The Insider

X-37B Gets Fourth Mission
By Courtney Albon
April 24, 2015 at 3:21 PM

The Air Force plans to launch its fourth X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission next month.

The service announced April 24 that the highly classified experimental vehicle will launch in May and will test several new experiments developed by the Air Force and its partners. One of those technologies is an experimental propulsion system developed jointly by the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Space and Missile Systems Center, and NASA.

The experimental, reusable spacecraft is designed to be boosted into space, perform its mission, and then re-enter Earth's atmosphere and landing as a spaceplane. The X-37B'x third mission ended in October after 674 days on orbit.

Sole-Source IT
By James Drew
April 24, 2015 at 3:14 PM

The Air Force's use of sole-source information technology contracts was properly justified in the 58 cases reviewed by the Pentagon's inspector general, even though 20 of those files did not contain all of the documents required to comply with certain federal acquisition regulations because contracting staff were not properly trained.

In a report published April 24, the DOD IG considered whether Air Force IT contracts issues without competition were properly justified, and 58 contracts surveyed with a combined value of $154.3 million generally held up under scrutiny, despite 20 of those not fully complying with statutory regulations.

"Air Force contracting personnel stated they did not meet the FAR requirements because of a lack of training," the report states.

The Air Force agreed with the DOD IG's recommendation that the service train contracting workers better or issue a memorandum on the matter. A memorandum will be issued by next month, the service said in its formal response to the report.

BAE To Review I&S Unit
By Marjorie Censer
April 24, 2015 at 11:04 AM

BAE Systems said today it has hired external advisers to assess the U.S.-based manpower and services businesses of its U.S. intelligence and security sector.

These businesses, according to a company statement, "have generated external interest and a number of inquiries."

"This assessment does not include the technology/product-focused geospatial intelligence business of I&S, or the Company's cyber security and intelligence business, BAE Systems Applied intelligence," the contractor added. "There can be no certainty that any transaction will occur."

Harris Confirms 'Second Request'
By Marjorie Censer
April 23, 2015 at 5:58 PM

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission today, Harris said it has received a "second request" from the Justice Department for additional information and documents related to its proposed deal to purchase Exelis.

"Although this 'second request' extends the waiting period under the [Hart-Scott-Rodino] Act, Harris continues to expect the Merger to close in June 2015, subject to customary closing conditions," the company said.

AFA Names Spencer President
By Marjorie Censer
April 22, 2015 at 2:22 PM

Gen. Larry Spencer, the outgoing Air Force vice chief of staff, has been tapped as the next president of the Air Force Association, the organization announced today.

Spencer will take over the 93,000-member association, which was previously headed by retired Gen. Craig McKinley, now president of the National Defense Industrial Association, later this year.

New Air Force Vice Chief
By James Drew
April 22, 2015 at 1:40 PM

Lt. Gen. David Goldfein has been tapped to become the next Air Force vice chief of staff, a position currently held by Gen. Larry Spencer.

The former F-117 Nighthawk pilot has served as director of the Joint Staff since 2013, and has been appoint to the rank of general by the president, according to an April 22 Defense Department announcement. Spencer, who is retiring, took the vice chief position in 2012.

Other nominations include Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, who would replace Gen. Robin Rand as head of Air Education and Training Command. Rand was confirmed by the Senate in March to take charge of Air Force Global Strike Command.

In a third announcement, Maj. Gen. Timothy Ray has been picked to replace Gen. Frank Gorenc as commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Ray is currently the director of global power programs within the Air Force's acquisition office.

Reporting For Duty
By Sebastian Sprenger
April 21, 2015 at 3:36 PM

Former U.S. Africa Command chief retired Gen. Carter Ham and Thomas Lamont, a former Army assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, will be the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Commission on the Future of the U.S. Army, the Defense Department has announced.

The two will lead a panel requested by Congress to carry out a "comprehensive study on the organizational structure" of the ground service, a DOD statement reads.

Some lawmakers have placed their last hope in the commission to intervene with the Army's so-called aviation restructure initiative, though the newly formed panel has yet to take a position on the reform plans. The group owes a report to lawmakers by early 2016.

Beside Ham and Lamont, also serving on the commission are retired Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler, retired Gen. Larry Ellis, former Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale, Kathleen Hicks of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, former Army Reserve chief retired Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, and retired Gen. J. D. Thurman, who previously commanded U.S. Forces Korea.

Schoomaker Joints Global Guardian Board
By Marjorie Censer
April 21, 2015 at 3:32 PM

Global Guardian, an international security firm, said today that retired Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the former Army chief of staff, has joined its advisory board.

Global Guardian specializes in security services, personnel tracking, emergency response and evacuation services as well as medical support and transportation.

Schoomaker served as Army chief of staff from 2003 to 2007.

HII, Kinder Morgan Won't Pursue JV
By Marjorie Censer
April 20, 2015 at 10:49 AM

Huntington Ingalls Industries said today it has completed discussions with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners about redeveloping the contractor's closed Avondale shipyard in Louisiana, and the two have decided not to move forward with a joint venture.

Huntington Ingalls "will continue to assess all alternatives for future use of the facility, to include selling the property," the company added.

Tanker Candidates
By Courtney Albon
April 15, 2015 at 9:43 AM

The Air Force announced this week the four bases that are in the running to host the Air Force Reserve's first KC-46 Pegasus squadron as soon as fiscal year 2019.

Those four bases are: Tinker Air Force Base, OK; Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC; Westover Air Reserve Base, MA; and Grissom ARB, IN.

The service announced in an April 15 press release that it will work with each of the candidate bases over the next few months to conduct site surveys to assure that they can meet operational requirements and that their existing infrastructure can handle the additional mission. The service also will develop bed-down cost estimates for each base, and expects to make a decision this summer.

The Air Force has already identified McConnell Air Force Base, KS, as the first active-duty KC-46 operating base and Pease AFB, NH, as the first Air National Guard main operating base. Altus AFB, OK, will host the first Pegasus formal training unit.

Australia Buys Two C-17s
By James Drew
April 13, 2015 at 11:00 AM

As Boeing ends production of its C-17 Globemaster III in Long Beach, CA, Australia has announced the purchase of two more of the heavy-lift aircraft.

In an April 10 press statement, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the aircraft purchase, along with investments in associated equipment and facilities, totals $1 billion in new defense spending.

The Royal Australian Air Force owns six C-17s, and those aircraft have been supporting coalition operations in Iraq and responded to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in Ukraine last year.

About $300 million will be spent upgrading facilities at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, including the installation of a maintenance hangar and more tarmac surface to support heavy aircraft including the C-17 and Australia's KC-30 aerial refueling tanker, according to the press statement.

Boeing spokeswoman Tiffany Pitts said Australia introduced the C-17 in 2006.

"The C-17 remains unmatched in its ability to transport troops and heavy cargo, support airdrops and aeromedical evacuations, and land and takeoff in remote airfields," Pitts said in an April 9 email.

The C-17 entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1993 and today the service has more than 200 in its strategic airlift fleet.

Boeing's C-17 production plant is due to close this summer. Australia's two new aircraft have already been assembled.

Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy
By John Liang
April 10, 2015 at 6:51 PM

Last month, Inside the Army reported on a study the service had submitted to Congress that found very few of the companies who form the tactical wheeled vehicle industrial base qualify as "critical" suppliers in the Army's view:

While Army investments are not expected to increase because the service is downsizing, officials will try to keep one major tactical vehicle in production at all times to help sustain supply lines, according to the report to Congress, titled "Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy." The document was received by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 29 and reviewed by Inside the Army.

The tactical wheeled vehicle industrial base consists of 11 prime contractors and three Army depots, with three of those prime companies responsible for 90 percent of anticipated future production, according to the report. "Subcontractors to our primes are not completely reliant on the defense TWV fleet for viability, however there are some sub-tier contractors that should be managed closely due to reliance on military unique components such as armor," the report states.

We now have a copy of that report:

Army's 2014 Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy

Tanker Tests
By Courtney Albon
April 9, 2015 at 3:50 PM

A new KC-46 Pegasus schedule reflects a significantly reduced testing slate for the Boeing-built tanker and estimates the total acquisition cost will drop by nearly $3 billion as a result, according to an April 9 Government Accountability Office report.

Engineering problems have led to early flight delays for the KC-46, pushing first flight from last January to early this summer.

The report states the new plan calls for significantly less testing prior to a production decision targeted for this October -- the test slate shrinks from 13 months to just three -- and will focus on demonstrating design maturity.

GAO notes that Boeing remains at risk of not meeting the October deadline.

Big Bomb Notice
By James Drew
April 9, 2015 at 3:37 PM

The Air Force is looking for a contractor to sustain its largest conventional bomb, the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator produced by Boeing to destroy weapons of mass destruction located in fortified bunkers.

On April 7, the service's hard target munitions office published a sources-sought notice for contractors to maintain the bomb for up to five years.

Interested parties must be capable of providing personnel support "within 24-hours notification of weapon operational use," and have at least two years of experience conducting similar work.

MOP was built in small quantities, and it has been upgraded several times to "hold at risk" emerging target sets. Two more rounds of modification are planned.

The bomb is carried on the stealthy B-2 Spirit bomber and has been dropped from a B-52 Stratofortress.

Responses to the notice are due May 7.

Raytheon Completes Expansion
By Marjorie Censer
April 8, 2015 at 11:48 AM

Raytheon said today it has completed a 20,000-square-foot addition to its factory in Forest, MS, meant to accommodate expected growth in airborne radar and electronic warfare systems.

The contractor said the facility is part of a common test platform the company is deploying for its electronic warfare systems, and plans to add positions to keep up with orders for its Active Electronically Scanned Array fighter jet radars and Sentinel air defense radars.