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Air Force Prepares for HH-60W Helicopter Defense System Tests
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Air Force Prepares for HH-60W Helicopter Defense System Tests
Air Force Prepares for HH-60W Helicopter Defense System Tests

The U.S. Air Force's 413th Flight Test Squadron has hoisted a Sikorsky-built combat rescue aircraft within an anechoic chamber at a Joint Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronic Systems facility in Florida in preparation for an upcoming defense systems test.

The facility is built to isolate electromagnetic radiation and secure high-quality data on the HH-60W helicopter's defensive platforms, the Air Force said Wednesday.

The tests are intended to validate the helicopter's combat capabilities and observe the systems' performance prior to electronic warfare testing. J-PRIMES will use the recorded data to capture any potential aircraft issues and support specification compliance.

The HH-60W aircraft will work to perform personnel recovery and search-and-rescue operations in support of military services. Sikorsky has started low-initial rate production efforts for the aircraft following a Milestone C decision by USAF in September 2019.

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DHS, TSA to Hold Aviation Security Tech Industry Day
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DHS, TSA to Hold Aviation Security Tech Industry Day
DHS, TSA to Hold Aviation Security Tech Industry Day

The Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration will host an industry day on Feb. 12 to collaborate with industry and discuss a request for information on self-screening platforms for aircraft passengers.

A notice on the Beta SAM website posted Monday says DHS eyes to explore research and development efforts that will reinforce aviation security and optimize the passengers' experience. Additionally, TSA and DHS envision a tool that will provide users with on-person alarm information and self-resolution capabilities for the repositioning of items.

The event will allow stakeholders to validate and showcase approaches that may bolster security capacities and promote independent functions for passengers. Interested vendors may register for the event until Jan. 24 and are also eligible to respond to the RFI through Feb. 21.

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DHS S&T Offers Platform to Help Communities Measure Disaster Response Readiness
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DHS S&T Offers Platform to Help Communities Measure Disaster Response Readiness
DHS S&T Offers Platform to Help Communities Measure Disaster Response Readiness

The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate is promoting a guidance platform designed to boost a community's resilience against disasters.

The ResponderCQ website works to help communities determine their readiness to address disaster-related risks and disruptions, DHS S&T said Tuesday.

The director partnered with disaster response firm SPIN Global in 2016 to develop ResponderCQ. The partnership also established an assessment framework and fostered a global community of practice to evaluate disaster resiliency.

ResponderCQ provides government organizations with an assessment of crisis information management and supports multi-national collaboration. The platform's guidance builds on a capability maturity model provided by DHS and collaborative efforts between the department and international parties.

Communities from both public and private centers across the globe use ResponderCQ to address disaster response readiness.

“This evidence-based approach provides a necessary link between academic, operational and technical stakeholders, and provides a roadmap for continued research and development,” said Reggie Ferreira, who oversees Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy.

Army, FDA Look to Apply Additive Manufacturing for Medical Logistics
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Army, FDA Look to Apply Additive Manufacturing for Medical Logistics
Army, FDA Look to Apply Additive Manufacturing for Medical Logistics

The Army Medical Logistics Command and the Food and Drug Administration conducted a workshop at Fort Detrick in Maryland aimed at identifying the potential benefits of additive manufacturing in delivering medical equipment to the field.

The Army said Tuesday the workshop included discussions with representatives from the Defense Health Agency, Air Force and Army Materiel Command on policies, regulations and challenges in implementing 3D printing for equipment manufacturing and repair operations. According to the service branch, the Army Medical Materiel Agency began pilot efforts on additive manufacturing in 2015.

"The Advanced Manufacturing Directive demonstrates the Army's commitment to getting this right, so we're positioned for multi-domain operations and large-scale combat operations," said Jack Rosarius, director of USAMMA’s Medical Maintenance Management Directorate. "The medical maintenance community is excited about expanding the ways we can support patient care downrange."

FDA noted that medical firms have begun using 3D printing for devices that are personalized or impossible to produce. The agency is working to establish regulations to mitigate risks associated with the process.

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Defense Health Agency Makes New Office for Electronic Health Record Adoption
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Defense Health Agency Makes New Office for Electronic Health Record Adoption

Defense Health Agency Makes New Office for Electronic Health Record Adoption

The Defense Health Agency has created a new office to support the enterprise-wide implementation of a new electronic health record.

The newly established Office of the Chief Health Informatics Officer will work with health information technologists, testers and health care providers for the adoption of MHS Genesis, the Military Health System said Wednesday.

MHS Genesis combines medical and dental into one EHR. The Department of Defense aims to fully implement the new health record across all DoD medical facilities by 2024.

DHA is now preparing for a deployment wave scheduled for next fall. The agency began to deploy MHS Genesis in 2017.

“We’ve been building the capability of the Office of Chief Health Informatics Officer to help us manage the record more in real-time and deal with these problems, [and] help build the content configuration necessary to improve the record,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Payne of the U.S. Air Force.

Payne concurrently serves as the MHS EHR functional champion and DHA’s assistant director.

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Experts Cite Need for Tighter Federal Cyberspace Regulations
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Experts Cite Need for Tighter Federal Cyberspace Regulations

Experts Cite Need for Tighter Federal Cyberspace Regulations

Academic and public sector experts are calling for expanded authorities and stricter regulations from federal agencies on public use of cyberspace and social media, Nextgov reported Wednesday.

Tristan Harris, executive director of the Center for Humane Technology, said at a House hearing that existing agencies who “already have purview” need to expand their jurisdiction on technological platforms and the digital environment. He cited agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission as entities that can use such authorities for audits and other relevant actions.

Harvard University’s Joan Donovan and the University of Nebraska’s Justin Hurwitz told the House Energy and Commerce Consumer Protection Subcommittee that the FTC can leverage its authorities to combat disinformation and fraudulent activities in the virtual space.

“If we already have an agency that has power, let’s see what it’s capable of,” Hurwitz said.

According to Monika Bickert, vice president of global policy management at Facebook, the social media platform has taken steps to combat “deepfakes” or media manipulated by artificial intelligence and take down fake accounts.

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Air Force Eyes Ethical Hacking Procedures for Satellites, Components; Will Roper Comments
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Air Force Eyes Ethical Hacking Procedures for Satellites, Components; Will Roper Comments
Will Roper
Will Roper

The U.S. Air Force plans to launch a bug bounty competition as part of its “Hack the Air Force” program to fortify the security of its satellites and supply chain, Federal News Network reported Wednesday. 

The service branch wants to select teams for its “Hack-a-Sat” competition focused on infiltrating a military satellite at next year’s DEFCON hacking conference in Las Vegas. Last year, the Air Force provided ethical hackers with access to a data transmission system for F-15 aircraft and ground-based platforms.

Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics and 2019 Wash100 Award winner, said during an Atlantic Council event that the service needs to shift its focus on protecting aircraft components and other parts manufactured at the supply chain level. He also wants to eventually test technologies through ethical hacking procedures before they are installed into an operational system.

“My hope is that we can bring the ethical hacker community into our design process, that we can do bug bounties when we’re designing things and building prototypes, and that people can make a living just hacking Air Force systems before they go to production,” he noted.

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Norfolk Island Telecom Awards Speedcast, Blue Arcus $3M to Modernize Network; Erwan Emilian, Alistair Innes-Walker Quoted
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Norfolk Island Telecom Awards Speedcast, Blue Arcus $3M to Modernize Network; Erwan Emilian, Alistair Innes-Walker Quoted
Norfolk Island Telecom Awards Speedcast, Blue Arcus $3M to Modernize Network; Erwan Emilian, Alistair Innes-Walker Quoted

Speedcast has received a $3 million contract to collaborate with Blue Arcus Technologies and provide Australia’s Norfolk Island Telecom with a modernized network infrastructure, Speedcast announced on Thursday.

"Our customers' data requirements are growing significantly and to ensure business continuity it is critical that we deliver faster, reliable internet connections and advanced mobile services at a competitive price," said Alistair Innes-Walker, manager of Commercial Services at Norfolk Island Regional Council.

Speedcast will provide 4G LTE network infrastructure and satellite backhaul solutions, allowing Norfolk Island Telecom to deliver faster broadband speeds as well as enhanced mobile services. 

Blue Arcus will utilize it’s turnkey network solutions. In addition, the companies will install the associated support systems with these technologies, and a Public Switched  Telephone Network (PSTN).

“Thanks to the partnership between Blue Arcus Technologies and Speedcast, two companies with extensive 4G LTE network deployment experience, we are confident we will complete this project in record time and deliver an industry-leading service to Norfolk Island Telecom customers,” said Erwan Emilian, executive vice president of Enterprise and Emerging Markets at Speedcast. 

About Speedcast International Limited

Speedcast is uniquely positioned as a strategic partner, tailoring communications, IT and digital solutions to meet customer needs and enable business transformation. The company provides managed information services with differentiated technology offerings, including cybersecurity, crew welfare, content solutions, data and voice applications, IoT solutions and network systems integration services. 

With a passionate customer focus and a strong safety culture, Speedcast serves more than 3,200 customers in over 140 countries in sectors such as Maritime, Energy, Mining, Enterprise, Media, Cruise, Humanitarian and Government. Learn more at www.speedcast.com

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Boeing OKC Campus Sold for $124M to California Investors; Richard Tanenbaum, Brett Price Quoted
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Boeing OKC Campus Sold for $124M to California Investors; Richard Tanenbaum, Brett Price Quoted
Boeing OKC Campus Sold for $124M to California Investors; Richard Tanenbaum, Brett Price Quoted

Richard Tanenbaum, CEO of Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings (GTH), has announced the sale of the Boeing Oklahoma City campus to OKC Aerospace 1, LLC for $124.7 million, the company reported on Thursday. 

The sale was put in effect on Jan. 7, 2020, and marks one of the largest commercial real estate transactions in Oklahoma City history. The transaction comprises the entire Boeing OKC campus, which includes three office buildings. 

"GTH has developed more than one million square feet of aerospace real estate in Oklahoma," said Tanenbaum. "I continue to anticipate a bright horizon for the Oklahoma aerospace industry. Substantial investments from the west coast, such as this transaction, show that the nation is taking notice of the aerospace industry's dynamic growth in our state."

Tanenbaum purchased the campus for Boeing in 2007, he developed the three buildings specifically for Boeing between 2007 and 2012. The investment now accommodates over 3,100 Boeing employees and contractors across its 33.25 acres.

Recently, Boeing received the potential 10-year, $14.3 billion contract in April 2019. The company has worked to modify, engineer, test and sustain the aircraft weapons to increase system lethality, responsiveness, supportability and survivability.

”With the $14.3 billion contract awarded by The Department of Defense (DoD) for Boeing to service US Air Force aircraft and the first of 14 maintenance hangars for Boeing's KC-46 Pegasus nearing completion, Boeing's Oklahoma City workforce will continue to rise," said senior vice president of Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort, Brett Price. 

Additionally, Boeing has modernized weapon systems used on the U.S. Air Force’s B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bomber platforms and will continue the work on campus after the transaction. 

About Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings

Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings (GTH) a full-service real estate development, design and construction management firm based in Oklahoma City with over sixty years of development and ownership experience. 

The company is one of the largest real estate developers in the region and manages over one million square feet of multifamily properties, six million square feet of industrial and office space and has an inventory of over two hundred and fifty acres of strategically placed land holdings for development. With strong leadership and a diversified portfolio, GTH builds Class "A" properties with long-term value for their clients and the communities they serve.

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U.S. Army CCDC Progressing on Combat Vehicle Weld Automation; Lt. Col. Ryan Howell, Megan Lynch Quoted
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U.S. Army CCDC Progressing on Combat Vehicle Weld Automation; Lt. Col. Ryan Howell, Megan Lynch Quoted

U.S. Army CCDC Progressing on Combat Vehicle Weld Automation; Lt. Col. Ryan Howell, Megan Lynch Quoted

The U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Department Command (CCDC) Manufacturing Technology has announced a new manufacturing cell for welding designed to improve the quality of combat vehicle weldments, reduce fabrication time and protect manufacturing workers as well as troops in combat situations, the service branch announced on Tuesday.

The cell is equipped with an advanced welding technology called High Energy Buried Arc Welding, which enables high-quality, thick-plate welds with minimal passes. The cell also contains a high-capacity, multi-axis positioning system that can manipulate multi-ton vehicle structures into ideal welding positions.

It’s automation will lead to higher quality weldments as well as reduce the time it takes to finish welding a new Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) by 80 percent, which will also shorten combat delivery times. The AMPV, by BAE Systems, is the robotic weld cell’s first customer.

Other contemporary welding technologies have reduced the number of weld passes each vehicle hull must undergo, many of them are too dangerous to be performed by hand. Once the cell is fully transitioned, it is expected to take 70 percent of the heavy welds.

“By using the robotic welding cell technology funded by the Army’s ManTech program, we were able to execute and transition the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle program from the Engineering Manufacturing Development phase to Milestone C…the Army’s first new combat vehicle production program in more than 30 years.” said Lt. Col. Ryan Howell.

The next step in the project will be to optimize the use of thicker wire to continue reducing the number of weld passeswhile continuing to improve survivability with improved designs and materials.

“We are still in the learning and debugging phase. Getting to full operational capability will be a process, but we are on track to get there by FY21” said Megan Lynch, ManTech project officer.

About the CCDC

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), formerly known as the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), has the mission to lead in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our Nation’s wars and come home safely.

The command collaborates across the Future Force Modernization Enterprise and its own global network of domestic and international partners in academia, industry and other government agencies to accomplish this mission. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.

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