A partnership between Navy Region Hawai‘i and Hawaiian Telcom has exponentially strengthened the reliability of Hawai‘i’s communications network through a successful fiber project on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Completed in early 2024, this multi-million dollar collaborative project enabled Hawaiian Telcom to directly link West O‘ahu and Metro O‘ahu utilizing a route that runs through Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Hawaiian Telcom deployed the largest fiber-optic cable ever installed in the state of Hawai‘i for this project.
“The need for higher-speed data transmission to support defense, government, commercial, and residential demands is fueling the expansion of fiber-optic networks nationwide,” said U.S. Congressman Ed Case. “This historic project provides massive capacity to support Hawai‘i’s growing strategic position in the Pacific region.
Keep up with more Hawaiian Telcom news here: https://lnkd.in/g6y9uF5t
The United States Space Force’s Commercial Satellite Communications Office unveiled projections for satellite communications contracts expected to be awarded over the next 12 months. The combined opportunities are potentially worth nearly $1.7 billion.
In a forecast to industry, the office known as CSCO identifies 10 upcoming contract opportunities, which it warns are subject to change.
The largest potential deal — worth nearly $900 million over seven years — is for secure satellite communications services for U.S. government aircraft that transport the nation’s highest-ranking officials and military leaders. This includes the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the heads of the military’s combatant commands and other senior leaders.
Read more from SpaceNewshttps://lnkd.in/ef_ggeuq
As a media partner to the Defence In Space 2023 Conference, we are proud to present this Q&A with experts on the increasing blend of military and secure commercial communications. Read the full article for insights on:
✅ The factors driving this trend
✅ Key aspects commercial satellite service providers should be aware of if they want to provide military services
✅ Confidentiality, secrecy and potential geopolitical risks to consider
Thank you to Lockheed Martin Space's Nik Smith and ST Engineering iDirect's Dave Davis MBE for taking the time to share their insights with us.
This is a very difficult, but I believe, correct decision which unfortunately has cost not only public money but perhaps more importantly it has cost time in the lifecycle of the MORPHEUS programme.
30 years ago we specified BOWMAN top-down as a “solution independent requirement” in the BPR and we ended up creating a bespoke, closed system. With the benefit of hindsight this approach is not one we want, need or can afford, to repeat.
In the BOWMAN era technology was very often the limiting factor. By contrast in today’s world actually deciding what we want and going through a traditional linear procurement process are the difficulties.
A military communications system like MORPHEUS ultimately has to be delivered by equipment put in the hands of, or into the vehicles of, the warfighter. This equipment needs to be versatile, reliable, multi-waveform and interoperable and at the same time cost effective to procure and support through life.
So rather than top-down the new solution has to be built bottom-up on a solid foundation of available equipment taking advantage of the ease of integration offered by software APIs and standards based protocols and procured using not traditional linear procurement but incremental, agile procurement.
I am personally looking forward to seeing the next steps which must put a step change in operational capability into the hands of our warfighters ASAP.
#bowman#morpheus#agileprocurement#bottomup
The UK government has ended a £395mn contract with General Dynamics after the US defence company failed to deliver a key part of a programme for the British Army’s new military communications system.
The £3.2bn next-generation tactical communications system, known as Morpheus, is due to replace technology first introduced almost 20 years ago.
General Dynamics should have provided a “lab-tested design” for a key part of the project in December 2020. But James Cartlidge, the defence procurement minister, said in a written statement on Thursday that delivery against the original timescale was “not met” and that progress on the Morpheus project had fallen “short of what we expected”.
As a result, he added, the contract “has now been concluded”.
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions (Nasdaq: KTOS) has secured a potential eight-year, $579 million contract from Space Systems Command to provide satellite communication support to the U.S. Space Force and SSC.
The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract includes a $146.3 million task order for the continuation of command and control sustainment services as well as systems and software engineering and modernization, SSC said Wednesday.
Kratos is expected to support the Defense Satellite Communications System III, Wideband Global Satellite, Milstar Satellite Communications System and Advanced Extremely High Frequency systems.
The contract will also seek to address challenges in data sharing and obsolete technologies within the Space Force’s military satellite command. The performance period begins on Dec. 1, 2023, and is targeted for completion on Nov. 30, 2031.
Looking for opportunities to support such efforts? CRG: Your gateway to success in securing & managing government contracts. Contact us today: https://crgroupinc.com/ - contact@crgroupinc.com#federalcontracting#commandandcontrol#contractaward#satellitecommunications#softwareengineering#modernization
I've had the good fortune to know a handful of engineers who worked on Morpheus. I say good fortune because they were able to wave me off joining GD when the recruiters came knocking. The Morpheus project was clearly and evidently headed for disaster as far back as 2016. The confluence of Canadian 'slave driver' senior management - well intentioned but crushed from above and below British middle management, and overworked, underpaid and frequently turning over engineering staff painted a dire picture for the project.
Having worked for 'too big to fail' defence giants, my main takeaway is how unspoken but obvious it was that large defence companies do not provide good value for money. I firmly believe that most defence giants have exceeded a critical mass, whereby they have become bloated, exorbitantly expensive and fundamentally unproductive.
Having discussed at length with ex GD engineers the extreme pressures from senior leadership, and the obvious focus on extracting as much money from the contract, regardless of output - knowing it was "Fundamentally undeliverable", it comes as no surprise to see it end in this way. I only wish it happened sooner, at less of a cost.
The UK government has ended a £395mn contract with General Dynamics after the US defence company failed to deliver a key part of a programme for the British Army’s new military communications system.
The £3.2bn next-generation tactical communications system, known as Morpheus, is due to replace technology first introduced almost 20 years ago.
General Dynamics should have provided a “lab-tested design” for a key part of the project in December 2020. But James Cartlidge, the defence procurement minister, said in a written statement on Thursday that delivery against the original timescale was “not met” and that progress on the Morpheus project had fallen “short of what we expected”.
As a result, he added, the contract “has now been concluded”.
Complete Guide To "Next Generation Military Power Supply"
A Comprehensive (PDF) Guide: (https://lnkd.in/ddRg7H2G)
The market is anticipated to expand due to the increasing defense spending worldwide. Heightened global security concerns prompt nations to allocate substantial budgets for advanced military capabilities. This financial commitment drives investments in cutting-edge technologies including resilient & efficient power supply systems to enhance the operational effectiveness and technological superiority of armed forces across diverse defense applications.
Next Generation Military Power Supply Market Trends
The emerging trends in military power supply system revolve around continuous R&D efforts in batteries and supercapacitors, leading to advancements in energy storage technologies. This trend aims to enhance power density, increase efficiency, and improve the overall system performance. The focus is on developing energy storage solutions that can deliver more power in a compact and lightweight form, addressing the unique needs of modern military platforms for extended missions, portability, and increased energy resilience in diverse operational environments.
The new reality for #HF communications
#Highfrequency (HF) beyond line of sight (#BLOS) #communications are enjoying a renaissance, being one of the few technologies that can reliably provide connectivity between any two points on the planet. Here, ship to shore communications are designed to help naval vessels maintain reliable connectivity while offshore, enabling them to access real-time data and voice communications when out of range from costal systems.
Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/604299Jz2
Before the end of the year, the AUKUS nations will field a new “trilateral algorithm” allowing them to share information from P-8 sonobuoys between each other, the first piece of tangible AUKUS Pillar II technology to hit the field. It might seem small, but that capability is exactly the kind of synergising, forward-moving tech that the trilateral agreement between the United States, Untied Kingdom and Australia is after, according to Michael Horowitz, the Pentagon’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Development and Emerging Capabilities.
https://lnkd.in/dQ2YrXDp
The President’s FY25 proposed defense budget is a starting point. We will continue working with Congress and the Administration to ensure the Defense Department has the vital national security capabilities it needs to enable the U.S. and its allies and partners to deter and outpace the threats of today and tomorrow. A threat-based budget is necessary to strengthen military readiness and ensure the U.S. maintains its technological edge in airpower, seapower, space, integrated air and missile defense and hypersonics. https://lnkd.in/eKC6xC5K
Bravo Zulu!