Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector achieved another milestone in preparation for first flight of the X-47A Pegasus experimental unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) with the completion of the second taxi test at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Div. at China Lake, Calif. The company designed and built the unmanned system with its own funds to demonstrate aerodynamic qualities suitable for autonomous flight operations from an aircraft carrier. The 27.9-ft.-long Pegasus has a nearly equal wingspan of 27.8 ft. and is composed of mostly composite materials.
The German air force is to purchase 600 Taurus KEPD-350 air-launched land-attack cruise missiles for Tornado and Eurofighter aircraft, following a 570-million-euro ($555-million) contract award. Delivery is scheduled for 2004-09.
The future of the U.S. Army kinetic-energy antisatellite weapon is in doubt after its staunchest supporter, Sen. Bob Smith (R-N.H.), lost his Republican primary fight against Rep. John E. Sununu to compete for the Senate seat. The Pentagon a number of times tried to shelve the effort, only to be thwarted by Smith.
As the U.S. Congress looks favorably on arming commercial pilots under a provision in the pending Homeland Security Act of 2002, forces opposed to lethal weapons in the cockpit have been gathering on domestic and international fronts. The Senate approved a modified version of the guns-in-the-cockpit provision, 87-6, Sept. 5, calling for creation of a Federal Flight Deck Officer program that would take volunteer commercial pilots, deputize them and train them to the same standards met by federal law enforcement officers.
Sweden has taken delivery of the first JAS 39C Gripen. The aircraft was handed over to the Defense Materiel Administration Sept. 6. The C variant of the Gripen is fitted with an in-flight refueling probe, color cockpit displays, a beefed-up wing, and the ability to carry a wider range of pylons. The C variant is very similar to the export version on order for South Africa.
In what is likely to be the last spacecraft built under a name that dates to the early days of the U.S. space program, TRW has been selected to build the Next-Generation Space Telescope. As it announced the $824.8-million contract, NASA continued its practice of naming such large instruments for distinguished space pioneers. Its choice this time was the agency's second administrator, James Webb.
The Lockheed Martin Atlas V evolved expendable launch vehicle has succeeded in its first flight test, but now must pass an equally challenging market test, based on cost as well as flight performance. International Launch Services (ILS) which sells the Atlas and Russian Proton said there were 30 firm orders for the new launcher before its first flight, with the likelihood of additional orders once the vehicle proved itself. This compares with about 50 orders for its Boeing Delta IV competitor. The Atlas V launched the Eutelsat/Alcatel Hot Bird 6.
Boeing captured a $378-million contract to build 18,840 JDAM guidance kits. That escalates the money that the Air Force has sunk into accelerating JDAM production this year to more than $1 billion. Boeing is now required to deliver kits to the Air Force and Navy at a rate of 2,800 units per month by next August. The new contract is for a mix of 1,000- and 2,000-lb. warhead kits.
DHL Worldwide Express is expanding its parts logistics capacity with the opening of an expanded express logistics center in San Francisco. The new center, which serves the U.S. and Canada, joins two U.S.-based logistics operations at Cincinnati and Miami. Another center is scheduled to open in October in Tokyo, adding to centers already in operation at Brussels, Bahrain, Johannesburg, Hong Kong, Sydney and Singapore. The DHL express logistics centers serve particular regions and also serve as warehouses for the network of strategic parts centers.
Raytheon Co. plans to move its global headquarters to a new 150,000-sq.-ft. facility in Waltham, Mass., about 3 mi. from its current headquarters in Lexington, Mass., where it has been based since 1961. Construction should be finished by the end of 2003, and plans call for the majority of the company's corporate staff to relocate there.
The French government has unveiled a revised multiyear defense spending plan that would boost funding for new hardware and help close a widening capability gap with the U.S. and, in particular, with France's cross-Channel neighbor, the U.K. The new plan for 2003-08 calls for Title V expenditures of 14.8 billion euros ($14.5 billion) per year, a sharp increase from the 12.5 billion euros in the previous version proposed by the former Socialist administration (AW&ST June 18, 2001, p. 145).
Robert J. Stevenson has become president/CEO of Translation Technologies Inc., Spokane, Wash. He succeeds founder Frederic Zucker, who will remain chairman. Stevenson was president of Geographix, a Landmark Graphics/Halliburton company in Denver.
Intelsat and PanAmSat are reportedly in the running to acquire European satcom operator Eutelsat. None of the firms would comment on the reports, which would create a new global giant to rival SES Global. Meanwhile, SES Global disclosed a 16.2% rise in operating profit to 298 million euros ($289 million) and a whopping 58.5% surge in revenues to 712 million euros for the first half as it integrated the results of GE Americom, acquired last year, for the first time.
Air New Zealand said it will work with Boeing to see if changes in its maintenance program for 747-400s are needed after a fore-flap assembly fell off an aircraft during climbout on a flight from Auckland to Los Angeles. The crew landed without incident. The incident involved the right-hand, trailing edge inboard fore-flap. The investigation is focused on a failed lug. Boeing has suffered three similar fore-flap failures in the past five years attributed to the same lug.
Paul Walters has been appointed regional vice president-Southeast Asia, based in Kuala Lumpur, for Boeing. He was vice president-Asia for the Boeing Space Systems International Service Co.
Russia plans to supply the Afghan army with spare parts to maintain its Soviet-made military equipment, along with limited numbers of transport helicopters, heavy tracked vehicles and communications equipment from its inventory to complement existing hardware. Russian specialists will also assist in Afghan military personnel training.
Scott Starkey has been named vice president/general manager and Nick Kast manager of customer service of Total Aircraft Services Inc., Van Nuys, Calif.
USAF B-1s are under fire again. A new General Accounting Office report says the decision to cut the B-1B fleet from 93 to 60 and consolidate them in two active- duty locations was flawed. Consolidation began in July. The GAO also said USAF didn't conduct a formal analysis to assess how the reduction affected its ability to meet wartime requirements. The Air Force said the reduction would let it make improvements to the fleet, but some Air Force and aerospace industry officials say the money saved will never go to the upgrades.
Nearly $60 million in new security measures is being added to Kennedy Space Center in Fiscal 2003 to better protect the space shuttle and its facilities in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The money will be used for more advanced sensors, fences, guard personnel and other force protection measures. The U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing, which oversees the USAF Eastern Range and the unmanned pads at Cape Canaveral, has also been providing added protection to Kennedy since the attacks.
Mike Caro has been promoted to vice president from general manager of retail operations of BAA Boston Inc. at Logan International Airport. Janis Kong has been appointed to the board of directors of London-based BAA plc. She will continue as chairman of Heathrow Airport Ltd.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) needs $546 million more in Fiscal 2003 than it asked for originally, and its all-but-certain continuing budget resolution should be ``tailored'' to permit it to meet cash-flow needs and breach its current employee ceiling this fall, James M. Loy, acting TSA chief, told the Senate Commerce Committee Sept. 10. Conceding to political reality on guns in the cockpit (see p.
Loral Space & Communications is combining its CyberStar broadband and Skynet satellite networks into a single business unit. Skynet President Terry Hart, who will head the combined subsidiaries, said Skynet has expanded its product offerings beyond traditional transponder leasing. One new product provides satellite access services and shared transmission platforms. The other manages satellites for other operators and develops transmission platforms. He said CyberStar's networking business base is an excellent fit with Skynet's offerings.
Northrop Grumman has settled on an all-cryogenic winged core booster with twin kerosene-fueled flyback boosters as its proposal for NASA's Space Launch Initiative reusable launch vehicle technology program. The twin boosters would have folding wings that would open once the boosters separate from the core vehicle. Instead of gliding back to the launch site, the boosters would use air-breathing jet engines for greater range on the flyback.
