Northrop Grumman's directed energy efforts are getting a new leader. With Art Stephenson, vice president of directed energy systems (DES) at Northrop Grumman Space Technology, being tapped to head a new space exploration organization in the company's Integrated Systems sector, he will be succeeded on an acting basis by Ron Smith, who has led Northrop Grumman's "Six Sigma" efforts to reduce variability in processes, according to an internal company memo.
SHAKEOUT: The fallout continues from former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's admission of taking $2.4 million worth of bribes for directing business to defense contractors MZM Inc. and ADCS Inc. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called for a full House inquiry on the Republican from California, who resigned from Congress Nov. 28 after pleading guilty. Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.), chairman of the Intelligence Committee, has asked committee attorneys to review Cunningham's work on that panel.
ACQUISITION ADVISERS: The Defense Acquisition Performance Assessment (DAPA) panel, which the U.S. Defense Department set up earlier this year to give advice on acquisition reform, plans to roll out the results of its efforts in mid-December. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish, the panel's chairman, is expected to give a Capitol Hill speech about the DAPA initiative on Dec. 13, a day before the panel's report is due to be released.
LOOMING DECISIONS: Europe will have several decisions to make on its space programs in 2008, the European Space Agency says. There is already consensus to move ahead on the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security program, planetary exploration and developing new technology, ESA says. In 2008, ESA's Columbus laboratory should have been launched to the International Space Station, NASA's new exploration plan should be "consolidated and funded," and the European Union's "political and budget uncertainties" should be resolved, ESA says.
Rheinmetall Defence Electronics has delivered a naval training system worth several million euros to Indonesia, the company said Nov. 30. The Action Speed Tactical Trainer (ASTT) tutors naval personnel in tactics, operations and command decision-making. Training scenarios, tactical environment, ships, submarines, and aircraft are operated with user-friendly graphical interfaces.
BAE Systems will refurbish 164 M109A5 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzers for Egypt under a $58 million contract modification, the company said Nov. 30. Many assemblies will be refurbished to "like new" condition, including the engine, transmission and main armament. The work will be done at BAE Systems facilities in York and Fayette County, Pa. Deliveries are set for July 2006 through December 2007. The contract was awarded by the U.S. Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has slammed the brakes on Northrop Grumman's Advanced SEAL Delivery System due to "technical challenges," but a congressional supporter said the move should lead to an even stronger program.
NASA's Dawn mission, which has been standing down since Oct. 11 in response to programmatic problems, is awaiting the results of a technical assessment to see whether it will continue. The Discovery Program Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., is performing the assessment, which should be complete early next year, according to NASA. "This does not mean the cancellation of the program," the agency said in response to The DAILY's questions. "The fate of the mission will be decided after the assessment is complete."
Axsys Technologies said it will provide infrared lenses for the U.S. Army's Thermal Weapon Sight II program under a $3.8 million follow-on contract from BAE Systems. This is the second order under the original contract, which could be worth up to $24 million depending on Army demand, the Rocky Hill, Conn.-based company said.
Trade associations representing the aerospace and defense sector are endorsing a legislative move to require the Defense Department to perform an analysis of alternatives (AOA) ahead of every major acquisition, although they are opposing one recommendation that would trigger an AOA when costs later increase.
EADS Defence Electronics said Nov. 30 that it has agreed to provide identification devices for six of the German air force's long-range airspace surveillance radar systems. Financial terms were not disclosed. EADS' Identification Friend or Foe interrogator devices allow aircraft to be quickly and reliably identified through an exchange of coded signals. EADS will supply and integrate the devices into Germany's existing radar installations, the company said.
FORT WORTH, Texas - Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. expects international orders for between 100 to 200 new F-16s, and maybe more if the company wins a budding Indian competition. This would push F-16 production "well past" 2010, executives said here Nov. 29.
NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., plans to release a request for proposals in early January soliciting new rotorcraft research from industry. Proposals will be due around Feb. 14, according to NASA. Ames anticipates issuing five five-year contracts worth $10 million each.
Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), a leading proponent of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Airborne Laser (ABL), plans to reiterate his support for the potentially endangered program in talks with senior Pentagon leaders, according to a spokesman for the congressman.
SOLD: Aerospace and defense company GenCorp Inc. said Nov. 30 that it has completed the sale of its Aerojet Fine Chemicals business to American Pacific Corp. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
AgustaWestland said Nov. 30 that it has signed a contract with Estonia to provide an AB139 helicopter for the country's border patrol. Financial terms were not disclosed. The agreement includes an option for additional aircraft. The medium twin-engine, six-ton AB139 can carry up to 15 passengers or six litter kits with four medical attendants. It will be based in Tallinn. AgustaWestland is an affiliate of Finmeccanica.
Defense Department program managers consider requirements and funding instability throughout a program to be their biggest obstacles, but both they and higher-level defense officials are responsible for the situation, according to the Government Accountability Office. In a report released Dec. 1, the GAO warned again that the Pentagon starts many more programs than it can afford, creating a competition for money that pressures program managers to produce optimistic cost estimates and to overpromise capabilities.
GLOBEMASTER TRAINERS: AAI Services Corp. will produce six maintenance trainers to support C-17 Globemaster III readiness, the company's parent, United Industrial Corp., said Dec. 1. AAI will build three test, evaluation, performance and assessment trainers, two aircraft engine maintenance trainers and one aircraft maintenance systems trainer at its new Goose Creek, S.C., facility. The systems will be delivered to maintenance training centers in California, Hawaii and Alaska.
Houston-based Stewart and Stevenson Services said Nov. 29 that its sales and net earnings grew in the third quarter of fiscal 2005. The company, which designs and manufactures specialty equipment for the defense, oil and power generation industries, said sales increased from $133.4 million in FY '04 to $161.8 million in FY '05. Net earnings also climbed to $3.4 million, compared with $2.1 million for the same period a year ago.
