General Dynamics, aiming to bolster its combat systems product portfolio, is moving to buy Primex Technologies Inc. for $520 million. General Dynamics, known for its shipbuilding and business jet units, said yesterday it will pay $32.10 per share to acquire the roughly 10.5 million shares outstanding of Primex, which makes munitions, propellants and satellite propulsion systems. GD will also take on about $170 million of Primex debt.
Alexander Kevin Stewart has been appointed president of its Airtron division. Peter Bialobrezski has been appointed division president of VEAM. Roger K. Savage has been appointed president of its Kester Solder division.
Michael Butcho, retired major general, U.S. Air Force, has been named program manager of Space Gateway Support's Joint Base Operations and Support Contract.
Law of the Net: A new report from Forrester Research Inc. argues that most companies hold back on Net trading because of legal fears. To win over this crowd, e-marketplaces need to come up with contracts that not only respect privacy but balance security and liability, and Forrester offers an action checklist. For starters, it says, participants must define confidentiality standards and establish legal advisory boards. Forrester also says U.S. e-marketplaces should learn European Net laws before setting sail across the Atlantic.
The Republic of Poland moved closer to inking a deal with the U.S. government for the lease of 16 F-16A/Bs, likely to be followed by the purchase of additional aircraft as one of the newest members of NATO begins efforts to modernize its military.
Dr. David Cutter has joined the company's Applied Technology Division, focusing on technology development and product applications for fuel cell and implantable medical device markets.
Doug Riding has joined the company's board as a non-executive Director. Riding is the former vice chief of the Defense Force. He will succeed Air Marshal David Evans.
Dr. Daniel Alspach, CEO, has received the Third Millennium Medal award from The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The institute also presented its Company of the Year award to Orincon for Region 6.
Lack of support from key U.S. Air Force generals is unnecessarily delaying military spaceplane development, USAF space command officials and industry managers contend.
E-security partnership: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded four contracts to Secure Computing to develop advanced security technologies to provide the Defense Dept. and other government agencies with safe, secure extranets. The contracts were designed to help protect critical infrastructure from cyber attack. Ultimately, DARPA and Secure Computing plan to transfer the technology into "commercially viable e-business" tools.
This week's congressional elections reaffirmed expectations that the Defense Dept. will get more money over the next two years, but they did little to shore up support for building the Joint Strike Fighter or a National Missile Defense, sources told The DAILY yesterday.
E-debut: TRW Aeronautical Systems' Lucas Aerospace unit went live with its global aerospace portal, accessible through the company's intranet. The company said it is in talks with customers, suppliers and peers to provide beta access to the portal. Large suppliers like Secome, Lentern, Gardner Aerospace, Langford Lodge, MPM, Risoud and Muirhead Aerospace have expressed "firm interest," according to TRW. It has talked with Thomson-CSF Sextant about joining the e-marketplace.
Real-time cockpits: Spirent Systems' Aerospace Solutions is partnering with Jouvre Data Management to deliver real-time technical documents and create task cards for civil and military aviators. The two companies have inked a memorandum of understanding to develop an e-business tool to offer transactions between pilots, mechanics, purchasers and vendors to improve flight efficiency and communications.
Dr. Rozalie Schachter has been promoted to president of Herley Wireless Technologies. Allan Coon has been promoted to president of the Microwave Products Group. Howard Eckstein has been promoted to senior vice president of the Space&Communications Group. John Kelly, vice president, director of corporate development, has been promoted to senior vice president. Mitchell Tuckman, president and general manager of General Microwave, has been promoted to senior vice president.
Robert C. Atwell has been named vice president, marketing - Army programs. Kip L. Hansen has joined the firm as vice-president of government relations. Dennis J. Reimer, former cheif of staff, U.S. Army, has joined the firm's board of directors.
Brazil's Embraer and Russia's TsAGI, or Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute, have signed a cooperation agreement that they said strengthens ties between the two countries. Embraer said it has been using TsAGI's wind tunnel since last June to fine-tune design of the ERJ 170/190 regional jetliner family. It has also used the research center's aerodynamic and aeroelastic laboratories.
