SCANEAGLE: Boeing's ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle demonstrated high-speed wireless communications relay during a Dec. 9 flight at the company's Boardman test range in Oregon, Boeing announced Dec. 21. Streaming video and voice-over Internet Protocol (IP) communication was sent from a ground control station over a secure high-bandwidth network to ScanEagle 18 miles away. The data then was instantaneously relayed to ground personnel six miles from the aircraft, Boeing said.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Galileo Industries on Dec. 21 signed a 150 million euro ($200.5 million) contract for the initial deployment of the first four satellites and associated ground stations for the Galileo satellite navigation system. Galileo Industries member EADS Astrium will build the spacecraft under a subcontract worth an estimated 75 million euros ($100.2 million).
Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr. (USMC-Ret.) has been elected to the board of directors, effective Jan. 1. Bolden was commanding general of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing. Robert A. Wolfe is resigning from the board of directors effective Dec. 31.
BC Fed Group LLC has won a contract to lead role-playing exercises and provide Civilians on the Battlefield (COB) training for the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, the company said Dec. 21. Financial terms were not disclosed. The training will start in January at Fort Campbell, Ky. The contract runs through September 2005.
Northrop Grumman has assembled a prototype payload for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military communications satellite program, the company announced Dec. 20. Northrop Grumman is providing the payload for Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the Advanced EHF program. The early integration and testing of the payload, software, satellite interfaces and user terminal simulators will reduce the risks associated with the flight payloads for the first two Advanced EHF satellites, according to Northrop Grumman.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has chosen 37 projects for funding under its new program to generate revolutionary improvements to warfighting in urban areas. Subject to negotiation, the researchers will receive between $130,000 and $2.7 million for initial six- to 12-month feasibility demonstrations, DARPA said in a Dec. 17 announcement. DARPA spokeswoman Jan Walker, asked if she could supply a breakdown of money going to the companies, said, "Not at this time. We are in the process of negotiating the contract awards."
HELO UPGRADE: Bulgaria's Ministry of Defense has chosen Elbit Systems and Lockheed Martin to upgrade the country's helicopter program, Elbit Systems said Dec. 20. The companies will upgrade 12 MI-24 combat helicopters and 6 MI-17 transport helicopters to make them comply with NATO standards. Financial terms were not disclosed. Haifa, Israel-based Elbit Systems will be the prime contractor. A contract must still be signed with the Bulgarian government.
Oshkosh Truck Corp. has teamed with Rockwell Collins to build a newer version of its TerraMax unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) with improved software to compete in next year's DARPA Grand Challenge robotic vehicle race, Gary Schmiedel, Oshkosh's director of advanced products and engineering, told The DAILY.
Several countries participating in the European Space Agency's Aurora program have confirmed they will work with the program and have increased their contribution for it, ESA said Dec. 20.
NEAR-SPACE: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) head Gen. Lance Lord met Dec. 21 to discuss the future of "near-space" military systems, according to an Air Force spokeswoman. Jumper recently gave AFSPC responsibility for exploiting near-space, which is roughly defined as altitudes between 65,000 and 350,000 feet.
TANK KITS: General Dynamics Land Systems of Sterling Heights, Mich., will produce 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits for the Egyptian tank co-production program under a $267 million contract modification, the company said Dec. 20. The contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command. Deliveries will be from 2005 through 2008. The work will be done in Lima, Ohio; Scranton, Pa.; Muskegon, Mich.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Anniston, Ala.; and Imperial Valley, Calif.
TANKER STUDY: The Pentagon delayed disclosing the results of a study on U.S. Air Force tanker modernization options because the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), which is reviewing the project, needed more time, a Defense Department spokeswoman said Dec. 21, elaborating on an earlier explanation for the postponement (DAILY, Dec. 20). IDA is conducting a "quality check" of the study, which was done for DOD by RAND Corp. DOD had been planning to brief Congress on the study results the week of Dec. 20, but it now intends to do so in about mid-January.
NASA's Galaxy Explorer (GALEX) telescope has discovered several dozen "newborn" galaxies that provide an unprecedented close-up look at galaxy formation, NASA announced Dec. 21.
Indianapolis-based Raytheon Technical Services Co. (RTSC) has been awarded a one-year contract option worth up to $98.8 million to continue providing engineering supplies and services to the Naval Air Systems Command, the company said Dec. 21. The supplies and services include systems engineering and software engineering; technical, manufacturing and life-cycle support; overhaul and repair; spares; and integration. They will be provided for navigation systems, aircraft support and mission planning, the company said.
Information technology and network systems company SI International Inc. of Reston, Va., has bought Bridge Technology Corp. for $30 million in cash, SI International said Dec. 21. Bridge Technology, also an information technology and information management company, supports defense intelligence agencies in program management, acquisition management, logistics management, systems engineering and other work.
The crash of a U.S. Air Force F/A-22 Raptor (see related story) could ultimately have implications for another new stealth fighter, the U.S. Defense Department's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. After the accident investigation is completed, DOD's JSF office plans to review the results to see whether it can learn any lessons, program spokeswoman Kathy Crawford said Dec. 21.
Northrop Grumman is leading a team in the development of a spider-like autonomous robot that could reduce the maintenance burden for future astronauts by crawling over the exterior of spacecraft such as the proposed Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) inspecting and repairing damage. The six-legged robot also could assist astronauts during spacewalks, possibly even rescuing them if they become incapacitated, according to Northrop Grumman.
An F/A-22 Raptor crashed on takeoff at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., late Dec. 20, prompting the U.S. Air Force to ground most of its other F/A-22s. The pilot ejected safely from the Lockheed Martin-built jet, which smashed into the runway it was trying to leave at about 3:45 p.m. local time. "It was literally on takeoff," an Air Force spokesman said. "He hadn't gone anywhere yet."
AERIAL SUPPORT: United Kingdom-based FR Aviation Ltd. has been awarded a 140 million pound ($269 million), five-year contract extension to provide aerial support services to the U.K.'s air force and navy, the company said Dec. 20. The contract covers the years 2009 through 2014. The support includes electronic warfare training, threat simulation, and silent target and aerial target towing for various exercises in the U.K. and overseas. FR Aviation is a subsidiary of U.K.-based Cobham plc.'s Flight Operations and Services group.
The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman Corp. have successfully demonstrated an airborne capability to collaborate in real-time using Internet "chat rooms," e-mail, and the Web, all within a secure, classified environment, the company said Dec. 21. Known as ICAN (interim capability for airborne networking), the system allows personnel on the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft to communicate to units and command centers on the ground.
BAE Systems Australia will provide Australia's military with 26 high-bandwidth satellite Compact Transmit and Receive Terminals to improve its mobile military communications capability, the company said Dec. 17. The contract, awarded by the Defence Materiel Organisation's Electronic Weapon and Systems Division, is part of the ongoing rollout of the JP2008 satellite-based tactical communications systems program, BAE Systems said.
AIR FORCE Raytheon Aircraft Co., Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $240,535,650 firm fixed price contract modification to provide for Lot 12 option exercises JPATS T-6A production aircraft Lot 12 (fifty each) for FY2005. Total funds have been obligated. This work will be complete by February 2008. The Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-01-C-0022, P00073).
