A two-year battle over whether and how to privatize Russia's once- proud Rybinsk Motors - General Electric's strategic partner in the former Soviet Union - looks set to end next week, when a Russian high court will take up a lawsuit challenging the state's authority to put up stakes in the company for public sale.
Sogerma-Socea, a subsidiary of France-based Aerospatiale, was selected to perform structural and avionics upgrades for Turkey's F-5A/B aircraft, beating out Netherlands-based Fokker, Sierra Technology, and Israeli Aircraft Industries who were also competing. Triton Systems Corp., which is financing the building of prototypes for Turkey's upgraded F-5s, selected Sogerma-Socea last week and announced its decision yesterday. Turkey approved the selection, a Triton Systems spokesman said.
Boeing-Sikorsky flew the RAH-66 Comanche armed reconnaissance helicopter for the first time yesterday, kicking off a series of flight tests of the U.S. Army aircraft that will continue throughout the year. The low observable helo prototype took of at 1:05 p.m. EST from Sikorsky's Development Flight Test Center, West Palm Beach, Fla., the industry team said yesterday in a prepared statement. The entire flight event lasted about 1 hour and 20 minutes, but included several landings.
The U.S. Air Force is soliciting study proposals for an electronic warfare capability that would counter laser beamrider missiles. The Air Force's Wright Laboratory said in a Commerce Business Daily notice published yesterday that it will award up to three cost plus fixed fee study contracts worth approximately $150,000 each, with one contract option worth around $370,000. Contracts for the program classified as secret are slated to be awarded in June.
James M. Hurley (Air Force Maj. Gen.-Ret.), was appointed vice president of Loral's Riyadh operations. Prior to retiring from the Air Force, Hurley was director of plans and programs for the Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
Richard E. Beumer, president and chief executive officer of the company, has been elected chairman and chief executive officer. Beumer succeeds Brice R. Smith, Jr., who is retiring after a 43-year career in which he became president in 1982, chief executive officer in 1986 and chairman in 1988. William F. Kimzey, a senior vice president, is the recipient of the Gold Knight of Management Award by the National Management Association (NMA).
David E. Henderson, who most recently served as president of Henderson/HP Public Relations in Kansas City, Mo., was named director of communications for the Savannah, Ga., headquartered aircraft company. Brig. Gen. Monroe S. "Buddy" Sams, Jr. (USAF- Ret.) has been appointed vice president, government and special missions marketing for the business jet aircraft manufacturer. He joins Gulfstream from the United States Air Force where he was Commander, 89th Airlift Wing.
The U.S. Marine Corps has demonstrated a tactical ballistic missile defense system cobbled from existing components, destroying two of three targets and locking on to the third.
AVONDALE INDUSTRIES, INC., Shipyard Div., New Orleans, received a $206.4 million U.S. Navy contract for an additional Strategic Sealift ship. This is the fourth such ship to be built by Avondale. The ships are intended to support the U.S.' ability to deploy military materials and equipment quickly throughout the world, Avondale said. The company's contract for the initial ship was awarded in 1993. Work on the first ship is underway, and delivery is scheduled for early 1998. The second and third ships are slated for delivery in 1998 and early 1999.
Fred Gould has joined the company as a marketing director for government communications. Previously, Gould was director of business development for COMSAT. Zeev Kalansky has been named director of business development for display products. Previously, he was director of marketing for the military systems division at Solaris Systems.
Lionel Leveille, who most recently served as vice president and general manager for Heroux, Inc., has been appointed president, Raytheon Canada, Limited.
AT&T's Network Services Div. plans to purchase "a significant number" of satellite telephone systems from Westinghouse Electric Corp. for use by its emergency response crews in remote locations, Westinghouse reported. Under a recent agreement between the two companies, AT&T will buy Series 1000 satellite telephone systems from Westinghouse. The Series 1000 consists of a handset, transceiver, antenna and antenna electronics unit. It operates with a dish antenna at permanent locations, and a mast antenna when installed in vehicles.
Thomas Quan, previously director of corporate strategy and business development at Cadence Design Systems, was appointed vice president of marketing. Arklin Kee, former group director of business development for the IC sector at Cadence Design Systems, was appointed director of business development for the company's executive team.
James R. LaFrieda, formerly principal director, Cross Program Development, and senior staff to the group vice president, National Systems Group, has been named principal director of The Aerospace Corp.'s regional office, Colorado Springs, Colo.
NASA MANAGERS yesterday set a Thursday launch date for the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a nine-day mission to retrieve Japan's Space Flyer Unit and validate assembly techniques for the International Space Station. Liftoff is scheduled for 4:18 a.m. EST at Kennedy Space Center, according to an agency spokesman. Work on Shuttle preparations has continued despite the federal government funding crisis (DAILY, Jan. 4).
Anthony C. Fielek, Jr. has been appointed vice president of sales and marketing, Lucas Body Systems North America. Prior to joining the company, Fielik was vice president, sales and marketing, for Handy and Harmen in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Alexis Allen, who most recently served as director of media relations, has been named vice president of communications. She succeeds Herbert E. Hetu, who retired at the end of last year. ARINC INC. Robert E. Manigold, Jr., who most recently served as senior director, human resources, was appointed vice president, human resources and administration.
Ted Nanz, president of SPOT Image Corp., was presented the 1995 Golden Candle Award. The award was granted on behalf of Open Source Solutions, Inc. (OSS), the Virginia-based international organization which promotes open sources and methods as part of intelligence solutions.
U.S. NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, Carderock Div., Bethesda, Md., has issued a broad agency announcement saying the Navy "plans to set up a single ship to serve as a proof of concept platform for demonstrations using innovative technology aimed at reducing manning requirements and life cycle costs." Goal of the "Smart Ship" project, according to a notice in the Dec.
U.S. defense modernization is being hampered because many programs "are being 'nicked' or held back because of inadequate Clinton budgets," Rep. C.W. (Bill) Young (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Appropriations national security subcommittee, charged in a recent response to a query from The DAILY. "If we can correct this with additional funds then it will be a high priority for us" in the fiscal 1997 defense budget," Young said.
Europe's joint NH-90 utility helicopter made its first flight last month at Eurocopter France's Mairgnane facility under clouds of speculation about the program's future, as defense spending cuts threaten participation by the project's French prime contractor.
HORIZONS TECHNOLOGY INC., San Diego, is developing a computerized system to enhance the maintenance, reliability and safety of the U.S. Marine Corps AH-1W Cobra helicopter. The system, also intended to reduce costs, is designed to track and update data on 78 major components which are known to have limited life. The components will be monitored during each flight. HTI is carrying out the work under a $74,000 contract from Naval Air Systems Command.
