Texas won again when Bell Helicopter Textron snagged a $35-million contract modification to develop a Generation II mission computer for the AH-1Z attack helicopter and UH-1Z utility helicopter under the H-1 up- grade program by September 2010.
Bell Helicopter Textron has concluded negotiations with Sagem of France and Rheinmetall Defense Electronics (RDE) of Germany to team on a next-generation, tactical, vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (VUAV) for military forces in Europe (AW&ST June 21, 2004). The VUAV would be based on Bell's Eagle Eye tiltrotor VUAV system, with Sagem and RDE providing ground and shipborne control stations, digital data links, electro-optical and infrared payloads, simulators and C 4I integration. The Eagle Eye has been selected by the U.S.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. will accept responsibility for the defined-benefit pension plan of United Airlines' pilots, which was terminated in favor of other benefits during negotiations last month between the carrier and its Air Line Pilots Assn. unit. PBGC estimated $5.7 billion in benefit liabilities and $2.8 billion in plan assets, leaving $2.9 billion in underfunding and a government liability for about $1.4 billion in guaranteed benefits. That makes these pilots' pension the third-largest claim ever put before PBGC.
Peter D. Hunt has become vice president/chief financial officer of Pinnacle Airlines. He succeeds Curtis Sawyer, who has resigned. Hunt has been managing director for corporate finance at Continental Airlines.
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Bombardier CRJ200s have reentered scheduled passenger service in China after being grounded for safety checks following the Nov. 21, 2004, takeoff crash of a China Eastern CRJ200 that killed 53 people.
William B. Johnson (see photo) has been named the FAA's chief scientific and technical adviser in the Southern Regional Office in Atlanta. He was regional director for the Americas for the Lufthansa Technik Group.
Lockheed Martin won a $608-million contract modification that increases the funding and termination liability values for January-May 2005 for F/A-22 Lot 5 production long-lead activities and training system support. The work is to be completed by December 2007.
The European Space Agency has approved additional funding for the preliminary phase of its Aurora space exploration initiative. The extra money was made possible by higher commitments from several countries, notably Italy, the U.K. and France. The commitments will increase the financing envelope for 2005-06 to 41.5 million euros, compared with 14.3 million euros initially, enlarging the scope for the first requests for proposal to industry.
Meanwhile, Arianespace completed the first step of a recapitalization plan designed to reinforce the equity position of the company, which is set to return to profitability after three straight years in the red. The 60-million-euro ($81-million) capital injection, required by law, was accompanied by the sale of two dozen small financial and industrial holdings. This reduced the number of shareholders to around 20 major companies, from more than 50 before, according to Le Gall.
Industry sources say problems with qualification of Europe's NH90 frigate/ transport helicopter will impact deliveries in the medium term. But long-term perturbations are not expected, and the program continues to receive a steady inflow of new orders.
Tactical aircraft programs made it through the Fiscal 2006 military budget process virtually unscathed, but Congress--unhappy with delays and cost overruns--is making some deep cuts in several military space projects. However, the $453.5-billion Fiscal 2006 Defense appropriations bill, passed late last month, also shows Congress is willing to block the White House and Pentagon from killing programs--like Lockheed Martin's C-130J transport or the Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle--that mean thousands of defense industry jobs back home.
The Saudi and British governments are working to flesh out an agreement covering the former's multibillion-dollar acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon by the first or second quarter of this year. The Royal Saudi Air Force's intent to purchase the Eurofighter Typhoon was signaled with the signature of a "document of understanding" between the countries. The deal paves the way for what will be in effect "Al Yamamah III." BAE Systems will continue to act as prime contractor.
The growing civilian domination of military decision-making--short-circuiting internal Pentagon debate--is creating a growing worry among defense experts and some military officers as the administration puts finishing touches on future spending and force-shaping plans.
The British Defense Ministry and BAE Systems face difficult negotiations over the coming months in reaching an agreement on how to implement critical elements of the government's sweeping Defense Industrial Strategy (DIS). The ramifications of the strategy document, if fully implemented, are far reaching for the U.K.'s aerospace-defense manufacturers. There are also implicit within the report wider implications for the U.S. and European sectors.
The successful launch of the initial Galileo prototype clears the way for Europe to start important system enhancements that should ease the navigation/timing constellation's operational introduction in late 2008.
The Pentagon's long-awaited study on future airborne refueling alternatives could surface any day, and it is expected to support buying a larger, multirole tanker. This would bolster a controversial decision to cap C-17 production and effectively shut down the Boeing airlifter's line.
Much-needed money for new technology demonstrators will allow Europe to maintain critical space expertise and match efforts underway or planned in the U.S., China and India--but just barely, and in any case not enough to prevent a new round of layoffs, industry officials say.
Although a full-fledged European military space program remains a distant dream, multiplying commitments at the national level show a growing awareness of operational requirements. Important steps have recently been taken in Sweden and the U.K., which is significantly expanding its Skynet 5 military communications architecture.
Italian engine maker Avio's prospects are improving just as the company heads toward a widely anticipated ownership realignment. The Carlyle Group owns 70% of Avio, while Finmeccanica has 30%. Carlyle is expected to unload its share, while the Italian aerospace giant is assessing what parts it may want to keep.
David A. Fulghum (Washington), Douglas Barrie (London), Robert Wall (Paris)
As part of its budget juggling for next year, the U.S. Navy is planning to cut its participation in the $3-4 billion F136 alternative engine program for the Joint Strike Fighter--possibly starting a chain reaction that could doom the powerplant program.
Lockheed Martin, SES Americom and Echostar are by mid-January expected to complete geosynchronous orbit insertion and checkout of the Americom AMC-16 communications spacecraft, pending its successful launch on Dec. 17 from Cape Canaveral on board a Lockheed Martin Atlas V. The Lockheed Martin A2100 spacecraft is to be parked at 85 deg. W. Long. to provide television and other services to North and Central America including new spot beam service to Mexico.
Departing NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has offered to help his successor shepherd the space exploration program he crafted for the Bush administration through its first tottering steps. He was already fending off some wolves circling the program even before he announced his departure for an academic job.
