Since the Defense Dept. announced Lockheed Martin Corp. as the winner of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition on Oct. 26, the tone of team members' public statements suggests they're feeling pretty good about their fortune.
Lockheed Martin Corp.'s win in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition positions the company to dominate the fighter market beginning in 2008, as the Defense Department begins to replace aging A-10s, F-16s, early model Navy F/A-18s, and the Marine Corp's AV-8B. The final JSF production contract could be worth "in excess of $200 billion," said Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics E.C. "Pete" Aldridge, speaking at the Pentagon Oct. 26.
Commercial aerospace suppliers already know demand for their products will be sharply reduced for months to come, although companies are still trying to figure out just how severe a downturn they're facing.
With so much attention focused in recent weeks on airlines' survival and the impact their struggle is having on commercial aviation suppliers, it's easy to forget that the weak U.S. economy is playing no small role in eroding some companies' performance.
Pure-play defense contractors, large and small, are receiving a steady stream of inquiries about their ability to dramatically increase production of weapon systems, as well as other items necessary to support Operation Enduring Freedom.
It may be months before there is a clear indication of just how hard the Boeing Co. and other aerospace contractors will be hit by the softening in Asia/Pacific air traffic.
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center plans to conduct follow-on testing of a wing design that achieved supersonic natural laminar flow over more than 80% of a test article during initial flights.
The Mexican government has ordered 24 Bell 206L-4 LongRanger helicopters worth $35 million to locate and destroy marijuana and opium poppy fields in remote mountainous areas.
With Iridium LLC's survival in doubt and ICO Global Communications Ltd. experiencing problems of its own--a recent public offering failed to raise the $600 million management had targeted--some observers might be questioning what the future holds for satellite operators in general.
Facing barriers to entry stiffer than management initially anticipated, Litton Industries Inc. plans to bow out of the commercial mainframe outsourcing and professional services businesses.
A privately held company since 1907, employee-owned United Parcel Service of America Inc. is proposing to offer stock to the public, but not for the usual reason of raising capital.
Speculation about possible transatlantic mergers between major European and U.S. aerospace/defense companies may have been responsible for propelling the price of Northrop Grumman Corp.'s stock to 745/16--an increase of 5 points--last Wednesday.
In the early 1990s, the U.S. Air Force seemed to be suffering an epidemic of fighter accidents. Class A mishaps -- incidents that cost at least $1 million or end up in loss of an aircraft -- were rising, and even lesser incidents were beginning to take a bite out of readiness.
Large market shares, a huge installed base of equipment and systems, and technology leadership across all of its core businesses combine to form a solid base from which Honeywell Corp. should be able to improve its financial performance during the next five years.
Israeli defense electronics manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd. is a company to watch as a likely buyer while consolidation among lower-tier suppliers plays out in the U.S.
Capacity among U.S. airlines is expected to increase significantly, starting in the second quarter, and sustain an aggressive rate of growth through 1999.
British Aerospace's decision to merge with GEC Marconi has eased France's fears that its industry would be marginalized in the European consolidation race.
Until recently, consolidation of major systems integrators have largely overshadowed forces shaping how lower tiers of the aerospace supply chain will look in the future.
It may be months before there is a clear indication of just how hard the Boeing Co. and other aerospace contractors will be hit by the softening in Asi a/Pacific air traffic.
The seasonal character of the airline business and a set of special circumstances have induced Steve Lewins of Gruntal to lower ratings on stocks of six airlines.
