NEW DELHI — India’s ambitious modernization of its armed forces is likely to be slowed by the federal government’s decision to slash funding for defense acquisition. A defense ministry official indicates that the government has cut defense spending by about 5% from the allocated 1.93 trillion rupees ($38.6 billion), mainly due to the ongoing economic downturn. “Several key acquisition plans, including the procurement of 126 combat aircraft for the Indian air force, are expected to be pushed for the next financial year,” the official says.
The next round of discussions about how to prevent across-the-board cuts from falling on the Defense Department is now beginning, just after President Obama signed into law an act that delays them until March. Members of the armed services committees, particularly on the Republican side, will be trying to reduce the deficit while sparing the Pentagon. But an industry analyst envisions the eventual cut to defense would be about half of the $55 billion annual reduction recommended by sequestration.
LONDON — Germany has begun the process of re-aligning its helicopter forces as part of the on-going reorganization of the country’s armed forces. The changes, which are due to be completed in January, sees German Army Aviation taking on the tactical airlift role from the air force.
LONDON — After success in Denmark, Sikorsky’s MH-60R Seahawk seems set for another export order from South Korea. Reports from the country suggest the Seahawk has come out on top in a South Korea navy competition for a new fleet of shipborne maritime helicopters, beating back competition from incumbent AgustaWestland and its new AW159 Wildcat. Navy officials said that following evaluations in September the Seahawk “earned higher marks for its loading capacity and power output.”
Jan. 2 may feel a lot like Groundhog Day, but aerospace analysts foresee congressional action on sequestration as the first step toward truly reversing the budget penalty. The American Taxpayer Relief Act, approved by Congress on Jan. 1, extends tax cuts for the majority of Americans and delays government-wide budget cuts until March 1.
Australia has removed the Wedgetail Boeing 737-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program from its Projects of Concern list following delivery of all six aircraft and achievement in November of initial operational capability (IOC). The A$3.2 billion ($3.3 billion) Wedgetail program was added to the Projects of Concern list in January 2008 because of schedule delays and system performance issues. A remediation plan was agreed with Boeing in 2011, resetting IOC for 2012.
The Texas-based Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office received contract modifications at the end of December worth about $1.5 billion for V-22 Osprey work. One modification, worth about $1.4 billion, was for the V-22 lot 17 advance acquisition contract for 17 fiscal 2013 Ospreys for the U.S. Marine Corps and four fiscal 2013 CV-22 aircraft for the Air Force.
SAN DIEGO — There is little doubt about the U.S. Navy’s intentions to improve the looks and operations of its first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-1) USS Freedom – and the ship’s rising cost is reflecting that push. The Navy estimates the cost of the post-shakedown availability (PSA) overhaul at about $42 million, which includes the replacement or modification of piping, compressor and other vital systems on the ship as a result of lessons learned during trials and other mission-related operations.
HOUSTON — Astronauts assigned to multi-month or multi-year missions to near-Earth asteroids and Mars may face an accelerated onset of Alzheimer’s-like symptoms from cosmic radiation exposure, according to a NASA-funded study by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) that used mice as subjects.
LONDON — Airbus Military has begun flight tests of new winglets for its C295 twin-engine transport aircraft. According to the company, the winglets are just one in a series of developments under way on the aircraft and are designed to improve takeoff, climb and cruise performance.
Hurricane Sandy came and went in late 2012, as did many of the startup issues at Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), elevating the prospects that Orbital Sciences Corp. will complete its NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Systems program milestones in the new year and begin lucrative cargo deliveries to the International Space Station.
NEW DELHI — The much-awaited test launch of the air version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has been further delayed and now India hopes to undertake the drop trials by December 2013. India had planned to conduct the test launch by December 2012. The development of the missile is already over three years behind schedule.
SPACE LEGISLATION: Congress on Jan. 2 extended for one year an indemnification program allowing the government to share the cost with industry against injuries or property damage suffered by the public in a commercial space launch. The House sought a two-year extension, but the Senate shortened the timeline. The bill also provides a waiver through 2020 allowing U.S. astronauts to fly aboard Russian spacecraft to gain access to the International Space Station.
The Philadelphia-based U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (Navsup WSS) site needs to better track and document its sole-source procurement, a recent Department of Defense Inspector General (IG) report says. Because of some issues with the sole-source contracting at Navsup WSS, “improper sole-source awards could occur,” the IG says in its December report. “Personnel could not make informed decisions that the proposed contractors were the sole source. Also, interested sources were not aware of future contracting opportunities.”
STATUS QUO: Republican leadership of House Appropriations subcommittees will remain unchanged when it comes to aerospace and defense panels, according to Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.). Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.), the current chairman of the defense subcommittee, received a waiver to continue in that capacity. Young has led the party on the committee since 2005 and had a previous run as chairman from 1995-1998. He also served as chairman of the full House Appropriations Committee from 1999-2004. Rep.
KERRY NOMINATED: On Dec. 21 President Obama nominated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the son of a diplomat, to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was widely anticipated to receive the nomination. Obama was also expected to name former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) as Defense Secretary. That did not happen, as opposition in the Senate and in wider Washington continued over Hagel’s past impolitic comments.
Despite spending the last year railing against across-the-board budget cuts, many in the Republican Party are now ready to accept them—at least in the short term. Before the presidential election, sequestration had been front and center for Republicans, particularly those on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC).
