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.
Pentagon leaders appear to have reached an agreement "in principle" to endorse Lockheed Martin and Boeing's proposed United Launch Alliance rocket merger, according to Jim McAleese of McAleese & Associates. First announced in May 2005, ULA would merge production of Lockheed Martin's Atlas and Boeing's Delta Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle families, both of which have struggled in the absence of a vigorous commercial launch market. The companies originally had hoped to secure approval for the deal by the end of 2005.
Gen. Gordon Sullivan (Ret.), former Army chief of staff and current president of the Association of the U.S. Army, is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for the Future Combat Systems program, despite recent cuts to its budget.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is organizing an "Armor Challenge" in which new types of lightweight passive vehicle armor will be tested against an array of projectiles. "The Armor Challenge is aimed primarily at inventors and small organizations who do not have the resources to initiate full-scale armor development programs," DARPA says. Proposals will be accepted from Feb. 20 through Aug. 31. The best-performing samples will be considered by DARPA for further development.
