Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center are running initial wind-tunnel tests on the human space launch vehicle that will replace the space shuttle, while trainers at Johnson Space Center have certified the first 11 astronauts selected after the Columbia accident shifted focus in the space program to the post-shuttle era.
LONDON -- BAE Systems is beginning to detail previously classified unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) research efforts, including flying a representative low observable air vehicle. BAE first flew a UCAV demonstrator, dubbed Raven, in late 2003. The low observable design is part of the company's wider work into UCAV technology for the British Defense Ministry.
The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) officially has entered its critical design phase following the recent closeout of nine action items left over from the program's preliminary design review in November, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced Feb. 15. During the PDR, Navy program leaders met with prime contractor Boeing in Seattle. "Most technical review board members walked away from the P-8A PDR very impressed with how well prepared the program came to the event," Navy MMA lead Cmdr. Mike Moran said in a statement.
Leaders of the House Appropriations homeland security subcommittee from both parties are questioning the Homeland Security Department's fiscal 2007 budget request, and namely its emphasis on borders and immigration security as compared to continuing needs elsewhere such as the Coast Guard.
COMBAT CONTROL: Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems said Feb. 15 that it has been awarded a $31.7 million contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command to provide integrated combat control systems for the next five Virginia class submarines. The agreement includes all combat control hardware and software, as well as tactical software and logistics support. It includes procurement, production, testing and integration.
The Army secretary and chief of staff declined Feb. 15 to give House defense authorizers much insight on how they would fund a potential surge in troop levels, but said they were confident they could find the $963 million within the Army's $110 billion fiscal 2007 request. In particular, Secretary Francis Harvey and Gen. Peter Schoomaker did not answer whether they would take funds from weapon systems, despite ranking Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton's (Mo.) persistence at a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
The Defense Department's fiscal 2007 budget request for research and development (R&D) is $74 billion, according to White House Science Adviser John Marburger, which is more than half of the government's entire R&D request for the year.
Gaylene M. McHale has been named vice president and program manager of large deck amphibious ship programs for the company's Ship Systems sector. Harry Miles has been appointed sector vice president of enterprise process development and quality.
The limitations of U.S. Air Force helicopters often pressed into search and rescue operations were underscored on Feb. 13, when a 40th Helicopter Squadron UH-1N "Huey" crew rescued an injured climber in Montana's Mission Mountain range. Although its primary mission is supporting Minuteman missile field operations, the unit also has logged 361 "saves" over several years.
DRS Technologies has received a $54 million contract to provide infrared sighting systems for U.S. Army combat vehicles, the Parsippany, N.J., company said Feb 15. The horizontal technology integration second generation forward looking infrared (HTI SGF) sighting systems will provide enhanced night vision capability to the Army's M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank System Enhancement Package and M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) teams at the NASA Jet propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and at Lockheed Martin near Denver have shifted into final "approach phase" operations as they prepare for Mars orbit insertion March 10.
AIRCRAFT REPAIRS: Sikorsky Aircraft has been awarded a $97.5 million contract for the repair and overhaul of 10 components of H-53 helicopters, the Defense Department said Feb 15. If all options are exercised, the contract could be worth $219.2 million. The work will be done in Cherry Point, N.C., and Stratford, Conn. It is expected to be finished by February 2010. The contract was awarded by the Naval Inventory Control Point.
Bell Helicopter Textron is embarking on an aggressive four-year technology maturation program aimed at positioning the company to capture military business in the emerging vertical unmanned aerial systems market.
"We're on path to the finest Army aviation we've ever had," Army Gen. Peter Schoomaker said Feb. 15, but he also acknowledged it came at the price of major acquisition upheaval such as canceling the Comanche helicopter. Schoomaker, Army Chief of staff, told the House Armed Services Committee that "every cent" of the $12.6 billion Comanche effort was committed to upgrading other legacy helicopters.
