FARNBOROUGH, England - The emergence of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter shouldn't preclude the sale of 200 or even 400 more F-16s, according to John Bean, Lockheed Martin vice president for the F-16. Lockheed Martin already has a backlog of 300 F-16s that take production out through 2008, but the company is aggressively pursuing a number of projects. Also, Bean said there is an upgrade potential for more than 3,000 F-16s during the next five to 10 years. The company has delivered 4,056 of the fighters.
FARNBOROUGH, England - Block II multiyear production of Boeing's best-selling AH-64 attack helicopter will incorporate new enhancements that will provide a quantum leap for Longbow Apache users, a U.S. Army official said.
Agreements signed this week between the Boeing Co. and three European companies for missile defense work are unlikely to bring about a spending increase for missile defense in Europe, according to a U.S. analyst. Instead, the European companies probably hope to develop a basic technical expertise that would enable them to participate in missile defense work if European governments agree to integrate into a U.S.-sponsored missile defense system.
FARNBOROUGH, England - Plans to demonstrate a German-made signals intelligence payload on the American-made Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle are on track for the spring of 2003, according to industry officials from the two countries.
FARNBOROUGH, England - Boeing expects to sign a contract in mid-August for 60 more U.S. Air Force C-17 airlifters, bringing total firm Air Force orders to 180 aircraft, according to airlift vice president and general manager Howard Chambers. The new orders will sustain production through the end of 2007 at a rate of 15 aircraft per year.
The House July 24 approved a "cost of war" bill that provides $10 billion for the Department of Defense to continue the war on terrorism into fiscal 2003. The bill, which originated in the House Armed Services Committee, is the House's answer to the Bush Administration's request for a $10 billion war reserve fund as part of the FY '03 defense budget. The bill includes $598 million to convert Tomahawk nuclear missiles to a conventional configuration.
HYFLY: Boeing's Phantom Works will design, develop and test-fly a hypersonic strike missile demonstrator vehicle under a $92.4 million DARPA contract. Boeing and subcontractor Aerojet will test fly 11 air vehicles as part of the four-year HyFly program, the company said.
FARNBOROUGH, England - Lockheed Martin is starting negotiations with about 100 companies in seven countries to flesh out the industrial team that will work on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
FARNBOROUGH, England - In a surprise move, the Indian government has issued urgent requests for proposals (RFPs) for new single-seat multirole combat aircraft, according to well-informed industry observers.
Although they show great promise for a variety of missions, ultra-long endurance solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be limited by the season and location in which they fly, according to NASA solar-powered aircraft Project Manager John Del Frate.
SEASPARROW TEST: Raytheon's Evolved SeaSparrow missile was launched for the first time from a U.S. Navy Aegis guided missile destroyer on July 23 and destroyed an incoming target, the company said July 24. The missile was launched from a Mk41 Vertical Launch System and closed on the BQM-74 target at speeds approaching Mach 3, Raytheon said. The ship was operating on the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division sea range near Point Mugu, Calif.
PRAGUE - The Czech ministry of defense signed a memorandum on July 23 with Aero Vodochody for the purchase of its new two-seat light combat aircraft, the L-159B. The Czech army will buy two L-159Bs, followed by an unspecified additional number, making it the first customer for the multirole training aircraft.
F-22 AWARD: Aviation Week named the F-22 Program Team the winner of the 2002 Quality Center Award, which identifies and celebrates the industry's ability to initiate quality practices in developing and building products. The F-22 Program Team winners are: Brig. Gen.
AWARDS: Aviation Week's James Ott was named the Royal Aeronautical Society's Aerospace Journalist of the Year for 2002 at a July 22 ceremony at the London Hilton. Ott was honored for his article, "Tight Security Compels Airport Design Shake-up." Flight International's Graham Warwick received the 2002 Boeing Decade of Excellence Award, for outstanding journalism over the past 10 years.
FARNBOROUGH, England - With international fighter competitions becoming increasingly rancorous, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS) says its export strategy is based on promoting the capabilities of its Eurofighter Typhoon, not on disparaging other aircraft.
FARNBOROUGH, England - Lockheed Martin and General Electric announced the establishment of a military engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organization that's to become operational next month.
FARNBOROUGH, England - Attempts to establish the European Military Aircraft Co. (EMAC) have foundered over disagreement on Italy's share of the projected joint venture with French and German partners in EADS. "EMAC is dead," said Roberto Testore, CEO of Finmeccanica. The project won't happen now, Testore said, but Finmeccanica still is pursuing future collaborative work with European firms.
Boosted by sales of products related to missile defense, Orbital Sciences Corp. on July 23 posted a gain in second-quarter operating profits. However, the company has yet to obtain financing that would ensure its continued financial stability. Orbital's second-quarter revenue totaled $135.4 million, compared with $108.5 million a year ago. Second-quarter operating income also was up, from a loss of $25.1 million a year ago to $5.4 million this year.
In the U.S. Department of Commerce's new spectrum allocation plan, released July 23, all Department of Defense (DOD) users would have to relocate their conventional fixed microwave communication systems from the 1710-1755 MHz band by the end of 2008. Although this portion of the spectrum already has been turned over by the federal government to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for commercial use, DOD users at 16 protected military sites within the U.S. still are able to use this portion of the spectrum.
FARNBOROUGH, England - Sikorsky expects its world customer service business to hit its target of $1 billion annually by next year. The company recently acquired Derco Holdings, which has about 1,200 customers in 66 countries for its logistic support activities. Operating in both commercial and military fields, the company services and supports products ranging from S-61 helicopters to C-130/L100 Hercules.
F-22 WORK: Alliant Techsystems will supply composite parts and subassemblies for the F-22 Raptor's horizontal stabilator, under a $12 million contract from Vought Aircraft Industries.
