The Missile Defense Agency is considering whether it should build an X-band radar and, if so, where to put it, according to MDA's director, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish. The only X-band radar now used by MDA is a prototype on the Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific, and it is not considered powerful enough to collect all the information the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program, formerly National Missile Defense, will need to track targets.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Orbital Express program is gearing up for a critical design review (CDR) this winter, in anticipation of a six- to 12-month on-orbit demonstration to begin in fiscal year 2006. The $100 million program is an Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) aimed at developing architectures and technologies for refueling, upgrading, and reconfiguring spacecraft while they are in orbit.
NASA officials said April 18 that the agency is shutting down the X-38 experimental vehicle program, which could have led to the development of a crew return vehicle (CRV) for emergency escape from the International Space Station. "The X-38 program has been given direction to shut down," Fred Gregory, NASA's associate administrator for human space flight, told reporters after testifying before the House Science space subcommittee.
The Missile Defense Agency is considering whether it should build an X-band radar and, if so, where to put it, according to MDA's director, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish. The only X-band radar now used by MDA is a prototype on the Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific, and it is not considered powerful enough to collect all the information the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program, formerly National Missile Defense, will need to track targets.
Despite a strong performance from its Information Systems and Technology- and Combat Systems groups, General Dynamics posted a 5 percent drop in net earnings for the first quarter. Company Chairman and CEO Nicholas Chabraja said in an April 17 conference call that the company's first quarter results provide a solid foundation for the rest of the year.
The U.S. Department of Defense has cleared the sale of Raytheon-built weapon-locating radars to India, the first such defense sale in a decade, officials said here. The deal was completed April 17, according to a senior Indian ministry of defense official. Eight Raytheon AN/TPQ 37 Firefinder radars will be supplied to the Indian army for $146 million under the Foreign Military Sales program, the official said.
NASA has selected four experiments to receive $450,000 each to conduct four-month feasibility studies, leading to possible launch as NASA Explorer Program missions. NASA will select two of the missions early next year for full development as medium-class Explorer, or MIDEX, flights. The selected missions will be launched in 2007 and 2008. The candidates are:
PRAGUE - Czech weapons procurement officials are scheduled to hold talks next month with Bush Administration officials about a Czech proposal to buy $210 million worth of combat equipment for its air force's L-159 fleet and planned new Gripen fighters.
The Department of Defense notified Congress April 17 of a possible $2.1 billion sale of 16 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters to Kuwait. "The proposed sale will upgrade the Kuwaiti anti-armor day/night missile capability, provide for the defense of vital installations and provide close air support for the military ground forces," according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which is the Pentagon agency responsible for managing foreign military sales.
Despite a 10 percent growth in its defense businesses, Raytheon Co. reported a net loss of $434 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2002, compared with a loss of $124 million a year ago at this time. In an April 18 conference call with analysts and investors, company officials said the loss was due to a $360 million write-off for goodwill related to the sale of its Aircraft Integration Systems unit to L-3 Communications Corp. in March. The company also recorded a $211 million after-tax loss on the transaction.
CONVERSION APPROVED: Pemco Aviation Group of Birmingham, Ala., has received FAA approval to convert Boeing 737-300 aircraft from passenger to cargo configurations, the company announced April 18. The FAA approved the Supplemental Type Certificate, making Pemco World Air Services, the company's commercial facility in Dothan, Ala., the only company approved by the FAA to perform the conversions, the company said. Modification of a 737-300 will begin immediately at that facility, according to Pemco.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Brig. Gen. Douglas M. Fraser assumed command of Air Force Space Command's Space Warfare Center, located at Schriever Air Force Base, on April 18. Fraser, who was commander, 3rd Wing, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, succeeds Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Goslin, who was promoted to lieutenant general and becomes deputy commander-in-chief of U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Goslin succeeds Lt. Gen. Robert Hinson, who becomes vice commander of Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
Despite a 10 percent growth in its defense businesses, Raytheon Co. reported a net loss of $434 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2002, compared with a loss of $124 million a year ago at this time. In an April 18 conference call with analysts and investors, company officials said the loss was due to a $360 million write-off for goodwill related to the sale of its Aircraft Integration Systems unit to L-3 Communications Corp. in March. The company also recorded a $211 million after-tax loss on the transaction.
NASA officials said April 18 that the agency is shutting down the X-38 experimental vehicle program, which could have led to the development of a crew return vehicle (CRV) for emergency escape from the International Space Station. "The X-38 program has been given direction to shut down," Fred Gregory, NASA's associate administrator for human space flight, told reporters after testifying before the House Science space subcommittee.
With a new air mobility study already underway, Air Force Gen. John Handy, the commander-in-chief (CINC) of Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and commander of Air Mobility Command, predicts that there will be a clear need for more airlift.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Orbital Express program is gearing up for a critical design review (CDR) this winter, in anticipation of a six- to 12-month on-orbit demonstration to begin in fiscal year 2006. The $100 million program is an Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) aimed at developing architectures and technologies for refueling, upgrading, and reconfiguring spacecraft while they are in orbit.
SHUTTLE HOME: After a weeklong stay at the International Space Station to install and outfit a segment of the station's truss, Space Shuttle Atlantis' crew is slated to return to Earth April 19. Atlantis is scheduled to land at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 12:26p.m.EDT.
NASA has selected four experiments to receive $450,000 each to conduct four-month feasibility studies, leading to possible launch as NASA Explorer Program missions. NASA will select two of the missions early next year for full development as medium-class Explorer, or MIDEX, flights. The selected missions will be launched in 2007 and 2008. The candidates are:
December 2001 (70 programs) $1,065,044.4 New SARs (As of December 31, 2001) The Department of Defense has submitted initial SARs for BMDS (Ballistic Missile Defense System), Black Hawk Upgrade (UH-60M), C-5 RERP (Reliability and Reengining Program), and C-130 AMP (Avionics Modernization Program). These reports do not represent cost growth. Baselines established on these programs will be the
Arianespace successfully launched New Skies Satellites' NSS-7 atop an Ariane 44L April 16, marking the company's fifth launch this year and leaving only five more flights before the Ariane 4 family is phased out. The liftoff from Arianespace's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana also marked the 150th launch for the European launch provider, which has averaged 10 flights a year since 1992. Arianespace's backlog now stands at 36 satellites to be launched, plus nine Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) missions for the International Space Station.
WARTON, Lancashire - The four-nation Eurofighter program has achieved several major milestones this month, including initial flights of the first instrumented production aircraft (IPAs 1,2 and 3), each of which completed three sorties on their debut outings.
Beginning as early as June of 2003, the Defense Department will boost the signal of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites by 10 decibels, according to John Stenbit, the assistant secretary of defense for command, control and communications. The signal boost, which would be for satellites not yet launched, will help counter attempts to jam the GPS signals, a source of increasing concern for the U.S. military as forces have become more dependent on GPS.
The Missile Defense Agency plans to give its Space Based Infrared System Low (SBIRS-Low) an infusion of fiscal 2002 funds to support a newly devised restructuring of the program, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish, the director of MDA, said April 17. Kadish, who testified at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, did not say how much money will be reprogrammed to SBIRS-Low, but an MDA spokesperson told The DAILY the amount, which requires congressional approval, will be $13 million.
