Several key lawmakers and the General Accounting Office are expressing concern that the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program is facing steep technological hurdles that could cause major cost and schedule overruns.
GPS III TEAM: Boeing has formed a team to compete for the U.S. Air Force's GPS III development contract, scheduled to be awarded in 2006. The team includes ITT, Lockheed Martin IS&S, Raytheon Aurora, Raytheon Fullerton, Harris Corp., Sun Microsystems, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, SRI, Trimble, L-3 Communications, Rockwell Collins, Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio.
Military forces overseas need more unmanned aerial vehicles and improved intelligence-gathering technology, regional commanders told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee April 1. "We need a dynamic mix of national and airborne assets capable of maintaining access for IMINT [imagery intelligence] and SIGINT [signals intelligence] coverage over target areas for extended periods," Adm. Thomas Fargo (USN), commander of U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), said in written testimony.
Taiwan has requested a sale of early warning radars that could be worth nearly $1.8 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. is seeking two Ultra High Frequency long-range early warning radars and related equipment to improve Taiwan's planned command and control infrastructure. "These radars will assist the recipient to identify and detect ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and air-breathing targets," DSCA said in a statement.
MEGGITT SAFETY SYSTEMS INC. and SPECTRONIX LTD. have formed a strategic alliance to provide modern fire and explosion detection and suppression systems to the aviation industry and the U.S. military, the companies said. One goal of the partnership is to enable Meggitt Safety Systems Inc. to enter the armored vehicle market to supply programs such as the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems, the companies said.
The V-22 Osprey program is attracting interest from the U.S. National Guard's lobbying organization as it seeks a multi-purpose platform for emerging homeland security missions. The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) last week passed a resolution calling for a fiscal 2005 budget line item for a analysis of roles and missions for a potential fleet of CV-22s, a NGAUS air programs official said in a Sept. 22 interview.
Air Canada said yesterday that is the launch customer for Airbus Industrie's ultra-long range A340-500 and the high-density market A340-600. Lamar Durrett, president, said the airline intends to purchase two A340-500s and three A340-600s and place options on 10. The five aircraft, valued at C$1 billion, are to be delivered in 2002. Airbus has "committed to arrange 85% of financing," Durrett said.
