NGC Set To Move To Full-Rate Production E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes: The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a $617 million contract for five full-rate production Lot 1 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
"Moving from low-rate production into full-rate production is a significant milestone for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program," said Bart LaGrone, vice president, E-2/C-2 programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "We look forward to manufacturing and delivering a mature and effective airborne early warning, battle management, command and control system."
"Attaining E-2D full-rate production is the culmination of years of hard work," said Capt. John S. Lemmon, program manager, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231).
"The E-2D team continues to work together with one vision and goal - deliver a solid product to the fleet."
On Aug. 3, 2007, the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye took to the skies over St. Augustine, Fla. Since then, Northrop Grumman has delivered 10 new production E-2Ds to the U.S. Navy, on cost and on schedule.
An additional 10 aircraft are in various stages of manufacturing and predelivery flight testing at the company's St. Augustine Aircraft Integration Center. Initial operational capability with the Navy remains on track for 2015.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
NGC Completes Common Infrared Countermeasure PDR
NGC Completes Common Infrared Countermeasure PDR
Northrop Grumman has achieved another major milestone in developing equipment to defend helicopters against man-portable air defense systems and other heat-seeking munitions. With the completion of the Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) Preliminary Design Review (PDR) July 25, Northrop Grumman presented the U.S. Army with a system design that surpasses the program's weight and electrical power requirements and represents the next generation of aircraft survivability systems. The PDR marked the final design review of the program's technology development phase, providing the Army with the necessary data to move into the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Northrop Grumman completed the PDR on schedule based on requirements established at contract award.
Northrop Grumman has achieved another major milestone in developing equipment to defend helicopters against man-portable air defense systems and other heat-seeking munitions. With the completion of the Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) Preliminary Design Review (PDR) July 25, Northrop Grumman presented the U.S. Army with a system design that surpasses the program's weight and electrical power requirements and represents the next generation of aircraft survivability systems. The PDR marked the final design review of the program's technology development phase, providing the Army with the necessary data to move into the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Northrop Grumman completed the PDR on schedule based on requirements established at contract award.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
U.S. Navy and Israel Kick Off Exercise Reliant Mermaid
U.S. Navy and Israel Kick Off Exercise Reliant Mermaid
The U.S. Navy is participating in Exercise Reliant Mermaid in the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 12-15.
Reliant Mermaid, now in its 12th iteration, is a maritime search and rescue exercise designed to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies, as well as promoting friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.
The exercise is also designed to promote maritime safety and security in the region.
U.S. 6th Fleet units scheduled to participate in the exercise are guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195), along with maritime forces from Israel.
This regularly scheduled exercise is not related to any real-world events.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.
The U.S. Navy is participating in Exercise Reliant Mermaid in the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 12-15.
Reliant Mermaid, now in its 12th iteration, is a maritime search and rescue exercise designed to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies, as well as promoting friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.
The exercise is also designed to promote maritime safety and security in the region.
U.S. 6th Fleet units scheduled to participate in the exercise are guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195), along with maritime forces from Israel.
This regularly scheduled exercise is not related to any real-world events.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Fiber Optics Maintenance on Submarines Just Got Easier
The Navy's submarine force has a new, patent-pending tool allowing it to maintain its fiber optic systems like never before - a new capability powered by an invention from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division, its top officer announced Aug. 8.
The innovation lets the Navy compare fiber optic power test meters throughout their entire range of output against a known standard, allowing the fleet to perform reliable and accurate measurements in-house, without outsourcing, reducing costs while increasing capability for the maritime service.
Commanding Officer Capt. Eric Ver Hage praised the delivery, lauding the new instrument as a measurement science milestone that the 21st century military will rely on for years to come.
"Our R&D team has been working hard to develop this fiber optic calibration standard," Ver Hage said. "Seeing it delivered to the submarine fleet is an awesome example of what warfare centers do for Navy programs to drive down costs while keeping our fighting forces at the forefront of technology."
Ver Hage added this is yet another achievement that strengthens the Navy's intellectual property holdings that adds long-term value to the taxpayer.
The latest Patent Power Scorecard published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ranks the Navy's patent portfolio best in the world amongst all other government agencies, a distinction fueled by people across the Navy's Science and Engineering Enterprise.
And the patent-pending advancement comes as the modern fleet operates more and more frequently through fiber optics streaming at the speed of light.
All new Navy ships and submarines are outfitted with fiber optic backbones to handle their complex networks because older copper-wire networks can't handle the throughput of today's sophisticated military hardware.
Lance Doddridge, the NSWC Corona physicist and electrical engineer who invented the calibration system, called the Linearity Calibration Standard (LCS) 8513 - understands its value for the warfighter.
"Fiber optics connect everything from weapons systems, control centers, and radar, to a ship's last line of defense," Doddridge said. "Every piece of test equipment, by [Department of Defense] mandate, has to be calibrated using standards that are traceable to a national standard."
Correctly calibrated equipment helps ensure military hardware functions properly, accurately and safely, ranging from a ship's propulsion plant to an F/A-18 Hornet's laser target designators to night vision goggles.
And accuracy is vital, especially for the submarine community.
In developing the new standard, NSWC Corona collaborated with its sister division, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, R.I., to determine its equipment needs. Until the new system arrived, the undersea warfare center had outsourced its fiber optic calibration responsibilities.
"Without the ability to perform these tests in-house, these sensitive items would have to be shipped to various pre-approved and accredited vendors throughout the country, resulting in additional contracting expense and subjecting [the equipment] to delays and possible damage in shipping," said Mark Medeiros, NUWC Newport's calibration laboratory team lead.
In addition to LCS8513, Doddridge has created another calibration standard, called ADFOCS - the Attenuation and Distance Fiber Optic Calibration Standard, which NUWC Newport now has to complement the linearity standard. He fabricated and assembled the instrument by hand, even using 3D printing to save costs and weight when possible.
It compares commercial, off-the-shelf fiber optic test equipment for accuracy against more accurate standards that are traceable to national standards - which flow from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to the Navy Gage and Standards Lab at NSWC Corona, the Navy and Marine Corps' designated technical agent for measurement science and calibration.
Medeiros says these new standards will vastly improve NUWC Newport's ability to address the rising demand for fiber optic systems calibration.
"Having the ability to support these measurements in-house saves an enormous amount of money and time," Medeiros said. "It enables us to provide quick, reliable, on-time service to meet deployment schedules and support internal programs."
Headquartered in Norco, Calif., NSWC Corona is part of the Navy's Science and Engineering Enterprise and leads the Navy in independent assessment, measurement and calibration standards and range systems engineering. As a Naval Sea Systems (NAVSEA) Command field activity, the command employs approximately 2,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and support personnel and includes a detachment in Seal Beach, Calif.
NSWC Corona has received patents in seven areas of innovation for its automated MetBench Calibration Management System (MCMS), which distributes and maintains calibration and test equipment data for Navy ships, seamlessly synchronizing all data for users all around the world. It won the Department of the Navy's Chief Information Officer's Information Management/Information Technology Excellence Award in 2011.
The innovation lets the Navy compare fiber optic power test meters throughout their entire range of output against a known standard, allowing the fleet to perform reliable and accurate measurements in-house, without outsourcing, reducing costs while increasing capability for the maritime service.
Commanding Officer Capt. Eric Ver Hage praised the delivery, lauding the new instrument as a measurement science milestone that the 21st century military will rely on for years to come.
"Our R&D team has been working hard to develop this fiber optic calibration standard," Ver Hage said. "Seeing it delivered to the submarine fleet is an awesome example of what warfare centers do for Navy programs to drive down costs while keeping our fighting forces at the forefront of technology."
Ver Hage added this is yet another achievement that strengthens the Navy's intellectual property holdings that adds long-term value to the taxpayer.
The latest Patent Power Scorecard published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ranks the Navy's patent portfolio best in the world amongst all other government agencies, a distinction fueled by people across the Navy's Science and Engineering Enterprise.
And the patent-pending advancement comes as the modern fleet operates more and more frequently through fiber optics streaming at the speed of light.
All new Navy ships and submarines are outfitted with fiber optic backbones to handle their complex networks because older copper-wire networks can't handle the throughput of today's sophisticated military hardware.
Lance Doddridge, the NSWC Corona physicist and electrical engineer who invented the calibration system, called the Linearity Calibration Standard (LCS) 8513 - understands its value for the warfighter.
"Fiber optics connect everything from weapons systems, control centers, and radar, to a ship's last line of defense," Doddridge said. "Every piece of test equipment, by [Department of Defense] mandate, has to be calibrated using standards that are traceable to a national standard."
Correctly calibrated equipment helps ensure military hardware functions properly, accurately and safely, ranging from a ship's propulsion plant to an F/A-18 Hornet's laser target designators to night vision goggles.
And accuracy is vital, especially for the submarine community.
In developing the new standard, NSWC Corona collaborated with its sister division, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, R.I., to determine its equipment needs. Until the new system arrived, the undersea warfare center had outsourced its fiber optic calibration responsibilities.
"Without the ability to perform these tests in-house, these sensitive items would have to be shipped to various pre-approved and accredited vendors throughout the country, resulting in additional contracting expense and subjecting [the equipment] to delays and possible damage in shipping," said Mark Medeiros, NUWC Newport's calibration laboratory team lead.
In addition to LCS8513, Doddridge has created another calibration standard, called ADFOCS - the Attenuation and Distance Fiber Optic Calibration Standard, which NUWC Newport now has to complement the linearity standard. He fabricated and assembled the instrument by hand, even using 3D printing to save costs and weight when possible.
It compares commercial, off-the-shelf fiber optic test equipment for accuracy against more accurate standards that are traceable to national standards - which flow from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to the Navy Gage and Standards Lab at NSWC Corona, the Navy and Marine Corps' designated technical agent for measurement science and calibration.
Medeiros says these new standards will vastly improve NUWC Newport's ability to address the rising demand for fiber optic systems calibration.
"Having the ability to support these measurements in-house saves an enormous amount of money and time," Medeiros said. "It enables us to provide quick, reliable, on-time service to meet deployment schedules and support internal programs."
Headquartered in Norco, Calif., NSWC Corona is part of the Navy's Science and Engineering Enterprise and leads the Navy in independent assessment, measurement and calibration standards and range systems engineering. As a Naval Sea Systems (NAVSEA) Command field activity, the command employs approximately 2,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and support personnel and includes a detachment in Seal Beach, Calif.
NSWC Corona has received patents in seven areas of innovation for its automated MetBench Calibration Management System (MCMS), which distributes and maintains calibration and test equipment data for Navy ships, seamlessly synchronizing all data for users all around the world. It won the Department of the Navy's Chief Information Officer's Information Management/Information Technology Excellence Award in 2011.
NAVY Researchers Demonstrate Malaria Vaccine
Researchers from the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) partnered with other federal and industry partners to publish the results of a successful clinical trial of a new malaria vaccine Aug. 8.
NMRC researchers played a key role in the design of the study, particularly in testing the efficacy of the vaccine by exposure to infectious mosquitoes and in the volunteer follow-up.
"The work done by researchers at the Naval Medical Research Center and their colleagues represents a big step forward for malaria vaccine research," said Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, Navy Surgeon General and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. "Navy Medicine researchers began working on this vaccine in the early 1970's with unwavering commitment. Their efforts have been instrumental to this study."
This is the first time that 100 percent protective efficacy has been achieved in any clinical trial testing a candidate malaria vaccine.
"Our NMRC researchers are dedicated to conducting medical research to enhance deployment readiness of DoD personnel worldwide and to protect our warfighters in harm's way," said Nathan.
The vaccine used in this clinical trial was given at varied doses by intravenous injection to 40 volunteers from October 2011 to October 2012.
Three weeks after the final immunization, volunteers were exposed to the bites of five mosquitoes carrying infectious Plasmodium falciparum malaria. At the highest vaccine dose, six of nine volunteers receiving four doses and six of six volunteers receiving five doses were protected against malaria infection.
"This is a historical moment in malaria vaccine research development," said Capt. Judith E. Epstein, the NMRC lead investigator on this trial. "For the first time, we and our collaborators have a malaria vaccine approach which has demonstrated the high-level vaccine efficacy required to protect our troops. As the leader of the NMRC effort to bring this vaccine strategy to licensure, I see the U.S. Navy paving the way to a vaccine which can be used within the next three to four years for military personnel and for the millions of individuals suffering and dying from malaria worldwide."
Malaria has had a significant impact on U.S. military operations throughout history. It was responsible for a greater loss of manpower than enemy fire in all conflicts occurring in tropical regions during the 20th century.
Malaria continues to present a major challenge to force health protection during operations in any environment where malaria is endemic. This includes over 100 countries spanning the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including most of sub-Saharan Africa and larger regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, central Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
"We need an effective vaccine against malaria, which has been a constant threat to military personnel," said Nathan. "Our naval forces may be deployed on short notice to regions where malaria presents a leading infectious disease threat to mission success. In our military population, malaria infection can severely degrade performance, result in missed duty, may require prolonged hospitalization and, in some cases, result in death. The news that NMRC researchers have participated in the first trial which demonstrates 100 percent protective efficacy of a candidate vaccine for malaria brings new hope that a malaria vaccine may become available for military personnel deployed abroad. I look forward to the next developments in this ground-breaking research."
NMRC collaborated with federal researchers from the Vaccine Research Center Clinical Trials Core at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center and the Walter Reed Army Institute (WRAIR) of Research and the vaccine developer, Sanaria, Inc., Rockville, Md. NMRC participated in the development the protocol, provided malaria microscopists and slide-reading assistance, performed cellular assays, and assisted with the care of volunteers during the impatient post-challenge stay.
NMRC researchers played a key role in the design of the study, particularly in testing the efficacy of the vaccine by exposure to infectious mosquitoes and in the volunteer follow-up.
"The work done by researchers at the Naval Medical Research Center and their colleagues represents a big step forward for malaria vaccine research," said Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, Navy Surgeon General and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. "Navy Medicine researchers began working on this vaccine in the early 1970's with unwavering commitment. Their efforts have been instrumental to this study."
This is the first time that 100 percent protective efficacy has been achieved in any clinical trial testing a candidate malaria vaccine.
"Our NMRC researchers are dedicated to conducting medical research to enhance deployment readiness of DoD personnel worldwide and to protect our warfighters in harm's way," said Nathan.
The vaccine used in this clinical trial was given at varied doses by intravenous injection to 40 volunteers from October 2011 to October 2012.
Three weeks after the final immunization, volunteers were exposed to the bites of five mosquitoes carrying infectious Plasmodium falciparum malaria. At the highest vaccine dose, six of nine volunteers receiving four doses and six of six volunteers receiving five doses were protected against malaria infection.
"This is a historical moment in malaria vaccine research development," said Capt. Judith E. Epstein, the NMRC lead investigator on this trial. "For the first time, we and our collaborators have a malaria vaccine approach which has demonstrated the high-level vaccine efficacy required to protect our troops. As the leader of the NMRC effort to bring this vaccine strategy to licensure, I see the U.S. Navy paving the way to a vaccine which can be used within the next three to four years for military personnel and for the millions of individuals suffering and dying from malaria worldwide."
Malaria has had a significant impact on U.S. military operations throughout history. It was responsible for a greater loss of manpower than enemy fire in all conflicts occurring in tropical regions during the 20th century.
Malaria continues to present a major challenge to force health protection during operations in any environment where malaria is endemic. This includes over 100 countries spanning the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including most of sub-Saharan Africa and larger regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, central Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
"We need an effective vaccine against malaria, which has been a constant threat to military personnel," said Nathan. "Our naval forces may be deployed on short notice to regions where malaria presents a leading infectious disease threat to mission success. In our military population, malaria infection can severely degrade performance, result in missed duty, may require prolonged hospitalization and, in some cases, result in death. The news that NMRC researchers have participated in the first trial which demonstrates 100 percent protective efficacy of a candidate vaccine for malaria brings new hope that a malaria vaccine may become available for military personnel deployed abroad. I look forward to the next developments in this ground-breaking research."
NMRC collaborated with federal researchers from the Vaccine Research Center Clinical Trials Core at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center and the Walter Reed Army Institute (WRAIR) of Research and the vaccine developer, Sanaria, Inc., Rockville, Md. NMRC participated in the development the protocol, provided malaria microscopists and slide-reading assistance, performed cellular assays, and assisted with the care of volunteers during the impatient post-challenge stay.
Boeing and US Navy Demo New Targeting and Data Systems on EA-18G
Boeing and US Navy Demo New Targeting and Data Systems on EA-18G: The U.S. Navy recently flew Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft with sensor system upgrades and its newest data network, demonstrating how the enhanced technologies would allow aircrews to locate threats more quickly and accurately.
Ultimately, the secure, high-speed network will allow aircrews to share targeting data in real time. The technology will be incorporated into deployed Growler electronic attack aircraft in 2018, sooner than all Navy aircraft other than the E-2D Hawkeye surveillance airplane.
"These enhancements provide a significantly faster, more accurate and adaptable targeting solution for the Navy and allied forces," said Capt. Frank Morley, U.S. Navy F/A-18 and EA-18G program manager. "The result is a more capable EA-18G that is better able to control the EA spectrum."
The demonstration occurred July 15-19 during the Navy's fleet experimentation campaign at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.
Integrating the technology onto the Growler involved a series of upgrades that provide "an affordable, low-risk approach to adding capability that allows us to deliver advanced technologies to the fleet more quickly," said Mike Gibbons, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs vice president.
The upgrades are planned to be retrofitted into existing Growlers and included as a standard offering for future new aircraft sales.
Ultimately, the secure, high-speed network will allow aircrews to share targeting data in real time. The technology will be incorporated into deployed Growler electronic attack aircraft in 2018, sooner than all Navy aircraft other than the E-2D Hawkeye surveillance airplane.
"These enhancements provide a significantly faster, more accurate and adaptable targeting solution for the Navy and allied forces," said Capt. Frank Morley, U.S. Navy F/A-18 and EA-18G program manager. "The result is a more capable EA-18G that is better able to control the EA spectrum."
The demonstration occurred July 15-19 during the Navy's fleet experimentation campaign at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.
Integrating the technology onto the Growler involved a series of upgrades that provide "an affordable, low-risk approach to adding capability that allows us to deliver advanced technologies to the fleet more quickly," said Mike Gibbons, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs vice president.
The upgrades are planned to be retrofitted into existing Growlers and included as a standard offering for future new aircraft sales.
US Army and USAF intercept cruise missile for first time with JLENS-guided AMRAAM
US Army and USAF intercept cruise missile for first time with JLENS-guided AMRAAM
The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force intercepted for the first time an anti-ship cruise missile surrogate using Raytheon's Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) cued by JLENS. An affordable, elevated, persistent over-the-horizon sensor system, JLENS uses a powerful integrated radar system to detect, track and target a variety of threats. "Integrating JLENS' precision detection and targeting information with the combat-proven AMRAAM gives our military a new way to defend the fleet and our allies from anti-ship cruise missiles that threaten vital waterways and critical chokepoints," said Dave Gulla, vice president of Global Integrated Sensors for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. During the July 17 test, the Army's JLENS acquired and tracked an anti-ship cruise missile surrogate and passed targeting data to an Air Force F-15E via Link 16, enabling the fighter pilot to fire an AIM-120C7 AMRAAM, culminating in the weapon intercepting the target, meeting all test objectives. "JLENS has proven it can defend and extend the battlespace by integrating with Patriot, Standard Missile-6, and now AMRAAM," said Dean Barten, the U.S. Army's JLENS product manager. "This test enhances the cruise missile defense umbrella, and when this capability is deployed, it will help save lives." "Integrating AMRAAM with JLENS enables the world's most capable air-to-air missile to engage targets at the weapon's maximum kinematic range," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems. "This test further demonstrates AMRAAM's operational flexibility and provides today's warfighter with enhanced operational capability, cost effectiveness and future growth solutions."
The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force intercepted for the first time an anti-ship cruise missile surrogate using Raytheon's Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) cued by JLENS. An affordable, elevated, persistent over-the-horizon sensor system, JLENS uses a powerful integrated radar system to detect, track and target a variety of threats. "Integrating JLENS' precision detection and targeting information with the combat-proven AMRAAM gives our military a new way to defend the fleet and our allies from anti-ship cruise missiles that threaten vital waterways and critical chokepoints," said Dave Gulla, vice president of Global Integrated Sensors for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. During the July 17 test, the Army's JLENS acquired and tracked an anti-ship cruise missile surrogate and passed targeting data to an Air Force F-15E via Link 16, enabling the fighter pilot to fire an AIM-120C7 AMRAAM, culminating in the weapon intercepting the target, meeting all test objectives. "JLENS has proven it can defend and extend the battlespace by integrating with Patriot, Standard Missile-6, and now AMRAAM," said Dean Barten, the U.S. Army's JLENS product manager. "This test enhances the cruise missile defense umbrella, and when this capability is deployed, it will help save lives." "Integrating AMRAAM with JLENS enables the world's most capable air-to-air missile to engage targets at the weapon's maximum kinematic range," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems. "This test further demonstrates AMRAAM's operational flexibility and provides today's warfighter with enhanced operational capability, cost effectiveness and future growth solutions."
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