NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Keith Ingalsbe discussed the pending November release of a request for proposals (RFP) for his service's Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) at the Coast Guard Innovation Expo here Oct. 29, the same day Northrop Grumman announced its intention to compete for the design, integration, installation and testing of NAIS. "This is not just a black box," Ingalsbe said. "It's a compilation of computers, receivers, transmitters and antenna...that pass information using an ingenious, self-organizing protocol."
U.S. Missile Defense Agency officials are now ready to begin pitting the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system against separating targets after last week's successful flight-test, according to program officials.
NEW ORLEANS - An expedient "operationalization" of maritime domain awareness (MDA) is needed to "guarantee American security and prosperity," a U.S. Navy intelligence director says. "We understand that whatever the Department of the Navy does is of limited value unless our partners can contribute critical information and insights at every level of classification," Wendy Kay, senior director for intelligence for the secretary of the U.S. Navy, said in opening the U.S. Coast Guard Innovation Expo here Oct. 29.
GRIFFIN TESTIFIES: NASA Administrator Michael Griffin will be the lead witness this week when the House Science and Technology Committee considers what the agency can do to improve aviation safety. The Oct. 31 hearing also will include former National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall. NASA came under fire from lawmakers, including Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) last week over its refusal to release publicly the results from an extensive survey of commercial and general aviation pilots about safety incidents.
NEW DEHLI - Following years of discussion, India and Russia signed an agreement for the joint development and production of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGA) during a recent visit to Russia by Defense Minister A.K. Antony.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected] Oct. 29 -- AVIATIONWEEK Management Forums, Avionics Outlook, Hyatt Regency, Phoenix, Ariz. For more information call (212) 904-3195, http://www.aviationweek.com/forums. Oct. 29 - 31 -- AVIATIONWEEK Top A&D Programs to Watch, "Commercial and Defense Programs in Review," Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, Ariz. For more information call (212) 904-4483 or (800) 240-7645 or go to http://www.aviationweek.com/conferences.
AMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL: The Bush administration's recent amendments to the February fiscal 2008 supplemental budget request would boost by $67 million a request to replace the 14 Close-In Weapons Systems diverted to the Army in FY '07 and accelerate production deliveries to minimize the impact to the Navy's fielding plan. At the same time, $2.5 billion would be directed toward M1 Abrams Tank and M2 Bradley Fighting vehicle upgrades, Stryker vehicles, Howitzers and small arms and medium caliber weapons for operating, returning and future Army deployments.
BATMAV: U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is testing the new Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle (BATMAV) and expects to field the system with AFSOC combat controllers by the end of the year, according to manufacturer AeroVironment. Dubbed Wasp III, the backpack-sized unmanned aerial vehicle has a wingspan of 29 inches, weighs one pound and carries forward- and side-looking color cameras. It can fly for up to 45 minutes and up to 5 kilometers from the control transceiver, manually or via autopilot.
The top U.S. Air Force general and civilian leaders have promised lawmakers that the service will give aerial refueling outsourcing a fair trial but asked them not to mandate such a move and warned of its impact on in-house service capability. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, chief of staff, and Secretary Michael Wynne told House Armed Services Committee (HASC) members Oct. 24 that even without legislative language, the Air Force would perform a so-called fee-for-service demonstration.
ORBITAL FINANCIALS: Orbital Sciences Corporation announced that its third quarter revenues increased 46 percent over 2006, to $289.5 million. The company's third quarter operating income also rose 54 percent over last year, to $23.2 million. Net income increased for the quarter 85 percent over last year, at $15.7 million. Free cash flow for Orbital was $22.4 million versus third quarter 2006, when cash flow was $21.3 million.
BCT WORK: BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems will work together for the U.S. Army's heavy brigade combat team (BCT) modernization plan. They said Oct. 25 they have agreed to upgrade, modernize and achieve commonality on BAE Systems' family of Bradley Fighting Vehicles and General Dynamics M1 Abrams tanks, the brigades' primary combat vehicles. The agreement was "developed with the Army's encouragement" and defines how the companies will work with the Army's project manager for heavy BCTs, as well as the Abrams and Bradley product managers.
NO CYBER HOME: U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne told lawmakers Oct. 24 that the service is still unsure where - or even how - to permanently locate its nascent Cyberspace Command. Responding to an inquiry from Republican Rep. Thelma Drake, whose Virginia district is home to numerous military facilities, Wynne told the House Armed Services Committee that a major command requires 12,000 personnel or more to establish.
MOP: The Defense Dept. is trying to accelerate Northrop Grumman's effort to outfit the B-2 for the bunker-busting Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), including it in the administration's request for the off-budget fiscal 2008 supplemental appropriation (DAILY, Oct. 26).
The U.S. Air Force wants its fleet certified to fly on a synthetic fuel blend by 2011, and has begun testing in earnest, including a flight last week on a C-17. "We've developed a three-part energy strategy," William Anderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, told media at a Foreign Press Center briefing in Washington Oct. 26. "We're looking to reduce demand, find alternative supply sources and change the culture of every airman so they make energy a consideration in all that they do."
Not only does he disagree with the Bush administration's new get-tough policy with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd thinks it may reflect attempts "to justify military action against Iran." The West Virginia Democrat decries the White House designation of the Revolutionary Guard as a proliferater of weapons of mass destruction, calling it "chest-pounding rhetoric."
ABL EVENT: The industry team behind the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Airborne Laser (ABL) program is planning an Oct. 31 ceremony to celebrate the program's completion of flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Boeing is prime contractor for ABL and provides the 747-400F airframe, Lockheed Martin is providing the beam control/fire control system and Northrop Grumman furnishes the high-power chemical laser for shooting down missiles in their boost phase.
AC-130 DISPLAYS: U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command plans to use CMC Electronics' new TacView display in the AC-130 gunship with dual installation in each cockpit. TacView is a military version of the company's popular Class 2 electronic flight bag. The 5 x 7-inch display has a touch-sensitive screen and can be used by crew members wearing gloves.
International Space Station (ISS) controllers adjusted the second extravehicular activity (EVA) of the ongoing STS-120/10A assembly mission to insert a visual inspection of the 10-foot-diameter joint that rotates the 240-foot solar array wing at the starboard end of the main station truss.
