Jeff has been involved in aerospace journalism since the mid 1990s. Prior to joining Aviation Week, Jeff served as managing editor of Launchspace magazine and the International Space Industry Report. He has been the editor and chief of Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report since 2007 and has been a regular contributor to Aviation Week magazine. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
As the program transitions to a Navy-only effort, Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) contractors Northrop Grumman and Boeing are expecting a request for proposals (RFP) later this year as a prelude to a contractor downselect.
Shifting requirements scuttled the B-52 Stand-Off Jammer program and pushed its projected cost from an original estimate of roughly $1 billion up to nearly $7 billion, according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "I think you could say there were lots of people that took opportunities to have it be something other than the initial requirement," Moseley told reporters following a breakfast speech in Washington April 4. Though such efforts were well-meaning, the ultimate result argues in favor of freezing configurations early, Moseley said.
The Marine Corps hopes to refurbish and return to service up to four more retired H-53 cargo helicopters on top of the three being refurbished now, according to Marine Col. Paul Croisetiere, Heavy Lift Replacement program manager. The Marines have a requirement for 160 heavy-lift CH-53s, but have only 148 in the current active inventory. Last summer the Navy and Marines took three H-53s out of retirement (DAILY, Aug. 29, 2005). The refurbishment takes 18-20 months and includes approximately 80 modifications to the aircraft.
