Raytheon is developing hardware to make flight ready its wide-field-of-view infrared missile detection sensor, which was developed as a possible alternative to the U.S. military’s Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS). The sensor, one of two developed under the Air Force’s Third-Generation Infrared Surveillance (3GIRS) program, could be launched around 2013, according to officials at the Space and Missile Systems Center’s (SMC) Development Planning Directorate.
PARIS — Thales is preparing for two important contractual developments — resetting the terms of the A400M military airlifter and launching production for the Rafale fighter’s active electronically scanned array radar. The A400M contract is being renegotiated between the European government contract agency, Occar, and Airbus Military. But Pierre-Eric Pommellet, senior vice president in charge of aerospace businesses at Thales, says the terms between the prime contractor and risk-sharing partners should also change.
CERTIFIABLE: The U.S. Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) expects to receive FAA Part 145 maintenance certification in mid to late November, according to Carlos Normandia, partnership coordinator for the organization, which recently received the AS9100/9110 quality assurance certification. Gaining the two certifications helps the FRCSW toward its goal of forging more maintenance, manufacturing and composite repair partnerships with industry.
The U.S. Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) lacks proper accounting procedures to reliably oversee recent C-130 work, according to the Pentagon Inspector General (IG), and may have flown service personnel in unsafe planes as a result. “AFMC did not have an adequate internal control process for managing deferred C-130 aircraft Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM),” the IG says in its report, dated late last month.
SUB COMMS: A Lockheed Martin-led industry team recently completed a successful Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the U.S. Navy’s Communications at Speed and Depth program, which provides real-time, two-way communications to submarines without them having to surface to periscope depth. All Navy submarines will be equipped with the capability, which will allow communication with surface ships, aircraft and land-based assets. Lockheed Martin will deliver three types of two-way communications buoys and associated submarine and shore equipment.
NASA Presolicitations NASA Presolicitations Date of Posting Response Date Opportunity Segment Procurement Office Solicitation Code Contact E-Mail 23-Oct-09 13-Nov-09 Rapid response space works and modular space vehicles RRSW-MSV Research & Developm
U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command’s (Navsea) Incentivized Energy Conservation (i-ENCON) initiative announced last week that Navy ships realized a record 1.36 million barrels of oil in fuel savings in fiscal 2009. The announcement follows an Oct. 14 energy conservation mandate from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. Citing the United States’ propensity for “bold steps,” Mabus listed five so-called energy targets he proposes the Navy meet in the next decade (Aerospace DAILY, Oct. 15).
Textron’s defense business buoyed its third-quarter results, as the downturn in business and general aviation continues to batter the company. Strong military demand for the Bell unit’s V-22 Osprey and H-1 helicopters strengthened the company’s results in the third quarter, which saw a $16 million boost. Bell’s military programs are “in a long-term ramp-up phase,” CEO-elect Scott Donnelly told analysts Oct. 27. Thanks to its defense contracts, Bell will see “strong topline growth in 2010,” Donnelly said.
LONDON — Despite the success being enjoyed by the British with the dual-mode seeker variant of the MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missile, a senior military official says there is no immediate plan to convert all of its stock of the weapon to this standard. “There’s a cost/benefits issue,” says Air Vice Marshal Tim Anderson, the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. “At the moment the stockpile is appropriate to the current task … There is no major plan to completely reinvest into Dual–Mode Seeker Brimstone.”
Total Costs for U.S. Army Aviation Accidents and Incidents, by Top 10 Major Part Types, Jan. 1, 2008 to July 28, 2009 Total Costs for U.S. Army Aviation Accidents and Incidents, by Top 10 Major Part Types, Jan.
The goal of a world without nuclear weapons and related nonproliferation efforts will be secured not by the looming Russian-U.S. deal over a follow-on Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start), but by the “treaty after next,” a panel of U.S. experts in Washington agreed Oct. 26.
Total Cost for U.S. Army Aviation Accidents and Incidents, by Aircraft Type, Jan. 1, 2008 to July 28, 2009 Total Cost for U.S. Army Aviation Accidents and Incidents, by Aircraft Type, Jan.
NAVY Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville, Pa., is being awarded a $523,530,301 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for naval nuclear propulsion components. The work will be performed in Monroeville, Pa., (67 percent); and Schenectady, N.Y., (33 percent). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. No completion date or additional information is provided on naval nuclear propulsion program contracts. The Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00024-10-C-2119).
The United States must do more than reduce the number of its nuclear weapons, according to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — it must also reduce the role they play in the nation’s security. “We believe now is the time for a look — a fresh look — at the views on the role of the United States nuclear weapons arsenal,” the secretary declared Oct. 21.
GCV BRIEFINGS: The U.S. Army announced an industry briefing Nov. 23-24 over the anticipated Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program to be held at the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center facility located on the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command campus in Michigan. Officials promised “detailed information about the GCV requirement and other pertinent, detailed information.” There will be a separate, half -day classified session on Nov. 24.
BAE Systems named Linda Hudson president and CEO of BAE Systems, Inc., the company’s U.S. arm, and chief operating officer of BAE Systems, plc. Hudson is replacing Tony Zinni, acting president and CEO since June, the company said in a statement. Hudson previously headed BAE Systems’ Land & Armaments Operating Group. Hudson, an aerospace industry veteran, came to BAE Systems from General Dynamics, where she was president of Armament and Technical Products. Zinni will be chairman of BAE Systems’ board of directors.
The new AGM-114R Hellfire II variant executed a “direct hit” during a recent proof-of-principle test, according to officials at Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army. The weapon — with its multifunctional warhead — will by 2013 be the single Hellfire II variant to roll off of Lockheed Martin’s production line, says Lt. Col. Michael Brown, the Army’s Hellfire products manager. This will eventually replace the K, M, N and P versions in use today.
Costs for U.S. Army Aviation Accidents and Incidents, by Top 10 Subpart Type, Jan. 1, 2008 to July 28, 2009 Costs for U.S. Army Aviation Accidents and Incidents, by Top 10 Subpart Type, Jan.
PARIS — The German government may follow the lead of the U.K. and reduce its own Eurofighter Typhoon purchase by unloading some of its required allotment to international customers. Germany had committed to buying 180 Typhoons, with 37 more to be purchased to reach that figure in the so-called Tranche 3B production phase. That phase was not yet on contract.
