The Pentagon has offensive cyber- and electronic attack weapons—and even more sophisticated capabilities are being designed—but it does not have the analytical structure to anticipate their effects and the command structure to quickly approve their use. For the moment, even if the U.S. knows a cyberattack has been planned and will be launched, it cannot do anything militarily to stop it.
Unmanned aircraft bought used for a few thousand dollars and packed with off-the-shelf electronics can use wireless technologies to invade smartphones and exploit them as conduits to capture email or telephone conversations on laptop computers.
Asia-Pacific Staff (New Delhi), Robert Wall (Moscow)
Few programs underscore the strategic industrial relationship between Russia and India as strongly as their work on the BrahMos missile, and that partnership will be further cemented now by the two countries' decision to develop a hypersonic version of the weapon under the BrahMos II program.
India's defense helicopter modernization plans are huge, looming large in the eyes of potential bidders and providing a test of the staying power of Russia's supply advantage in the sector. Selections will soon be made in three major military helicopter acquisition programs. The Indian defense ministry is in the final steps of analyzing trial and evaluation reports from the Indian air force and army. The three competitions, worth approximately $2.5 billion in total, should lead to the purchase of 22 attack, 12 heavy-lift and 197 light utility helicopters.
Moscow may object to U.S. plans to expand its missile defense shield across Europe, but that is not stopping the Russian military from a widespread expansion of its own air and missile defense capabilities. Russia has sketched out some intentions to not just upgrade its S-300 air defense system—long the backbone of its air defense activities—but also to modernize shorter-range air defenses, along with the high-end S-400 system. Fielding the top-end S-500 missile defense system is also a priority.
ANASA-backed team of scientists and engineers is set to map the Moon's gravity—and internal structure—with a pair of spacecraft working on the same principle as the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (Grace) mission orbiting Earth.
American Eagle Airlines, the regional airline subsidiary of American Airlines' parent company, might soon be flying solo. But, if so, the regional operator is not going to have an easy ride.
A surge in modifications of older aircraft cabin interiors is providing fresh evidence that the global airline industry is getting back on its feet. Inspired by next-generation aircraft, carriers are moving beyond the austerity of performing only required maintenance to paying renewed attention to their narrowbody fleets. While such investments are aimed at improving customer comfort, they can also boost revenue by enabling airlines to fit more passengers into a cabin.
Sept. 12—A&D Finance Europe. London. Sept. 14-15—Airlines/MRO/Aircraft and Engine Lessors: “The Tricky Triangle.” Dublin. Sept. 26—Aircraft Composite Repair Management Forum. Madrid. Sept. 27-29—MRO Europe 2011. Madrid. Sept. 28—MRO Military Europe. Madrid. Oct. 12-13—Fifth Edition of Lean Six Sigma for MRO Forum. San Francisco. Oct. 20-21—MRO IT Conference and Showcase. Chicago. Oct. 24-26—A&D Programs. Phoenix. Nov. 2-3—Engine MRO Forum. Istanbul.
Sept. 12-15—Practical Aeronautics Short Course: “Introduction to Aeronautics: A Practical Perspective.” National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Va. See www.practicalaero.com Sept. 13-14—Transport Security Expo and Conference. Olympia Exhibition Center, London. See www.transec.com Sept. 14-15—MIU Events' “Business Aircraft Europe.” London Biggin Hill Airport. Call +44 (124) 351-3606 or see www.miuevents.com
On Feb. 13, 2008, two Go! airline pilots, cruising at 21,000 ft. over Hawaii in broad daylight, fell asleep. Ignoring repeated calls from air traffic control, they flew 26 mi. past Hilo's airport before waking up, contacting air traffic control and landing safely. The pilots' fatigue that day resulted from several successive days of early flights as well as the captain's undiagnosed sleep apnea.
Key stakeholders in the long-term health of the Aerospace & Defense industry should be pleased to learn that some encouraging news came out of Aviation Week's 2011 annual workforce study. For example, voluntary attrition among young A&D professionals in 2010, which peaked at 22% in the prior year, fell to the single digits. To everyone's relief, a tidal wave of retirements forecast for the last several years did not materialize, thanks partly to a moribund economy.
The first PW1524G engine for the Bombardier's CSeries regional jet is nearing the end of its first flight test cycle as a validation of the performance of its geared turbofan architecture. Pratt & Whitney Canada is conducting the tests from the Montreal-Mirabel Airport, which will also be the home for the most extensively automated engine assembly factory the company has ever used. Coverage of Pratt's engine testing and development of the CSeries engine factory begins on page 40. Chip Yates photo for Pratt & Whitney.
Joe Murphy, ChairmanThe Ferco Aerospace Group (Franklin, Ohio )
A recent Market Focus commentary, “In Washington, There is No Shame” (AW&ST Aug. 8, p. 14), expresses the frustration many people have with Congress and the White House. I live in House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) district. When he issued his constituent newsletter titled “A Win for the American People” following the debt-ceiling debacle, I could not believe it. As you so well note, the “deal” was a political stunt with no sincere attempt at addressing the real issue of reducing the country's debt.
I believe all projects to transport civilians at speeds greater than sound are economic emperors without clothes, including those covered in your “Aviation Unleashed” package (AW&ST July 18/25 pp. 57, 65, 66). Pushing craft faster than conventional airliners will always suffer from higher levels of fuel consumption, making it a very pricey way to travel.
USAF Col. (ret.) Michael R. Gallagher (Hillsboro, Ore. )
In reference to the “Guard Up” item in Washington Outlook (AW&ST Aug. 8, p. 23), senior National Guard leadership should be ashamed of themselves for using the over-tasking of their forces as a justification for a seat on the Joint Chiefs. We don't need a more top-heavy military structure, but we do need to reassess the role of Guard and Reserve forces. Repetitive deployments have taken a toll on the employability of many of these fine men and women. Clearly, budget cuts are coming. We certainly don't need to increase the overhead!
You featured three opinions about the space shuttle's legacy (AW&ST July 18/25, pp. 70, 72, 90). All were valid, but missed some key points. I worked for the program from the beginning and have a different insight. A shuttle selling point was that it would put satellites in orbit for a lower cost than expendables. People experienced with Apollo knew that putting a person in a vehicle pushes up the cost.
This is not Arizona, but a view of the rim of Endeavour Crater on Mars. The still-roving Opportunity recently collected the image. See details at the On Space Blog.
The Ares blog posts some details about the Ghost, a prototype small waterplane twin-hull ship. The aim is to interest the U.S. Navy in a water-borne equivalent of an attack helicopter that could intercept swarms of missile-equipped, small attack boats. Harpooner says:
Also on the Ares blog: Russia wants to revive its air and ballistic missile defense system—with S-500 as its centerpiece. That's no surprise, but now the design bureau for the effort has released a road map. Marcase writes: I'm just worried the S-500 will eventually be sold elsewhere (India, China, Pakistan . . . ). Something which happened with the once-feared S-300. Stan notes:
Rohit Nandan, a joint secretary at India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been named managing director of state-owned Air India, replacing Arvind Jadhav, who was removed from the post.
Larry R. Flynn will become president of Savannah, Ga.-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. on Sept. 1, succeeding Joseph T. Lombardo, who will continue as executive VP of parent company General Dynamics' Aerospace Group. Flynn was VP-aircraft services.
Jack Dorsett (see photo) has been appointed VP-cybersecurity/C4 at Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman. He was U.S. deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance and director of naval intelligence.
Damon Cram has been named director of marketing for simulation at FlightSafety International, based at New York LaGuardia Airport. He was business development and sales lead for commercial aircraft training at CAE.
