An article in The DAILY of April 22 on signals intelligence incorrectly stated the contractor for the now-terminated low-band portion of the Joint Signal Intelligence Avionics Family (JSAF) system. The contractor for the low-band portion was BAE Systems. TRW continues to lead the high-band portion of the system. The high-band system temporarily was suspended earlier this year after Congress reduced the Air Force's request for airborne signals intelligence, but the program has since resumed.
The Navy is exploring the use of a wallpaper-like applique that could serve as both a paint replacement and protection against lightning strikes for composite-based aircraft. As more aircraft transition to lightweight composite materials, the problem of lightning strike will become more acute, according to Terry Vargo, president of Integument Technologies, Inc. of Tonawanda, N.Y., which is developing the applique.
The Raytheon Co. has identified solutions for all the technical problems affecting the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) B variant, according to a statement released by the company. In addition, Raytheon anticipates "no significant increase" in the weapon's unit cost due to any of the technical problems, the statement says.
Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee are proposing to cut the Bush Administration's $7.8 billion missile defense request for fiscal 2003 by roughly $800 million, according to sources. Much of the money would be transferred to shipbuilding, as committee members of both parties have complained the Administration's request does not fund enough new ships. However, the missile defense cut could be big enough to draw strong objections from Republicans on the Democrat-led committee.
An Air Force effort to restart the Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) program could lead to a contract as early as 2003, according to a senior Air Force official.
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) plans to take over Siemen's Oostkamp plant in Belgium, which supplies high-frequency modules for EADS radar and communication systems used in defense programs such as the Eurofighter.
PRAGUE - A key obstacle to the Czech Republic's purchase of 24 Jas-39 Gripen supersonic fighters was overcome May 7 when parliamentary opponents of the deal failed to prevent the bill from moving to its third and final reading in the country's lower house. The Communists and Civic Democrats, key opponents of the purchase, failed by six votes in the Chamber of Deputies to delay the bill until the parliament's budget committee assessed the financing of the deal. The bill's third reading will be held on May 9.
A Navy-sponsored diagnostic system designed to detect cracks on engine components as they develop is scheduled to begin testing next week at China Lake, Calif. The Real-Time Crack Detection System (RT-CDS) identifies blade cracks by sensing mass imbalances in the turbine as it spins. RT-CDS has demonstrated the ability to detect cracks that are only barely visible to the human eye, according to Robert Jones, vice president of Test Devices, Inc.
Nearly 6,908 business jets worth nearly $95.2 billion will be produced over the next decade, and 45 percent of those will be higher-end models, according to the Teal Group Business Jet Overview. The market, which rose dramatically in the late 1990s as a result of strong corporate earnings, is currently in decline, according to the report.
Boeing's airborne communications network, Connexion by Boeing, has been certified by the FAA, paving the way for commercial service introduction, the company announced May 7. "This demonstrates that we're on the right path ... that our system is viable, robust and does not interfere" with flight systems, said Terrance Scott, director of media relations for Connexion by Boeing.
FIRST ER: The three major sections of the first 747-400ER (extended range) aircraft have been joined at Boeing's Everett, Wash., facility, the company said May 7. The airplane will roll out of the factory in June and is scheduled to have its first flight in July.
A liquid hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle that would be able to remain aloft five times longer than today's longest-flying UAV, the Global Hawk, is being eyed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. DARPA says liquid hydrogen's very high energy-to-weight ratio will make such an aircraft possible, and is the basis of an effort called Ultra Long Endurance Aircraft Program, or UltraLEAP.
After reporting multi-million dollar losses last year, Spacehab Inc. reported a small net profit for the third quarter of fiscal year 2002, company officials announced late May 6. The Houston-based commercial space services company reported a net profit of $66,000 for the quarter, compared with a $3 million net loss for the same period last year. The company's net loss for the nine-month period ending March 31 was $2.1 million, compared with $7.2 million for the same period a year ago.
Lufthansa has selected Rolls-Royce's Trent 900 engine to power its fleet of Airbus A380s, Rolls-Royce announced May 7. The contract, for 15 aircraft, is worth $750 million, according to the company. "This is a significant order from one of the world's most prestigious flag carriers, who have committed to Trent power for their future large aircraft fleets," Mike Terrett, president of Civil Aerospace for Rolls Royce, said in a statement.
TOKYO - Japan's Space Activities Commission plans to call for the new H-IIA launcher to be the launch vehicle of choice for all government-funded payloads. Government payloads generally have been launched on indigenous launchers like the H-I, H-II and M-5, but this has not been a legal requirement.
NEW DELHI - India and Russia are considering having India's state-owned aeronautics company, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Russia's Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association take equity stakes in each other. A senior Indian defense ministry official told The DAILY May 7 that the formal offer was made last week in New Delhi by a team of senior Irkutsk officials. He said the issue also was discussed during Indian Defense Minster George Fernandes' visit to Moscow in April. No details of the equity arrangement are available.
Funding cuts to the Airborne Laser program could jeopardize an already fragile defense industrial base for specialized items needed for high-energy lasers, according to the program head.
AQUA LAUNCH: NASA's Earth observing satellite, Aqua, was launched May 4 aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Liftoff was at 2:55 a.m. PDT. Spacecraft separation occurred at 3:54 a.m., and Aqua was inserted into a 438-mile orbit, according to NASA. The satellite's primary goal is to gather information about the Earth's water cycle (DAILY, April 24). More information about the mission is available at http://aqua.nasa.gov.
The Air Force wants to drop its plans to buy the B variant of the Raytheon Joint Standoff Weapon, according to congressional documents and an official in the Navy-led program. The Air Force has proposed canceling its purchase of more than 3,000 JSOW-Bs due to technical problems and cost increases, according to a recently completed report accompanying the House Armed Services Committee's fiscal 2003 defense authorization bill.
May 6 - 10 -- National Defense Industrial Association presents Live Fire Test and Evaluation - Conference Announcement and Call for Papers. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. For more information contact Phyllis Edmonson at (703) 247-2588 or email [email protected]. May 12 - 15 -- Army Aviation Association presents Exhibitors Convention - Training Army Aviation's Soldiers and Leaders to meet the new Challenges - Nashville, TN. For more information contact Bob Lachowski at 9203) 268-2450 ext. 131.
E.C. "Pete" Aldridge, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, has provided unit costs to Congress for programs in breach of the Nunn-McCurdy amendment. Under Nunn-McCurdy, a program must be canceled if it exceeds baseline costs by more than 25 percent, unless Aldridge certifies it meets certain criteria, including that it is essential to national security. None of the six programs in breach of the amendment will be canceled now, Aldridge said last week (DAILY, May 3).
An Ariane 4 booster successfully launched the SPOT 5 Earth observation satellite from the Kourou launch site in French Guiana on May 4, according to the company. Another satellite launch, that of the DIRECTV 5, was scrubbed on May 5, according to International Launch Services, which is launching the broadcast satellite.
