IDS News

WARNER ROBINS, GA - IDS and Strategic Enterprise Solutions, Inc. have partnered to provide support under the Small Business Acquisition Sustainment Tool (SbAST) program to Robins AFB through the Advanced Modification Solutions Joint Venture (AMS JV) contract number FA8530-11-0003. The SbAST Program requirements include USAF equipment modifications, upgrades, enhancements, depot maintenance and repair. In addition, services that are not reasonably severable from the modification, upgrades, enhancements, depot maintenance or repair efforts may be included. SbAST may include one-time spares and repairs which qualify as critical, limited, and/or contingency and sole source logical follow- on services to a SbAST contractor or subcontractor.

The basic period of performance for this contract runs through 2013 with option periods extending through 2017.

FRANKLIN, MA - Integrated Defense Solutions, Inc. will attend the 2011 Helo Week Show in Stone Mountain, GA from June 19-24, 2011, showcasing IDS products and services at their display and demonstration booth as well as attending various industry seminars conducted throughout the show.

The the Robins AFB-sponsored conference provides an annual opportunity for the military, commercial operators, suppliers, service centers, and contractors in the rotary wing aircraft community to congregate, educate and exchange ideas about USAF HH-60G, UH-1H/V, UH-1N, and TH-1H platforms.

LAS VEGAS, NV - IDS participated in the 2011 A-10 and F-16 Aircraft Systems Requirements Review Conference, displaying and demonstrating avionics tests sets with the support of Kerry Clark, their partner at Amptec Research, Austin, TX. In addition to the jointly-developed IDS 653J test set, the Amptec 620A-4 and 620UKB and the Tel-Instrument Electronics Corp. TR-100 were showcased in the IDS booth.

The A-10 and F-16 ASRRC Conference was hosted by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command and intended to prioritize requirements for A-10 and F-16 software, hardware and support equipment for future aircraft modifications and upgrades.

BEDFORD, MA – Mark D. Drengberg, President of Integrated Defense Solutions, Inc., was honored as the commencement speaker for the National Aviation Academy graduating class of March, 2011 at ceremonies held on their Hanscom Field campus. Mr. Drengberg, a 1994 NAA alumnus, was introduced by academy director Curtis Marion and spoke to students of the honor and responsibility inherent with their chosen field. He also explained IDS was founded in 2004 on the belief the company could perform more effectively than the large defense corporations where he had worked for 20 years and reminded the students of their ability to make a positive difference in everything they do as IDS strives for in all endeavors.

As an example of how IDS makes a difference, Mr. Drengberg related the tragic story of an MH-53 helicopter loss with all aboard during combat operations in Afghanistan due in part to a failure to release external fuel tanks. This led to the development of the IDS 653J JSSE and Digital Multimeter with the cooperation of US Airforce personnel in Hurlburt Field, Florida for simplified, safe testing of tank release squibs while installed on the aircraft. IDS designed, produced and delivered the completed units 14 weeks ahead of schedule.

In conclusion, Mr. Drengberg provided four key pieces of advice to students:

• Surround yourself with the best people you can
• Remember where you started, treat everyone with respect and conduct yourself with humility
• Ask questions as the industry changes daily and the input of maintenance personnel can make a big difference
• Be passionate in your work and life

National Aviation Academy, headquartered in Clearwater, Florida with an additional campus location in Bedford, MA, is a nationally-recognized aviation maintenance training school and the first National Center for Aircraft Technician Training Center in the world. The NAA curriculum prepares students for Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant Certification. The academy has been training students in New England since 1932 and in the Tampa Bay area since 1969.

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Integrated Defense Solutions will attend the A-10 and F-16 Avionics System Requirements Review Conference at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from April 11-15, 2011. IDS will showcase products including test sets from partners Tel-Instruments Electronics Corporation and AMPTEC Research in the vendor exhibit hall. Additionally, IDS will participate in various seminars to be conducted during the conference proceedings. The A-10 and F-16 ASRRC is hosted by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command and is intended to prioritize requirements for A-10 and F-16 software, hardware and support equipment for future aircraft modifications and upgrades.

SHARJAH, UAE – Concluding a two-year procurement and modification cycle, in December, 2011, Integrated Defense Solutions, Inc. and partners ARINC and Airfreight Aviation Ltd. delivered the 10th and final Mi-17CNT helicopter to US and coalition forces stationed in Afghanistan. The specially-modified Mi-17 V-5 helicopters were outfitted with equipment to support counter narco-terrorism operations in hostile areas and the physically demanding flight environments within the mountainous terrain and extremes of temperature common within Afghanistan. The completed helicopters were airlifted directly from AAL facilities in the United Arab Emirates to Kabul, Afghanistan via Antonov-124 transport aircraft where they were immediately placed into service after post-transport reassembly and final inspection.

IDS provided procurement, logistical, program, analytical and liaison services to its partners in support of the procurement and modification of the aircraft. IDS also supported the acquisition process, airframe and aircraft acceptance from Kazan Helicopter, and airframe and avionics modification and acceptance at Airfreight Aviation Ltd in Sharjah, UAE. IDS is proud to have been an integral part of the team responsible for providing these much-needed aircraft to US and coalition forces abroad.

ROBINS AFB, GA - Recently team members of the 580th Aircraft Sustainment Group of the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB, Georgia, announced the delivery of a test set for the MH-53J/M helicopter 14 weeks ahead of contract delivery schedule. The contractor is Integrated Defense Solutions (IDS), a woman-owned small business located in South Easton, Massachusetts. The MH-53 J/M Pave Low helicopter is configured with dual 650-gallon auxiliary fuel tanks that are necessary for extended operational range of the aircraft. The auxiliary tank pylons have a jettison system that allows the aircrew to jettison the tanks during emergency situations. Currently the Air Force does not have a dedicated MH-53 J/M test set for testing the integrity of the system wiring and the functionality of the tank jettison system. Maintenance personnel use common support equipment and procedures to check the system wiring; however, the existing equipment does not check for loose wires, corrosion, bad circuit breakers, or other electrical problems. Over a length of time, the system may accumulate such problems which in turn may hinder the ability of the system to jettison the tanks during an emergency. The need for the test set was further advanced as a result of a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. In April 2006, IDS was awarded a contract to produce a prototype MH-53 J/M test set, along with production sets, as a result of a small business set-aside competition. This test set will perform all checks needed to insure the safe and proper operation of the jettison system, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the MH-53 helicopters. The 580 Aircraft Sustainment Group team members are pleased with the performance of the IDS test set along with their delivering so far ahead of schedule.

Arthur Borbor
580 ACSSS/GFEAD
Robins AFB GA
(478) 926-6624
E-mail: arthur.barbor@robins.af.mil