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NetFires LLC Successfully Completes Second Significant Program Milestone: Preliminary Design Review for NLOS-LS Container Launch Unit TUCSON, Ariz., -- The NetFires Limited Liability Company (LLC), composed of Raytheon Missile Systems and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, successfully passed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System (NLOS-LS) Container Launch Unit (CLU). This represents the accomplishment of another significant milestone in meeting the design and performance parameters of the NLOS-LS system, supporting the Army's FCS Spin Out 1 and the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship, Flight Zero requirements. The successful accomplishment of the CLU PDR provides the Army and Navy a "systems level perspective" of NLOS-LS, a joint Army/Navy program currently in the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase. Work under this contract began in 2004. The NLOS-LS CLU is being co-developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and their component suppliers. "The CLU PDR was completed on schedule and reflects a dedicated team effort," said Ric Magness of Lockheed Martin, president of the NetFires LLC, and Scott Speet of Raytheon, executive vice president of the NetFires LLC, in a joint statement. "Our team worked hard to meet this critical milestone, and the results reflect what we can accomplish when our two companies come together under the NetFires LLC." NLOS-LS, which was developed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program called NetFires, successfully conducted numerous flight tests from the CLU during the DARPA program. That program focused on innovative design and performance of missiles launched from a compact, networked, self-contained, platform-independent launcher. The demonstrated flight successes from the CLU during the DARPA program supported transition to the Army SDD and the decision by the Army to accelerate fielding of the NLOS- LS PAM (Precision Attack Missile) and CLU. "We're very pleased with the manner in which the NLOS-LS team worked to reach PDR," said Col. Doug Dever, the Army's NLOS-LS program manager. "They have demonstrated a preliminary design that meets all design and performance requirements for the Container Launch Unit." The NLOS-LS system consists of Raytheon's PAM, Lockheed Martin's Loitering Attack Missile (LAM) and a joint CLU. In 2004, the Army decided to accelerate the Raytheon PAM and joint CLU for incorporation into the Army's Evaluation Brigade Combat Team, Spin Out 1. The LAM is positioned for reentry into SDD to support future FCS spirals. The Navy entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Army in 2005 for the NLOS-LS system. The Navy has selected the NLOS-LS PAM and CLU for integration on the Littoral Combat Ship that also is scheduled for delivery in fiscal year 2008. Successful completion of the CLU PDR is a major step along the development path to support both services' requirements for the system. NLOS-LS provides both Army and Navy commanders with immediate, precise and responsive fires on high payoff targets with real time target acquisition and battle effects. Source: Raytheon Large-calibre contracts go to Rheinmetall ??“ Turkey and the Netherlands order ammunition worth EUR 79 million. Turkey and the Netherlands have recently awarded Rheinmetall AG of Dusseldorf contracts for large-calibre ammunition worth some EUR 79 million. In connection with the transfer to Turkey of 298 surplus Leopard 2 main battle tanks from the Bundeswehr inventory, Rheinmetall Defence received an order in December 2005 to supply Turkey with some 15,000 rounds of 120 mm KE ammunition (the DM 63, including practice ammunition). The order is worth around EUR 46 million. Delivery will take place during period July 2006 to June 2007. The DM 63 is a tungsten-based kinetic energy round whose new temperature-independent powder also makes it suitable for use in extreme climate zones without limitation. Coming hard on the heels of the decision of Germany's Bundeswehr ??“ an important Rheinmetall reference customer ??“ to buy the new round in summer 2005, the Turkish order represent an important export breakthrough. Potential customers include the roughly twenty nations whose tanks are equipped with 120 mm main armament technology from Rheinmetall. In the artillery domain, the Dutch Army's decision to procure Rheinmetall's newly developed Rh 40 DM 131 round also represents a major step forward: the Netherlands will be the first nation to field the new ammunition. Already qualified by the Bundeswehr, the Rh 40 DM 131 has a maximum range of over 40 km. Moreover, the use of insensitive explosives in this new 155 mm round clearly places it at the forefront of global artillery technology. Worth around EUR 33 million, the contract encompasses 10,000 artillery shells as well as 67,000 DM 92 modular propelling charges (MTLS), likewise qualified by the Bundeswehr. Delivery will take place through to the end of 2007. The Netherlands is buying this package of artillery rounds and propelling charges as part of its PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer procurement programme. These two orders underscore Rheinmetall's technological predominance in the world of large-calibre weapons and ammunition. Source: Rheinmetall AG U.S. Army and General Dynamics Ink Teaming Agreement Links Anniston Army Depot and defense industry for worldwide fleet management FT.LAUDERDALE, Fla. ??“ The U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC), Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems, Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) and General Dynamics Land Systems have signed an unprecedented teaming agreement on service and support of combat vehicles. The agreement teams General Dynamics and Anniston [Alabama] Army Depot, the Army??™s premier heavy maintenance facility, for support and service of the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks and Stryker eight-wheeled combat vehicles worldwide. ???Our overall strategy is to continuously improve the Abrams and Stryker fleets to ensure the warfighting readiness of our Soldiers while providing best value to the American people,??? said Maj. Gen. Mike Lenaers, TACOM LCMC commanding general. ???This joint strategy and integrated plan maintains core skills at both General Dynamics and Anniston Army Depot for continuous improvement and maintenance of both of these fleets.??? Details of the ???Integrated Plan??? for respective baseline work shares for the Abrams and Stryker fleets will be completed within sixty (60) days of the signing of the original Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). For the Abrams tanks fleet, all parties agree that as a strategy, it is contemplated that General Dynamics, as the producer and supporter, shall provide to TACOM and ANAD materials, parts and services required to support any associated remanufacture and restoration efforts. Additionally, General Dynamics, as the producer and supporter of the Stryker Family of Vehicles, and the other parties of this MOU, shall develop a procurement and management workshare plan to determine the materials, parts and services required to support all associated remanufacture and restoration efforts. Currently, there are other Public Private Partnering (P3) arrangements between General Dynamics and Anniston Army Depot that individually support the Abrams and Stryker programs. ???This new agreement, for the first time, will address all aspects of the manufacturing and overhaul programs and material handling for the two vehicle families by both the Army and General Dynamics,??? said Kevin Fahey, Program Executive Officer Ground Combat Systems. ???This agreement should ultimately result in the highest quality vehicle, at the lowest price, that builds upon the efficiencies of both parties.??? According to Colonel Alexander Raulerson, ANAD??™s commander, ???The signing of this MOU represents the continuing and long established partnerships between the depot and General Dynamics that ultimately provide the Soldier with the best possible equipment needed to carry out their assigned duties worldwide.??? "We are extremely excited about the potential of public and private partnerships in the defense sector,??? said Mark Roualet, Senior Vice President, General Dynamics Land Systems. "Previous experience with the Abrams tank has allowed us and the depot to better plan workload requirements, created a better business climate for investments to improve repair capability and improved management of parts obsolescence." Anniston Army Depot is the only Army depot capable of performing maintenance on both heavy and light-tracked combat vehicles and their components. Additionally, the depot is designated as the Center of Technical Excellence for the M1 Abrams tank fleet, and it is expected that such designation will soon be received for the Stryker. The depot, established in 1941, occupies more than 25 square miles and employs approximately 6,500 people (including tenant and contractor activities.) In addition to its combat vehicle capabilities, including their associated subassemblies and components, the depot also performs maintenance on individual and crew-served weapons as well as land combat missiles and small arms. The TACOM LCMC unites all of the Army organizations that focus on soldier and ground systems throughout the entire life cycle. The TACOM LCMC consists of the Integrated Logistics Support Center, the Acquisition Center, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support, Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems, and Program Executive Office Soldier. The TACOM LCMC gets products to the Soldier faster, makes good products even better and minimizes lifecycle cost by integrating Army acquisition, logistics and technology responsibilities, authorities, and processes to enable a closer relationship among all the partner organizations that develop, acquire and sustain the capabilities provided by ground and soldier systems. Source: General Dynamics |
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