U.S. officials should begin a connectivity-communications study to review how U.S. and foreign satellite capacity would be affected by a planned improvement of tsunami warning ability, the director of the National Weather Service told The DAILY Jan. 26.
Transformational capabilities achieved by the U.S. Air Force during Operation Iraqi Freedom included techniques that allowed more than 90% of sorties to receive updated information en route to targets, and enhanced weather forecasting that permitted more effective strikes against time-sensitive targets, according to a new report from the service.
NASA and the International Space Station (ISS) partners have agreed on a plan to complete the orbital facility by 2010 and accommodate all the hardware modules built by the international partner countries that have yet to be launched. The new plan will finish the station "with the fewest number of flights we can," NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said during a press conference following the ISS Heads of Agency (HOA) meeting in Montreal Jan. 26. "We have developed a dynamic plan to achieve that goal."
CACI International Inc. is one of several prime contractors to support the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) business and financial community multiple award contract, the company said Jan. 24. "This award positions CACI to expand its core engineering and logistics line of business," CACI said. Under the terms of the contract, CACI will lead a team of 11 subcontractors to supply logistics, business and financial support services to NAVAIR as it manages programs and products delivered to Navy and Marine Corps aviators.
John R. Woodhull has resigned from the board of directors. Robert Rodin will replace Woodhull. Rodin is founder and CEO of RDN Group, a management consulting firm. Douglas A. Moore has been appointed vice president and account executive. Mark F. Werny has been named vice president and account executive.
David R. Beachley has been named media relations manager. George M. Smart has been elected to the board of directors. Smart is former president of Sonoco-Phoenix Inc.
Adelaide, Australia-based Saab Systems has won a 620 million Swedish kronor ($89.3 million) contract to provide the Dutch army with Universal Tank and Anti Aircraft System (UTAAS) fire control systems for its CV9035 combat vehicles, the company said Jan. 25. The order includes fire control systems built on third-generation Thales infrared systems, along with upgraded software and data communications.
General Dynamics reported a revenue increase of 17% for 2004, boosted by its information technology and combat systems units. Revenue reached $19.2 billion, compared with $16.4 billion in 2003, the company said Jan. 26. Net earnings for 2004 were $1.23 billion, compared with $1 billion for 2003, a 22% increase.
The U.S. Navy's new San Antonio-class LPD 17 amphibious warship suffered "shortcomings" in its command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems and is missing three other systems deemed necessary, the Defense Department's Director for Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) said in a fiscal 2004 report.
To support NASA's space exploration vision, Honeywell is positioning itself for a major business push that company officials hope might culminate with the company vying to be the prime contractor for a future lunar base.
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems will produce mortar propelling increment charges for 81mm and 120mm mortar ammunition under a five-year contract that could be worth up to $200 million, the company said. The contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. General Dynamics will produce the 81mm M218, M219 and M220 propelling charges, as well as the M233 and M234 for the 120mm mortar system.
The U.S. Army is asking industry for ideas on development of a nonlethal projectile that would temporarily incapacitate a small group of belligerents. The projectile would be fired from a grenade launcher or shotgun and would work through "electrical area stun effect," according to a Jan. 24 FedBizOpps notice from the Army Research Development and Engineering Command at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. Responses to the presolicitation notice are due Feb. 28.
CACI's Department of Defense-related revenue increased 66% in the second quarter of fiscal 2005 compared with the same period for 2004, largely due to the acquisition of the AMS Defense and Intelligence Group, the company said Jan. 24.
NEAR SPACE TESTS: Air Force Space Command tested a prototype free-floating near-space balloon in Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 25. The balloon relayed communications from the ground to A-10 Thunderbolt and AWACS aircraft. Inexpensive, unguided balloons are likely to be the first systems deployed by the Air Force in near-space. Weather permitting, Space Command also plans to conduct a high-altitude test of a redesigned propeller for its Near Space Maneuvering Vehicle in Oregon next week.
Raytheon Co. has been awarded $4 million by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to continue developing advanced radar antenna technology for unmanned combat aircraft, the company announced Jan. 25.
