Lockheed Martin received a $123-million add-on contract from the Navy and USAF to develop and integrate reprogramming and verifications capabilities in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development and demonstration program. The reprogramming capability is expected to allow the aircraft to counter an enemy’s advanced electronic warfare capabilities as well as sensor-detected targets and threats.
There’s more foot-dragging on the KC-X future tanker program. The Defense Acquisition Board will not take up the tanker replacement contract until Feb. 25-26 instead of Feb. 13 as earlier expected. The tanker has been renamed the KC-45 and the program starts with a 179-aircraft increment, the first of three.
Many senior civilians in the Defense Dept.—once bedazzled by military transformation plans—either have fled the Pentagon or turned away from some of the programs needed to digitize and network the military, contend industry critics of the proposed Fiscal 2009 budget. Others say that’s not so, and the Pentagon has simply prioritized and streamlined its investments.
The U.S. Army has awarded AeroVironment a $45.8-million contract to provide Special Operations Command with Raven UAVs and spares. Delivery is expected to be completed by the end of January 2009. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $30.9-million Army pact to support operations of I-Gnat, Warrior Alpha and Sky Warrior UAVs.
Toronto Pearson International Airport is testing a short-term weather forecasting system developed by Environment Canada that could provide more accurate weather forecasting. The Canadian Airport Nowcasting Project relies on existing weather information including numerical weather prediction output; satellite observations; site climatologies; radar, surface and lightning network observations; and on-site routine sensors, including wind, precipitation, visibility, ceiling and temperature.
The second Texus sounding rocket in two weeks has been launched from the Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden. Texus 45, containing fluid physics and biology experiments funded by German aerospace center DLR, lifted off on Feb. 7, a week after Texus 44, equipped with an ESA metal alloy and biology payload. The microgravity missions, the first to use a new parachute recovery system, highlighted the importance of Europe’s Columbus orbital lab, which was launched atop the U.S. space shuttle on Feb. 7 (see p. 34).
DepartmentsLettersWho’s WhereMarket FocusIndustry OutlookAirline OutlookIn OrbitNews BreaksWashington OutlookClassifiedContact UsAerospace CalendarU.S. airline industry rifewith merger talk, yet againNews BreaksFrench sending Rafale F2 fourth-generation strike fighter back to AfghanistanSES appears to have failedin a bid to acquire SpaceCommunicationsIndian air force interestedin purchasing 40 more Hawk jet trainersCessna unveils Citation 850Columbus—a large-cabin, 4,000-naut.-mi.
Robert Sturgell, President Bush’s nominee to head the FAA, is having a rough time winning Senate confirmation. Democrats and Republicans on the Commerce Committee last week grilled Sturgell, the acting FAA chief since September, about passenger rights during long delays, air traffic controller staffing, near misses and runway incursions. Shortly after the session, which Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) called “excruciating,” Sturgell learned New Jersey’s two senators have placed a hold on the nomination, preventing it from coming to the Senate floor for a vote. Sens.
The price of certified emission reductions (CERs) collapsed in January amid uncertainty over a post-Kyoto international climate agreement and rumors of a large-scale liquidation of CERs by a trading house. Secondary CERs for December 2008 delivery on the over-the-counter market fell from €17.65 ($26) on Jan. 9 to €14.20 by the close on Jan. 31, a 19.5% drop.
An article in last week’s edition misidentified the manufacturer of a failing U.S. National Reconnaissance Office satellite (AW&ST Feb. 4, p. 20). The spacecraft was not built by Boeing. We regret the error and any resulting implications.
As reported in the article, “Moon Stuck,” a number of well-known members of the space community are working on alternatives to NASA’s VSE. In response, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has said alternative approaches for VSE were fully debated over a two-year period before NASA selected its Moon-base plan.
A 10-year, $170-million maintenance contract for the Israeli air force’s heavy transport aircraft fleet has gone to Bedek Aviation, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries. Israel operates C-130s and a variety of 707- and 737-derivative aircraft for testing, surveillance and intelligence gathering. Services will be provided at Bedek’s facilities and IAF bases. IAI officials say the company’s net profit in the first nine months of 2007 increased 51% to $107 million. Sales increased 20% to $2.4 billion.
The Pentagon’s request for military space projects in Fiscal 2009 rose only slightly, despite concerns about protecting U.S. satellites after China’s 2007 antisatellite test. The Air Force’s Fiscal 2008 military space budget was $11.3 billion.
The French space agency sees no urgency in Europe’s quest to develop an independent crewed space transportation system (CSTS) capability, or to consider an interim orbital laboratory in the event NASA abandons the International Space Station in 2015. “Our vision remains 2020, not 2015, but there’s no hurry,” says CNES chief d’Escatha. He suggests more studies, rather than a program launch, are likely when the European space ministers meet in November to decide on a new slate of space initiatives.
Intelligence capabilities have come into question dramatically in recent years, but assistant secretary of Defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, Michael Vickers, counsels to keep things in perspective. “Our intelligence capabilities are generally more impressive than people think. The problem with intelligence is that you can’t just order it up on demand,” he notes. “You have gaps. But what you do get is often very impressive and very decisive. We’re doing pretty well.”
France has given a $22-million contract to Raytheon to provide Enhanced Paveway II (dual GPS/laser guidance) precision bombs. The company also will integrate the weapons into the French air force’s Mirage 2000D fighters. Upgrade kits will convert existing 500-lb. laser-guided weapons into the more flexible dual-mode configuration. France also signed up to buy laser-guided Hellfire II missiles for the Army’s Tiger attack helicopter fleet.
German army air defense will be modernized from 2015 if a new industry proposal is given the green light. The offer—to be submitted this month to the German defense procurement agency (BWB)—is for an incrementally developed, networked approach to replace and upgrade a range of legacy systems. “SysFla” (for System Flugabwehr air defense system) is to be developed by 2014 for production to start in 2015. It builds on an existing program to field a stand-alone compound-protection system to counter rockets, artillery and mortars (C-RAM).
An influential South Korean government think tank is standing fast in its opposition to the air force’s proposed KFX stealth fighter program. The think tank had declared KFX’s costs to be greater than its economic benefits. Asked by the defense ministry to think again, it has come up with the same answer.
In addition to working with the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis when it arrives Feb. 10 (see p. 34), International Space Station Expedition 16 will be busy unloading a new Russian Progress resupply vehicle that docked Feb. 7, two days after its launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Carrying more than 5,000 lb. of cargo, the 28th Progress to reach the ISS docked at 9:30 a.m. EST. Progress 27, which undocked Feb. 4 to make room for the new arrival, will be deorbited for a fiery reentry with its load of station trash on Feb. 15.
Let’s be clear from the start: President Bush’s budget proposal for Fiscal 2009 is deservedly dead on arrival in Congress, as have been most if not all of his previous efforts. The President’s plan would squeeze health care, education, environmental protection and other domestic programs while preserving tax cuts for the highest-income Americans. The proposal greatly understates Iraq and Afghanistan war costs, and foresees continuing deficits until 2012—that is, through the entire term of the President who is elected this fall.
Jason Moir has become Learjet sales director for the Central U.S. for Bombardier Learjet , Wichita, Kan. He was contract manager for Bombardier Challenger 850 aircraft.
Gary Beck has been named vice president-flight operations for Alaska Airlines and Elizabeth Ryan managing director of labor relations for pilots, dispatchers and flight attendants. Beck succeeds Kevin Finan, who has retired. Beck was senior vice president-flight operations/chief pilot for Delta Air Lines and president/CEO of the Delta Connection Academy. Ryan has been a longtime labor negotiator for Alaska Airlines.
A weak dollar, increasing unit costs, a conservative dividend and general market skittishness conspired to see Rolls-Royce plc’s share price dip by nearly 10% on the announcement of its preliminary results last week. Despite sales up to £7.435 billion from £7.156 billion ($13.98 billion), and a 76% increase in its order book, the company’s share price fell to a low of 428.5 pence from an opening price of 473 pence. Published profit before taxes was down to £733 million for 2007 from £1.391 billion in 2006.
