In the wake of June's Paris air show, both Airbus and Boeing issued victory statements detailing orders, options, commitments and letters of intent reportedly signed during the five-day event. Both rivals claimed they achieved or surpassed their most optimistic sales predictions, disseminating robust releases to the media. And, once more, the press corps—in most cases without the required restraint—agreed to the rules of the game, although that was largely meaningless.
In the North Sea, the Eurocopter EC225 has been a workhorse, plying routes between bases in Norway and Scotland oil and gas platforms. But for 10 months, the helicopter has been missing from such operations, grounded as engineers searched for the root cause of the failure in its bevel gear vertical shaft. For the major operators in the North Sea region such as Bond Offshore Helicopters, Bristow Helicopters and CHC Scotia, the loss of the type from their fleets had a dramatic impact on their capacity to fly for customers.
More space programs are set to feel sequestration's effects, particularly on the civilian side as lawmakers responsible for NASA are increasingly—and bitterly—at odds. Last week, Senate appropriators, led by Democrats, recommended $18 billion for the agency for 2014. But despite his stated approval of the legislation, senior Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) voted against the measure in committee because it adheres to Senate Democrats' overall federal budget allocations.
The nine USAF fighter squadrons grounded since April by the 2011 Budget Control Act's automatic sequestration cuts are flying again, but whether they will remain so after September—and whether there will be anyone to fly or maintain them starting
Airbus and Boeing led the news, but perhaps the biggest surprise at June's Paris air show as Bell Helicopter's decision to power its new light single with a Turbomeca engine. To fly in 2014, the long-awaited JetRanger replacement will be powered by a 450-550-shp Arrius, the first new Bell to have a French engine.
Carbon in its many forms is transforming manufacturing, from electronics to structures. Aerospace uses carbon in fiber form, but new nano-structured materials are emerging that promise improved properties and expanded applications.
JAMMER PROTEST: BAE Systems filed a protest July 18 of the $279.4 million contract the U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon to develop the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) pod to replace the ALQ-99 tactical jamming system now carried by the EA-18G Growler. NGJ is planned to become operational in 2020. A Northrop Grumman/ITT Exelis team also bid for and lost the program. The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s decision on the protest is due by Oct. 28.
U.S. partners and allies in the Asia-Pacific region are about to embark on a spending spree for military purchases and research and development (R&D), according to an Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) analysis of data provided by Avascent Analytics.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V lifted off July 19, carrying the second of the U.S. Navy’s new narrowband communications satellites. Liftoff occurred at 9:00 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite, made by Lockheed Martin, was lofted from an Atlas V 551, meaning it used a 5-meter fairing and five strap-on solid-rocket boosters. A 44-min. launch window opened at 8:48 a.m. EDT, but the launch was put on hold temporarily due to high upper-level winds.
ASPEN, Colo. — National Security Agency (NSA) Director Gen. Keith Alexander says the U.S. Intelligence community has “concrete proof” that terrorists are making changes in how they communicate, following the secret surveillance programs revealed by a rogue former NSA contractor.
The U.S. Army is still considering going forward with the Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) program, aimed at replacing the aging OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, with a variant of an off-the-shelf design, the service’s top procurement officer said July 18.
The U.S. Army did not properly scrutinize some parts purchases for the CH-47F Chinook helicopter, allowing manufacturer Boeing to overcharge for some items, according to the Pentagon Inspector General (IG).
BEIJING — Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has published a drawing of a moderately stealthy fighter concept based on its T-50 series of supersonic trainers and light-attack aircraft. The concept aircraft is far smaller and less ambitious than the all-new, twin-engine KF-X designs promoted by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development, the leading proponent of building an indigenous South Korea fighter.
The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a $17 million contract for the first phase of integrating Raytheon’s Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) pod onto Boeing’s EA-18G Growler aircraft. The phase 1 hardware integration will ensure the designs of the required modifications are suitable for the technology development stage of the NGJ pod program, according to the contract announcement.
ASPEN, Colo. — The U.S. Defense Department is mobilizing 40 new cyber teams, totaling an estimated 4,000 workers from existing military cyber positions, for both offensive and defensive missions in cyberspace, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said July 18.
Despite the effects of sequestration and continuing budget resolutions, the U.S. Navy brass feels it is anchored securely when it comes to ships, aircraft and other platforms. What the service is looking to develop now is better command-and-control capability. “We’ve got the platforms,” says Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations. “What do we need? It is command-and-control, [including] the organization and the staff. That’s what we’ve got to work on,” he said July 11 during a Center for Strategic and International Studies event.
