Robert E. Berry, Loral's senior vice president of space technology, has been named to oversee the development of the company's broadband businesses. Avi Katz has been elected vice president, general counsel and secretary, assuming the legal responsibilities previously held by Zahler.
Ellen S. Smith has been named senior vice president, commercial business to oversee the company's commercial aircraft engine programs, advanced engine programs and its industrial gas turbine business.
NASA missed two space launch opportunities yesterday when, having pushed its communications systems to support back-to-back launches on opposite sides of the U.S., it had to scrub both attempts for unrelated reasons. At Kennedy Space Center, Fla., a time-consuming paper check to ensure circumferential welds on 17-inch cryogenic lines in the Space Shuttle Discovery were done properly 20 years ago forced a one-day slip in the STS-103 mission to repair the ailing Hubble Space Telescope.
Members of the NASA Advisory Council, presented with a broad-brush view this week of some of the advanced aeronautics and space transportation technology on the horizon, lamented the agency's lack of attention to long-range, high-risk research and urged a change in priorities.
Daniel E. Kimmet, has been named to succeed Howard Selland as senior vice president and group executive for Aeroquip Group, effective January 31, 2000.
Eric J. Zahler has been elected executive vice president, responsible of overseeing the company's operating segments, including Loral Skynet, Loral CyberStar, Globalstar L.P. and Space Systems/Loral. He retains his position as vice president of Globalstar Telecommunications Limited.
Smiths Industries of the U.K. has acquired the Aerospace Div. of Invensys plc, an automation and controls specialist headquartered in London, for $175 million, the companies announced. The deal broadens Smiths' aerospace and electronics operations and advances Invensys' plan to refocus on industrial automation and control. Keith Butler-Wheelhouse, chief executive of Smiths Industries, said "This was an opportunity too good to miss....The business has good synergies with our existing aerospace operations."
The U.S. Air Force's current fleet of airlifters couldn't support U.S. or allied action in two major regional wars, USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Ryan said yesterday. "If you want a first-class military, you have to pay for a first class military," Ryan said at a symposium in Washington. "If you don't, then what you are buying is risk."
The Pentagon's Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) has called for a study of the feasibility of allowing the industry teams competing for the Air Force's Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) satellite program to join forces, sources told The DAILY. The JROC has called for a four-month study of the idea, according to one source familiar with a JROC meeting on the plan this month. The Pentagon has not released the details of the meeting.
Three of the U.K.'s seven Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft have been fitted with Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) kits, Boeing said. RSIP improves the radar of the E-3D AWACS by increasing its sensitivity, enabling the aircraft to detect and track smaller stealthy targets, according to Boeing. Each kit consists of a new radar computer, radar control maintenance panel, electrical and mechanical hardware and new software. The kits are built by Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector.
Named to newly created vice president positions: D.C. Iain Glendinning; Donald J. (Jim) Meier; Claire M. Stewart and Jack L. Vaughn. Promoted to directors of specific business areas: Lonnie Thibodeaux; John Jelovic and Roger Renaud.
Jack W. Sights has been named chairman, president and chief executive officer of Textron Fastening Systems group. He replaces Randy P. Smith, who will be leaving the company for personal reasons.
Raytheon Co. has received a $49.2 million modification to its present contract for the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Netted Sensor System (JLENS), intended to allow engagement of low-flying cruise missiles at extended ranges.
