With an eye toward supporting its Transformational Communication System (TCS) effort, the Department of Defense is interested in a proposed laser communication system being developed for use on the International Space Station (ISS). TCS is designed to dramatically increase the bandwidth available to the military by linking ground-based fiber optic cables to space using lasers to transmit data to and from the ground, and between satellites (DAILY, Sept. 4, 2002).
Three House Democrats - Reps. Anna Eshoo (Calif.), Rush Holt (N.J.) and Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.) - have been appointed new members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Six Democrats have been reappointed to the committee for the new 108th Congress: Reps. Jane Harman (Calif.), Alcee Hastings (Fla.), Silvestre Reyes (Texas), Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Collin Peterson and Bud Cramer (Ala.). Harman is replacing new House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as the panel's ranking Democrat (DAILY, Jan. 10).
Navy and Marine Corps leaders for the first time have unveiled details of a cost-saving plan to reduce its warplane fleet by integrating their tactical aircraft squadrons. An outline of the plan was announced last summer, but the services officially disclosed the framework of the effort this month in a command message to Navy and Marine squadrons obtained by The DAILY.
SAN DIEGO - Lockheed Martin and Consera Software Corp. will offer the U.S. Navy unique software designed to improve computer-driven combat systems and other military systems, the companies said. The software will increase automation and reduce workloads for crews aboard ships and on shore, Frank Artale, Consera's president and CEO, told The DAILY. A joint marketing agreement between the companies was announced Jan. 15 at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and U.S. Naval Institute West 2003 Conference here.
FAUST: The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) will equip the deployed forces of the German Bundeswehr with its advanced FAUST command and control system, the company said. The system, to be provided by EADS subsidiary EADS Dornier, provides users with a digital situation map that is automatically updated and that uses secure links to connect units. The system will be deployed with troops in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo, the company said.
Raytheon Missile Systems has teamed with Aerojet to provide full service support for 13 European and Asian nations using the Standard Missile-1 (SM-1), company officials said Jan. 15. Plans call for Raytheon to provide a full line of maintenance and logistics support services through 2020 to countries using the missile. They include the U.S., France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Egypt, Bahrain, Turkey, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Poland, Germany and Greece.
SAN DIEGO - Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), said the military is short of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capacity, and that having the capability to counter short-range ballistic missiles is a top priority. Speaking at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and U.S. Naval Institute West 2003 Conference here, Fargo outlined Pacific Command's overhaul of its plans, basing, and equipment to implement America's new national defense strategy.
The Coast Guard is considering partnering with NASA to use the space agency's Altair unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as an experimental testbed for demonstrating homeland security missions. NASA approached the Coast Guard's research and development center with the idea because it wanted to contribute to the nation's homeland security effort, according to Lt. Cmdr. Troy Beshears, the Coast Guard's UAV program manager.
PROPULSION WORK: Boeing Co.'s Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power unit will provide the liquid propulsion system for Lockheed Martin's Pad Abort Demonstration (PAD) program, the company said Jan. 15. PAD is part of NASA's Orbital Space Plane program (DAILY, Nov. 26, 2002). Rocketdyne's propulsion system will be used to launch the PAD vehicle and demonstrate escape and recovery systems.
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles, information operations and special joint forces operations will be key elements of the U.S. Navy's plans to transform itself for 21st century naval warfare, a senior Navy officer said Jan. 15. "These sea-based capabilities will be fully integrated in tailored joint-strike packages leveraging information superiority," said Vice Adm. Kevin Green, deputy chief of naval operations for plans, policy and operations.
LONDON - United Kingdom Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said Jan. 15 that the U.K. government has agreed in principle to a U.S. request that it upgrade the early warning radar at Royal Air Force Base Fylingdales, Yorkshire, for use with a missile defense system. "Based on the analysis and discussion which we have undertaken so far," Hoon told members of Parliament, "I've come to the preliminary conclusion that the answer to the U.S. request must be yes, and that we should agree to the upgrade as proposed."
The Air Force plans to reach a limited operational capability for its Miniature Air Launched Decoys (MALDs) in fiscal 2009 after a six-year development effort, according to acquisition documents. One year after restructuring the formerly Northrop Grumman-led program, the Air Force is seeking bidders for the MALD contract under a request for proposals posted Jan. 15.
Kaman Corp. has sold its electric motor and drive business to DRS Technologies of Parsippany, N.J. the company said Jan. 15. Kaman's Electromagnetics Development Center develops and builds electric motors, generators and drive electronics for defense and industrial applications. DRS will integrate EDC's work with its existing production capabilities as it pursues work on the U.S. Navy's DD(X) program and other contracts, Kaman said. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
LONDON - BAE Systems has been nominated as prime contractor for the planned modernization of two former Royal Navy Type 22 frigates the United Kingdom sold to Romania. The frigates will be re-equipped to meet NATO standards. A 116 million pound ($186.7 million) sales agreement for the two vessels, HMS Coventry and HMS London, was signed Jan. 14 in Bucharest by Lord Willy Bach, the U.K. defense procurement minister, and Gheorghe Matache, the Romanian state secretary for armaments.
The Missile Defense Agency plans to launch an experimental satellite next year to get a better understanding of how missiles perform in their boost phase of flight, the agency said Jan. 15. If successful, the exercise, called the Near Field InfraRed Experiment (NFIRE), could aid MDA's fledgling efforts to develop boost-phase interceptor missiles.
Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) have picked up seats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) announced late Jan. 14. Daschle also revealed that Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.) and Jeff Bingaman (N.M.) are leaving the panel. The changes are part of the reshuffling of committee assignments that takes place every two years after an election.
SHIP SUPPORT: DynCorp, of Reston, Va. will provide operational support for two Navy ships, including USNS Waters, which provides instrumentation support for Trident missile test launches. The work will be done under a five-year, $35 million subcontract from 3PSC, also of Reston.
As real-world taskings increasingly put a crimp on the military's training plans, the Air Force has called off its premier air-to-air warfare exercise this month to accommodate deployment schedules. A Red Flag event planned for later this month is being scrapped after its lead unit, the 4th Fighter Wing, was deployed in support of the war on terrorism, according to an Air Combat Command announcement.
BAE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA, Rockville, Md. Sheila C. Cheston has been appointed corporate vice president and general counsel. She succeeds John Currier, who announced his retirement. BECTECH, Arlington, Va. Rear Adm. Thomas C. Lynch, U.S. Navy (ret.), has been elected to the board of directors. DRS TECHNOLOGIES, Parsippany, N.J. Jonathan T. Mann has joined the company as corporate counsel. GOODRICH, Charlotte, N.C.
A Jan. 10 story in the The DAILY misstated Raytheon's position on laws governing the export of defense technologies. It should have read that the company hopes to see changes in the laws governing such exports.
Raytheon Co. would supply missiles for a Navy program to replace the canceled Area Theater Ballistic Missile Defense program in which it was also a key player, a Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman said. The new program, Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), "is basically going to be the successor to" the Navy Area TBMD program, cancelled in 2001, said David Caskey of NAVSEA.
