BAE SYSTEMS has been awarded a U.S. Navy contract worth $11.7 million to integrate its Broach warhead onto the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW). The first production contract for the multi-stage warhead is scheduled for fiscal year 2003.
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems, Manassas, Va., is being awarded a $6,034,912 modification to a cost-plus-award fee/fixed-price contract to provide software upgrades for the Department of Defense Global Transportation Network (GTN). The GTN provides the ability to track the identity, status and location of DoD unit and non-unit cargo, passengers, patients, forces and military and commercial airlift, sealift and surface assets from origin to destination. At this time $4,907,378 of the funds have been obligated. The work will be completed July 13, 2002.
Honeywell Inc., Engines and Systems, Phoenix, Ariz., is being awarded $56,523,238 as part of a $167,989,868 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for 81 T55-GA-714A engines and associated spare parts for the CH-47D Chinook helicopter, with fiscal year 2001 option for 28, and fiscal year 2002 option for 132. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Ariz. (73%), and Greer, S.C. (27%), and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2004. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 4, 2000. The U.S.
U.S. military export controls haven't kept up with the defense industry's increasing globalization and are hurting the competitiveness of American companies in world markets, according to a new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Lockheed Martin rolled out its first Atlas V rocket in a ceremony here April 30. The $1.5 billion heavy-lift satellite launcher, powered by the Russian-built RD-180 engine and designated AV-001, will be shipped this month to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., for launch early next year from Launch Complex 41.
Alliant Techsystems said its ATK Aerospace Propulsion Co. of Magna, Utah, successfully completed a static test firing of its independently developed Material Qualification Motor (MQM). The MQM incorporates new technologies in rocket motor propellant formulation, nozzle materials, and insulation to reduce costs and enhance reliability, the company announced April 30.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN has delivered the 10th E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint Stars) production aircraft to the U.S. Air Force's 93rd Air Control Wing, based at Robins AFB, Ga.
Honeywell Aircraft Landing Systems, South Bend, Ind., is being awarded a $7,822,057 long-term requirements contract for the procurement of 2,132 rotor assemblies, 44 multiple disk brakes, 385 main wheel assemblies, 197 nose wheel assemblies, 193 carrier assemblies, and 410 hydraulic bleeder valves to support F/A-18 C/D aircraft. This contract contains an option, which if exercised, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $15,715,549. Work will be performed in South Bend, Ind., and is expected to be completed by December 2005.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $7,020,098 modification to firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract DAAJ09-97-C-0005, as a definitization of a modification for two Egyptian aircraft, along with program support, including spares. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2003. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 17, 1995. The U.S. Army Aviation&Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
The U.S. Army is laying the groundwork today for coalition warfare in the future as the service moves forward with its Objective Force. Under the framework of the Army's Transformation War Game, just finished here at the Army War College, U.S. military members worked alongside coalition partners exploring concepts and capabilities for the Objective Force.
NASA's X-43A hypersonic research vehicle had a successful first captive-carry flight along with its Pegasus booster, according to the space agency's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. The X-43A and Pegasus were carried beneath the wing of a B-52 for nearly two hours as the aircraft left Dryden, flew over the Pacific Missile Range and returned to Dryden on April 28. After the flight data is evaluated, the test could lead to the first flight of the X-43A and Pegasus "stack" in the middle of May (DAILY, April 19).
Honeywell International, Tempe, Ariz., is being awarded a $12,015,033 (estimated) modification to a firm-fixed-price contract to provide 3210 (best estimated quantity) kitsto upgrade the secondary power system components on the F-15 aircraft. At this time, $4,071,244 of the funds have been obligated with further funds being obligated asindividual delivery orders are issued during a five-year ordering period. The work will be performed by Honeywell in Tempe, Ariz. Ogden Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F1608-98-D-0003).
A day after space shuttle Endeavour finished up its work at the International Space Station Alpha, a Soyuz carrying two cosmonauts and California businessman Dennis Tito pulled up to the orbiting complex early April 30 for a week's stay. The Soyuz TM-32, flying on autopilot, gently docked with the station at 3:58 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time as both spacecraft soared about 245 miles over Central Russia north of the Mongolian border, Aerospace Daily affiliate AviationNow.com reported.
GE-P&W (Pratt&Whitney) Engine Alliance said yesterday the GP7000 engine being developed for the Airbus A380 remains on schedule with the successful completion of a second full-scale engine test, Aerospace Daily affiliate Aviation Daily reported. The test also supported the GE90-115B engine, which shares a common core architecture and aerodynamic technology level. The GP7000 is scheduled to be certificated at 81,500 pound thrust in mid-2005. First flight of the A380 is scheduled for January 2006.
Israeli officials have approached the U.S. government about the possibility of jointly developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that could detect and destroy ballistic missile launchers, an Israeli defense industry official said April 30.
The Aerospace Industries Association of America called April 30 for increasing research and development spending to help the industry meet the challenge of increased global competition in a market now driven by export profits. John Douglass, president and chief operating officer of the association, said during a press briefing that the current system of R&D funding is a carryover from the Cold War era of large defense budgets.
(Editor's note: The following is excerpted testimony from the responses by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics-nominee Edward Aldridge to written questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee. He testified April 26.) Q: What specific steps could the Department of Defense take to reduce cycle time for major acquisition programs?
Boeing Military Aircraft and Missile Systems Group, Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a $5,350,000 modification firm-fixed-price contract to provide for Phase Three of the Penetrator modification supporting the conversion of the AGM-68B nuclear air launched cruise missile into the AGM-86D conventional air launched cruise missile. Phase Three encompasses completed conversion of 48 missiles and four training missiles, and associated technical orders. This work is expected to be completed July 2002. This will be performed by Boeing, St.
McDonnell Douglas Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Boeing Company, Long Beach, Calif., is being awarded a $19,986,563 (not-to-exceed) modification to a cost-plus-award fee contract to provide various spare parts in support of the Readiness Spares Package for the C-17 aircraft. At this time $9,993,281 of the funds have been obligated. Deliveries will be scattered over calendar years 2002 and 2003. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-01-C-2002, P00012).
UNIVERSAL SPACE NETWORK, INC., of Horsham, Pa., is providing engineering services to Orbital Sciences Corp. to augment its mission operations team in Dulles, Va. USN has helped to support the launch and in-orbit testing and verification of the first of two Japanese BSAT-2 geostationary direct-to-home broadcast communications satellites. Japan's Broadcasting Satellite System Corp. (B-SAT) selected Orbital to manufacture and launch two geosynchronous satellites for the BSAT-2 program.
The Pentagon should be cautious of any procurement strategy that would lock the military into weapon systems and platforms that may be inappropriate for future threats as they continue to evolve, a defense policy expert said on Capitol Hill April 27.
SPACE MEDIA INC., a subsidiary of Spacehab, Inc., announced its online retail division, The Space Store, has consigned a Russian Soyuz TM-26 space capsule to Superior Galleries of Beverly Hills for sale at auction next month. Superior Galleries will conduct the auction of the spacecraft as part of its "Spring Memorabilia Auction" to take place May 5-6 at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying. In addition, Icollector.com will conduct real-time global online bidding.
BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica have agreed to incorporate a single company that will regroup the missiles and missile systems work of their subsidiaries Matra BAe Dynamics, EADS Aerospatiale Matra Missiles and Alenia Marconi systems, the firms announced April 27. The name of the new company will be MBDA. EADS' CEOs, Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, said in a statement that the MBDA consolidation is aimed at ensuring the European missile systems' industry against competition from U.S. competitors.
BALANCING ACT?: Since 1992, the approach of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan has been linked to "local military balance" rather than Chinese policy, says Chas Freeman, former Assistant Secretary of Defense.
Several senators objected April 26 to legislation that would update restrictions on dual-use exports, arguing that the bill would give China greater access to sensitive U.S. technology. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-Va.) said the proposed Export Administration Act doesn't adequately protect hot-section jet engine technology and other sensitive technologies that can be used for both military and civilian purposes. EP-3E incident cited
