Russia is planning three launches carrying a total of five satellites in December, according to the Russian Space Troops press center. On Dec. 1, a Proton rocket carrying three Glonass navigation system satellites is scheduled for launch. On Dec. 10, a Zenit rocket is scheduled to carry a Meteor 3M satellite to space. Both launches are scheduled to take off from the Baikonur site in Kazakhstan. In late December, a Tsiklon-3 rocket carrying a Kosmos satellite is scheduled to launch from Plesetsk.
The Defense Department plans to ask Congress to approve the use of a "multi-year-like" development contract for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to reduce costs and free up money to "buy more stuff," according to Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Edward "Pete" Aldridge.
A panel of airline and defense industry representatives at the Homeland Security&Defense conference in Washington on Nov. 27 said their companies are developing security products and systems to address a variety of needs following the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks. Those products include the Silent Runner software system developed by Raytheon Co.'s Intelligence Programs division to guard against cyber attack, and the blast- and bullet-proof cockpit door and bulkhead system designed by B/E Aerospace Inc.
Astronomers have made the first direct detection and chemical analysis of the atmosphere of a planet outside the solar system using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, scientists announced Nov. 27.
Global Hawk, the Air Force's high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, began flying missions over Afghanistan last week, according to Pentagon officials, who added that it is still too soon to assess how the new system is performing. "It has had a very limited number of hours on station," Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Nov. 26 at the Pentagon.
The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) is expected to announce Nov. 27 when the next Integrated Flight Test (IFT) will take place, according to BMDO spokesman Lt. Col. Rick Lehner. The next test will be the seventh IFT to date and the second this year for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense Segment. The Boeing Co. is the lead systems integrator for the program.
Boeing Co. said it has completed a second design milestone for the 737 airborne early warning and control system to be used in Australia's $1 billion-plus Project Wedgetail. The four-day preliminary design review (PDR) for the mission computing subsystem hardware was completed Nov. 15. It follows a PDR on the radar and identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) system, completion of which was announced in September.
NAVY VICE ADM. ARTHUR K. CEBROWSKI (ret.) has been appointed director of the Pentagon's new Office of Force Transformation, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Nov. 26. The new office will be responsible for evaluating transformation activities and ongoing transformation programs. Cebrowski will report directly to Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.
Responding to a recent positive NASA report on the V-22 Osprey, two prominent defense analysts told The DAILY that ongoing operations in Afghanistan show a military need for the flexibility and range of tiltrotor aircraft. "I think this assessment from NASA is both sound in terms of what it concludes, and very timely, insofar as there are reports that the usual suspects are once again trying to prevent the V-22 from being brought to fruition," said Frank J. Gaffney, president and CEO of the Center for Security Policy.
The Air Force is analyzing alternatives to the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite program, but E.C. "Pete" Aldridge, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, will decide whether the effort should proceed. Teammates Lockheed Martin and TRW on Nov. 16 won a $2.7 billion contract for the System Development and Demonstration phase of the AEHF program, intended to be the next generation of military communications satellites. Rising costs and slipping schedules prompted a look at possible alternatives.
The propellantless thrust of a solar sail could be humanity's best bet for sending spacecraft beyond the edge of the solar system, according to NASA scientist Les Johnson. The gentle but insistent push of solar photons could accelerate a solar-sail powered vehicle to speeds as high as 40-50 kilometers per second by the time it reached Jupiter, Johnson told the DAILY.
Northrop Grumman Corp. officials said Nov. 26 that the company has completed its public equity offerings, which raised nearly $1.5 billion that will be used for debt reduction and other corporate purposes. The offerings included 9.2 million shares of common stock and 6.9 million equity security units. Northrop Grumman officials announced Nov. 16 that each share of common stock would be sold for $88.50 while each equity security unit would be priced at $100, with a 7.25 percent coupon and a 22 percent conversion premium.
Hungarian defense minister Janos Szabo and Swedish defense minister Bjorn von Sydown signed a Memorandum of Understanding Nov. 23 for Hungary's lease of Gripen JAS 39s to upgrade Hungary's air force to NATO standards. Hungary picked the Gripen International aircraft last month (DAILY, Sept. 11). The 10-year lease, estimated at $500 million, is expected to call for 14 Gripens to be transferred from the Swedish air force, 10 single-seat JAS 39As and four two-seat JAS 39B combat trainers.
PARTNERS: FiatAvio, Goodrich Corp., Hamilton Sundstrand and Honeywell have become partners in developing Rolls-Royce's Trent 900 engine for the Airbus A380. Goodrich will be responsible for portions of the engine's fan case, Honeywell will supply its pneumatic system, FiatAvio will build the gearbox and Hamilton Sundstrand will produce the Full Authority Digital Engine Control system.
The Department of Defense will test and evaluate an obstacle warning system for helicopters that was developed by a subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., EADS officials said Nov. 26. Depending upon the outcome of the tests, the Helicopter Laser Radar (Hellas) system could eventually be bought for use on U.S. military helicopters.
Senate Armed Services Committee ranking Republican John Warner (Va.) said Nov. 26 that the U.S. should examine whether intelligence-gathering technology used by the military overseas should also help defend the homeland against terrorists.
November 19, 2001 The Boeing Defense and Space Group, Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $21,261,500 firm-fixed-price contract modification to provide for four group A re-engining kits applicable to the RC-135 aircraft, one group A re-engining kit applicable to the KC-135E aircraft, associated engineering and data. At this time, the total amount of funds has been obligated. This work will be complete June 2003. The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (F34601-97-C-0001, P00096).
