Northrop Grumman began flight-testing the first E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft to be re-engined with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 turbofans on Dec. 20. The aircraft is scheduled to complete a military airworthiness certification test program in the spring. The engines, nacelles and pylons were previously flown on a Boeing 707 modified by Seven Q Seven (SQS) to obtain FAA supplemental type certification.
After a Critical Design Review (CDR) Dec. 16, data on the U.S. Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) is being reviewed by an Overarching Integrated Product Team (IOPT) in preparation for the program’s early January evaluation by a Defense Acquisition Board (DAB). The DAB is expected to finalize its report the first week of January to “clear the way for seven new EFV prototypes to be built in Lima, Ohio, beginning in January 2009,” according to Dave Branham, spokesman for Marine Corps Land Systems. Vehicle goals
The Israeli Defense Force’s (IDF) Artillery Corps is integrating a new radar system that will help locate and destroy rocket launchers more rapidly than ever before, Chief IDF Artillery Officer Brig. Gen. Michel Ben-Baruch has announced. The new radar developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Elta Systems will be able to provide artillery cannons with a 360-degree view of a battlefield and detect the exact location of rocket launchers.
Saab has secured a long-term contract from the Swedish government to operate and maintain the Swedish air force’s Saab 105 (designated the SK 60) trainer aircraft in a deal that represents a new fee-for-service model for the country.
Eutelsat engineers are checking out a pair of new communications satellites – one of them built on an Indian spacecraft bus – following their tandem launch Dec. 20 on an Ariane 5 ECA. Hot Bird 9 and W2M reached their geostationary transfer orbits after launch from the European launch facility near Kourou, French Guiana, at 5:35 p.m. EST. Arianespace and Eutelsat reported the double launch a success.
SUB AWARD: The U.S. Navy said late Dec. 22 it signed a five-year, $14 billion multiyear contract for eight Virginia-class submarines with Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics. The Block III contract calls for one ship annually in fiscal 2009 and 2010, then two per year in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Navy asserted that the deal meets a mandate to cut acquisition costs by about 20 percent for the FY 2012 ships.
SHIPPING KEPLER: NASA’s Kepler planet-finding spacecraft has completed environmental testing and its “pre-ship review” at Ball Aerospace and is ready for shipment by a convoy in early January to Astrotech in Titusville, Fla., for pre-launch preparation. The mission is set for a March 5 liftoff from Cape Canaveral on a Delta II. Kepler will monitor 100,000 stars for signatures of planets that lie within a star’s “habitable zone” and thus might support life, according to Principal Investigator William Borucki of NASA’s Ames Research Center.
BLAIR CZAR: Retired U.S. Navy Adm. Dennis C. Blair will be President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for director of national intelligence, several news organizations reported Dec. 19. The choice of DNI seemed to take longer than Obama’s other national security cabinet positions and advisors. While Blair was considered a front runner for the job, recent concern was raised over his role in a study of F-22 Raptor costs that played a pivotal role in a congressional debate two years ago (Aerospace DAILY, June 23, 2006).
QUALITY ASSURANCE: International Launch Services (ILS) says a quality initiative begun with Proton M builder Khrunichev following a March 2008 launch mishap is advancing well. According to ILS, 16 immediate measures have been completed and 22 Phase 1 actions are nearly done. Eight other steps related to launch system improvements have been defined and are underway; they are due to be completed by the end of 2009. ILS completed its fourth successful mission since the mishap — and fifth of the year — on Dec. 10, carrying the Ciel-2 telecom satellite into orbit.
TORNADO GEAR: Messier Services UK will overhaul landing gear for the Royal Air Force’s Tornado multi-role combat aircraft under a new eight-and-a-half-year contract with EADS. The 134 aircraft will be maintained at Gloucester, U.K., where the Safran Group company is based. The Tornado was developed by Panavia Aircraft GmbH, a consortium of Alenia Aeronautica (15%), EADS (42.5%), and BAE Systems (42.5%). According to Panavia’s website, Italy (Alenia Aeronautica) is responsible for manufacturing the aircraft’s wings; the U.K.
As the U.S. Air Force retreats further from its mobile Battle Control System (BCS-M) plans, the service continues to funnel more funds to its fixed system (BCS-F), according to Pentagon contract listings and sources familiar with the effort.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicated new calendar listing.) Jan. 26 - 28, 2009 — 6th Annual Tactical Power Sources Summit, Hilton Alexandria Old Town, Alexandria, Va. For more information go to www.idga.org/us/tacticalpower
TIGER ENGINES: The consortium MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce has named MTU Aero engines and Atelier d’Industriel Aeronautic (AIA) of Bordeau approved repair centers for the MTR390-2C turboshaft that powers the Franco-German Tiger attack helicopter. The centers will only be responsible for engine module components, with complete engine and module replacement being handled by the French and German air force depots.
The Netherlands has followed Norway in recommending procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), with both defense ministries ranking the aircraft’s mission capabilities higher and costs lower than competing multirole fighters. “The F-35 best meets the requirements drawn up by the Netherlands for the successor to the F-16,” the Dutch defense ministry says, citing its better mission capability and operational availability, and lower price and anticipated lifecycle costs.
Dassault Aviation has come to an agreement with Alcatel-Lucent to buy the 21 percent stake that the latter holds in French defense and aerospace electronics group Thales. The parties have been in talks for several weeks, and have now worked out a deal that seems to satisfy all sides. Dassault is paying €1.57 billion for the stake, in a transaction due to close in this spring (Aerospace DAILY, Dec. 5).
Broadcasting Satellite System Corp (B-SAT) and Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. of Japan have awarded construction of a new telecom satellite to Lockheed Martin. The twin Ku-band payload satellite, BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R, is intended to ensure spare and growth capacity to meet high demand for direct-to-home broadcasting and telecom services in the Japanese market. It will be launched to 110 deg. E. Long on an Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA rocket in the second quarter of 2011.
BUFFALO RETIREMENT: Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay is expected to seek cabinet approval early in 2009 to buy up to 17 new fixed-wing search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft to replace the Canadian Forces’ 40-year-old de Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalos. The program is projected to cost C$3 billion ($2.5 billion) including through-life support. The department, meanwhile, has denied reports it is considering buying or leasing additional AgustaWestland CH-146 Cormorant SAR helicopters to boost availability.
SPARTAN PICK: Slovakia is the latest nation to select Alenia Aeronautica’s C-27J tactical transport, and is negotiating to buy two aircraft for delivery in 2011 to replace the Slovak Army’s pair of Antonov An-26s. The C-27J was selected over the EADS Casa C-295M and Lockheed Martin C-130J. Canada is expected to launch a competition for 17 fixed-wing search-and-rescue aircraft in early 2009, with the C-27J seen as the front runner.
Eco-Aviation and Fuel Management Viable strategies to drive meaningful cost reduction and improve operating efficiencies January 27-28, 2009 Sofitel Miami Miami, FL FEATURED SPEAKER: Pierre Girault VP QSE & Sustainable Development Air France Industries KLM Royal Dutch Airlines An exciting discussion on one of today’s most topical issues!
BRAHMOS TEST: India’s BrahMos missile was test launched Dec. 18 from a naval warship in the Bay of Bengal, marking the first test from a universal vertical launcher fitted in a new ship. All earlier launches of BrahMos missiles were carried out from inclined launchers, which are less prevalent than vertical launchers on present-day ships.
