The U.S. Defense Department needs to spend less time and money identifying and buying existing equipment to meet urgent combat needs, says a recently released U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
u.s. AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a $51,284,530 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for Multi Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program radar system development and demonstration, ECP-025, radar modification for Global Hawk Block 40. The location of the performance is Norwalk, Conn. Work is to be completed by March 2015. AMC/ESC, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (F19628-00-C-0100 P00233).
EDINBURGH — Selex Galileo hopes to build on its success in having its Aircraft Gateway Processor (AGP) included as baseline hardware in the U.S. Army-Boeing AH-64D Block 3 program to expand the customer base for the electronic warfare equipment.
DISPUTE VERDICT: Thales Alenia Space stands to receive a €53 million ($67 million) settlement fee by June 9 in a legal dispute with Globalstar. An arbitrator ruled in favor of Thales Alenia Space in a disagreement over a 2009 satellite contract between the operator and satellite maker. The settlement fee can still be avoided if both sides agree to other terms. Talks between the two parties are now underway.
GENOA — Italy is developing a new modular approach to countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that will employ a number of specialized vehicles based on the Iveco VTMM multirole medium tactical vehicle chassis. The concept is to operate a “train” of four vehicles, each of them providing a dedicated capability, to defeat or dispose of every kind of potential threat, from unexploded ordnance to mines or IEDs.
October 9, 2012 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Repair in New Generation Aircraft: Challenges and Opportunities Lightweight composites will soon rival metals as the primary material for airframes. Are you prepared? This event will highlight the latest developments, challenges and best practices in aircraft composite repair and maintenance technology. It will allow all of the key industry players to discuss best practices and share experiences. Register now! www.aviationweek.com/events/composites
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) may 21 - 24 — Environment, Energy Security & Sustainability Symposium & Exhibition, E2S2 is focused on providing participants with critial information and interaction on the challenges of the National Security Departments and Agencies, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. www.ndiae2s2.com
NASA and SpaceX, the agency’s six-year-old Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program partner, stressed the experimental nature of the company’s bid to lift off early May 19 on the first U.S. commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. The launch of the Falcon 9/Dragon rocket and spacecraft combination from the company’s launch complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is set for 4:55 a.m. EDT, during a nearly instantaneous launch window.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is assessing international interest in the ability to enable third-party payload integration on its Predator B unmanned aircraft after completing a proof-of-concept demonstration using company funds. A “sovereign payload” capability would allow payload providers and system integrators other than GA-ASI to develop their own control software and ultimately integrate payloads on to the Predator on behalf of specific customer countries.
Multi-network Link 16 capability and the addition of a high-bandwidth data link are the next steps for the Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS) widely used by U.S. and allied forces. Development of the added capability is now under way following the approval for full production and fielding of the software-defined MIDS Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Link 16 terminal.
A Panama Canal official confirms what Adm. Jonathan Greenert, U.S. chief of naval operations, has been saying for months—upcoming canal changes and improvements are likely to shift shipping trends and, therefore, warrant watching. The newly widened canal, set to open in early 2015, will attract larger ships—especially bulk carriers—laden with liquid natural gas and similar cargo, Oscar Bazan, canal marketing manager, tells Aviation Week.
Spacecraft controllers are checking out Telesat’s Nimiq 6 direct-to-home broadcast satellite after a 9-r., 14-min. launch mission on an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M rocket that lifted off May 17 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The 4.5-metric-ton satellite reached its geostationary transfer orbit en route to its operational orbital slot at 91.1 deg. W. Long. From there its 32 Ku-band transponders will deliver direct-to-home television services to customers in North America for its Canadian operator.
NASA has cleared Innovative Space Propulsion Systems (ISPS), a Houston-based partnership developing green rocket engines, to fly a thruster testbed on the International Space Station (ISS)
KOUROU, French Guiana — The future of communication satellites appears to be moving toward larger, more powerful models, but satellite manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin will have the challenge of keeping within the capability of current launchers.
Boeing is working on minor modifications to its KC-46A refueler design following a major preliminary design review, and the company is focusing on reducing the risk of the integrated design through the use of several laboratories now under construction, says Maj. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, the U.S. Air Force’s KC-46A program executive officer.
A Japanese H-IIA rocket orbited two remote-sensing satellites May 17, one of them a South Korean spacecraft that marked Japan’s first international commercial customer. Liftoff from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launch site on Tanegashima Island in Southeast Japan came on time at 12:39 p.m. EDT, and the spacecraft separated as planned.
KOUROU, French Guiana — Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. of Japan, which says it is Asia’s largest satellite operator, plans to sign contracts this year to buy more satellites. Osamu Inoue, president of the company’s satellite and space business group, says Lockheed Martin and Sky Perfect are discussing a purchase.
OPEN PREDATOR: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has demonstrated an open payload architecture for the Predator B unmanned aircraft, working with Selex Galileo and Cobham Aviation Services, which is responsible for through-life support for the MQ-9 Reapers operated by the U.K. Royal Air Force.
