Standard & Poor's Ratings Services revised its outlook on L-3 Communications from stable to positive, the company said Dec. 15. The move reflects "a steadily improving financial profile, increased program diversity, and the positive outlook for defense spending," S&P said. The company's balance sheet has periodically become "highly leveraged" from acquisitions, S&P said, but "management has a good record of restoring financial flexibility by issuing equity."
NAME CHANGE: NASA plans to release the first images from its Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) on Dec. 18, the aerospace agency said. It also will announce a new name for the observatory, which was launched in August to study galaxies, stars and planet-forming discs that orbit around them.
General Dynamics Land Systems won a $2 billion contract - the largest in its history - to develop the next generation of tanks, artillery and infantry carriers for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, the company announced Dec. 15.
Northrop Grumman tested its proposed battle management command and control (BMC2) subsystem for the U.S. Air Force's E-10A Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A) during a series of simulated flights conducted last week, the company announced Dec. 15.
Lockheed Martin and teammate PerkinElmer Optoelectronics demonstrated the multi-target warhead fuze for Lockheed Martin's proposed Joint Common Missile (JCM) in a series of tests completed earlier this month at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
NEW DELHI - The Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 MKI multirole aircraft that are the heart of the Indian air force's military strategy have developed engine problems, an air force official said. Engines for the 28 aircraft acquired so far have proven problematic and require overhauls much earlier than scheduled, the official said. The trouble has forced Indian defense planners to consider slowing the delivery of additional Su-30 MKIs due from Russia.
HARD WORK: Reforming America's export control regime will require a sustained commitment from the next presidential administration, according to Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO John Douglass. "It's going to take some awful hard work, and the administration ... whether it's a second Bush administration or a new Democratic administration, have got to make up their minds that they're going to go down to the Hill and make this an administration priority," he says.
Dec. 15 -- International Air Service Seminar, The Westin Grand, Washington, D.C. Contact Howard Mann at (202) 293-8500 x 3037, email [email protected] or go to www.aci-na.aero. Dec. 18 -- Aviation Week & Space Technology and ShareSpace Foundation present "Next Century of Flight Space Imperatives," Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C. To register go to http://www.aviationweedk.com/conferences.
After scrapping an effort to partner with industry on a follow-on system, NASA is talking with Congress and the Bush Administration about forming an international consortium to provide Landsat-type satellite images after the retirement of the ailing Landsat 7 satellite. Landsat spacecraft have been providing remote sensing data to government, private and international users for nearly 30 years. NASA manages the satellites, with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) processing and distributing the data.
CORRECTION: A story in the Dec. 12 issue of The DAILY incorrectly characterized a quote from Lt. Robert Lyon, spokesman for the Chief of Naval Air Training, about the T-45 Training System program. It should have read, "I believe we're meeting our [training] goals." Also, CNTRA initially incorrectly stated the readiness rate of T-2 aircraft, which is 78 percent ready for flight and 82 percent mission capable.
VXX RFP: The final request for proposals (RFP) for the VXX presidential helicopter replacement program will be released to contractors Dec. 15. Lockheed Martin/Agusta Westland's US101 and Sikorsky's S-92 are the contenders for the program. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) plans to buy 23 aircraft to replace the Sikorsky-built VH-3Ds and VH-60s currently used for executive transport missions. The new aircraft would be introduced starting in 2008.
JOINT PROGRAMS: Federal budget constraints probably will force U.S. military services to cut costs by acquiring more weapon systems jointly, says Navy Rear Adm. Michael Mathis, director of the Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense Organization (JTAMDO). However, joint programs are unlikely to replace service-specific programs entirely because each service still will have unique needs, he says. The Navy, for instance, will continue to buy ships that no other service wants, while the Air Force is unlikely to join the Army in buying tanks.
MID-LIFE UPDATE: Ingram also says the idea of a mid-life upgrade for the Typhoon still is being studied. "Typhoon's incremental acquisition strategy means that enhancements to the aircraft's capabilities will be incorporated progressively after its initial entry into service," he says. "It is too early in the Typhoon program to consider whether a formal mid-life update for the aircraft might be needed or how it might best be achieved."
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the Czech Republic's planned purchase or lease of 14 supersonic aircraft with Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, according to Czech government sources.
NEW DELHI - Cooperation between India and Israel on satellite programs has run into trouble because Tel Aviv is reluctant to share technology with India, said sources in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). K. Kasturirangan, the head of India's space program, visited Israel last month seeking to acquire technology for microsatellites but was rebuffed, the sources said. ISRO wants to build communications microsatellites and is seeking the technology overseas, including from Israel, but has had little success so far.
LONDON - The United Kingdom's land, sea and air weapon platforms need major cuts to create a military force that could be deployed swiftly, a Ministry of Defence (MOD) White Paper published Dec. 11 says. The U.K. military needs "rebalancing and further investment in a range of enablers and logistics" to meet objectives, the MOD said. A key objective is to be able to conduct three operational campaigns simultaneously, including one long-term "peace support mission."
SMDC HANDOVER: Lt. Gen. Joseph Cosumano, the retiring head of Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), will formally hand over the SMDC reins on Dec. 16 to Maj. Gen. (Promotable) Larry Dodgen. SMDC, the Army component command to U.S. Strategic Command, handles missions that include space operations, information operations, global strike, integrated missile defense and command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR).
EL PASO, Texas - U.S. Army officials say the Iraq war has provided important lessons on how the service spends its money on air and missile defense systems. Some budgetary changes are already in the works.
NEW DELHI - Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has completed test trials of the Cheetah helicopter with a new engine, the Turbomecca TM 333 2M2, a company official said Dec. 12. The upgraded helicopter flew more than 50 development flights and the latest tested the engine's air intake pressure, temperatures, engine surge, hover performance, engine restarts and high-altitude performance. Cold weather trials are planned at Leh in 2004, the HAL official said. Certification in 2004
Converting analog-cockpit T-45A trainer aircraft to the digital-cockpit T-45C configuration is a target for the Chief of Naval Air Training, according to CNTRA spokesman Lt. Robert Lyon.
While British air assets succeeded in operations against Iraq earlier this year, the war raised questions and provided lessons about air combat, according to a new report from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD). Among the findings: * The U.K.'s use of precision-guided munitions was greater than in the Gulf War of 1991, and "stockpile planning is being reviewed accordingly." * "Effects-based operations require improved methods of accurately assessing the results of attacks on targets."
