SHIP TRIALS: The U.S. Navy's newest amphibious ship, the first-of-class USS San Antonio (LPD-17), is halfway through its testing, according to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). The San Antonio has made "impressive progress" toward completing her post-construction tests and trials in the last six months since departing Northrop Grumman Corp.'s shipyard, NAVSEA said June 22. However, testing began on April 10 and was expected to conclude in early June, with results to be released six months after completion (DAILY, May 8).
TOPPING OUT: Some observers think a defense spending pattern that played out after the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Reagan defense buildup is about to happen again. The pattern suggests that when the total value of military outlays approaches half a trillion dollars, it bounces off an "invisible ceiling" and begins to drop, according to Lexington Institute's Loren Thompson. "Some people believe it is about to unfold again," he says, including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services airland subcommittee.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched a dual-spacecraft technology demonstration mission from Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral, Fla., June 21 aboard a U.S. Air Force/Boeing Delta rocket. The Micro-Satellite Technology Experiment (MiTEx) consists of two 500-pound U.S. military spacecraft that will demonstrate new technologies and formation flight in geosynchronous orbit. One spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin and the other by Orbital Sciences Corp.
GPS AWARD: The U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles awarded the Boeing Co.'s Navigation and Communication Systems division a $138.3 million contract modification for the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIF, the Defense Department said June 22. The contract provides for the "next generation" of advanced GPS satellites with navigation enhancements for both military and civilian users. The modification exercises the fiscal 2006 option to begin production of three satellites, Space Vehicles 10 through 12.
SPLIT FUNDING: Bush administration efforts to incrementally fund several large acquisitions, though backed by the aerospace and defense industry, are receiving a bumpy and uneven reception on Capitol Hill. An incremental proposal for F-22A Raptor aircraft was rejected by both the House and Senate, although a related proposal to allow a multiyear contract award passed (DAILY, June 23). Another incremental proposal for DD(X) destroyers could be blocked as well.
A General Aviation group wants the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to set strict standards for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) before their use expands from the military to the civilian sector. The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA), which represents 470,000 aircraft owners and general aviation pilots in 64 countries, is worried that as UAV use increases it will come at the expense of manned aircraft.
FIRE SCOUT: Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) tried unsuccessfully to amend the Senate's fiscal 2007 defense authorization bill to require the Army to buy eight of Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Fire Scout unmanned aircraft, as specified in the Bush administration's budget request, as well as earmark $29 million from Army research and development funds for experimenting with and fine tuning tactics for use of the drones. Lott introduced the amendment June 20 but it was never brought up for debate and vote.
The Senate on June 22 sided with Lockheed Martin Corp. and its F-22A Raptor industry team by approving a multiyear acquisition contract for the increasingly expensive fighter despite criticism by Senate Armed Services Committee leaders and defense acquisition reform advocates. In a vote of 70-28, senators added an amendment sponsored by Georgian Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) allowing the multiyear to the fiscal 2007 defense authorization bill.
Senate defense policy makers have gone along with an effort by missile defense advocate Sen. Jeff Sessions to boost the ballistic missile defense system's ground-based midcourse testing, especially for accelerating "realistic" trials.
The Senate passed its fiscal 2007 defense authorization bill on June 22, setting up a congressional conference with the House to work out a compromise over annual defense policymaking. Senators, per usual, voted unanimously for the bill, 96-0; but first they added several amendments including provisions for multiyear F-22A Raptor acquisition and missile defense testing.
John J. Chino has been appointed deputy of the electronic systems sector and vice president and general manager of enterprise excellence. George B. Hull has been named to the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.
The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has signed KLA-Tencor Corp. of San Jose, Calif., to a $5.44 million cost-share and technology-investment agreement to investigate the feasibility of various key requirements needed to develop reflective electron-beam lithography technology. The contract, announced June 21 by the Defense Department, runs through December. DARPA solicited bids online in January and multiple proposals were received, the DOD said.
REAPPOINTED: The European Space Agency has reappointed Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain for a new four-year term. Dordain was named to the head post in December 2002. Launcher Chief Antonio Fabrizi and Human Spaceflight Director Daniel Sacotte were also reappointed.
The White House and Congress, both controlled by Republicans, are squaring off in a congressional election year as they try to hash out fiscal 2007 defense appropriations - albeit with different agendas. The White House Office of Management and Budget warned lawmakers June 20 that any "final DOD appropriations bill that significantly underfunds the Department of Defense to shift funds to nonsecurity spending" would trigger a veto.
George J. Tenet, Alan Wade and John P. Young have been named to the newly-created senior advisory board. Tenet is a former CIA director. Wade is a former chief information officer and director of security for the CIA. Young is a former senior CIA intelligence analyst, manager and chief information officer.
Tom Darcy has been appointed executive vice president of strategic projects. Mark Sopp has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer.
As part of their new interagency agreement, the U.S. Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) will be performing a "systematic" review of their respective space launch and operations work forces and may seek reductions in some areas. "If we find ways in the area of operations or launch where we might find the possibility of efficiencies, I would hope in the end that we might achieve some manpower savings," said Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, vice commander of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC).
Anthony J. Ammendolia has been named executive director for government relations. Don Brownlee is retiring at the end of 2006 as Aerojet vice president of Washington, D.C., operations. John D. Schumacher has been named to replace Brownlee.
