Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Staff
Several countries participating in the European Space Agency's Aurora program have confirmed they will work with the program and have increased their contribution for it, ESA said Dec. 20.

Staff
Information technology and network systems company SI International Inc. of Reston, Va., has bought Bridge Technology Corp. for $30 million in cash, SI International said Dec. 21. Bridge Technology, also an information technology and information management company, supports defense intelligence agencies in program management, acquisition management, logistics management, systems engineering and other work.

Marc Selinger
An F/A-22 Raptor crashed on takeoff at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., late Dec. 20, prompting the U.S. Air Force to ground most of its other F/A-22s. The pilot ejected safely from the Lockheed Martin-built jet, which smashed into the runway it was trying to leave at about 3:45 p.m. local time. "It was literally on takeoff," an Air Force spokesman said. "He hadn't gone anywhere yet."

Staff
TANKER STUDY: The Pentagon delayed disclosing the results of a study on U.S. Air Force tanker modernization options because the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), which is reviewing the project, needed more time, a Defense Department spokeswoman said Dec. 21, elaborating on an earlier explanation for the postponement (DAILY, Dec. 20). IDA is conducting a "quality check" of the study, which was done for DOD by RAND Corp. DOD had been planning to brief Congress on the study results the week of Dec. 20, but it now intends to do so in about mid-January.

Staff
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has chosen 37 projects for funding under its new program to generate revolutionary improvements to warfighting in urban areas. Subject to negotiation, the researchers will receive between $130,000 and $2.7 million for initial six- to 12-month feasibility demonstrations, DARPA said in a Dec. 17 announcement. DARPA spokeswoman Jan Walker, asked if she could supply a breakdown of money going to the companies, said, "Not at this time. We are in the process of negotiating the contract awards."

Staff
Indianapolis-based Raytheon Technical Services Co. (RTSC) has been awarded a one-year contract option worth up to $98.8 million to continue providing engineering supplies and services to the Naval Air Systems Command, the company said Dec. 21. The supplies and services include systems engineering and software engineering; technical, manufacturing and life-cycle support; overhaul and repair; spares; and integration. They will be provided for navigation systems, aircraft support and mission planning, the company said.

Staff
Northrop Grumman has assembled a prototype payload for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military communications satellite program, the company announced Dec. 20. Northrop Grumman is providing the payload for Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the Advanced EHF program. The early integration and testing of the payload, software, satellite interfaces and user terminal simulators will reduce the risks associated with the flight payloads for the first two Advanced EHF satellites, according to Northrop Grumman.

Staff
AERIAL SUPPORT: United Kingdom-based FR Aviation Ltd. has been awarded a 140 million pound ($269 million), five-year contract extension to provide aerial support services to the U.K.'s air force and navy, the company said Dec. 20. The contract covers the years 2009 through 2014. The support includes electronic warfare training, threat simulation, and silent target and aerial target towing for various exercises in the U.K. and overseas. FR Aviation is a subsidiary of U.K.-based Cobham plc.'s Flight Operations and Services group.

Marc Selinger
The U.S. Air Force's F/A-22 Raptor program plans to repeat a missile-firing test that was marred by faulty test equipment. During the Dec. 2 test, a Lockheed Martin F/A-22 was supposed to engage two target drones, but one of its two guided missiles did not fire due to a problem with the missile's test instrumentation, the Air Force told The DAILY in a recent written response to questions. "This mission will be re-accomplished as soon as practical," the Air Force said.

Staff
Information technology firm CACI International Inc. of Arlington, Va., will provide logistics analysis and training support for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps under a $16 million contract, the company said Dec. 20. With options, the contract could be worth up to $85 million. It was awarded by the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Detachment Philadelphia.

Staff
ARMY Oshkosh Truck Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on Dec. 10, 2004, a delivery order amount of $51,868,571 as part of a $51,868,571 firm-fixed-price contract for an additional 237 Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2006. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on Sept. 28, 2004. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-04-D-0322).

Staff
Arianespace launched the Helios IIA military reconnaissance satellite along with six microsatellites from the company's launch site in Kourou, French Guiana on Dec. 18. The flight marks the largest number of spacecraft deployed by the Ariane 5 launch vehicle during a single flight. The Ariane 5 injected Helios IIA into a sun-synchronous polar orbit roughly one hour after launch.

Aviation Week & Space Technology

Lisa Troshinsky
NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense are conducting a pilot program that integrates radio frequency identification (RFID) with sensor technology to manage hazardous materials. The first phase of the pilot, which started about three months ago and is nearing completion, is taking place at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It integrates DOD's existing Web-based Hazardous Materials Management System (HMMS), sensor-based services from Oracle Corp. and RFID tags and readers from EnvironMax Inc.

Staff
The X-45A team successfully transferred control of its aircraft from California to Seattle and back again during a 46-minute flight Dec. 9, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced Dec. 20.

Aviation Week

Staff
AUSTRALIAN TANKERS: The Australian Government and EADS signed a contract Dec. 20 to supply the Royal Australian Air Force with five Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transports (MRTT). Contract negotiations had been under way since Australia announced in April that it had picked EADS over the Boeing Co. for the $1.5 billion deal (DAILY, April 19). The first aircraft is scheduled to enter service in 2009. The A330 MRTT will be equipped with a new refueling boom system, which EADS plans to begin flight-testing in the second half of 2005.

Staff
Sweden's parliament has approved cuts in military units, equipment and personnel as the country switches to a more mobile, high-tech defense force that can better fight serious crime and terrorism, the Swedish Ministry of Defence said Dec. 17. The cuts include the elimination of 3,000 officers and 2,500 civilian workers, the MOD said in a statement. Ten towns will be affected. Financial figures were not disclosed. The Swedish government will help the affected cities cope with the job losses, the MOD said.

Staff
BAE Systems Australia will provide Australia's military with 26 high-bandwidth satellite Compact Transmit and Receive Terminals to improve its mobile military communications capability, the company said Dec. 17. The contract, awarded by the Defence Materiel Organisation's Electronic Weapon and Systems Division, is part of the ongoing rollout of the JP2008 satellite-based tactical communications systems program, BAE Systems said.

Staff
Armor Holdings Inc. has won a new $50 million contract to provide spare parts for the U.S. Army's up-armored Humvee fleet, the company said Dec. 20. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) awarded the new contract for three years, with quantities to be determined based on the need for replacement components.

Staff
United Defense Industries Inc. (UDI) plans to expand in the specialized aerospace containers market by buying EPD Container Solutions of Berthoud, Colo., the company said Dec. 20. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2005.

Staff
ARMY Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Dec. 14, 2004, an $180,778,108 modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for 15 Navy Knight Hawk Helicopters. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 4, 2000. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (DAAH23-02-C-0006).