Motorola Inc. said it continued to defer recognition of profits from its operations and maintenance contract with Iridium LLC in its 1999 second quarter because of Iridium's current financial condition. In addition, Motorola recorded a special charge of $126 million to write down the value of Iridium bonds that it owns to a level which reflects the decline in the value of Iridium LLC's public high-yield debt. Motorola owns about 18% of Iridium.
Turkey became the latest nation to join the Joint Strike Fighter program when it signed a letter of agreement last month to make it an informed consumer if it decides to buy the plane in the future, according to Jon A. Schreiber, director of international programs for JSF.
In a parallel program with the Royal Air Force's Tornado GR.4 mid-life upgrade, the German Air Force is preparing similar updates for its 210 Tornado interdictor-strike (IDS) aircraft, as well as 112 for the German Navy.
ICO GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS signed a bilateral roaming agreement with KB Impuls of Russia, which will allow cellular customers of KB Impuls to use the ICO satellite system, and customers of ICO to use the KB Impuls cellular network.
Pentagon Acquisition Chief Jacques Gansler said it makes more sense to proceed with a new generation Tactical Tomahawk rather than restarting the current Raytheon Tomahawk cruise missile line. Following the air war against Yugoslavia, in which a number of Tomahawks were expended, some members of Congress are pushing for a restart of the Tomahawk line, but the Dept. of Defense is resisting.
Crane Co. will be provided partnering opportunities with the new BFGoodrich-Coltec through June 30, 2009 as part of a lawsuit settlement, the companies reported Monday. The settlement will allow Crane to offer its brake controls and proximity sensors when BFGoodrich makes integrated landing system bids.
The draft Operational Requirements Document (ORD) for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program has been approved by the program office and is now working its way through the Pentagon in preparation for review by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) in December. The draft ORD, approved last Wednesday, and the JROC session are on the schedule of the original program established five years ago, said Marine Maj. Gen. Michael Hough, JSF program director.
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee, marking up its fiscal year 2000 defense bill on Monday, added funds for an additional V-22 tilt rotor aircraft and several upgrades to the B-2 stealth bomber. The subcommittee mark, which will go to the full Appropriations Committee later this week, also cut $1.8 billion from the Lockheed Martin F-22 program, pushing back procurement of the first six planes. It added the money to accounts for Lockheed Martin's F-16 and C-130J programs, as well as to the budget for the Boeing F-15 (DAILY, July 13).
The Clinton Administration has classified information that apparently exonerates the "leadership" of the Russian Space Agency of charges RSA has helped Iran develop ballistic missiles, including a new multi-stage missile based on SS-5 technology that might be able to reach the U.S., according to a top NASA official.
Alliant Techsystems named Hubert D. Hopkins president of Alliant Integrated Defense Company (AIDC), Alliant reported yesterday. Hopkins, 49, previously was with Litton Marine Systems, where he served as vice president of engineering and director of the Military Bridge Systems Strategic Business Unit. He joined Litton in 1996 as director of Washington Operations for defense marketing.
TASC Inc., a subsidiary of Litton Industries, won three contracts from the U.S. Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) at Patrick AFB, Fla., for scientific and technology services in support of weapons treaty monitoring, Litton reported. TASC will provide technical and program management aid under the AFTAC Scientific and Information Technology Support (ASITS) contract, which was competed and awarded in three categories: Professional Support Services; Studies, Analyses and Evaluations; and Engineering and Technical Services.
The key to sensor payloads for future unmanned vehicles (UVs) is in human DNA, according to Hans Mark, chief technology advisor for the U.S. secretary of defense. "We are today engaged in a major science research project ... it is DNA," said Mark. "Somewhere in that chain there is hidden the architecture of the human mind .... Once we unencrpyt that code we will have the means at our disposal to develop the unmanned vehicles we will need."
Atlantic Coast Airlines reached a conditional agreement with Fairchild Aerospace to acquire up to 110 Fairchild 328JET and 428JET aircraft. The contract will remain conditional until ACA partner United Airlines approves operation by ACA of feeder jets with fewer than 50 seats as United Express, or until ACA waives the condition itself.
The Russian state commission investigating last week's failure of a Proton launch vehicle have promised a preliminary report by July 19, as Russia struggles to persuade Kazakhstan to lift the ban on launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome it imposed after the Proton showered debris across populated areas of the former Soviet Republic.
From Commerce Business Daily: Posted in CBDNet on July 8, 1999; Printed Issue Date: July 12, 1999; PART: U.S. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS; SUBPART: SERVICES; CLASSCOD: A-Research and Development; OFFADD: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Directorate (CMD), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714 ... SOL 99-30, DUE 101899; POC Mr. Raymond Balcerak, DARPA/MTO, FAX (703) 696-2206
Boeing Defense and Space Group, Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $22,830,000 modification to a firm-fixed-price contract, F34601-97-C-0001-P00044, to provide for two Group A re-engining kits applicable to the RC-135 aircraft. Expected contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2000. Solicitation issue date was Dec. 31, 1998. Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity.
LOCKHEED MARTIN's Electronics Sector announced the appointment of Fred P. Moosally as vice president, Washington operations. He succeeds Stanley R. Arthur, who was appointed president of Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control-Orlando business in Orlando, Fla. (DAILY, July 9). Moosally, 54, most recently held assignments as VP Navy systems on the Washington operations staff, and as VP of business development and strategic planning for the Electronics Sector's Naval Electronics&Surveillance Systems segment in Moorestown., N.J.
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee, marking up its fiscal year 2000 defense bill yesterday, cut $1.8 billion from the U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin F-22 program for the procurement of the first six planes and shifted those funds to buy other platforms, including F-15s and F-16s.
BFGoodrich Co., Coltec Industries Inc., and AlliedSignal Inc. settled the AlliedSignal lawsuit opposing the BFGoodrich-Coltec merger, the three companies reported. BFGoodrich agreed to honor Coltec's strategic marketing alliance with AlliedSignal for landing gear and wheels and brakes when integrated system bids are requested. The strategic alliance will remain in effect for the balance of the original 10-year term and safeguards will be implemented to protect confidential information.
The Pentagon has sent a package to congressional defense authorizers appealing a number of actions in the fiscal year 2000 defense bill, including the addition of unrequested funds for a flight demonstration for the Space Based Infrared System Low (SBIRS Low), Patriot Anti-Cruise Missile development and Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile.
