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.
The industry teams competing for the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II effort expect the winner to be chosen in mid- to late April, kicking off a program whose total lifetime value is estimated at $2 billion. Teams led by Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and BAE Systems/Northrop Grumman are vying for APKWS II, a revamped version of the canceled APKWS program led by General Dynamics. APKWS II is adding a laser seeker to the unguided Hydra 70mm (2.75-inch) rocket for use against lightly armored vehicles and buildings.
Early analysis of comet samples returned by NASA's Stardust spacecraft have surprised scientists, showing that at least some of the frozen bodies contain minerals formed at very high temperatures. Stardust collected dust samples from the nucleus of comet Wild 2 in 2004, as well as samples of interstellar dust. The sample canister parachuted down into the Utah desert on Jan. 15 (DAILY, Jan. 18). The completion of the mission marked the first time comet samples have been brought back for study.
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) plans to once again restructure the H-1 helicopter upgrade program in light of recent developmental and manufacturing problems, according to Navy officials. The H-1 program will replace the Marine Corps' aging AH-1W and UH-1N helicopters with 180 AH-1Z and 100 UH-1Y models. Ninety of the UH-1Ys will be newly built aircraft.
