The US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) has awarded Comtech Telecommunications’ subsidiary Comtech EF Data with a contract extension. The contract is valued at $4 million and calls for Comtech to deliver additional advanced time division multiple access (TDMA) interface processor (ATIP) production terminals. The original agreement was signed in April 2013 and required the delivery of an ATIP Layer-2 Ethernet bridging device to replace the Navy’s legacy TDMA interface processor. Comtech completed delivery of the initial contract earlier this year. SPAWAR has already funded $24.9 million of the $40.2 million total potential contract value for this program. Read more >>

The F35 Lightning II is known as the 5^th-generation fighter. It combines advanced stealth capabilities with fighter aircraft speed and agility. It additionally features fully-fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced logistics and sustainment. Roughly 200 pilots and more than 1800 maintainers have been trained on the F-35. Training is conducted at three separate training locations across the US, each having the full spectrum of the latest courseware, electronic classrooms, simulators, flight events and event-based maintenance training for their respective variants. Read more >>

In accordance with a contract awarded to them in 2010, Austal, a global defense prime contractor and a manufacturer and designer of commercial and defense ships, is responsible for fulfilling a $3.5 billion block-buy contract for 10 variant littoral combat ships. These littoral combat ships (LCS) are quick, highly maneuverable, and are networked combat ships which are the first of a new family of surface ships for the United States Navy. They were designed to meet the vital requirement for shallow draft vessels to function in coastal waters in order to counter the threats of quiet diesel submarines and coastal mines. Read more >>

At the end of June, the US Navy's EA-6B Prowler tactical jamming aircraft completed its final flight from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island as part of a sunset celebration commemorating the retirement of the aircraft. The aircraft, which was in service for 45 years, was retired last week with a three day commemoration at Whidbey Island where it took its final flight. Read more >>

General Atomics was awarded a contract to support the United States Navy’s future CVN 79 aircraft carrier, the John F. Kennedy. The undefinitized contract calls for General Atomics to produce the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) that will be used on the aircraft carrier. The EMALS system is a multi-megawatt electric power system that provides energy storage, power conversion, and a 100,000-horsepower electric motor. AAG allows arrestment of aircraft, lowering manning and maintenance, and provides higher reliability and safety margins. The company was awarded with the prime contract of providing EMALS and AAG systems for a previous aircraft carrier, CVN 78, in June 2009 of which completion is expected by July 2015. Read more >>