Japan’s military plans to test the capabilities of Poway-built aircraft on a trial basis in the spring.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) announced on Feb. 27 that it will be part of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Trial Operation Project. The project will feature GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian.
GA-ASI did not disclose other terms of the deal, including financial terms.
SeaGuardian will be used to conduct various tests to review adaptability to support JMSDF’s manned-unmanned teaming missions and its level of manpower reduction. The Japanese government announced that Japan Coast Guard and JMSDF will be exchanging the data obtained by the MQ-9Bs operated for each of the government’s branches.
“We’re pleased to support the JMSDF’s trial operation with our SeaGuardian UAS,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “We know there is a need in Japan and worldwide for affordable long-endurance airborne surveillance in the maritime domain.”
GA-ASI announced last April that it would provide the MQ-9B SeaGuardian to the Japanese coast guard.
SeaGuardian features a multi-mode maritime surface-search radar with an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) imaging mode, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, and a High-Definition – Full-Motion Video sensor equipped with optical and infrared cameras. According to the company, this sensor suite enables real-time detection and identification of surface vessels over thousands of square nautical miles and provides automatic tracking of maritime targets and correlation of AIS transmitters with radar tracks.
R.A. Burch to Build at Fort Irwin
The U.S. Army awarded R. A. Burch Construction Co. Inc. of Ramona a $44.2 million firm-fixed-price contract to construct a simulations center. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed at Fort Irwin, California, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 6, 2025. Fiscal 2023 military construction, Army funds in the amount of $44.2 million were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Los Angeles awarded the contract, announced on Feb. 7.
Marines Tap RQ for Camp Pendleton Work
The Department of the Navy awarded Carlsbad-based RQ Construction LLC a $28.7 million firm-fixed-price task order under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract for a combat water survival training facility at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Work will be performed in Oceanside and is expected to be completed by October 2025. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $3.9 million and fiscal 2021 military construction funds in the amount of $24.8 million are being obligated and will expire at the end of fiscal 2025. Six proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest of San Diego awarded the contract, announced on Feb. 9.
Cubic to Build HERMes Prototype
The U.S. Air Force awarded Cubic Defense Applications Inc. of San Diego an $8.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Halo-Enabled Resilient Mesh software and hardware prototype. This contract provides for the investigation, design, development, testing and demonstration of the capabilities of the Halo-Enabled Resilient Mesh (HERMes) system. This contract also includes the expansion of the technical capabilities of the high-capacity backbone communication system, including the development of the hardware used for this system, increases to the range of operating frequencies, optimization to the code and algorithms used in the system, and researching alternative capabilities to expand the type and number of operational platforms. Work will be performed in San Diego and is expected to be complete by Feb. 3, 2025. The award was the result of a competitive acquisition; the Air Force received two offers. The Air Force Research Laboratory of Rome, New York, awarded the contract, announced on Feb. 2.
Encinitas JV in Line for Army Work
Scout-Cardno JV LLC, a small business joint venture based in Encinitas, will compete against two other joint ventures (MSMM Huitt-Zollars JV of New Orleans and OEI-AECOM JV of Carrollton, Texas) for each order of a $35 million firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineer services for the U.S. Army. Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 26, 2028. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of Fort Worth, Texas awarded the contract, announced on Jan. 27.
