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.
Raytheon is beating the U.S. Air Force's cost reduction goals for the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV) sensor suite, according to company officials. "The Air Force has a cost goal for the [sensor] system over time, and we've achieved that and bettered that for the basic system," said Steve Sheridan, director of the reconnaissance and surveillance systems group at Raytheon Unmanned and Reconnaissance Systems.
The proposed $3 billion sale of satellite operator Intelsat to Zeus Holdings still is likely to go through, despite the Jan. 14 failure of Intelsat's IS-804 spacecraft, according to Futron Corp. Senior Space Analyst Phil McAlister. "There will almost certainly be a [price] renegotiation, and I think both parties want the deal to go through," McAlister told The DAILY.
Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) is preparing to make recommendations to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper on what systems to develop for exploiting near-space altitudes. Jumper asked for the recommendations during a Dec. 21 meeting with AFSPC commander Gen. Lance Lord. AFSPC has the lead within the Air Force for developing capabilities for near-space, roughly defined as 65,000 to 325,000 feet altitude.
