A flight-test of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system has been delayed several days by bad weather and a broken piece of test-range equipment. Integrated Flight Test 13C (IFT-13C), originally planned for Dec. 8, was postponed because of heavy clouds at Kodiak Island, Alaska, the target missile's launch site (DAILY, Dec. 10). Attempts to make up the test on Dec. 9 and Dec. 11 were stymied by rainstorms at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific, where the interceptor is to be fired.
Space Communication Corp. (SCC) of Japan and Boeing are investigating a fuel tank problem onboard SSC's Superbird-6 satellite that has "significantly shortened" its mission life, according to the company. SCC discovered the problem Nov. 28 when Superbird-6 experienced an attitude error that has been blamed on insufficient pressure in one of its fuel tanks.
The U.S. Army is expressing renewed confidence in the Patriot missile system after finishing a review of the system's performance in the 2003 Iraq war. The Army said it has confirmed that Patriot intercepted all nine Iraqi tactical ballistic missiles it engaged, saving "many lives" and preventing significant property damage.
AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., is being awarded a $30,690,000 firm fixed price contract to provide for three C-130H aircraft and related spares for the Egyptian Air Force. This effort supports foreign military sales to the Egyptian Air Force. Total funds have been obligated. This work will be complete by December 2004. Solicitation began November 2004 and negotiations were completed December 2004. The Headquarters Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8504-05-C-0005).
CANNON MUNITIONS: United Defense Industries Inc. of Minneapolis will serve as prime contractor and team with Bofors Defence AB of Sweden and France-based GIAT Industries in producing 155mm Bonus precision cannon munitions for the U.S. military, UDI said Dec. 13. Financial terms were not disclosed. Bonus munitions were developed by Bofors and GIAT and are currently being produced in Sweden and France. United Defense also produces and develops combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns and missile launchers.
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has finally driven out of Endurance Crater in Mars' Meridiani Planum region, after spending roughly six months there studying rocks for clues to the history of water in the area.
Driven by gains in contract research and development, Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Irvine Sensors Corp. increased its total revenues by 10% in fiscal 2004, but still posted a net loss of $4.1 million. FY '04 total revenues were $13.9 million, up about $1.2 million from FY '03's total revenues of $12.6 million, the company said. About $11.9 million of FY '04's total revenues came from contract research and development, an annual record for the company.
Honeywell and Lockheed Martin Corp. recently reached agreements to buy companies based in the United Kingdom to improve their niche capabilities, the companies said Dec. 13. Lockheed Martin plans to buy STASYS, a U.K.-based firm specializing in network communications and defense interoperability. Lockheed Martin has not disclosed the terms of the acquisition, but said the closing is expected in early 2005.
FOREIGN SUPPLIERS: The U.S. Defense Department buys "very few defense articles and components from foreign suppliers," according to a new report released by DOD's industrial policy office. In fiscal 2003, international firms received only about 1.5% of all DOD contracts for defense articles and components. DOD "employs foreign contractors and subcontractors judiciously, and in a manner consistent with national security requirements," the congressionally mandated report says. Some lawmakers have expressed concern about DOD's dependence on foreign suppliers.
SMALL-CALIBER AMMO: Advanced weapon and space systems company Alliant Techsystems of Minneapolis will provide more than $300 million worth of small-caliber ammunition to the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command, the company said Dec. 13. ATK will produce 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50-caliber ammunition. Deliveries are set to be completed by Sept. 30, 2006.
Two Boeing X-45A unmanned aerial vehicles made their second and third coordinated flights earlier this month, Boeing said Dec. 10. The X-45As are smaller versions of the X-45C UAV Boeing is developing as part of the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program. The aircraft were controlled by a single operator and flew in several formations over NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Dec. 3, Boeing said.
The U.S. Air Force has announced it is starting to deploy its new C-130J Super Hercules transport plane. The Rhode Island Air National Guard said Dec. 9 that its 143d Airlift Squadron plans to begin using the C130J-30, a stretch version of the C-130J, to support U.S. Central Command operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Air Force Reserve said Dec. 12 that the 815th Airlift Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., is starting a similar mission with the C-130J-30.
The U.S. Air Force is determining a new launch date for the first flight of Boeing's Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., following several launch postponements over the weekend of Dec. 10. A Dec. 10 launch attempt was scrubbed due to bad weather. On Dec. 11, the launch team postponed the flight again because of high winds and a problem involving the system that automates the final seconds of the countdown.
In response to complaints about a lack of vehicle armor and equipment in Iraqi, the U.S. Army said it is modifying an existing contract with Armor Holdings Inc. to increase the production rate of up-armored Humvees. The production rate will be increased from 450 to 550 a month, the Army said Dec. 10. The requirement is for 8,105 up-armored Humvees, currently scheduled for completion in March 2005, the service said.
Sean O'Keefe's successor as NASA administrator will inherit both the momentum of the agency's recent budget victory on Capitol Hill and lingering concerns over its bookkeeping and ability to carry out President Bush's space exploration vision, according to space analysts. NASA announced O'Keefe's resignation Dec. 13. He is expected to accept a position as chancellor of Louisiana State University.
The Army on Dec. 8 released the final draft of a request for proposals (RFP) for the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), with responses due Jan. 24. The RFP originally was scheduled for release in late November. The Army will award a $30 million research, development, test and evaluation contract for fiscal 2005 for planning purposes only, an Army Aviation and Missile Command representative told The DAILY. The RDT&E period will last from 2005 to 2008, he said.
Lockheed Martin Corp. will continue work on the U.S. Army with the Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT) system under a $30 million contract, the company said Dec. 13. The CCTT is composed of computer-driven combat vehicle simulators and workstations that train soldiers to operate M1A1 and M1A2 tanks, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Humvees, the company said. The system is being produced in Orlando, Fla. Lockheed Martin received an initial development contract in 1992 and began full-rate production on the CCTT in 1999.
EADS increased its revenue guidance for 2005 to 33 billion euros ($43.6 billion) and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to more than 2.4 billion euros ($3.2 billion), the company said Dec. 13. For 2004, EADS forecast revenues of 32 billion euros ($42.3 billion) and EBIT of 2.2 billion euros ($2.9 billion). The 2005 guidance represents 3% revenue growth and an increase of more than 9% for EBIT, EADS said.
Elbit Systems Ltd. of Haifa, Israel, has signed a $200 million contract with Israel's defense ministry to computerize all the operations of Israel's land forces, the company said Dec. 13. The company was selected to be the prime contractor two years ago for the Digital Army Program (DAP), which also will be funded through a U.S. Foreign Military Sales agreement.
AIR FORCE Raytheon Aircraft Co., Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $240,535,650 firm fixed price contract modification to provide for Lot 12 Option Exercise JPATS T-6A Production Aircraft Lot 12 (fifty each) for FY2005. Total funds have been obligated. This work will be complete by February 2008. The Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-01-C-0022, P00073).
CPI Aerostructures Inc. will build two pod structural housings for Northrop Grumman to test as part of the U.S. Navy's Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS), the company said Dec. 13. The work will be done under a $500,000 contract from Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, and CPI plans to deliver the housings in the second quarter of 2005. Northrop Grumman got a $36.9 million contract in 2002 to develop the RAMICS system, an airborne anti-mine system designed to operate from an Sikorsky MH-60S helicopter (DAILY, Aug. 28).
