The guided-missile destroyer DDG 77 USS O’Kane recently arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for its dry-docking selected restricted availability (DSRA), the biggest overhaul in the Pearl shipyard’s history. “This is the second docking in O’Kane’s 15-year history,” says Cmdr. Gina McCaine, commanding officer of USS O’Kane, “The repairs and modernizations she receives during this DSRA are critical to sustaining her capability.”
The U.S. Navy earlier this month launched its crowdsourced ideation platform, the “Hatch,” which Navy officials say is part of the initiative to build a Naval Innovation Network (NIN). The Hatch is an accessible, virtual collaboration forum where innovators can submit their creative ideas for improving the Navy, officials say. In the Hatch, ideas can be refined through crowdsourcing and further developed by local innovators and subject matter experts.
The U.S. Navy recently patented a device designed to detect orbital debris in near real-time and provide trajectory data. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) received a U.S. patent for the Optical Orbital Debris Spotter — a compact, low power concept that can be integrated into larger satellite designs, or flown independently onboard nano-satellite platforms.
GENERAL ATOMICS delivered 150-kw High-Energy Liquid Laser (HELLADS) to White Sands Missile Range, NM, for field testing. PRECISION CASTPARTS announced $0.03-per-share quarterly dividend for common stock, payable June 29, to current as of June 5. LOCKHEED MARTIN has $735.5m USAF contract for AEHF, Milstar, Defense Satellite Communications System sustainment.
Years after the ship transited the Pacific for deployment in Asian waters, the Littoral Combat Ship LCS 1 USS Freedom completed Seakeeping and Structural Loads Trials, commonly referred to as Rough Water Trials (RWT), the U.S. Navy says. The tests are designed to ensure the hull design is able to navigate through and withstand forces due to inclement weather and high sea-state conditions. Initial test results are positive—the machinery plant and auxiliaries all performed well, Navy officials say.
In observance of the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S., Aerospace Daily & Defense Report will not publish on Monday, May 25. The next issue will be dated Wednesday, May 27.
Sikorsky flew its S-97 Raider rigid coaxial rotor high-speed helicopter for the first time on May 22, completing a hover and low-speed flight at the company’s development flight center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
FAA-designated unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test sites have been given blanket authorization to fly small UASs up to 200 ft. altitude in a move to speed research into integrating UASs into national airspace.
Thales has been chosen to provide an upgraded version of its Searchwater 2000 radar to meet the U.K.’s Crowsnest requirement for a carrier organic helicopter-based airborne early warning capability.
With an augmented reality training system from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the U.S. Marines Corps is looking at simulated exercises through a whole new lens set.
Releasing an outline of its plan for Poland May 19, the helicopter manufacturer said the program would allow the country to acquire the capabilities to develop and produce several key components, equipment and systems for helicopters.
Lockheed Martin has no intention—for now—of sharing its data rights with Aerojet Rocketdyne on the Atlas V launcher. But Lockheed, which developed the rocket before it was transferred to United Launch Alliance, is likely keeping its options open.
At the end of April, a request for information (RFI) was issued by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) to find a new Military Flight-Training System that could go into operation as early 2018/19 and be operational for 30 years.
In speech at a Wales in London event on May 20, Paul Kahn, who took over from Robin Southwell last October, said that if Britain were to exit the EU and economic conditions “were less favorable for business than in other parts of Europe,” then Airbus would reconsider future investment in the U.K.
“If liberated from much of the supply chain, both the Navy and Marine Corps could operate more efficiently as well as more securely,” notes Vice Adm. Philip Cullom, deputy chief of naval operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics.
The spacecraft was fully assembled last week and “switched on,” a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) says. “Everything is functioning well.”
The team will monitor Airbus plans to bring the project back on track, according to a German defense ministry letter sent to members of parliament and obtained by Aviation Week.
ASTRONICS AEROSPACE earned $23.4m on $142.4m revenues in 1Q15 vs. $17.5m on $122.4m in 1Q14. CHOMARAT CHINA, Taicang (near Shanghai), received EN 9100:2009 certification for its advanced composite reinforcements. FLORIDA TURBINE TECHNOLOGIES has Aerojet Rocketdyne contract to provide aerospace propulsion engineering services.
