NASA scheduled second flight test of Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) for window opening June 2 at U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, HI; LDSD is aimed at nurturing tech for future human/robotic planetary landings. NORTHROP GRUMMAN completed critical design review of Flexible Strike Phase 1 B-2 weapons upgrade program Feb. 3. USAF GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND test launched unarmed Minuteman III ICBM re-entry vehicle from Vandenberg AFB, CA, May 20.
Electric Boat Corp. of Groton, Connecticut, has been awarded a $46.4 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, delivery-incentive-fee contract to perform planning efforts needed to conduct maintenance, upgrades and modernization efforts on the USS Montpelier (SSN 765) submarine during its interim dry docking period, the U.S. Navy announced May 27. The work encompasses planning efforts necessary to maintain full unrestricted operation of the submarine, as well as upgrades and modernization efforts required to ensure the sub is operating at full technical capability.
A suite of nine state-of-the-art remote-sensing instruments that NASA has selected for its planned mission to Europa will sample the plumes of water ice believed to be erupting from the Jovian moon’s subsurface ocean to see if it is habitable, but not to look for evidence of life.
With its contract to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services to U.S. Special Operations Command (Socom) up for recompetition, Textron Systems is touting the improved reliability of its Aerosonde Mk4.7G small medium-endurance unmanned aircraft.
“It may take the FAA a couple of years to finalize their rule. Rather than wait two years to fly unmanned aircraft, our legislation will allow business to work with the test sites to get their aircraft and pilots certified to fly remotely piloted aircraft,” Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) tells Aviation Week.
NASA’s Mission Control team moved ahead with external changes to the U.S. segment of the International Space Station to accommodate the anticipated dockings of Boeing- and SpaceX-launched crew transportation vehicles by 2017 with the May 27 relocation of the Permanent Multipurpose Module.
A JDAM glide bomb developed by the Australian Defense Department and Boeing will be operational starting in March 2016, equipping Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18A/B Hornet fighters.
SNC—which holds the type certificate for the two aircraft models through recently purchased Germany-based subsidiary 328 Support Services GmbH—has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Turkish Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications to upgrade and build the two aircraft in Turkey.
As directed, the U.S. Navy this month detailed its draft strategy to develop, build and buy its new frigate (FF) fleet – the successor to its Littoral Combat Ships.
The covers for catapult one were installed on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier CVN 72 USS Abraham Lincoln earlier this month, marking another milestone in the completion of the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH).
Virginia-class submarine SSN 785 John Warner successfully completed its initial sea trials earlier this month, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) says.
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training of Moorestown, New Jersey, has been awarded a $69.6 million contract modification for development and testing of Japan Aegis Modernization baseline computer programs and equipment, the U.S. Navy announced May 26. The modification covers efforts to support the upgrade of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Atago Class Ships (DDGs 177 and 178) from Baseline 7 Phase 1R to Advanced Capability Build 12 with Technology Insertion 12 technology and capability.
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT approved $1.87b sale to Israel of JDAM Tail Kits, munitions, associated equipment, parts and logistical support. SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL delivered Star One C4 satellite to Kourou, French Guiana, for launch aboard Ariane 5 in Q2 2015. AEROJET ROCKETDYNE completed first subscale oxygen-rich pre-burner hot-fire tests to support USAF Hydrocarbon Boost Technology Demonstrator.
Saab and DigitalGlobe are creating a 50-50 joint venture called Vricon that will sell 3D satellite products that take a step beyond current aerial light detection and ranging (lidar) technology.
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier CVN 73 USS George Washington completed carrier qualifications (CQ) earlier this month in the Philippine Sea.
Australian government shipbuilder ASC has launched the first of its three Hobart Class air defense destroyers, which are under construction in an AUS$8.455 billion ($6.59 billion) program that is running more than two years late.
U.S. defense contractor AGD Systems has purchased six former U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF) Lockheed L-1011 Tristars and plans to offer them out for military contract services.
The Program Executive Office Land Systems; Program Management Office, Medium and Heavy Tactical Vehicles (MHTV) requested funding for questionable “future” changes, a recent Pentagon Inspector General (IG) report says.
Naval Special Warfare Command contracting personnel failed to follow Federal Acquisition Regulation rules in awarding nine of 35 service contracts, worth about $3.4 million, between Oct. 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, the Pentagon Inspector General (IG) says.
