Hot Lights

The Navy plans to invite foreign firms to bid on a contract to install lights -- capable of withstanding withering heat from the Joint Strike Fighter's jet engines -- on warship decks, Inside the Navy reports in this week's issue. In a recent Federal Business Opportunities notice, the Navy announced its interest in product data for commercially available heat-resistant lighting. Interested parties are to reply by July 15, according to the notice, which adds:

the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD), of Lakehurst NJ, ((...)) is seeking potential sources and no cost product information of commercially available, non-developmental Joint Strike Fighter exhaust heat resistant flight deck to be proposed under the Foreign Comparative Test (FCT) program for US Navy ships. NAWCAD intends to initiate a Foreign Comparative Testing Program for the Light fixtures and invite full and open competition.

See Dan Taylor's Inside the Navy story for more.