Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
Caiman MRAP Support
The Caiman mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle was designed in 2006 to fill the Department of Defense’s urgent need for vehicles to protect U.S. troops from roadside bombs, rocket propelled grenades and explosively formed projectiles. In 22 months of production, 2,868 Caimans were built. BAE Systems recently received a contract modification worth $23.8 million for replacement and spare parts, instructor and maintenance support and other services for Caiman vehicles.
Replacement and spare parts include improved front seats, electrical connectors for towing and to retrofit door assist system safety strips on the Caiman vehicles. Spare and replacement parts deliveries will be completed through January 2010 and will help the Army units in Iraq maintain the estimated 2,850 Caimans. The contract also covers Caiman instructor and maintenance support services through September 2009.
“This contract will help keep vehicles in operating condition, which is essential to saving soldiers’ lives and supporting the success of the military mission in Iraq,” said Bruce Harrison, vice president of product support for BAE Systems in Houston, Texas. “We can continue to provide the parts, and instructors and maintenance support to our soldiers through our forward support representatives and wherever and whenever the Army needs it.”
Fuel Storage
Agility was recently awarded a U.S. Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) contract to handle storage and distribution of more than 1.2 million barrels of jet fuel for the Pacific and Far East. The DESC contract is worth an estimated $32 million over five years. Tristar Terminals LLC, a joint venture between Agility Defense & Government Services (DGS) and Tristar Transport, will be responsible for the work. Tristar Transport is 80 percent owned by Agility.
The joint venture recently purchased the Guam Agat fuel terminal and will manage and operate the bulk fuel storage facilities there. The Agat terminal stores and ships aviation fuel for the U.S. government and provides bulk fuel services to commercial customers on Guam.
“Tristar Terminals has built a team that the DESC can rely on to provide the efficient and dependable fuel storage and shipping services required to support the U.S. military’s needs in Guam and throughout the Pacific Rim,” said Dan Mongeon, president and CEO of Agility DGS.
Road Tractors
As part of an approximately $28.5 million contract with the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Mack Trucks Inc. recently delivered 36 Mack Vision Elite model tractors with 70-inch high-rise sleepers. The trucks were built at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Va.
Known domestically as the Mack Pinnacle axle back model, the Vision Elite tractor is designed specifically for export markets. It’s powered by an export version of the Mack MP8 13-liter engine.
The three-year contract calls for Mack to deliver the Army 152 Vision Elite models, with lowboy trailers, as well as spare parts. A total of 80 units are slated for delivery this year.
Peel and Stick Non-Skid
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has recently approved a new non-skid coating for use onboard Navy ships.
Applying traditional non-skid involves mixing, troweling, curing time and potential waste. Depending on the application, those days could be gone.
“The new type provides a quick and easy non-slip surface that the ship’s force apply themselves,” said John Wegand, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division non-skid engineering manager. NSWC Carderock is a NAVSEA field activity. As a Technical Authority, NAVSEA is accountable for the technical engineering elements of ship maintenance, modernization, construction, design and safety.
“The new ‘peel and stick’ variety offers a 66 percent cost savings when compared to covering a similar area using traditional nonskid,” said Cruiser Class Squadron (CGRON) Combat Systems Analyst Chief Fire Controlman (Surface Warfare) Anthony Belbeck. “The new non-skid also offers a 50 percent weight savings compared to a similar area.”
Commander, Naval Surface Force’s Financial Readiness Management Team, has validated a $31.8k benefit in cost avoidance. Continuing this effort, CGRON is working with USS Cape St. George, USS Princeton and USS Cowpens to help fund the installation of peel and stick vice traditional non-skid.
In April 2008, 2,300 square feet of the new material was installed onboard USS Lake Champlain. “It is much easier to keep clean, and it’s holding up remarkably well; I have not had to replace anything as of yet,” said Boatswain’s Mate Third Class John B. Prosperie, USS Lake Champlain, OD Division. The non-skid material has also withstood the heavy abuse of ammunition cans, tools and traffic without the cohesive effectiveness being noticeably affected. The ship’s sailors also reported that repairs could be accomplished by one person with minimal equipment and time. “The material is holding up great! It’s easy to apply and repair. Its durability surpasses traditional non-skid. The [traditional] material on the main deck, laid at the same time, is already chipping and peeling,” said senior chief operations specialist Christopher Burford, USS Lake Champlain, OI Division.
The new non-skid is available through the Navy supply system as an open purchase item from the Louisiana Association for the Blind.
Self-inventorying Container
Odin Technologies has introduced the self-inventorying Smart Container—a first in automated technology for the tracking of critical assets. The system goes beyond basic security and location tracking for a given container and provides detailed visibility of items inside the container via passive UHF RFID and can transmit item level data to any ERP system over various communication mediums, to include satellite, cellular and active RFID. The Smart Container allows users to locate, track and assess the status of materials critical to military operations or imperative to the commercial supply chain.
The Odin self-inventorying Smart Container was initially conceived to close the gap in the supply chain where items were put into closed containers. It has been refined over the past several years to help fulfill the Office of Secretary of Defense order to suppliers to provide low-cost passive RFID tags on assets shipped to the government, and provide visibility from the factory to the foxhole. The Odin self-inventorying system automatically reads the tagged items from suppliers as they are loaded or unloaded from shipping containers of various sizes and configurations. The items can also be inventoried from anywhere in the world with the click of the mouse. The system depends on Odin’s patented Blackbird technology to provide unparalleled visibility, security, accuracy and efficiency.
“The Smart Container is reinventing RFID. It is the first solution that not only closes the biggest gap in the supply chain, but is deployable and configurable in under a minute,” said Patrick J. Sweeney II, founder of Odin. “Always knowing not only the location, but the contents of military containers down to the unit level at any point in transit is a major breakthrough in supply chain management for military and defense, and other industries that are soon to follow. In military parlance, the Smart Container is a UAV for logisticians.” ♦