{"id":2230,"date":"2019-08-08T01:57:41","date_gmt":"2019-08-08T01:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bidlink.net\/news\/?p=2230"},"modified":"2019-08-08T17:31:40","modified_gmt":"2019-08-08T17:31:40","slug":"types-of-ground-support-equipment-the-defense-department-buys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bidlink.net\/news\/2019\/08\/types-of-ground-support-equipment-the-defense-department-buys\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Ground Support Equipment the Defense Department Buys"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Guided<\/a>
Marines on the flight deck of the USS Essex loading a Guided Bomb Unit (GBU) onto an F-35 from a Ground Support Equipment – Munitions Transporter (Photo credit: Chandler Harrell)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today we will briefly review a few types of Ground Support Equipment (mechanical equipment) used by the U.S. Military to move and load weapons onto fighter aircraft.\u00a0 In addition discuss the lack of competition<\/em><\/strong> when it comes to manufacturers producing Ground Support Equipment (GSE) items and spare parts.<\/p>\n

The Ground Support Equipment items we are referring to fall under the sub category of Ordnance Handling Equipment (OHE).\u00a0 Other names you might see when referring to Ground Support Equipment used to move munitions are Aviation Ground Support Equipment (AGSE), Material Handling Equipment (MHE), Ammunition Handling Equipment (AHE) or Weapons Handling Equipment (WHE).\u00a0 Government contracts for metal fabrication shops or machine shops would be found in any of these categories.\u00a0 Most of the items we reviewed below with the exception of the MHU-83 are all simple non powered mechanical devices that are hand operated.<\/p>\n

Government contracting opportunities are virtually endless as this article you are reading came about while researching past government contract data for another article we published about Hydraulic Jacks with no competition<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 The knowledge of Department of Defense past contract awards and procurement history of each item can lead your company to other government contracting opportunities as the \u201cpast contracts tell the story<\/em><\/strong>\u201d.\u00a0 As we researched past contracts for our \u201cHydraulic Jacks article\u201d we found other areas using similar types of GSE items which let us to creating this article about OHE.<\/p>\n

Where is Ordnance Handling Equipment used<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

The thousands of Fighter Jets and Military Helicopters are loaded with weapons, missiles and bombs every day by military crews in Aircraft Maintenance Units everywhere.\u00a0 Sometimes crews practice in loading weapons in competitions. \u00a0The equipment used is specifically designed for the jobs performed.\u00a0 Ordnance Handling Equipment is Ground Support Equipment designed for this specific purpose.\u00a0 Equipment is either manual or semi-automatic and powered.\u00a0 Basically weapons, bombs and missiles are moved from a storage area, delivered to a location on a trailer or skid then unloaded and mounted to an aircraft. \u00a0The Ordnance Handling Equipment is used on aircraft carriers, runways and in aircraft hangers.\u00a0 Securing and movement of the weapons may also use several types of ancillary Material Handling Equipment such as straps, hoists, slings and shackles.<\/p>\n

\"weapons<\/a>
Aircraft Maintenance Unit, competes in a weapons load competition (Photo credit: R. Nial Bradshaw)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During our quick look at this sector it appears there are not many competitors especially when it companies manufacturing ground support equipment.\u00a0 A Munitions Handling Unit (MHU) is a device bombs or missiles are moved from one location to another.\u00a0 They can be manually powered, pulled, pushed or operate like a monster Folk Lift with movable arms like the MHU-83.<\/p>\n

Many of the skids, trailers and spare parts we looked at were frequently listed as open government solicitations.\u00a0 The majority of the manually operated we looked at are simple mechanical metal assemblies, something that a machine shop or metal fabrication shop could easily manufacturer. \u00a0If your company can weld or bolt tubular stock together or if you can machine something as simple as a cam or a shaft, this is a sector could easily be your next winning government contract.<\/p>\n

What to look for, What are they called<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

The better your knowledge of what the item is called, how and where it\u2019s used can lead you to other discoveries you may not initially see.<\/p>\n

Weapon and Explosive handling Skids<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Weapon or Explosive Skid is a mobile piece of equipment with a cradle or bed used to secure an item to be transported by hand. \u00a0The skid is used to handle items such as bombs, torpedoes and missiles during aircraft rearming procedures aboard aircraft carriers and at shore.\u00a0 Skids are not self-propelled and require either human or powered equipment to move them about.\u00a0 Different skids and cradles will be used depending on the weight load and type of weapon to be carried.<\/p>\n

Here are a few items we found interesting<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Bomb Skid<\/strong> \u2013 Hand operated<\/p>\n

Bomb Skid NSN 1740-00-872-9361 otherwise called \u201cAERO 12C Bomb Skid\u201d is a simple wheelbarrow type skid used by the Navy. \u00a0It has cradle type frame with two rubber tire wheels and brakes.\u00a0 The skid can be used to transport weapons and other miscellaneous items like wings, fins and nitrogen bottles with special adapters.<\/p>\n

This Bomb Skid is currently supplied to DOD by only one company; there are drawings available so next time its open for bid your company could be the next supplier. \u00a0Government contract prices in BidLink show that the price nearly doubled from the previous contract to the most recent contract.\u00a0 Price hikes like this can occur due to the fact that only one manufacturer exists.<\/p>\n

\"bidlink_nsn,1740-00-872-9361,AERO12C<\/a>
Bomb Skid NSN 1740-00-872-9361 – AERO 12C Bomb Skid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Platform Skids<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Platform Skid is used for transporting weapons on different trailers and loaders for direct aircraft loading.<\/p>\n

\"platform_skid,mhu-125ae,pn_1330as100-1,nsn<\/a>
NSN 3990-01-140-4180 Skid, Platform; Model MHU-125A\/E, P\/N 1330AS100-1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This NSN 3990-01-140-4180 (open) sells for $1000\u2019s and drawings are also available. It is a two rail welded aluminum structure simulating the 15-inch wide rail configuration of Munitions Transporter MHK-128.<\/p>\n

Munitions Transporters<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Munitions Transporter (also known as a Weapon Skid) is basically a hand pulled utility wagon or cart used to move missiles, bombs, and other items. \u00a0It is made from a tubular steel frame with rubber tires and a braking system.\u00a0 Various skids, platforms and adapters can be attached to munitions transporters to handle specific items securely.\u00a0 Unlike commercial wagons these cost thousands of dollars each.<\/p>\n

The MHU-191\/M Munitions transporter made from a welded tubular frame has four rubber tires with a telescoping drawbar. Mounting holes in the transporter are used for attaching the various adapters. The MHU-191\/M is essentially the same as Weapons Skid AERO 21C, except that the MHU-191\/M has an improved braking system and long drawbar.<\/p>\n

\"MHU-191M<\/a>
Weapons Skid, MHU-191\/M Transporter, Munitions P\/N 1500AS100-1 NSN 1740-01-244-3449<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Munitions Trailer – Ground Handling Trailer<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ground Handling Trailer MHU-185\/M has four wheels with pneumatic tires.\u00a0 The flatbed deck has two tracks for anchoring different adapters and removable plywood decking. \u00a0It has a drawbar and pintle hook for towing other trailers.\u00a0 Equipped with brake and stop lights powered by the towing vehicle.\u00a0 It is used at shore based facilities to transport munitions from magazine area to the flight line.\u00a0 Several adapters and cradles can be used with Munitions Trailer MHU-185\/M, such as the Platform Skid MHU-125A\/E and the ADU-834\/E Sonobouy adapter.<\/p>\n

\"Munitions<\/a>
Munitions Trailer, model MHU-185\/M, Part number 1318AS100-1, NSN 1740-01-126-8980<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Spare and Repair parts for these items are usually simple machined parts like brakes, cradles and cams are purchased by DOD on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

Since we are discussing Ground Support Equipment, Ordnance Handling Equipment and Material Handling Equipment you can\u2019t forget about the \u201cbig boy\u201d Munitions Handling Truck MHU-83.<\/p>\n

The MHU-83D\/E Aerial Stores Lift Truck is basically a very expensive specialized fork lift truck designed for transporting and loading weapons.\u00a0 This MHU-83 D\/E is also known as a Bomb lift Truck.\u00a0 The Department of the Air Force and Navy both awarded long term government contracts to Hydraulics International, Inc CAGE code 56529 for manufacturing Ground Support Equipment.\u00a0 Two government contracts for the MHU-83 Aerial Stores Lift Truck are FA8533-14-D-0005 and N68335-18-D-0009<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"bomb<\/a>
Bomb loading competition using the MHU-83D\/E Truck, Lift, Aerial Stores Loader with Weapon Skid (Photo credit: Jonathan McElderry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As you would expect there are plenty of government contracting opportunities for machine shops fabrication shops for items used on the MHU-83D\/E, Truck, Lift, Aerial Stores Loader.\u00a0 A quick look at \u00a0some open government solicitations, there were several items many had drawings available.\u00a0 A few items we saw were, Spur gear shafts, Disc brake caliper adapters, Tilt cylinder assemblies, Differential spindles, Washers, Hydrostatic pumps, Slings, etc.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind any large piece of equipment such as this will be in use by the Department of Defense for many years.\u00a0 As time goes by more spares and replacement parts will be needed for years to come.\u00a0 Many systems have been in service by DOD over 50 years.<\/p>\n

If your company consists of just a few people or hundreds of employees the Ground Support Equipment, Ordnance Handling Equipment sector is a good place to look for items your company can sell to the government.\u00a0 Bids for mechanical parts and simple assemblies were found with drawings available in open government solicitations.\u00a0 Hopefully these few examples will give you some new ideas on what to go after, try for yourself<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BidLink.Net is an online tool for finding government solicitations as well as past government contract data.\u00a0 BidLink<\/a> has been gathering government\u00a0contract and solicitation data for the past twenty years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today we will briefly review a few types of Ground Support Equipment (mechanical equipment) used by the U.S. Military to move and load weapons onto fighter aircraft.\u00a0 In addition discuss the lack of competition when it comes to manufacturers producing Ground Support Equipment (GSE) items and spare parts. The Ground Support Equipment items we are … <\/p>\n

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