Log Ops

In truck news, BAE Systems was recently awarded a $1.6 billion contract from the U.S. Army to build another 10,000 family of medium tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and trailers for delivery during 2009 and 2010. Earlier this year, BAE Systems received two contracts totaling nearly $2.1 billion for 10,000 vehicles, and to provide program support, engineering, integrated logistics support, configuration management and field service support. This latest contract brings the total award value for FMTVs in 2008 to $3.7 billion.

BAE Systems will manufacture the FMTVs in the Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) configuration, which is designed to accept an adaptable armor system allowing protection to be increased or decreased based on the threat. Vehicle variants to be built will include cargo trucks, wreckers, expansible vans, shop vans, tractors, load handling systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System support vehicles and low velocity air drop configured trucks.

“This award will boost FMTV production to record rates,” said Chris Chambers, vice president of medium/heavy vehicles for BAE Systems in Sealy, Texas. “It introduces the advanced LTAS FMTV configuration at high numbers, rapidly equipping the U.S. Army with the very latest adaptive, protection technology.”

BAE Systems recently completed production of more than 5,000 mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles under existing contracts with the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. KMI Media Group editor-in-chief Jeff McKaughan was invited to Sealy to attend the celebration commemorating the milestone. The event celebrated the completion of a 22-month production run for two BAE Systems variants of the MRAP—the Caiman and the RG33; the U.S. government has purchased 2,868, and 2,182 of those vehicles, respectively.

During the ceremony, Paul Mann, Marine Corps Systems Command’s MRAP program manager, commended BAE Systems and its employees for “doing what you said you do, when you said you would do it.”

“The BAE Systems’ team has excelled in its support of our armed services in its time of urgent need. Caiman has been on time-on target,” said Chambers. “By any measure Caiman is a success: contract award to production deliveries in 43 days; an unmatched, exemplary delivery to contract and a vehicle protection and reliability record that has enabled our troops to complete their vital mission.”

Armor-Ready MTVRs

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corp., has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps for 49 armor-ready Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVRs), valued at more than $10.7 million.

This is a continuation of a contract originally awarded in 1998. Oshkosh will manufacture and deliver the MTVRs in the cargo truck variants. The latest configurations of the MTVR also feature readyto- accept armor capabilities for increased troop protection.

“The Marines are quick and agile, and they rely on the mobility, off-road capabilities and transportability of the Oshkosh MTVR to perform their in-service missions,” said John Stoddart, Oshkosh Corp. executive vice president and president, defense. The vehicles associated with this contract will be manufactured in Oshkosh, Wis., with a scheduled completion time of December 2009.

Aircraft Support Contracts

L-3 Vertex Aerospace has been awarded a series of contract option extensions by the Navy and Air Force.

The Navy has awarded the company three extensions to existing contracts:

• $58.6 million for total aircraft maintenance and logistics life cycle support for 55 Navy and 11 Marine Corps C-12 aircraft at multiple Naval Air Stations (NAS) in the United States
• $42.6 million for logistics support for 123 TH-57B and TH-57C aircraft at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., and NAS Patuxent River, Md.
• $38.8 million for contractor logistics support services for H-60, T-39 and H-3 aircraft located in Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas

The Air Force has exercised an option on a fourth contract for $11.7 million to provide trainer maintenance at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and NAS Pensacola, Fla.

“We are proud to continue our service to the Air Force and Navy,” said Ed Boyington, president of L-3 Vertex. “Our employees supporting these aircraft and trainers understand keenly how stellar performance brings additional work.”

U.S. Army-General Dynamics Team Receives Performance-Based Logistics Award for Tactical Airspace Integration System

General Dynamics C4 Systems has announced that the U.S. Department of Defense has presented the U.S. Army-General Dynamics Tactical Airspace Integration System (TAIS) Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) team with the 2008 Secretary of Defense Performance-Based Logistics—Component Level Award. The PBL award recognizes the exceptional operational performance of the TAIS System team in supporting DoD strategy to reduce the cost of weapon-system ownership while improving system availability for warfighters. General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics.

Currently deployed worldwide, including Iraq and Afghanistan, the TAIS System integrates and synchronizes airspace command and control and air-traffic services within the Army Battle Command System (ABCS). TAIS enables commanders to quickly see, analyze and respond to military and commercial air traffic operating throughout the battlespace.

“This award recognizes the close and successful collaboration between the TAIS government-industry team,” said James W. “Jim” Kelton, assistant product manager, tactical airspace integration system (APM TAIS) Office of the Product Manager, Air Traffic Control Systems (U.S. Army). “Performance-based logistics effectively and efficiently sustain a weapon system, helping to ensure resource availability and sustainability to meet the ongoing needs of the warfighter. From day one, General Dynamics C4 Systems has been an invaluable industry partner in making PBL such a huge success for the TAIS program. The General Dynamics members of our TAIS team are missionfocused professionals who have put together what can only be described as a world-class operation.”

“This award is a tribute to the dedicated men and women on this team,” said Manny Mora, vice president of battle management systems for General Dynamics C4 Systems. “Working together, we are delivering a system that enables unparalleled situational awareness of the battlefield airspace.”

Boeing Awarded Initial Phase of Estimated $3 Billion Contract for C-17 Support

The Boeing Company has been awarded the initial phase of a new three-year U.S. Air Force contract to continue the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership (GSP) program following a decade of comprehensive logistics support of C-17 fleets around the world.

The Air Force awarded Boeing $514 million of the estimated $3 billion performance- based logistics (PBL) contract on October 1, covering the beginning of fiscal year 2009. Boeing’s proposal included a significant decrease in dollars per flight hour that will save the Air Force more than $200 million over three years compared with the previous GSP contract.

Through the GSP program, Boeing and the Air Force work together closely to manage a full range of C-17 sustainment activities, from field support to depot-level maintenance to supply-chain management, as well as aircraft modifications and upgrades. The PBL-style contract allows customers to pay for a specified level of readiness versus individual parts or services.

International C-17 customers in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Qatar and a consortium of NATO countries also participate in the GSP program. They benefit from Boeing’s ability to purchase materials in large quantities for the global C-17 fleet as well as the emphasis on aircraft readiness.

“This contract marks the end of a very successful decade of C-17 support and the beginning of a new chapter in the GSP program’s life,” said Gus Urzua, vice president of Boeing’s Air Force Integrated Logistics division. “We remain committed to providing affordable world-class support. The C-17 has a critical mission, and we will do whatever it takes to ensure it succeeds.”

The C-17 PBL contract is considered the first system-level program of its kind and has become a model for other PBL programs. With a mission-capable rate at or above 85 percent, the C-17 is the most available and reliable transport aircraft in the world. ♦

* Compiled by KMI Media Group staff