Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

MLF 2010 Volume: 4 Issue: 7 (August)

  

Shipboard Preventative Maintenance

On July 1, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced efforts to ensure surface ships are properly maintained, through a pilot initiative onboard two Norfolk-based ships. The NAVSEA-led initiative reassigns ships’ force maintenance actions to shore-based technical teams.

The review of open maintenance actions aboard USS Whidbey Island and USS Leyte Gulf is designed to identify which of these repairs can be completed at the depot level. “The demands placed on our ships and sailors are increasing each year,” said Rear Admiral James P. McManamon, NAVSEA deputy commander for surface warfare. “It’s incumbent upon the ship repair and maintenance community to figure out how best to support them. In this case, we determined that moving some of the repair work to shore commands would both benefit the sailors and improve ship readiness.”

The NAVSEA team, in coordination with the type commander, will review all open maintenance items on these ships, officially called Type Availability 4 (TA4) items, to determine which will be handled by shore teams. Once the review is complete, NAVSEA will begin assigning the maintenance to the regional maintenance centers, naval shipyards or private shipyards.

As part of this process, U.S. Fleet Forces Command identified more than $18 million in funding to allow NAVSEA to complete the work, as well as review other ships’ maintenance workloads during future availabilities.

“This is a question of capacity, not capability,” continued McManamon. “This is a good preventative measure to ensure these ships are meeting requirements throughout their service lives.”

The TA4 reassignment is part of a series of coordinated fleet and NAVSEA initiatives focused on surface ship readiness. These efforts are designed to increase support to our sailors and improve maintenance practices across ship classes, while also modernizing them to keep pace with mission requirements.

Targeting System PBL Support

Raytheon Company’s second U.S. Navy performance based logistics facility has been certified to perform depot-level repairs for its multispectral targeting system.

“It’s important that the fleet benefits from this relationship, and that the warfighter leaves with new capabilities for the battlefield,” said Mark Schroeder, program manager of Raytheon’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. “We look forward to providing this support to the Naval Air Station Jacksonville [Florida], the largest tenant command.”

The MTS system determines the bearing, course and speed of a target by viewing the scene as an infrared image, regardless of weather conditions. This system’s capabilities enhance night navigation, target detection and recognition, search and rescue, and more.

This new MTS component repair center expands Raytheon’s existing public and private partnership supporting the MTS weapon system. Performance based logistics balances current readiness needs with future requirements through a government-industry partnership to provide cost-wise, high quality service.

Kiowa Warrior Support

DRS Technologies Inc. recently announced that it has received two delivery orders valued at $20.6 million for logistics support of DRS’ mast mounted sights (MMS). The orders were issued against a basic five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract awarded in December 2008 that covered repairs from July 2010 through March 2013.

The basic contract with the U.S. Army for logistics support of the MMS includes spares, repairs, support services, field service and forward repair activities in the field. Included in this most recent award are depot-level repair and return of MMS line replaceable units and shop replaceable units delivered to DRS through the U.S. Army’s supply system.

Bob Klaver, DRS RSTA vice president of aviation and maritime programs said, “Our MMS systems demonstrate operational readiness exceeding 97 percent, which gives users a significant advantage in acquiring, identifying and engaging targets under just about any circumstances. This high level of readiness is largely the result of the U.S. Army’s commitment to keeping critical equipment operating at peak performance through first-rate logistics support. What we bring to the table is outstanding technology backed by ongoing obsolescence and reliability improvements and truly excellent service.”

“At DRS, our unchanging goal is to provide superior systems and support to our armed forces, in particular, the U.S. Army aviation units engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom,” said Terry Murphy, president, DRS reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. “Our success in achieving this goal translates into a solid future for our company, and safer, more effective operation for our warfighters.”

Naval Construction Forces Need

The Specialty Center Acquisition NAVFAC, Port Hueneme, Calif., has issued a requirement for the procurement of a tactical heavy truck tractor, (HTT) 6x4 rear wheel drive, with a fully integrated armor system (installed during vehicle production).

The HTT shall provide the United States naval construction forces with the capabilities necessary to transport semitrailers and perform line haul operations with loads (up to 130,000 pounds—trailer and trailer load combined); worldwide, in both civilian and military (tactical) environments. The HTT has to provide protection to occupants from hostile threats while in operation, shall accommodate military communication equipment, and shall sustain a comfortable environment for the operator and passenger(s). The expected integrated armor solution has to comply with the Joint Chiefs of Staffs definition of level I armor protection for non-combat vehicles; provides complete 360 degree protection for all vehicle occupants; constructed with no gaps in the armor. The armor solution also has to be corrosion resistant and protected by a chemical agent resistant coating. The ability to operate worldwide in all climatic conditions, and use JP5, JP8, DF1 and DF2 fuels is considered important.

C-27J Basing Options

The secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force approved C-27J operations and training candidate bases. Training candidates are: Key Field Air Guard Station, Miss.; Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, Ohio. Operations candidates are: Boise Air Terminal Air Guard Station, Idaho; and Great Falls International Airport, Mont. The Air Force will conduct site surveys at the candidate locations and initiate the environmental impact analysis process in preparation for a final selection.

Exportable Power Capabilities

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, has been selected by the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command to supply onboard vehicle power (OBVP) kits for military testing. The OBVP kits leverage the advanced Oshkosh Propulse diesel-electric drive technology, which is proven to power a small airport or entire city block from a single military vehicle.

“There is a rapidly growing demand in the military for onboard power to support mobile radar systems, command centers, IED-defeat systems and many other applications,” said John Bryant, vice president and general manager of Marine Corps programs for Oshkosh Defense. “We are proud to partner with the Navy and Marine Corps to create a technology platform to provide our troops with increased tactical flexibility, while reducing their logistics footprint.”

The OBVP kits will be installed on Marine Corps all-terrain medium tactical vehicle replacements (MTVRs) for government evaluation and testing. The installation is expected to be completed in January 2012 and the evaluation and testing is expected to begin in March 2012. This contract follows successful OBVP technology-development efforts between Oshkosh Defense and the Office of Naval Research. The MTVR with OBVP will provide 120 kW of exportable military-grade power while stationary, and 21 kW of military-grade power while on the move.

Under the contract, valued at more than $8 million, OBVP kits will be supplied and integrated on MTVR standard and extended cargo trucks. The scalable OBVP kits can be integrated on the assembly line during new vehicle production or as an aftermarket add-on, which can be completed at the company’s regional service facilities. Oshkosh also will provide the training and sustainment support required for the new technology during government testing.

Air Cargo Handling System

A request for a system upgrade for the design, manufacture, shipping, installation and testing of an entire air cargo handling system has been issued for McGuire AFB, N.J. The system includes an elevating transfer vehicle upgrades, powered 463L pallet conveyor, pallet storage enclosure extension, pallet lifts, construction, inventory control system and crane system.

Airbus Cargo Deck Handler

AAR announced at the recent Farnborough Air Show that its cargo systems division had signed a five-year contract extension with EADS EFW to provide cargo systems and support to convert Airbus A310-300s and A300-600s passenger aircraft into freighters. In addition, the extended agreement makes provisions for EADS EFW to procure A320/A321 and A330 main deck cargo handling systems from AAR. ♦

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