TOKYO – Japan’s high-speed Internet satellite, Kizuna, has achieved another world record by establishing a direct 1.2 Gbps connection with a 2.4-meter (7.87-foot) ground antenna. The connection was made on May 2 by bonding together two 622 Mbps links to create a 1.2 Gbps connection for both upstream and downstream connections. The vehicle-mounted antenna was in Kagoshima, southwest of Japan.
U.S.-made commercial satellite components that are not superior to foreign manufacturers’ technology already in the world marketplace should not be subject to federal export controls, a leading aerospace technical society says. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) says it will recommend that the U.S. government lift technology export controls for commercial satellite components that perform at or below a set performance level. That limited capability makes them less attractive for military use.
ABLE ABRAMS: General Dynamics Land Systems said May 8 it received a $116 million U.S. Army contract for long-lead items for the Abrams main battle tank. The contract, awarded April 30, adds to an existing contract for reset of 204 M1A1 Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) tanks. Upgrades include new forward-looking infrared, far-target locate, a tank-infantry phone and driver’s vision enhancement.
The Defense Department will take what it calls a leadership-driven approach to the next quadrennial defense review (QDR) in the hopes of avoiding a process bogged down by stovepipes and parochialism. Two major documents talking about force employment and deployment, along with the establishment of a new position – capability portfolio manager – will, according to DOD officials, create a “leadership-driven” model for the next QDR.
ABLE ABRAMS: General Dynamics Land Systems said May 8 it received a $116 million U.S. Army contract for long-lead items for the Abrams main battle tank. The contract, awarded April 30, adds to an existing contract for reset of 204 M1A1 Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) tanks. Upgrades include new forward-looking infrared, far-target locate, a tank-infantry phone and driver’s vision enhancement.
ELECTRIC ARC: U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) accepted its 25,000th ARC-210 radio from Rockwell Collins on April 29. The radio is installed on more than 180 different types of platforms worldwide, ranging from fighter aircraft, transports, unmanned aerial systems, ships, vehicles and in buildings. The Navy alone has more than 9,800 in service. The ARC-210 provides two-way, multimode voice and data communications, with the most recent variant supporting a 30- to 941-megahertz frequency range.
NO SMALL AWARD: Vendor interest in the U.S. Army’s Information Technology Services – Small Business (ITS-SB) multiaward contract has quickly increased since April, according to IT consultancy Input. The anticipated value for the ITS-SB effort reaches $400 million, but small businesses know it puts them in a virtual “prime vendor” footing. The Army is looking to small businesses to fill IT gaps left by the land service’s two ITES contracts, and ITS-SB will supply services in specific task areas missed or limited under the current large ITES-2S and ITES-2H, Input says.
ARMY General Dynamics Lands Systems Division, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on April 30, 2008, a $116,148,304 firm-fixed price contract for the conversion of the long lead material contract for the 204 RESET M1A1 program. The work will be performed primarily in Lima, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Sept. 25, 2007. TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-G-0006). NAVY
The Irish government kicked off a competition to buy light tactical armored vehicles (LTAVs) on May 8, with bids due July 9 for the 27-vehicle program. The defense ministry says the vehicles need to “fulfill a number of distinct roles, within the full spectrum of operations both at home and overseas. The vehicles will be required to carry out a range of tasks including command, control and communications, light reconnaissance, target acquisition tasks and to act as a weapon platform.” Core program
NO SMALL AWARD: Vendor interest in the U.S. Army’s Information Technology Services – Small Business (ITS-SB) multiaward contract has quickly increased since April, according to IT consultancy Input. The anticipated value for the ITS-SB effort reaches $400 million, but small businesses know it puts them in a virtual “prime vendor” footing. The Army is looking to small businesses to fill IT gaps left by the land service’s two ITES contracts, and ITS-SB will supply services in specific task areas missed or limited under the current large ITES-2S and ITES-2H, Input says.
EAGLE STRIKE: A potential $447 million cut in authorized funding for F-15 repairs next fiscal year could amount to the greatest single spending reduction proposed by House Armed Services Committee members, a staff member says. The full $497 million request was to pay for structural fixes for the F-15A-D fleet, but subcommittee recommendations included only about $50 million for the repairs. The staff member noted that repair costs have been better estimated since then.
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Boeing is considering doing maintenance and overhaul on three Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) and the P-8I Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft at its planned MRO hub at India’s Nagpur Airport. “We are considering looking at support systems in India and are in discussions with Boeing and Aviall India, a Boeing subsidiary for components, to provide integrated capabilities,” George White, director of International Support Systems, told Aerospace DAILY here.
NASA’s J-2X rocket engine development project is moving into critical design review (CDR) with extensive data on the performance of its Saturn-heritage gas generator and turbomachinery, holding pace for first flight of the Ares I crew launch vehicle.
NAVY Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control, Archbald, Pa., is being awarded a $19,927,908 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-05-D-0020) for the procurement of 11,466 laser guided training rounds. The work will be performed in Archbald, Pa., and is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $881,166 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
COLUMBUS, Miss. – The U.S. Army plans to roll out the first UH-72A for the Army National Guard, which will operate the majority of the new helicopters, on June 7. Meanwhile, EADS North America is establishing its U.S. final assembly facility of the EC-145 derivative helicopters here. Managers of the facility here are in the second phase of what began as a three-phase transition of final assembly from Eurocopter’s facility in Donauworth, Germany. Final assembly consists of seven workstations at the Columbus facility.
SECTOR LEAD: Northrop Grumman has appointed Roger Fujii vice president and general manager of its Network Communications Division within its Mission Systems sector. Fujii reports to Phil Teel, corporate vice president and president of the Mission Systems sector. He is responsible for overall leadership and management of the division and will serve as the division’s executive of strategic initiatives. Fujii was a vice president in communications and systems technology prior to his promotion.
SECTOR LEAD: Northrop Grumman has appointed Roger Fujii vice president and general manager of its Network Communications Division within its Mission Systems sector. Fujii reports to Phil Teel, corporate vice president and president of the Mission Systems sector. He is responsible for overall leadership and management of the division and will serve as the division’s executive of strategic initiatives. Fujii was a vice president in communications and systems technology prior to his promotion.
ELECTRIC ARC: U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) accepted its 25,000th ARC-210 radio from Rockwell Collins on April 29. The radio is installed on more than 180 different types of platforms worldwide, ranging from fighter aircraft, transports, unmanned aerial systems, ships, vehicles and in buildings. The Navy alone has more than 9,800 in service. The ARC-210 provides two-way, multimode voice and data communications, with the most recent variant supporting a 30- to 941-megahertz frequency range.
The House Armed Services Committee is likely to approve language this week that slashes the Bush administration’s fiscal 2009 budget requests toward the proposed Reliable Replacement Warhead while underpinning Democratic efforts to re-examine the U.S. nuclear strategy in the post-9/11 world.
EAGLE STRIKE: A potential $447 million cut in authorized funding for F-15 repairs next fiscal year could amount to the greatest single spending reduction proposed by House Armed Services Committee members, a staff member says. The full $497 million request was to pay for structural fixes for the F-15A-D fleet, but subcommittee recommendations included only about $50 million for the repairs. The staff member noted that repair costs have been better estimated since then.
P5 SALE: Cubic Defense Applications has scored its first export sale of the P5 rangeless combat training system, to Poland. The potential $9.5 million contract for the Autonomous Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation program includes 16 DRS-built airborne pods for Polish air force Lockheed Martin F-16s, plus ground brief/debrief stations to be delivered to the Poznan-Krzesiny and Lask airbases by late 2009. The P5 system is operational at 10 U.S. bases, with deliveries to U.S. Air Force bases in Europe set for 2010.
LONDON - Network and processing constraints are limiting the U.K.’s ability to fully exploit its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms in ongoing military operations.
