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.
Boeing is nearing deals on upgrades to AH-64 Apache helicopters purchased by various countries through foreign military sales, according to the company. Closest to fruition is a contract to remanufacture 30 AH-64A Apaches purchased by the United Arab Emirates into the AH-64D configuration. That contract is expected in the first quarter of this year, according to Mike Burke, Boeing's director of rotorcraft business development.
The military services should start sooner rather than later on developing the various supporting technologies that will enable future high-energy, solid-state laser weapons, according to Northrop Grumman. "A weapon system is made up of more than just the laser," said Dan Wildt, the company's director of business development for directed energy systems. Supporting systems include optics for aiming, technology to identify and track targets as well as pick an aim point, and platform requirements such as power and cooling, he said.
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin tried to reassure the astronomical community about NASA's continued commitment to science during an address to the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Washington Jan. 10, saying that NASA does not plan "to sacrifice present-day scientific efforts for the sake of future benefits to be derived from exploration."
