United Defense

United Defense Wins Contracts

United Defense, Industries, Inc announced today the award to NORSHIPCO a division of United States Marine Repair of 2 multi-year, multi-ship, cost plus contracts by the U.S. Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Repair (SUPSHIP), Portsmouth worth nearly $90 million if all options are exercised. The largest contract, for six LSD-41 and 48 class ships, puts the entire LSD fleet of this ship type on East and West coasts under maintenance contracts with United States Marine Repair, a subsidiary of United Defense. The Advance Planning award totals $52,610. The combined total contract award, if the Navy exercises all options, is approximately $64 million. The ships included in this award, all home-ported in Norfolk, are the USS OAK HILL, USS WHIDBEY ISLAND, USS GUNSTON HALL, USS ASHLAND, USS TORTUGA, and the USS CARTER HALL. The work package includes pier side and dry dock work, ship alterations, hull, mechanical and electrical repairs, modernization and habitability work and required emergent repairs. According to Tom Epley, NORSHIPCO's president and general manager, "Being awarded this long-term contract gives NORSHIPCO a greater ability to stabilize our work force and avoid the employment swings we often encounter under the fixed-price, single availability method of contracting." Epley indicated that the Navy is returning to multi-ship

NORSHIPCO to Purchase Dry Dock

United Defense Industries announced that NORSHIPCO has signed an agreement to to purchase Metro Machine Corp's 14,000-ton dry dock known as "Old Dominion." The dock, expected to be operational by the end of May, will be relocated to NORSHIPCO and placed in an area previously occupied by a similar size dock, which was retired two years ago. The agreement provides additional opportunities for the exchange of work and dry dock utilization.

DD(X) National Team Introduces Next-Generation Shipboard Radar

The DD(X) National Team, led by Northrop Grumman Corporation, has introduced the U.S. Navy's first shipboard active phased array multifunction radar, AN/SPY-3, designed to meet all horizon search and fire control requirements for the 21st century fleet. The SPY-3 multifunction radar, designed by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and introduced in a ribbon-cutting ceremony here yesterday, combines the functions provided by more than five separate radars currently aboard Navy surface

Tank Vessel Construction Assistance Program Launched

National Defense Tank Vessel Construction Assistance Program The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is soliciting competitive proposals for construction in the United States of new product tank vessels necessary to meet commercial and national defense needs of the United States and to be built with assistance under Subtitle D of the Maritime Security Act of 2003. Any U.S. citizen or U.S. shipyard may submit a proposal

DOD –Carriage of DOD Cargo

The Defense Acquisition Regulations System of the Department of Defense (DOD) promulgated a final rule establishing evaluation criteria for use in obtaining carriage of DOD cargo by a commercial vessel that considers the extent to which the offeror has had overhaul, repair, and maintenance work for covered vessels performed in shipyards located in the United States or Guam. The rule comes into effect immediately. 73 Fed. Reg. 70909  (November 24, 2008).

The Government Made Me Do It

When I was a child, I spent a good part of my time getting into trouble, as most children do. My favorite excuse was “someone else made me do it.” Unfortunately, my father was not a big fan of that excuse and I cannot recall one incident that was overlooked based on this defense. However, the Supreme Court of the United States has carved out such an excuse for equipment manufacturers that sell equipment or supplies to the United States military

U.S. Rep. Taylor: Navy Budget Insufficient

WASHINGTON, DC – After reviewing the President’s defense budget and hearing testimony from the Secretary of the Navy on Thursday, Congressman Gene Taylor (D-MS) expressed his concern about the number of ships funded under the FY06 defense budget request. “The Navy’s request for reductions in several important shipbuilding programs will leave the United States short of the fleet size needed to meet existing security requirements,” Taylor said.

Raytheon, U.S. Navy Sign $259.9m Contract

Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) is being awarded a $259.9m U.S. Navy contract to overhaul and upgrade 57 Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems and to provide ancillary equipment, spares, as well as additional technical support. The agreement calls for 40 sea-based Phalanx systems and 17 Centurion Land-Based Phalanx Weapon Systems. Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks

This Day in Naval History – Oct. 30

1775 - Congress authorizes four vessels for the defense of the United Colonies. 1799 - William Balch becomes Navy's first commissioned Chaplain. (Source: Navy News Service)

Marine & Hydrokinetic Power Holds Promise

Corporate Investment and government price supports are critical to expansion of the marine and hydrokinetic power sector says a recent report In many ways marine and hydrokinetic power systems offer one of the most promising areas for renewable energy development.  Marine and hydrokinetic resources – including ocean waves, tidal streams, river flows, ocean currents, and ocean thermal differences – are abundant, the technology is improving rapidly