Nov. 22, 2012 - By AARON MEHTA Defense News

Danish military officials crisscrossed the U.S. last week in a major step toward restarting competition for the country’s fighter replacement program.

On Nov. 12, the delegation visited Boeing’s facility in St. Louis to see the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Nov. 13 and 14 were spent on meetings in Washington before traveling to a Nov. 15 meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, where the group got a firsthand look at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

“It was very productive, and we look forward to working with both companies in the future,” said Maj. Gen. Flemming Lentfer, the head of the delegation.

But Danish officials caution not to expect a quick decision.

“No decision has been made,” said Lt. Col. Per Lyse Rasmussen, assistant defense attaché at the Danish Embassy. “We want an open and fair competition.”

Denmark announced its intention to replace its fleet of F-16s in 2005. But the program was frozen in 2010 amid economic worries and a decision that the existing combat jets would last longer than expected.

The replacement program initially involved purchasing 48 next-generation fighters, but that number has been reduced to about 30.

In addition to the conventional takeoff version of the JSF and the Super Hornet, Denmark is considering the Saab Gripen. The Eurofighter Typhoon pulled out of the initial competition, but since then, the Eurofighter consortium has signaled that it wants the Typhoon to be considered when the competition is restarted.

Rasmussen expects Denmark to pick the jet that can provide the best package of strategic capabilities and industrial impact for the country’s defense industry.

Boeing spokeswoman Mary Brett described the visit as positive but directed questions to the Danish Defense Command.

“We are pleased that the Danish delegation has visited our facilities to discuss a variety of subjects relating to Lockheed Martin aircraft,” wrote Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Laurie Quincy in an email. Quincy added that the company has not been given a specific time frame for when Denmark will renew the selection process.

Lockheed is advantageously positioned over the competition, having already established relationships with Danish industry through Denmark’s partnership in the JSF program.

Denmark is a Tier-3 partner on the JSF and has contributed $210 million to the program. Although the partnership was supposed to pay large dividends for the Danish defense sector, some industry executives have complained of paltry returns on the investment.

At an event Nov. 8, Tom Burbage, Lockheed’s general manager for the F-35 program, dismissed the idea that having one of the early JSF partners decide to purchase a different jet could harm the program.

“It’s totally up to the countries to decide what they want to do, what their national interests are,” Burbage said. “I don’t think it reflects on the program at all. It reflects on the political situations in their own home states.”

Nov. 21, 2012 - By ANDREW CHUTER Defense News

LONDON — The Danish military has selected Sikorsky’s MH-60R helicopter over the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat to equip its maritime forces with a new platform starting 2016.

The Danish Defense Ministry announced Nov. 21 they would buy nine of the U.S. helicopters offered by Sikorsky and its partner, Lockheed Martin.

The aircraft, which will be used for surveillance, fisheries inspection and search and rescue, will be delivered over a two-year period starting 2016.

Already purchased by the U.S. Navy and the Australian military, the MH-60R beat out incumbent Dutch supplier AgustaWestland, which offered the Lynx. The U.K. built Wildcat, a much updated version of the Lynx, is scheduled to come into service with the British Army and the Royal Navy in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Eurocopter’s AS565 Panther was eliminated from the competition at the start of the year.

21 November 2012 army-technology.com

Saft has received a contract from BAE Systems to continue production of Lithium-ion energy storage system (ESS) for the US Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) programme.

The $1.3m order follows a previous contract in 2010, and was awarded as part of a 24-month $450m GCV technology development (TD) phase contract received by BAE-Northrop Grumman team in August 2011.

As part of the initial deal, Saft is manufacturing ultra high-power cells for the vehicle's hybrid electric drive system, and has also completed hardware and software development of the prototype battery system.

Saft Speciality Battery Group general manager Tom Alcide said the contract demonstrated the company's design and development of advanced batteries that address specific requirements of modern, sophisticated military vehicles.

The Li-ion ESS is an advanced high-voltage VL 5U cells-equipped system designed to support the GCV's hybrid electric drive system when it is not operating on carbon-based fuels, such as gasoline, during silent watch missions.

Manufactured using green technologies, the system has been designed to improve the vehicle's fuel consumption and offer weight savings, in addition to lowering the programme's development costs.

The TD contract requires awardees to establish the GCV proposal through the preliminary design review (PDR) in anticipation of prototype builds during its engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase for a new army infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).

General Dynamics-led team comprising of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon were also awarded a $440m TD contract.

The $40bn GCV IFV programme aims at development of a vehicle that can carry a nine-man infantry team with increased protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and modern warfare threats.

More than 1,874 GCVs are expected to be fielded to replace a portion of the army's Bradley IFV fleet.

November 20, 2012 by Matt Cox - defensetech.org

BAE Systems just put out a new infographic detailing the benefits of the hybrid electric drive system the company has developed for the Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle competition. If selected, it would be the first hybrid combat vehicle ever fielded. The graphic illustrates how BAE’s hybrid system will ensure its GCV offering is faster, quieter and more fuel-efficient than standard 70-ton combat vehicles.

BAE’s release of its hybrid-electric infographic comes on the heels of a Congressional Budget Office report that states that the Army’s GCV may have to weigh as much as 84 tons for the vehicle to meet the service’s list of requirements. This would make the GCV heavier than the 64-ton M1A2 Abrams tank and more than twice as heavy as the 33-ton M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicle its replacing.

It has been difficult for Army officials to refute such estimates since the service didn’t set a weight limit for the new vehicle to avoid trade-offs in soldier protection, lethality and survivability.

The requirement that the GCV carry a nine-man squad and the remaining crew inside the vehicle’s protected volume is a primary factor in setting the size, weight, and cost of the GCV, the CBO maintains.

The Army announced an initial acquisition goal of 1,874 vehicles with production of the vehicle starting in 2018. The Army issued a revised RFP in November 2010 after the initial solicitation were deemed too ambitious and created a real possibility that high technical risks and immature technologies would lead to spiraling costs and schedule delays.

The revised RFP left some flexibility in how the contractor could address the requirements and designated a manufacturing cost of between $9 million and $10.5 million per vehicle, an average procurement unit cost of $13 million per vehicle, and a sustainment cost of $200 per mile of operation. In August 2011, the Army awarded contracts valued at about $450 million each to BAE and General Dynamics Land Systems.

20/11/2012 Mer et marine

Le groupe britannique a annoncé avoir conclu un accord avec American Maritime Holding en vue d’acquérir Marine Hydaulics International, qui exploite un chantier à Norfolk, où se trouve l’une des plus grandes bases de l’US Navy. MHI est spécialisé dans la maintenance et la réparation navales, ainsi que les refontes de bâtiments. La société, qui emploie 400 personnes environ, doit être intégrée à la division Réparation navale de BAE Systems. « Cette acquisition s’inscrit pleinement dans notre stratégie visant à poursuivre notre croissance dans l’industrie maritime. L’intégration de MHI et de son personnel fortement qualifié doit renforcer notre capacité à servir des clients tant militaires que civils dans la réparation, la maintenance et la modernisation de navires », explique Bill Clifford, président de BAE Systems Ship Repair. Employant 5000 personnes, cette division du groupe britannique aux Etats-Unis est présente à Norfolk, San Diego, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Mayport, Mobile et Pearl Harbor.

BAE Systems attend différents feux verts, notamment administratifs, afin de boucler la reprise de MHI, opération que le groupe espère boucler au premier trimestre 2013.

November 20th, 2012 By Saab - defencetalk.com

Sweden will participate in the Red Flag air exercise 2012 to be held between 19 January and 2 February 2013, says a Swedish Government Press Release. Red Flag is a multinational air exercise held alternatively at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.

According to Swedish Defense Minister Karin Enstrom, the Red Flag air exercise is important to fully practice with the JAS 39 Gripen and to simultaneously interact with other countries. About 8-10 Gripens would participate in the exercise.

The Armed Forces have previously participated in Exercise Red Flag with fighter units in 2006 in Alaska and 2008 in Nevada.

The purpose of the exercise is to train and prepare pilots for sharp combat situations. The exercise is made up of different parts,

Members of Lima Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines,

conducting section attack drills as part of their training package

Picture MOD 2012

16 Nov 12 UK MoD - A Training and Adventure news article

Despite the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Sandy, 42 Commando Royal Marines have commenced training in Twentynine Palms, California.

The final group to depart Devon, comprised of around 300 men, were delayed in their transit to the US for 36 hours due to logistical complications caused by one of the largest storms in US history.

The transit involved a brief stopover in Bangor, Maine, where members of the Bickleigh-based unit were welcomed in style by the local residents who applauded their arrival into the transit lounge and offered them complimentary cakes and snacks.

Members of the unit spent time chatting to the enthusiastic residents and posed for photos (see Related links) before embarking on the final leg of their journey to Victorville in California.

On landing, a two-hour bus ride awaited the troops for the journey to the US Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.

Arriving in Camp Wilson at 0230hrs, cot-beds were occupied in record time in the knowledge that breakfast would be served in a few short hours.

Royal Marines commandos enter a compound at the US Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, also known as Twentynine Palms, in California - Picture MOD 2012

The first day consisted of briefs, including lectures on dangerous fauna in the area such as the Sidewinder rattlesnake, various spiders and how to protect endangered species such as the rare Mojave Desert tortoise.

With daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, keeping cool and hydrated is vital. A typical 'section attack' can see a marine run and crawl through desert for 15 minutes with 40lbs (18kg) of equipment. The combination of extreme physical activity and heat takes its toll.

Unlike the Mojave Desert tortoise, which can go without a drink for months by circulating recycled water around its body, the Marines of 42 Commando are having to drink several litres of water a day.

Within hours of arriving, elements of the unit commenced working on the ranges in this vast training facility with its 932 square miles (2,414 square km) of desert terrain in which to operate.

Lima Company were the first group from the unit to get onto the ranges and spent several days building up to a live firing serial which included throwing grenades into compounds known as 'killing houses'.

A Royal Marines commando on the ranges at the US Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, in California – Picture MOD 2012

Major Oli Coryton, Officer Commanding Lima Company, said he is pleased with how the training has gone so far:

    "This is the culmination of three days bespoke modern urban combat training and close quarter battle drills. We've spent two days doing 'dry' firing manoeuvres [without ammunition] and today has been spent live firing in bespoke built 'killing houses'.

    "It's been a really good progression; the guys have heard a lot about these ranges and what they have to offer. Actually getting in among it with the live firing simulates so much of what is real."

    "It's really nice to see the company drawing together as a cohesive unit," he added. "We've got a lot of new joiners, including some reservists, Royal Engineers, signallers and medics, so bringing that group together over the last few days has been great."

Un C130 américain au premier plan, devant un C130 français

17/11/2012 Cne Karim Djemaï - Armée de l'air

Du 12 au 16 novembre 2012, l’escadron de transport 2/61 «Franche-Comté» a accueilli, sur la base aérienne 123 d’Orléans, un détachement américain du 37 Airlift Squadron de la base aérienne de Rammstein (Allemagne), dans le cadre de cet entraînement tactique commun.

Une quarantaine d’aviateurs américains (personnel navigant et mécaniciens compris) ont ainsi mis en œuvre deux avions de transport tactique C130J Hercules. «Il s’agit de la première fois que les équipages de C130 français et américains s’entraînent ensemble en France, explique le lieutenant-colonel Laurent Neumann, commandant en second de l’escadron «Franche-Comté». L’objectif principal était de renforcer notre interopérabilité. Nous avons l’habitude de travailler ensemble, selon des procédures standardisées. Toutefois, il est important d’entretenir régulièrement les liens de confiance qui nous unissent.»

Équipages français et américain marchant vers un C130J de l'US Air Force

Briefing entre équipages français et américains

Durant une semaine, aviateurs français et américains ont réalisé ensemble un vaste panel de missions tactiques : vol en formation en basse altitude, largage de personnel et de matériels... Au quotidien, les préparations de mission ont été opérées en commun. «Il est très intéressant de comparer nos méthodes de travail respectives, détaille le Major Ryan Ullrich, pilote au sein du 37 Airlift Squadron. Nous échangeons nos expériences respectives, ce qui nous permet de progresser ensemble.»

Bien que les deux appareils aient une structure quasi-identique, les C130 H français et les C130J américains sont de nature différente; les avions américains étant de conception plus récente. «Les C130 J bénéficient notamment d’une motorisation plus puissante, détaille le lieutenant-colonel Neumann. En outre, l’avion est doté d’équipements de dernière génération, notamment d’un glass cockpit ou de visualisations «tête haute». Nous devions prendre en compte ces paramètres lors de nos vols mixtes.»

Vue de l'intérieur d'un cockpit de C130 français

La coopération entre les forces aériennes françaises et américaines s’illustre notamment, depuis une dizaine d’années, par un échange entre pilotes de transport évoluant sur C130. «Ces officiers insérés facilitent grandement les échanges entre nos deux armées de l’air, commente le lieutenant-colonel. La pilote américaine actuellement en échange au sein du «Franche-Comté» a ainsi joué un rôle prépondérant dans l’organisation de ce premier volet, qui devrait être suivi de nombreux autres exercices du même type.»

C130J américain en vol

November 14, 2012 defpro.com

Contract builds on 243 on-time, on-budget Lakota deliveries

ARLINGTON, Va. | The U.S. Army has awarded EADS North America a $181.8 million contract option to deliver 34 additional UH-72A Lakota helicopters, bringing the total aircraft ordered to date to 312. Army plans call for procuring 347 Lakotas through 2016.

EADS North America has delivered 243 Lakotas – all on time and on budget – from its American Eurocopter facility in Columbus, Miss., where up to five aircraft per month are produced by a workforce that is more than 50 percent U.S. military veterans. The same production line would produce the company’s armed Lakota derivative, the AAS-72X+, for the Army’s Armed Aerial Scout helicopter program.

This latest contract award is a reflection of EADS North America’s commitment to on-time, on-cost performance with the Lakota, a proven, flexible aircraft that is flying every day to meet the Army’s mission,? said Sean O’Keefe, EADS North America Chairman and CEO. ?We’re proud of delivering on our promises. In today’s fiscal environment, the Army needs and deserves programs that meet their cost and schedule commitments.?

The Lakota program is an example of a successful program that is meeting the Army’s needs by complying with the Army and OSD goals for an ACAT-1 high performing program,? said Colonel Thomas H. Todd, the Utility Helicopters Project Manager. ?High performing, well-run programs are the benchmark for major defense program acquisition; the Lakota is clearly in that category.?

Aircraft deliveries under the latest option will begin in September 2013. The contract also includes eight engine inlet barrier filter kits.

Twenty-four of the aircraft on this contract will receive the Security and Support (S&S) Battalion mission equipment package (MEP), which was procured under a separate contract action. The S&S Battalion MEP expands the Lakota’s capabilities for missions ranging from disaster response to border security operations. It includes a moving map, EO/IR sensor, digital video recording capability, digital and analog downlink, and a searchlight. Army National Guard units across the country currently operate Lakotas equipped with the S&S Battalion MEP, including extensive operations along the U.S. southwest border.

A combination of full contractor logistics support (CLS) for the Active Army and hybrid CLS for the Army National Guard enables the units to operate the Lakota in accordance with their flying hour plan. The Army program office, military units, and the industry team of EADS North America, American Eurocopter and Helicopter Support International has provided tailored program logistics to the Army and Army National Guard since 2006.

The Lakota fleet has averaged an operational availability rate greater than 90 percent for locations with the full contractor logistics (CLS) support, encompassing 21 different military units. Spare parts fill rate under the hybrid CLS concept supporting 33 units has averaged 97 percent.

The UH-72A is a Defense Acquisition Category (ACAT) I major defense acquisition program, and marked one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the U.S. Army’s history. Deliveries of the aircraft to National Guard units allow aging OH-58 and UH-1 rotary-wing aircraft to be retired, while UH-72As assigned to the active component of the U.S. Army free up UH-60 Black Hawks for assignment to combat missions.

Nov. 14, 2012 - By ANDREW CHUTER Defense News

LONDON — Eight European armored vehicle builders have responded to a Danish Ministry of Defence invitation to bid for a family of armored personnel carriers to replace its fleet of aging M113s.

The competition pits equal numbers of tracked and wheeled contenders against one another for a requirement of between 206 and 450 vehicles. Around 360 machines spread across six configurations is the most likely procurement number, said industry executives.

An unspecified number of contenders will be down-selected in the next few months ahead of vehicle trials starting in Denmark in March 2013, the procurement arm of the MoD said in a statement.

Only General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has a contender in wheeled and tracked sectors.

BAE Systems Hagglunds, FFG Flensburger, Rheinmetall Landsysteme and the Santa Barbara arm of GDELS have submitted proposals for tracked vehicles.

Wheeled vehicle suppliers ARTEC, the Mowag arm of GDELS, Nexter and Patria also have submitted bids.

The winning vehicle is expected to be under contract by around the end of 2013, industry executives said.

The Danish military is looking for six different configurations of the winning design: infantry, command and control, ambulance, mortar, engineering, and mechanical.

The Danes already are operators of BAE’s CV-90, and the Swedish arm of the company has bid its new Armadillo version of the tracked machine for the Danish competition.

Nov. 13, 2012 - By JOHN T. BENNETT – Defense News

A growing sex scandal that already cost David Petraeus his job as CIA director will delay confirmation for a new U.S. European Command (EUCOM) chief by at least four months.

Marine Gen. John Allen has been tapped by President Barack Obama to take over that command, but the White House has frozen the nomination. Early on Nov. 13, Allen was implicated in an unfolding FBI probe that uncovered an extramarital affair between Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell. The Pentagon announced in the early morning hours that the FBI had uncovered 20,000 to 30,000 pages of email correspondence between Allen and another woman, Jill Kelley.

Kelley is the woman to whom Petraeus’ paramour several months ago sent threatening emails, apparently worried Kelley was romantically interested in Petraeus.

It is unclear what is the nature of the Allen-Kelley relationship, and just what the emails contained. To find out, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has ordered a Pentagon inspector general probe of Allen’s behavior.

Allen denies any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, at a regular White House press briefing Nov. 13, said Obama was “certainly surprised” by the scandal but retains “great faith” in his commanders.

When asked if the president was upset about being informed of the investigation on Nov. 7, when the investigation had been going on at least since the summer, Carney said the FBI “has protocols” that decide when the White House and members of Congress are informed of investigations.

“I would not suggest that the president is pleased with the events of the last week, but the fact of the matter is that there are processes in place” for these kind of investigations, said Carney.

Similarly, Carney referred questions about whether national security was compromised to the FBI, which is running the investigation into the illicit relationship between Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell.

As to whether the president would prefer Petraeus to testify to Congress about the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi last month, Carney said it is up to Congress to decide who testifies. He added that the administration is confident that CIA Acting Director Michael Morell is “fully informed and capable” of testifying on the issue.

Carney also fielded questions about possible shakeups with Obama’s national security team. While he declined to speculate on personnel matters, Carney did say the president was pleased with the work of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Both have been named as potential Cabinet appointees for secretary of state; Kerry is reportedly also being considered for secretary of defense when Leon Panetta steps down from that role in 2013.

The Allen nomination hearing will be postponed until well after the presidential inauguration, said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich.

“Because of the Department of Defense Inspector General’s pending review, the confirmation hearing for Gen. Allen to be commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander has been postponed until a later date,” Levin said in a statement. “That change of command is expected no earlier than March.”

The Senate panel will, however, proceed as planned with a Nov. 15 nomination hearing for Allen’s likely replacement at CENTCOM, Assistant Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford. Allen had been slated to testify about his EUCOM nomination at the same hearing. CENTCOM oversees U.S. military operations in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

“The uncertainties surrounding the schedule of the new Congress in January make it necessary for the confirmation process for Gen. Dunford to be completed before the end of this year,” Levin said.

Adm. James Stavridis is the outgoing EUCOM chief. The Pentagon and White House have yet to announce his next post — or his retirement.

Nov 13, 2012 ASDNews Source : Lorica Systems UK Limited

    Lorica a Joint Venture between Marshall Land Systems and Plasan wins armour contract for Warrior CSP demonstration phase

Lorica Systems UK Limited (Lorica) today announced it has been chosen by Lockheed Martin UK for final negotiations as the preferred turret armour supplier for the demonstration phase of the UK MoD Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) and is now in final negotiations with Lockheed Martin.. The WCSP program will provide a range of upgrades to the Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle, with the aim of extending the vehicles’ service life beyond 2035.  Lorica is an armour and survivability Joint Venture between Marshall Land Systems of Cambridge and Plasan of Israel.

The key requirements of the project are to meet future threat levels and challenging weight targets, whilst demonstrating that armour can be effectively integrated to match the turret profile. Lorica specialises in a low-weight approach to flexible armouring solutions. The WCSP programme is ideal for their skill base.

Tim Vaughan, Head of Business Development for Lorica comments, “It has been a tough competition against some very strong companies.  We are delighted to have been chosen to work with Lockheed Martin and we very much look forward to protecting British Soldiers in the future.”

Marshall Land Systems specialises in the design, manufacture, integration and product support of defence vehicles and integrated shelters.  Plasan is a global provider of advanced light weight vehicle armour for the defence and security industries designed to maximise the survivability of the platform, its systems and vitally, the crew. The integrated, platform independent armour offers a high level of protection from a range of threats and significantly enhances platform and crew survivability.

Nov 12, 2012 ASDNews Source : BAE Systems PLC

    BAE Systems successfully converted its 300th F-4 Phantom fighter jet into an unmanned flying drone for the U.S. Air Force.

BAE Systems has successfully converted its 300th F-4 Phantom fighter jet into an unmanned flying drone for the U.S. Air Force. The achievement is a significant milestone in the 16-year-long QF-4 program, which provides full-scale, remotely controlled aerial targets that the Air Force uses for weapons testing and aircraft training.

The QF-4 work is conducted at BAE Systems’ 123,000-square-foot hangar in Mojave, California. Approximately 100 employees provide a range of services to transform decommissioned F-4s into QF-4s, a complex process that typically takes about six months. Depending on the condition of the F-4s, the services may include systems engineering and integration; electrical, mechanical, and software engineering; and various types of structural alterations.

“Our proven performance on this program exemplifies our global capabilities to upgrade and modify aircraft,” said Gordon Eldridge, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Solutions at BAE Systems. “We have been the sole provider of QF-4s for the Air Force since 1996. Congratulations to the entire Mojave team, which now has more than 35 years of combined experience and a solid track record of success.”

There are 14 more QF-4s scheduled for delivery by the middle of 2013. After each conversion is complete, the aircraft is flown to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and other training sites, where it is used primarily for target practice.

In addition to the QF-4 program, BAE Systems offers military customers around the world a range of services for aircraft upgrades and modifications, including for F-16 fighters and C-130 transports. These services include state-of-the-art avionics and electronics upgrades, as well as heavy maintenance support and structural modification programs. For example:

    BAE Systems is a leading systems integration provider of avionics upgrades for F-16s. In August, South Korea selected BAE Systems as the sole source contractor to upgrade its fleet of more 130 F-16s. Additionally, the company supports 270 of the U.S. Air National Guard’s upgraded F-16s and 50 of the Turkish Air Force’s upgraded F-16s. BAE Systems’ upgrade solution includes the Commercial Fire Control Computer, which is currently the highest throughput and most supportable mission computer in any F-16.

    BAE Systems also has a strong history of performance in support of C-130s. The company has designed, supported and completed more than 200 modifications to C-130 variants since the late 1990s. In 2011, BAE Systems was awarded a $23 million U.S. Air Force contract to design and test mission computers for 37 C-130 aircraft. Under that contract, the company is developing, qualifying and testing the new computers, integrating existing software and manufacturing the kits that the Air Force uses for final installation.