Unmanned vehicle operations could benefit from research and development of more efficient ways to compress sensor data, according to a recent report by the so-called Jason group, the independent scientific advisory panel that provides consulting services to the U.S. government on matters of defense science and technology.
HOUSTON — Robonaut 2, a NASA and General Motors collaboration to develop an astronaut-friendly humanoid, is due a pair of legs and a battery backpack later this year to give it more mobility inside and eventually outside the International Space Station. The two-armed, camera and force-sensor-laced torso launched to the station aboard a February 2011 space shuttle mission. It has been restrained to a stanchion in the station’s U.S. Destiny laboratory since it was awakened electronically for the first time late the following August.
The U.S. Navy expects to see better allocation of — rather than an increase in — maintenance funding in response to proposed additional ship reviews by the Board of Inspection and Survey (Insurv), which has unveiled plans to double its vessel inspections.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) Jan. 7 - 10, 2013 — 61st AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition, Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center, Grapevine (Dallas/Ft. Worth Region), Tex. For more information go to www.aiaa.org/asm2013/ Jan. 9 - 10 — Fourth Annual China Aerospace Manufacturing Summit, Post Hotel, Harbin City, China. For more information go to www.galleonevents.com
March 5-6 2013 Hilton Arlington Arlington, VA Join senior defense officials and discover where priorities and opportunities exist beyond the FY 2014 budget and hear First-hand how programs are implementing affordable and effective designs! Register now at www.aviationweek.com/events/dtar Click here to view the pdf
The U.S. Navy is expected to spend about $31.9 billion for F-18-related programs between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2017, which would be about the same amount that the service spent for all fixed-wing aircraft during a similar period of time ending in the previous decade.
Led by new production of AH-64 Apaches and continued work on CH-47D/F Chinooks, Boeing delivered 144 military aircraft in 2012, including 34 in the fourth quarter. In 2011, Boeing’s production facilities worked on only rebuilt Apaches, so 2012’s 19 new-build deliveries of the attack helicopter are notable. At the same time, the company’s new Chinook assembly line in Philadelphia turned out 51 of the twin-rotor transport helicopters last year, up from 32 in 2011. The Chinook program celebrated its 50th year in production last August.
in and out: Everyone makes mistakes. Republican lawmakers wanted a two-month notification of any further cuts to the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and they wanted the White House to certify that Russia is keeping up its end. But in the mess of end-of-the-year lawmaking, the key word “strategic” was left out of 2013 defense authorization bill pased last month, meaning the Obama administration would have to certify far more than anyone intended.
IRIS-T: Diehl Defense’s surface-launched IRIS-T SL missile has engaged a target for the first time. A prototype missile was fired at a target drone at the Overberg Test Range in South Africa, watched by representatives of German state authorities. Reports from Sweden suggest the IRIS-T SL has been chosen as the next-generation surface-to-air missile for the Swedish military to replace the Saab-built RBS-70 weapon.
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.
