Negotiators for Boeing’s 15,500 unionized engineers and 7,400 technical workers are expected to seek authority to strike after recommending a “no” vote on the “best and final” contract offer late last week from Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA). The current contract for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (Speea), which covers BCA workers in Washington, Utah, Oregon and California, expired Dec. 25.
PARIS — Ankara is planning development of a national satellite launch system capable of delivering military and civil spacecraft to orbit, according to Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz. Following a Jan. 3 meeting of Turkey’s Defense Industry Executive Committee, Yilmaz said the government will enter negotiations with Turkish weapons builder Roketsan Inc. for the early concept design phase of a new launch system “to ensure that military and civilian satellites can be sent into space,” according to a Jan. 3 statement.
LONDON — The U.K. Royal Air Force has stood up an Expeditionary Air Wing in the United Arab Emirates, as the air arm plans a greater presence in the country. Based at Al Minhad Air Base, just south of Dubai, the 906 Expeditionary Air Wing will support the air bridge between the U.K. and Afghanistan as well as deployments of RAF aircraft taking part in regional exercises. But the creation of the air wing hints at a more permanent presence in the country.
LONDON — The Spanish air force plans to retire three aircraft fleets this year in a bid to reduce costs in the face of Spain’s ongoing economic crisis. The air arm is also planning significant cuts in its flying hours, from around 100,000 per year down to 65,000 during 2013.
AIR FORCE Battlespace Flight Services L.L.C., Arlington, Va., (FA4890-07-C-0006, P00124) is being awarded a $13,740,356 contract modification for MQ-1 O-level operation and maintenance services. The location of the performance is Creech AFB, Nev., and Whiteman AFB, Mo., and deployed sites worldwide. The work is expected to be completed by March 31, 2013. The contracting activity is Air Combat Command AMIC/PKC, Langley AFB, Va.
As Barack Obama starts his second term and a new Congress begins, our fervent wish is that the U.S. president and congressional Republicans will put aside the extreme partisan infighting of the last two years. Their zero-sum-game approach has led to legislative gridlock and uncertainty. The nation's economic and budget challenges are large, but they are solvable with smart long-term planning and compromise.
LONDON — The U.K. and Australian governments are in talks over possible cooperation in the development of the future BAE Systems-built Type 26 Global Combat Ship. The talks come following the signing of a new defense pact between the countries that will see closer cooperation in cybersecurity, defense reforms, personnel exchange and work on equipment, science and technology. Sustainment and development of Australia’s submarine program also was a topic point.
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H-1 TURNAROUND: Bell Helicopter has delivered its 100th of 349 H-1s to the U.S. Marine Corps — 80 of which were ahead of schedule — after earlier challenges in producing the upgraded UH-1Y and AH-1Zs, says Maj. Gen. John Croley, assistant deputy Marine commandant for aviation. The service and Bell have negotiated the terms of a second multiyear procurement for the rotorcraft worth roughly $1 billion, he adds. The purchase is expected to save roughly that much in cost avoidance by signing up to a five-year deal.
Graham Warwick (Washington), Bill Sweetman (Washington)
Development of the Lockheed Martin F-35's combat capability is falling behind the schedule set as recently as 2011, when the program was restructured to provide more time and resources for integration and testing.
The Pentagon’s recent preparations for potential across-the-board budget cuts are already facing scrutiny from a union representing the defense arm’s 270,000 civilian employees. On Jan. 10, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter issued a memo outlining steps to curtail spending in case sequestration takes place in March. The measures include a freeze on civilian hiring, not replacing retirees and preparing for thousands of furloughs.
Ask a top U.S. aerospace and defense (A&D) contractor how it plans to offset potentially deep cuts in Pentagon budgets and you will hear a common refrain: exports. Lockheed Martin is aiming to raise non-U.S. sales to 20% of its total, up from 17% today. “International” sales already account for a quarter of Raytheon's business, and the company intends to drive that even higher. “We see a lot of growth in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific,” says Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin's new CEO.
Boeing has teamed with Sikorsky to pursue the U.S. Army’s next-generation rotorcraft plans, leaving Bell Helicopter to propose a tiltrotor solution on its own. Boeing and Sikorsky have teamed for the long haul, says Samir Mehta, president of Sikorsky Military Systems. “This is a long-term commitment.”
NEW DELHI — Russia’s prototype fifth-generation Sukhoi T-50 fighter jet has carried out its first independent long-range flight, according to a tweet by Dmitry Rogozin, the country’s deputy prime minister. A derivative of the stealth fighter is being developed for the Indian air force.
SAN DIEGO — A stern-side view in a dry dock is the best way to really appreciate the differences between the two different classes of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
The U.S. Army expects to complete its transition to modular designs by the close of fiscal 2013, which ends Sept. 30, and has received “substantial” funds to restructure and rebuild its forces, according to a new report from congressional auditors.
