Boeing has completed its second successful liftoff at Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., since the facility's inauguration earlier this year as home for Delta IV missions requiring polar and Sun-synchronous orbits. The Nov. 4 launch carried the U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-17 payload (AW&ST Oct. 30, p. 18). It was the seventh mission for Delta IV since it began flying in November 2002 and its first direct insertion. The vehicle was in a simple "medium" configuration without strap-on boosters.
Outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wasn't exactly Mr. Popularity at the Pentagon, and the brass is looking forward to the arrival of former CIA Director Robert Gates to replace him. "I think there will be a coming together again of the military and civilian leadership in the Pentagon that was estranged under Rumsfeld and [Stephen] Cambone [undersecretary of Defense for intelligence]," says a senior U.S. Air Force official. Cambone is still around, but the military is looking forward to "a far more collegial style" with Gates in Rummy's old office.
The Kremlin is opening the door for Western companies to take greater than a 25% stake in local aerospace businesses, dependent on a case-by-case approval by President Vladimir Putin. The 25% ceiling has proved a barrier to collaboration, thwarting several promising efforts. These include the failure of the Eurocopter and Mil joint venture on the Mi-38 heavy-transport helicopter, which unraveled in 2005.
Aurora flew its GoldenEye 80 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the first time Nov. 4, in a 30-sec. mission. Company officials tout this as the first flight of a ducted-fan UAV using a heavy-fuel engine. The UAV is being developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Organic Air Vehicle program. The 150-lb. aircraft is 65 in. tall and is equipped with a video camera, infrared camera and a laser range finder/tracker/designator. The aircraft flies quietly and can transition to and from horizontal flight using movable wings.
david axe, military editor for Defense Technology International (DTI), goes on patrol with a British commander in Iraq who is making radical changes in how his forces cope with security threats and local relations. peter buxbaum, a veteran defense and homeland security reporter based in Washington, reports in our Tech Watch column how the failure of the U.S. Defense Dept.'s costly Joint Simulation System development program has led to some positive outcomes.
The U.S. Air Force can be forgiven for its cautious acquisition approach to the KC-X, the service's brand-new, squeaky-clean program to acquire a fleet of midair refueling aircraft. The service has paid dearly in lost time and shattered credibility for management and ethical lapses in earlier attempts--it went for a sole-source $23-billion lease arrangement with Boeing, thanks in part to the work of an Air Force acquisition executive who later turned up on Boeing's payroll.
Dubai International Capital (DIC) is considering taking a direct stake in EADS, prompted in part by the company's depressed stock price. The Dubai government owns the investment unit--and Airbus customer Emirates Airlines. DIC would establish a fund that would draw on financing from other Middle East states. Meanwhile, EADS saw revenue grow across all its divisions for the first nine months of 2006, reaching €27.5 billion ($34.9 billion)--€4.1 billion more than the year-ago period.
Boeing's win of the U.S. Air Force's $15-billion Combat Search and Rescue-X (CSAR-X) competition surprised observers of an industry that has seen recent European penetration into the U.S. defense market. The winning Boeing CH-47 Chinook was actually the company's backup plan. Boeing pitched the helicopter only after it realized its proposal for a V-22-based aircraft would be far too costly for the Air Force.
USAF Lt. Gen. Robert D. Bishop, Jr., has been nominated for promotion to commander from vice commander of the 3rd Air Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany. Maj. Gen. Raymond E. Johns, Jr., has been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and as deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs at USAF Headquarters at the Pentagon. He has been director of programs/deputy chief of staff for plans and programs.
The future of Austrian Airlines as a significant hub-and-spoke carrier is in doubt following the company's decision to cut long-haul operations in half and focus on Central and Eastern Europe for expansion.
Next month, Boeing's world-wide factory team will roll out the first 787. It's a cyberspace event, a digital test of the aircraft's design tools and processes. What flashes on computer screens in Seattle, Nagoya, Grottaglie, North Charleston and Wichita may look like a video game, but Boeing hopes they will accurately represent how the 787's actual production and final assembly will unfold.
Responding to U.S. Navy criticism of the Air Force's new B-52 jammer program, Gen. Ronald Keys, chief of Air Combat Command, says the Navy's EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft will not be replaced in the air expeditionary forces after 2012. "I'm not interested in buying EA-18 [Growlers]. The expeditionary fight has become my fight. That's fine. But if that's going to be my fight, I don't need people not contributing to the joint fight telling me the CCJ jammer is not the right one. If they [in the Navy] need something else, they should buy it."
If Aer Lingus shareholders reject competitor Ryanair's current offer to take control of the Irish airline, the low-fare carrier will retain a minority stake and attempt to shape Aer Lingus's plans, says Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. Aer Lingus management has recommended shareholders turn down the offer. Ryanair officials expect European competition authorities to rule on anti-trust concerns affecting the proposal next month. Meanwhile, Ryanair reported a profit of €329 million for the first six months of 2006--an increase of 39%.
Low-fare startup carrier Skybus recently signed for 65 Airbus A319s and became the largest customer for the airframe manufacturer's Air+ support package. The contract covers 12 years and will become effective next year when Skybus is scheduled to begin revenue operations. Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Messier Bugatti will provide the service. Both companies are members of the Airbus maintenance, repair and overhaul network.
U.S. Air Force and Navy officials are rushing to assure Defense Dept. and congressional critics that they are cooperating on a common airborne electronic attack effort and have not slipped into bickering over funding for joint efforts. But a major step for the Air Force--developing a standoff jamming system for the B-52--has failed to be included in Fiscal 2008 budget plans and has suffered public criticism from the Navy during a crucial meeting of senior leaders.
Belgium's two main airlines hope to make their important European networks profitable by merging and implementing a new strategy. Next summer, SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express--already under common ownership--will combine routes, complete the merger and re-launch as Brussels Airlines. The first aircraft in the new livery, an Airbus A319, was presented at a launch event in Brussels last week.
Steve Karlovic has become vice president-business development and customer support for EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Irvine, Calif. He was head of business development for automatic test equipment for Lockheed Martin Simulation Training and Support, Orlando, Fla.
With Discovery and its next International Space Station payload newly arrived on the launch pad, preparations are accelerating here for the planned Dec. 7 liftoff of STS-116, the first space shuttle night launch in four years. Meanwhile, at Promontory, Utah, ATK Launch Systems will also this week test fire a 3.3-million-lb.-thrust shuttle solid rocket motor, turning night into day around the rolling hills near where a Golden Spike finished the world's first transcontinental railroad in 1869.
Boeing may get a shot in the arm as ascendant Democrats play musical committee chairs in the weeks ahead. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) was expected to take over the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee, but he has decided to seek the House majority leader's post. Even though Murtha is an outspoken defense advocate, if he moves on, that won't necessarily be bad news for defense contractors--and especially not for Boeing. Next in seniority among Democrats on the subcommittee is Rep.
Satellite operator SES Global says its drive to bolster service profit margins is bearing fruit. Announcing third-quarter earnings last week, Chief Financial Officer Mark Rigolle noted the Luxembourg-based company has reached its goal of raising EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margins to 10%, up from 4% in 2005.
Antony Jameson, who is Thomas V. Jones professor in the School of Engineering at Stanford (Calif.) University, has been chosen to receive the 2006 Elmer A. Sperry Award. It is given jointly by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) is "to maintain the technological superiority of the U.S. military and prevent technological surprise by sponsoring revolutionary, high-payoff research." Its traditional strength has been its ability as a small, technology seed money agency with an expert technical staff and minimum bureaucratic red tape to respond independently to emerging military needs and technological opportunities. During an interview with Defense Technology International Managing Editor Glenn W.Goodman, Jr., Anthony J.
TerreStar has awarded launch of its first hybrid mobile satellite, TerreStar-1, to Arianespace, under a "launch-on-demand" agreement that guarantees the satellite operator a dedicated Ariane 5 launch window for the 6.8-metric-ton spacecraft, starting in late 2007. Under the agreement, TerreStar also optioned TerreStar-2, which is under construction, and a possible third unit.
Boeing plans to mark about 2,000 Boeing 787 parts with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags as several airlines explore applications of the technology and the industry prepares for better data exchanges.
Kent Rominger (see photo) has been named vice president-advanced programs within the Launch Systems Group of Salt Lake City-based Alliant Techsystems. He was NASA chief of the Astronaut Corps at the Johnson Space Center.
