It certainly has been a hot summer for contracts associated with U.S. ballistic missile defense (BMD) and Aegis combat system-related work. The U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded contracts and contract modifications for at least $2.3 billion worth of missiles, BMD research and Aegis system-related work in July and August, according to Pentagon contract reports. The potential total cumulative amount for those contracts approaches about $3.9 billion.
FRANKFURT — Bernhard Gerwert has been named the new CEO of EADS’ defense division Cassidian, effective immediately following the resignation of longtime CEO Stefan Zoller. Zoller has headed the division since 2005. His departure does not come as a complete surprise, after he was rumored to have wanted to become EADS CEO when the group sought a replacement for Louis Gallois earlier this year. The board picked ex-Airbus CEO Thomas Enders, who has headed EADS since June.
SINGAPORE — Thailand’s air force has decided that the Eurocopter EC-725 will be the type to replace its aging Vietnam War-era Bell UH-1Hs. The country’s cabinet has approved the purchase of 10 EC-725s, according to an air force spokesperson. “The project is divided into two phases; the first phase is to receive the first four helicopters within the year 2015,” the spokesperson says.
HOUSTON — Astronauts Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide will attempt to troubleshoot problems with an electrical unit outside the International Space Station during a Sept. 5 spacewalk organized over the U.S. Labor Day weekend.
SINGAPORE — Vietnam is expected to receive its third Airbus Military C212-400 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) next year, completing its order for the type and giving a major boost to Vietnam’s maritime surveillance capabilities. The Southeast Asian nation ordered three of the aircraft in 2008 for the Vietnam Maritime Police. The first arrived in Hanoi on Aug. 16 after a 10-day ferry flight from Skavsta, Sweden, Airbus Military says. On the way the aircraft stopped in Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India and Thailand.
The Obama administration is supposed to provide details on how it will handle a potential across-the-board federal budget reduction later this week. And although Congress could return after the November elections with a plan for delaying or somehow avoiding the budget penalty known as sequestration, contractors are also preparing themselves for the possibility. Agnes Dover, director of the government contracts group at the international law firm Hogan Lovells, has had a number of tips for her clients as the “fiscal cliff” nears.
Just as the Pentagon has asked for authority to put five programs into contracts that will run for up to four years, budget turmoil on Capitol Hill threatens to throw a wrench in the Defense Department’s plan to save money and add stability to the industrial base on those and other long-term agreements.
In observance of the U.S. Labor Day holiday, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report is not publishing a Sept. 4 issue. The next issue will be dated Sept. 5. Aviation Week Intelligence Network subscribers can visit www.aviationweek.com/awin for news updates.
LOD, Israel — Israel is ready to test the complete version of its improved Arrow missile defense system to demonstrate that it can reach farther and higher to destroy newer, higher-speed ballistic weapons. The modifications also will provide the basis for even more improvements. These include the ability to search more of the electromagnetic spectrum for elusive, high-speed missile threats being designed and tested by Iran.
MOTOR RUNNING: Alliant Techsystems (ATK) will perform a horizontal test-firing of their GEM-60 solid rocket motor on Sept. 6 at 11:15 a.m. MDT at the company’s facility in Promontory, Utah. The 43-ft.-long, 60-in.-dia. graphite epoxy motor will be cooled to 30F and will produce up to 270,000 lb. of thrust. The GEM-60’s fixed nozzle is needed to accurately test at the colder temperature. The nozzle, previously built by a supplier, is now built by ATK. A public viewing area will be available along route 83 North, approximately 20 mi. west of Corinne, Utah.
October 9, 2012 Amsterdam,The Netherlands Repair in New Generation Aircraft: Challenges and OpportunitiesLightweight composites will soon rival metals as the primary material for airframes. Are you prepared? This event will highlight the latest developments, challenges and best practices in aircraft composite repair and maintenance technology. It will allow all of the key industry players to discuss best practices and share experiences. Register now! www.aviationweek.com/events/composites
FRANKFURT — Airbus Military is delaying the entry into service of the first and second A400M in response to a temporary suspension of function and reliability (F&R) testing.
NEW DELHI — India’s parliament has approved a bill to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Act to forbid the transfer of specified toxins to and from any country not party to the convention. “The Chemical Weapons Convention (Amendment) Bill, 2012, part of India’s international obligation, seeks to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000, which was enacted to . . . help prohibit the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction,” says a senior government official.
An Aug. 31 story on the JDAM-ER mischaracterized the status of the agreement between Times Aerospace Korea and Boeing. The two companies ended their agreement to co-develop a wing kit for 2,000-lb. JDAM bombs, but Boeing intends to complete the work with other partners.
BERLIN – German researchers are pleased so far with the results of their summer launch of a rocket-boosted hypersonic demonstrator, which reached 11 times the speed of sound, even though it is now clear they will not be able to recover the vehicle payload from its resting place at the bottom of the Greenland Sea.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) sept. 4 - 7 — Netherlands Association of Aeronautical Engineers' 38th Annual European Rotorcraft Forum, Amsterdam Marriott, The Netherlands. For more information go to http:erf2012.nlr.nl sept. 10 - 13 — 2012 MOAA/NDIA Warior-Family Symposium, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C. For more information go to www.ndia.org/meetings/2120/Pages/default.aspx
September 20-21, 2012 Hyatt Regency Miami, Miami Fla. AIRLINES ATTEND FOR FREE! PLUS: Sign up for your FREE showcase pass and fnd the right IT system to ft your existing procedures, systems, and equipment! Transforming the Enterprise with Cutting-Edge IT The only event solely focused on MRO IT and the disparity between maintenance operations and existing technologies.
ST. LOUIS — Boeing continues to refine the design of upgrades to increase the performance of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and says recently completed wind-tunnel evaluations have cleared the way for flight test of the enhancements if there is sufficient customer interest. The conformal fuel tanks (CFT), internal infrared search and track (ISRT) sensor and stealthy weapons pods, combined with more-powerful versions of the E/F’s General Electric F414 engines, are designed to increase range and acceleration and reduce radar signature.
HOUSTON — NASA’s twin Radiation Belt Storm Probe mission spacecraft thundered into Earth orbit atop an Atlas 5/Centaur upper stage combination early Aug. 30, initiating a $686 million, two-year mission for studies of high-energy particle fluctuations within the Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts, including their response to solar activity and influences on space weather. The United Launch Alliance rocket carrying the two 1,400-lb. probes lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., at 4:05 a.m. EDT.
