“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” – General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dear Readers,
The most effective Special Operations Forces (SOF) are trained to be specialists in intelligence gathering as much as they are in fighting aggressively when called to do so. Winning ‘hearts and minds’ is as relevant today as it was in the 1950s for the British in Malaysia and for Americans in the 1960s during the Vietnam War.
General Richard Clarke, Commanding General, USSOCOM spoke about “winning the war without conflict” during his keynote speech on Tuesday 18 May at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC). “The struggle for advantage among states below the level of armed conflict is ubiquitous aspect of international politics,” he said, adding that a major part of this was the battle for the cognitive space (bringing several processes together to formulate intent), adding that this was different from cyber.
During an earlier conference in April on Great Power Competition, Gen Clarke said that interaction with cyberspace generally revolves around three themes:
Security – especially data security around operations. It is a fuel for decision making with bad data likely to result in mission failure and the potential loss of lives. “Cyber security is especially important when operating with allies,” he added.
Access – adversaries are now looking to attack SOF data with increased sophistication, but that is a ‘two way street’ where adversaries can also be attacked. SOCOM has worked closely with cyber command.
Influence – psyops is playing a large role in influencing security and stability with adversaries strenuously wielding disinformation and misinformation. This was evident during the elections of several countries, including the US. “The fight against Islamic State provided one example of how disinformation online could spread regional violence,” said Gen Clarke.
“Information operations that transit cyberspace are not cyber operations. Cyber operations are those that have impact within cyberspace itself, such as the capture or destruction of data or the manipulation software or controlled access to networks. Information operations may transit the cyberspace and even use cyber tools to deliver the effect, but the effect is psychological. The target is the human mind and social behaviours,” Gen Clarke explained.
The internet has become a battlefield where almost everything is transparent, yet the truth can easily be obscured,” he said.
Among others, USSOCOM has partnered with the Algorithmic Warfare Task Force under Project Maven – which was initially set up to automate the processing, exploitation, and dissemination of massive amounts of full-motion video collected by intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets in operational areas around the globe.
Now, in a paper released by the Modern War Institute in 2020, it is now serving as a “springboard to prepare DoD as an institution for future wars—a transformation from a hardware-centric organisation to one in which AI and ML [machine learning] software provides timely, relevant mission-oriented data to enable intelligence-driven decisions at speed and scale.”
Best to all,
Editor
NATO RELIES ON FREE SOCIETY AND STANDARDISATION TO KEEP DRIVING INNOVATION
“Today the driver of innovation is the private sector, not governments,” said NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, speaking during NATO’s Defence Disrupted conference on Wednesday 19 May 2021.
“The implementation of a disruptive technologies roadmap is already approved and we are working towards a number of technologies that are most relevant to security and defence; AI, big data, bio-technology, quantum, space, human enhancement and hypersonic,” he stated. The North Atlantic Council is looking further ahead to the 2030-40 timeframe, with Geoană stressing the importance of “the triple helix” between government, industry and academia, in developing and adopting new technologies while avoiding interoperability gaps. “We still have a huge edge in freedom of information and innovation,” he added.
Geoană said that innovative start-ups and new ventures needed to be able to scale up, test and have access to trusted capital. “We have the power of standardisation – even our rivals are looking at the quality of what we do,” he said. “But sometimes capital ‘from not the best places’ is trying to capture what would be beneficial to our societies,” referring to financing from NATO rivals.”
In conclusion, Geoană said that NATO needed to retain its technological edge over its rivals, maintain transnational cooperation and allies need to find a way to maintain interoperability across the alliance.
US MAJOR ARMS SALES (Defence Security Cooperation Agency – DSCA).
19 May, 2021 – Greece, FMSO II, CLSSA Services
The State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Greece of FMSO II, CLSSA Services, and related equipment for an estimated cost of $165 million.
US GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Highlighting a selection of $100 million+ government awarded contracts awarded between 17-21 May 2021 and Foreign Military Sales contracts.
21 May
US NAVY
Insight Public Sector has been awarded a $2.5 billion blanket purchase agreement (BPA) under the Department of Defense Enterprise Software Initiative (DoD ESI). DoD ESI streamlines software licensing acquisition and provides information technology products that are compliant with DoD technical standards and represent the best value for the DoD. This DoD Enterprise Software Agreement (ESA) will provide commercially available perpetual licenses, software assurance, user-based subscription licenses to include Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, and client access licenses among others. The ESA will be used by DoD and the Coast Guard. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific is the contracting activity.
Fairbanks Morse, and MAN Diesel and Turbo are awarded a multiple-award, IDIQ contract with a shared ceiling of $170 million, for supplies and services in support of Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) diesel engines aboard the command’s fleet of ships. This award will provide parts and services from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for these diesel engines, and OEM authorised parts and service technicians in order to maintain the diesel engines aboard multiple classes of ships including MSC’s submarine tenders, hospital ships, dry cargo ammunition ships, fleet replenishment oilers, expeditionary mobile bases, expeditionary transfer docks, large, medium speed roll-on/roll-off ships and the Kocak class of roll-on/roll-off container ships. The Navy’s Military Sealift Command is the contracting activity.
ManTech Advanced Systems International is awarded a $26 million modification IDIQ contract to continue to provide warfare analysis, modelling and simulation, software development, architectures builds and assessments, acquisition analysis and support, and analytic program support in support of naval and joint warfighting capability assessment and warfighting analytic efforts for the Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Aviation Enterprise, Chief of Naval Operations, and Foreign Military Sales customers. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division is the contracting activity.
IDSC Holdings is awarded a $8.8 million IDIQ contract that procures up to a maximum of 1360 toolsets, each containing 1410 different types of commercial tools required to support the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Foreign Military Sales customers and non-Department of Defense participants. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division is the contracting activity.
US AIR FORCE
Howell Instruments has been awarded a $7.5 million IDIQ contract for the JetCal Analyzer BH112PA-77-3 test unit. Fiscal 2021-2025 aircraft procurement funds; and Foreign Military Sales funds are planned. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the contracting activity. (Awarded 26 April, 2021)
20 May
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Noble Sales, doing business as Noble Supply and Logistics; TWI USA; and SupplyCore, have each been awarded an IDIQ contract for facility maintenance, repair and operation supplies and related incidental services. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and NATO. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Europe and Africa.
US NAVY
Marinette Marine is awarded a $553 million modification contract to exercise options for detail design and construction of one Constellation-class guided-missile frigate, future USS Congress (FFG 63), and integrated digital environment support. The Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity.
US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
L3Harris Technologies received a maximum ordering limit increase modification of $438 million on an IDIQ contract for the Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures program. This modification raises the maximum ordering amount to $493 million and adds pricing for procurement of modules and parts. US Special Operations Command is the contracting activity.
US ARMY
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems; EnviroSafe Demil; and EXPAL USA, will compete for each order of the $110 million contract for the demilitarisation and disposal of conventional ammunition. US Army Contracting Command is the contracting activity.
19 May
US AIR FORCE
(Highest award of the day). BC Customs received a ceiling $70 million IDIQ contract for the Search and Rescue Tactical Vehicle (SKTV) – Side by Vehicle (SXV). This contract provides SKTV-SXV, training and accessories for special warfare. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the contracting activity.
US NAVY
TLD America is awarded a $11.2 million IDIQ contract that procures a maximum quantity of 21 Diesel/Electric Polyalphaolefin Cooling Carts in support of aircraft avionics and radar systems during testing and maintenance in support of the MQ-4C Triton program for Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers and international partners. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division is the contracting activity.
18 May
US NAVY
(Highest award of the day). A. Harold and Associates; BGI; Carley; and Crew Training International, are each awarded an IDIQ contract for an estimated aggregate ceiling of $90 million, with the companies having an opportunity to compete for individual orders in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division. These contracts provide for pilot and aircrew curriculum revision and maintenance support, including revision, update and maintenance of curriculum to ensure currency and accuracy of content in support of flight training, education and training services for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Additionally, these contracts provide for the development of new lessons for curriculum that results from major Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardisation and Operational Flight Program upgrades to naval aircraft type/model/series in support of fleet replacement squadrons, fleet readiness centers, fleet replacement detachments, and aircraft weapons and tactics schools. The Naval Air Warfare Centre Training Systems Division is the contracting activity.
US AIR FORCE
Northrop Grumman Systems has been awarded a not-to-exceed $75 million IDIQ contract for the Global Hawk RQ-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The contractor will provide multi-country aircrew and maintenance training consisting of program management support, courseware modification and development, pilot training, sensor operator training, and airframe and ground maintenance training to support the US government and Air Force Security Assistance Training international partners’ mission objectives. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds will be obligated at the time of task order award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center is the contracting activity.
Chenega Analytic Business Solutions has been awarded $8.8 million IDIQ contract for continental US (CONUS) international military student support services. This contract provides for lodging, transportation, and meal support services for international military students at various CONUS locations. Subsequent task orders will be in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) international military student training for various partner nations. FMS International Training Funds in the amount of $2,500 will be obligated at the time of award. The 338th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron is the contracting activity.
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
Lockheed Martin is being awarded a contract modification of $17.8 million to execute Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases: JA-P-CRV, JA-P-FYE, JA-P-QDC, JA-P-QEW, JA-P-LZW, JA-P-FYF and GY-P-GQK. This modification increases the dollar value of the contract from $493 million to $511 million, not inclusive of unexercised options. The modification supports the following efforts: pre-mission planning, execution, and post-mission analysis to support live fire events, flight test support, system engineering, integration and test, and technical support to produce and delivery modelling and simulation. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.
17 May
US AIR FORCE
AllCom Global Services; Computer Sites; Eaton; and MC Dean, have collectively been awarded an $875 million IDIQ contract for power conditioning and continuation interfacing equipment. This contract provides for the commercial design and purchase of uninterruptable power supplies for all federal entities. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has been awarded a $7.5 million modification contract for 137 Lots 4 and 5 Long-Range-Anti-Ship Missiles and tooling and test equipment. This modification provides for initial spares of production parts being produced under the basic contract for future repairs. Fiscal 2020 U.S. Navy (USN) weapon procurement funds in the amount of $76,087; fiscal 2021 USN weapon procurement funds in the amount of $5.2 million; fiscal 2020 US Air Force missile procurement funds in the amount of $384,435; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $1.8 million are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the contracting activity.
US NAVY
Lockheed Martin is awarded a $194 million contract modification that adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering, integration and testing of the aircraft interface module in support of ASQ-239 electronic warfare/countermeasures system upgrades planned for F-35 Lot 17 aircraft deliveries for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and non-Department of Defense participants. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.
EVENTS CONFIRMED
No new updates.
RESCHEDULED EVENT
No new updates.
There will be no Editor’s Bunker Briefing next week as I am taking a well earned vacation. It will return on Monday 7 June.
Best wishes,
Andrew Drwiega
Editor-in-Chief
Armada International / Asian Military Review
