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 military services should start sooner rather than later on developing the various supporting technologies that will enable future high-energy, solid-state laser weapons, according to Northrop Grumman. "A weapon system is made up of more than just the laser," said Dan Wildt, the company's director of business development for directed energy systems. Supporting systems include optics for aiming, technology to identify and track targets as well as pick an aim point, and platform requirements such as power and cooling, he said.
Pentagon leaders appear to have reached an agreement "in principle" to endorse Lockheed Martin and Boeing's proposed United Launch Alliance rocket merger, according to Jim McAleese of McAleese & Associates. First announced in May 2005, ULA would merge production of Lockheed Martin's Atlas and Boeing's Delta Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle families, both of which have struggled in the absence of a vigorous commercial launch market. The companies originally had hoped to secure approval for the deal by the end of 2005.
Gen. Gordon Sullivan (Ret.), former Army chief of staff and current president of the Association of the U.S. Army, is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for the Future Combat Systems program, despite recent cuts to its budget.
