DTRA’s Counter-WMD R&DE: $220M to ARA

The US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has a central role in addressing the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Their Research and Development Enterprise [PDF] is especially wide-ranging, covering everything from protective gear, to predictive and decision-support algorithms, to ScanEagle UAV variants that can monitor WMD levels, to co-operative non-proliferation programs, to development of new weapons like the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. Some of this work has even led to commercial spinoffs, vid. Sanofi Pasteur’s acquisition of VaxDesign and its DARPA/DTRA-financed MIMC model: an in vitro tool capable of predicting human immune response to specific bio-threat agents.

The USA’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program

Latest updates[?]: 5-6 year, $950M contract.

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Through the Co-operative Threat Reduction program, the Department of Defense provides equipment, services, and technical advice to Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine to assist them in eliminating (or in the case of Russia, reducing) the weapons of mass destruction remaining from the Soviet era, and preventing proliferation. That means dismantling the associated infrastructure, or transforming portions of it to engage in peaceful civilian activities.

The U.S. objectives in the CTR program as established by Congress are to cooperate with the Newly Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union to:

Up to $600M to TASC to Support DTRA WMD Program

“Go Ahead, Make My Day”

The US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has undertaken an R&D effort to provide an integrated approach to combating weapons of mass destruction (WMD) known as the Research and Development Enterprise [PDF]. Their efforts are aimed at improving situational awareness about the WMD threat, controlling WMD materials and systems worldwide, reducing the threat to US troops, protecting the homeland, transforming the US nuclear deterrent, and controlling the threat of loose nuclear weapons in the world.

As part of this effort, DTRA awarded a contract April 18/11 worth up to $600 million to TASC in Chantilly, VA to provide advisory services to the agency’s effort in this area…

Rapid Fire: 2010-04-15

• US heavily reliant on China for supply of rare earth metals used in high-tech weapons such as radar, night vision devices, and smart bombs, GAO warns. GAO report [pdf] | Bloomberg | TechNewsDaily

• Foreign Policy magazine: “Time Is Of the Essence” to secure nuclear fissile materials around the world from terrorists. Meanwhile, Tehran’s own conference on nuclear proliferation isn’t reassuring many people.

• Fresh out of structural concerns, USAF F-15Cs with new APG-82 AESA radars will now shoulder 50% of the “air dominance” burden, to compensate for the F-22A’s production shutdown.

• US SOCOM cancels FBO solicitation for the Combatant Craft Medium Mk 1, which was supposed to replace naval special warfare’s Rigid Inflatable Boats.

• First 2 Romanian C-27J Spartan light transport aircraft land in Bucharest

• US governors, US reps send letter to Pentagon, USAF chiefs opposing USAF plan to take C-130 transport aircraft from the Air National Guard and Reserves to replace aging aircraft. Governors’ and US reps letters to Gates [pdf] | US reps letter to AF secretary [pdf] | Government Executive

• NSA Director Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, who appears Thursday for a Senate confirmation hearing as the first head of the Pentagon new Cyber Command, wants overhaul of laws to unshackle US ability to conduct cyber warfare. New York Times | Associated Press | Washington Post

• Pacific shifts: ITT opening offices in Canberra, Australia and New Delhi, India.

• Rolls-Royce completes first 33t Kamewa Adjustable Bolted Propeller and MT30 gas turbine tests for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.

Rapid Fire 2010-02-12: France’s DGA 2009 Program Wrap-up

• Feb 10: RF notes Tory shadow minister’s comment that Britain must be capable of acting unilaterally. Today: read Liam Fox’s full speech to the RUSI re: Britain’s coming defense review and challenges.

• Hollywood scriptwriters are preparing scenarios for the Cyber Shockwave exercise on Feb 16/10 involving top US government officials. The event is sponsored by industry and will be covered by CNN.

• France’s DGA procurement agency offers 2009 summary [ in French], says average program delays will be slightly longer.

• VCCT simulators improve convoy training, give US and allied forces an OODA loop advantage.

• Pros and Cons of Stryker wheeled APCs in Afghanistan. The Canadians know this debate well.

• Pentagon set to create a project office to manage “non standard” helicopter buys for allies – like Mi-17s for Iraq and Afghanistan.

• First flight of revamped German CH-53GA helicopter at Donauworth.

• Northrop Grumman delivers 1st AN/ZPY-1 STARlite radars for the Army’s Warrior ER/MP UAS under a $78.5 million contract.

• Northrop Grumman clarifies its SPQ-9B radar contract.

• General Dynamics awards an $18 million contract to Northrop Grumman to produce LRS-2000 rate sensor assemblies for US Army’s M1A1 Abrams tank.

• SAIC to develop integrated crew member simulators for the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters under the US Army’s $17.5 billion STOC II contract vehicle.

• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne hot-fire tests RS-68A upgraded engine for Delta IV rocket.

• VTOL UAV funding from… the State of Maryland.

• Iranian president warns Israel against pre-emptive attack.

• Japan and South Korea are demanding that North Korea return to talks to end its nuclear weapons program.

• Ike’s copy of Germany’s WW II surrender document up for sale – just $2.95 million.

BAE Systems to Support US Air Force Nuclear Treaty Monitoring

Can’t do that anymore
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BAE Systems received a contract worth up to $20 million to support the US Air Force global monitoring for nuclear treaty compliance. The company will provide engineering, research, and program management services for the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida.

AFTAC operates and maintains a global network of nuclear explosion detection sensors called the US Atomic Energy Detection System (USAEDS). Once the USAEDS senses a disturbance underground, underwater, in the atmosphere or in space, the event is analyzed for nuclear identification and findings are reported to national command authorities through USAF headquarters.

AFTAC monitors compliance with the following nuclear testing treaties:

$6.1M from DTRA to CSC-SS for ICPP vs. WMD

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency at Fort Belvoir, VA leads US Department of Defense efforts to stop the global spread, transfer, and usage of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

Recently, they issued a $6.1 million contract to Dyncorp’s CSC Systems & Solutions, Inc. subsidiary in Alexandria, VA, to support the “International Counter Proliferation Program.” Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, VA, and is expected to be complete by Aug 27/08. One bid was solicited on Jan 2/08, and 1 bid was received (DTRA01-02-D-0064).

USA Sanctions 9 Firms Under Iran Nonproliferation Act

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Arms and Strategic Technology Investigations (ASTI) division is responsible for investigating illegal exports of military products and sensitive technologies. ICE are not alone, however, nor are they the only lever available to the USA.

On December 27, 2005, the US State Department declared that it was imposing sanctions on 9 companies (6 in China, 2 in India, and 1 in Austria) on the basis of credible information that the companies had transferred equipment or technology in violation of the Iran Nonproliferation Act (Public Law 106-178). A citation means that companies have sold materials to Iran that are included in international export control lists, or can be used in the production of missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The sanctioned firms are:

N-G Wins $375M Contract to Help Address WMD Threats

Northrop Grumman IT has been awarded a indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract with a potential value of approximately $375 million over four years, in order to provide a range of scientific and technical advisory and assistance services to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA, also known by some as Nunn-Lugar) that will support DTRA’s mission to reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

$6M for Particle Detection Analysis to Verify Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Schaefer Corp. in Chelmsford, MA received a $6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for particle analysis services and non-personal services for the processing and analyzing of particle samples. These services will be used in support of the United States Atomic Energy Detection System for nuclear test ban treaty verification, on behalf of the Air Force Technical Applications Center. Work will be performed at Schafer Vallecitos Laboratory in Sunol, CA. Solicitations began in June 2005 and one proposal was received. Negotiations were completed in August 2005, and work will be complete by September 2006. The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (FA2521-05-C-8009)