U.S. reconnaissance satellite imagery of the Oklahoma City federal office building blown up in 1995 and the two U.S. embassies in Africa bombed by terrorists in mid-1998 has been used to help gauge damage to Iraqi facilities caused by cruise missiles. Analysts noted that digital overhead imagery taken by advanced KH-11-type spacecraft of the Oklahoma City building gave the impression that it was only ``moderately damaged,'' while when it was viewed from the ground, it could be seen to be destroyed.
When Swedish cockpit designers addressed basic human factors issues during research to upgrade JAS 39 Gripen displays from monochrome to color, they got some unexpected results.
Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures Sector (ISA) will develop upgrades for the U.S. Air Force's E-8C Joint-STARS aircraft as a first element of the service's Radar Technology Insertion Program. ISA is the prime contractor. The improvements will allow the system to observe more ground activity faster and more accurately, and deliver information in more formats, USAF said. Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors and Systems will provide the radar subsystem (AW&ST Dec. 7, 1998, p. 85).
Winged Vision of Gaithersburg, Md., has modified a Helio Courier HT-295 to carry a wing-mounted TV camera for broadcasting aerial coverage of football games and other sporting events. The early 1970s vintage, single-engine aircraft can loiter for more than 10 hr., although most broadcasts require about 6 hr., according to company President Robert Mikkelson. Wing hard points and a rocket launcher pylon formerly designed for the U-10 military version of the aircraft were used for the camera mount, which hosts a Flir Systems Ultramedia 2 stabilized broadcast gimbal.
The Australian government chose Matra BAe Dynamics' Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Asraam) to equip the Australian air force's F/A-18 fighters. The order is valued at about $67 million. They are set to be delivered starting in 2001.
Lockheed Martin increasingly faces the prospect of having to temporarily shut down its C-130J production line for lack of orders. The Air Force rebuffed the company's appeal to accelerate the service's planned purchase of the aircraft. USAF C-130J buys aren't planned until 2002, and even then only in low numbers. And acting Secretary F. Whitten Peters said the Air Force's estimates of international C-130J sales--which were supposed to carry the program--are even more pessimistic than Lockheed Martin's.
U.S. Army planners say they will give up some of their ability to intercept enemy messages as they shift division-level intelligence gathering from ground vehicles to helicopters that can operate deep behind enemy lines.
Paul David Miller (see photos) has been appointed chairman/CEO and John L. Lotzer vice president-tax and investments of Alliant Techsystems of Minneapolis. Miller succeeds Richard Schwartz as chairman and Peter A. Bukowick as CEO. Schwartz has retired, and Bukowick will remain president/chief operating officer. Miller was head of Litton Marine Systems and Sperry Marine Inc. Lotzer was director of taxation for Alliant.
A U.N. chartered C-130 crashed shortly after takeoff from Huambo, Angola, last Dec. 26. Late last week the U.N. was still trying to determine the fate of the 14 people on board as the crash occurred in a war zone.
After weeks of speculation, a new giant in the satellite business has emerged with the signing of a preliminary agreement to fold the space activities of Finmeccanica and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace into Matra Marconi Space. Initial documents to that effect were signed on Dec. 23 between Finmeccanica, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) and MMS' two parent companies, Lagardere group and GEC Marconi Electronic Systems.
GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS' Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has demonstrated the ability to communicate directly with a number of air traffic control centers, which will be increasingly important for operations outside of military airspace. Predator is also equipped with an APX-100 IFF. The UAV ``pilot'' in the ground control station spoke with ATC over a combined satellite and UHF/VHF voice link. A Ku-band link, via the commercial SBS-5 satellite, connects the ground control station with Predator.
The production of aircraft and aerospace parts employs more than 19,000 in Arizona and contributes an estimated $1.9 billion in direct economic impact, according to statistics compiled by Arizona State University. All told, there are at least 350 aerospace companies in the state and the industry is responsible for almost 12% of high-technology manufacturing jobs in the Greater Phoenix area. Average 1996 salary of Arizona's ``High-Tech 6''--AlliedSignal, Boeing, Honeywell, Intel, Motorola and Raytheon--exceeded $52,000.
The Crossair Training Center, Swissair Aviation School and Horizon Swiss Flight Academy will combine their resources and form the Swiss Quality Airline Training grouping. The joint venture will be headquartered at the Zurich airport. The TNT Post Group, a subsidiary of the Dutch postal services, will acquire France-based Jet Services, a courier company, for $357 million.
COLLINS VHF-900B VHF DATA RADIO has been certified on the Airbus A330/ A340, the first VHF Data Radio to receive joint FAA-JAA and DGAC certification, according to Collins. The radio is equipped for Mode 2. The air-ground data link can be added through a software change, when available.
The FAA must press efforts in 1999 to recast itself as an agency that quickly identifies safety, security and air-traffic efficiency problems and works with front-line employees as well as senior managers to address those problems, according to its top official.
Former NATO Secretary General Willy Claes, 10 Belgian officials and Dassault Industries Chairman/CEO Serge Dassault were found guilty of corruption by a Brussels court. Claes received a 3-year suspended sentence; Dassault a 2-year suspended sentence. The case involved contracts for Dassault Electronique electronic countermeasure systems for Belgian air force F-16s and Belgian army's order for Agusta A109BA attack helicopters.
Raytheon Aircraft's Premier 1 business jet flew on Dec. 22 at the company's facilities in Wichita, Kan. Test pilot Charlie Volk and flight engineer Warren Gould flew the airplane for 62 min., reaching a maximum altitude of 14,500 ft. and a speed of 200 kt.
After having to settle for a fleeting, flyby glimpse of Eros, controllers of NASA's Near spacecraft are planning to execute a maneuver this week aimed at returning the probe to the asteroid in February 2000 for a year-long visit and an eventual hard landing attempt. Late last week, controllers at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), in Laurel, Md., were planning to fire the small spacecraft's engine for 24 min. at noon EST on Jan. 3 to impart a change in velocity to Near of 939 meter/sec.
Twenty-five additional X-34 flight tests will be conducted over a 12-month period under an option NASA has exercised in its contract with Orbital Sciences Corp. The option, valued at more than $10 million, covers test flights that would begin when the original contract has been completed. Initial flights under the option are planned to be conducted at the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range, N.M., where the first two test flights will occur under the 1996 contract. That agreement called for the development and flight of a small, reusable technology demonstrator.
A joint Australian-American attempt to fly around the world nonstop was set to take off from Alice Springs in central Australia late last week. Team Re/Max consists of Americans Dave Liniger and Bob Martin and Australian John Wallington. Liniger is chairman of Re/Max International Inc., the mission sponsor. The team aims to set a manned ballooning altitude record at 130,000 ft. The plan is to circle the globe in 16-18 days.
Perry T. Fulkerson (see photo) has become vice president-institutional advance- ment of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla. He was chief constituency officer/associate campaign director of Clemson University.
Australia's largest maritime rescue in peacetime involved 38 rotary and fixed-wing aircraft that pulled 50 sailors from six yachts that foundered in an intense storm during the annual 725-mi. Sydney-to-Hobart race.
Cleveland-based Ohio Aerospace Institute is overseeing two projects aimed at developing future brake technologies, including long-wearing ceramic-composite brakes and phase-change materials that would be at least 30% smaller and lighter than current equipment. In addition to increasing safety, brakes that are smaller, lighter, wear longer and provide more stable braking would allow aircraft to carry more payload or fuel.
Several new airborne towed decoys to protect against radar-guided missiles, and expendables to counter infrared-guided missiles were displayed here at the recent annual conference of the Assn. of Old Crows (AOC). The towed decoy offers the most effective countermeasure against modern monopulse-radar guided missiles.
