Jeff has been involved in aerospace journalism since the mid 1990s. Prior to joining Aviation Week, Jeff served as managing editor of Launchspace magazine and the International Space Industry Report. He has been the editor and chief of Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report since 2007 and has been a regular contributor to Aviation Week magazine. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
DOD has asked Congress for permission to shift $9.7 billion in funding to cover shortfalls in the U.S. Army and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) accounts in the absence of new supplemental funds.
THAAD BATTERY: The U.S. Army activated the first battery of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system during a May 28 ceremony at Ft. Bliss, Texas. The battery will receive three THAAD launchers, a THAAD Fire Control and a THAAD radar as part of the initial fielding. Full-system fielding is scheduled to begin in 2009, according to THAAD prime contractor Lockheed Martin.
ROBOT ORDERS: iRobot Corp. has received a $16 million order, the third under the U.S. Army’s xBot contract, for more than 200 robots and spare parts to be delivered by Oct. 31, 2008. XBot orders to date now total $27 million out of a possible maximum value of $286 million. The company also received a $6.3 million U.S. Army delivery order for a combination of bomb disposal and explosives detection robots, as well as spare parts and equipment. iRobot expects to complete delivery by Sept. 30, 2008. The company has delivered more than 1,500 PackBot robots to date.
