Preliminary estimates from NASA put the cost of a space probe to explore Jupiter's moon Europa at $2 billion to $4 billion, Acting Administrator for Science Colleen Hartman told House appropriators March 14. The estimate comes from an ongoing survey of potential outer planetary exploration missions that NASA expects to complete by the end of the summer. Other destinations under review include Jupiter's moon Ganymede and the Saturnian moons Enceladus and Titan.
Capability had to take a back seat to schedule in the acquisition of the U.S. Air Force's combat, search and rescue (CSAR-X) helicopter fleet, said Ken Krieg, defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics. "What was clear was a need to hold to schedule," Krieg said during a March 14 Pentagon press briefing on acquisition reform.
JAMMER SYSTEMS: Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Maritime Systems and Sensors has been awarded a $6.4 million contract modification to produce 55 Symphony Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Jammer Systems and related equipment for the U.S. military, the Defense Department said March 13. The work will be performed in Manassas, Va., and is expected to be finished by September 2008. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., awarded the contract.
ABERDEEN ACTIVE: During the past two years, Aberdeen Test Center researchers have tested about 30 rapid fielding initiatives a week, with more than 1,400 tests conducted last year alone, the Defense Department says. Since 2001, the center has seen an 87 percent increase in range activity as the Army tries to instill "spiral development" in its development processes. The center, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., tests equipment ranging from tanks to protective vests and helmets.
The U.S. Army will restore scheduled funding cuts to the Medium Extended-Range Air Defense System, according to Jim Cravens, president of MEADS International. Cravens and Axel Widera, executive vice president, told reporters March 13 that the Army has committed to filling in proposed cuts in its latest long-term budget plan for the German-Italian-U.S. missile system, and that the program should not suffer any schedule slippage.
Renato A. DiPentima is retiring as president and chief executive effective April 1. Stanton D. Sloane is replacing DiPentima. Sloane had served as executive vice president for integrated systems and solutions at Lockheed Martin Corp. Jennifer E. Smith has been appointed vice president and deputy director for marketing and sales.
SENATE BUDGET: Senate Budget Democratic leaders unveiled budget plans March 14 that fully fund President Bush's baseline fiscal 2008 defense budget, as well as White House requests for supplemental military funding in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The committee last month noted that under the president's proposal, defense spending would grow in inflation-adjusted terms for the 10th straight year and would return the defense budget, even excluding costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to levels last seen at the height of the Reagan administration's buildup.
The House Armed Services Committee on March 13 endorsed an acquisition reform bill first proposed by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), but only after modifying it to win the backing of conservative Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.).
Arthur D. Collins Jr. has been elected to the board of directors. Collins is chairman and chief executive officer of Medtronic Inc. Dean McColgan and Liz Vivian have been named to lead Global Corporate Citizenship's NW Region.
Eyal Danan has been appointed general manager of Elta Systems' Group Microwaves Systems & Antennas Division. Gideon Landa has been named general manager of Elta's AEW Division. Roni Segal has been named Elta Systems' vice president for operations. Avishay Yitzhakian has been appointed deputy general manager of Elta's AEW Division.
