Dear Readers,
I hope that all of you who celebrated Easter had a happy and safe weekend, even though I suspect the majority of readers will have spent it at home.
Continuing with the story regarding the infection of the crew of the US aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, as of Sunday around 550 of the crew had been confirmed to have COVID-19. While it would be unfair to dwell on this single ship any longer, it is somewhat understandable that the US Navy did not want focus on the vulnerability of these large strategic assets. As it is at time of writing, cases have also been discovered on at least three other US Navy carriers – USS Ronald Reagan, USS Carl Vinson and USS Nimitz. The French Navy has also reported that its aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, also has at least 50 COVID-19 cases onboard.
However, should COVID-19 break out on any of the world’s ballistic missile submarines during their long duration patrols, the tasks of first recognising the virus for what it was, then isolating crew members to prevent it spreading throughout the vessel must be challenging all navies operating such strategic assets. There has already been one unconfirmed report that an Oscar II class guided missile submarine has been under quarantine in Russia since late March, although it had not been at sea.
DEFENCE AND COVID-19
DoD Industrialises N95 Mask Production
Statement attributed to Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 11 April the first DoD Defense Production Act Title 3 COVID-19 Project.
This sees the investment of $133 million to increase US domestic N95 mask production by over 39 million over the next 90 days. This is a trigger to engage long term industrial capacity in N95 mask production.
Lockheed Martin Makes Millions of Accelerated Payments Into Supply Chain
On 9 April, Marillyn Hewson, chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin issued a statement outlining how the company had been working with the US DoD “to identify ways to provide critical financial and other support to the most vulnerable elements of the US defense industrial base.”
Hewson stated that Lockheed Martin had “accelerated payments to our supply chain, and I am pleased to announce another $50 million this week bringing our total to $156 million.” She added that the company would likely “flow down over $450 million in accelerated payments to our supply chain partners who are critical to supporting our economy and national security.”
She also added that the company’s corporate jet fleet had been offered as an in-kind donation to the federal government’s COVID-19 relief efforts to “will provide air transport of government medical teams to the most critical, high-priority locations around the country.”
DONATIONS
Boeing Stepping Up 3D Face Shield Production
Boeing has been manufacturing reusable 3D-printed face shields to support healthcare professionals working to stop the spread of COVID-19. An initial batch of 2,300 face shields were delivered to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on 10 April.
Boeing is set to produce thousands of the face shields per week, gradually increasing production output to meet the growing US need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Face shield distribution will be coordinated with HHS and FEMA based on immediate needs. Boeing is producing face shields nation wide, from California to Mesa and Philadelphia.
Solvay, a long-time Boeing supplier, provided the clear film for the face shields. Another supplier, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, donated the elastic used for the adjustable headband.
EDITOR’S NOTE: (If your company is donating equipment or services to the military or government to help in the fight against COVID-19, let us know and we will publicise it here in the weekly briefing).
GENERAL NEWS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
China Sends Medical Aid to Russia
On 11 April, China dispatched medical experts and medical supplies including surgical masks, medical masks, N95 masks and medical protective clothing to Russia, according to to China’s Xinhuanet news.
The experts specialise in laboratory testing, prevention and control of infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, intensive care and traditional Chinese medicine and are from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in Heilongjiang Province, as well as from four local hospitals..
US GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Highlighting a selection of $100 million+ government awarded contracts awarded between 6-10 April. Unsurprisingly there are numerous contracts being awarded by the DoD in connection with fighting coronavirus.
10 April
Colonna’s Shipyard West; East Coast Repair and Fabrication; Epsilon Systems Solutions; Marine Group Boat Works; Pacific Ship Repair and Fabrication; Propulsion Controls Engineering; and South Coast Welding and Manufacturing, are awarded $116 million option modifications to provide non-complex emergent and continuous maintenance of surface combatant ships (guided missile destroyer and guided missile cruiser); and amphibious ships (dock landing ship, landing platform/dock, landing helicopter assault and landing helicopter dock) at their home port of, or visiting, San Diego, California. The work will be performed in San Diego, California.
Contitech has been awarded a $107 million contract for T-158 LL track shoe assembly for the Army. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency.
9 April
BTF Solutions; General Dynamics Information Technology; V W International; Walsh Healthcare Logistics; Martek Global Services; Red Cedar; and Strategic Initial Outfitting Transition were awarded $5 billion in modifications in support of the presidential national emergency declaration concerning the novel coronavirus disease. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. The contracting authority is the US Army Corps of Engineers.
8 April
Valiant Government Services; AECOM Technical Services; Global Engineering & Construction; Herman Construction Group; J & J Maintenance; M. A. Mortenson; Synergy Kirlin JV II; StructSure Projects; JJBrun JV; and Kirlin Builders were awarded $10 billion in modifications for a contract for construction, design and alteration of existing public facilities into temporary alternate care facilities. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order. Contracted through US Army Corps of Engineers.
Beacon Point Associates was awarded a maximum $600 million contract for hospital equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps through the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support.
7 April
CliniComp International was awarded a $429 million contract to provide operational support and sustainment for all existing clinical information system components currently in operation and support for decommission activities during the phased transition to Military Health System GENESIS, or otherwise discontinuing clinical information system operations (Decommission). Awarded by the Defense Health Agency.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $167,470,014, fixed-price-incentive-firm and firm-fixed-price contract for 48 long range anti-ship missiles and tooling and test equipment. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed April 6, 2023. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 Air Force missile procurement funds in the amount of $52,334,380; and fiscal 2019 Navy weapon procurement funds in the amount of $115,135,634 will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin, Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8682-20-C-0003).
6 April
BURS Federal Services International; DynCorp International; ECC International; Fluor Intercontinental; Kellogg Brown & Root Services; PAE-Perini; Readiness Management Support; and Vectrus Systems have received a combined $6,400 billion, multiple award contract for worldwide contingency and humanitarian support. This contract provides contingency planning, deploying and training/equipping of forces; emergency and contingency construction; logistics/commodities and services. The location of performance is determined at the task order level and includes various locations worldwide. The 772nd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.
NEW EVENT CANCELLATIONS
16-18 June – Association of Old Crows Europe, UK.
This will now be held at Exhibition Centre Liverpool on 16-18 November 2020. A statement read: “All exhibition bookings and visitor pre-registrations for the event will be transferred automatically to the new dates.”
14-16 September, VIDSE, Vietnam.
The organiser, Clarion Events has published the following statement: “The upcoming edition of VIDSE will now take place in 2021. We are working with our partners in Vietnam, the Vietnamese MOD and the venue in Hanoi with a view to confirming dates for VIDSE 2021 shortly.”
Keep safe and healthy everyone.
Andrew Drwiega
Editor-in-Chief
Armada International / Asian Military Review
