The FAA has given Applied Research Associates Inc.’s (ARA’s) Nighthawk IV micro-unmanned aircraft system (UAS) a special airworthiness certificate, which will allow potential customers to apply for agency approval to operate the 2-lb. aircraft in the national airspace. “This special airworthiness certificate is supported by extensive safety, manufacturing, inspection, maintenance and crew training procedures that were reviewed and accepted by the FAA as part of a recent visit to witness post-certification maiden flights,” ARA says in an announcement.
Under continuing resolution funding levels for fiscal year 2014, the FAA would not see any additional budget impacts from a second round of sequestration cuts set to go into effect in January, but its NextGen program could see impacts from sequestration cuts for the U.S. military.
Flir Systems is pushing toward a goal of “infrared everywhere” by combining its defense and commercial market access and technology, according to new president and CEO Andrew Teich. A 14-year veteran of the company, Teich moved into his current job in May.
This week marks the beginning of the endgame for how Washington will deal with budgets, taxes, entitlements and other federal spending through next year, as lawmakers, lobbyists and their constituents and clients rush to influence the outcomes of a new round of bipartisan spending negotiations pegged for the end of 2013.
The U.K. defense ministry says it will use a £1.8 billion ($2.46 billion) budget surplus to bring the Crowsnest helicopter-borne radar system into earlier service. Secretary of State for Defense Philip Hammond said the money, the result of defense underspending in fiscal 2012-2013, would also be used to bring several urgent operational requirements purchased for Afghanistan into the core budget. This will allow them to be utilized after combat operations are completed in late 2014.
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has cleared the BAE Systems APKWS-II guided rocket system for use on fixed-wing aircraft following completion of technology demonstration trials.
Continuing funding uncertainty due to the government shutdown, sequestration and funding levels frozen at 2012 levels could hurt the Ground Combat Vehicle and network-centric programs, the Army’s top uniformed and civilian officials said Oct. 21.
In the wake of the Joint Tactical Radio System’s (JTRS) troubles, Harris Corp. is testing a company-funded communications device designed to link helicopters, unmanned aircraft and soldiers.
LONDON — The British army is expanding the capabilities of its new AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat as the helicopter progresses toward operational service. The army’s Wildcat Fielding Team is responsible for the tactical development of the aircraft and writing the doctrine for its use, as well as training the first group of its pilots and instructors. Earlier this year, army Wildcats recorded their first 1,000 hr. of flight operations, taking part in a series of small exercises and familiarizing ground troops with the helo’s capabilities.
Beechcraft reportedly has instructed Credit Suisse to approach prospective buyers, including Cessna Aircraft, just months after the manufacturer emerged from an extensive Chapter 11 reorganization. Beechcraft is not commenting on the Bloomberg report, but CEO Bill Boisture last summer noted to Aviation Week that three of the company’s major shareholders are those that specialized in distressed properties. In those cases, he said, the question comes up on whether they’re long-term owners. “I wouldn’t think so,” he said.
MOSCOW — On Oct. 15, the first Mistral-class helicopter landing dock built for Russia was launched at the STX France shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship, named Vladivostok, had its keel-laying last February. Its after-body was built in Russia, at St. Petersburg Baltiysky Zavod, and arrived in France in July. The ship is expected to return to Russia for customization next year and to be handed over to the Russian navy in November 2014.
DEFENSE FORECAST: In a 10-year forecast for the Defense Department, TechAmerica sees investment accounts falling to $140 billion per year in fiscal 2014 and staying at that level through fiscal 2018, when the numbers increase to about $156 billion.
Applied DNA Sciences recently concluded a deal with a Pentagon contractor for a 10-year option agreement to provide DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology. The contractor’s name and the contract amount were not disclosed. The company is “a high-tech leader and supports military services such as: the Navy, Army, Air Force, and the Missile Defense Agency, as well as non-military end-users such as NASA and the Department of Homeland Security,” Applied DNA Sciences says.
President Barack Obama’s reported decision to nominate Jeh Johnson to be the fourth secretary of the Department of Homeland Sercurity (DHS) could be helpful for travel-related industries like airlines, and may even help the military and fedeal law enforcement officials to further introduce UAVs into domestic airspace, one of their highest domestic priorities.
While the U.S. Navy can afford to put off the christening of the futuristic DDG-1000 Zumwalt destroyer for a while, the service cannot accommodate delaying the first deployment of a new Arleigh Burke-class DDG, especially to the Pacific. To that end, the guided-missile destroyer DDG-111 Spruance departed Naval Base San Diego Oct. 16 on its first deployment to the Western Pacific.
LONDON — The U.K. Royal Air Force’s (RAF) last five General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned air systems are nearing delivery. Five additional Reapers, out of 10 requested through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, were ordered from General Atomics in 2010 to double the size of the fleet and increase the number of combat air patrols mustered by Reapers over Afghanistan. The aircraft have been purchased as an urgent operational requirement.
BEIJING — South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff in November will consider a navy request to build three air-defense destroyers next decade, doubling its force of ships equipped with the U.S. Aegis system. The proposal is far from a done deal, however, because—even if it is backed by the military—it also will need government and parliamentary approval. The navy made the request to the joint chiefs of staff a year ago, local media report, citing military officials who add that the program is on the agenda for a meeting early next month.
NEW DELHI — As part of its offset obligation, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has linked up with Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) to make electrical wirning harnesses for aircraft in India. The Swiss company entered into a $650 million contract with India in 2012 to supply 75 PC-7 Mk. 2 turboprop basic trainer aircraft to the Indian air force (IAF). The contract includes an integrated ground-based training system, a comprehensive logistics support package and a 30% offset obligation.
PROMISING MISSILES: The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) plans to award Raytheon a $3 billion contract for the production of up to 216 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB interceptors, Reuters reports. MDA has told the company it will make the sole-source award when funds are appropriated. The three-year contract will cover production of up to 72 missiles per year, starting in 2015. The SM-3 missile is part of the U.S. Navy’s Aegis ballistic missile defense program.
