A panel of think-tank officials has suggested that the United States should not invest too much in protecting its space-based equipment but should look to unmanned aerial vehicles, airships and other aircraft to back up those spacecraft. The experts testified Nov. 1 before the House Armed Services Committee's asymmetric and unconventional threats gap panel. The subcommittee hosted a hearing on space security as part of the threat-and-capability assessment it is conducting in advance of the Defense Department's Quadrennial Defense Review.
The European Space Agency's industrial policy and navigation program committees have agreed to additional financing for the first phase of Europe's Galileo satellite navigation program, satellite builder Alcatel said Nov. 3. The initial phase of the program calls for putting four satellites in orbit to demonstrate key technologies for the system, aimed at giving Europe a system to rival the U.S. Global Positioning System. The additional financing is for EUR 400 million (USD $476 million), DAILY affiliate Aviation Week & Space Technology reported.
The Government Accountability Office has denied a contract award protest from Research Analysis & Maintenance of El Paso, Texas, which said the Army's Threat Systems Management Office (TSMO) failed to consider it for a support follow-on contract when it was the incumbent contractor. The TSMO provides realistic threat simulations for testing weapon systems and for training and exercises, including operating and maintaining foreign ground and air systems dating as far back as the early 1950s.
(Editor's note: The following is excerpted from written responses by Michael Wynne, nominated by President Bush to be secretary of the Air Force, to written questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee. He testified Oct. 6 and was confirmed by the Senate on Oct. 28). Q: In your view, what are the major challenges that will confront the secretary of the Air Force?
Spain has requested an Aegis Weapon System and related equipment that could be worth up to $550 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Nov. 2. Spain seeks one MK 7 Aegis system, a MK 41 Baseline VII Vertical Launch System and two MK 45 MOD 1 Gun Mounts. It also wants an AN/SLQ-25A Torpedo Countermeasure System, an Aviation Support System and a MK III Shipboard System Light Aiborne Multi-Purpose System, among others, DSCA notified Congress.
Aircraft marketer Gripen International has unveiled the first Gripen fighter for South Africa's air force. A rollout ceremony was held Oct. 28 in Linkoping, Sweden, as the fighter left the production line. The aircraft now will be prepared for a flight-test program to integrate South Africa's avionics and mission systems. Its arrival at South Africa's Test and Flight Development Center is set for mid-2006.
ON HER WAY: Shana Dale's nomination to become the new deputy administrator of NASA was approved by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee during a markup hearing in Washington Nov. 2, according to a committee spokeswoman. The nomination next will go to the floor of the Senate for a vote.
John Young Jr., the U.S. Navy's acquisition chief who was recently confirmed to head Defense Department-wide research and development, said Nov. 2 that canceling the DD(X) destroyer program would drive up the cost of the futuristic CVN-21 aircraft carrier.
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez said Nov. 1 that his government might give Lockheed Martin-built F-16 fighters to Cuba and China because the United States is breaking an aircraft parts agreement. Chavez said his country can do whatever it wants with the fighters because the U.S. is refusing to sell repair parts to his country, the Voice of America reported. Chavez made the comments at a ceremony announcing Venezuela's plans to launch a telecommunications satellite with China's help.
Northrop Grumman Corp., expecting a $1 billion hit to its bottom line due to hurricane damage to its shipbuilding in the Gulf Coast region, could see around $2 billion in additional funds for U.S. Navy and Coast Guard contracts under a recent White House proposal. The request came as part of a package that the Bush administration sent to Capitol Hill on Oct. 28 to try to free money for hurricane-related spending (DAILY, Nov. 2).
The U.S. Marine Corps will reopen the competition for the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) in the wake of protests from the losing bidders. In a letter to the Government Accountability Office, the Marine Corps Systems Command said it will review the request for proposals for the program, talk with the contractors, ask for final proposal revisions and award a new contract.
STILL CONFIDENT: A Lockheed Martin Corp. official expressed optimism Nov. 2 that Congress and the Bush administration will work out different opinions on the fate of the Joint Common Missile program despite a recent White House request to take back $34.6 million in unobligated funds from the program. "Congress has indicated support for continuation of the Joint Common Missile program, based on a documented warfighter requirement and on the outstanding success achieved in the missile's development to date," the spokeswoman told The DAILY.
FOREIGN OPS: Senate and House negotiators have agreed to a $20.9 billion Foreign Operations spending bill, which includes $175 million for peacekeeping operations and $87 million for international military training and education programs, the Senate Appropriations Committee said Nov. 1.
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - The U.S. Navy's VH-71A presidential helicopter program received a shot of adrenaline Nov. 2 as it welcomed its first dedicated flight-test aircraft outside program headquarters at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The three-engine helicopter, painted with an American flag and "VH-71" on both sides, touched down about 12:15 p.m., drawing an audience of excited program personnel and other onlookers.
PAKISTANI P-3: The U.S. Navy has awarded Logistics Services International of Jacksonville, Fla., a $30.3 million contract to conduct site surveys and provide training plans and curriculum, aircrew and maintenance training and other services for Pakistan's P-3 aircraft. The company, listed as a small business, will do a quarter of its work in Karachi, Pakistan, and complete the contract by November 2010, the Pentagon said. Pakistan requested the P-3s last year as it moved to create a fleet of maritime and border surveillance aircraft (DAILY, Nov. 18, 2004).
