NASA seeks contractor to provide launch imagery due to budget reductions

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center issued a Request for Information (RFI) document last month for the purpose of seeking sources and soliciting information from private industry on obtaining launch ascent imagery “as a service on an as-needed basis” for the agency’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Program vehicle launches.

The agency said in the RFI, “Reductions in program budgets and a reduced launch manifest have driven the EGS Communications Office to request information for a possible procurement of launch ascent imagery as a service.”

With a general cadence of one launch per year, the goal would be to obtain this capability from commercial entities that are able to provide a viable service, NASA said.

The agency made clear the RFI is for information and planning purposes only and to allow the industry the opportunity to verify the reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. “This RFI is used solely for information planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.”

The Launch Ascent Imagery contract service will potentially replace the currently utilized mobile Kineto Tracking Mounts/Ascent Imagery Systems.  “We are seeking to modernize the capability to capture optical imagery of launches, provide high-resolution imagery of local flight test events and offer situational awareness to launch personnel,” NASA said in the RFI.

Services provided under the contract would include:

Long-Range Tracked Imagery: acquire and deliver launch imagery from a site that is located between five and 40 miles away from the launch pad. Imagery acquisition timeframe for Long Range Tracked Imagery is typically from T-0 (or acquisition of vehicle) through loss of sight but must include imagery of Solid Rocket Booster separation.

Flexible: mobilization of launch ascent imagery systems within no less than 24 hours prior to the mission launch.

Remotely operable: launch ascent imagery that will allow remote operations control of optical tracking systems.

Multi-spectral imaging support: systems that deliver high-speed visual imagery, infrared imagery, and multi-focal length imagery.

Multi-tracking: optical tracking systems that will generate test data on several targets simultaneously from multiple deployed locations.

Short-Range Tracked Imagery: acquire and deliver launch imagery from approximately 1,200 feet from the launch vehicle. Imagery acquisition equipment is usually located inside the Pad B perimeter fence and typically acquires first motion to loss of view. The imagery acquisition timeframe for Short Range Tracked Imagery is typically from T-10 seconds through loss of sight.  Due to the proximity to Pad B, any imagery acquisition equipment must be remotely operated.

Medium-Range Tracked Imagery: acquire and deliver launch imagery from a site that is located approximately five miles from the launch pad. The imagery acquisition timeframe for Medium-Range Tracked Imagery is typically from T-0 through loss of sight. The medium-range sites may or may not be in the Blast Danger or Flight Caution Areas which will potentially limit personnel access.

The Launch Abort System (LAS) Tracked Imagery: unique in that an activation of the LAS can happen at any moment after the system is armed.  Upon activation, the separation will occur at a high rate of speed.

NASA invited companies interested in providing the service to submit a response to the RFI by April 28.

Rocket launch from Virginia will test new technologies

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia plans to launch a sounding rocket for the Suborbital Technology Experiment Carrier (SubTEC-9) mission on April 24. The mission will test several new technologies under development by the Sounding Rockets Program Office.

The launch window for the mission is 7:15-8:15 p.m. EDT.

Since the first SubTEC launch in 2005, the SubTEC missions have provided an opportunity for the sounding rocket team to test and demonstrate new or improved technologies prior to their use on science missions.

The SubTEC-9 mission will be launched from Wallops on a two-stage Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket. The rocket will primarily test a new star tracker and a faster telemetry link.

A high-data-rate C-band telemetry link will transmit data from the rocket to the ground in real-time, monitoring the rocket's performance and tracking its progress. The technology will enable data speeds four times higher than currently provided.

SubTEC is also testing a new smaller star tracker which is a sensor used in attitude control systems to align and target objects in space. Some of the other experiments being tested include 3D-printed electronics circuits, ethernet-based components, a low-cost gyro, a new antenna, and a new high-density battery.

SubTEC-9 is expected to reach an altitude of about 108 miles (174 kilometers) before descending by parachute into the Atlantic Ocean to be recovered. The launch may be visible in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Army meets with industry to review unmanned aircraft portfolio

The U.S. Army will meet with defense contractors later this month to review the current and future plans for the service’s unmanned aircraft systems.

“The Project Manager for U.S. Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PM UAS) extends an invitation for industry to attend a PM UAS Portfolio Review on April 25,” the Army said in a Special Notice document released Wednesday.

The meeting will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

“The review will provide industry a holistic overview of the Project and Product Office’s current and future plans. Following the review, attendees are invited to engage with the Project Manager, the Deputy Project Manager, the Project Office Staff, and each Product Manager, or to schedule a time on the morning of April 26 for meetings.”

Companies interested in attending the meeting should contact the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Aviation, Project Office Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

Air Force releases RFI to repair ‘battled damaged’ F-15SA fighter

The U.S. Air Force is conducting market research to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the qualifications to repair a “battled damaged F-15SA aircraft for the Royal Saudi Air Force.”

Robins Air Force Base in Georgia announced the work in a Request For Information (RFI) released Thursday, although the actual document is dated Jan. 26, 2021.

The Royal Saudi Air Forces received their final F-15SA fighter in December 2020. Produced by Boeing, 84 F-15SA fighters were delivered as part of a $29 billion foreign military sales agreement signed in 2010.

“The government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the repair data, expertise, capabilities, facilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to repair the aircraft,” the Air Force said in the RFI. The aircraft requires “replacement of the Aft Fuselage and reinstallation of the wing and tail assemblies.”

The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined, the Air Force said. “The government does not own or have access to the data for these items. The government has determined that this system is a proprietary item.

“The contractor will be responsible for furnishing all material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, and services.” The aircraft must be restored to a full mission-capable flyable condition.

F-15QA

In August 2021, Boeing, in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), celebrated the naming and rollout of Qatar’s advanced F-15 jet fighter, the F-15QA.

Boeing plans to establish and operate an aircrew and maintenance training center for the QEAF at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar through 2024 while also providing in-country spares and logistics support once aircraft are delivered.

BAE Systems awarded contract for Lot 17 F-35 electronic warfare systems

BAE Systems has received $491 million in contracts from Lockheed Martin to produce Block 4 electronic warfare (EW) systems for future Lot 17 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, adding to the 1,200 F-35 EW systems it has delivered to date.

 “The Block 4 EW system will offer greater situational awareness, enhanced survivability and increased capabilities to counter modern threats, and is upgradable to address evolving threats,” said Lisa Aucoin, vice president of F-35 Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our adaptable EW system will help warfighters execute missions today and into the future, and will reduce engineering and sustainment costs for the U.S. Department of Defense and its allies.”

The Block 4 EW systems will include significantly upgraded hardware and software that improves sensing and signal-processing capabilities. New, high-performance sensors will boost the system’s ability to detect difficult-to-observe threats and more threats simultaneously.

“Our modern facilities allow us to manufacture complex, intricate electronics at scale to deliver an affordable EW capability,” said Chris Rossi, director of F-35 production at BAE Systems. “The flexibility of our active production line will allow us to seamlessly transition to the Block 4 design without skipping a beat.”

The AN/ASQ-239 provides F-35s with fully integrated offensive and defense EW capabilities, including long-range threat warning, self-protection, and targeting support. It provides 360-degree, full-spectrum situational awareness and rapid-response capabilities—allowing the F-35 to evade, engage, counter, and jam threats, and reach well-defended targets.

The AN/ASQ-239 system is designed and manufactured at BAE Systems’ facilities in Manchester and Nashua, N.H. Meanwhile, flight testing of a new advanced EW system for the F-35 continues under a program known as Project Heisenberg.

EW Upgrade Flight Testing

Last month, the program office for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter said it was ready to award BAE Systems a sole-source contract to conduct phase 3 flight trials of an advanced future electronic warfare and countermeasures suite known as AN/ASQ-239A.

Lot 18 order

In September, the F-35 program office announced they intend to solicit and negotiate multiple contract actions with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, Texas, for the development of additional F-35 Lightning II jets in their lot 18 order.

The proposed contract actions will provide for a total of 115 aircraft in lot 18 (75 F-35As, 25 F-35Bs and 15 F-35Cs).

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Air Force invites contractors to Little Rock Air Force Base for Industry Day meeting

The Air Force 19th Contracting Squadron will host a Vendor Industry Day next month to review their requirements for logistics, aircraft maintenance, emergency management, civil engineering, and base security.

“The intent of this Vendor Industry Day event is to invite vendors/contractors to share their capabilities with the Air Force to provide new capabilities or better fulfill anticipated requirements,” the Air Force said in a Special Notice contract document released recently. “This is an opportunity for industry to propose new and innovative solutions to the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base. The areas of interest are logistics/warehouse modernization, aircraft/maintenance operations, emergency management, civil engineering solutions, and base security. However additional ideas for innovation are welcome.”

The meeting will be held on April 24 at the Walter’s Community Center on Little Rock AFB, Ark.

“This is solely a 19th Airlift Wing effort, however the tenant units on Little Rock AFB are welcome to attend as well,” contract officials said in questions from interested companies. “The tenant units that could be in attendance are 314th Airlift Wing, 913th Reserve Airlift Group, and 189th Air National Guard Airlift Wing.”