Lockheed Martin said Dec. 22 that its Space Systems Co. has achieved Maturity Level 3 with the Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) rating. CMMI is the standard for benchmarking industry's maturity in engineering and management processes.
Raytheon and WorldSpace Satellite Radio plan to test-launch the global Disaster Warning, Response and Recovery (DWRR) broadcast system on Jan. 9, Raytheon said Dec. 22. The new system will combine commercial satellites and continuous network operations to use in response to disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes. "DWRR reaches into remote areas, and to mobile users such as emergency response vehicles," Raytheon said. "It also serves to fill communication gaps when power is out, or when infrastructure is destroyed or overloaded."
The USS Ohio (SSGN 726) has successfully completed its initial sea trials after conversion, the Naval Sea Systems Command said Dec. 21. Ohio is the first of four fleet ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to be converted into cruise missile-laden, special forces-friendly SSGNs. The other three subs undergoing conversion - the USS Michigan, USS Florida and USS Georgia - are slated to rejoin the fleet by 2007.
The U.S. Navy is seeking information from industrial sources capable of developing and producing a directed infrared countermeasures system (DIRCM) for Navy and Marine Corps helicopters. The Naval Air Systems Command on Dec. 19 released the request for information, calling the overall effort the Assault DIRCM Program.
NASA is gearing up for the Jan. 15 re-entry into Earth's atmosphere of a 101-pound canister containing cometary and interstellar dust samples gathered by the agency's Stardust spacecraft. The completion of the mission will mark the first time comet samples have been brought back for study, according to NASA, as well as the longest journey ever taken by a spacecraft that has returned to Earth - 2.88 billion miles round-trip since its launch in 1999.
Nonpartisan congressional budget officials have reported that the Navy would need to spend an average of $19.6 billion every year (in 2007 dollars) on new-ship construction to achieve the 313-ship battle fleet in 2035 now being outlined by the chief of naval operations (CNO). According to a Dec. 16 report by the Congressional Budget Office, if refuelings of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines were included, the Navy would need to spend an average of $20.8 billion annually through 2035.
Jill Kale has been named vice president of strategic program management, transitions and processes for the Commercial, State and Local business unit of the company's information technology sector. John F. Olesak has been appointed vice president of space and intelligence for the Information Technology sector.
Luiz Carlos Siqueira Aguiar has been appointed executive vice president for the defense and government market. He replaces Romualdo Monteiro de Barros, who resigned.
Sales grew 30 percent and net profit climbed 44 percent for defense electronic systems provider Elta Systems Ltd. in the first nine months of fiscal 2005, the company said. The firm, which is owned by Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd., said Dec. 19 that sales were $493 million for the '05 period compared with $380 million the year before. Net profit increased from $10.4 million in the first nine months of FY '04 to $15 million for the same period this year.
Kenneth M. Duberstein has been elected lead director for the board of directors. Duberstein has been on the board since 1997. He replaces Lew Platt, who died earlier this year.
President Bush has nominated James Finley to be deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition and technology, replacing Michael Wynne, who became Air Force secretary. Finley currently serves as president of The Finley Group LLC, a consulting company he formed in 2002. Before that, he was chief executive of Smartskin Inc. Previously, Finley served in management of General Electric, Singer, Lear Siegler, United Technologies and General Dynamics, where he was president of information systems.
E-4 SUPPORT: A Boeing-led team will serve as product support integrator for the U.S. Air Force's four-plane E-4 National Air Operations Center fleet under a five-year contract with a $2 billion cost cap, Boeing said Dec. 21. The team includes L-3 Communications, Rockwell Collins and Greenpoint Technology Inc.
Steven M. Kellner has been appointed quality control manager for the Intelligence Division. Scott E. McHugh has been named senior vice president of business development.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products said Dec. 21 that it will provide the U.S. Army with additional enhanced-capability reactive armor tile sets for Bradley Fighting Vehicles in Iraq under a $19 million contract modification. The original $122 million contract was first awarded in 2004.
Douglas L. Maine has been elected to the board of directors, effective Jan. 1. Maine will also serve on the board's audit and finance committees. Maine was general manager of the Consumer Products Industry Division for International Business Machines Corp.
Senate Republican leaders failed Dec. 21 to push through a congressional conference agreement for the fiscal 2006 defense appropriations bill, increasingly squeezing the chamber as it tries to adjourn for a holiday break. By a 56-to-44 margin, the Senate voted against invoking cloture on debate over the agreement, which would have set the conference deal along an accelerated, guarded path to a final vote in the Senate.
TRIDENT WORK: The U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs awarded Lockheed Martin's Space Systems unit an $869 million, noncompeted contract for fiscal 2006 Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed system support. The Dec. 19 award runs until September 2009.
