NEW DELHI — Russian Helicopters will showcase its light multipurpose Ka-226T helo, which is a contender to fulfill the Indian defense ministry’s requirement for surveillance and reconnaissance helicopters, at the ninth edition of Aero India, which begins Feb. 6 at Bengaluru in southern India. India wants to purchase 197 light helicopters — 133 for the Army and 64 for the Indian air force.
AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth (FA8611-08-C-2897) is being awarded a $73,709,042 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification for calendar year 2013 services for the F-22 depot partnering activation support for management and integration tasks. The location of the performance is Hill AFB, Utah. The work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2013. The contracting activity is Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WWUV, Hill AFB. NAVY
The Pentagon plans to conduct a return-to-flight demonstration of the Boeing-led Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system on Jan. 26, according to officials at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., after the missile defense shield has been grounded for two years.
LONDON — The Netherlands has become the first country to deploy its NHindustries NH90 helicopter on anti-piracy operations. The aircraft is now en route to the Indian Ocean onboard the Royal Netherlands Navy vessel, HNLMS De Ruyter, a De Zeven Provinciën class frigate. The Netherlands Defense Helicopter Command, which operates the aircraft, says that while the aircraft is not in its full operational capability, it will provide an “important contribution to the EU anti-piracy mission.”
Embraer and Finmeccanica’s AgustaWestland division are examining the potential of helicopter production in Brazil. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) looking at establishing a joint venture that could lead to the production of AgustaWestland’s helicopters in Brazil for both military and civil use. Such a project would give the company a foothold in the Latin American market, which is currently dominated by Eurocopter and Bell, while Sikorsky has entered the fold with sales of its military and civil products.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Are you up on production and manufacturing innovations, acquisition lore and 2012's budget and policy debates? How about early innovation? Score 8 and you pass, get 11 or better and you're management material. (No fair outsourcing your answers to the Web. Answers are on page 34.)
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.
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.
HASC AIDE PASSES: Doug Roach, who served the House Armed Services Committee since 1991, died Jan. 11 due to complications from cancer. Roach was the staff lead for the tactical air and land forces subcommittee since 2001, serving the majority party whether Republicans or Democrats were in charge. A retired Air Force colonel, Roach flew F-15 and F-4 aircraft and was an operational test pilot. Roach watched the first “Great Engine War” up close and became a firm believer in the need for a competitive engine process.
