EX-IM BANK: The U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) is conducting its annual “competitiveness survey,” meaning U.S. companies that export goods and other stakeholders can offer their assessment of how the American export credit agency (ECA) compared with foreign ECAs in 2013. Surveys to known stakeholders, including numerous aerospace, defense and aviation companies, should go out Feb. 7. While somewhat perfunctory, this year’s results could play a role in a looming political fight in Washington over renewing Ex-Im’s charter come September (Aerospace DAILY, Aug. 26, 2013).
One of the longest-running military procurement disputes, involving the cancellation of the U.S. Navy’s A-12 Avenger, is finally over. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims dismissed the case Jan. 24. Late last year, the government reached an agreement with contractors Boeing and General Dynamics. The nearly $400 million deal brought the case to an end in exchange for in-kind payments from the companies to the Navy.
INTEL AUDIT: An unclassified version of a long-awaited report by U.S. congressional investigators on intelligence contractors could emerge soon. Citing an unidentified congressional official, Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists tells readers of his Secrecy News that the Government Accountability Office report could be issued in the “next few weeks.” A classified version was provided to lawmakers last year.
NEW DELHI — India plans the first test launch of its newly developed interceptor missile sometime in the next six months from a defense base off its eastern coast. The Prithvi Defense Vehicle (PDV) will be able to intercept rival missiles to a range of 1,553 mi. and an altitude of 93 mi., an official at India’s Defense and Development Research Organization (DRDO) tells Aviation Week.
Two of the five Earth-science missions NASA plans to launch this year will end up on the International Space Station (ISS), which is growing in importance as a relatively low-cost spot to operate downward-looking sensors. The station’s low altitude and relatively high inclination also can give scientists a new perspective for their observations, which typically are taken from sun-synchronous polar orbits.
TORONTO — Bombardier has accepted its ninth Bombardier Q300 maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) for Japan’s coast guard at Field Aviation’s Toronto modification center after a one-year conversion program. The sensor package includes a Flir Systems electro-optical camera on a ball turret under the nose and a Telephonics search radar in a belly pod. Bombardier, the prime contractor on the program, will deliver the aircraft to Japan, departing Toronto on Feb. 1.
BRUSSELS — Small UAVs have represented the largest number of losses in Germany’s unmanned fleet since their introduction over the last decade. The greatest losses were of LUNA tactical reconnaissance UAVs, according to the latest figures from the Bundeswehr. LUNA losses totaled 56 — 45 destroyed, including 24 that crashed, and 11 missing. Some 23 Aladin mini-UAVs were destroyed, including six that crashed, and another 10 that went missing. Two Mikado micro-UAVs crashed, and two others went missing.
2014 NOW HERE! Stop Guessing What the Future Holds With Aviatio Week's Military Fleet & MRO Forecast. This 10-year, year-over-year forecast provides an in-depth understanding of what's to come so you can locate new business opportunities. To schedule a personal demo, call 866.857.0148 or +1.515.237.3682 Click here to view the pdf
The spacecraft bus that will power and point the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) passed its critical design review five months early, as the deep-space infrared instrument continues moving toward its targeted 2018 launch date.
Virgin Galactic’s plans to supplement its suborbital human spaceflight business by launching small satellites from its WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft are advancing with hot-fire ground tests of the two kerosene-fueled rocket engines it has designed for the application. Developed and built by Virgin Galactic engineers, the 3,500-lb.-thrust NewtonOne and 47,500-lb.-thrust NewtonTwo are the first- and second-stage engines, respectively, for the company’s planned LauncherOne rocket.
Recent Chinese hypersonic missile tests have rekindled debate about the use and proliferation of such weapons, as well as concern over the U.S. ability to defend against them. Of particular concern to the U.S. Navy is what the tests mean for the development of the Chinese anti-ship ballistic missile. “Known as the DF-21D, this missile provides the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) the capability to attack large ships, including aircraft carriers, in the western Pacific,” the Pentagon says in its most recent annual report on Chinese military capabilities.
LONDON — Senior British officers have expressed a desire for a new training and support helicopter, which could be used as a surrogate training platform for more expensive types, such as the Boeing CH-47 Chinook.
HOUSTON — Competition remains a crucial factor in the final stages of the NASA-funded Commercial Crew Program (CCP), according to Michael Lopez-Alegria, president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF). CCP is intended to restore the U.S. ability to transport humans to low Earth orbit lost when NASA’s space shuttle fleet retired in 2011.
OMAN BUYS: Raytheon has received a contract from Oman worth up to $1.28 billion for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (Nasams). The direct commercial sale includes ground-support equipment, training and technical assistance. Raytheon will supply the system with its partner Kongsberg. Nasams is already deployed in Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the U.S. and an undisclosed additional country.
BOLDEN RECOGNIZED: NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Jr., a former astronaut, will receive the National Space Trophy for career contributions to human spaceflight, in Houston on April 11. The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) foundation announced its annual trophy selection on Jan. 21. Bolden became the agency’s administrator on July 17, 2009.
The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship LHD-8 USS Makin Island — the first U.S. Navy ship to deploy using a hybrid-electric propulsion system — completed a nine-day scheduled sea trial earlier this month, following its 13-month Phased Maintenance Availability (PMA).
LONDON — U.K. defense officials say the Boeing AH-64E Apache is the “desired” option as the country moves to update its heavily utilized Apache attack helicopter. Officials are currently examining a range of options for the Apache Helicopter Capability Sustainment Program (AHCSP), which will deal with the growing issue of obsolescence in the U.K.’s AgustaWestland-built Apaches, which are at the AH-64D Block I standard.
The U.S. Air Force is expected to decide whether to stick with Boeing’s original next-generation, secure communications terminal or opt for a competing design from Raytheon as early as March, according to industry officials.
NEW DELHI — India is preparing to conduct sea trials of its first indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arihant, which the navy hopes to induct into service by the end of 2014.
The Lockheed Martin Kaman K-Max unmanned cargo helicopter is being considered for possible shipboard operations. “We have looked at this — how do we take them to a sea-based environment,” says Jon McMillen, Lockheed K-Max business development manager. The industry team must determine which sensors will have to be employed with the aircraft, he said last week during a media briefing.
While the U.S. Navy is eyeing a smaller Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fleet than previously envisioned, the ships could still offer greater aviation support potential. Navy officials say the program of record still calls for 52 ships, but they acknowledge the Pentagon is considering reducing that acquisition by as many as 20 because of budgetary and other concerns. Sources familiar with the program say Navy officials privately have indicated they could accommodate future fleet plans with a minimum of about three dozen LCS vessels.
ARLINGTON, Va. — As the U.S. continues to rebalance its military forces and resources back toward the Asia-Pacific region, service leaders are starting to get a handle on what they will need to regain a better naval footing in the area. It is a different Asia-Pacific than the U.S. knew when it started to focus more of its military might in the Middle East more than a decade ago.
