Contract Award: TWD to provide enterprise IT services and support for US Naval Sea Systems Command

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, TWD has been awarded a $121 million SeaPort-e Task Order by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). Working directly with the Command Information Office (CIO), TWD will provide enterprise IT services and support.

Provided Services

Under the Seaport Enhanced contract, TWD provides professional engineering, technical and programmatic support services for the US Naval Sea Systems Command's Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUSC), headquarters, and its field activities.

Services available under this contract span the entire spectrum of product areas supported by the Warfare Centers and may cover a range of technical skills including: research, technology development, concept exploration, design and demonstration, prototyping and fabrication, test and evaluation, certification, deployment, life cycle sustainment, operation and maintenance, improvement, modernization, overhaul, demilitarization and disposal.

Under the terms of the agreement, TWD and its team will support NAVSEA in critical areas including, but not limited to:

• Microsoft® SharePoint® Development and Administration
• Network Architecture and Design
• Systems Management and Virtualization
• IP and PBX Telecommunications Services
• Video Teleconferencing Support
• NAVSEA Headquarters Information Assurance Support
• Certification and Accreditation Lifecycle Support
• Applications Lifecycle Management
• IT Solutions Engineering
• Data Warehousing and Archiving Support
• NMCI/CoSC/NGEN Support

The Context

The US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is the largest of the Navy's five system commands. With a fiscal year 2008 budget of $24.8 billion, NAVSEA accounts for nearly one quarter of the Navy's entire budget.

NAVSEA is comprised of command staff, headquarters directorates, affiliated Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and numerous field activities. With a force of 53,000 civilian, military and contract support personnel, NAVSEA engineers, builds, buys and maintains the US Navy's ships and submarines and their combat systems.

The origin of NAVSEA dates to 1794, when Commodore John Barry was charged to oversee the construction of a 44-gun frigate and ensure that all business "harmonized and conformed" to the public's interest. Today, the NAVSEA organization has 33 activities in 16 states. NAVSEA strives to be an efficient provider of defense resources for the nation, and it plays an important role in the US Navy Enterprise. As a Provider Command, it has the responsibility of directing resource sponsors into the proper mix of manpower and resources to properly equip the fleet.

NAVSEA has the further responsibility of establishing and enforcing technical authority in combat system design and operation. These technical standards use the organization's technical expertise to ensure systems are engineered effectively, and that they operate safely and reliably.

Comments

“This win is the largest unrestricted task order in TWD’s history and represents a big step forward in the company’s development,” said Larry Besterman, CEO and President, TWD. “We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with the Department of Defense.”

“We are honored to have the opportunity to support NAVSEA,” added Besterman. “We look forward to delivering technology value that streamlines processes to ensure NAVSEA’s mission is achieved efficiently and cost-effectively. Our goal is to swiftly identify NAVSEA’s challenges and deliver integrated solutions, all while maintaining existing operations that create high value for the customer”
References: TWD (1,2), NAVSEA (3)

RemoteView: Textron's imagery and geospatial analysis software

RemoteView's Multi-band Analysis Display

News Report

As reported in a recent press release, Overwatch, an operating unit of Textron, announced the release of RemoteView Pro 3.2.2, the latest version of its imagery and geospatial analysis software with enhancements that better integrate intelligence data and improve the intelligence workflow.

The Product

RemoteView Pro incorporates a broad range of capabilities for intelligence exploitation of geospatial information, including: Image Quality Enhancements, Change Detection Tools, Image Mosaics, Stereo Viewing, Full Motion Video Analysis, Multi-Spectral Analysis, GIS and Vector Integration, Map Composition, 3D Terrain Visualization, and Flight Simulation.

The latest SW version, i.e. RemoteView Pro Version 3.2.2, upgrades the software's Research & Negation (R&N) capabilities into one unified interface for reviewing multiple images simultaneously. RemoteView's GeoCatalog capability is now able to ingest Digital Point Positioning Database (DPPDB) data sets to facilitate locating image pairs, which enable users to conduct precise positioning. Large scale mosaics also are now easier than ever to create with enhancements made to RemoteView's Virtual Mosaic extension.

In June 2011, Overwatch already added the V-TRAC Pro extension and TerraGo GeoPDF production capabilities to its RemoteView Pro software. The V-TRAC Pro extension expands RemoteView's full motion video (FMV) analysis to include live stream capture and automated report generation for FMV exploitation across all phases of analysis on a laptop computer. The GeoPDF software extension facilitates convenient publishing of geo-referenced content to a PDF file, which may then be easily accessed and used by individuals with little or no geographic information systems (GIS) experience.

Comments

"Data fusion and sharing across Overwatch's integrated software solutions supports merged data streams, powerful analytical tools, and intuitive displays of the resulting information - creating new and needed capabilities for today's analysts," explained Stuart Blundell, Overwatch vice president of geospatial products and services. "These RemoteView enhancements, together with recently added extensions, come from our listening closely to our customers and then delivering reliable solutions for them to do their important work."

Additional Information

• RemoteView (brochure)

References: Textron (1, 2)

Processing SIGINT with game graphics

News Report

An intriguing piece appeared recently on Defense News, reporting that the same kinds of computer processors that project movie-quality video game graphics will soon sift signals intelligence collections for Armed Forces, in particular on board of SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) airborne systems.

Signals intelligence is defined as the operation of intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people communicating devices (COMINT, communications intelligence), whether involving electronic signals not directly used in communication (ELINT, electronic intelligence).

With the airwaves expected to get even more crowded, Curtiss-Wright and its main competitor, Mercury Computing Systems, are repurposing graphics processing units as the next step in the evolution of SIGINT computing. Adding general-purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs) to embedded computers would help the military classify signals faster and with more fidelity, experts from both companies said. Some signals need to be jammed for electronic warfare applications; others must be demodulated and turned into audio eavesdropping feeds; others will be used to map enemy air defenses or to peg the geographic location of the person who is doing the transmitting. All these tasks must be done without interfering with the military's own signals or bringing civilian communications to a halt.

GPU-equipped computers are not yet processing SIGINT in the field, but the devices are moving rapidly toward deployment. Manufacturers know GPGPUs well, however, because they are already being used in the imagery intelligence camp.

Read the Full Story

Bringing the nine-man squad into the 21st century

News Report

As reported in an attention-grabbing piece appeared on ASDNews, the US Army is working to provide the infantry squad an overmatch in combat capability through the network and immersive training. The goal is to improve lethality, survivability, power energy, and mobility.

"We really started looking at the tactical small unit, based on what's happened over the last 10 years, and we said, where is the fight too fair? Where do we not have overwhelming ability to overmatch our enemies," said Maj. Gen. Robert B. Brown, commanding general of the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, at the 2011 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition.

"The Soldier needs to be networked, mobile, linked digitally and have knowledge of the environments. Almost 70 years after World War II, we still don't have dismounts in the network. And the enemy strategy, of course, is to bleed us by a thousand cuts. And they know that they can have a fair fight against that squad, hiding in among the populace," he said.

"Right now, when we go to do a precision mission, we're in pretty good shape," Brown explained. "But when we're out there on patrol and we're moving not to a precision-type mission, 75 to 80 percent of the time, we're reacting to the enemy. We can do better than that."

"Soldiers come in the Army today with a digital comfort. They're digital natives. And we actually take them out of their comfort zone when we take their cell phones away and we put them out there," Brown said. "They get a comfort from being connected digitally. If they can text, if they can communicate, they can spread apart and do more of the digital comfort aspect. This has been huge in this as we've been looking at the squad."

Read the Full Story

Contract Award: General Dynamics to provide information assurance and cyber security services to US Defense Intelligence Agency

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, General Dynamics has been awarded an $86 million task order to provide information assurance and cyber security services to US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in the U.S. and worldwide. The single-award task order, competed under the Solutions for the Information Technology Enterprise (SITE) contract, will extend to May 2016 if all options are exercised.

Through the contract, General Dynamics will provide services to ensure the security, authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of the DIA’s information, as well as computer network defense of the DIA’s enterprise-level assets, networks, security domains and data resources globally.

The Context

General Dynamics currently operates approximately 20 security operations centers (SOCs) and 15 critical incident response teams. General Dynamics sustains also the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s SOC, providing around the clock support to ensure network and information security for more than 70,000 users.  The SOC processes tens of millions of events per month, cutting through the noise to identify and handle hundreds of actionable incidents.

In April 2011, General Dynamics Information Technology became the first Healthcare Application Service Provider hosting environment to receive Common Security Framework (CSF) Certified status from the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST). The achievement follows a three-week audit of the processes and procedures. HITRUST established the CSF to be used by organizations that create, access, store or exchange personal health and financial information. The CSF is an information security framework that integrates the requirements of existing government and third party standards and regulations. This certified framework provides organizations with the needed structure, detail and clarity relating to information security tailored to the healthcare industry.

General Dynamics was selected by the Defense Intelligence Agency for the Solutions for the Information Technology Enterprise (SITE) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract in May 2010. General Dynamics plans to hire 80 employees to support this contract. The work will be performed in the Washington, D.C., area and at U.S. Department of Defense combatant commands worldwide.

Comments

“General Dynamics will provide the highest level of information assurance and cyber security support to DIA’s enterprise, networks and security domains,” said Thomas Kirchmaier, senior vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Information Technology’s Intelligence Solutions Division. “Our cadre of cyber professionals has over 40 years of experience supporting the DIA worldwide and will provide unparalleled service.”

“This contract enables General Dynamics to continue providing exceptional and responsive services in safeguarding critical DIA and Department of Defense networks and information systems,” said Ron Ehrenfeld, vice president and general manager of the Defense Agencies Sector of General Dynamics Information Technology’s Intelligence Solutions Division.

References: General Dynamics (1,2)

Cyber update: the most targeted industry in the world (1.2 billion attacks per day)

News Report

Vincent Blake, Raytheon's head of cyber security in UK, reported during a panel session at the RSA security conference in London that the defense company's computer network came under a torrent of cyberattacks after it began selling missiles to Taiwan in 2006.

"For some reason, a country next door to Taiwan didn't really like that so they got very interested in our IPR," he said. "We've had to very, very rapidly catch up with our own internal networks."

Now, the company sees an incredible 1.2 billion attacks on its network per day, Blake said. About 4 million spam messages target Raytheon's users, and the company sees some 30,000 samples per day of so-called Advanced Persistent Threats, or stealthy malware that seeks to stay long-term on infected computers and slowly withdraw sensitive information.

Last year, Raytheon detected 138 zero-day attacks against some 5,000 employees, he said.

Last week, Blake said Raytheon saw its first cloud-based attack on its network: 20 Raytheon employees received a targeted e-mail with a link to an application hosted with a cloud service provider. The style of attack -- a malicious email -- is a typical social engineering technique known as spear phishing that can give hackers an easy foothold in an organization. Unfortunately, two people clicked on the link, Blake said.

Read the Full Story (Computer World)

MEADS network-centric architecture under integration testing

MEADS BMC4I Centre

News Report

As reported in a recent press release, MEADS International (MI) has begun integration testing on the first completed Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) battle manager at the MEADS Verification Facility in Orlando, U.S.A.

The battle manager completed acceptance testing in May at MBDA in Fusaro, Italy, and arrived in Orlando in early July.

The System

The MEADS battle manager controls a revolutionary network-centric open architecture that allows any combination of sensors and launchers to be organized into a single air and missile defense battle element. Through a capability called “plug-and-fight,” sensors, shooters or other battle managers act as nodes on the network. From the MEADS battle manager, a commander can add or subtract nodes as the situation dictates without shutting down the system.

System elements are on schedule for an initial launch test at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) later this year.

Using the MEADS system stimulator, which consists of multiple special test equipment units for integration and test to emulate the external environment of a MEADS fire unit, MEADS International will simulate scenarios that exercise all functions for the first intercept flight test in 2012. The MEADS battle manager will configure the other major end items and receive Surveillance Radar tracks for simulated threats, cue the Multifunction Fire Control Radar, send launch commands, and complete interceptor launches and target intercepts. When integration test goals have been met, this entire suite of hardware will be shipped to WSMR to support the flight test program.

The Context

MEADS International, a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Fla., is the prime contractor for the MEADS system. Major subcontractors and joint venture partners are MBDA in Italy, LFK in Germany (a German missile systems company subsidiary of EADS) and Lockheed Martin in the United States.

The United States funds 58 percent of the MEADS program, and European partners Germany and Italy provide 25 percent and 17 percent respectively as partners in the NATO Medium Extended Air Defense System Management Organization (NAMEADSMO).

MEADS is a mobile Air and Missile Defense System that is easily transportable, tactically mobile and uses the hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE Missile to defeat tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft, providing full 360-degree engagement. Because it has no blind spots against the evolving threat and offers improved range, interoperability and mobility, MEADS improves capability to defend troops, friends and allies in critical areas around the globe.

MEADS defends up to 8 times the coverage area of other systems but uses far fewer system assets. This allows for a substantial reduction in deployed personnel and equipment, and reduces demand for airlift.

Comments

MEADS International (MI) President David Berganini said, “The MEADS system is ready to prove what it can do. MEADS will demonstrate coverage and flexibility that other systems cannot provide, including complete 360-degree defense that protects our warfighters against next-generation threats. While able to defend up to eight times the area of current systems, MEADS is also designed to reduce operation and support costs.”

MI Systems Engineering, Integration and Test Team Director Norbert Wuehrer said, “Using our end-to-end simulation lets us test more rigorously and significantly reduces risk prior to deploying to White Sands Missile Range.”

References: Lockheed Martin (1,2)

Contract Award: Adapx to build Natural Command and Control User Interfaces for US Army

News Report

As announces in a recent press release, Adapx has been awarded a contract by the US Army Research Laboratory's Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC) to build advanced speech and sketch interfaces for course-of-action simulators. The Capturx natural interfaces enable commanders of small units to model outcomes faster and improve decision making without the distractions and data-capture obstacles of today’s complex C2 and C4ISR interfaces.

The contract covers Adapx technology which commanders can use to create digital courses of action by speaking commands as they sketch on digital maps using touch-screen computers. Commanders will be able to enter data into computer simulators by using their standard operating procedures – speaking in natural military jargon and sketching plans and military symbols on maps. With the click of a button, the spoken and sketched commands become digital courses of action for immediate simulation.

The Technology

Capturx Command and Control Solutions enable Warfighters to quickly capture Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data or create digital courses of action using speech and sketch with touch-screen computers in vehicles or Android handhelds when dismounted. With Capturx Forms and GIS solutions, Warfighters can instantly capture and share data written on paper forms and maps using digital pens which integrate data directly into central databases, GIS, and C4ISR systems.

The Context

Capturx was created in conjunction with DARPA and is used by a range of civilian, military and intelligence teams to dramatically speed up a range of map-based command and control.

The STTC is a subordinate organization under the Research, Development and Engineering Command's US Army Research Laboratory that engages with other services, academia and industry to research and mature critical simulation and training technologies to increase Warfighter battlefield readiness and performance.

The center's research focus is technology in the areas of intelligent tutors, immersive learning environments, human agent teaming, dismounted Soldier training, virtual world technologies, mobile applications and medical simulators and simulations.

Comments

“Warfighters across all echelons can greatly benefit from powerful simulation tools to model outcomes of potential courses of action and make better decisions,” said COL Craig Langhauser, Commander, STTC. “Natural user interfaces can help make these powerful tools more accessible to small units and dismounted warfighters, who need portability, streamlined data input, and minimal distractions.”

“We’re pleased that agencies continue looking to Adapx and Capturx products for innovative ways to speed up field data capture and collaboration,” said Ken Schneider, CEO of Adapx. “Our new Capturx natural user interfaces for command and control for in-vehicle systems and Android handhelds will make it even easier for Warfighters to capture and share actionable data.”

Additional Information

• Capturx videos (link)
• Capturx for C4ISR (pdf)

References: Adapx (1,2)