NASA and THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY in Reston, Va., have partnered to continue the mission of the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) spacecraft by having researchers pay for data. EO-1 price levels have been set to cover the costs of satellite operation, data transmission and customer interfaces, which are estimated at $5 million per year. Depending on demand, EO-1 could be decommissioned as early as this spring or as late as the spring of 2005.
South Korea has delayed a decision on its fighter modernization program, saying that all of the bids it received for its tender were too expensive. Four companies submitted bids to the Korean government: The Boeing Co. with the F-15K, a variant of its F-15 Eagle; Sukhoi of Russia with the Su-35; Dassault of France with the Rafale; and the Eurofighter consortium with the Typhoon (DAILY, Oct. 3).
NASA and THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY in Reston, Va., have partnered to continue the mission of the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) spacecraft by having researchers pay for data. EO-1 price levels have been set to cover the costs of satellite operation, data transmission and customer interfaces, which are estimated at $5 million per year. Depending on demand, EO-1 could be decommissioned as early as this spring or as late as the spring of 2005.
The Air Force's Space Warfare Center has picked RS Information Systems (RSIS) of McLean, Va., to provide systems management and engineering services under a contract with a potential value of $88 million.
Almost a year after negotiations were put on hold, The Boeing Co. and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) announced they have concluded a teaming agreement for U.S. production of components for the Arrow missile. The Arrow missile, produced by IAI, is part of Israel's Arrow missile defense system, jointly funded by the United States and Israel. The first of three Arrow batteries became operational in 2000. In 2001, IAI began seeking a U.S. partner to boost production rates and cut the missile's cost.
RAYTHEON CO. used its ECLIPSE satellite command and control software to complete launch activities and conduct an in-orbit checkout of the first ICO Global Communications satellite under contract to satellite builder Boeing Satellite Systems. Raytheon's software was designed to control the complete 12-satellite constellation. The first ICO satellite, a modified Boeing 601, was launched June 19, 2001. ECLIPSE software can be tailored to meet the needs of other users, including customers that operate smaller fleets or single satellites, according to Raytheon.
Even though the United States leads the world in military power, the U.S. armed forces are still lacking in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets, according to Gen. Gregory S. Martin, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).
The U.S. Air Force and NASA are conducting a study that could lead to joint development of new reusable launch vehicles (RLVs), according to documents and industry sources. According to documents posted on an Air Force website, the "One Team 120-day study" is to come up with a "credible, comprehensive plan for a joint NASA-USAF development of the next generations" of RLVs. The Air Force and NASA share they belief that they "should work together to meet the nation's spacelift requirements," the website says.
Charges that the Boeing Co. took during the fourth quarter of FY 2001 to deal with the slowdown in commercial air traffic after Sept. 11 caused the company's net earnings to plunge 79 percent, senior officials said Jan. 23. In a conference call with industry analysts and investors, Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit said charges totaling nearly $622 million, or 78 cents per share, lowered the company's net earnings to 12 cents per share for the fourth quarter.
Tom Risley has been appointed president and chief executive officer and will be elected a director of the corporation. Gordon Williams will be elected chairman of the company. He succeeds Allan Holt, who will remain a director of the company.
LONDON - European officials have reported progress on several major collaborative military procurement programs governed by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation, known by its French acronym OCCAR. Defense ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom met last week in Bonn, Germany, to discuss improving the cost-effectiveness and management of collaborative defense projects. OCCAR was established in 1996, but its operations as a legal entity didn't start until March 1, 2001.
As more measures are taken to tighten physical security in domestic airports, U.S. airlines remain highly vulnerable to cyberattack, according to Internet security analysts. Airlines make particularly attractive targets for cybercriminals - whose crimes can run the gamut from simple vandalism to identity theft and financial espionage - since so much of their business has migrated online, according to Izhar Bar-Gad, chief technology officer at Sanctum, Inc.
President Bush said Jan. 23 that his fiscal 2003 budget will propose higher spending for precision weapons, missile defense and unmanned vehicles as part of a total increase for the Defense Department of $48 billion or 14.5 percent. "The tools of modern warfare are effective. They are expensive. But in order to win this war against terror, they are essential," Bush said in a speech to the Reserve Officers Association. "Buying these tools may put a strain on the budget, but we will not cut corners when it comes to the defense of our great land."
Driven by strong sales from its Combat Systems group, which builds tanks and armored personnel carriers, General Dynamics Corp. posted an 11 percent increase in fourth quarter 2001 earnings over those for fiscal 2000. Senior management reported fourth quarter fiscal 2001 net earnings of $246 million, or $1.21 per share, as compared with $219 million, or $1.09 per share, recorded for the same period last year. "This was another year of strong, steady performance," company Chairman and CEO Nicholas Chabraja said in a statement.
Charges that the Boeing Co. took during the fourth quarter of FY 2001 to deal with the slowdown in commercial air traffic after Sept. 11 caused the company's net earnings to plunge 79 percent, senior officials said Jan. 23. In a conference call with industry analysts and investors, Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit said charges totaling nearly $622 million, or 78 cents per share, lowered the company's net earnings to 12 cents per share for the fourth quarter.
Richard Fortner has been named president and chief executive officer. He will succeed Dave Lokken, who is leaving the company to pursue other business interests.
Eight Royal Air Force tanker/transports will be fitted with new Rockwell Collins URC-138(V), or Link 16, secure tactical datalink communications systems under a $10 million Ministry of Defence contract. The work will be done on five BAE Systems VC10s and three Lockheed Martin TriStar aircraft. United Kingdom Minister for Defence Procurement Lord Willy Bach said the new systems offer an improved battlespace picture, helping cut down on the risk of friendly fire. Bigger than a shoebox
Sir Charles Masefield has been appointed chairman. Mark Ronald has been appointed chief operating officer and president of BAE Systems North America. Harris Belman has been named vice president for homeland security. Mike Rouse has been appointed group marketing director.
The military services and the FAA often take different approaches to aviation safety issues, even if the aircraft concerned are similar or use common parts and materials, the General Accounting Office says in a new report. The Jan. 22 report, "Aviation Safety: FAA and DOD Response to Similar Safety Concerns" (GAO-02-77), cites an example involving technologies to avoid collision with terrain. Here, the report says, the military has lagged about 20 years behind the FAA in requiring the installation of such technologies aboard passenger aircraft.
Japan's Self-Defense Agency has selected NEC Corp. to be the prime contractor for a program to develop a new version of the Base Air Defense Ground Equipment (BADGE), an air defense warning and control system. The agency's schedule calls for developing the system within six years and starting its operation by fiscal 2008. The development cost is estimated at about $530 million.
Linda Leukhardt has been appointed sector vice president of business management and chief financial officer of Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Newport News sector.
When NASA's Space Technology 5 (ST-5) mission demonstrates satellite formation flight techniques 2004, it will open the door for numerous ambitious science missions, according to Russell Carpenter, lead navigation and flight dynamics engineer for formation flight at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
BAE Systems, Farnborough, U.K. Sir Charles Masefield has been appointed chairman. Mark Ronald has been appointed chief operating officer and president of BAE Systems North America. Harris Belman has been named vice president for homeland security. Mike Rouse has been appointed group marketing director. Compass Aerospace, Santa Ana, Calif. Eric Gunther has joined the company's Southwest Leadership team. Goodrich Corp., Charlotte, N.C.
The head of the Defense Department's foreign military sales agency presented the official U.S. proposal to meet Austria's requirement for new fighters Jan. 22, telling Austrian officials that Lockheed Martin's F-16 will meet Austria's requirements until the company's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is completed.
European officials have reported progress on several major collaborative military procurement programs governed by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation, known by its French acronym OCCAR. Defense ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom met last week in Bonn, Germany, to discuss improving the cost-effectiveness and management of collaborative defense projects. OCCAR was established in 1996, but its operations as a legal entity didn't start until March 1, 2001.
