ACOUSTIC RECEIVER: The U.S. Office of Naval Research has chosen BAE Systems Information and Electronics Systems Integration Inc. in Nashau, N.H., over at least two other companies for a $5.1 million contract to develop and test an advanced off-board, low-frequency acoustic source receiver. BAE, which will work on the Littoral ASW [anti-submarine warfare] Multi-Statistics project in Nashua, is slated to finish in September 2008. The contract was competitively procured under a broad agency announcement, the Navy announced late Sept. 7.
PATRIOT TEST: A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile intercepted its target during a Sept. 8 test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., the U.S. Army said. During the test, two PAC-3 missiles were "ripple fired" at a short-range ballistic missile target. The first PAC-3 interceptor destroyed the target, so the second interceptor self-destructed. The test was designed to try out software upgrades to the missile and ground system. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are the PAC-3 program's main contractors.
Thales Communications Inc. of Clarksburg, Md., part of the Thales Group, has delivered an AN/URC-143 HF radio system to the U.S. Navy. The delivery, for the USS Champion (MCM-4), marks the completion of the company's initial contract for the design, development and delivery of the first system, Thales said Sept. 8. The AN/URC-143 is to replace older radio systems on Avenger-class minesweepers.
NASA's effort to fix the remaining areas of potentially dangerous foam insulation loss on the space shuttle's external tank is adjusting to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, according to Bill Gerstenmaier, the agency's associate administrator for Space Operations.
Northrop Grumman has shed almost all of the excess weight it has been aiming to remove from the fire-control radar it is developing for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, company program officials said Sept. 8.
The U.S. Air Force is about to launch a formal study on potential candidates for a new multi-use helicopter, an industry source said Sept. 8. The Air Force plans to start the analysis of alternatives (AOA) "in the next couple weeks," the source told The DAILY. Contractors that might compete to build the helicopter are being asked to sign papers that will allow them to confidentially provide input for the AOA.
A new satellite ground station designed to substantially improve the Netherland's intelligence gathering was unveiled on Sept. 6. The station will be part of a new Dutch intelligence organization called the National Signals Intelligence Organization (NSO), which will provide raw intelligence to both the Defense Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) and the civilian General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD).
Northrop Grumman Corp. hopes to open its Gulf Coast region shipyards, temporarily closed by Hurricane Katrina, on Sept. 12, according to a company update posted on its Web site late Sept. 7. "While the company is hopeful to resume some levels of shipbuilding activities at its shipyards next week, for now all personnel should continue to monitor these daily advisories," the company said.
Contractors have unveiled proposals for two new military aircraft variants: the Northrop Grumman KC-30 tanker and the Boeing HH-47 combat-search-and-rescue helicopter.
NASA has released a request for information to gauge the interest among commercial geosynchronous satellite operators in using the extra room on their spacecraft to host NASA science instruments. The first instrument that could fly under what NASA is calling the Geo-Quick Ride program is the 31-kilogram (68-pound) Multispectral Imaging System for the Thermosphere and Ionosphere (MISTI) instrument. Responses to the RFI, including a description of how MISTI would be accommodated, are due Sept. 26.
JOCKEYING BILLS: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) suggested Sept. 7 that the Senate take up its delayed fiscal 2006 defense authorization bill on Sept. 8, even ahead of a spending bill including NASA, so that more money can be provided for Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery operations. He said that authorization legislation could be amended with nonrelated provisions while appropriations bills follow stricter Senate guidelines.
THUMBS UP: More than 71% of Europeans favor deploying a NATO missile defense, according to a poll sponsored by the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies and the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. Seventy-five percent of poll respondents in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Denmark said that missiles could be used "as instruments of blackmail or coercion" against NATO or NATO countries, the alliance said. Although European leaders have been cool to U.S.
The Pentagon's new undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics said the Defense Department is reviewing its supply chain operations, acquisition requirements, and planning in light of increasing globalization. Kenneth Krieg, who filled the No. 3 DOD position June 3, further said the department will "scour the world" to find the "best" industrial sources for its defense needs, and that the largest federal department must become "creative" in research, acquisition and delivery, especially to encourage competition.
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command has modified an existing contract and awarded Raytheon Systems $17.1 million more for 150 AIM-9M/9X tactical missiles for Saudi Arabia under the Foreign Military Sales program. The deal also includes 30 spare guidance control sections and eight guidance control system containers. Raytheon will perform almost all of its work in Tucson, Ariz., and finish by December 2006.
C. Wayne Grubbs has been named senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, effective immediately. Stephen C. Matthews has been appointed senior vice president for business development.
The German government has awarded EADS a contract to provide 150 FAUST tactical command and control equipment sets for vehicles in German elements of the multinational NATO Response Force 7, the company said Sept. 7. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Christopher E. Camargo has been appointed director of the Avionics and Support Systems Department in the Aerospace Electronics and Information Technology Division.
Peter Edwards has resigned as president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, effective immediately. Pierre Beaudoin, president and chief operating officer of Bombardier Aerospace, will fill in for Edwards until a new president is appointed.
