Babcock Canada awarded contract to replace HF Monitor Receiver systems

BabcockCanada Inc. announced Tuesday that it has been awarded a $1.6 million contract for the replacement of High Frequency (HF) Monitor Receiver Systems at select Department of National Defence (DND) facilities.

The work to be performed consists of the replacement of legacy HF Monitor Receiver systems at six DND stations and two support facilities across Canada. These receiver systems are in place to guard and monitor various key HF frequencies that are used for aircraft radio communications, namely in support of search and rescue operations, arctic patrol and global transport flights. In addition to equipment modernization, Babcock Canada will also deliver associated console operator and technician training for the new systems. The contract is scheduled to be completed by July 31, 2016.

Babcock has over 70 years of experience in managing communications systems, specializing in delivering high frequency military communication solutions for international armed forces and NATO. Babcock's innovative technical solutions are at the forefront of new technology across the radio frequency spectrum, from very low frequency to super high frequency.

Video: NASA Langley Director, 'Get out of people's way'

Dave Bowles took over as NASA Langley Research Center Director in March. He recently sat down for a chat that touched on everything from his background to his leadership style.

India orders 22 Apache and 15 Chinook helicopters

The India Ministry of Defence has finalized its order with Boeing for production, training and support of Apache and Chinook helicopters that will greatly enhance India's capabilities across a range of military and humanitarian missions.

India will receive 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Both are the newest models of those aircraft.

"Large sections of the Chinook fuselage are already manufactured in India and discussions are ongoing with our Indian partners to make Apache parts,” said Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India.

The AH-64E Apache, the most modern variant also flown by the U. S. Army, features enhanced performance, joint digital operability, improved survivability and cognitive decision aiding.

The CH-47F Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter operated by the U.S. Army and 18 other defense forces.

India is the 14^th nation to select the Apache and the 19^th nation to select the Chinook.

Xtronaut: The game of solar system exploration

A University of Arizona professor has combined his expertise in space mission planning and technology with his passion for strategy gaming to create Xtronaut: The Game of Solar System Exploration.
 
The Xtronaut game, developed by Professor Dante Lauretta, captures the various challenges and excitement of planning a space mission. Lauretta co-founded Xtronaut Enterprises with space entrepreneur Michael Lyon to increase awareness of NASA's asteroid sample return mission named OSIRIS-REx.

In 2011, NASA selected the asteroid sample return mission, OSIRIS-REx – a $1 billion mission to send a robotic spacecraft to an asteroid named "Bennu", collect a sample of the asteroid, and return to Earth. Unfortunately, the education outreach budget for OSIRIS-REx was eliminated in 2013. In response, mission leader Dante Lauretta and space entrepreneur Michael Lyon founded Xtronaut Enterprises to develop innovative activities associated with space exploration.

Xtronaut gives two to four players ages seven and up the chance to develop space missions and explore the solar system. The game is based on real planetary missions and rocket science. It also contains elements of politics and strategy that are inspired by the real-life situations that space missions face. The game has been tested with players that range from elementary school students to graduate students in planetary sciences and mission scientists.

Modern Technology Solutions awarded Air Force ISR contract

Modern Technology Solutions Inc. (MTSI), Alexandria, Va., has been awarded a $25 million Small Business Innovation Research III sole-source contract for the Rapid Intelligence Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Technology Integration Program effort.

MTSI will extend the sensor resource management system developed in Phase I for the Missile Defense Agency and apply it to the integration of air, ground and space sensor systems and their associated platforms to provide ISR data products.

The work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.; and Alexandria, Va., and is expected to be complete by Sept. 17, 2019.

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, managed the contract award.

F-35 mid-range cruise missile contract signed

Lockheed Martin and Turkish company Roketsan signed a contract to cooperatively develop the SOM-J missile for integration into the F-35 internal weapons bay. SOM-J is a new generation air-to-surface standoff cruise missile.

The contract enables the companies to move forward with their Technical Assistance Agreement, making the SOM-J missile available to international customers. SOM-J integration into the F-35 is scheduled for Block 4. Early live flight testing will be conducted on Turkish F-16s.

"SOM-J integration on the F-35 will enable pilots to engage targets from long ranges while maintaining the aircraft's critical stealth capabilities," said Frank St. John, vice president at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

SOM missile development began in 2006 and entered service with the Turkish Air Force in 2011. SOM-J is a smaller version of the subsonic SOM missile, which employs a 500-pound warhead and has a required range of more than 100 nautical miles. The SOM-J missile uses Global Positioning System as its primary guidance and is aided by inertial, terrain-referenced and image-based navigation systems, as well as an imaging infrared seeker.

In August, the F-35 Joint Program Office announced plans to issue a contract to Lockheed Martin to deliver a report which determines the design impacts of a proposed change on the overall F-35 weapon system, to include Mission Planning, Training and Reprogramming capabilities.

NASA awards AWD Management Services $73 million contract

NASA has awarded AWD Management Services, Inc., of Lawrenceville, Ga., a five-year contract to provide administrative and secretarial support services at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. The contract is titled JSC Administrative Support Services II (JASS II).

The contract is valued at $73 million, with a period of performance from Nov. 1, through May 31, 2020.

Work under the contract will be performed at Johnson Space Center, the Sonny Carter Training Facility, Ellington Field, White Sands Test Facility near Las Cruces, N.M., and other NASA operating locations.