Boeing announced completion of structural mode interaction (SMI) testing of its X-32B Joint Strike Fighter concept demonstrator, moving a step closer to first flight, expected in the first quarter of 2001. "Completion of the SMI tests is another positive step as we continue to validate our design," said Katy Fleming, Boeing JSF system test director. "We're making great progress; these tests reduce risk and help confirm that we are ready to begin a safe and productive X-32B flight-test program."
The U.S. Navy decided Tuesday to delay a decision on full-rate production of the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft in the wake of the crash Monday night of a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey that killed all four Marines aboard. "The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition has decided to delay a decision on whether to proceed with full-rate production," said 1st Lt. David Nevers, a Headquarters Marine Corps spokesman.
Using a full-scale test rig, or "iron bird," Fairchild Dornier has completed initial flight control tests of the 728JET, the company said Monday. The tests, conducted at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, last month, successfully demonstrated aileron and multifunction spoiler actuators on a test rig set to represent flight control systems, landing gear actuation and thrust reverser operation, the company said. Coupled with a cockpit simulator, the system will enable engineers to virtually fly the aircraft a year before the actual first flight, it said.
The Pentagon will use funding from the Fiscal 2001 National Defense Authorization Act to raise five more teams trained to investigate and assess incidents involving weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The additions will boost the total number of homeland defense units to 32.
Rockwell Collins, the soon-to-be spin-off from Rockwell International, plans more and larger acquisitions next year. "I would like to be in a place to take advantage of acquisitions larger than ones we've made in the last year," Rockwell Collins President and CEO-designate Clay Jones told analysts and investors at a meeting Monday.
Adjusting for inflation, cost estimates for the Pentagon's 70 major programs have grown some $239.5 million between June and September, but only because an increase stemming from hardware enhancements on a single program - the U.S. Army's Joint STARS Common Ground System (CGS) - offset cost declines in other areas.
The People's Republic of China has chosen two Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopters for search and rescue missions, a move that Sikorsky said yesterday is the first step in a major upgrade of the country's airborne offshore SAR capability. The two aircraft will be deployed by China's Ministry of Communications from the Shanghai Salvage&Rescue Bureau's new base, Sikorsky said. The initial Ministry of Communications buy includes an option for two additional S-76C+ SAR helicopters.
Saab-BAE Systems, partners in the Gripen fighter project, submitted a proposal Nov. 30 to the Hungarian government in response to its request for information for modernization of the air force. The proposal, for 24 Gripens, is backed by offsets of more than $575 million. "A new-build Gripen solution is the best possible option for the Hungarian Air Force, for Hungarian industry and for the Hungarian national economy," said Jan Narlinge, managing director of Saab-BAE Systems Gripen.
Northrop Grumman Corp., teamed with Raytheon Co., has won a three-year, $303 million prime contract from the U.S. Air Force for the design phase of the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP), a common modular, scalable radar system for future integration on airborne manned and unmanned surveillance platforms for the U.S. and NATO.
Raytheon Co., Electronic Systems, Naval&Maritime Integrated Systems, Portsmouth, R.I., is being awarded a $14,107,226 firm-fixed-price option for 115 MK48 ADCAP Mods Torpedo Kits including proofing support, turnaround kits, engineering services as necessary, provisioned item orders as necessary, and engineering change proposals as necessary. Work will be performed in Keyport, Wash., and is expected to be completed by April 2002. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
The Pentagon will use funding from the Fiscal 2001 National Defense Authorization Act to raise five more teams trained to investigate and assess incidents involving weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The additions will boost the total number of homeland defense units to 32.
A Chinese manufacturer revealed its stealthy multi-role surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design during the Zhuhai Air Show in China last month, indicating to U.S. watchers that the country is well on its way to building an unmanned combat aircraft. According to Richard D. Fisher, senior fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, "A very clear impression that the Chinese wanted to project--especially through the Beijing University of Aeronautics--was that they have their own unmanned combat aerial vehicle program underway."
Northrop Grumman Marine Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $45,408,930 fixed-price-incentive, cost-plus-incentive, cost-plus-fixed-fee, level of effort and cost-plus-fixed-fee upon completion contract to provide support for production of US/UK Trident II (D5) Launcher Subsystem D5 Backfit Production and Deployed Systems Support. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif., and is expected to be completed by April 2003. Contract funds in the amount of $30,175,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was not competitively procured.
Arianespace said the launch of Eurasiasat 1 has again been delayed. The satellite, originally set for launch from the Kourou site in French Guiana on the night of Dec. 8-9, was first slipped to the night of Dec. 11-12. Yesterday, Arianespace said that Alcatel Space, the satellite's prime contractor," has requested additional verifications on [the] satellite....A new date for the mission will be determined in coordination with the customer once the results of the satellite verification are known."
Boeing has asked the Pentagon's Joint Strike Fighter program office to approve "bridge" funding of "less than $6 million a month" to help keep the company's JSF team together until the engineering and manufacturing development phase begins, Boeing officials said yesterday.
Boeing Co., Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a $95,000,000 indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to provide for research of new technologies that will provide affordable, revolutionary capabilities to the warfighter. The developments will provide for cost effective, survivable aerospace platforms capable of accurate delivery of weapons and cargo worldwide. This contractor will the second of three participating in the Air Vehicles Technology Integration Program (AVTIP). Funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued.
E-manufacturing has a bright future, given that investment in information technologies at the plant level has lagged in recent years. Don H. Davis, CEO of Rockwell International, said that over 90% of plants around the world are not ready to operate in the new environment of lean manufacturing, customized and production-on-demand and e-procurement, and will need to adjust accordingly. To ensure non-stop operation and drive down costs means automating many of the factory processes, and Rockwell is actively developing software and products to assist in this process.
PRC Inc., Litton Industries, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, is being awarded a $5,249,953 modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for the Automated Virtual Information Production Support System (AVIPSS) through February 2005 in support of the National Air Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The contractor will provide design, development, implementation, and maintenance services for information systems, applications, and databases. The work is expected to be completed February 2005.
Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded an $11,169,729 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for development and integration of technologies in support of demonstration of an Affordable Moving Surface Target Engagement system. The work is expected to be completed December 2001. Solicitation issue date was July 2000; negotiations were completed November 2000. There were four proposals received. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (F30602-01/C-0017).
Skyhook Technologies Inc., Draper, Utah, was awarded on Dec. 5, 2000, a $7,154,456 task order amount as part of firm-fixed-price contract DAAA09-99-D-0014, for 100 Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) A-Kits for the CH-47D Chinook helicopter engine. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2003. This is a sole source contract initiated on June 14, 2000. The U.S. Operations Support Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (DAAA09-99-D-0014).
Lockheed Martin, which had faced a much larger lawsuit involving 3,000 Burbank, Calif., residents, said Monday that approval of the agreement under which the company will pay $5 million to 300 of the residents shows "the justice system works."
Universal Propulsion Co., Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., was awarded on Dec. 6, 2000, $5,250,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for Phase I of the Joint Ejection Seat Program. The Phase I effort includes trade studies and limited risk reduction testing. The work will be performed at Universal Propulsion, Phoenix, Ariz. and IBP Aerospace Group, Inc., East Hartford, Conn. The work is expected to be completed November 2001. There was one proposal received. Solicitation began September 2000; negotiations were completed November 2000.
Sabre and Skyfish.com are building on a strategic alliance announced earlier this summer, focused on developing the aerospace e-marketplace. According to the latest announcement, Sabre also plans to take a minority stake in Skyfish.com. The agreement features a "broad revenue sharing arrangement" between the two companies. The exchange will provide direct and indirect procurement, decision and support technology, information services, supply chain management and ASP-hosted software. Skyfish.com e-marketplace is currently beta testing with a few select customers.
Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif. is being awarded a $22,000,000 indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to provide for engineering and technical services for Pacific Air Forces Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence and Wargaming Systems. Funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued. Solicitation issue date was May 2000; negotiations were completed October 2000. There were two proposals received. Pacific Air Forces Command, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (F64605-01/D-0001).
