The U.S. Air Force is planning to propose the purchase of the fifth and sixth Space-Based Infrared System (Sbirs) early missile warning spacecraft through a new process that calls for the unusual measure of buying two satellites at once.
Engineers at the European Space Center in French Guiana are evaluating the cause of a last-minute shutdown of the Vulcain main engine on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle March 30. The pad abort delayed the launch of the Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn communications satellites. The launch vehicle and payloads will be returned to the final assembly building at the facility near Kourou for checkout and any needed repairs.
These “leaderless revolutions [are] only the beginning” of the Middle East’s transition, says Maj. Gen. (ret.) Amos Yadlin, Israel’s intelligence chief for the last five years. What follows — movement toward a democratic, secular government or a counter-revolution that puts new strongmen in place — is impossible to predict.
FORCE CUT: U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz says the service will be “greater and smaller” in the future. The chief’s comments are just the latest indication that military leaders are either expecting or accepting that the armed services likely will shrink once the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have wound down and federal budget austerity occurs in earnest. “It signals that at some point, possibly in [fiscal 2013 and 2014], force structure reductions are going to emerge more prominently as a way to reduce U.S.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Pratt & Whitney expects a 2-3% fuel burn improvement for the 94-in. PW4062 engines it will build for the U.S. Air Force KC-46A aerial refueling tanker program. The first engine delivery to Boeing is set for 2013, says Pratt & Whitney Military Engines President Warren Boley. The production run is now set through 2027. The PW4062 powers the 767 that Boeing is using as the platform for the tanker.
The aviation industry expects to benefit from plans for at least four commercial-scale, biofuel refineries announced by President Barack Obama March 30 as part of an energy-security strategy to reduce U.S. oil imports by a third by 2025.
NASA has awarded Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, Calif., a $36.9 million contract extension for pre-launch and launch support of the space shuttle main engines, the agency announced March 31.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) released a promotional video on March 31 that previews the unveiling of a new member of the Falcon rocket family, a heavy lifter that will compete with United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets. Details about the Falcon Heavy will be released on April 5. SpaceX’s website (www.spacex.com) describes the Falcon Heavy as being capable of lifting more than 32,000 kg (70,500 lb.) to low Earth orbit and more than 19,500 kg to geostationary transfer orbit.
High-end and low-end U.S. Air Force programs are in line for scrutiny as Congress considers the fiscal 2012 budget request. Lawmakers already are facing the toughest budget negotiations in more than a decade, and the mood to trim the deficit is likely to remain. So at $718 million, the Air Force request to modernize the F-22 Raptor is a tempting line item in the Air Force budget.
The larger launch tubes in the redesigned Virginia-class submarines will provide the U.S. Navy with a much greater array of payload choices, according to two retired Navy captains who now work for General Dynamics’ Electric Boat, one of the contractors building the subs.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A last-minute mechanical issue, not related to the scramjet, prevented the second flight attempt of the X-51 demonstrator on March 24, says Curtis Berger, hypersonics program director for Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The Air Force says the next flight-test attempt from Edwards AFB, Calif., will be rescheduled following a check of the system, and when range and test assets can again be aligned. “We don’t know when that will be yet,” Berger adds.
As the U.S. Navy begins to design the SSBN(X) — the next class of ballistic-missile submarines — the service needs to define requirements with a keen eye toward life-cycle costs and tube-launching options, according to former Navy officers. Slated to enter the service in 2028, the program could cost as much as $13 billion to research, develop and manufacture the lead boat, with subsequent boats costing about $7 billion apiece to procure, notes Rear Adm. (ret.) Frank Lacroix in an article included in the Navy League’s latest Submarine Review.
BENGALURU, India — India’s defense ministry is embarking upon a pilot program aimed at developing radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based smart cards for Indian army, navy and air force personnel. The ministry will choose a consultant contractor for the project, which will have to analyze existing access control systems, infrastructure, processes across locations and software requirements for each military service.
Engineers reviewing options for a heavy-lift NASA Space Launch System (SLS) to replace the canceled Ares V will make their final selection no sooner than late June, a pace that is sure to add to the irritation among those in Congress who believe the U.S. space agency is moving too slowly on the big new rocket.
BENGALURU, India — India will soon join a select group of nations that have an exclusive Seakeeping and Maneuvering Basin (SMB) facility for testing models of ships in simulated ocean conditions. The SMB will be part of the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), situated in the South Indian coastal city of Visakhapatnam. The SMB is due to open by 2014.
BENGALURU, India — India’s Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will be evaluating the Dhruv helicopter simulator cockpit during the last week of April. Currently being integrated at the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (Hatsoff) facility in Bengaluru, the Dhruv simulator was designed and built at CAE’s facility in Montreal.
LONDON — On March 31 the World Trade Organization (WTO) is due to unveil its findings in the European Union (EU) case against Boeing over aircraft subsidies. The WTO has already issued the public report on the case that the U.S. brought against Airbus via its EU proxy, and this will be the first public pronouncement by the trade body on the counter case. The draft ruling was issued in September, and the final one in January, which has been kept under wraps until translated into all formal WTO languages.
Affordability as a Requirement Complimentary Webinar: Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 1:00 p.m. EDT Going forward, programs will be designed for affordability, not desire. Unaffordable technical requirements will be discarded at program inception. This webinar will familiarize attendees with DoD’s new processes, and focus on affordability as a requirement for doing business www.aviationweek.com/events
GENOA, Italy — Italy’s Avio has unveiled 2010 results, with revenues stable at €1.75 billion ($2.5 billion) and operating results growing by 9.1% to €340 million, showing the positive effect of cost-cutting measures. The company has been able to cut its debt burden by more than 4% to €1.48 billion and has increased its order book to a record €6 billion. The company’s R&D investment stood at more than €100 million.
COMPUTER SUPPORT: NASA is exercising the third one-year option on a contract with Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) of Lanham, Md., to provide supercomputing support services to NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. The option is valued at $58.6 million, and extends CSC’s work until March 31, 2012. The original contract featured a two-year base period that began Aug. 1, 2007, and eight one-year options bringing the potential total value to $597 million.
GENOA, Italy — By early July, Finmeccanica will have completed yet another step in its streamlining and consolidaton effort, this time focusing on its defense electronics businesses.
