The House passed a bill July 19 to provide $518 billion in Pentagon spending for fiscal 2013 that also blocks the U.S. from buying equipment from the Russian arms export firm Rosoboronexport.
SIM SLAM: The U.S. Air Force still does not have an enterprise-wide grasp on its virtual training and simulation efforts, congressional auditors say. The armed service has reorganized offices and undertaken various initiatives to enhance existing virtual training capabilities, but it has not designated an entity to integrate these efforts or developed an overarching strategy to align efforts and establish investment priorities, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Sikorsky plans to launch a second Entrepreneurial Challenge at this week’s AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wis., citing the success of its first online competition to identify small, innovative companies that it can help incubate. The winner of the first challenge is Pankl Aerospace Innovations, a California-based company set up by Austrian automotive and aerospace manufacturer Pankl Racing Systems.
As Europe’s Seventh Framework research program enters its closing stages, the European Commission (EC) is looking for advanced air transport concepts as part of its sixth and final call for proposals. The EC also is seeking proposals for a high-speed aircraft flight-test program as well joint aeronautics research with Russia. The call closes in November.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) july 26 - 28 — NewSpace 2012, "The Space Frontier Foundation's Annual Conference," Moffett Field, Calif. For more information go to spacefrontier.org/ns12registration/
TEL AVIV — Israel and the U.S. military have drawn similar conclusions about how to pick their cyber-warriors, although the Israelis appear to be establishing a lead in identifying and training their electronic special forces. The problem is a sports metaphor. It involves separating the erratic, eccentric superstar from the organized, focused genius. Both can be naturals. But only one can lead a team in solving a problem that requires many teams working in tandem.
EADS space subsidiary Astrium has made another foray into the U.S. satellite equipment market with a contract from Lockheed Martin to provide Ku-band receivers and Ka-band beacons for the Jabiru-1 satellite, which Lockheed is producing for Australia’s NewSat. Designed to last 15 years, Jabiru-1 will be positioned over the Indian Ocean covering Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. Launch is slated for late 2014 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.
NEW DELHI — The Indian government is soon likely to give final clearance for the $1.2 billion purchase of six additional C-130Js, after U.S. authorities approved New Delhi’s request to buy more of the airlifters, officials say. India also ordered six of the aircraft for the same price in 2007-08.
When it comes to efforts to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the U.S. Army spends about two and half times more than the Navy and Marine Corps, while Air Force and overall Pentagon-wide programs account for only a minor portion of expenses for those programs, according to an analysis based on data provided by Avascent050, an online market analysis toolkit for global defense programs.
When it comes to the takeoff of the UAV industry in the U.S., lawmakers have a new bogeyman: hackers. At a congressional hearing July 19, a University of Texas professor described how he and a group of his students hijacked an $80,000 Adaptive Flight Hornet Mini, the kind of small rotorcraft a local police force might use. Professor Todd Humphreys had proposed the test as an experiment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was then roundly criticized by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) for not sending someone to testify.
With the threat of sequestration stalking defense program spending, the U.S. Navy is providing a stronger financial anchor for the next-generation aircraft carrier CVN-79 John F. Kennedy with the recent award of a $43.4 million contract modification for additional long-lead-time material for the ship. Some defense analysts have cited the next-generation carrier program as a potential target for budget cutters as the Navy and Pentagon look for more ways to save money to meet federally set limits.
Pratt & Whitney’s president is encouraged that the urgency of sequestration’s effects on business is starting to sink in with lawmakers and the public, but his company has been making plans for some time now. Speaking July 19 at a House Aeronautics Caucus luncheon, David Hess said “Sequester is not worst-case. It is the law.” Accordingly, his company has to plan and to take action based upon that law.
SUPPORTING STATE: The U.S. State Department this week awarded General Dynamics Information Technology a $22 million contract for supply chain management services, with a potential total value of $2.2 billion over five years if all options are exercised.
The U.S. Navy hopes to use its major 2012 Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) exercise as a showcase for its alternative energy programs. Alternative fuels, including nuclear power, will be used in an operational demonstration starting this week, fueling helicopters and jets from the deck of an aircraft carrier, and refueling a cruiser and two destroyers during an underway replenishment. The demonstration also will incorporate prototype energy-efficient technologies designed to enhance the combat capability of Navy warships.
