The Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile system intercepted both of its targets during a Sept. 2 test designed to demonstrate recent improvements to the PAC-3 missile, according to the U.S. Army. During the first engagement, two PAC-3 missiles were "ripple-fired" at a Patriot-As-A-Target (PAAT), which is an older Patriot missile modified to act like a short-range ballistic missile. The first PAC-3 missile hit the target, prompting the second missile to self-destruct.
AWARDED: Northrop Grumman Corp. has been selected to receive the 2004 U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award (SPQA), the company said Sept. 2. A team of SPQA examiners evaluated the Newport News sector's operations group in several areas, including organizational results and leadership. The sector was identified as a model organization, with demonstrated maturity and excellence in each area, Northrop Grumman said.
The second operational interceptor for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system is slated for installation at Fort Greely, Alaska, "within the next few days," a Missile Defense Agency spokesman said Sept. 1. Weather, especially the desire for "favorable wind conditions," will determine the specific timing for inserting the Initial Defensive Capability 2 (IDC-2) interceptor missile in an underground silo, the spokesman told The DAILY. The first GMD interceptor, IDC-1, was placed in the ground July 22 (DAILY, July 26).
PAC-3 TEST: The next intercept test for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile system will take place Sept. 2 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., the U.S. Army said late Sept. 1. The system will try to destroy a short-range ballistic missile target and a low-flying cruise missile target at the same time. Cost-reduction changes to the PAC-3 missile also will be demonstrated.
LOCKHEED MARTIN said a classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Aug. 31, marking the final flight of the company's Atlas II series of rockets. Liftoff of the Atlas IIAS took place at 7:17 p.m. EDT from Pad 36A, followed by payload separation 73 minutes later. The Atlas II now has logged 63 flights since its introduction in December 1991. The mission also marked the final flight of the Rocketdyne MA-5A engine, which has been in service for 47 years.
General Dynamics American Overseas Marine has been awarded a $24 million contract by the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command for the operation and maintenance of nine Large Medium-Speed Roll On/Roll Off (LMSR) vessels. American Overseas Marine is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the contract, American Overseas Marine will provide supplies, provisions, tools, equipment, operational and technical support and qualified ship officers and crews to repair, maintain, and operate the vessels.
E-10A BMC2: The U.S. Air Force is on track to pick a prime contractor in mid-September to develop the Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) system for the E-10A Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A), an Air Force spokesman said Sept. 1. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are competing for the BMC2 contract. The E-10A is designed to replace the E-8C Joint Stars air-to-ground surveillance aircraft. The Air Force plans to use a Boeing 767-400ER for an E-10A test bed. Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are developing the radar.
The first Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft for Australia has completed a series of flight tests ahead of schedule, according to an official of Boeing Co., which is building six of the highly modified 737-700 jets for the Australian Defence Force. The airworthiness tests, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and in Mesa, Ariz., beginning in June, included takeoff performance, flight handling, simulated air-to-air refueling and nacelle and engine component cooling.
Tel-Instrument Electronics Corp. has won a $1.6 million contract to supply T-36M ramp test sets to the Army National Guard, the company said Sept. 1. Tel-Instrument Electronics expects to complete delivery of all units during the current fiscal year. Tel-Instrument Electronics manufactures and designs avionics test and measurement systems for the general aviation, global commercial air transport and aerospace and defense markets. The company provides instruments to repair, calibrate, measure and test communications and airborne navigation equipment.
The first test flight of the Complementary Low Altitude Weapon Systems (CLAWS) was completed successfully at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., according to Raytheon Co. Company officials said Sept. 1 that all mission objectives were achieved with the launcher in full tactical configuration. U.S Marines operated the equipment.
The U.S. Coast Guard will make a decision next week on a contract for five VideoRay underwater surveillance robots for use in port security, according to company officials. VideoRay LLC of Exton, Pa., already has provided the Coast Guard with four submersibles for its Maritime Safety and Security Teams, a rapid response force charged with meeting emerging threats in key ports around the country, said company spokesman Erick Estrada. The contract for the additional robots will be worth $250,000-500,000, he said.
PREDATOR WORK: Raytheon Systems Co. has been awarded an $11.7 million task order in preparation for Multispectral Targeting Systems (MTS) "B" production for the Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle program, the Department of Defense announced Sept. 1. The MTS B is a forward-looking infrared system for the Predator B, and provides real-time imagery selectable between infrared and day TV, the DOD said. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed in June 2006.
The addition of armor kits and a new .50-caliber ramp gun to the Marine Corps' CH-53E Sea Stallion are highlighting the changing mission for the heavy-lift helicopter, which is more frequently being required to go into harm's way without escort, according to program officials.
BAE SYSTEMS' solid-state recorder assemblies and radiation-hardened RAD6000 computers are bound for the planet Mercury aboard the spacecraft MESSENGER, the company said Aug. 31. A Delta II rocket carrying MESSENGER was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. on Aug. 3, beginning its 6.5-year, 4.9-billion-mile journey. MESSENGER will be the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury after it arrives in March 2011, and will provide the first images of the entire planet.
INAVSAT CONSORTIUM has delivered its offer to the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) to become the Galileo contractor, the consortium announced Sept. 1. If chosen, the consortium would deploy the Galileo satellite constellation and operate all subsequent services. The consortium is one of three final bidders that were chosen in February. The preferred bidder is expected to be announced by December 2004, and contract negotiations are to be completed by December 2005.
IRVINE SENSORS CORP., Costa Mesa, Calif. Chris Toffales, the vice chairman of Communications Power Industries, has been appointed to the board of directors. ITT INDUSTRIES, Clifton, N.J. John Capeci has been promoted to vice president and director for business development of the Avionics Division. NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP., Herndon, Va. Steven R. Perkins has been named vice president, business development and strategy for the information technology sector. RAYTHEON CO., El Segundo, Calif.
A key design review for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's High Altitude Airship (HAA) is being delayed from September until October because prime contractor Lockheed Martin needs more time to refine its plans, an MDA official said Sept. 1. The critical design review (CDR) previously was delayed from June to September because some of the people involved in the program were busy with other efforts, including the planned deployment this fall of a system to destroy long-range ballistic missiles (DAILY, July 6).
SpaceDev will begin development of small satellite bus technologies under a $740,000 contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory, the company said Sept. 1. SpaceDev is to design a system that could be integrated and launched in hours or days, not years, the Poway, Calif.-based company said.
EMS TECHNOLOGIES INC.'s Space & Technology/Montreal Division has been awarded a Cdn $3.5 million ($2.7 million) contract from Public Works and Government Services Canada on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency for work on a stratospheric wind interferometer project, EMS said Sept. 1. The work will be done in Canada and includes testing, design, systems engineering and other development phase efforts.
BUY COMPLETED: Curtiss-Wright Corp. has completed the acquisition of Synergy Microsystems, Inc. with a $49 million stock purchase, Curtiss-Wright said Aug. 31. Synergy will operate as a business unit of the Motion Control segment of Curtiss-Wright, based in Gastonia, N.C. Synergy specializes in the integration, manufacture, and design of single- and multiprocessor single-board computers for VME and Compact PCI systems to meet military, aerospace, industrial and commercial market needs.
Fokker Services, part of Stork Aerospace, will modify two Fokker 60 aircraft for the Netherlands air force, the company said Aug. 30. The modifications will include an enhanced radar system, additional fuel tanks and special observation windows, the company said. The work is worth 12 million euros ($15.6 million). The aircraft will take over air reconnaissance of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba from P-3C Orion aircraft, which are being retired. They will be stationed in the Netherlands Antilles for up to two years.
Orbital Sciences Corp. has announced the second successful flight of the GQM-163A Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target (SSST) system it is developing for the U.S. Navy. The target, also known as Coyote, flew Aug. 27 at the Navy's missile test range in southern California, OSC said Aug. 31. The first successful flight took place last May. The target is being developed to replace the Vandal.
An evaluation team working for Ireland's Ministry of Defence is considering three bids for utility and light utility helicopters, and is expected to complete its work by the end of October, the ministry said. AgustaWestland, Eurocopter and Sikorsky have submitted proposals to supply the helicopters. A contract is expected to be awarded by the end of the year.
