The Sukhoi Su-27IB/Su-34 strike derivative of the Flanker is finally edging toward service entry, 15 years after it was first flown. A production standard aircraft, airframe No. 9, was flown from the Novosibirsk plant earlier this year. Another airframe is nearing completion. The first production aircraft is expected to be handed over to the Russian air force at year-end, with deliveries continuing at a low rate. The Novosibirsk site can produce five Su-34s a year. The Su-34 will be used to replace the Su-24 Fencer in the strike role.
A story on Thales incorrectly stated possible consolidation activity in the European shipbuilding business (AW&ST Mar. 21, p. 31). The realignment concerns Thales and the French national shipyard DCN.
In your recent Viewpoint, Rachel Ehrenfeld argued for automated flare systems on airliners to decoy infrared (IR) missile threats. And, she rebuts a RAND report that argues against these Infrared Countermeasures (IRCMs). She errs in several respects. First, her solution is less than robust in that flares are but marginally effective, if at all, against IR missiles designed within the last three decades. I've not read the RAND report but I bet it reaches this conclusion (I, as a RAND researcher, evaluated airliner IRCM potential over a decade ago).
Five years after Congress imposed it, NASA expects to exceed the $25-billion cost cap on the International Space Station (ISS) this year. That could further complicate an already complicated budget picture on Capitol Hill for the space agency as it struggles to refocus on President Bush's exploration plan while finishing ISS assembly by December 2010. NASA projects that by the end of September the agency will have spent $25.812 billion on ISS.
Raytheon has won a $265.9-million contract from the U.S. Navy for the production of 75 antiaircraft and antiship Block IIIB Standard Missiles and associated equipment. Additionally, the company will produce 79 Block IIIB upgrade kits for older SM-2 missiles. The company also received a $29.6-million Navy contract to support the Standard Missile 2 guided missile program for sales to Germany, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada.
Christine P. Richards has been appointed executive vice president/general counsel/secretary of the FedEx Corp., succeeding Kenneth R. Masterson, who is scheduled to retire on June 1. Richards has been corporate vice president.
World News Roundup 18 U.K. procuring Future Lynx for next-generation helo 19 Aerodynamics tests underway for suborbital space tourism vehicle 20 Europe's solidarity on lifting arms embargo against China crumbling 20 Robert Dale Reed dies, was pioneer of lifting body research World News & Analysis 24 Accusations fly over aircraft subsi- dies; common ground elusive
Michael E. Bain has become chief operating officer of Houston-based Spacehab Inc. E. Michael Chewning has been appointed head of Spacehab Flight Services. He succeeds Dan A. Bland, who will be retiring.
EADS' ambitions to manufacture the Mako supersonic jet trainer are unraveling. Attempts to garner a launch customer have come to naught, and top management is losing interest in the program. There are also tentative discussions with a rival in the jet trainer arena: Finmeccanica is exploring the potential for a linkup on the Aermacchi M346, according to industry sources in Rome.
General Electric is developing a stronger fan blade for the B-2 bomber's engines that should enable them to better withstand ice and debris ingestion. Testing of the new blades for the F118's first-stage fan will begin later this year--the culmination of three years' development work. However, the U.S. Air Force has not yet picked a date to introduce the modifications.
Continental Airlines plans to launch its newly authorized daily nonstop Boeing 777-200ER service between Newark and Beijing on June 15. The announcement followed a U.S. Transportation Dept. order making final its tentative selection of Continental last month (AW&ST Feb. 28, p. 41). The carrier asked for, and got, an expedited proceeding so it can begin the service before summer demand peaks.
Paul Mason has been named president of the Aviation and Portfolio Group of the Republic Financial Corp., Aurora, Colo. He was president for sales of Airbus North America.
U.S. and European trade negotiators are trying to find a way back to the bargaining table after a public row erupted over negotiations to devise new terms covering government support for commercial aircraft manufacturers. With a self-imposed Apr. 11 deadline quickly approaching, negotiators appear further apart than when intense discussions began Jan. 11. Their challenge is to reach a consensus on how to phase out different types of subsidies to Airbus and Boeing.
South Korea's T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer has completed aerial gunfire testing of its 20-mm. cannon, including three missions at supersonic speed. The test vehicle was the third full-scale development aircraft in the program.
Wayne C. Heller has been appointed executive vice president/chief operating officer for Republic Airways Holdings Inc., the parent company of Chautauqua Airlines and Republic Airlines. He held those positions at Chautauqua.
The FAA has extended until Oct. 29 the agreement with airlines to restrict peak operations to 88 arrivals per hour at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The voluntary August 2004 agreement had been set to expire Apr. 30. Since the order took effect last November, on-time arrival performance has improved by 17% and delay time has been reduced by 22%, according to the agency.
Alcatel Chairman/CEO Serge Tchuruk says he may now consider increasing the company's 9.5% stake in Thales by merging Alcatel's space business into the defense electronics firm. Alcatel has been looking to sell part or all of its holding, following previous selloffs of Thales stock. However, such a move would have to be approved by Finmeccanica, which owns a large part of Alcatel's space activity and is also considered a potential Thales suitor (AW&ST Mar. 21, p. 31).
Frank Morring, Jr. (Washington), Michael A. Taverna (Paris)
Competition to serve the tiny medium-weight launch services market is growing, despite a worldwide launch overcapacity, driven largely by national and regional imperatives to maintain up-to-date space access.
Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee is testing a 15%-scale model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in the facility's 4-ft. transonic wind tunnel to evaluate weapons separation characteristics. Weapons being tested include the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Tactical Missile, GBU-32 guided air-to-surface weapon, GBU-12 Paveway II air-to-surface glide bomb, 1,000-lb. Joint Direct Attack Munition and the C-13 external fuel tank.
Rocketplane Limited Inc. is conducting low-speed aerodynamics tests at the National Institute for Aviation Research in Wichita, Kan., as part of its development of a sub-orbital vehicle that is scheduled for its first space flight for tourists early in 2007.
Alitalia's European competitors are increasing pressure on the European Union to rule against the government financial assistance planned for Italy's flag carrier. The European Commission has yet to approve Alitalia's restructuring plan, although the Brussels-based body has indicated its concerns in the protracted exchanges with Rome. Alitalia's competitors are escalating the dialogue. They already have urged Brussels to reject the proposal on the grounds that it creates an unfair subsidy for the carrier.
