PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Seventeen Czech aerospace companies have formed a consortium to produce a new twin-engined turboprop aircraft in a bid to stimulate the country's aerospace industry. The consortium, led by aircraft designer Evektor Aerotechnik, is hoping to launch the EV-55 nine- to 15-seat passenger aircraft within three years.
By early next year the U.S. Air Force will have a new acquisition strategy for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program in place to help sustain manufacturers Boeing and Lockheed Martin through the current poor launch market, according to Peter Teets, Air Force undersecretary for space.
McKechnie Aerospace, a multinational firm based in the United Kingdom, has found a niche for itself re-engineering and manufacturing small aviation and aerospace components to make them smaller, lighter, stronger and safer, according to company officials. The bolts that hold together a commercial satellite are an example. McKechnie engineers quizzed their counterparts at EADS Astrium, manufacturer of satellites for satellite operator Astria, to find a way to reduce costs.
TOMAHAWK: The U.S. Navy has approved the Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile to enter an operational evaluation (OPEVAL) this month. OPEVAL will include a series of end-to-end weapon system simulations as well as missile flight tests conducted from the Navy's western test range in southern California.
NASA must provide Congress several reports outlining the costs of various programs, according to the conference report on the omnibus appropriations bill which is awaiting House and Senate approval. By Dec. 31, NASA is to provide the first quarterly report on program milestones and cost estimates for its Project Prometheus, which is intended to develop nuclear propulsion and power systems.
NO CHANGE: The announcement of Phil Condit's resignation as Boeing chairman and CEO doesn't change the company's ratings or financial outlook, Standard & Poor's said Dec. 1. The company has a "very strong position in defense and military space" and remains "one of two global producers of large commercial aircraft," S&P said.
The industry team behind the US101 helicopter has chosen General Electric Aircraft Engines to provide the engine for the team's candidate in the VXX presidential helicopter competition. Lockheed Martin, AgustaWestland and Bell Helicopter are jointly marketing the medium-lift US101 as a presidential helicopter replacement and for military missions such as combat search and rescue. Its competitor in the VXX competition is Sikorsky's S-92, which recently won the Collier Trophy (DAILY, June 12).
Boeing Co.'s surprise Dec. 1 announcement of the resignation of Phil Condit, 62, its long-time chairman and CEO, was followed almost immediately by pledges from two top executives that they will move quickly to bolster the confidence of markets and customers. "Going forward, our task is to strengthen the reputation of this company with our customers, employees, investors and the communities in which we operate," said Harry C. Stonecipher, 67, who was named president and CEO. He will work with Lewis E. Platt, 62, who was named non-executive chairman.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - A commission of government officials has recommended that the Czech Republic lease 14 Jas-39 Gripen fighters from Sweden. The commission, composed of officials from the Czech ministries of defense, finance, industry and foreign affairs, said Dec. 1 that its non-binding decision was unanimous.
November 24, 2003 AIR FORCE Teradyne Incorporated, North Reading, Mass., is being awarded a $67,000,000 firm fixed price contract to provide for Advanced Digital Test Station, Automatic Test Equipment for the B-1B Aircraft. No funds have been obligated. This work will be complete by June 2009. Solicitation began June 2003 and Negotiations were completed October 2003. The Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8102-04-D-0001).
NEW DELHI - India will invest in Europe's Galileo global satellite navigation system, an Indian Ministry of Science and Technology official said after an Indo-European Union summit here over the weekend. India plans to contribute around $350 million to the $2.3 billion program, the official said. China plans to contribute about $230 million, according to the official. India currently uses the U.S. Global Positioning System and is negotiating with Russia to participate in the Glonass system.
Although a propellant-mixing problem has forced Lockheed Martin to delay most of its interceptor booster work for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program until 2005, the company still will be able to conduct the first launch of the rocket later this month, a spokesman for the Missile Defense Agency said Dec. 1.
ICAP III: Herley Industries will supply microwave hardware to Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the Increased Capability III (ICAP III) jamming system, Herley said Dec. 1. The ICAP III will replace the jamming system on U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft and will be the system used on the new EA-18G. The work is being done under a $3.6 million contract. Company President John M. Kelley said in a statement that "the multi-year prospects of ICAP III are strong and are expected to grow."
Space-based and aerial remote sensing are not competing and instead are poised to grow together over the next decade, according to a forecast sponsored by NASA and the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS).
MOSCOW - Russia's Space Forces confirmed the successful deployment of two Yamal-200 satellites launched last week by a Proton/Block DM vehicle. The spacecraft are a new design from RSC Energia. They carry 30 C- and Ku-band transponders and are from the only Russian spacecraft family that uses Western-style unpressurized satellite buses.
The Missile Defense Agency tentatively is scheduled to announce after close of business Dec. 3 which company will lead a multi-billion dollar effort to develop a boost-phase interceptor missile. The agency previously indicated the decision would be revealed on or close to Dec. 1 (DAILY, Nov. 13). The Dec. 3 date now is seen as likely, although a change still is considered possible.
NASA is pushing back the release of the final request for proposals (RFP) for its Orbital Space Plane (OSP) program, which contractors originally expected to receive on Nov. 26. The findings of an external review of the OSP's requirements may be contributing to the delay, although NASA still plans to release the RFP in the "near term" according to spokeswoman Kim Newton. Slay Enterprises Inc. performed the review.
Orbital Recovery Ltd. has signed an agreement with Dutch Space of Leiden, the Netherlands, to develop a "space tug" that would launch as a payload adapter on an Ariane 5 rocket, the company announced last week. Orbital Recovery Ltd. selected Dutch Space to develop and build the ConeXpress Orbital Recovery System (ORS) vehicle after performing an international survey of space hardware manufacturers, according to the company.
Dec. 1 - 2 -- Shephard's Heli-Security 2003, "Helicopters in the War on Terrorism," Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Washington, D.C. For more information go to www.heli-security.com. Dec. 1 - 4 -- I/ITSEC 2004 (Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference), Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. For more information contact Patrick T. Rowe at (703) 247-9471, email [email protected] or go to www.itsec.org.
