Belgian and Dutch participation in missile defence

The Dutch and Belgian naval forces are deeply integrated. Recently the two countries decided to aim for identical new frigates for an anti-submarine role, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The project is in its early stages. Belgium allocated € 1 billion euro's to the project and the Netherlands € 730 million. The financial difference may reflect that Belgium wants to add an anti-missile missile shooter capability for its frigates as a part of the missile shield.

The missile shield, (not to be mixed up with the Star Wars or Strategic Defense Initiative, SDI, introduced under Ronald Reagan as part of the Cold War arms race, which made Russia implode economically and made the US end up with an enormous deficit), was made possible when neoconservative Bush jr decided to withdraw from the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) treaty and the focus shifted to smaller and more diverse units (ALTBMD) under the pragmatic President Obama.

Steps by those US presidents were followed by NATO member states, and played an important role in growing tension between Russia and NATO. Although NATO Secretaries General said time and time again that the system was not aimed against Russia but against North Korea and Iran, Moscow felt that it disturbed the nuclear balance. The missile shield undermines the possibility of Russia to use it's ballistic missiles, the most important weaponry against a conventionally much stronger NATO. At the same time Russia sees NATO influence marching with great speed to the Russian border.

Russia responded to the development of the missile shield by assigning elements of it as nuclear target, as in 2000 at the opening of the Vardo radar station in Norway(see). But also more recently against the ALTBMD development under Obama. In 2015 the Russian ambassador in Denmark openly wondered if Copenhagen realised that the consequences of missile defence technology on naval vessels was that the Danish ships could be targeted by Russian nuclear missiles.

The missile shield is based in space, on land and at sea. The installations on land, such as in Poland en Romania, get the most attention. Identical weapons are stationed at sea. They are not just mobile, but also much less visible to the press and public. As one website reported: "Belgium has quitely made the decission to build frigates equiped with exoatmospheric intercepters that sound a lot like the US Navy Aegis system."

The missile

The interceptors the Belgians want on their new frigates is the so-called SM-3 missile made by US Raytheon. Those are chosen as the main system of the missile defence effort against ballistic missiles with an intermediate range (IRBM, listed by Wikipedia from 3,000 to 5,500 km). The SM-3 missiles are 6.5 meters long chunks of steel and weight 1,5 tons. They are fired with a speed of 16,000 km p/h. The price tag is between € 10 million and € 24 million each! Such missiles were prohibited under the ABM Treaty. They are now ready for launch in Poland and Romania and also in many naval vessels.

In October 2016 the Russians analysed the capabilities of the SM-3 missile and found that they can target missiles from submarines and ICBMs in flight, but also in the initial stage of the flight. According to the Russian general Poznikhir this leads to a "serious threat to the nuclear potentials of Russia and China," as the SM-3 is able to hit missiles before the warheads separate, making the multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) ineffective. For the Russians, such a balance-disturbing missile is a serious treath. The missiles can also play a role against satellites in lower space with their predictable courses as easy to hit as sitting ducks. Being able to hit satellites is an important quality now the role of space in waging war increases.

The radar

But before a missile sets course to it goal this target must be identified, and here comes the Dutch role in the missile defence. For this you need a radar such as the Smart-L Early Warning Capability (EWC) system of Thales Netherland. That version of the SMART-L radar currently is provided to four Dutch LCF air defence frigates and will give the Netherlands a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) sensor capacity by 2020. 'Unrivalled' coins Thales Netherlands the radar itself. It is praised in defence circles, and even South Korea – located in the American sphere of influence – has SMART-L installed on one of its ships. Total units around is 26 in several variants (see table).

Ship class	Operator	Variant	Total units
Zeven Provincien FFG	Royal Netherlands Navy	Smart-L EWC	4
Sachsen FFG	Deutsche Marine	Smart-L	3
Type 45 Daring DDG	Royal Navy	S1850M	6
Queen Elizabeth CV	Royal Navy	S1850M	2
Forbin FFG	French Navy	S1850M	2
Andrea Doria DDG	Italian Navy	S1850M	2
Dokdo LPH	ROK Navy(South Korea)	Smart-L	4
Iver Huitfeldt FFG	Royal Danish Navy	Smart-L	3
Air Operations Control Station Nieuw Milligen	Royal Netherlands Air Force	Smart-L EWC Ground Based	2
Total			26
Bron: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART-L

Belgium

Belgium will equip its new M-class frigates with a shooting capability and the missiles themselves (provided others join, otherwise this will be too expensive), writes newspaper De Morgen. On page 149 of the Belgian Strategic Vision it is stated: "Our frigates will if needed be turned into a Ballistic Missile Defense system since they will be able to fire missiles to ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere. This will be in co-operation need to be done with radar systems that are capable of long distance detection on board, for example, an air defence frigate."

This makes the combination of the Dutch and Belgium navy a fully fledged player in the missile shield. Dutch ships can track and guide, but not fire by themselves. The Dutch Minister of Defence stated in January 2017 that expansion of the strength by introducing a shooter capacity for the Netherlands may come later.

The US Naval Institute published an article which stated in February 2017: "The question facing the Trump administration on European ballistic missile defence is, should the United State go ahead with the next phase of the program or pause to let serious discussion with the Russia beginning on nuclear proliferation and arms control." To refresh the good old arms control system seems the best idea, as missile defence might lead to a renewal of a nuclear arms race.

MB feb 2017
Geschreven voor Stop Wapenhandel

Dutch missile technology to Saudi Arabia?

Germany "supports the supply of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia," concluded Left Party Bundestag member Jan van Aken in a reaction to the deliverances of components for Tornado and Eurofighter combat aircraft, parts of howitzer and mortar ammunition, and armoured transport vehicles to the Saudi kingdom. The exports were authorized as part of joint projects to which Germany committed itself. According to the German government, this was export to other European countries, not to Saudi-Arabia. The same logic, although on a smaller scale of export, is followed by the Dutch government when for example justifying the export of Sea Sparrow missile components.

Saudi Arabia is the notorious sponsor and source of inspiration for much of Islamic violence in the wider Middle East, staging military and financial interventions in order to create stronger salafist influence. Internally, the country has a repressive policy against women and minorities which is amongst the worst in the world. But Saudi Arabia is also spending billions of its oil dollars on arms, making it the third or fourth military spender in the world (depending on calculation method used).

Last week Riyadh declared that the building of four naval vessels by Lockheed Martin in the US is too expensive – between 3 and 4 billion US$ each - and goes too slow (it can take up to seven years). The statement can be seen as part of the negotiations over price and schedule of the ships. The Saudi acquisition is part of a US$ 20 billion programme to refresh the ageing U.S.-built Saudi fleet operating in the Persian Gulf, according to a State Department notification issued in October. Shortly after the Saudi complaint Lockheed could rescedule and build quicker.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA ) 532 Raytheon Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) will be sold to the Saudi's as part of the programme. Here the involvement of Netherlands starts. The country participates in the NATO Sea Sparrow Consortium since the beginning e.g. through Fokker and Thales. Most of the Sea Sparrow project concerns sea launched missiles but a 2012 arms fair showed Fokker and Thales involvement in some land based Sea Sparrows. The last two Sea Sparrow contracts, reported on the website of the US Ministry of Defense, the mentioned the Dutch as producers. October 30, 2015 a contract was issued valued at € 15.3 million, of which 60 percent by the the Sea Sparrow Consortium. An April 2, 2015 contract for Sea Sparrow Block 2 missile engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) requirements was issued for $517,300,000 (€ 474.7m). The Netherlands will pay for 5 percent of this contract and perform 3 percent of the work. The result in real figures is € 14 million. Research institute TNO also played a role in the work on the missile and developped the system which provide the data to optimise raid annihilation.

The Sea Sparrow sales can also be found in the monthly arms export reports by the Dutch government. In 2014 (the latest published) three exports to Denmark of Sea Sparrow components are reported, one to the United Arab Emirates, and one to the VS. Together the exports are valued at € 8.1 million. But the rather vague description 'technology for guided missiles' [Technologie voor geleide raketten] is also used in the reports so the conclusion it is likely many more are under-reported but took place.

The Fokker Special Products website makes no secret of Sea Sparrows technology production. The Supplier Quality Assurance Requirements Fokker has signed – regarding selling Sea Sparrow components – states: “Full traceability of the supply chain shall be guaranteed and be proven by the paperwork.” So it can be known in which missiles for which destination the components are assembled. It enables the Dutch government to control if sales have the destination Saudi Arabia. But such action is not to be expected, because it is antagonising the US and our ally in Riyadh. A new sale of weapon components to Saudi Arabia is in the making. And will the Netherlands follow the German example where words are nice but policy wrong. Or will it be stopped?

Martin Broek 28/01/2016

US Defense Contracts with Dutch participation (20/04/15 - 12/01/16 )

January 12, 2016 (Release No: CR-007-16)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/642757

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $28,842,000 not-to-exceed, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This delivery order provides for air vehicle retrofit modifications associated with the F-35A fuel tank overpressure engineering change proposal in support of the Air Force, and the governments of Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (62 percent); Ogden, Utah (28 percent); and Palmdale, California (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2017. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 aircraft procurement (Air Force); 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force); and international partner funds in the amount of $14,421,000 will be obligated at time of award, $6,656,033 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases of the Air Force ($26,855,466; 93.11 percent); and the governments of Netherlands ($1,633,244; 5.67 percent); Italy ($201,880; 0.70 percent); Norway ($100,940; 0.35 percent) and Australia ($50,470; 0.17 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

December 29, 2015 (Release No: CR-250-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/639485

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $13,495,233 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024‑15‑C-5408) for procurement of 19 SM-2 Block IIIA Zumwalt flight-test-rounds for DDG 1000 class Ships (Zumwalt configuration). This contract modification also involves a purchase for the Netherlands as a result of an international agreement between the governments of the United States and the Netherlands. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (50 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (25 percent); Mountain View, California (11 percent); Camden, Arkansas (4 percent); San Diego, California (5 percent); Chandler, Arizona (3 percent); Hudson, New Hampshire (1 percent); and Redmond, Washington (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed August 2018. Fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation; fiscal 2015 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2016 operations and maintenance (Navy); and Memorandum of Understanding (Netherlands) funding in the amount of $13,495,233 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds in the amount of $10,691,917 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract modification was not competitively procured in accordance with the authority from 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (1) and FAR 6.302-1 (a) (2). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

December 21, 2015 (Release No: CR-245-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/637649

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $1,171,206,489 advance acquisition contract for the advance procurement of long lead time materials, parts, components and effort to maintain the planned production schedule for F-35 low rate initial production lot 11 aircraft. The advance acquisition effort includes 80 F-35A aircraft (28 for the U.S. Air Force; 6 for the government of Norway; 4 for the government of Turkey; 8 for the government of the Netherlands; 8 for the government of Australia; 10 for the government of Israel; 6 for the government of Japan; and 10 for the government of South Korea); 7 F-35B aircraft (6 for the U.S. Marine Corps; and 1 for the United Kingdom); and 4 F-35C aircraft for the U.S. Navy. This contract also includes an undefinitized contract action for production of 2 F-35A aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and F-35C aircraft for the U.S. Navy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (55 percent); El Segundo, California (15 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (10 percent); Orlando, Florida (5 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (5 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (5 percent); and Nagoya, Japan (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2019. Fiscal 2015 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy), fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps), non-U.S. DoD partner and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $847,929,604 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchase for the U.S. Air Force ($401,509,516; 34.3 percent); U.S. Navy ($256,433,369; 21.9 percent); U.S. Marine Corps ($106,500,000; 9.1 percent); non-U.S. DoD partners ($207,069,044; 17.7 percent) and foreign military sales ($199,694,560; 17 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-0033).

November 30, 2015 (Release No: CR-229-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/631575

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded $9,018,848 for firm-fixed-fee-price delivery order 2067 to exercise an option against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-11-G-0001) for follow-on integrated logistics support/engineering services in support of the Harpoon/Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response missile system and Harpoon launch systems for the Navy and the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Netherland, Oman, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (91.84 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (5.47 percent); Yorktown, Virginia (2.64 percent); and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (0.05 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2017. Fiscal 2016 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds; and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $9,018,848 are being obligated on this award, of which $2,425,166 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($2,425,166; 26.89 percent); and the governments of Korea ($986,268; 10.94 percent); Taiwan ($783,148; 8.68 percent); Turkey ($506,886; 5.62 percent); Japan ($504,179; 5.59 percent); Egypt ($503,268; 5.58 percent); Saudi Arabia ($421,531; 4.67 percent); Australia ($381,336; 4.23 percent); United Kingdom ($347,333; 3.85 percent); Canada ($254,720; 2.82 percent); Chile ($241,248; 2.67 percent); Israel ($207,323; 2.30 percent); Portugal ($202,207; 2.24 percent); India ($189,909; 2.11 percent); Thailand $186,382; 2.07 percent); Singapore ($154,170; 1.71 percent); Bahrain ($140,478; 1.56 percent); Kuwait ($99,253; 1.10 percent); United Arab Emirates ($95,726; 1.06 percent); Malaysia ($95,506; 1.06 percent); Oman ($94,404; 1.05 percent); Netherlands ($82,669; 0.92 percent); Germany ($66,136; 0.73 percent); and Denmark ($49,601; 0.55 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

November 9, 2015 (Release No: CR-216-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/628342

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $112,779,000 modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-15-C-0003) for the procurement of additional long-lead time items necessary for the manufacture and delivery of low-rate initial production Lot 10 F-35A aircraft for the Air Force and Lot 11 F-35A aircraft for the government of the Netherlands. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); El Segundo, California (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Florida (10 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (5 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (5 percent); and Cameri, Italy (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2019. Fiscal 2015 aircraft procurement (Air Force); and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participant funds in the amount of $112,779,000 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchase for the Air Force ($99,060,000; 88 percent) and non-U.S. DoD participants ($13,719,000; 12 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

October 30, 2015 (Release No: CR-209-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/626771

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is being awarded $16,619,241 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the NATO Seasparrow Missile System Design Agent engineering and technical support. The contractor shall provide a variety of Design Agent program management, engineering, technical and logistics services and supplies necessary to provide effective life cycle support and modernization of the NATO Seasparrow Project Office Combat System Division portfolio, which includes the MK 57 NATO Seasparrow Surface Missile System, the MK 48/56 Guided Missile Vertical Launch System, MK 41 Vertical Launch System related software and equipment, and a variety of lab and special test equipment. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $89,080,693. This contract combines purchases for the Navy and the governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Turkey as part of the NATO Seasparrow Consortium. The Navy share is 40 percent of the program, and the partner nations will combine for 60 percent of the program. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (94 percent); Marlborough, Massachusetts (3 percent); and San Diego, California (3 percent), and is expected to be completed by November 2016. Fiscal 2015 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,027,741; fiscal 2008 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $653,250; fiscal 2015 international funding in the amount of $570,629; and foreign military sales funding in the amount of $100,000 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(4). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-16-C-5418).

September 25, 2015 (Release No: CR-184-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/620608 


Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $264,805,607 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for an AIM-9X system improvement program to provide additional capability and resolve obsolescence issues for the Navy, Air Force, and the governments of Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Belgium, Netherlands and Turkey under the Foreign Military Sales program. The effort includes engineering services required to incorporate new AIM-9X missile components and associated software updates into the Lot 17 and Lot 19 production programs. This effort will also provide development, integration, and flight test support for AIM-9X Block II hardware and software. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (95.5 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (2.3 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (1.5 percent); and other various continental U.S. locations (0.7 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2020. Fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Air Force), and foreign military sales funds, in the amount of $46,424,785 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($24,783,835; 53.35 percent); Navy ($10,746,165; 23.15 percent); and the governments of Turkey ($3,340,868; 7.2 percent); Netherlands ($1,900,000; 4.6 percent); Belgium ($2,098,917; 4.5 percent); Singapore ($1,960,000; 4.3 percent); Malaysia ($1,310,000; 2.8 percent); and Korea ($285,000; .1 percent). This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-15-C-0121).

***

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $227,047,688 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-15-C-0092) for procurement of 447 AIM-9X Block II all up round tactical full-rate production Lot 15 missiles for the Navy (102), Air Force (243), and the governments of Japan (9), Korea (76), Romania (12), and Israel (5).  In addition, this modification provides for the procurement of 129 Block II captive air training missiles for the Navy (54), Air Force (60), Army (2), and the governments of Korea (2), Romania (6), and Israel (5); 7 special air training missiles for the Army; 174 all up round containers for the Navy (44), Air Force (85), Army (10), and the governments of Japan (3), Korea (19), Romania (7), and Israel (6); 4 captive test missiles for the Army (2), Navy (1) and Air Force (1); one test asset for the Navy; spares for the Navy, Air Force; and 12 lots of spares for Australia (1), Finland (1), Singapore (1), Korea (1), Switzerland (1), Morocco (1), Belgium (1), Saudi Arabia (1), Oman (2), the Netherlands (1), and Romania (1).  Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (43.74 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (10.08 percent); Valencia, California (6.63 percent); Ontario Canada, Midland (5.54 percent); Rocket Center, West Virginia (5.49 percent); Vancouver, Washington (5.07 percent); Goleta, California (2.86 percent); Cheshire, Connecticut (2.05 percent); Heilbronn, Germany (1.88 percent); Simsbury, Connecticut (1.61 percent); San Jose, California (1.48 percent); Anniston, Alabama (1.31 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (1.22 percent); Maniago, Italy (1.21 percent); Chatsworth, California (1.11 percent); San Diego, California (1.04 percent); Montgomery, Alabama (0.60 percent); Orlando, Florida (0.55 percent); Newbury Park, California (0.50 percent); El Segundo, California (0.50 percent) Claremont, California (0.43 percent); Joplin, Missouri (0.39 percent); Lombard, Illinois (0.28 percent); El Cajon, California (0.15 percent) and various locations inside and outside the continental U.S. (4.28 percent).  Work is expected to be completed in December 2017.  Fiscal 2013, 2014, and 2015 missile procurement (Air Force and Army); fiscal 2013 and 2015 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $227,047,688 are being obligated on this award, $815,817 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c) (1).  This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($113,451,928; 49.97 percent), the Navy ($53,057,371; 23.37 percent); the Army ($4,187,870; 1.84 percent); and the governments of Korea ($38,156,051; 16.81 percent); Romania ($7,398,811; 3.26 percent); Japan ($4,461,206; 1.96 percent); Israel ($3,667,822; 1.62 percent); Singapore ($702,297; 0.31 percent); Oman ($572,508; 0.25 percent); Finland ($421,032; 0.18 percent); Belgium ($442,585; 0.19 percent); Saudi Arabia ($284,386; 0.13 percent); Australia ($149,523; 0.06 percent); Switzerland ($50,117; 0.02 percent); the Netherlands ($41,614; 0.02 percent); and Morocco ($2,567; 0.01 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. 

September 2, 2015 (Release No: CR-168-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/616022 


Lockheed Martin Sippican Inc., Marion, Massachusetts, is being awarded a $20,045,915 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-11-C-6404 to exercise option year four for the production of MK48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System Functional Item replacement kits and related engineering services. This modification includes foreign military sales (FMS) to Canada and the Netherlands. Work will be performed in Marion, Massachusetts (95 percent); and Syracuse, New York (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by May 2018. Fiscal 2015 weapons procurement (Navy); FMS (Canada and Netherlands); fiscal 2015 operation and maintenance (Navy); and FMS (Netherlands) funding in the amount of $20,045,915 will be obligated at time of award, and $49,958 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

August 28, 2015 (Release No: CR-165-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/615285

Thales Raytheon Systems Co. LLC, Fullerton, California, was awarded a $82,606,668 cost-plus-fixed-fee, multi-year, foreign military sales contract (Finland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Chile) for sentinel radar technical/logistical services. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2018. One bid was solicited with one received. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-15-D-0058).

August 4, 2015 (Release No: CR-147-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/612905

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $431,322,997 modification to the previously awarded Lot IX F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter advance acquisition contract (N00019-14-C-0002) for the procurement of production non-recurring items. These items include special tooling and special test equipment items that are critical to meeting current and future production rates for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps; non-U.S. Department of Defense participants; and foreign military sales customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); Palmdale, California (10 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (8 percent); Preston, United Kingdom (7 percent); San Diego, California (5 percent); Orlando, Florida (4 percent); Marietta, Georgia (4 percent); Torino, Italy (4 percent); Merrimack, New Hampshire (4 percent); Eagan, Minnesota (4 percent); Hauppauge, New York (2 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (2 percent); Alpharetta, Georgia (2 percent); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (2 percent); Cheltenham, United Kingdom (2 percent); Grenaa, Denmark (1 percent); Hoogeveen, Netherlands (1 percent); Melbourne, Florida (1 percent); Salt Lake City, Utah (1 percent); and Garden Grove, California (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2018. Fiscal 2015 aircraft procurement (Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force), non-U.S. Department of Defense participant, and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $431,322,997 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchase for the Air Force ($150,136,184; 34.81 percent); Navy ($75,068,092; 17.40 percent); Marine Corps ($75,068,092; 17.40 percent); non-U.S. Department of Defense participants ($75,392,333; 17.48 percent); and foreign military sales customers ($55,658,296; 12.91 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

June 30, 2015 (Release No: CR-123-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Article/606881

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $19,641,417 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-02-C-3002) for requirements development and maturation efforts for the F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter Air System. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2016. Fiscal 2014 research and development (Navy and Air Force); fiscal 2015 research and development (Navy, Air Force and Marine Corp.); and Cooperative Partner funds in the amount of $19,641,417 will be obligated at the time of award, $1,655,373 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchase for the U.S. Navy ($5,597,287; 28.7 percent); U.S. Air Force ($5,408,209; 27.54 percent); U.S. Marine Corps. ($3,904,548; 19.7 percent); and the Governments of Australia ($710,521; 3.61 percent); Canada ($337,155; 1.7 percent); Italy ($466,752; 2.38 percent); Netherlands ($217,537; 1.1 percent); Norway ($711,221; 3.62 percent); Turkey ($1,359,110; 6.92 percent); and United Kingdom ($929,076; 4.73 percent) under a Cooperative Agreement. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

June 25, 2015 Army (Release No: CR-120-15)
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Article/606878

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded an $8,310,252 modification (P00066) to foreign military sales contract W15QKN-08-C-0530 (Netherlands) for 100 Excalibur 155mm projectiles and 12 palletized containers. Work will be performed in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; McAlester, Oklahoma; Farmington, New Mexico; East Camden, Arkansas; Valencia, Santa Ana, Inglewood , Chino, Healdsburg and Corona, California; Anniston Alabama; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Joplin, Missouri; Lowell, Massachusetts; McKinney, Texas; Woodridge, Illinois; Salt Lake City, Utah; Congers, New York; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Karlskoga, Sweden; and Glenrothes and Plymouth, United Kingdom, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 30, 2015. Fiscal 2015 other procurement funds in the amount of $8,310,252 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.

No problem with arms sales to Qatar?

At the closing ceremonies of the DIMDEX Arms Fair Qatar announced arms acquisitions valued at €17 billion ($23 bn.).  This is more than twice the total Dutch annual military budget. Amongst others, the deal includes attack helicopters, guided missiles, tanker planes and naval vessels. Different segments of the orders have a Dutch component. The arms race on the Arabian peninsular has a new player.

On the picture: Patriot PAC-3 being fired.
Qatar is providing political support and weapons to islamists in several internal conflicts in the Middle East, such as in Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen. Its support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Nusra in Syria has recently created a rift in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

But because of its missile defence capabilities close to Iran, the presence of a US-UK air force base and its rejection of Iran's influence in the region, Qatar is a partner of the West. The arms acquisition plans of the Emirate are part of the military ambitions of the Gulf State to become a stronger player in the Arabian world, on par with its growing soft power influence. Qatar is also the country where Al Jazeera is based.

Amongst others, Qatar wants to buy 22 NH-90 military helicopters from the NH Industries division of European aerospace group Airbus (formerly EADS), worth €2 billion. The Airbus' head offices are located in the Netherlands for tax reasons, but although the Netherlands provides its tax heaven facilities, it has no obligations to control the companies' arms export policies. A win-win situation for Airbus and the Dutch State treasury. Dutch aircraft company Stork Fokker is participating for 5.5% in NH Industries and thus will profit considerably from the Qatar deal.

Another part of the deal is the sale of over €1.5 billion in Patriot missile defence system equipment made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. Dutch Fokker Aerostructures “is one of the suppliers for materials of the Lockheed Martin (LMMFC) – PAC-3-program, which is a military program.”

The deal also shows the growing footprint of Dutch shipbuilder Damen in Qatar. At DIMDEX Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Qatar Armed Forces to build seven military vessels. “The vessels are highly sophisticated state-of-the-art naval ships based on proven designs providing unparalleled seaworthiness. (...) A large Integrated Logistic Support package is also mentioned in the MoUs” according to the Damen website. NDSQ is a joint venture between Nakilat and Dutch shipbuilder. The Dutch extreme islamophobic political party PVV asked Parliamentary questions on the deal. According to Minister for Trade and Development Ploumen, the deal is in line with Dutch export policies.

All Dutch and international arms control codes, regulations and treaties of the past forty years included regional security, regions of tension and human rights as criteria to measure and refuse arms sales. It seems Qatar is a highly qualified applicant for all three of them. Moreover, because Qatar is notorious for selling its arms to other conflict regions, at least the question has to answered how the end use of the exported equipment will be monitored. According to minister Ploumen:  “When transfers of knowledge take place the Dutch arms export policy offers enough guaranties against undesired effects.” In the case of Qatar, a more concrete and detailed description of these guarantees is no luxury.

Written for Campagne tegen Wapenhandel In Dutch Broekstukken or Sargasso.

U.S. defence contracts with Egypt

From the U.S. Department of Defense Contract pages
Only pages with Egypt in the Period Jan 2012 - August 21 2013
The last contract is of August 12, 2013

Recent information to the Dutch Parliament: Letter of October 8, 2012, and of March 5, 2013. Both on technology for Egypts Navy Fast Missile Craft as part of Foreign Military Sales program. (For a list of major US sales to Egypt see link.)

The FMC vessel is equipped with Thales Naval Nederland Scout (I/J band) radar, MRR-3D ES radar for surface and air surveillance and I and K dual-band fire control radar from DRS Radar Systems. It is also fitted with a Thales Naval Nederlands Link ASN 150, LinkYE, Link 14, and Link 11 datalinks, identification, friend or foe (IFF) identification systems.

You can use the list below e.g. for searching collaboration between your country, the US and Egypt.
For the Netherlands I found e.g. 3 projects on naval weapons (Harpoon SSM (2) and technology for Ejection Seats)

2012

January 5
General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded an $11,134,389 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.  The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure manufacturing and technical assistance to Egypt.  Work will be performed in Cairo, Egypt, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012.  One bid was solicited, with one bid received.  The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-C-0488).

March 15
DynaCorp International, L.L.C., Falls Church, Va., is being awarded a $99,879,424 firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract for the Egyptian Personnel Support Services Program.  This program will provide support services for Department of Defense employees, contractor personnel, and dependents stationed in Egypt permanently or on temporary duty status.  These personnel support various Foreign Military Sales programs on behalf of the Egyptian military.  This source selection will be the fourth contract to provide support services in Egypt contracted by the Air Force Security Assistance Center.  The location of the performance is Falls Church, Va.  Work is expected to be completed May 31, 2017.  AFSAC/PK, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8630-12-C-5002).

May 10
Morganti HAC, J.V., Danbury, Conn., was awarded a $54,696,965 firm-fixed-price contract.  The award will provide for the construction of facilities and infrastructure to support the procurement of Apache AH-64D helicopters.  Work will be performed in Kattamia Air Base, Egypt, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 22, 2012.  There were 23 bids solicited, with six bids received.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Va., is the contracting activity (W912ER-12-C-0022).

May 21
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded an $11,084,479 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of the Harpoon and Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response weapons system components.  This contract combines purchases in support of the U.S. Navy ($4,342,034; 39.2 percent) and, under the Foreign Military Sales Program, the governments of:  Australia ($2,877,199; 26 percent); Turkey ($1,126,694; 10.2 percent); Japan ($916,182; 8.3 percent); Korea ($537,786; 4.9 percent); Saudi Arabia ($313,751; 2.8 percent); Pakistan ($246,452; 2.2 percent); Canada ($241,015; 2.1 percent); United Kingdom ($237,005; 2.1 percent); Kuwait ($79,668; 0.7 percent); United Arab Emirates  ($67,431; 0.6 percent); India ($59,428; 0.5 percent); and Egypt ($39,834; 0.4 percent).  Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed in August 2013.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-12-C-0058).

August 14
AICI/ARCHIRODON, J.V., Arlington, Va., was awarded a $66,588,000 firm-fixed-price contract.  The award will provide for the design and construction of facility upgrades to support the procurement of F-16 fighter aircraft for the Egyptian Air Force.  Work will be performed in Egypt, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 8, 2014.  There were 23 bids solicited, with three bids received.  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Va., is the contracting activity (W912ER-12-C-0033).

24 augustus
AICI/ARCHIRODON - Joint Venture, Arlington, Va., was awarded a $66,588,000 firm-fixed-price contract.  The award will provide for the design, construction, security and training services at Cairo West Air Base in support of the Egyptian Air Force.  Work will be performed in Egypt, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 8, 2014.  There were 23 bids solicited, with three bids received.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Va., is the contracting activity (W912ER-12-C-0033).

September 11
Stanley Consultants, Inc., Muscatine, Iowa, is being awarded a maximum amount $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for the preparation of Navy and Marine Corps Facilities Planning and Environmental Documentation in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Europe Africa Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA) area of responsibility (AOR).  The work to be performed provides for plans, studies, events, project planning documents, geo-spatial information and service, global positioning system services and National Environmental Policy Act planning, multi-discipline architectural, mechanical/electrical, civil/structural, and fire protection projects for activities located in Southwest Asia and Africa inclusive of Bahrain, Egypt, Djibouti and United Arab Emirates.  No task orders are being issued at this time.  Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC EURAFSWA AOR including, but not limited to Africa (50 percent) and Southwest Asia (50 percent).  The term of the contract is not to exceed 36 months with an expected completion date of September 2015.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 17 proposals received.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Europe Africa Southwest Asia, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity (N33191-12-D-0619).

September 20
Exelis Inc., Van Nuys, Calif., is being awarded a $24,678,610 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the procurement of six radio frequency repeater systems for the government of Egypt’s SPS-48E land-based radar program and associated support for Egypt (100 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.  The requirement includes all associated support.  This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $25,000,000.  Work will be performed in Egypt (50 percent), and Van Nuys, Calif. (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 19, 2017.  The contract funds will not expire by the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured, due to sole-source direction by International Agreement.  Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-12-C-2443).

October 05
Chrysler Group International L.L.C., Auburn Hills, Mich., was awarded a $10,455,090 firm-fixed-price contract.  The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure Wrangler TJL Jeep kits, diesel engines, transmissions, cases and spares in support of Foreign Military Sales.  Work will be performed in Egypt, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 28, 2013.  The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received.  The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-11-C-0123).

November 5
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $36,629,496 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-0103) for the procurement of Harpoon Weapons System components.  Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed in April 2014.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract combines purchases for the governments of Australia ($32,044,428; 87.48 percent); Japan ($1,464,478; 4.00 percent); Saudia Arabia ($786,992; 2.15 percent); Korea ($953,400; 2.60 percent); the Netherlands ($848,925; 2.32 percent); Egypt ($311,045; 0.85 percent); Taiwan ($87,710; 0.24 percent); Oman ($73,128; 0.20 percent) and the United Arab Emirates ($59,390; 0.16 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

November 16
Daimler Trucks of North America L.L.C., Portland, Ore., was awarded an $8,589,566 firm-fixed-price contract.  The award will provide for the procurement of trucks and trailers in support of Foreign Military Sales.  Work will be performed in Egypt, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 5, 2013.  One bid was solicited, with one bid received.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Va., is the contracting activity (W912ER-13-C-0001).

November 28
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $7,595,267 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-11-G-0001) to provide additional integrated logistics and engineering services support for the Harpoon and Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response, Missile System and Harpoon Launch Systems for the U.S. Navy and the governments of various foreign military sales customers.  Work will be performed in St. Charles, Mo. (91.17 percent); St. Louis, Mo. (5.43 percent); Yorktown, Va. (2.64 percent); Point Mugu, Calif. (0.71 percent); and Oklahoma City, Okla. (0.05 percent); and is expected to be completed in November 2013.  Contract funds in the amount of $7,595,267 will be obligated at the time of award, $2,765,989 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This order combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($2,765,989; 36.41 percent) and the governments of Korea ($675,707; 8.90 percent); Taiwan ($641,647; 8.45 percent); Turkey ($565,969; 7.45 percent); Egypt ($375,905; 4.95 percent); Japan ($374,159; 4.93 percent);  United Kingdom ($284,144; 3.74 percent); Pakistan ($251,725; 3.31 percent); Australia ($230,380; 3.03 percent); Chile ($208,507; 2.75 percent); Saudi Arabia ($199,017; 2.62 percent); Canada ($181,946; 2.4 percent); Israel ($146,506; 1.93 percent); Bahrain ($96,780; 1.27 percent); United Arab Emirates ($93,250; 1.23 percent); Germany ($81,773; 1.08 percent); Netherlands ($73,869;  0.97 percent); Kuwait ($68,289; 0.90 percent); Singapore ($64,002; 0.84 percent); Oman ($62,829; 0.83 percent); Portugal ($54,907;  0.72 percent); Thailand ($37,717;  0.50 percent); Denmark ($35,946; 0.47 percent); and Malaysia ($24,304; 0.32 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River Md., is the contracting activity.

December 3
General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded a $37,601,061 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.  The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure services in support of the M1A1 coproduction effort at the Egyptian Tank Plant in Cairo, Egypt.  Work will be performed in Sterling Heights and Cairo, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2015.  One bid was solicited, with one bid received.  The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-C-0488).

December 6
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, (FA8604-13-D-7951) is being awarded a $29,446,000 requirements contract for Engineering and Technical services for the F-16 and F-22 aircraft.  The location of the performance is Bahrain, Chile, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Taiwan and Turkey.  Work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2014.  The contracting activity is AFLCMC/PZIEB, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.  Contract involves Foreign Military Sales.

December 11
Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $23,426,616 firm-fixed-price contract.  The award will provide for the procurement of the Deployable-Advanced Gunnery Training Systems in support of Foreign Military Sales.  Work will be performed in Orlando and Egypt, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2016.  One bid was solicited, with one bid received.  The U.S. Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity (W900KK-13-C-0002).

December 20
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $56,370,522 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopters for the Egyptian Air Force. Work will be performed in Mesa, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2014. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-10-C-0086).

AICI--ARCHIRODON JV, Arlington, Va., was awarded a $9,648,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the Synchrolift Safety Repair services in support of Foreign Military Sales. Work will be performed in Egypt, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 21, 2014. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Va., is the contracting activity (W912ER-13-C-0005).

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $12,239,714 firm-fixed-price contract to procure four each Harpoon Shipboard Command Launch Control Sets (HSCLCS), Type 148 Class Ship, AN/SWG-1A(V), Classified Portion and associated hardware; four each HSCLCS, Type 148 Class Ship, AN/SWG-1A(V), Unclassified Portion and associated hardware; eight Global Positioning System Receiver Assembly (GPSRA) Retrofit Kits and associated hardware; one Installation and Checkout Prime Spares Kit, Classified Portion; one Installation and Checkout Prime Spares Kit, Unclassified Portion; four Ninety Day Primes Spares Kit; one Two Years Classified Prime Spares Kit; two -Two Year Unclassified Prime Spares Kit; one Harpoon Shipboard Equipment Integrated Logistics Support Program; four Ordinance Alteration EGE 3987 kits; and one lot engineering technical assistance for the Government of Egypt. Additionally, this effort procures one Lot HSCLCS Hardware; one Ninety Day Prime Spares Kit; one GPSRA and associated hardware; and one Lot Engineering Technical Assistance for the Government of Turkey.  Contract funds in the amount of $12,239,714 will be obligated at time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Work will be performed in Lititz, Pa. (51 percent); St. Louis, Mo. (32 percent); Pryor Creek, Okla. (5 percent); Santa Fe Springs, Calif. (5 percent); Madison, Ala. (3 percent); Kirkwood, Mo. (3 percent); and Irving, Texas (1 percent),  and is expected to be completed in July 2014.  This contract combines purchases for the Governments of Egypt ($11,927,232; 98 percent) and Turkey ($312,482; 2 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-13-C-0019).

2013

February 27
AM General, South Bend, Ind., was awarded a $7,023,165 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of detuned engines for High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. This contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales for Egypt. Work will be performed in South Bend, with an estimated completion date of July 8, 2013. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-13-C-0079).

April 12
L-3 Communication, San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $10,505,889 firm-fixed-price, FMS contract to procure HF transceivers and components for RT-1606 systems and accessories.  This FMS contract is in support of Egypt.  Fiscal 2013 procurement contract funds are being obligated on this award.  One bid was solicited, with one bid received.  The Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-13-C-D518).

May 24
Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, Morristown N.J., is being awarded a $49,481,279 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for engineering, technical services and materials required for the resolution of obsolescence, reliability/maintainability issues, production/rework, testing, evaluation, installation and life cycle support functions for the Mk 92 Fire Control System.  This contract will support foreign military sales (FMS) to Taiwan (40 percent), Egypt (24 percent), Poland (16 percent), Saudi Arabia (4 percent), Australia (0.4 percent), Turkey (0.2 percent), Spain (0.1 percent), Pakistan (0.1 percent) and Bahrain (0.1 percent). Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala. (70 percent), and Moorestown, N.J. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed by May 2016.  FMS funds, Fiscal 2014 and 2015 Other Procurement, Navy and fiscal 2014 and 2015 Operations and Maintenance, Navy funding in the amount of $100,000 will be obligated at time of award.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.  Reference FAR 6.302-1.  The Port Hueneme Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity (N63394-13-D-1301).

May 28
Universal Propulsion Co., Fairfield, Calif., is being awarded a $6,674,272 firm-fixed-price contract to manufacture 286 each digital recovery sequencer kits, 452 each power modules and 36 each electronic modules as kit sub-component replacement spares in support of F-15, F-16, F-117 and B-1 aircraft for the Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Device Joint Program Office, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division.  Work will be performed in Fairfield Calif., and work is expected to be completed by Nov. 14, 2014.  Fiscal 2012 Procurement of Ammunition, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $6,674,272 will be obligated at time of the award.  Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy (39.753 percent) and the governments of Turkey (12.802 percent); Pakistan (9.986 percent); Korea (6.401 percent); Saudi Arabia (5.488 percent); Columbia (5.121 percent); Poland (5.121 percent); Greece (4.913 percent); Indonesia (3.072 percent); Bahrain (1.536 percent); Jordan (1.536 percent); Netherlands (1.366 percent); Portugal (1.024 percent); Taiwan (0.857 percent); Egypt (0.768 percent); and Denmark (0.256 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.  This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1).  The Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00104-13-C-K074).

August 1
Camber Corp., Huntsville Ala. (N00244-13-D-0015); Deloitte Consulting LLP Alexandria Va. (N00244-13-D-0016); General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., Needham Mass. (N00244-13-D-0017); Mission Essential Personnel, LLC, Columbus, Ohio (N00244-13-D-0018); and Vose Technical Systems General, Tacoma, Wash. (N00244-13-D-0019), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract with fixed-priced provisions to technical/professional support, and related tailored administrative services for the Center for Civil Military Relations,Camber Corp., is being awarded $32,989,009, and if all options are exercised, the total aggregate value will be $99,685,514.  Deloitte Consulting LLP is being awarded $10,016,317, and if all options are exercised, the total aggregate value will be $30,769,810.  General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., is being awarded $30,752,682, and if all options are exercised, the total aggregate value will be $94,045,583.  Mission Essential Personnel, LLC is being awarded $4,921,667, and if all options are exercised, the total aggregate value will be $14,975,766.  Vose Technical Systems General LLC is being awarded $5,460,771, and if all options are exercised, the total aggregate value will be $16,498,593.  All six contracts will have the opportunity to bid on the individual task orders.  Funding for these contracts will be provided on individual task orders.  Work will be performed in various locations outside the continental United States (80 percent); Army Active, Reserve and National Guard posts in the United States (10 percent); Monterey, Calif. (8 percent); Kailua, Hawaii (1 percent); and Tampa, Fla. (1 percent).  Work is expected to be completed by July 31, 2014.  If all options are exercised, work will continue through July 30, 2016.  Fiscal 2013 Operations and Maintenance and Navy funds in the amount of $5,000 for the ordering minimum will be obligated at the time of award and will be equally divided among all contractors.  Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This announcement also identifies potential Foreign Military Sale efforts for training of foreign troops or education of officials.  Potential countries where performance may occur are Egypt, Indonesia, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia, and combined would equate to less than two percent of the total effort.  The contracts were competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online and the Federal Business Opportunities websites, with seven offers received in response to these solicitations.  NAVSUP, Fleet Logistics Center, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

August 12
General Electric Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a $13,661,657 firm-fixed-price contract (FA8122-09-G-0001-0032) for 18 Egyptian Air Force F110 Service Life Extension kits. Work will be performed at Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2013. Foreign Military Sales funds to Egypt (100 percent) in the amount of $13,661,657 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Air Force Sustainment Center/PZAAB, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity.

The Dutch and the War on Terror … in Africa

The Netherlands does not only send police trainers to Afghanistan, but also military trainers to Africa, defence periodical Jane’s Defence Weekly reports. The mission covers a territory larger than Western Europe. It is part of an exercise and operation that takes place in Algeria, Chad and Senegal, to name a few. The training will focus on fighting illegal arms trade, smuggling and human trafficking, according to Jane’s. So many positive goals in one sentence calls for some skepticism. Especially when we realize what kind of troops involved.

The exercise is named Flintlock. Flintlock is also the term for an igniter for small arms. Not really a name for an operation tackling illegal arms trade. And so that's not really what it is. Flintlock is a permanent activity in the framework of the American war against the terrorism (Operation Enduring Freedom, OEF). It is organized around the Special Forces, the US troops best equipped and trained for heavy fighting in small and independent groups and for almost surgical individual operations for collecting information, or killing individuals.

Flintlock is an exercise operation established and coordinated through the US Joint Special Operations Task Force - Trans-Sahara (JSOTF-TS). It is not solely focused on training, but it is a multinational military activity of which training allies is an aspect. Already in 2005, 700 American Special Forces trained 2,100 badly armed soldiers from North and West-African countries, under the name Flintlock. The Netherlands is involved since that time.

Connected to Flintlock, a permanent Multinational Co-ordination Center (MCC) created to streamline the counter-terrorism activities in Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and Chad. When asked, the Dutch ministry of Defence affirmed a few dozen Dutch marines and commando troopers are in Senegal, Chad and Burkina Faso from mid January until half March 2011. They will practice Special Forces operations with forces from those three countries and a number of other European and African countries. Which other countries will participate the ministry of Defence does not want to tell: "Not all countries want to make that public."

Last year the Dutch weekly military paper, the Defensiekrant, interviewed four Dutch soldiers that took part in Flintlock: Emiel of the army, Rob of the marines and the commandos Eric and Tom. They all said they were eager to return. Rob on Senegal: "You can hike sixty kilometers from the coast into the country, straight through the mangroves. Fantastic!" The largest mangrove area of Senegal lies in the Casamance. In this southern part of Senegal a small armed independency movement is active. In December last year seven Senegalese soldiers died during a clash, Radio France Internationale reported. The training provided will thus be welcomed by the Senegalese. For arms trade EU criteria exist to measure the effect of trade on human rights, security and development. How about comparable rules for providing training in regions of tension or with high risk of human rights violations? A question which should be asked in parliament.

A high ranked Dutch military, Major General Tom Middendorp, last year watched the operations and came also back enthusiastically. "The particulars of this formula is that you not only train African troops, but also conduct cross training with the participating countries under heavy circumstances. Many goals in one go. Formerly we sent observers only, now we joined with some troops. To me this seems something to repeat," the Defensiekrant quoted the general. Half a year later this is exactly what happens.

For the United States Flintlock is an operation in the framework of the fight against terrorism. US officer John Williamson, responsible for organizing Flintlock, is glad with the Dutch contribution. He says in a press explanation of JSOTF: "(…) the increased participation of our European SOF partners such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain in tactical training and MCC activities, underscores the importance of our desire for an international approach toward trans-border terrorist threats."

The Netherlands is regarding Flintlock as an exercise during which Special Forces train others and themselves, according to the Dutch ministry of Defence. It is not seen as an operation. This is despite the fact the US regards it as such and although there is a permanent command structure. But the semantics around the participation clearly shows the Netherlands are involved in the War on Terror or Operation Enduring Freedom on more than one front. Not only in Afghanistan, as is easily forgotten because of all attention for the new deployment in Kunduz.

Martin Broek

(edited by Frank van Schaik)

Sources:
* Zapatero ofrece a EE UU aumentar su presencia militar en España [Zapatero offered to increase U.S. military presence in Spain], Ignacio Cembrero, El Pais, Madrid December 7, 2010.
* Training in Trans-Sahara Africa, Max R. Blumenfeld, JSOTF-TS Public Affairs, GAO, Mali, December 13, 2010.
* Flintlock 2010 traint Afrikaanse troepen in Special Forces-operaties [Flintlock 2010 trains African troops for Special Forces operations], Defensiekrant no. 26, July 8, 2010.
* Spain joins anti-insurgency exercises, Jane's Defence Weekly, February 2nd, 2011.