BEIJING — Australia will make urgent repairs to its two main amphibious ships with funds left over from an under-budget modification to a fleet tanker. A winning quotation from Singaporean ship builder ST Marine to convert the tanker HMAS Success to a double-hull configuration was less than the funds set aside for the work, releasing money for “priority repair” of HMA Kanimbla and Manoora, two assault ships that have been idle since late September.
MOSCOW — The 13th test launch of the R-30 Bulava (SS-NX-30) solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile has been declared a success, after several failed attempts in previous years. The missile was launched Oct. 7 from the Dmitry Donskoi submarine (Project 941 Akula), which was submerged in the White Sea, and hit the target 6,000 km. (3,700 mi.) away in Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, according to Russian defense ministry reports.
A Senate Armed Service Committee report charges that “the Department of Defense has little insight into the operations of private security providers hired as subcontractors by DOD prime contractors” in Afghanistan. In addition, “the files kept by U.S. contracting authorities “contain little or no information about contractors’ past performance and whether or how they vetted and trained their personnel,” the Oct. 7 report says. “Further, most of those contract files contained no information about how those security contractors actually performed on the job.”
DEFENSE RULES: Industry consultants at Washington-area Input predict that defense procurements will dominate major U.S. federal contracts next year, a reversal of fortune from 2010. Analysts there said Oct. 6 that more than 80% of the roughly $142 billion in total contract value identified for 2011 will be associated with defense efforts, such as the U.S. Army’s Enhanced Army Global Logistics Enterprise (Eagle) program, expected to be about $50 billion.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) OCT. 13 — Aerospace Components Manufacturers Tradeshow, Airport Marriott Hotel, Hartford/Windsor Conn. For more information go to www.aerospacecomponents.org OCT. 10 - 14 — 58th International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine, Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore. For more information go to www.icasm2010.com
In an Oct. 6 speech in suburban Washington, Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary William J. Lynn outlined the tough reality faced by the Pentagon and its contractors. While the Defense Department projects it needs 2-3% real growth each year in its warfighting accounts — modernization, force structure, training — the reality is it is likely to get only 1%.
PARIS — Astrium is acquiring the space business of Jenoptik, expanding its German footprint and boosting its know-how in electro-optic hardware used in Earth-observation systems. Known as Jena-Optronik, the unit would help Astrium build up its optical imaging capabilities, particularly in Germany, which is looking to invest in a domestic 50-cm. optical imaging system known as Hiros. Jena-Optronik also supplies attitude sensors and laser guidance systems, notably the guidance system for Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle.
India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) had the opportunity to listen to the Akash missile system users at a recent high-profile meeting in New Delhi. A senior defense ministry official tells AVIATION WEEK that the deputy chiefs of the Indian army and air force, industry partners, representatives from Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) all shared their concerns and expectations with DRDO on the missile system. BEL and BDL are the principal integrators for the Akash.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Workers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center have begun removing pieces of the space shuttle’s Rotating Service Structure at Launch Pad 39B as part of an ongoing demolition project aimed at creating a clean, multi-use pad for future government and commercial vehicles.
PARIS — Space managers in Europe say improvements contemplated for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and the International Space Station (ISS) would sharply increase its cargo volume while offering a more realistic cost comparison with a proposed Advanced Reentry Vehicle (ARV) derivative.
ST. DIZIER, France — France has stood up a squadron of Rafale F3 multirole fighters at its big fighter base at St. Dizier, in Eastern France, to train pilots transitioning to the new combat aircraft.
LONDON — Although the U.K. defense industry is still bracing for significant program cuts when the government’s strategic and spending review is revealed next week, there are growing indications the calamitous reductions once feared will not materialize. At one point, defense industry representatives were bracing for cuts in defense spending well above 20% of current outlays, but recent indications are that the figure will be less severe. A cut in spending of 10% or less is now expected, several industry officials say.
GENOA, Italy — Finmeccanica’s efforts to stave off a forced wedding with Fincantieri appear to be failing, with Rome increasingly intent on finding a home for the troubled state-owned shipbuilder.
BEIJING — Chinese mission controllers have braked the Chang’e 2 lunar probe to bring it into an initial orbit around the Moon, with the aim of reducing its velocity twice more to place the spacecraft on its operational track. One of the chief aims of the mission is to achieve an orbit of 100 km. (60 mi.) with a period of 118 min. The initial orbit lasts 12 hr.
BENGALURU, India — India is developing a satellite-based detection radar system to track vessels as part of the country’s effort to beef up coastal security. The Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) is developing the radar for coastal security. These measures are now being initiated following the 2008 terrorist attacks in which terrorists entered Mumbai through the sea route.
NEW DELHI — Russia and India are moving fast on the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Oct. 7 following the 10th Meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation here. Military cooperation between the two countries is defined through an umbrella intergovernmental agreement covering 2011-2020. The document was signed during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Russia in December of last year.
NEW DELHI — India’s domestically developed airborne early warning and control system is taking a big step forward with the first of three modified Brazilian EMB-145s headed for flight trials. The preliminary testing, due to kick off in the next two months, will be carried out in Brazil by Embraer and a team from the Indian air force’s Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in association with Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil and its Indian counterpart, the Center for Military Airthworthiness and Certification (Cemilac).
PARIS — Mexican President Felipe Calderon says Mexico is planning a $1.5-billion national dual-use communications satellite system. Speaking at the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) plenipotentiary conference, which opened in Guadalajara, Mexico on Oct. 4, Calderon said the system will serve to improve the nation’s telecommunications network, in particular by providing connectivity to remote rural areas, and reinforce national security.
ISRAELI JSF: Israeli Ministry of Defense Director Udi Shani formally signed a letter of offer and acceptance for the country’s first purchase of F-35s on Oct. 7. Israel is the first foreign military sales customer for the single-engine stealthy aircraft made by Lockheed Martin. The $2.75 billion sale includes 19 aircraft for an average cost of $144 million. There is an option for 25 more fighters. Israeli officials say there will be about $4 billion worth of offsets for the country’s industry.
LONDON — The Brazilian government is confirming that no decision will be taken on the F-X2 fighter program until November, after the country’s presidential election process is concluded. Candidate Dilma Rousseff, championed by retiring President Lula da Silva, is in a runoff against Jose Serra after failing to win an absolute majority in the first round of the elections Oct. 3. The runoff is set to be held Oct. 31.
MOSCOW — The first production Ilyushin Il-76MF military transport plane has completed its first flight. The Il-76MF is a stretched version of the four-engine Il-76MD transport plane in service with the Russian air force. Jordan is the launch customer, with an order for two units.
