Several slow-moving German weapons programs are headed for major milestones in the near future, with MBDA officials expecting an important production contract for their helicopter-launched anti-tank weapon that could open the door to export sales.
You can now register ONLINE for Aviation Week Events. Go to www.AviationNow.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 Oct. 31-Nov. 5--Airshow China, Zhuhai. www.airshow.com.cn July 17-23--Farnborough air show.
The RAF is girding for another attempt to acquire a handful of Predator B long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles to support operations in Afghanistan. Previous efforts to secure funding have been thwarted.
Robert Wall (Paris), Michael Mecham (San Francisco)
Boeing will lengthen its stretched 787-9's wing slightly to improve its aerodynamic efficiency, a move that takes it a few feet beyond the basic 777. The design changes to the -9 will add about 6 ft. total to the wingspan, bringing it to about 203 ft. The wings of the 777-200/-200ER, which with standard seating of 301 passengers are at the top end of the 250-290 seating that 787-9 will offer, is 199 ft. 11 in. At an 8,600-8,800-naut.-mi. range, however, the 787-9 will have more than a 1,000-naut.-mi. advantage over the 777-200 Extended Range.
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Chinese military modernization is continuing to gather pace and will lead to significant capability improvements this year, if Pentagon assessments on Beijing's activities are borne out. The Defense Dept. also documents ongoing Chinese projects to expand its technology base into non-traditional weapon systems, including a means for offensive directed energy, while reducing its vulnerability to such designs.
The Franco-Italian Aster PAMS (E) naval air defense system has completed an initial qualification firing. The firing, performed off the French coast from an Italian vessel, validated the ability of the weapon to intercept an attacking aircraft with strong electronic countermeasures.
Unmanned aircraft operating on their own--and soon, swarms of them working together in sophisticated electronic attacks or intelligence-gathering missions--are already part of Australia's military future. However, what Australia wants in the way of unmanned vehicles isn't yet available on the world market. As a result, the Australian Defense Force (ADF) will spend a few years figuring out the long-term potential not only of UAVs, but also of underwater and ground vehicles.
The Transportation Security Administration notes that cigarette lighters constitute 80% of the prohibited carry-on items surrendered at airport security checkpoints. In fact, TSA Administrator Edmund (Kip) Hawley says the agency spends $6 million a year on hazardous materials removal just to get rid of the 30,000 lighters a day it confiscates. He says the money (and time) could be better spent on security measures.
European Space Agency managers are studying four different scenarios for participating in a proposed U.S.-led lunar exploration program, even though the agency's clear priority will be on Mars. ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain says the scenarios include participating in lunar surface exploration; conducting lunar-science missions; establishing a telecommunications/navigation network around the Moon; and developing a new space transportation system, either with Russia or the U.S. (AW&ST May 22, p. 30).
Students from Statesville (N.C.) Christian School won the fourth Team America Rocketry Challenge on May 20, beating 99 other squads of middle and high school competitors. The Statesville team's rocket reached the specified 800-ft. altitude and was about 2 sec. off the target flight time of 45 sec. Team members shared a $60,000 prize pool with other top finishers, and will attend the Farnborough International Air Show this year. Second place went to Notre Dame Academy of Toledo, Ohio, and third to West Point (Neb.)/ Beemer Junior/Senior High School.
HARRIS CORP. OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE 1,000 people working on the FAA Federal Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) contract and the project can still be completed on time. Recently, the Transportation Dept.'s Inspector General said it is doubtful the project to replace seven existing FAA owned and leased telecommunications networks can be finished by December 2007, as scheduled. Initially the company focused on converting the largest FAA facilities, and this takes the most time, Harris officials say.
You recently reported that Boeing is finding that rather than choose a more spacious eight-abreast seating option, most of its 787 customers are selecting nine-abreast, even though the interior cross section provides 0.5 in. less per seat than that of the 777 (AW&ST Apr. 3, p. 24). Surprise? Not when the 226-in. cross section provides such an easy possibility to lower unit costs. Pity the 12-hr. passengers, especially in the center seats.
Raytheon and Israel's Rafael have been selected to develop a new terminal-defense interceptor missile to combat low-cost, short-range ballistic missiles. The selection was made by Israel Missile Defense Organization. Officials at Rafael are promising an all-weather, hit-to-kill weapon at about the same price as the tactical missiles they are designed to kill. Raytheon planners say the missile also will be designed to fit into the U.S. Army's terminal missile defense system.
Wes Bush's meteoric rise through the ranks of Northrop Grumman positions him as the heir apparent to CEO Ron Sugar. The 45-year-old Bush was promoted to president from chief financial officer, though he'll hold on to his old job until a successor is found. Bush came to the company in 2002 when it acquired TRW, where he ran U.K.-based TRW Aeronautical Systems. He was president of Northrop's space business before a promotion to CFO last year. Bush may be in his new job a bit longer, though, since Sugar indicates he doesn't expect to retire anytime soon.
A News Breaks item incorrectly identified the winner of a $60.6-million contract for low-rate initial production of six RQ-4Bs (AW&ST May 15, p. 19). The contract went to Northrop Grumman.
Robust growth in unit revenue for U.S. airlines continued in April, according to the Air Transport Assn. Boosted by Easter travel, ATA members' mainline passenger traffic increased 4% over that of April 2005, even as the carriers reduced capacity by a collective 0.8%. The resulting load factor was 81.4%, up 3.8 points; the year-over-year increase was the largest since March 2005, also an Easter month. All those passengers paid higher fares. Yields reported by seven major U.S.
L-3 Communications Display Systems has chosen the LynuxOS-178 real-time operating system (RTOS) to power a part of the panoramic cockpit display in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. RTOS architecture allows for software functions to be partitioned on the same computer processor. LynuxOS is approved to DO-178B standards, an RTCA benchmark for FAA-approved avionics software.
William Ashbaker, state aviation manager for the Florida Transportation Dept., has received an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn. Air Safety Foundation award for dedication to the safety education of pilots in his state. The award citation reads, in part: "More than 49,000 Florida pilots are the beneficiaries of your long-term dedication to general aviation safety and your ongoing efforts to make Florida airports a safe and effective part of the national air transportation system."
Kelley Zelickson (see photos) has been named vice president/general manager of the Tactical Systems Div. of the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Mission Systems Sector, Reston, Va. She was its vice president-mission assurance. Zelickson has been succeeded by Diane Murray, who was the sector's vice president-information technology solutions/chief information officer.
While the U.S. vacillates over the future of its next polar-orbiting satellite system, Europe is set to launch the first of its Metop weather spacecraft, which will supply data for one of the U.S. network's three orbits.
Military satellite designers and program managers are protesting a U.S. Air Force "request" that launch costs be included in spacecraft budgets. USAF officials ordered that "dual manifests be used whenever possible," spreading per-satellite launch expenditures by orbiting multiple spacecraft on one booster. The dictum is intended to reduce the operational costs of Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles--Atlas V and Delta IV.
