LONDON - The Eurofighter consortium has expressed confidence that all of the first Typhoon fighters to be delivered will meet weight requirements. Each of the first four production-standard two-seat Typhoons was weighed in preparation for delivery, and each beat the requirement. The June 10 weigh-in preceded the June 30 announcement that the Typhoon had successfully completed acceptance trials, and that the consortium could begin deliveries to the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. (DAILY, July 1).
PRAGUE - Czech president Vaclav Klaus toured Aero Vodochody last week in a show of support for the troubled Czech aircraft manufacturer. Aero Vodochody's revenues are expected to plummet as it nears completion of an order for 72 L-159 subsonic fighters for the Czech air force. It is now banking on securing its first international order for the aircraft to ensure its future.
A new report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) endorses the U.S. Defense Department's plan to unify its Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) programs under a single joint office, while cautioning DOD not to allow new multi-mission requirements to outstrip funding. In an effort to integrate requirements and promote competition, DOD decided to merge the separate Air Force and Navy UCAV efforts under a single office scheduled to be in operation by the end of this year (DAILY, March 27).
The U.S. Army doesn't have access to enough airlift to meet its goal of deploying a Stryker Brigade Combat Team anywhere in the world in 96 hours, the General Accounting Office said in a report released late June 30. Available airlift is insufficient to transport a brigade's 1,000 vehicles and 3,900 personnel, the GAO said. "At present, it would take from five to 14 days, depending on destination, and require over one-third of the Air Force's C-17 and C-5 transport aircraft fleet to deploy one Stryker brigade by air," the report says.
Lockheed Martin will deliver 156 precision-guided rockets to the U.S. Army under a new $30 million contract, the company announced July 1. The deal launches the first low-rate initial production phase in the 11-year-old development of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), which is planned to yield more than 100,000 rockets.
NASA has again delayed the launch of the second of its twin Mars Exploration Rover (MER) spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Fla., while Boeing attempts to once and for all resolve a problem with insulation on the Delta II launch vehicle. The original June 25 launch date was bumped to June 28 when inspectors discovered that part of a band of cork insulation above the forward attach point for the strap-on boosters was coming loose from the rocket's outer skin. The cork prevents ice formation on the rocket, which contains cryogenic fuels.
The Eurofighter consortium now is authorized to start deliveries of the new fighter aircraft after receiving a type acceptance by the four government customers June 30, the European Aeronautic and Defence Co. (EADS) announced. EADS Military Aircraft, BAE Systems and Alenia signed the agreement in the Manching, Germany, final assembly plant that will deliver the first eight twin-seat Eurofighters to the German air force later this year.
The U.S. Defense Department may be mismanaging most of its performance-based contracts, a new government report says. The department's Inspector General (IG) found that weapons buyers had improperly administered 43 of 67 contracts worth $5.5 billion in performance-based payments (PBPs) that were reviewed during a recent audit. Of the total audited, contractors received $4.1 billion in payments despite inadequate proof that they were based on performance, says the report, which was posted June 25.
CHS-3 SUBCONTRACT: DRS Technologies has received a subcontract from General Dynamics to provide ruggedized computers and displays for the Army's Common Hardware/Software III (CHS-3) program. The contract is worth an estimated $200 million over the 10-year life of the program.
The General Accounting Office in two reports issued last week criticized the Army and Navy for failing to develop plans for reducing existing shortages of critical spare parts. The Army has undertaken several initiatives to improve the delivery and management of spare parts, according to one report. But the plan "lack objectives and performance measures it could use to show progress in mitigating critical spare parts shortages."
Most of NASA's solar-electric Helios unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been recovered from its crash site approximately 10 miles west of the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, as investigators begin their inquiry into what caused the aircraft to break up in mid-air on June 26.
Flight planning specialist Jeppesen has formed a division to focus on support of government and military organizations. Jeppesen, a subsidiary of Boeing Co., "has long provided its products and services to government and military organizations, but with the new division, we are able to focus our energy on developing solutions specific to the unique requirements of government and military customers," Dominic Custodio, vice president of the new unit, Government and Military Services, said in a June 27 statement.
Bidding opens July 15 for the first two contracts in a two-phase development strategy for the airborne Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), a new family of secure networked radios slated to link more than 65 platforms, the U.S. Air Force announced June 27. The first two contracts - scheduled to be awarded in October - are for nine-month study projects, according to an acquisition notice posted by the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.
The Boeing Co. and All Nippon Airways (ANA) formally signed an agreement June 30 for the production and delivery of 45 737-700 single-aisle aircraft. The deal was not unexpected, since both companies announced in April their intention to complete a deal (see The DAILY's affiliate, Aviation Daily, April 10). Boeing will begin delivering the aircraft in December 2005. The 142-seat 737-700s eventually will replace 25 Airbus A320s, two 737-400s and 25 737-500s operated by ANA and its domestic and regional networks.
TOURIST TITO: Dennis Tito, the world's first private space traveler, has been elected to the X-Prize Foundation's board of trustees. More than 20 teams are entered in the X PRIZE competition, a $10 million purse to be awarded to the first person or team to fly a privately funded three person suborbital spaceship 100km (62 miles) to the edge of space, return safely, and then fly again within two weeks.
The U.S. Navy expects to finish by early 2004 a study on potential replacements for its aging fleet of EP-3E Aries II signals intelligence aircraft, a service official said June 30. The official confirmed recent congressional statements indicating that the study, which began in November 2002, is looking at a broad range of possibilities. "We are currently discussing a multitude of proposals and requirements," the official told The DAILY in a written response to questions.
The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. of San Diego, Calif., a $30.1 million contract to deliver long-lead items for four new Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and one new ground control station. The parts for the air vehicles themselves include wings and composite materials for the tail, according to Northrop Grumman spokeswoman Cynthia Curiel. For the ground control station, the parts include computers and other materials needed to construct the mission control element and launch-and-recovery element.
Loral Space & Communications said June 30 it would pay Alcatel a total of $13 million to settle several outstanding issues between the companies, including a contract dispute. The issues stem from a 1997 agreement between Loral and Alcatel to cooperate on certain satellite programs. Loral withdrew from the agreement in February 2001. As part of the settlement, Alcatel will transfer its minority interest in CyberStar to Loral, and Loral will transfer to Alcatel its minority interests in two Alcatel affiliates, Europe*Star and SkyBridge.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has told the Pentagon to stop using money intended for the infrastructure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to pay for the alliance's missile defense studies.
NEW DELHI - In a serious setback to BAE Systems' $1.5 billion deal to sell 66 Hawk 100 advanced jet trainers to India, the Indian Defense Ministry has announced a new procurement process that could delay acquisition of an advanced jet trainer by two-five years. The word comes a year after the ministry cleared the deal and sent it to the Indian cabinet for final approval. The proposal still awaits cabinet action.
HAWK BUY: A decision by the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) to buy 31 Hawk trainers would indicate that relations between the MOD and BAE Systems, the aircraft's manufacturer, have not deteriorated as badly as some media reports have indicated, according to Charles Armitage, global aerospace coordinator for Merrill Lynch. The decision, expected by the end of the month, likely would generate about 500 million pounds ($825 million) for BAE Systems over the next four to five years, Armitage says.
JSOW DROP: A B-1B Lancer test crew dropped Raytheon's Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) from the bomber for the first time on June 17, the U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center said June 27. The crew successfully released two JSOWs are part of ongoing separating testing on the B-1B, the Air Force said.
MASINT RESEARCH: The Bush Administration is objecting to a provision in the House-passed fiscal 2004 intelligence authorization bill that calls on the Defense Department to form an advisory panel to review technology research for measurement and signatures intelligence (MASINT), which is intelligence collected by observing the scientific features of targets. The provision is aimed at improving the coordination of MASINT activities by academia, government and the private sector.
