The Bell Boeing tiltrotor team reached the aircraft configuration freeze milestone for the model 609 aircraft, and has begun making major tools, increasing staffing levels and signing agreements with component suppliers, the team announced Sunday. It has started accepting deposits for deliveries beginning in 2001. Also, at the Helicopter Association International HeliExpo'97 convention in Anaheim, Calif., it unveiled a full-scale cabin mockup of the utility version of the 609
More than three years after termination of the Medium Range unmanned aerial vehicle program, the UAV yesterday completed a 15-minute test flight. The program was canceled in 1993 for convenience of the government but partially reinstated when prime contractor Teledyne Ryan was cleared to use previously purchased parts to built six of the air vehicles (DAILY, July 10, 1995). The UAV can be either ground- or air-launched.
The U.S. should limit military intervention to "vital" national security interests, and in lesser interests, the military either should not be used or used as a last resort, according to a chapter in the Heritage Foundation's recently released policy handbook. In the "Mandate for Leadership IV" handbook for Congress, John Hillen, in a chapter called, "Defining the Proper U.S. Role in Global Security," definesvital national security interests as follows: - Defending American territory, borders and airspace;
GRACE ROBERTSON will head the Advanced Transport Aircraft System group of McDonnell Douglas Military Transport Aircraft, replacing John King, who is retiring.
Rockwell International Corporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $196,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide for up to 230 (minimum 40) Class 2/2H Terminals applicable to the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). Contract is expected to be completed March 2001. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were two firms solicited and two proposals received. Solicitation began October 1996; negotiations were completed January 1997.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORP., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $16 million increase to a U.S. Air Force contract for 44 Pacer Communication, Radar and Global Positioning System (CRAG) modification kits for PC-135 aircraft. The Dept. of Defense said the effort also includes 52 supplemental Pacer CRAG Group B kits for the KC-135 navigation station, one Pacer CRAG modification kit for the T-23 trainer, 19 Pacer CRAIG modification kits for the T-88 trainer and associated warranty, data and spares.
Boeing Defense and Space Group, Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a $32,400,000 firm fixed price contract to provide for four Electronic Support Measure systems applicable to the E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Contract is expected to be completed June 2000. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one firm solicited and one proposal received. Solicitation began August 1996; negotiations were completed December 1996.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP. said Boeing Co. has chosen it to produce doors for the 737, 757 and 767 airliners, as well as additional doors for the 747. It said the work has a potential value of more than $400 million.
Raytheon Electronic Systems, Bedford, Mass., won a contract from the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) for AN/WSC-6 Super High Frequency satellite communications antennas, Raytheon announced. It said the antennas are designed to provide secure command and control communications over military or commercial satellites. The $1.1 million base contract calls for four 2.4 meter shipboard SHF antennas. Options for 26 additional antennas and related engineering could be worth an additional $7.3 million, Raytheon said.
Lockheed Martin Corp. said it has signed a memorandum of understanding to move 10 non-core business units into a new independent company named L3 Communications. The new company will be jointly owned by three different parties. Lehman Brothers Capital Partners III L.P. will hold 50%, Lockheed Martin will retain a 35% equity stake and the management team led by Frank C. Lanza, a Lockheed Martin executive vice president, and Robert V. LaPenta, a company corporate vice president, will control 15%.
McDonnell Douglas Corp., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $47,581,836 cost plus award fee contract to provide for Engineering and Manufacturing Development for the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) applicable to the F-15 and F-18 aircraft. The JHMCS will allow missiles to be targeted through an attachment on the pilot's helmet. Contract is expected to be completed December 2001. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one firm solicited and one proposal received.
United Defense LP, Armament Systems Division, Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded an $85,878,451 increment of an $804,877,700 modification to a cost plus fixed fee/award fee contract to design, develop, manufacture and test two prototype self propelled Howitzers and one Automated Resupply Vehicle (Crusader). Work will be performed in Minneapolis, Minn. (71%); Sterling Heights, Mich. (24%); and Burlington, Vt. (5%), and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2000. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Hughes Missile Systems Company, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $64,698,418 modification to previously awarded contract N00019-94-C-0257 to exercise on option for 121 Tomahawk All-Up-Round sea launched cruise missiles, software support, product verification test, and technical data. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by September 1999. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.
Hughes Space and Communications Co. (HSC), Los Angeles, won a $2.6 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for research on the use of commercial grade diamonds in high power transistor packages.
LONGBOW LIMITED LIABILITY CO., Orlando, Fla., has received a $78 million increase to a U.S. Army contract for Lot 2 production, first test article and Lot 2 spares for Longbow Apache Fire Control Radar and Lot 3 long lead time effort, the Dept. of Defense said. Work, which will be split between Linthicum, Md., and Orlando, Fla., is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 1999.
Despite claims by some in Congress that a new generation of tactical aircraft will be too expensive for the Defense Dept., the commander of the U.S. Air Force's Air Combat Command said the programs are affordable. "The debate has gotten too emotional," Gen. Richard Hawley told an Air Force Association gathering here on Thursday. "We are questioned every step of the way."
MICHAEL M. SEARS has been named president of McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, and Walter J. Orlowski will replace him as president of Douglas Aircraft Co., McDonnell Douglas said Friday. Also, it said, E. David Spong has been named vice president and general manager of the C-17 program. He replaces Don Kozlowski, who will retire later this year. Spong was vice president- general manager for integrated product definition and C-17 deputy program manager.
GEC-Marconi Hazeltine Corp., Wayne, N.J., won a contract from Samsung Electronics to upgrade the Korean military's existing Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. The platforms will be upgraded with Mk. XII 4 crypto secure IFF equipment on a turnkey basis. Mark Ronald, president and CEO of GEC Marconi Hazeltine, said the company is also working on similar programs for Norway, Denmark and Turkey.
ITT Night Vision, Roanoke, Va., won a contract from Leica AG, Heerbrugg, Switzerland, to supply Generation III image intensifier tubes to the Swiss armed forces, ITT said Thursday. The $26 million, five-year contract calls for ITT to supply the tubes to Leica, which will integrate them into night vision systems for the Swiss army.
Boeing Co. and McDonnell Douglas Corp. have agreed to work together on the Joint Strike Fighter regardless of whether Boeing's planned acquisition of MDC is approved. Although the acquisition is expected to be okayed by the Federal Trade Commission, a Boeing official said the teaming discussion has been undertaken separately. It began soon after MDC was eliminated from the JSF program (DAILY, Nov. 19).
CORRECTION: A Jan. 29 DAILY story (page 139) said a payload for the space launch version of the Minuteman II ICBM is being built by Weaver State University in Utah. It is being built by Weber State University.
Lockheed Martin and the government of Hungary signed an agreement for industrial cooperation, the company said Friday. It said it presented Hungary a preliminary plan that would provide full percent offset in exchange for Lockheed Martin products. Hungary, along with the Czech Republic and Poland, are looking to upgrade their military forces in hopes of earning NATO membership. Lockheed Martin and McDonnell Douglas are among companies hoping to provide them with fighter aircraft.
Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), newest member of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, comes aboard with a keen interest in the National Missile Defense program. Although Minuteman missiles equipped with kinetic energy kill vehicles would be deployed in existing silos at Grand Forks, N.D., under an Air Force NMD option, Dorgan supports the Clinton Administration's three-plus-three plan, his press secretary says. The plan would hold off a deployment decision until 2000 and then go ahead only if the threat warrants it.
A sale of 100 F-16 fighters to Saudi Arabia would help Lockheed Martin keep the line open until after 2000, according to Joel Johnson of the Aerospace Industries Association in Washington. Johnson, vice president international of AIA, said in an interview that a Saudi buy is one of the few big opportunities for the current generation of U.S. fighters. Another is a planned purchase by the United Arab Emirates.
