McDonnell Douglas has completed flight tests of an advanced automatic target recognition system (ATR) for missiles and other weapons and targeting systems. Unlike most ATRs, McDonnell Douglas' device relies directly on a single reconnaissance photo that can be rapidly scanned into a mission planning system, the firm said. The system then matches the entire digitized scene to a real-time infrared image of the target area.
John Croke, vice president/general manager, has been promoted to president of ST Olektron. Mike Smith, formerly president of ST Olektron, was appointed president of ST Keltec.
The U.S. Navy plans next month to release the first draft of a request for proposal for its fifth-generation Tactical Advanced Computer (TAC-5), according to a notice in the Feb. 27 issue of Commerce Business Daily. TAC-5 is intended to "support mission critical and administrative programs by providing workstations, servers and associated peripheral equipment, software, maintenance, and training" for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and other agencies, the notice said.
The company announced the following promotions: Carlton B. Crenshaw, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Antonio L. Elias, senior vice president and chief technical officer. Michael D. Griffin, executive vice president and general manager of the company's Advanced Systems Group. John H. Mehoves, senior vice president of corporate strategy with responsibilities for Orbital's strategy development.
Duane D. (Buzz) Fitzgerald was named non-employee chairman. He will focus on broad industry and public policy issues and their effect on BIW. Allan C. Cameron was named president. He will have full responsibility for the company's operations and activities.
William R. Martin was named vice president, Washington, D.C. operations. Martin previously served as vice president of business development for Alliant's Aerospace Systems Group. Scott S. Meyers, who most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Magnavox Electronic Systems Co., Ft. Wayne, Ind., has been named vice president and chief financial officer effective March 1.
McDonnell Douglas and Orbital Sciences Corp., its major subcontractor on NASA's Med-Lite expendable launch vehicle procurement, have negotiated a contract worth about $500 million for the 4,400-pound-lift rockets. As prime, McDonnell Douglas will use Delta II 7300s, its proposed Delta-Lite, and Orbital's Taurus to fulfill the contract. The exact value of the deal will depend on the number of options exercised, vehicle configurations and mission-unique requirements, NASA said yesterday.
Delegates to a special assembly of the Western European Union in London agreed Friday that Europe should be able to mount military operations independently of the U.S., but stopped short of calling on European Union members to spend whatever it takes to win that capability. In a non-binding final declaration, the WEU contended that Europe must acquire its own military assets so that it can step in when there are crises in which the U.S. doesn't want to be involved.
Congressional appropriators this week are expected to review a White House request for $820 million in emergency supplemental funding to cover the costs of U.S. involvement in Bosnia.
Robert B. Alleger was named president of the Aerospace Technology unit, headquartered in Fort Worth, Tex. Recently, he served as vice president of systems support services in Colorado Springs for Lockheed Martin.
President Clinton has sent a supplemental budget package to Congress requesting $140 million in additional FY 1996 funding to facilitate the transfer of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to Jordan. The package, sent this week, also requests congressional approval to extend the multi-year buy of the McDonnell Douglas C-17 airlifter to seven years. Current law limits multi-year procurement contracts to five program years or less.
Thomas J. Bernard has been appointed senior vice president of marketing. Bernard retired as vice president and general manager for the company's OmniTRACS Division in 1994.
Col. Wilbert D. Pearson has been named vice commmander of Electronic Systems Center. Pearson is currently the deputy for B-1B programs, Space and Strategic Systems in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition.
McDonnell Douglas yesterday named Herbert J. Lanese president of McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, the company's largest operating division, succeeding John Capellupo, widely credited with engineering turn-arounds in previously ailing MDC units and slated to retire at the end of March.
William P. Marberg, previously vice president of air traffic control at Loral Corp., has joined the firm as senior managing vice president of navigation systems.
Bob Dickie and Dick Miller have each been promoted to the position of general manager of Parker Bertea's Customer Support Military and Customer Support Commercial Divisions.
Canada's Bombardier decided it won't stage a rescue takeover of Dutch airframer Fokker, which now has to come up with either an official bid from South Korea's Samsung or a serious Dutch-led scenario to avoid being cut apart and sold off in pieces. Bombardier and Fokker have "ended their discussions that started on Feb. 5," Dutch economic affairs minister Hans Wijers said Tuesday, adding that he believed Bombardier considered Fokker "too much of a risk" for a "relatively small player" like Bombardier to absorb.
Ronald D. Sugar has been named executive vice president and general manager of TRW Automotive Electronics Group. Carl G. Miller has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer.
McDONNELL DOUGLAS Helicopter Systems, Mesa, Ariz., has been awarded a $39.1 million modification to a firm fixed price contract for 20 AH-64A Apache helicopters for the United Arab Emirates. Work is expected to be completed by July 31. The contract was initiated Dec. 20, 1993.
