FIRST OF KIND: Thales Alenia Space says one of two Yamal 400 telecom satellites it will supply for Russian operator Gazprom will be built in cooperation with Russia’s ISS Reshetnev. ISS will provide its Express 4000 bus for Yamal 402 in what wll be the first application for the new large satcom platform, designed on the basis of Thales Alenia’s Spacebus 4000. The two companies already collaborate widely; Thales Alenia has supplied payloads for numerous ISS satellites, including a small spaceraft under construction for Israel’s Spacecom.
GREEN HORNET: The U.S. Navy plans to fly its Green Hornet, a Boeing F/A-18 burning a 50:50 blend of conventional jet fuel and algae-derived biofuel, on April 22 – which just happens to be Earth Day. The Navy has previously ground-tested camelina-derived jet fuel in the F/A-18’s General Electric F404 engine and the Defense Energy Support Center recently delivered a batch of algae-based HRJ-5 fuel to Naval Air Systems Command for testing in advance of the flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., deputy operations director Mark Iden says.
HOSTED PAYLOAD: Telesat Canada says it envisions procuring an X-band telecom hosted payload on the next spacecraft it plans to procure, to take advantage of hot X-band demand from military and government customers. Telesat is so confident in the strength of demand that it may install the payload without waiting for an anchor tenant, CEO Dan Goldberg says.
EXPANDED SERVICES: Potential providers of commercial crew transportation to the International Space Station believe they can begin test flights three years after getting a green light from the government. Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has long touted that timetable for its unflown Falcon 9/Dragon stack, arguing that it is designing the vehicles from the outset to meet NASA human-spaceflight standards.
LIBERTY BASES: The U.S. Air Force expects to announce its alternatives/preferred locations for basing its MC-12Ws this summer, officials announced March 19. “The Air Force is using a deliberate, repeatable and transparent process to address the basing of these aircraft,” said Kathleen Ferguson, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for installations. Criteria include mission requirements, training requirements, airspace, facilities and infrastructure, support capacity, environmental impacts and cost.
The Defense Department is hoping a strategic alliance with U.S. airlines will accelerate the availability of alternative fuels, helping the armed services meet aggressive goals for energy security and environmental footprint. Under the alliance, signed March 19 in Washington, the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) and Air Transport Association are forming three joint teams to tackle key challenges to developing a domestic supply base for alternative fuels.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) Mar. 23 - 28 — FIDAE 2010, International Air & Space Fair, Arturo Merino Benitez Airport, Santiago Chile. For more information contact 56-2 8739755 or go to www.fidae.cl March 17 — AVIATION WEEK Laureate Awards Washington, D.C. For more information go to http://www.aviationweek.com/conferences
U.S. Special Operations Command (Socom) is planning to base its future AC-130J gunship on the modular “Precision Strike Package” that it is quietly and quickly fielding on the MC-130W. This is a major departure from today’s AC-130H/U configuration, which wields the characteristic side-mounted 105-mm. howitzer and a 40-mm. gun. The decision also reflects a shift in the command’s approach to purchasing new weapons, indicating a bent toward a rapidly achievable, low-cost program using a joint task force for purchasing.
TIME TRAVEL: Under its new export promotion and reform initiative, the Obama administration is promising to cut the delay in approving U.S. exports of encryption products “from 30-60 days to 30 minutes,” according to the White House. Currently, U.S. exporters of products with encryption capabilities like cell phones or network storage systems must petition the Commerce Department for a technical review before an international sale. Such reviews — there are more than 3,300 filings annually — can take between 30-60 days.
Aviation Week has revealed the individual and team winners of its 53rd Annual Laureate Awards, presented March 17 in Washington. The 2010 winners are recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments in the aerospace and defense industries. The Philip J. Klass Lifetime Achievement Award went to Richard W. Taylor, 88, former aircraft designer, test pilot and technology leader who was recognized for his work on B-47 LABS, the B-52, 767 extended twin operations, the 777 and multiple papers he published that shaped FAA advisory circulars.
NAME GAME: Boeing has selected marketing names for its 702 satellite series to distinguish the newest mid-market entry from the traditional and more costly high-powered spacecraft. What was called the 702B when it was launched with an Intelsat order last July will now be known as the 702MP, for medium-powered. That reflects its 6-12 kw. end-of-life power range. The original high-power 702 will now be the 702HP.
NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, commander of Expedition 22 to the International Space Station (ISS), and ISS flight engineer Maxim Suraev of Russia landed safely in Kazakhstan March 18 after 167 days on the orbiting facility. With Suraev at the controls, the Soyuz TMA-16 that they rode to the station undocked from the new Poisk module at 4:03 a.m. EDT and touched down near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan at 7:24 a.m. EDT. Both space travelers were reported in good shape after the landing on the snow-covered steppe.
NEW DELHI — Sikorsky Aircraft says the procurement process for the 12-aircraft VIP helicopter program recently nabbed by AgustaWestland lacked transparency, and that Sikorsky’s proposal offered the best value. The Indian defense ministry just signed a deal for 12 AW101 helicopters for the high-profile Air Force Communications squadron. According to an official who was not willing to be named, Sikorsky’s S-92 cost $50 million apiece against the AW101’s $75 million.
The atmosphere greeting the U.S. Coast Guard in the Senate March 18 contrasted sharply with a March 11 House hearing regarding the service’s management of its Deepwater acquisition program. “Make no mistake, I am nowhere close to satisfied with the Coast Guard’s progress on Deepwater,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) at the March 18 nomination hearing for the new Coast Guard Commandant, Vice Adm. Robert Papp. “We will continue to have aggressive oversight. We are not done fixing the Coast Guard acquisition program.”
NEW YORK — Despite a strict cash conservation policy, known drains on the roughly more than €9 billion in cash on hand, and prior concerns by the EADS board about making a deal during a global downturn, EADS CEO Louis Gallois believes an acquisition this year is possible. The company has particularly kept its eye on the U.S., where it is desperate to grow its industrial footprint. Gallois says he is looking for a “medium-size” acquisition, which would be valued at several hundred million dollars.
EXTENSION POSSIBLE: The U.S. Defense Department has received notification from EADS North America indicating possible interest in competing for the Air Force’s KC-X aerial refueling tanker program, according to the Pentagon’s chief spokesman. “And we would welcome that,” Geoff Morrell added. Furthermore, the Pentagon is open to a “reasonable extension” to deadline for replies to its request for proposals.
More pieces in the game to capture the next great military aviation program — a very stealthy platform that combines bomber and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions — are being set in place, but you see them only if you look closely.
International Launch Services (ILS) hopes that cost concerns with Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system could allow the company to get its foot in the door of Europe’s government launch market.
CRAY COMMISSIONED: Australia’s Defense Signals Directorate has commissioned a new Cray supercomputer that the government says will allow faster support by the intelligence agency. The computer also will help the directorate to respond to cyber-threats, according to Greg Combet, the minister for defense personnel, materiel and science. The directorate is equivalent to the U.S. National Security Agency and Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters, with which it works closely.
NEW YORK — EADS still has not given up hope entirely on competing in the U.S. Air Force KC-X tanker replacement program, and is waiting to see if the U.S. government will open the door.
