of the
contract is not to exceed 60 months,
with an expected completion date of
May 2020. Fiscal 2015 working capital
funds (Navy and Army) in the amount
of $936,000 are being obligated on
this award and will expire at the end
of the current fiscal year. This contract
was competitively procured via the
Federal Business Opportunities web-
site, with eight proposals received.
These five contractors may compete
for task orders under the terms and
conditions of the awarded contract.
The Naval Facilities Engineering Com-
mand, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is
the contracting activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.,
Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded
a $16,947,176 indefinite-delivery/
indefinite-quantity contract to provide
engineering and technical field ser-
vices to the H-1 aircraft airframes, avi-
onics, electrical power plant systems
and associated equipment in support
of the Naval Air Technical Data and
Engineering Service Command, San
Diego, Calif. The services provided
include on- and off-site proficiency
training, technical guidance and
advice to resolve unusually complex
technical problems. Work will be
performed in Camp Pendleton, Calif.
(27 percent); Mcguire Air Force Base,
N.J. (18 percent); Cherry Point, N.C.
(18 percent); kaneohe, Hawaii (10
percent); New Orleans, la. (9 percent);
6MAy
18 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
New river, N.C. (9 percent); and War-
ner robins Air Force Base, Atlanta,
ga. (9 percent), and is expected to be
completed in April 2020. Fiscal 2015
operation and maintenance (Navy)
funds in the amount of $1,548,962 are
being obligated at time of award, all
of which will expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. This contract was
not competitively procured pursuant
to FAr 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare
Center Weapons Division, China
lake, Calif., is the contracting activity
(N68936-15-D-0010)
United Technologies Corp., Pratt
& Whitney, Military Engines, East
Hartford, Conn., is being awarded
a $7,643,131 fixed-price-incentive
firm target modification to a previ-
ously awarded advanced acquisition
contract (N00019-13-C-0016) for long-
lead items for low-rate initial produc-
tion (lrIP) lot X. The long-lead items
include group hardware supporting the
lrIP lot X delivery of conventional
take off and landing (CTOl) propulsion
systems for the Air Force, group hard-
ware supporting the lrIP lot X deliv-
ery of CTOl, carrier variant propulsion
systems for the Navy/Marine Corps,
and group hardware supporting the
lrIP lot X delivery of short take-off
and vertical landing propulsion
systems for the Marine Corps. Work
will be performed in East Hartford,
Conn. (67 percent); Indianapolis, Ind.
(26.5 percent); and Bristol, United
kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expect-
ed to be completed in February 2017.
Fiscal 2015 aircraft procurement (Air
Force and Navy) funds in the amount
of $7,643,131 will be obligated at time
of award, none of which will expire at
the end of the current fiscal year. This
contract combines purchases for the
Navy ($7,444,443; 97.4 percent), and
the Air Force ($198,688; 2.6 percent).
The Naval Air Systems Command,
Patuxent river, Md., is the contracting
activity.
Sybrant Construction LLC, Phoe-
nix, Ariz. (N62473-15-D-2436); M&M,
Tempe, Ariz. (N62473-15-D-2437);
Anderson Burton Construction Inc.,
Arroyo grande, Calif. (N62473-
15-D-2438); and Bristol general
Contractors llC, Anchorage, Alaska
(N62473-15-D-2439), are each being
awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-
delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple
award 8(a) set-aside construction
contract for new construction, reno-
vation and repair of general building
construction at various locations
within the Naval Facilities Engineering
Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area
of responsibility (AOr). The maximum
dollar value including the base period
and four option years for all four
contracts combined is $99,000,000.
Types of projects may include, but
are not limited to, administration
buildings, school buildings, hospitals,
auditoriums, fire stations, gymna-
siums, office buildings, hangars,
laboratories and parking structures.
No task orders are being issued at
this time. These four contractors may
compete for task orders under the
terms and conditions of the awarded
contracts. Work will be performed
within the NAVFAC Southwest AOr
including, but not limited to, Califor-
nia (90 percent), Arizona (6 percent),
Nevada (1 percent), Colorado (1
percent), Utah (1 percent), and New
Mexico (1 percent). The terms of
the contracts are not to exceed 60
months, with an expected completion
date of May 2020. Fiscal 2015 opera-
tion and maintenance (Navy) contract
funds in the amount of $20,000 are
obligated on this award and will
expire at the end of the current fiscal
year. This contract was competitively
procured as an 8(a) set-aside for
firms with a bona fide place of busi-
ness with the respective jurisdictions
of the Small Business Administration
district offices in California, Arizona,
Nevada, Utah, Colorado and New
Mexico, via the Federal Business Op-
portunities website with 46 propos-
als received. The Naval Facilities
Engineering Command, Southwest,
San Diego, Calif., is the contracting
activity.
5MAy
The Boeing Co., Seattle, Wash.,
is being awarded an $118,148,562
modification to a previously awarded
firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-
12-C-0112) for the procurement of
training systems and training materials
in support of the P-8A multi-mission
maritime aircraft for the Navy and the
government of Australia. This modifica-
tion provides for the procurement of two
operational flight trainers (OFTs), two
weapons tactics trainers (WTTs) and
upgrades to the existing training system
support center (TSSC) for the Navy. In
addition, this modification provides for
the installation of two OFTs, two WTTs,
one part task trainer and one TSSC; the
procurement and installation of six elec-
tronic classrooms, 26 mission station
desktop trainers, and 32 flight mission
system trainers; and the procurement of
royal Australian Air Force courseware,
training and interim support for the
government of Australia under a memo-
randum of understanding. Work will be
performed in Whidbey Island, Wash. (52
percent); St. louis, Mo. (34 percent);
and Edinburgh, Australia (14 percent),
and is expected to be completed in
June 2019. This modification combines
purchase for the Navy ($92,207,908; 78
percent) and the government of Austra-
lia ($25,940,654; 22 percent).
4MAy
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 19
Fiscal 2013 and 2014 aircraft procure-
ment (Navy) and international partner
funds in the amount of $118,148,562
are being obligated on this award,
$76,186,834 of which will expire at the
end of the current fiscal year. The Naval
Air Warfare Center Training Systems
Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting
activity.
Vigor Industrial LLC, Portland, Ore.,
is being awarded an $11,979,903 firm-
fixed-price contract for the regular over-
haul and dry docking of USNS richard
E. Byrd (T-AkE 4). The contract includes
options which, if exercised, would bring
the total contract value to $12,126,316.
Work will be performed in Portland,
Ore., and is expected to be completed
by July 1, 2015. Fiscal 2015 mainte-
nance and repair contract funds in the
amount of $12,126,316 are obligated at
the time of award and will not expire at
the end of the current fiscal year. This
contract was competitively procured,
with proposals solicited via the Federal
Business Opportunities website, with
two offers received. The Navy’s Military
Sealift Command, Washington, D.C.,
is the contracting activity (N32205-
15-C-3013).
Shell Marine Products U.S.,
Houston, Texas, is being awarded
an $11,107,442 modification under a
previously awarded indefinite-delivery/
indefinite-quantity contract with firm-
fixed-price delivery orders (N00033-
13-D-8020) to exercise a one-year
option for the supply and related
services of lubricant oil products for the
Engineering Directorate of the Military
Sealift Command and other govern-
ment agencies in need of lubricant oil
supplies and related services. Work will
be performed worldwide and work is
expected to be completed May 2016.
If all options are exercised, work will
continue through May 2018. Working
capital contract funds in the amount of
$11,107,442 are being obligated at the
time of award. Contract funds will expire
at the end of the current fiscal year. The
Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Wash-
ington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Triton Marine Construction Corp.,
Bremerton, Wash., is being awarded
$9,923,450 for firm-fixed-price task
order 0003 under a previously awarded
multiple award construction contract
(N44255-14-D-9007) for the construc-
tion of the integrated drydock water
treatment system at Puget Sound Naval
Shipyard. The work to be performed
provides for the construction of the
infrastructure necessary at Dry Docks
1, 2 and 5 to bring the shipyard into
compliance with current environmen-
tal standards for the collection and
treatment of industrial process water.
Work will be performed in Bremerton,
Wash., and is expected to be completed
by October 2016. Fiscal 2015 military
construction (Navy) contract funds in the
amount of $9,923,450 are obligated on
this award and will not expire at the end
of the current fiscal year. Four proposals
were received for this task order. The
Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the
contracting activity.
Oshkosh Defense, Oshkosh, Wis.,
is being awarded $8,910,254 for firm-
fixed-price delivery order 0021 under
an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-
quantity contract for the purchase of 13
low-rate initial production vehicles and
vehicle federal retail excise tax. Work
will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis.,
and is expected to be completed by
Jan. 31, 2017. Fiscal 2015 procurement
(Marine Corps) funds in the amount of
$8,910,254 will be obligated at the time
of award and will not expire at the end of
the current fiscal year. This contract was
competitively procured via the Federal
Business Opportunities website, with
three offers received. The Marine Corps
Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the
contracting activity (M67854-13-D-0214).
Burr-MZT JV, San Clemente, Calif.,
is being awarded $8,776,000 for firm-
fixed-price task order 0008 under a
previously awarded multiple award con-
struction contract (N44255-13-D-8012)
for replacement of diesel generator
controls and switchgear at Naval Base
kitsap-Bremerton. The work to be
performed provides for replacement of
existing switchgear with new modern-
ized switchgear and demolition and
replacement of generators. Work will be
performed in Bremerton, Wash., and is
expected to be completed by November
2016. Fiscal 2015 working capital funds
(Navy) contract funds in the amount of
$8,776,000 are obligated on this award
and will not expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. Three proposals were
received for this task order. The Naval
Facilities Engineering Command, North-
west, Silverdale, Wash., is the contract-
ing activity.
Mercury Systems Inc., Chelmsford,
Mass., is being awarded a $7,132,822
indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity,
firm-fixed-price contract for bus control-
lers, precision direction finding synthe-
sizers, PDF tuners, eight-channel digital
receivers, four-channel digital receiv-
ers, and clock generator versa module
eurobus cards. These components will
be used as spares during the installa-
tion of the AN/SlQ-32(V)6 electronic
countermeasure system on Navy and
Coast guard ships. The AN/SlQ-32(V)6
was developed as part of the Navy’s
Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement
Program, which is an upgrade to the
AN/SlQ-32 electronic warfare anti-ship
missile defense system. Work will be
performed in Chelmsford, Mass., and
is expected to complete by May 2020.
Fiscal 2015 other procurement (Navy)
funding in the amount of $1,115,110 will
be obligated at time of award and will
not expire at the end of the current fiscal
year. This contract was not competi-
tively procured in accordance with FAr
6.302-1 — only one responsible source
and no other supplies or services will
satisfy agency requirements. The Naval
Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Division,
Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity
(N00164-15-D-WM75).
ConTraCT awards Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
20 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
Multirotor Convertible high-speed helicopterCountry of origin: russia
language: russian
This helicopter is equipped with the system of distributed thrust
of different-size rotors in X2+3 configuration. One smaller rotor turning
in vertical plane is fitted at fuselage end and panels of first swept-
forward wing and second swept-back X-like wing. Besides, there are
two large and smaller rotors.
Helicopter represents a monoplane of two-beam configuration
with mid-wing. It comprises fuselage nacelle, power plant including
engine and reduction gearbox with rear dual concentric rotors. The lat-
ter allows horizontal thrust and vertical or inclined thrust correspond-
ing to deflection between two-keel rudder and three-leg undercarriage.
rotor system with distributed thrust of different-size rotors in 2+3
configuration comprises smaller rotor mounted at rotary reduction
gearbox, larger rotors mounted at first wings pylons and two smaller
rotors arranged with their reduction gearboxes at second-wing tips.
Helicopter allows conversion of its flight configuration from five rotor
one into rotorcraft configuration or winged autogiro with single-rotor
propulsion.
The reported effect is better weight efficiency, better transverse and
longitudinal controllability.
3 drawings
Aerial refueling hoseMide Technology Corp.
Country of origin: usA
language: english
There have been several attempts to address the problem of in-
flight refueling hoses oscillating in flight during refueling operations.
To date, however, potential solutions have either not been commer-
cialized, do not result in a hose meeting government specification
(e.g., MIl-H-4495D)and/or do not adequately solve the oscillation
problem. The oscillations can result in hose breakage, damage to the
refueling aircraft or the aircraft being refueled, and/or potential harm
to personnel.
This design describes an in-flight refueling hose comprising a rub-
ber inner tube, a compounded cover and a spiral wire between the inner
tube and the compounded cover. A braid includes pseudoelastic shape
memory alloy (e.g., nitinol) wires undergoing a stress-induced phase
change absorbing energy to dampen oscillations of the hose in use.
5 drawings
underwater vehicle simulationU.S. Navy
Country of origin: usA
language: english
Daily global ocean forecasts that include a four-dimensional (4d)
(latitude, longitude, depth and time) estimation of ocean currents
can be generated. An approach taken for the estimation of vehicle
position over time is to start with a known position from infrequent
fixes (global Positioning System (gPS), Ultra-short Baseline (USBl),
terrain-based, etc.) and use the vector sum of the vehicle velocity
(heading and speed through the water) with the forecast current.
Validation of this approach can be accomplished using log data
that were received from underwater gliders, which provides gPS
positions at each dive and surfacing point. An underwater glider
propels itself using a buoyancy engine and wings that create lift to
produce horizontal motion. From a vehicle motion modeling per-
spective, an underwater glider must have vertical motion to move
horizontally. Since underwater gliders do not use engines for propul-
sion, they generally have substantial endurance suitable for ocean
sampling, underwater plume tracking and sustained surveillance.
However, these vessels are slow, with sustained horizontal speeds
typically below 0.5 m/s, and navigating them is challenging as ocean
currents can exceed 2 m/s.
The Naval Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) was developed to
generate daily global ocean forecasts predicting temperature, salinity
and currents. FIgS. 1 and 2 show representative current forecasts
during underwater glider deployment exercises. In these figures,
color 303 represents current speed in m/s and arrows 301 indicate
the current direction. FIg. 1 shows the current at the surface with
speeds as great as 0.8 m/s. FIg. 2 shows the current at 1,000 m,
the maximum depth of the glider dives, where the speed is predomi-
nately below 0.02 m/s.
Position estimation for underwater vehicles operating in the
open ocean can be problematic with existing technologies. Use of
defense innovaTions Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 21
gPS can require the vehicle to surface periodically, which poses a
potential navigation hazard and subjects the vehicle to the faster
currents near the surface. Inertial systems can be ineffective without
the use of Doppler Velocity logs (DVl) whose ranges can be too
limited for deep ocean operation unless the vehicle is very near the
seafloor. Surface- or bottom-mounted transponder systems can be
expensive to deploy and restrict the geographic area that the vehicle
can operate in. A ship equipped with a USBl system can be used to
track an underwater vehicle, which can be an expensive option for
long deployments.
A complication in the open ocean is that position estimation is
problematic while submerged. glider depth can be directly measured
by the vehicle using a pressure sensor. Vertical velocity can be derived
from depth versus time, and horizontal speed through the water can
be estimated given vertical velocity, vehicle pitch angle and a param-
eterized hydrodynamic model for the vehicle. Consequently, the only
certain position information, for purpose of simulation, is depth (as
a function of time), the time of the dive and the starting and ending
surface positions. In the present embodiment, the motion model can
use initial simplifying assumptions including zero hydrodynamic slip
between the vehicle and ocean current and a symmetric V-shaped
flight trajectory. For the simulations conducted, the maximum depth
of the dive and the time of the dive can be used to compute an
estimate of a single vertical velocity. Beyond this model, sources of
error in position prediction can include errors in the forecast currents,
hydrodynamic slip and deviations of the vehicle from the commanded
heading, horizontal and vertical speeds. Variations in the vehicle com-
manded motion can include factors such as putting the processor to
sleep periodically to save power (so heading is not strictly maintained),
variations in vertical speed due to changes in water density, and other
than symmetric dive profiles.
What are needed are a system and method for estimating the ves-
sel’s position while it is underwater that improves on a simple straight
line dead-reckoned estimate.
This design describes ethods and systems disclosed herein relate
generally to predicting a vessel’s trajectory, and more specifically, to
predicting the trajectory of an underwater vehicle.
MissileGosMKB Vympel im. I.I. Toropova
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This missile design includes case in the form of connected sepa-
rable joint units with pyrotechnical burst connection of sealed head
compartment with a sequence of homing head, inertial control system,
ammunition, active thermal protection system and independent fluid or
paste fuel propeller containing fuel with oxidiser and liquid-propellant
rocket engine set with longitudinal nozzle, four liquid-propellant rocket
engines with transverse nozzles and four liquid-propellant rocket en-
gines generating head compartment torque, and propeller compartment
with aerodynamic rudders, rudder drives, double-pulse solid fuel propel-
ler aggregate, second pulse timing unit and correction unit.
The reported effect makes the missile more efficient striking of high-
altitude targets.
4 drawings
Aircraft Missile launcher CoverBoeing
Country of origin: usA
language: English
Air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles are typically mounted on missile
launchers that are affixed to hard points on the fuselage or wings of an
aircraft. Missile launchers fall into two categories, ejection-type missile
launchers such as the lAU-142 manufactured by the EDO Corporation
and rail missile launchers such as the lAU-127 manufactured by the
Marvin group.
A rail missile launcher or “rail launcher” generally has attachment
points on top for affixing the rail launcher to the aircraft and launch rails
on the bottom for mounting the missile. launch rails have guide slots or
tracks that run longitudinally along the length of the launch rails. A mis-
sile is typically loaded on a rail launcher by slidably engaging the tracks
with corresponding rails, hooks or hangers located on the missile and
then sliding the missile onto the launch rails. For example, the AIM-9
series of Sidewinder missiles is loaded onto lAU-127 rail launchers by
engaging “T-hangers” on the Sidewinder with tracks on the lAU-127.
When the missile is launched, the missile slides forward along the tracks
until it flies clear of the aircraft towards the target.
In order to prevent the missile from inadvertently sliding off
the rail launcher during flight, take-off and landing, rail launchers
typically have restraint mechanisms such as stops or detents that
engage corresponding stops on the missile to prevent the missile
defense innovaTions
22 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
from sliding off. The detents are lowered or retracted out of the
way when the missile is being loaded, unloaded, or launched from
the rail launcher. rail launchers may also have grounding mecha-
nisms for dissipating precipitation static or P-static. P-static is
created when rain, snow, hail, dust or other particles strike the
surfaces of the aircraft. If not dissipated, P-static can damage the
aircraft and its electronics.
Some missions do not require an aircraft to carry missiles.
During such missions the rail launchers may be empty. Empty
rail launchers typically have a large flat area, sharp angles and
cavities that reflect radar signals back to the radar transmitter.
This increases the radar cross section of the aircraft, making it
more detectible by radar. rail launchers may be removed when
a particular mission requires an aircraft to be less detectible by
radar but does not require missiles. However, some aircraft are not
allowed to fly without rail launchers attached. For example, the
F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet is not allowed to fly without rail launch-
ers attached to its wingtips even if a particular mission does
not require missiles. Also, current procedures for removing and
re-installing rail launchers are complicated, labor intensive and
time-consuming. Moreover, rail launchers can be damaged during
the process of removal and re-installation.
This design generally relates to a cover for an aircraft mis-
sile launcher and, more particularly, to a flightworthy cover for an
empty rail missile launcher that reduces the radar cross section of
the aircraft.
10 drawings
supersonic AircraftNovye grazhdanskie tekhnologii Sukhogo
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This concept describes an aircraft comprising a fuselage with
front lErX, power plant arranged above tail unit and equipped with
nacelle with turbojets and two supersonic air intakes with rectangular
cross-section. Pylon is arranged nearby aircraft mirror plate between
said nacelle and tail unit skin. Wedges of air intakes compression
are arranged vertically nearby aircraft mirror plane above said pylon.
Fuselage features smooth decrease in vertical size and smooth
increase in horizontal size in the area from fuselage cross-section
at the joint of front lErX. Tail unit skin top and bottom surfaces are
interconnected at fuselage tip in sharp edge.
The reported effect is decreased interferences of supersonic air
intakes and fuel consumption.
16 drawings
unmanned Aircraft system with Collapsible wingJames Barbieri
Country of origin: usA
language english
In modern-day military operations, unmanned aircraft systems
(UAS) may be carried by front-line soldiers for use as a quick source
of intelligence as needed. In those areas of interest, which are too
dangerous for humans to investigate firsthand, a UAS may be as-
sembled and launched to observe the area of conflict using an array of
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISr) sensors carried by
the UAS airframe. Imaging sensors may typically include electro-optic
(EO), infrared (Ir) and synthetic aperture radar (SAr). Emerging uses
of UAS may include integrated signals intelligence (SIgINT), electronic
warfare (EW), cyber warfare, data relay and attack capabilities. Exist-
ing UAS airframes are typically radio-controlled aircraft with varying
levels of
autonomous flight capabilities. Small-class UAS may
typically have wingspans ranging between about four and about five
feet.
Mobility and ease of use are somewhat limited for existing UAS.
Existing UAS are typically transported in a disassembled state with the
wing detached from the fuselage of the aircraft. Transporting an exist-
ing UAS aircraft in the field typically entails carrying multiple boxes
that are the full size of the wing, and may require two or more person-
nel to move. Further, the assembly of some existing UAS aircraft may
be accomplished with tools that may be difficult to operate in limited
visibility conditions or by soldiers wearing protective gear such as gas
masks or gloves.
The limited mobility and difficulty of assembly in certain conditions
may hamper the effectiveness of UAS by front-line soldiers in combat
situations. The bulky crates may hamper the mobility of the soldiers
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 23
and limit the front-line scenarios in which an UAS may be used. If the
assembly of the UAS in the field requires an inordinate amount of time
to unpack, assemble and/or deploy, the resulting delay in obtaining
critical intelligence may squander a window of opportunity to complete
a mission or potentially endanger the lives of personnel.
In addition, the role of UAS technology is expanding to encom-
pass a wide variety of operational scenarios including law enforce-
ment, border patrol, search and rescue, mapping, meteorology and
other scientific research, as well as recreational uses. At present, the
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering the release
of formal regulations related to the operation of small, unmanned air
vehicles (UAVs) within U.S. airspace. given the proliferation of these
UAVs, there exists a need for a fundamental improvement of their
design to increase portability, usability and practicality.
A need exists in the art for a UAS with enhanced mobility and
ease of assembly. In particular, a need in the art exists for a UAS that
may be transported in a container small enough to be easily carried
by an individual operator. Further, a need in the art exists for an easily
transported UAS that may be assembled quickly in low visibility and
time-sensitive conditions without the use of tools or extensive training.
Such a UAS may facilitate the continued adoption of UAS by a larger
number of users in a wider variety of scenarios.
This application relates to a collapsible wing, methods of pro-
ducing the collapsible wing and an unmanned aircraft system that
includes a collapsible wing.
16 drawings
flap for short takeoff and landing AircraftGOUVPO VGTU
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This invention relates to aircraft engineering. This flap comprises
main link, deflector, carriages with support rollers and flap displace-
ment guide rails. Main link top part has stiff panels articulated there-
with whereto connected are tie-rods articulated with rotary board
levers via panel drive rocker and mid tie-rods. Said panel is arranged
at flap main link front while rotary board levers are articulated via turn
tie rods with release/retract mechanisms.
The reported effect is higher lift.
11 drawings
Miniature torpedoBoeing
Country of origin: usA
language: english
Typical anti-ship torpedoes are too heavy and too large to be carried
by and launched from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A typical tor-
pedo is constructed using heavy plastique explosives. The amount and
type of explosives employed in a typical torpedo add significantly to the
torpedo’s size and weight. As typical, small UAVs have a limited payload
capacity, the size and weight of typical, larger torpedoes prohibit their
use on smaller scale UAV platforms.
The miniature torpedo of the present invention overcomes the
size and weight disadvantages of conventional torpedoes that prevent
them from being carried by and launched from smaller UAVs in addi-
tion to significantly increasing the torpedo payload capability of both
larger UAVs and conventional manned anti-ship aircraft, and anti sub-
surface ship aircraft. The miniature torpedo of the invention has an
overall length of approximately 18.5 inches and approximate weight of
less than 10 pounds. The miniature torpedo is therefore ideally suited
for being carried by and launched from small UAVs while also increas-
ing the torpedo carrying capacity of larger UAVs and conventional
manned aircraft.
21 drawings
defense innovaTions
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Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
Aerial target trackingFGOU VPO VAIU
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This invention relates to telescopic sights of guidance systems of
controlled objects and can be used in air defense fire control systems.
The method comprises detecting an aerial target; selecting angular
aiming speed of an electro-optical module (EOM) by superimposing
the cross on a monitor screen with the target; turning the EOM into an
automatic target tracking mode by inputting an image of the target into
a tracking gate and issuing a Capture command; measuring the current
range to the target by emitting laser radiation towards the target and
receiving the radiation reflected from the target; controlling the spatial
position of the laser radiation towards the target by issuing control
commands, which correspond to angular coordinates of the target, to a
two-dimensional acousto-optical deflector; converting the digital code
of the range into a video signal; display thereof on a monitor in the form
of a digital inscription; determining angular velocities of the aerial target
and the drive of the EOM; determining the value and direction of the
necessary changes of the angular velocities of the drive of the EOM by
comparing angular velocities of the target and the drive of the EOM;
issuing a recommendation to the pointer of a portable system on the
required value and direction of changing angular velocity of the drive of
the EOM.
The reported effect is high reliability of tracking high-speed and
maneuvering targets.
2 drawings
towed sonar ArraysRaytheon
Country of origin: usA
language: english
Some sonar systems employ sonar elements towed by a ship. So-
called passive towed sonar systems typically have a towed line array
of acoustic receiving elements. The passive towed sonar systems can
passively receive sounds radiated by targets, for example, ships or
submarines. Typically, the passive towed sonar system has processing
capabilities that can, from the received sounds, detect the target, that
can localize the target, and that can classify the target.
So-called active towed sonar systems typically have both a
towed line array of acoustic receiving elements and also a towed
sound source. The active towed sonar systems can generate acous-
tic pulses with the towed sound source. The sound pulses travel
through the water, and impinge upon an object, for example, a ship,
submarine or a mine, creating echoes therefrom. The towed line array
of acoustic receiving elements used in the active towed sonar system
can receive the echoes from the targets. Typically, the active towed
sonar system has processing electronics that can, from the received
echoes, detect the target, that can localize the target and that can
classify the target.
Conventional towed active sonar systems us a first winch and a
first associated tow cable to tow the line array of acoustic receiving
elements and a second winch and a second associated tow cable
to tow the towed sound source. Having two winches and two tow
cables tends to result in excessive use of ship deck space and also
complex deployment techniques.
17 drawings
robotic Complex for intelligence and fire supportZavod im. V.A. Degtjareva
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This design describes a robotic complex for intelligence and
fire support is built as per a modular principle and includes the fol-
lowing functionally completed modules and mounted equipment. A
chassis is of a track-type version, and the chassis housing is load-
carrying and welded of armored steel plates. A control system of a
platform is additionally equipped with a survey control and orienta-
tion system that includes independent navigation equipment, me-
chanical speed sensors and satellite navigation equipment, which
are connected to a central computer. An electrical power supply
system of the robotic complex has two voltage ratings for a power
plant of a propeller, an on-board power circuit of facilities and the
mounted equipment. For each voltage rating, a provision is made
for a lithium-iron phosphate storage battery. The electrical power
supply system is provided with a microprocessor charge control
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 25
unit and a diesel generator. The robotic complex is also provided
with a collision warning system consisting of an interface unit and
ultrasonic sensors.
6 drawings
deployable Automated refueling buoy for unmanned systemsU.S. Navy
Country of origin: usA
language: english
This invention is directed towards a class of surface water
vessels that include aluminum-hulled vessels of about 40 feet
that displace more 20,000 pounds of water. These vessels may be
unmanned surface vessels (USVs) that may be powered by diesel
engines and twin propellers or waterjets. The fuel capacity is gen-
erally 400 to 800 gallons, which translates to a limited endurance
while performing the mission for which they were designed. All
must be brought to the mission area by a larger host vessel.
generally, each USV must be retrieved from the sea and
brought on board the host vessel to be refueled. This reduces the
percentage of time the USVs are conducting their mission, reduc-
ing their effectiveness and also causing the host vessel to remain
relatively close to the mission area. While recovering, the host
vessel may be restricted in course and speed, unable to launch
and recover other USVs, and not able to operate other systems,
which limit its efficiency. If the host vessel can only launch/recover
one USV at a time (as is typically the case), this creates a queuing
problem for groups of USVs and subtracts from the total mission
time available as all must wait while each unit is replenished and
re-launched before returning to the mission area. Deteriorating sea
conditions may make recovery difficult, dangerous or impossible
and disrupt the USVs mission.
recently, the U.S. Navy has been developing and working on
arrangements for the at-sea refueling of USVs. There are many
difficulties associated with open-water refueling, such as, for
example, unpredictable sea states, and difficulty in obtaining a
proper connection between the USV and the fueling station to
avoid spillage. It is therefore desired to have an at-sea refuel-
ing station that overcomes the pitfalls of at-sea refueling, and
obviates the need for using a host vessel to provide this service,
allowing the host vessel to conduct other missions simultaneously
or stand off from a potentially hazardous area.
3 drawings
Counteraction to optical-electronic laser-Guided systemsNII OEhP
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
In this design a method of counteraction to optical-electronic
laser-guided systems with laser targeting (OElSg), the irradiating laser
impulses are registered and generate interfering laser impulses in the
certain method right after registration of each irradiating laser impulse.
The device of counteraction to optical-electronic laser-guided systems
contains a laser radiation receiver, an amplification and converting
signal processing unit, a laser starting pulse shaper, a laser, a unit of
induction of interfering laser impulses and its control unit, an evaluator
of minimum time interval between irradiating laser impulses connected
in certain way.
The reported effect is high efficiency of OElSg counteraction at any
time-and-frequency sequence of irradiating impulses.
2 drawings
defense innovaTions
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Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
underwater load-CarrierLockheed Martin
Country of origin: usA
language: english
Underwater mining includes mining nodules lying on the bottom surface
of an ocean. Nodules contain valuable minerals such as manganese. Under-
water mining operation includes mining the nodules and bringing the nodules
to a surface ship to be processed or transported to a processing location.
An underwater load-carrier (load-carrier) is disclosed that includes an
underwater-balloon detachably attached to a container. The container is
initially loaded with ballast through a loading hose connected to a con-
nector disposed on a top surface of a hopper of the container. The bal-
last may be salt in a solid form (salt), tailings, which are waste product of
a mineral extraction process, or salt and tailings as a mixture or in alloy
form. The container loaded with ballast is lowered into the water of an
ocean from a ship platform, attached to the underwater-balloon and al-
lowed to descend to an ocean bottom. At the ocean bottom, a remotely
operated vehicle (rOV) connects the load-carrier to a mining-vehicle by
an umbilical cord through which nodules are loaded into, power is sup-
plied to and communication is established with the container.
The container includes a controller that controls ejectors such as
screws. The controller controls a buoyancy of the load-carrier and a load in
the container (everything that is not part of the container) by ejecting ballast
while the mining-vehicle loads nodules into the container. In this way, the
controller adjusts the buoyancy of the load-carrier and the load to maintain
a positive altitude of the load-carrier above the ocean bottom. Ejectors
include detectors that detect whether nodules or ballast are being ejected.
When nodules are ejected, then loading of nodules into the container may
be stopped. Where more than one ejector is installed, loading of nodules
may be stopped when all ejectors are ejecting nodules.
When nodule loading is completed, the container further ejects
nodules and/or ballast until load-carrier reaches a desired buoyancy
sufficient to ascend the load-carrier at a desired speed. The rOV dis-
connects the container from the mining-vehicle and the load carrier lifts
the load of nodules to an ocean surface. After surfacing, the container
is hoisted onto the ship platform and nodules are unloaded into a cargo
hold of the ship. The container is reloaded with ballast and lowered
back into the ocean to continue the underwater mining operation.
19 drawings
infrared radiation-Absorbing Composition for soaking textile ArticlesChistjakov Savva Sergeevich
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This invention relates to compositions intended for absorbing
infrared radiation generated by external sources of electromagnetic
waves in the infrared spectrum and infrared radiation coming from
the object itself. The composition for soaking textile articles contains
the following components (vol %): mineral, semisynthetic and syn-
thetic industrial liquid hydrocarbons in the form of multi-grade engine
oil or food-grade vegetable liquid hydrocarbons in the form of food-
grade vegetable oils - 99; pigment-dye – soot in the form of mono-
chromic, black, nonmagnetic, mechanical toner, which is uniformly
distributed in the medium of said liquid hydrocarbons - 1.
The reported effect is the improved absorption of infrared radia-
tion when the object is irradiated with electromagnetic waves in the
infrared spectrum.
Airdrop Controller systemBoeing
Country of origin: usA
language: english
Airdrops are typically used to deliver cargo to various locations
in which other types of cargo delivery systems may not be able to
access as easily or as quickly. Airdrops may be used to re-supply
troops, provide humanitarian aid, deliver equipment, deliver ve-
hicles and for other suitable types of purposes.
An airdrop may be performed using an airdrop system that
comprises a payload attached to a parachute. The airdrop system
also may be steered towards a target location as the airdrop system
descends toward the ground. Airdrops may include low-velocity
airdrops, high-velocity airdrops, free-fall airdrops, high-altitude
airdrops, low-altitude airdrops and other suitable types of
airdrops.
An airdrop system may include, for example, a parachute, a
payload, electric or pyro-electric actuators, a computer, a global
positioning system, navigation control software and other suitable
types of components. The actuators may be attached to a struc-
ture on which a payload is located or may be attached directly
to the payload. These actuators may be controlled by the
computer, the navigation control software running on the
computer and possibly with the use of a global positioning
system to control the flight path of the airdrop system toward a
target location.
In designing and manufacturing airdrop systems, the cost of
components may be a factor in selecting components for an airdrop
system. Oftentimes, after the airdrop occurs, some or all of these
components may not be reusable or may not be returned for future
airdrops. For example, a parachute or pallet on which cargo is
placed in the airdrop system may be rendered unusable during the
landing of the airdrop system. In other examples, circumstances
may prevent recovery of these components. For example, a human
operator receiving the cargo may be unable to transport the differ-
ent components of the airdrop system. Present airdrop control is
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 27
accomplished with single-purpose devices useful only for control
during the airdrop mission segment.
As a result, these components may be left at the target location or de-
stroyed. Thus, it is desirable to increase the usefulness of an airdrop system.
12 drawings
ice-breaking pusher AdapterFGUP Krylovskij gosudarstvennyj nauchnyj tsentr
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This invention relates to shipbuilding, particularly to ice-breaking
facilities operated in combination with tug. Propose ice-breaking
adapter pushed by pusher tug is intended for making of navigable
waterways in ices. Adapter hulls are composed of front and two lateral
rigidly interconnected frame structure for tight contact with pusher tug.
Said hulls feature a broken flat stern in shape approximating to triangle
at waterline level. lateral hulls feature equal width and are shifted
downward from the main hull so that the line extending through their
stems level with the waterline is spaced from the parallel line extend-
ing level with waterline through main hull stem-post at least 0.1 of the
main hull width in its midship. Said lateral hulls are located on both
sides from the main hull so that their midship planes are spaced from
ice-breaker midship plane by distance I defined by a pre-set formula..
Device for tight contact of said adapter with pusher tug is arranged at
frame structure to extend by magnitude b making at least 3 m beyond
the line passing through lateral hull stem-posts.
The reported effect is higher safety of navigation in ice.
1 drawing
ice breaker for operation in shallow freezing sea AreasFGUP Krylovskij gosudarstvennyj nauchnyj tsentr
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This invention relates to shipbuilding, particularly to ice-breaker ves-
sels and pusher tugs to be operated in shallow iced areas. Ice-breakers
comprises hull with sledge-type stern counter and steering mover com-
plex arranged in the latter and including two paddle propulsors arranged
on sides as well as two whirligig steering columns provided with two
propeller screws and arranged in symmetry about the ice-breaker center
line. Stern counter at structural waterline area features ice-breaking shape
with expressed wedge-shape with taper angle in waterline making 90-180
degrees and with surface inclined to vertical, at least 30 degrees.
Ice-protection nose is formed in stern counter perimeter, features
wedge-like cross-section and does not extend beyond ship hull. Said
nose extends in fore direction beyond the screw propeller disc plane by
magnitude not exceeding two diameters of said propulsors. This nose
features height whereat its bottom edge at stern is spaced from rotational
axes of screw propellers by at least half the radius of said propellers.
The reported effect is better maneuverability in ice.
3 drawings
hull and rotary rudder propellersAlthough originally described as being designed for a fishing vessel,
this proposed one-hull multi-deck vessel with underwater part shaped
to flatfish pontoon design equipped with propulsion complex. liv-
ing quarter deck at top deck is shifted toward fore to make exposed
fishing deck. Underwater fore part has bulbed end shaped to oval. The
underwater section ratio varies from 1.5 to 2.6. Propulsive complex is
composed of two steering complexes arranged at the hull aft and lifting
steering column at hull fore.
3 drawings
defense innovaTions
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Conversion of vertical take-off and landing AircraftCountry of origin: russia
language: russian
Method of conversion of vertical take-off and landing aircraft
with a wing and the lifting propeller consisting of a disk from
which during take off and landing blades of the lifting propeller
are released. The plane wing is mounted according to the high-
wing monoplane configuration. In its center wing section, a disk is
placed, the top part of which during take-off or landing is released
from the center wing section into air flow; the disk is brought to
rotation and is converted into the lifting propeller, releasing blades
from it. During cruising flight, the blades are taken away into the
disk, the disk rotation is stopped and its top part is taken away into
the center wing section, which form with it a common, well-stream-
lined surface.
The reported effect is an increase in speed, flying range and
decrease of fuel consumption.
2 drawings
Atmospheric flying saucerCountry of origin: russia
language: russian
This (wacky? – editor’s note!) invention relates to aviation, in
particular, to vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The atmospher-
ic flying saucer has body, jet engine, flight deck with steering
wheel, instrument panel, pilot seat and passenger seat. The body
consists of radial side members, outer upper rubs, inner upper
ribs, outer lower ribs, cabin side members. Engine and fuel tank
are installed above flying saucer body in engine nacelle the lower
part of which has a nozzle and is mounted on stems of hydraulic
cylinders installed on outer upper ribs. Profile of outer upper
ribs follows wing upper part form where the front edge is the
most distant from vertical symmetry axis of flying saucer,
and the rear edge transits into conical surface of inner upper
ribs.
Profile of outer upper ribs can follow form of upper rear wing
part where wing profile rear point is the most distant from sym-
metry axis of flying saucer, and wing profile bend point coincides
with end point of inner upper rib. Chord of wing profile can have
angle of slope relative to horizontal line of 0° to 90°. Vertical
component of T-shaped profile of reactive torque equalizers can
be made in the form wing profile or in form of arc.
28 drawings
transport Aircraft for space rockets Carrying and Acceleration inStratosphere
Country of origin: russia
language: russia
This invention relates to aircraft engineering. Transport aircraft
for space rockets carrying and acceleration in stratosphere includes
two fuselages, chassis, vertical stabilizers, engines, wing consist-
ing of central part and two outer wing panels, where engines are
mounted, and cradles-guides for attachment of the mentioned
rockets. It is provided with additional wing with engines on con-
soles, which are mounted on top ends of vertical stabilizers. rear
parts of fuselages are linked by aerodynamically clean crosspiece.
The cradles-guides are attached to top surfaces of wing central
part and on crosspiece.
The reported effect is an increase in mass of space rockets
brought into Earth stratosphere and improved controllability.
9 drawings
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 29
flight Management of an Aircraft during a landing phaseAirbus Operations SAS
Country of origin: france
language: english
It is known that, usually and according to a standard procedure,
in order to land, an aircraft descends from a start of descent altitude
to a predetermined altitude (generally of the order of 3,000 feet) whilst
maintaining a constant speed. When it arrives at this predetermined
altitude, the aircraft decelerates down to an intermediate speed. The
aircraft then intercepts a descent alignment path corresponding to the
airport and to the runway used. The standard slope during the final
approach is fixed at. During this phase, the aircraft continues to decel-
erate whilst extending the slats, the flaps and the landing gear in order
to change into the landing configuration. At about 1,000 feet above the
ground, the aircraft maintains a selected stabilized approach (which
depends on the configuration of the aircraft and on the meteorological
conditions) down to 50 feet above the threshold of the runway, and
then it initiates a flare in order to come into contact with the runway
and complete its landing.
It is known that one of the many objectives of those involved in
aeronautics (aircraft manufacturers, airports andair companies) is to
reduce the environmental impacts (noise, fuel consumption) in the vicin-
ity of airports.
The final approach is generally located on a path defined by beams
(of the “locating” and “glide path” type) of an IlS (Instrument landing
System), which imposes the location of an aiming point; that is to say a
point where the descent path joins the runway.
New navigation technologies now make it possible to carry out
satellite-guided approaches. Approaches for which only lateral guidance
is provided are called non-precision approaches, for example when
only gPSs (global Positioning Systems) are used. On the other hand,
precision approaches refer to cases where the aircraft is also guided in
the vertical plane, having recourse to systems such as the glS (gBAS
landing System, where gBAS signifies “ground-Based Augmentation
System). In the case of non-precision approaches or of no-constraints
precision approaches using ground guidance means like the IlS or the
MlS, the pilot can be free to position his plan of approach. However, he
practically always chooses to take, for safety and though lack of knowl-
edge of the minimum braking distance required for the actual conditions
(conditions at the moment of landing), the runway threshold as a refer-
ence point, from which the aiming point is derived.
The present invention relates to a method and a device for aiding
the flight management of an aircraft, in particular a transport aircraft,
during a phase of landing on an airport.
projectile steering surfaceKorporatsija Takticheskoe raketnoe vooruzhenie
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This invention relates to aircraft and rocket engineering. Fold-
ing steering surface of “airborne hitting means” (projectile – edi-
tor’s note) comprises the base composed of two symmetric halves
secured by fasteners, folding support and tension spring fitted in
said base.
The reported effect is a higher reliability of unfolding.
4 drawings
reinforced polymer Composite wing boxOtkrytoe aktsionernoe obshchestvo Natsional'nyj institut aviatsion-
nykh tekhnologij
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This invention relates to the structure of the wing box of the aircraft.
Wing box comprises the outer rigid power massive frame formed
by the front and rear longerons and ribs and outer skin, forming the
aerodynamic contour and secured on the outer surface of the frame.
In this case, the wing box comprises the inner massive power frame,
composed from individual grid power units transversely spaced relative
to longerons, that fill the space inside the outer frame and fixed on
longerons.
The reported effects are weight reduction and improvement of
operational reliability of the aircraft wing, increase in hardness, bending
and torsion resistance.
9 drawings
defense innovaTions
30 | MAY 12, 2015 | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM
Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
Assembly for stealth vehicleThales
Country of origin: france
language: french
The invention relates to a metal shell assembly for a vehicle that is
of revolution about a longitudinal axis comprising stiffeners with a peri-
odic distribution having a period and comprising a plurality of resonant
annular acousto-mechanical elementary structures indexed according
to an index and arranged respectively in a plurality of positions along
the longitudinal axis and having respectively a plurality of resonant fre-
quencies, a metal internal layer having internal acoustic impedance and
a radial internal thickness, an intermediate layer having an intermediate
acoustic impedance and a radial intermediate thickness an an external
layer made up of a portion of the shell of a length substantially equal
to said period and centred on said longitudinal position. In addition,
at least one of the resonant frequencies of an elementary structure is
contained within a determined frequency band containing frequencies
of acoustic waves dependent on the periodic distribution of the stiffen-
ers, and at least one of the radial thicknesses can be varied according
to the index so that the resonant frequencies associated with the radial
thicknesses are also variable.
12 drawings
vtol hydroplane and engine thrust vector deflectorTANTK im. G.M. Berieva
Country of origin: russia
language: russia
This invention relates to rotorcraft, namely, to VTOl aircraft.
VTOl hydroplane is equipped with thrust vector deflector arranged
atop center section shaped to inverted V and two boats fuselages
with inflatable floats and crew cabins. Two wing panels and tail unit
are rigidly jointed with boats fuselages. Hydroplane is provided with
jet rudders arranged at the ends of wing panels, tail unit and canti-
lever beam ahead of center section. Thrust vector deflector makes
an extension of the engine discharge channel that changes over to
square or rectangular cross section subject to the number of engines
in the stack. Said deflector directs gas flow at 90 degrees to make a
vault with surface composed by surfaces of rotary blades that face
said discharge channel. On opposite side, said blades are shaped to
wing profile top part. gas flow outlet is provided with several rotary
blades.
The reported effect is to rule out unbalance at failure of one or
more engines at hovering and VTOl.
9 drawings
small smart weaponLone Star IP Holdings
Country of origin: usA
language: english
Present rules of engagement demand that precision guided
weapons and weapon systems are necessary. According to well-
documented reports, precision guided weapons have made up about
53 percent of all strike weapons employed by the United States from
1995 to 2003. The trend toward the use of precision weapons will
continue. Additionally, strike weapons are used throughout a cam-
paign, and in larger numbers than any other class of weapons. This
trend will be even more pronounced as unmanned airborne vehicles
(UAVs) take on attack roles.
Each weapon carried on a launch platform (e.g., aircraft, ship
and artillery) must be tested for safety, compatibility, and effective-
ness. In some cases, these qualification tests can cost more to
perform than the costs of the development of the weapon system.
As a result, designers often choose to be constrained by earlier
qualifications. In the case of smart weapons, this qualification
includes data compatibility efforts. Examples of this philosophy can
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 31
be found in the air-to-ground munitions (AgM)-154 joint standoff
weapon (JSOW), which was integrated with a number of launch
platforms. In the process, a set of interfaces were developed, and
a number of other systems have since been integrated which used
the data sets and precedents developed by the AgM-154. Such
qualifications can be very complex.
An additional example is the bomb live unit (BlU)-116, which
is essentially identical to the BlU-109 warhead in terms of weight,
center of gravity and external dimensions. However, the BlU-116
has an external “shroud” of light metal (presumably aluminum alloy
or something similar) and a core of hard, heavy metal. Thus, the
BlU-109 was employed to reduce qualification costs of the BlU-
116.
Another means used to minimize the time and expense of
weapons integration is to minimize the changes to launch platform
software. As weapons have become more complex, this has proven
to be difficult. As a result, the delay in operational deployment of
new weapons has been measured in years, often due solely to the
problem of aircraft software integration.
Some weapons such as the Paveway II laser guided bomb [also
known as the guided bomb unit (gBU)-12] have no data or power
interface to the launch platform. Clearly, it is highly desirable to
minimize this form of interface and to, therefore, minimize the cost
and time needed to achieve military utility.
Another general issue to consider is that low cost weapons are
best designed with modularity in mind. This generally means that
changes can be made to an element of the total weapon system,
while retaining many existing features, again with cost and time in
mind.
Another consideration is the matter of avoiding unintended
damage, such as damage to non-combatants. Such damage can
take many forms, including direct damage from an exploding weap-
on, or indirect damage. Indirect damage can be caused by a “dud”
weapon going off hours or weeks after an attack, or if an enemy
uses the weapon as an improvised explosive device. The damage
may be inflicted on civilians or on friendly forces.
One term of reference is “danger close,” which is the term in-
cluded in the method of engagement segment of a call for fire that
indicates that friendly forces or non-combatants are within close
proximity of the target. The close proximity distance is determined
by the weapon and munition fired. In recent United States engage-
ments, insurgent forces fighting from urban positions have been
difficult to attack due to such considerations.
To avoid such damage, a number of data elements may be pro-
vided to the weapon before launch, examples of such data include
information about coding on a laser designator, so the weapon will
home in on the right signal. Another example is global positioning
system (gPS) information about where the weapon should go, or
areas that must be avoided. Other examples could be cited, and
are familiar to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, what is needed is a small smart weapon that can
be accurately guided to an intended target with the effect of
destroying that target with little or no collateral damage of other
nearby locations. Also, what is needed is such a weapon having
many of the characteristics of prior weapons already qualified
in order to substantially reduce the cost and time for effective
deployment.
4 drawings
nanocomposite optical Ceramic domeRaytheon
Country of origin: usA
language: english
Outwardly looking radar, infrared and/or visible-light sensors
built into vehicles such as aircraft or missiles are usually protected
by a covering termed a dome. The dome serves as a window that
transmits the radiation sensed by the sensor. The dome can also
act as a structural element that protects the sensor and that can
carry aerodynamic loadings. In many cases, the dome can protect
a forward-looking sensor, wherein the dome bears large aerostruc-
tural loadings.
Where the vehicle moves relatively slowly, as in the case of
helicopters, subsonic aircraft, and ground vehicles, some domes
are made of nonmetallic organic materials that have good energy
transmission and low-signal distortion, and can support small-to-
moderate structural loadings at low-to-intermediate temperatures.
For those vehicles that fly much faster, such as hypersonic aircraft
or missiles flying in the Mach 3-20 range, nonmetallic organic mate-
rials are inadequate for use in domes because aerodynamic friction
heats the dome above the maximum operating temperature of the
organic material.
In such cases, the dome is typically made of a ceramic material
that can withstand elevated temperatures and that has good energy
transmission characteristics. However, existing ceramics, such as
sapphire, have the shortcoming that they are relatively brittle and
non-elastic. The likelihood of fracture can be increased by the pres-
ence of small surface defects in the ceramic and externally imposed
stresses and strains. The ceramic dome can be hermetically attached
defense innovaTions
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to the body of the missile, which is typically made of a metal with
high-temperature strength, such as a titanium alloy.
Ceramic material has a relatively low coefficient of thermal ex-
pansion (CTE), while the metal missile body typically has a relatively
high CTE. Changing the temperature of the missile body and dome
can result in a CTE mismatch, which can create or induce strain
between the dome and the missile body when the two are joined.
This can greatly increase the propensity of the dome to fracture in
a brittle manner and can lead to failure of the sensor and ultimately
failure of the missile. In one typical example, the dome and the
missile body are joined by brazing at approximately 1,000 degrees
F. At this temperature, there is effectively little to no strain in the
joint due to a CTE mismatch. A temperature change can occur as
the parts cool from the joining temperature. Additional temperature
changes can occur, for example, when the missile is carried on
board a launch aircraft or during service, in which the temperature
can drop to -55 degrees F. The difference in temperature between
1,000 degrees F. and -55 degrees F. can create the greatest CTE
mismatch that the dome and missile body experience and, there-
fore, the greatest strain between the dome and the missile body.
In other words, the maximum CTE mismatch stress occurs at low
temperatures, when the substantially “zero stress state” at braze
temperature is at its greatest difference.
To account for this CTE mismatch between the dome and mis-
sile body, some designs comprise multiple parts coupled by braz-
ing and include transition elements to reduce the severity of CTE
mismatching in stages. For example, a transition element may have
an intermediate CTE relative to the dome and missile body to allow
the dome to be coupled indirectly to the missile body. The result
is a complex design that may also require additional aerodynamic
components and sealing of joints and gaps between components,
such as with polysulfide.
5 drawings
Aircraft power supply systemVVA
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This system comprises accumulator batteries, control, adjust-
ment and protection equipment, DC-AC converter, thermoelectric
elements consisting of hot- and cold-junction heat exchangers, and
a charge controller. The hot-junction heat exchangers are mounted
at inner surfaces of combustion chambers, flame stabilizers and
turbojet engine afterburner. The cold junction heat exchangers are
mounted at the aircraft outer skin. The charge controller is coupled to
output of thermoelectric elements and to input of accumulator bat-
teries as well to input of DC-AC converter. Outputs of DC-AC con-
verter as well as DC-DC outputs are the device outputs. Output of
the DC-AC converter is connected to input of the controlling, adjust-
ing and protecting unit. Output of accumulator batteries is coupled
to DC-DC input of the converter. Output of the DC-DC converter is
coupled to the input of the controlling, adjusting and protecting unit.
Output of the controlling, adjusting and protecting unit is coupled to
input of the accumulator batteries.
The reported effect is to provide power supply to consumers
when generators are not available.
2 drawings
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 33
Guidance rolling Missile and Guidance systemKonstruktorskoe bjuro Priborostroenija
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
An error signal containing information about the missile deviation and
interference, is additionally summed with the error signal shifted with respect to
the source in the direction of delay for a time equal to half the period of the har-
monic signal of interference. At that, adjustment of the delay time is inversely
proportional to the frequency of rotation about the roll axis, provides interfer-
ence suppression of variable frequency changing during the missile flight.
The guidance system of the rolling missile additionally comprises serially
connected clamped amplifier, the second link with adjustable delay time and
the second summing amplifier, which output is connected to the second input
of the modulator, the second input is connected to the output of the first sum-
ming amplifier, connected with the output to the second input of the second
link with adjustable time delay. The clamped amplifier input is connected to an
output of the period meter.
The reported effect is an increase in accuracy of missile guidance in the
presence of interference in signals of coordinates at double rotation rate about
the roll axis of the missile.
3 drawings
retaining and deploying CanardsSimmonds Precision Products, Inc.
Country of origin: usA
language: english
During the launch of a projectile, it is desired to have retractable
canards, which are retained within the projectile and subsequent
to launch the canards unfold from within the projectile and extend
into the airstream. Slots in the projectile housing are provided to
accommodate deployment of the canards from within the projectile
to the outside airstream. These slots increase drag on the projectile,
reducing the range for the projectile launch, and expose the inner
components to environmental conditions, such as electromagnetic
interference. To solve these problems, slot covers can be used.
Existing mechanisms for canard cover ejection and canard
deployment on launched projectiles are known in the art. In the
past, mechanisms for canard deployment typically employ multiple
pyrotechnics to eject the canard cover and additional spring-loaded
mechanisms to deploy the canards. Using separate pyrotechnics
and spring-loaded mechanisms to eject the covers and deploy the
canards makes it difficult to synchronize the deployment of the
canards, therein creating instability if one canard deploys before
another, and increases the cost and the complexity of the deploying
mechanism.
The invention relates to retention and deployment systems for
canards and more particularly to systems and methods for retaining
and deploying canards and canard covers on a projectile.
11 drawings
folding AirfoilNPO Mashinostroenija
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This concept describes a folding airfoil comprises center section
and panel articulated therewith at center section coaxially with fold-
ing axis and allow the contact between pusher and screw rod. Said
rod is fitted in two aligned cylindrical bores, one being located at
center section and provided with screw grooves for screw rod ledges
to fit in while another bore is made in aforesaid panel. Said rod and
panel bore make a sliding slotted joint. rod-slotted joint side end
has threaded bore aligned with rod axis while center section wall
defense innovaTions
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on side of said end has bore for access to threaded bore. Centre
section has height-adjustable ledge for panel thrust at turn through
opening angle.
The reported effect is perfected aerodynamics, optimum applica-
tion of the drive.
3 drawings
Combined shaped lining for high-speed Compact element formationNII SM, SM-4
Country of origin: russia
language: russia
The combined shaped lining for high-speed compact element
formation includes jet-forming part of hemispheric shape interfacing
with a cylindrical cutoff part. Thickness of jet-forming part of shaped
lining decreases from hemisphere top to its base from (0.08-0.1)rC
to (0.03-0.05)rC where rC is the external radius of the hemisphere.
Thickness of cylindrical cutoff part of shaped lining is 0.5-1.0 of the
hemisphere base thickness.
The reported effect is increased speed of high-speed compact
elements.
5 drawings
launch and recovery systemIsraeli Aerospace Industries
Country of origin: israel
language: english
An underwater launch and recovery system is disclosed includ-
ing: a surface water vehicle; at least one underwater vehicle; a
docking system for selectively docking and undocking each un-
derwater vehicle with respect to the surface vehicle at a selectively
controllable water depth. The docking system includes a docking
port for enabling the underwater vehicle to be selectively engaged
and disengaged with respect to the docking system, the docking
port being connected to the surface water vehicle via a movable
connector. The movable connector is configured for: providing a
predetermined said water depth to said docking port for enabling
said selectively docking and undocking, and for decoupling at least
surface heave movement of surface water vehicle from underwater
heave movement of the docking port at said predetermined water
depth. Also disclosed are methods for underwater launch and
recovery.
8 drawings
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 35
piracy protection systemThales
Country of origin: france
language: french
The invention relates to a piracy protection system for the
detection of suspect vessels around a vessel to be protected, the
piracy protection system comprising a processing unit configured
to determine, for each vessel in the proximity of the vessel to be
protected: - a behavior indicator, - an overall risk indicator, and/or - a
coherence indicator, and to determine both the piracy risk indicator
of each vessel as a function of the corresponding behavior indicator,
as well as at least one indicator from the corresponding overall risk
and coherence indicators.
Aircraft door
Tupolev
Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This aircraft door comprises the door leaf and upper hinge mech-
anism, comprising two pivoting levers, interconnected by means of
rigid element, control rod with roller, and carrier, pivotally coupled
by the first end to the control rod. Door also comprises two rock-
ers, pivotally coupled by first ends to the door leaf, and traverse of
upper hinge mechanism, pivotally coupled to the second ends of the
rockers, to the first ends of pivoted levers and to the second end of
the control rod. In this case, the axes of hinge connections of rockers
with door leaf and traverse are parallel to each other and arranged
horizontally, axes of hinge connections of traverse of upper hinge
mechanism with the first ends of pivoting levers and with the second
end of control rod, axis of roller, axes of elements of hinge connec-
tions at the second ends of pivoting levers and at the second end
of carrier are parallel to each other and arranged vertically.
Door may also contain the stabilizing mechanism and weight
compensation, actuator mechanism, mechanism of handles, actuator
mechanism with locking device.
The reported effect is a simple design and improved reliability
of locking.
27 drawings
superstructure for a shipDCNS
Country of origin: france
language: french
The invention relates to a superstructure for a naval platform,
comprising a plating and a floor, the floor being applied to the plating
and suitable for fixing to a deck of the naval platform, said super-
structure being characterized in that the floor is detachably fixed to
the plating and suitable for fixing to said deck independent from the
plating and at a distance therefrom.
10 drawings
defense innovaTions
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Adjustment shieldKonstruktorskoe bjuro priborostroenija im. akademika A.G.
Shipunova
Country of origin: russia
language: russia
This adjustment shield simulates forward radio signals and
radio signals specularly reflected from the earth, propagating from
a missile and a target to a final homing area. The adjustment shield
is located in the far zone of a radio direction-finding antenna and
comprises laser and infrared emitters. To simulate signals from a
missile transponder and signals reflected from a target, the shield is
provided with a radio pulse generator with a frequency synthesizer.
The reported effect is a high accuracy of adjustment.
3 drawings
emergency helicopter shipboard landingHenry Lewis
Country of origin: usA
language: english
Sometimes visibility can change within minutes, and helicopters opera-
tions from small surface ships can be cut short by rough seas, low visibility
and darkness, landing being by far the greatest problem. This invention is
designed to greatly help solve this problem in an economical way; a system
that is effective and reduces the need for at least some of the costly elec-
tronic systems. This is an electrical system not an electronic one.
radars can be too powerful to be used at short ranges. Some can
have blind spots close to the ship because of sea return. Others are not
designed for tracking helicopters all the way to the deck.
To guide a helicopter all the way to the deck, a high-resolution sur-
face surveillance radar with effective filters that take away sea and rain
clutter. Integrated with the radar is an electro-optical infrared camera to
provide a clearer picture of the helicopter to the controllers. The above
system can solve the problem. Then there is the cost factor to consider
for the above and other highly technical electronic systems.
On a small ship especially, visibility can suddenly deteriorate to a
degree that, the approach for landing a helicopter becomes a hazard-
ous task. For visual landing in rough seas, low visibility and darkness,
this light system alone, or in combination with one or more less complex
electronic systems for added safety can be used. Better visibility will
be possible for the air crew to make a safe approach and landing. This
is an electrical system not an electronic one. No high-profile technical
knowledge is needed to operate or repair this system, just some basic
knowledge of electrical theory.
12 drawings
Airborne vehicle (unmanned)Country of origin: russia
language: russian
This design describes a miniature remote-control aircraft comprises
airfoil, two screw propellers and weight, its position being varied to
vary the center of gravity of miniature aircraft. Airfoil is located above
the plane defined by rotational axes of screw propellers to develop the
lift. Airfoil is composed of a top airfoil arranged above bottom airfoil.
This miniature aircraft represents a flying wing design. Aircraft in-flight
position with respect to lengthwise axis and/or aircraft vertical axis can
be adjusted by the difference in propulsion, preferably between rpm of
screw propellers. If used as a reconnaissance plane it can be equipped
with monitoring means.
The design is reportedly is a: compact and durable structure with
perfected flight characteristics.
3 drawings
WWW.NAVY-kMI.COM | NAVY NEWS WEEklY | MAY 12, 2015 | 37
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