INTERFACE: Lockheed Martin has demonstrated that its Hellfire II missile and digital M299 launcher system can be integrated with the Australian ARH-1 Eurocopter Tigre helicopter, the company said March 18. Integration tests pave the way for the ARH-1 to carry the missile and also allow the Hellfire II to be used on European Tigres.
Northrop Grumman and Thales submitted bids March 18 for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence's Watchkeeper imagery and intelligence unmanned aerial vehicle program. The MOD has said it will pick one of the companies this year as winner of the $1.47 billion program, under which the British army will operate the UAVs for 30 years.
NASA's X-43C hypersonic de-monstrator and RS-84 reusable engine program have been canceled following a review of 140 programs inherited by the agency's new Office of Exploration Systems.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - The European Union and Israel have signed an agreement that lays the foundations for Israel's active participation in Europe's Galileo satellite radio navigation program. The agreement, initialed in Jerusalem March 17, covers cooperative activities on satellite navigation and timing in a wide range of sectors, including science and technology, industrial manufacturing and service and market development, as well as standardization, frequencies and certification.
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) asked military officials how they plan to bring a standardized technology network to the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) during a joint hearing of the House Armed Services Committee's readiness and terrorism subcommittees. "In terms of creating a network of persistent architecture for the JNTC, there does not seem to be one set of standards yet developed," Larsen told the witnesses.
Boeing will manufacture 14 T-45 training system airframes under a $247.6 million contract modification, the U.S. Department of Defense announced March 18. The work will be performed in St. Louis and Warton, Brough, England and is expected to be completed in September 2006.
The Defense Department should shift responsibility for joint command and control (C2) programs to a new joint task force because the current approach of allowing the military services to develop such systems is not promoting true interoperability, an influential think-tank said March 18.
Lockheed Martin has broken ground on an Owego, N.Y., facility for its US101 entry in the VXX presidential helicopter competition, although a decision between it and rival Sikorsky isn't expected until May. "In order to maintain the delivery schedule set by our customer for the presidential helicopter, it is necessary for us to invest our own funds to begin construction activities now, before contract award," Stephen D. Ramsey, the Lockheed Martin US101 vice president and general manager, said in a statement.
ATHENA HUMAN & TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATED SECURITY SOLUTIONS has acquired GS-3, an international counterterrorism and aviation consulting firm. "Our acquisition of GS-3 is a natural evolution of Athena's business model, rounding out our strategy to respond to U.S. and international markets with a comprehensive and integrated approach to corporate and homeland security," Athena CEO Ruben Paz said in a statement.
GREENBELT, Md - NASA's new Office of Exploration Systems has just completed its review of 140 pre-existing technology programs it inherited from elsewhere in the agency, according to office director Rear Adm. Craig Steidle. "We just did a complete realignment and a review of 140 programs that have been moved into this office from different places, and about 25 percent of them are being refocused and realigned," Steidle said during the American Astronautical Society's 42nd Goddard Memorial Symposium here March 17.
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT said the first of three Hellenic navy S-70B Aegean Hawk helicopters fitted with glass cockpits and system enhancements has flown at the company's main facility in Stratford, Conn. The aircraft are Seahawk variants that will be delivered to the Greek government this year to provide support for the Olympic games. Upgrades include Collins FMS-800 Flight Management Systems, Hellfire missile capability, countermeasure capability and improved navigation system performance.
RADIAN INC., a subsidiary of Engineered Support Systems, will provide 272 armor protection kits for U.S. Army medium tactical vehicles under a $16.3 million contract. The kits will be sent immediately to Army units in Iraq to reduce injuries caused by small arms fire, land mines and improvised explosive devices, the company said.
GOODRICH CORP. said Eurocopter successfully completed the first flight of its NH90 helicopter equipped with Goodrich's all-electric Actuation Systems flight control. Production deliveries for the NH90 begin later this year, the company said. Goodrich is the main supplier of servo controls to Eurocopter France and "is proud to have participated in the development of the fly-by-wire system, which is a real technical innovation in the rotorcraft market," Jean-Guy Mutez, the Goodrich business development director for helicopters, said in a statement.
The United Kingdom Parliament's Select Committee on Defence favors the "robust" approach being taken by the British military on the Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle program, and considers the military's assessment of man-portable UAVs "well worthwhile."
CUBIC DEFENSE APPLICATIONS will produce components for the U.S. Army's Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT) system, which simulates armored combat, the company said. Cubic will provide computer-related hardware and crew station electronics under a $2.5 million subcontract from Lockheed Martin.
GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES said testing of its new CT7-8C turboshaft engine is off to a successful start. The engine has exceeded its planned rating, demonstrating more than 3,100 shaft horsepower under sea level, static conditions, while meeting all test parameters, the company said. Maturation testing is scheduled to begin later this year, leading to full certification by the FAA.
NUNN-PERRY AWARD: Boeing and Precision Machine & Manufacturing of Grove, Okla., were awarded the Nunn-Perry Award at the DOD's Mentor-Protege Conference March 17. The mentor-protege program encourages contractors to help small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses and organizations that employ the severely disabled to develop technical and business capabilities.
GENERAL DYNAMICS ELECTRIC BOAT will continue to convert the USS Florida (SSBN-728) from a Trident ballistic-missile submarine to a Trident SSGN cruise missile submarine under a $145.6 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy. The award modifies a five-year, $443 million contract awarded last year for the conversion of four Trident ballistic-missile submarines to the SSGN configuration.
GREENBELT, Md. - NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) probably can function on the surface of the planet for 200-250 days if the agency can find the money to operate them that long, according to Jim Garvin, lead scientist for Mars exploration at NASA headquarters. The twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity touched down on Mars in January to look for evidence of past water (DAILY, Jan. 16). Spirit has been on the surface for more than 70 days, and Opportunity for more than 50. The baseline mission for each golf-cart sized rover is 90 days.
AAI CORP., Hunt Valley, Md. Maj. Gen. John F. Michitsch (USA, ret.) has been appointed executive vice president. BOEING CAPITAL, Seattle Steve Vogeding, previously the chief financial officer, has been named vice president, transition management and operations integration. Russ Evans, the deputy chief financial officer, replaces Vogeding as CFO. John Rosenthal, the treasurer, will become director, risk management. Geoff Carpenter will replace Rosenthal as treasurer. CAE, Montreal
LOCKHEED MARTIN will integrate the Sniper XR targeting pod on the A-10 Thunderbolt II to support the A-10 Precision Engagement (PE) program. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control of Orlando, Fla., will develop the Pilot Vehicle Interface, pod Operational Flight Program software and the pod interface adapter hardware for the A-10. The pod will be integrated as part of the PE program at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego, N.Y., the company said.
