NEW DELHI — India successfully test-fired an interceptor missile Feb. 10 from a base in India’s eastern state of Orissa as part of its two-layer ballistic missile defense program, according to a senior Indian defense official.
The U.S. Army’s Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) effort — the cornerstone of its tactical communications, surveillance and intelligence-sharing modernization — looks like it will emerge from the fiscal 2013 budget rollout in pretty good shape, according to Army officials. The program currently anticipates its next evaluation in May, while working on plans for capability evaluations to continue through 2013 and into fiscal 2014, according to service spokesman Paul Mehney.
The U.S. Air Force plans to commence a service-life extension program (SLEP) for up to 350 of the newest Lockheed Martin F-16s to keep the fleet as combat-ready as possible while the F-35’s in-service date remains uncertain. The $2.8 billion SLEP program is larger in scope than a structural SLEP eyed two years ago. This new program, which is being included in the fiscal 2013 budget proposal, will address requirements for adding an active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to the single-engine fighter.
NEW DELHI — Boeing is in talks with the Indian navy on a follow-on order of four P-8I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft in addition to the eight ordered in 2009. “We have been in discussion with the Indian navy on advancing the options,” says Dennis Swanson, vice president of international business development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security in India. “We are working with the customer [India] and the customer will decide when the time is appropriate. We stand by ready to engage with them.”
Recent Lockheed Martin Aegis combat system upgrades—the Advanced Capability Build (ACB)-12 and its accompanying multi-mission signal processor (MMSP) for ballistic mission defense (BMD) enhancements—are running behind schedule and over cost projections, a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report says.
Marie Epstein (see photo) has been promoted to VP-sales for the Americas from regional sales manager at Virgin Atlantic Cargo in New York. She was director of strategic accounts at Delta Air Lines/Northwest Airlines Cargo.
The majority of the 161 unclassified milsats forecast for production in the next decade will go into service in the near term with production tapering in the outyears.
Mike Leinback has become director of human spaceflight operations at Denver-based United Launch Alliance. He was launch team leader for all NASA space shuttle missions launched since 2000.
Michael Stofferahn has been appointed VP-North American sales for the Kaydon Bearings Div., Muskegon, Mich. He was VP and general manager of Rexnord Product Services.
With 246 C-130Js delivered and another 71 in backlog, Lockheed Martin has just scratched the surface of the market to replace the 1,200 Hercules airlifters operated by 72 countries worldwide.
Greg Diognardi has been appointed Falcon 900 technical sales manager at StandardAero Business Aviation, Tempe, Ariz. He was regional sales manager for Landmark Aviation.
Philip King (see photo) has been appointed president of San Jose, Calif.-based Vision Systems International, succeeding Drew Brugal. King has held leadership positions at McDonnell Douglas and Boeing.
Hannele Malin has been appointed VP-internal auditing at Finnair, succeeding Erkki Lehtinen, who will retire. Malin was manager for government, risk and compliance services at Deloitte & Touche.
Gen. Jean-Paul Palomeros (see photo), chief of staff of the French air force, has become director of the European Air Group, based at RAF Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, for a two-year term. He succeeds Lt. Gen. Aarne Kreuzinger-Janik, commander of the German air force.
Bill Gerstenmaier (see photo), NASA associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, has received the Von Karman Lectureship in Astronautics award, given by the Washington-based American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was recognized for his leadership in human spaceflight, culminating in the space shuttle and International Space Station programs.
Innovation has become a mantra for aerospace in part because the industry is worried about losing its edge. Pressure on research spending and global competition from other industries have companies concerned about where the ideas and talent will come from.
Bernd Munzenmayer has become senior sales adviser for Pro Star Aviation, Londonderry, N.H., supporting new Sales Director Clark Gordon. Munzenmayer is a founder of Pro Star. Julie Weber has been promoted to VP from senior director of people for Southwest Airlines.
