Category Archives: Navy

Air Force, Contractors & Vendors, Lockheed Martin, Navy, Sensors, weapons systems

Hawker Beechcraft and Lockheed team on USAF light armed recon aircraft bid

The Air Force and Navy have both been investigating the idea of a return to propeller-driven aircraft for “irregular warfare” support — something that can provide both ISR for special forces on the ground with a long on-station time, and quick close air support when the need arises.  The Navy reportedly was looking at the Brazilian-made Super Tucano for that role (though the Super Tucano is not carrier-launch capable).

In July, the Air Force’s Air Combat Command issued a presolictation “capability request” for a Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft.  Now Hawker Beechcraft and Lockheed Martin have joined forces to put together a bid based on H/B’s T-6 Navy and Air Force trainer.

The AT-6, a hardened version of the T-6, is in prototype phase — a prototype successfully completed its first test flight on September 10.

From the release:Hawker Beechcraft Corporation

(HBC) and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] have teamed to compete for the opportunity to

provide a low-cost, low-risk solution to address U.S. Air Force (USAF) needs for a Light

Attack and Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft. The USAF is expected to launch an

acquisition program in fiscal year 2010.

HBC, based in Wichita, Kan., will be prime contractor and Lockheed Martin Systems

Integration in Owego, NY, will be the mission systems integrator for the Beechcraft AT-6

LAAR aircraft. The AT-6 will be a product of the combined heritage and expertise of the

two companies, leveraging the existing worldwide fleet of Hawker Beechcraft T-6 aircraft

that recently passed the one million flying hour milestone, with the proven missions

systems integration expertise of Lockheed Martin.


Related links:

Hawker Beechcraft | Military/Trainer

Lockheed/Hawker joint release

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General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Navy

There can be only one–Navy to “downselect” to single LCS builder

After running on two parallel tracks with the Littoral Combat Ship, the Navy’s new combatant ship designed for near-shore and shallow-water operations, the Navy announced today that it was cancelling further purchases on the existing contract structure with General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin and would pick one winner for the construction of 10 more ships between 2010 and 2014. The Navy had cancelled procurement of up to 3 ships in 2010 due to budget constraints.

One ship is already commissioned (LCS 1), and a second (LCS2) is currently in sea trials.  LCS 3 and 4 are already under construction by GD and Lockheed.

MILWAUKEE (Nov. 8, 2008) The crew of the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) mans the rails during her commissioning ceremony at Veterans Park in Milwaukee, Wis. Freedom is the first of two littoral combat ships designed to operate in shallow water environments to counter threats in coastal regions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katherine Boeder/Released)

The move is, simply, aimed at lowering the cost by making it an all-or-nothing bidding war. One design will be chosen for an FY 2010 purchase — the winner will be required to deliver a a “technical package” including designs and specs, so that there can be a competitive bid for a second source for the ships in FY 2012. “The winner of the down select will be awarded a contract for up to 10 ships from fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2014, and also provide combat systems for up to five additional ships provided by a second source”, the announcement said.

“This change to increase competition is required so we can build the LCS at an affordable price,” said Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy.  “LCS is vital to our Navy’s future.  It must succeed.”

“Both ships meet our operational requirements and we need LCS now to meet the warfighters’ needs,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations.  “Down selecting now will improve affordability and will allow us to build LCS at a realistic cost and not compromise critical warfighting capabilities.”

Lockheed’s team, managed by Fred Moosally (full disclosure – my former commanding officer), delivered LCS-1, christened USS Freedom , built at Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin.

080428-N-3625R-002 General Dynamics teamed with Austal USA, a division of the Australian shipbuilder famous for its catamaran-hull longhaul ferries, to build the radically different trimaran LCS-2 USS Independence at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.


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