Amy Butler (Eglin AFB, Fla. and Washington), Douglas Barrie (London)
Western military strategists, responding to would-be foes who are trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction and shielding their nascent technology under more concrete, are developing and fielding weapons of their own capable of penetrating deeper than ever for the kill.
NASA's National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (Npoess) Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft has completed first-phase thermal vacuum and vibration testing with engineering models of payload instruments. Four flight-qualified payloads--a Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite, Cross-Track Infrared Sounder, Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder and a recently modified Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite--will be integrated on an enhanced Ball Commercial Platform 2000 satellite bus over the next two years.
The U.S. and Canada missed their Sept. 1 target to implement the open-skies agreement they initialed nearly 10 months ago, and the waiting game will likely continue until a Transportation Dept. decision on antitrust immunity for United Airlines and Air Canada. Washington and Ottawa were excited last year when they reached the agreement--it had been more than a decade after the countries first signed a bilateral air deal--but Canada is holding out on implementing the pact until the U.S. Transportation Dept.
New York-based L-3 Communications has promoted the following to corporate senior vice president: Jimmie V. Adams from vice president-Washington operations, Robert W. Drewes from corporate vice president and president/chief operating officer of the L-3 Integrated Systems Group, Robert W. RisCassi from corporate vice president, and Carl E. Vuono from president/COO of L-3's Government Services Group.
In yet another step toward the U.S. Air Force's tanker competition, Boeing has demonstrated a Remote Vision System for its proposed KC-767. The RVS provides high-definition stereoscopic imagery to the tanker's boom operator, who will be stationed in the front of the aircraft just behind the flight deck. It was test-flown on a KC-767 using a Cessna Citation as the surrogate receiver aircraft. The system's field of view is wingtip to wingtip, aft of the tanker. Boeing officials say RVS also enhances all-weather, day/night refueling.
The National Business Aviation Assn. reports that registration for next month's annual meeting and convention in Orlando, Fla., is running 18% ahead of last year's level. More than 1,000 companies have reserved 5,127 exhibit booths that will occupy nearly 1 million sq. ft. of floor space of the Orange County Convention Center. In addition, 10 airplanes and numerous helicopters will be on display inside, with another 100 or more aircraft showcased at the Orlando Executive Airport. For more information, visit www.nbaa.org/2006
Officials of the U.S. Homeland Security Dept. and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are urging operators of general aviation airports, flight schools and flight instructors to be vigilant for suspicious behavior and activities. The TSA has issued an advisory warning of ongoing efforts by Al Qaeda to strike the U.S. in multiple attacks, which may involve aviation.
IN A NEW CONTRACT FROM AIRSERVICES AUSTRALIA, Sensis Corp. will supply multistatic dependent surveillance over Tasmania, with coverage down to the ground at Hobart and Launceston airports. The system initially will provide en route surveillance with multilateration and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, with accuracy of better than 150 meters (490 ft.). Full-scale operations will begin in 2008, and maintenance will be simplified for the Australians with a Sensis remote control and monitoring system.
Eurofighter and Danish aerospace company Terma have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate if the Danish government selects the Typhoon as its next-generation fighter. Denmark is seeking a replacement for its Lockheed Martin F-16s. In addition to the Typhoon, the Saab Gripen and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II are under consideration.
Douglas Barrie (London), David A. Fulghum (Tel Aviv)
Iran has broad, and potentially far-reaching, ballistic and air-breathing missile development programs underway that are intended to underpin its strategic ambitions. Coupled with a nuclear package, these would provide Tehran with credible strategic weaponry. The exact status of Iran's missile and nuclear programs remains the focus of intense speculation and interest on the part of Western intelligence. Israeli officials suggest Iran could be in a position to test its first nuclear device within the next 36 months.
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Raytheon garnered a $54.4 million contract to investigate and demonstrate the viability of a full Earth-sharing sensor assembly to meet threshold objectives involving missile warning and missile defense as required for the U.S. Defense Satellite Program/Space-Based Infrared Surveillance-High (Sbirs-High) system. The project also is expected to provide performance data that the government can use to assess the risk for a future Alternative Infrared Satellite System engineering and manufacturing design program.
You can now register ONLINE for Aviation Week Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or call Lydia Janow at +1 (212) 904-3225/+1 (800) 240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada Only) Sept. 19-21--MRO Asia Conference & Exhibition, Xiamen, China. Oct. 24-26--MRO Europe Conference & Exhibition, Amsterdam. Nov. 13-15--Aerospace & Defense Programs, Phoenix. PARTNERSHIPS Sept. 24-27--Industry Outlooks and Growth Strategies 2006, San Antonio.
The definitions of military success and victory are being reexamined in a classified Israeli Defense Policy report that challenges long-standing assessments of threats to the nation and its forces. More than two years in the making, the document is being described as promoting a sea change as the government and military attempt to move beyond 50 years of defining defense objectives in terms of armies versus armies. The report is being studied separately by the Israeli parliament, administration and military.
Randy Nelson has been named vice president-product development and engineering and Greg McCurley vice president-Hawker resale for the Raytheon Aircraft Co., Wichita, Kan. Nelson was vice president-research and advanced technology for the Cessna Aircraft Co., also in Wichita. McCurley was regional sales director for Raytheon's Hawker Resale Group.
Israel's 1981 strike against Iraq's Osirak nuclear site was achieved without loss of any aircraft. But it is far from guaranteed that an attack intended to degrade any Iranian nuclear weapons program would have the same outcome.
Aero Vodochody will build center wing boxes for the Alenia Aeronautica C-27J. The deal comes as the Czech government is considering purchase of a transport aircraft in the C-27J-class. Aero Vodochody is expected to take on some marketing responsibilities for the aircraft in other countries.
Col. (ret.) Wilbert F. Craig, 3rd, is among the six retired USAF officers who were inducted into the Air Force Space and Missiles Pioneers Hall of Fame at Peterson AFB, Colo. The others are: Maurice A. Cristadoro, Jr., Ben I. Funk, Francis J. Hale, Albert W. Johnson and Richard S. Leghorn. Inductees are considered significant players in the advancement of Air Force space and missile programs and had to have made their contributions more than 30 years ago.
There is considerable debate about how Intelsat will deal with its huge indebtedness from the recent PanAmSat acquisition, estimated at seven times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Philippe Olivier Rousseau, managing director at BNP Paribas, holds the prevailing view that Intelsat will opt for an initial public offering. Intelsat CEO David McGlade says the company will try to pare down debt initially from free cash flow and leave an IPO till later, but hints it may also look at acquiring more capacity.
CFM International has snagged an order to power 30 AerVenture Airbus A319 and A320 single-aisle aircraft. The powerplants, CFM56-5Bs, feature technology insertion components the General Electric/Snecma joint venture developed to improve fuel burn and cut maintenance costs.
An article in last week's issue (AW&ST Sept. 4, p. 22) incorrectly stated the service module for NASA's planned Orion crew exploration vehicle will carry a "non-toxic" reaction control system. The Orion crew module will use a "green" gaseous oxygen/methane RCS system, but the service module RCS thrusters will burn hypergolic propellant.
At least in Toronto, airliners pollute more than necessary during a thunderstorm when ground handling is stopped due to the so-called red alerts and ramp staff refrain from marshaling, loading or unloading planes until a red alert ends. In my work at the airport, I've seen aircraft stopped meters short of gates, engines running, sometimes for up to 1 hr. or more, waiting for a red alert to end so ramp workers can marshal the plane. The toll on the air quality must be enormous, and even more on passengers and airline operations.
Arabsat is reportedly preparing to order three additional spacecraft worth more than $600 million to meet hot demand in the Middle East for broadcasting and telecom services. New satellites would also help the Saudi operator to fight off a growing challenge from competitors, in particular, Egypt's Nilesat and Paris-based Eutelsat. Industry officials expect a request for bids this autumn and a decision in the first half of next year.
