Mesa, Ariz.-based MD Helicopters said Nov. 16 that it has delivered two more MD 600N helicopters to the Turkish National Police. The aircraft are the third and fourth of 10 ordered by the TNP. The new helicopters initially will be based near Ankara. The first two aircraft the TNP received are based in Ankara and Istanbul and are used for general law enforcement throughout the country. The six additional aircraft are set for delivery in 2006. The TNP ordered the helicopters in 2001, according to DAILY affiliate Aviation Week & Space Technology.
Raytheon will provide APS-134LW radar hardware to Toshiba for use in Japan's U-125A search and rescue aircraft, the company said. The company's Space and Airborne Systems unit will deliver seven receiver-exciter-synchronizer processors and four antenna gimbals to Toshiba under an $8.6 million contract. Raytheon and Toshiba are partnered on the APQ-2 radar, based on the APS-134LW. Toshiba provides the radar transmitter and antenna reflector for the system, which is installed on the U-125A, a modified Hawker 800.
Jeffrey A. Bakalar has been named chief financial officer. Stan Ross, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors, will no longer serve as interim CFO.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Air Force and NASA will meet Nov. 22 to discuss options for proceeding with the troubled National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System, which is running up to $3 billion over budget and years behind schedule.
Ross Dueber has been appointed president and CEO. He has also been elected to the board of directors. Dueber was formerly a vice president of Emerson Climate Technologies.
Finland is seeking up to 150 Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Missiles to upgrade its F/A-18 Hornet fleet, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Nov. 14. The deal would include 11 AIM-9X dummy training missiles, 40 captive air training missiles, containers, test sets and other equipment and support. Finland wants to incorporate the Sidewinders on its F/A-18s as part of a mid-life upgrade program, DSCA said. The deal could be worth up to $100 million.
The impact of the recent International Association of Machinists strike at Boeing "pervades" the new aerospace industry quarterly statistics, says Aerospace Industries Association official David Napier, although it's a negative blip on an otherwise generally positive year. An IAM strike halted Boeing's aircraft production for most of September, prompting it to say its aircraft deliveries for 2005 will drop from 320 to 290 aircraft.
JLENS AWARD: Raytheon said Nov. 15 it was awarded a $1.3 billion contract modification from the Army for the system development and demonstration phase of the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS). The Defense Department approved the SDD start in August. JLENS will provide over-the-horizon detection and tracking of low-flying cruise missiles.
In light of the estimated $5 billion budget shortfall facing the space shuttle program over the next few years, Boeing is considering merging elements of its shuttle and space station engineering work forces to save money and free personnel to work on new exploration-related systems. The total engineering work force for both programs numbers roughly 800 people, according to John Elbon, Boeing's International Space Station program manager.
The Surveilling Miniature Attack Cruise Missile (SMACM), a small, loitering missile being developed by Lockheed Martin, is being considered for government-sponsored testing, according to a company official.
DRS Technologies will develop infrared sensors for next-generation imaging systems to be used on future Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, the company said Nov. 15. The satellites will be used to gather infrared and radar data to help improve routine weather forecasting and provide early warning of severe storms. The work is being done under an $8.2 million contract from ITT Industries on behalf of NOAA, which operates and funds the GOES satellites. Including options, the work could be worth up to $38 million, DRS said.
General Dynamics Land Systems said Nov. 15 that it has been awarded a $42 million delivery order to provide 59 refurbished U.S. Army M1A1 Abrams Integrated Management tanks to the Australian military. The order is the final part of a $70 million foreign military sales contract. GDLS will disassemble, overhaul and refurbish the Abrams tanks to a like-new condition. The Abrams tanks will replace Australia's Leopard main battle tanks.
A rollover problem with the U.S. Army's Stryker vehicle that caused two fatal accidents last year has been solved through better driver training, according to Col. Peter Fuller, the Army's Stryker Brigade Combat Team program manager. For protection against rocket-propelled grenades, Stryker vehicles in Iraq are equipped with slat armor that extends roughly one and a half feet from each side of the vehicle. Because of the extra width, Stryker drivers often have to swerve off roads to give other vehicles room to pass.
Earth imagery products and services provider Orbimage Holdings Inc. of Dulles, Va., said Nov. 15 that revenue climbed for the third quarter and nine months ending Sept. 30, but its net loss worsened over both periods. The company blamed the figures on delayed purchases by international customers due to industry consolidation.
AAI, Honeywell, General Electric and Lockheed Martin all recently captured Secretary of Defense Performance-Based Logistics Awards, the Aerospace Industries Association said Nov. 15. The new awards were developed by the Defense Department, AIA, and the Defense Acquisition University to recognize top achievements in performance-based logistics, which stress performance and outcomes rather than only a product or service.
Revenue grew a record 22.3 percent and net income climbed 9.4 percent for international defense electronics company Elbit Systems Ltd. in the third quarter of 2005. The Haifa, Israel-based company said Nov. 15 that revenue for the period ending Sept. 30 grew from $223.8 million to $273.6 million, while net income surged to $14.6 million from $13.3 million for the same period the year before.
ITT Industries will produce electronic warfare systems for special operations Army helicopters under a three-year contract from the Army's Technology Applications Program Office, the company said. The work will be performed by ITT's Avionics Division in Clifton, N.J. "Our proven modular systems solution increases the survivability of these rotorcraft, and even more importantly, our warfighters," Chris Bernhardt, president of ITT Avionics, said in a statement.
