Lockheed Martin has broken ground on an Owego, N.Y., facility for its US101 entry in the VXX presidential helicopter competition, although a decision between it and rival Sikorsky isn't expected until May. "In order to maintain the delivery schedule set by our customer for the presidential helicopter, it is necessary for us to invest our own funds to begin construction activities now, before contract award," Stephen D. Ramsey, the Lockheed Martin US101 vice president and general manager, said in a statement.
MK80 WORK: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems will build bomb bodies for the MK80 Series bomb under a $103.9 million contract modification from the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command, Ill., the company said March 18. The contract has a potential value of $240 million, including options. Production under the modification includes inert and live bomb bodies in the 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound class, and will be performed at the company's Garland, Texas, facility. Work is expected to be completed by September 2005.
The U.S. Air Force is considering speeding development of a standoff electronic jamming capability for the B-52 bomber, sources said March 18. They said current plans call for development to begin in fiscal year 2005, leading to initial operational capability in 2011 or 2012. But, they added, options to speed the operational date to 2009 or 2010 are being investigated. - Rich Tuttle ([email protected])
The U.S. Army is ramping up testing of the Patriot anti-missile system after a two-year hiatus. The first intercept test since 2002 occurred March 4 and involved a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile successfully destroying a short-range ballistic missile target (DAILY, March 5). Tests planned for June and August will fire PAC-3s at multiple targets, said Col. John Vaughn, who oversees Patriot as project manager for the Army's Lower Tier Project Office in Huntsville, Ala.
Boeing will manufacture 14 T-45 training system airframes under a $247.6 million contract modification, the U.S. Department of Defense announced March 18. The work will be performed in St. Louis and Warton, Brough, England and is expected to be completed in September 2006.
ACQUISTION: General Dynamics will acquire space systems integrator Spectrum Astro of Gilbert, Ariz., the company said March 18. The boards of directors of both companies have approved the deal. Pending regulatory approval, it is expected to close within 60 days. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Spectrum Astro will become part of General Dynamics C4 Systems, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., the company said. "The U.S.
The first priority for Boeing's new Space Exploration Systems (SES) organization, headquartered near Washington, will be to help sell NASA's space exploration plans to Congress and the public, according to SES head Chuck Allen. "The American people right now are very skeptical, as they should be, because they don't have any details," Allen said at a briefing in Arlington, Va., March 18. "Many in Congress are skeptical because they don't have any details. Everybody [has questions] that there just aren't answers to yet. It's just too early.
Singapore has formalized its participation in the U.S. Defense Department's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development program by signing a "letter of offer and acceptance." The Singapore Ministry of Defence said the agreement would allow the Asian country to request delivery of JSF as early as 2012 if it decides to buy the aircraft.
GREENBELT, Md. - NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) probably can function on the surface of the planet for 200-250 days if the agency can find the money to operate them that long, according to Jim Garvin, lead scientist for Mars exploration at NASA headquarters. The twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity touched down on Mars in January to look for evidence of past water (DAILY, Jan. 16). Spirit has been on the surface for more than 70 days, and Opportunity for more than 50. The baseline mission for each golf-cart sized rover is 90 days.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The U.S. Army learned during Operation Iraqi Freedom that it needs to push networked communications down to the tactical level, a service official said March 17. "We need to overcome the digital divide, which prevents soldiers on the ground from having the same picture as does the commander in the command post," said Lt. Gen. William Wallace, deputy commanding general for combined arms at U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command. Wallace spoke at the Joint Forces Command-National Defense Industrial Association symposium here.
GENERAL DYNAMICS ELECTRIC BOAT will continue to convert the USS Florida (SSBN-728) from a Trident ballistic-missile submarine to a Trident SSGN cruise missile submarine under a $145.6 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy. The award modifies a five-year, $443 million contract awarded last year for the conversion of four Trident ballistic-missile submarines to the SSGN configuration.
ATHENA HUMAN & TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATED SECURITY SOLUTIONS has acquired GS-3, an international counterterrorism and aviation consulting firm. "Our acquisition of GS-3 is a natural evolution of Athena's business model, rounding out our strategy to respond to U.S. and international markets with a comprehensive and integrated approach to corporate and homeland security," Athena CEO Ruben Paz said in a statement.
GOODRICH CORP. said Eurocopter successfully completed the first flight of its NH90 helicopter equipped with Goodrich's all-electric Actuation Systems flight control. Production deliveries for the NH90 begin later this year, the company said. Goodrich is the main supplier of servo controls to Eurocopter France and "is proud to have participated in the development of the fly-by-wire system, which is a real technical innovation in the rotorcraft market," Jean-Guy Mutez, the Goodrich business development director for helicopters, said in a statement.
GENERAL DYNAMICS ORDNANCE AND TACTICAL SYSTEMS will demonstrate an advanced warhead and fuze for the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System under an Army contract that could be worth more than $3 million over two years.
GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES said testing of its new CT7-8C turboshaft engine is off to a successful start. The engine has exceeded its planned rating, demonstrating more than 3,100 shaft horsepower under sea level, static conditions, while meeting all test parameters, the company said. Maturation testing is scheduled to begin later this year, leading to full certification by the FAA.
AAI CORP., Hunt Valley, Md. Maj. Gen. John F. Michitsch (USA, ret.) has been appointed executive vice president. BOEING CAPITAL, Seattle Steve Vogeding, previously the chief financial officer, has been named vice president, transition management and operations integration. Russ Evans, the deputy chief financial officer, replaces Vogeding as CFO. John Rosenthal, the treasurer, will become director, risk management. Geoff Carpenter will replace Rosenthal as treasurer. CAE, Montreal
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT said the first of three Hellenic navy S-70B Aegean Hawk helicopters fitted with glass cockpits and system enhancements has flown at the company's main facility in Stratford, Conn. The aircraft are Seahawk variants that will be delivered to the Greek government this year to provide support for the Olympic games. Upgrades include Collins FMS-800 Flight Management Systems, Hellfire missile capability, countermeasure capability and improved navigation system performance.
RADIAN INC., a subsidiary of Engineered Support Systems, will provide 272 armor protection kits for U.S. Army medium tactical vehicles under a $16.3 million contract. The kits will be sent immediately to Army units in Iraq to reduce injuries caused by small arms fire, land mines and improvised explosive devices, the company said.
GENERAL DYNAMICS ARMAMENT AND TECHNICAL PRODUCTS will manufacture unguided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) 70mm rockets, motors and warheads for the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and foreign military sales customers, the company said. The work will be done under a $66.6 million order from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
GOODRICH CORP. will supply General Electric Aircraft Engines company with nacelle systems for the new C-X Japanese military cargo aircraft. The work is expected to be worth more than $100 million over the life of the program, including sales of spare components, the company said.
NUNN-PERRY AWARD: Boeing and Precision Machine & Manufacturing of Grove, Okla., were awarded the Nunn-Perry Award at the DOD's Mentor-Protege Conference March 17. The mentor-protege program encourages contractors to help small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses and organizations that employ the severely disabled to develop technical and business capabilities.
The United Kingdom Parliament's Select Committee on Defence favors the "robust" approach being taken by the British military on the Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle program, and considers the military's assessment of man-portable UAVs "well worthwhile."
