Ground controllers at the European Space Agency's space operations center in Darmstadt, Germany, have completed deployment of the final wire antenna on the final Cluster satellite, ending a two-month process that will allow the four-satellite constellation to begin collecting data. All four wire antennas on the Tango spacecraft were fully extended to a length of 44 meters in the final action of the deployment sequence, which saw controllers command the deployment of 16 booms and about 700 meters of wire.
DME Corp., Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $22,938,936 option to a firm-fixed-price contract to provide for 204 Reduced Vertical Separation Minima Kits for the KC-135 aircraft. These kits provide a high accuracy altimetry system that allows aircraft to fly at reduced vertical spacing. Expected contract completion date is April 30, 2002. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Melvin Boykins, (937) 656-9493, is the POC. Contract Number: F33657-99-C-0015-P00015.
Boeing Company, St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $225,029,274 modification to a previously awarded contract N00019-00-C-0184 for the procurement of 14 FY-01 T-45 Training Systems. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed by September 2004. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
LORAL SPACE&COMMUNICATIONS bought all of a bank credit facility under which Globalstar owed $500 million, and which was guaranteed by Loral. The purchase was financed by a new $500 million three-year secured credit facility arranged with a group of banks. Loral said the new deal resolves the obligation of Loral's guarantee without hitting Loral's existing capabilities or resources.
Lockheed Martin's Sanders unit, with the backing of three venture capital firms, is launching a new corporation to leverage defense technologies for commercial applications, a move that it says won't compromise its focus on key markets or customers. "This opportunity is another excellent example of Sanders' strategic orientation - remaining firmly focused on our primary defense business while exploiting the tremendous opportunity that our technologies can bring to the commercial marketplace," said President Walter P. Havenstein.
NASA plans to cease operations on the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) next month after eight years of using the 7,000-pound spacecraft to observe the Universe at EUV wavelengths. The U.S. space agency has conducted "extensive analysis" to determine if there will be a hazard when drag on the satellite pulls it into an uncontrolled reentry late in 2001 or early on 2002 and has concluded "the amount of debris likely to survive reentry is extremely small and will likely fall harmlessly into the ocean," according to a NASA press release.
Earlier misgivings in U.K. military circles concerning Britain's commitment to a new European defense force (DAILY, Nov. 16), were likely to be heightened following agreement on its formation expected at an EU Capabilities Conference in Brussels yesterday. According to government admissions reported from Whitehall over the weekend, earlier estimates concerning the size of the British contingent, which led to criticism, were considerably lower than the commitment currently envisaged.
Boeing is not about to spin off any of its businesses soon, a spokesman said yesterday, refuting an article in London's Financial Times that was circulated worldwide over the weekend.
Boeing Space and Communications, Seattle, Wash., was awarded on Nov. 13, 2000, a $62,432,372 firm-fixed-price contract to provide for the following in support of the Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) for the Air Force's Airborne Warning and control System (AWACS) aircraft: five Group A and B radar kits, ten Group A and six Group B in-flight maintenance spares, 19 High Voltage Auxiliary spares kits, special test equipment for the Avionics Integration Support Facility, one log commodity spares, one lot production spares, and engineering support through November 2001.
SpaceDev, a Poway, Calif.-based commercial space company, successfully test-fired its first hybrid rocket motor, designed to power low-cost orbit maneuvering and transfer vehicles, on Nov. 16 (DAILY, Nov. 14). The five-inch-in-diameter, foot-long motor was fired at the company's new motor test facility, financed by a grant from the California Space Technology Alliance.
Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., is being awarded a $412,140,391 modification to firm-fixed-price multi-year contract DAAH23-00-C-0001, for the AH-64D Apache Longbow program. This obligation is for Lot 6 for 52 AH-64D Apache Longbows, peculiar ground support equipment, spares support, AH-64D Apache Longbow maintenance and operator training devices and long lead advance procurement for Lot 7 of the AH-64D Apache Longbow program. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2006.
With Australia's Defense White Paper set to be released Dec. 6, Defense Minister John Moore gave a sneak peek last week at what lies ahead. One priority for Australia, he said, is improving defense financial management with the help of a new chief financial officer. Moore said he hopes the books balance a lot quicker next June. In addition, he said, it's time to overhaul defense systems, emphasizing that the $40 million set aside in the last budget probably won't get the job done.
Gulfsteam Aerospace Corp., Savannah, Ga., was awarded on Nov. 13, 2000, a $5,695,268 modification to a firm-fixed-price contract to provide for FY 2001 contractor logistics support for the C-37A aircraft. Expected contract completion date was Sept. 30, 2006. Solicitation issue date was Nov. 18, 1996. Negotiation completion date was April 2, 1997. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Maj Gary Deaton, (937) 656-9496 is the POC. Contract Number: F34601-97-C-0231-P00039.
The next Administration will have some tricky relationships to manage right off the bat, particularly Colombia, according to a report sponsored by RAND Corp. The document - "Taking Charge: A Bipartisan Report to the President-Elect on Foreign Policy and National Security" - says the next president should "rapidly" hand over more equipment to Columbia including helicopters, reconnaissance assets and communications equipment.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS sold $250 million in 5 1/4% convertible senior subordinated notes due 2009 in a private placement. If the over-allotment option is exercised, L-3 could receive up to $300 million from the transaction. The notes are convertible into common stock at $81.50 per share. Proceeds will be used to pay down debt and general purposes, "including potential acquisitions."
General Dynamics Government Systems Corp., Taunton, Mass., is being awarded a $10,893,785 modification to firm-fixed-price contract DAAB07-94-C-N853, to exercise options for common hardware/software items for Project Manager Army Tactical Command and Control Systems computers and associated peripherals for battlefield commanders. Work will be performed in Taunton, Mass., and is expected to be completed by April 10, 2005. Of the total contract funds $295,937 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Russian spacefight engineers yesterday were continuing to investigate why the first Progress supply capsule sent to Space Station Alpha since it was inhabited failed to dock automatically, forcing the crew to conduct a harrowing manual docking out of range of Russian ground stations.
The most indispensable platform during last year's Kosovo operation was the aerial refueling force, one of the Air Force's eldest yet most relied upon capabilities, according to the former allied air force commander, retired USAF Lt. Gen. Michael C. Short. "Various manufacturers of aircraft and platforms have asked me what I thought was the most indispensable platform in [Operation Allied Force]," Short said last week at a breakfast on Capitol Hill. "There was not 'the most' - there was only one," he remarked.
Kollmorgen Corp., Electro-Optical Division, Northampton, Mass., is being awarded a $5,900,000 modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N66604-99-C-5933 for one Type 8B Mod 3 Periscope Set, modified to provide an infrared imaging capability with corresponding radar camouflage unit, data, and developmental drawings. This contract contains an incentive clause, which if executed, will bring the total contract value to $6,020,000. Work will be performed in Northampton, Mass., and is expected to be completed by April 2003.
Rolls-Royce, Indianapolis, Ind., has been awarded an $82.4 million contract modification for 34 MV-22 AE1107C turboshaft engines (installs); eight MV-22 AE1107C turboshaft engines (spares) for the Marine Corps, and three CV-22 AE1107C turboshaft engines (spares) for the Air Force, the Pentagon said. Work under the contract awarded by Naval Air Systems Command and announced Nov. 8, is to be completed by March 2003.
Loral space&communications will meet with Moody's Investor Service to talk about debt management and profitability. The rating company placed Loral, Globalstar and Orion Network Systems on watch for a possible downgrade yesterday. Moody's said while the transfer of $500 million of Globalstar's debt to Loral's balance sheet is a plus for the struggling satellite communications subsidiary, the move puts additional pressure on Loral's performance. Loral, Moody's noted, had not lived up to financial expectations even before the transfer.
BF Goodrich Aerospace, Phoenix, Ariz., is being awarded a $20,475,870 firm-fixed-price contract to provide for 201 Advanced Concept Ejection Seats in support of the F-16 aircraft. This effort supports foreign military sales to Israel, Greece, and Korea. Expected contract completion date is December 2003. Solicitation issue date was Aug. 17, 2000. Negotiation completion date was Sept. 28, 2000. The 311th Human Systems Wing, Brooks AFB, Texas, is the contracting activity. John King, (210) 536-3992, is the POC. Contract Number: F41624-00-C-1123.
Lockheed Martin determined what went wrong on the last test of its Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) in September, fixed the problem and successfully completed the second controls test of the missile on Nov. 17 at Eglin AFB, Fla. According to Air Force Lt. Col. Tim Moore, JASSM program deputy director, the problem that sent the missile into the ocean about a quarter of the way through its mission in the preceding controls test (CT-1) was a fuel isolation valve stuck in the closed position.
U.S. NAVY is buying two AN/SQS-20 high-speed acoustic mine hunting systems from the Raytheon Co. for $11.7 million, the first purchase under a new contract worth up to $48.2 million including options. "Using state-of-the-art imaging sonars, the AN/SQS-20 will allow the U.S. Navy safe passage through mined waters," said Dan Smith, Raytheon's Naval and Maritime Integrated Systems (N&MIS) vice president and general manager.
The U.S. Air Force awarded an overall contract of $96 million to four companies to participate in the follow-on to the Sounding Rocket Program, or SRP-2. Coleman Research Corp., Orlando, Fla.; Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Denver, Colo., Orbital Sciences Corp., Chandler, Ariz., and Space Vector Corp., Chatsworth, Calif., are working on the program under the AF's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
