Wednesday, March 19, 2025

AeroSpace & Defense News

 1

Kratos Breaks Ground on $50M State-of-the-Art Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility

 Kratos Defense & Security Solutions ©

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company specializing in defense, national security, and global markets, today announced the groundbreaking of Kratos’ Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) in Crane, Indiana. This state-of-the-art 68,000-square-foot office, laboratory, integration and test complex will support critical hypersonic vehicle and payload activities and systems for the Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Testbed (MACH-TB) program. The project demonstrates Kratos’ commitment to advancing hypersonic system payload integration and test capabilities and expanding crucial infrastructure needed to accelerate the time to Mach 5+ flight testing.

With an investment in construction and equipment estimated to exceed $50 million, the Kratos IPIF is being designed for rapid, affordable preparation of experimental payloads to significantly boost the tempo of flight testing for next-generation hypersonic systems and technologies and to accelerate the development of advanced weapons systems. The facility is expected to create over 100 high-tech jobs, with an estimated average annual wage of $80,000+. IPIF operational readiness is expected by the end of 2026.

The hypersonic system IPIF expands Kratos’ footprint in Indiana and complements the recently announced agreement with Kratos and RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., launching Prometheus Energetics LLC (Prometheus), a new U.S.-based merchant supplier of Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) and other energetics with Prometheus headquarters and production campus located on an approximate 550-acre site in Bloomfield, Indiana, at ACMI’s National Security Industrial Hub (NSIH).

Hypersonic Weapons - Market and Technology Forecast to 2030

Hypersonic Weapons - Market and Technology Forecast to 2030

Market forecasts by Region, Type, and by End-User. Country Analysis, Market and Technology Overview, Opportunities and Scenario Analysis, and Leading Company Profiles

Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, said: “The Kratos Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility represents a strategic investment in our Nation’s hypersonic infrastructure, workforce and capabilities. Kratos is committed to achieving, if not exceeding, the MACH-TB program’s primary goals, which include, increasing the cadence of flight tests and to mature and qualify advanced hypersonic technologies. Kratos’ IPIF will provide a vital commercial launch vehicle environmental test and assembly capability to supplement existing DoD and NASA facilities.”

Mike Braun, Governor of Indiana, welcomed Kratos, highlighting the state’s growing role in national security and advanced defense technology: “Kratos' decision to establish operations here further cements Indiana’s position as a national leader in defense innovation and advanced manufacturing. This investment will not only create high-paying jobs for Hoosiers but will also strengthen our state’s role in supporting the Department of Defense’s critical missions. We are proud to welcome Kratos to Indiana and look forward to future partnership and the economic and technological benefits Kratos will bring to our defense ecosystem and the region.”

Mr. George Rumford, Director of the DoD Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), emphasized the importance of collaboration between DoD and industry to advance national strategic objectives: "As the U.S. accelerates hypersonic development and testing, we must take a ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to ensure our warfighters have the capabilities they need to stay ahead of emerging threats. State-of-the-art facilities in industry such as Kratos’ Indiana Payload Integration Facility will significantly enhance our ability to rapidly test next-generation hypersonic systems.”

The hypersonic system IPIF marks one of several strategic investments Kratos is making in the region located near Naval Support Activity Crane. Designed to serve as a key hub for defense innovation, the facility will support integration activities working with government and industry partners.

State and local leaders joined Kratos executives at the groundbreaking ceremony, recognizing the facility’s importance in supporting regional economic growth and technological advancement.

"We are thrilled to officially welcome Kratos to the WestGate@Crane Technology Park and eagerly anticipate their success in the Indiana Uplands’ regional defense community,” said Bryant Niehoff, CEO of the Uplands Science & Technology Foundation (USTF), a nonprofit foundation established to lead the physical development and enhance the vitality of WestGate@Crane. “Collaboration is at the very foundation of our tri-county technology park. Today’s announcement is a testament to our collaborative efforts, backed by local support from the Daviess County Council and Economic Development Corporation, as well as regional and state-level commitment through the IEDC’s READI program, spearheaded in our region by the Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI).”

Kratos remains at the forefront of hypersonic and advanced technology development and testing, providing affordable, high-performance solutions to meet the needs of the U.S. military and allied nations. Kratos was recently selected as the prime contractor for the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program under Task Area 1, leading the effort to implement efficiency and affordability initiatives to increase hypersonic flight test tempo and effectiveness. Kratos is the only company delivering both propulsion and flyer systems, which includes Kratos’ low cost Erinyes Hypersonic Flyer, Dark Fury, Zeus and Oriole Solid Rocket Motors, along with other Kratos systems and technologies. Kratos provides unmatched innovation, disruptive capabilities, mission responsiveness and affordability to our customers across our portfolio of systems.


Publishdate:
Mar 18, 2025
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
View original News release

 

2

KBR Awarded Estimated $229M Contract for US Army Cargo Helicopter Systems

KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced it has been awarded an estimated $229M recompete task order under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoDIAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle to provide life cycle research and analysis for U.S. Army Cargo Helicopter Systems. These DoD IAC MAC task orders are awarded by the U.S. Air Force's 774 Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge for the enhancement of the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) repository and the research and development and science and technology community. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama over a period of five years.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will research, analyze, assess, and develop recommendations to increase availability, improve reliability, and reduce support costs for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter for Cargo Helicopter (CH) Project Management Office (PMO) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) partners. To achieve this objective, KBR will perform maintainability, quality, supportability, and interoperability analyses and strategies. The team will also provide logistics management, testing program management, independent verification and validation, and life cycle and cost analyses to refine and improve sustainability initiatives.

The CH-47 Chinook is a critical workhorse of the Army fleet used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and disaster relief as well as combat operations.

Military Aircraft Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) - Market and Technology Forecast to 2031

Military Aircraft Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) - Market and Technology Forecast to 2031

Market forecasts by MRO Type, Platform and Region. Country Analysis, Market and Technology Overview, Opportunities and Impact Analysis, and Leading Company Profiles

“This is a significant win for KBR and we’re proud to continue supporting this important program and the wider U.S. Department of Defense,” said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and CEO. “Our subject matter experts play an important role in developing and maintaining systems for the U.S. military, which is critical for national security.”

For more than 35 years, KBR has supported the Aviation PEO and the company is a 10-year incumbent on predecessor contracts to perform work on U.S. Army CH-47 helicopters.

“The DoDIAC, sponsored by the Defense Technical Information Center, provides technical data management and research support for DoD and federal government users. Established in 1946, the IAC program serves the DoD science & technology (S&T) and acquisition communities to drive innovation and technological developments by enhancing collaboration through integrated scientific and technical information development and dissemination for the DoD and broader S&T community”.

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 38,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 29 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding performance periods, contract values and project outcomes, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which discuss some of the important risks, uncertainties and assumptions that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.


Publishdate:
Mar 18, 2025

Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe Conference 2025

Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe Conference 2025

Prague, Czech Republic
May 21 - 22, 2025

 

No comments:

CANAMEX >>> Nouriel Roubini Says US, Mexico, and Canada Should Form a New Economic Union

Mar 21, 2025   Nouriel Roubini, senior advisor at Hudson Bay Capital and NYU Stern Profess...